The 80s Club

I am definitely the demographic that the advertisers are trying to hit in the evening drama/sitcom time slot. In addition to the Back to the Future bit, I’m hearing more and more 80’s songs being used in commercials. Apparently, those marketing geniuses think that there are many middle-aged (am I middle aged, yet?) lazy bums sitting around basking in the glow of the boob tube, just waiting to be enticed to a bag of cookies by the sweet sounds of The Human League. Little morsels of chocolatey goodness are just calling out to me from the TV with the sweet lyrics, “Don’t you want me, baby?” Why, yes I do! Let me just run out and snarfle down a bag of cookies. :)

Yeah, I’m not that easy. Not that I don’t want to be, but my calorie counter would not like a full bag of Chips Ahoy logged into a day’s meals. I’m trying to lose that middle-age poundage, you know? ;)

Here’s the Chips Ahoy commerical via YouTube.

Follow the “more” tab (see it? right down there in blue?) to see the original video by the Human League.

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I LOVE Back to the Future. LOVE it! And so I’m so sad to see it being pimped now for a Direct TV commercial. Christopher Lloyd even reprised his Doc Brown role for the commercial. So sad to me. Now I’ll just have to stick to enjoying his character as The Hacker while my kids are watching Cyberchase.

Here’s the video. What do you think? Do you feel so nostalgic towards BTTF that the very suggestion of it being linked to Direct TV would sway you toward their company? Are you that easy? ;)

So, you were afraid that of all of the fine 80’s fashion that IS making back to our department store shelves, the legwarmers weren’t going to be one of them, weren’t you? Well, fear no more. Just in time for the winter (I think it’s gonna look and feel like winter around here at some point), some furry legwarmers for your comfort. Yes, this is the country we live in, where shave off all of the God given warm fuzzy hair on our legs just to replace it with some mail-order hair. ;)

The heels in this photo are looking awfully 80’s-ish as well, don’t you think?

ht: Jack

I can’t remember the first time I saw Blair Underwood in something, but I’m sure it must’ve been in the 80’s. Based on his IMDB listings, it was probably in The Cosby Show as Denise’s (Lisa Bonet) friend.

It’s been fun to see him back on TV recently in episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine as the object of a huge crush of Christine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the older more mature older Christine. And then, in the same week (maybe it was the same night?) that he was very worthily playing the object of said crush, he shows up on an epidsode of Law and Order: SVU in what ended up being a very creepy and disturbing ending for his character.

What are some of your favorite Blair Underwood moments?

“The Lost Boys 2?,” you ask. “Yes,” I answer. “Seriously?,” you ask? “Yes,” I answer. “How do you know?” you ask. “Because I read it on the internet, so it must be true.” I answer. “But WHY?” you ask?

And there you have me stumped.

But, it does appear that there is a sequel being made to that crazy 80’s movie filled with the acting talents of Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland (he has a reeaaally long legal name, go check it out), Jami Gertz (really? didn’t remember that myself), Corey Feldman, Dianne Wiest, and Edward Herrmann.

What in the world were Dianne Wiest and Edward Herrmann doing in that movie? Maybe it wasn’t as bad as I remembered it? May have to put that on my “rewatch” list.

What 80’s movies do you think could be a good inspiration for a sequel now?

There’s speculation that Morrissey (of The Smiths) may be asked to contribute to Eurovision on behalf of the UK.

What’s Eurovision, you ask? From Wikipedia:

So, there you go. It’s like an American Idol, but European, and you only get one song, and the participants are already famous. Okay, maybe not at all like Idol then, except that it’s a contest. Nevermind. Shall we move on? Okay.

I only know of Morrissey, I think I’ve said before, because my brother (hey, there) loooooved Morrissey (still does) and used to make me listen to things like, “Hairdresser on Fire” and “Piccadilly Palare.” I’m sure I’m better for it. ;)

Anyway, here is the info on the possibility of Morrissey at Eurovision from Sound Generator:

I’m sure my brother will be thrilled. Do the rest of you know Morrissey?

Okay, I must have my finger on the pulse of the American culture, or something like that. I’d just written the title of this post when Terry Moran (I really like him) came on Nightline talking about action heroes coming back to relive their roles of decades past. Weird.

I’ve already mentioned that Sylvester Stallone is currently in theatres reprising his role as Rocky Balboa, and that Harrison Ford is filming another Indiana Jones (did you vote in that poll in the pink sidebar on the right? :D ). Apparently, Stallone will also return to the big screen as Rambo next year.

Really, didn’t we think that we’d seen the last of these characters? At least, with their original actors portraying them? I did. I wonder what pulls them in. The memories? The “last chance” to play their characters? The money? What do you think?

According to Nightline, Bruce Willisis filming a new Die Hard (Live Free or Die Hard). Never did get into those.

The word out is that Indiana JonesPart 4, will begin filming in 2007. And you’re wondering, aren’t you, who will play the lead role? None other than……Harrison Ford!

Yep, Harrison Ford will reprise the role he last played in the 1980’s. It’ll be interesting to see the plot of the new film, and whether or not it is catered to an older, more mature Ford. The working title, according to IMDb, is Indiana Jones and the Ravages of Time, and it is also rumored that Sean Connery and Natalie Portman will be appearing in the film.

A bit of info from the Pantagraph:

The fourth chapter of the “Indiana Jones” saga, which will hit theaters in May 2008, has been in development for over a decade with several screenwriters taking a crack at the script, but it only recently gained momentum.

Lucas kept mum about the plot, but said that the latest action flick will be a “character piece” that will include “very interesting mysteries.”

“I think it’s going to be really cool,” Lucas said.

I really had no desire to watch any of them when I was younger. Then I worked with a guy who thought they were the best films ever recorded, and he lent them all to me so that I would watch them. And I did. And I liked them. And I don’t think I ever got his copy of the third one back to him. That was about 15 years ago.

A tip just for you: Don’t ever lend me anything. I’ll break it, or lose it, or just forget that I have it…..or where I put it. Yeah, just don’t.

So, I’m gonna use this little bit of news to inspire my first poll here at The 80’s Club. So, Please Please Please vote over in the pink sidebar on the right! I hate to beg, but…..oh yeah right. I’m begging! Please join me in a vote. Thanks!

ht: My friend Jackie who needs a blog so that I can link to her.

Have you seen these joystick games? I was so excited when walking through Target (I think it was) and saw the cute joystick with Ms. Pac-Man’s likeness pictured on it. I pointed it out to my friend and she said, “Oh yeah. I have a couple of games like that. All you do is plug it into your TV and there are several games that you can play.” Crazy. Apparenly, a few of my friends have these and are enjoying hours of 80’s reminiscence and fun and are not inviting me over to join them. Hmph.

Anyway, this particular product includes Ms. Pac Man, Mappy, Xevious, Pole Position and Galaga.

Are any of you out there whittling away your days remembering the joys of Pac-Man with these games?

Although the first two Rocky movies were released in the 1970’s, a few in the middle there were released in our beloved 80’s.

Did I even know there was a Rocky V?

Well, the film whose working title was Rocky VI, Rocky Balboa, is now in theatres. It has an interesting high-tech angle on it, I think. Here’s the teaser from IMDB:

In Rocky Balboa, a computer simulation pits the legendary Italian Stallion (Sylvester Stallone) against the devastating current heavyweight champion Mason “The Line” Dixon (Antonio Tarver), with Rocky the predicted winner. The results rekindle the aging fighter’s spirit, and he steps back into the ring in local competition to regain some of his confidence and hope. But stepping out of retirement quickly brings bigger risks for Rocky when promoters seize on the notion of recreating the virtual fight for real.

I love the name of his opponent, Mason “The Line” Dixon. Mason “The Line” Dixon? The Mason Dixon Line? Get it? Alright, I’ll move on.

The film does bring in Milo Ventimiglia as Rocky, Jr. You’d know Milo as the moody and misunderstood Jess from Gilmore Girls, and he now stars in the NBC drama Heroes. The fact that he’s in the movie would give me reason enough to check it out, but the film trailer actually makes it look kinda interesting.

It is kinda fun to hear bits of Eye of the Tiger again, don’t you think?

So, what’s your call? Will you give Sylvester Stallone another shot as Rocky?