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TAG: 80s tv
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songspeak
Everybody Wants Something
Over the past few days, my wife has been re-watching her all-time favorite TV show on DVD, thanks to Netflix. Degrassi High. I watched the series with her once years ago (I had bought it for her on VHS tapes in the dark ages before DVD’s were all the rage), and it’s really something else. Let’s start with the opening theme:
You have to admire any TV show that has the gall to open the show with a gratuitous shot of a jeans-clad teenager’s asscrack. You don’t see that very often. As I watched some of it with her, I’m reminded of all the old (horrible) characters (some of which appear as adults in the next generation series). However, I had forgotten about the 3 dorky main characters (Joey, Snake, and Wheels) and their band, The Zits. And their terrible song. Which I’ve had stuck in my head for the past couple days:
What a sweet, sweet tune. And after watching the video, it reminds me of Matt’s high school band, Gemini (or was it Detour? Or Poppo Smiley?). This video seems totally like something they would have done back then. Only instead of Everybody Wants Something, it would be Future Shock.Tags: 80s tv, 90s tv, degrassi high, detour, DVD, everybody wants something, gemini, joey, netflix, next generation, poppo smiley, snake, the zits, wheels
1 comment
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last exit
We’ve got a stiff Boner on our hands
Boner
1968-2010Some sad news just received here at Songspeak Corporate Headquarters. Andrew Koenig, better known as Richard Stabone, and even better known as Boner, on the hit 80’s sitcom Growing Pains, was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Vancouver park after going missing on February 14th. If Andrew taught us anything in life, it’s that you can get away with having a character named “Boner” on a family television show.
And if there’s only one thing we learned from this story, it’s that his dad is Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on the original Star Trek.
Tags: 60s tv, 80s tv, andrew koenig, boner, february 14th, found dead, growing pains, missing, richard stabone, star trek, suicide, valentine's day, vancouver, walter koenig
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songspeak
MST3K, Joe Estevez, and paper
I used to love Mystery Science Theater 3000 back in the day. It’s been off the air for years, but oddly enough, it’s come up for me twice this week.The first time was on Monday, when I was playing poker at the VFW. For some godforsaken reason, they had Two and a Half Men on the TV (and man that show is awful). I wasn’t paying attention, but apparently Emilio Estevez had a cameo, and there was talk of him and Charlie Sheen being brothers. An epic discussion then broke out at our table about them having different last names and Martin Sheen being there dad. One of the guys didn’t realize they were brothers because they have different last names, and I said that I thought Estevez was their real last name and Sheen was the stage name. I then asked if anyone ever watched MST3K,
and oddly enough, most of the younger guys were fans. I asked if any of them watched it in the later years when it was on the SciFi channel, because in one of the later episodes, they watched a movie called Soultaker 
Joe Estevez, Martin Sheen’s brother. That was one of my favorite MST3K episodes. I think they may have watched another movie with Joe Estevez in it at some point, which isn’t surprising, given his lengthy film resume according to IMDB. I get the impression that most of them are stinkers, if Soultaker is any indication.Anywho, there was also a theatrical MST3K movie in which Mike Nelson and the robots watched This Island Earth. Matt and I rented it once years ago (on VHS, before DVD’s and Netflix), and there was one little part that we still reference to this day. I’m reminded of it, because it was on HBO Family last night and I watched part of it. The hunky scientist lead character receives this thing from outer space, and there’s a book in it.
His little nerdy assistant wearing glasses was looking at it with him, and as the hunky dude is turning the pages, he says, “This isn’t paper, this is some sort of metal” and Tom Servo, imitating the nerdy guy, says, “No, it’s paper” after he touches the pages. It’s a lot funnier if you’re watching it, believe me.Well, that’s my moviespeak story. Matt and I still crack out the “it’s paper” nerdy voice every now and then. Why, I don’t know. Stop badgering me!
Tags: 00s tv, 80s tv, 90s tv, charlie sheen, crow, DVD, emilio estevez, HBO family, IMDB, joe estevex, martin sheen, mike nelson, mst3k, mystery science theater 3000, netflix, poker, SciFi channel, soultaker, this island earth, tom servo, two and a half men, vfw, VHS
4 comments
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misheard lyrics
I don’t trust that Buddy Holly
It’s a rare occasion that I listen to the radio on the way to work, but this morning I had Pure Rock Lazer 99.3 on. I heard a song I haven’t heard in a long time: Buddy Holly by Weezer. I’ve always liked this song, and it reminded me of my sophomore year at WPI when the song was first released. We used to see it on MTV all the time (you know, back when they actually used to show videos sometimes), and for the longest time, I thought the chorus was, “Ooo eee ooo, I don’t trust that Buddy Holly”. I was like, “What the hell did Buddy Holly ever to do Weezer?” But after repeated listenings, I realized the actual lyrics were, “Ooo eee ooo, I look just like Buddy Holly”, and it made so much more sense when he then mentions Mary Tyler Moore.It’s such a great video. I love the whole Happy Days theme, and the appearances of Potsie, Ralph Malph, Al, Richie Cunningham, Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham, Joanie, and, of course, The Fonz.
Spike Jonze makes the best videos.
Tags: 70s tv, 80s tv, 90s music, al, Al Delvecchio, al molinaro, anson williams, arthur fonzarelli, buddy holly, don most, erin moran, fonzie, happy days, henry winkler, joanie cunningham, lazer 99.3, marion ross, mary tyler moore, mr. & mrs. cunningham, mtv, potsie, pure rock, ralph malph, richie cunningham, ron howard, spike jonze, the fonz, tom bosley, weezer, wpi
1 comment
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last exit
Ricardo Montalban Dies at 88
Quien es mas macho?
Ricardo Montalban, best know for his roles as Mister Roarke on Fantasy Island and the title character of the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, died yesterday at age 88. No word on whether William Shatner was involved.
It’s a shame to lose such a suave latino, but now he can join his little Tattoo on that Fantasy Island in the sky.
Tags: 70s tv, 80s movies, 80s tv, fantasy island, Hervé Villechaize, Mister Roarke, ricardo montalban, star trek, star trek II, suave latino, tattoo, the wrath of khan, william shatner
2 comments
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songspeak
Leave it all to iCarly and Drake & Josh to find a way
Being the parent of a three year old has opened my eyes to so many television shows and forms of entertainment that I may have otherwise missed.
It’s such a shame that the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana gets all the attention as THE popular kids’ show these days, because, well, have you ever watched it? It’s awful…the “acting”, the ridiculous storylines, and the painfully scripted and unfunny “comedy”. Ugh.
Nickelodeon is where it’s at for awesome kid comedy. Two of Quinn’s (and our) favorite shows are iCarly and Drake & Josh. Drake & Josh isn’t actually on anymore, but we always watch reruns (usually sandwiched between episodes of Spongebob Squarepants), and iCarly’s new season just started. While the acting on these shows isn’t top notch, it’s much more natural than the overexaggerated tripe on Hannah Montana, and the actors and characters are much more likeable. And these shows are FUNNY! I’ll even go on record to say that they’re better than Saved by the Bell, a show of a very similar genre from my generation.
iCarly stars Miranda Cosgrove (she got her start as the band’s manager in School of Rock with Jack Black) as a teenager who lives with her older brother and runs a mega-popular webshow with her friends. iCarly.com actually exists as a real website, and is basically a companion to the show, which is pretty clever.
Drake & Josh stars Josh Peck (now a fairly accomplished actor after his role in the critically praised The Wackness) and Drake Bell as best friends who become step-brothers when their parents get married. They have wacky misadventures, usually involving their younger sister (again, played by Miranda Cosgrove).
Because these are so popular at home, I included the theme songs on a mix CD I made for our recent trip to Lancaster, PA. For the first two hours of the trip home, Quinn asked to first hear the Drake & Josh theme, followed by the iCarly theme, repeatedly. And we love them so much, we gladly obliged.
Here is the video for the iCarly theme Leave it All to Me, as performed by Miranda Cosgrove:
And the video for the Drake & Josh theme Found a Way, as performed by Drake Bell:
Tags: 00s movies, 00s tv, 80s tv, 90s tv, disney channel, drake & josh, drake & josh theme song, drake bell, found a way, hannah montana, iCarly, iCarly theme song, jack black, josh peck, kid's music, kid's shows, lancaster, leave it all to me, miley cyrus, miranda cosgrove, mix CD, nickelodeon, school of rock, spongebob squarepants, the wackness
2 comments
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songspeak
Believe it or not, George isn’t at home
I'm walking on air!
This is one of my favorite songspeaks from Seinfeld. It’s George Costanza singing the outgoing message on his answering machine to the tune of the theme song to The Greatest American Hero by Joey Scarbury.
The Greatest American Hero was a short-lived show that ran for 3 seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC starring William Katt. I remember watching it (and liking it!) when I was kid, though I was only about 7 at the time. Everyone knows the theme song, so the reference on Seinfeld (which aired on NBC….hmmmmm) wasn’t really lost on anyone.
Matt and I liked this clip so much, we included the Seinfeld soundclip, followed by the actual song by Joey Scarbury, on volume 13 of the original Songspeak’s Greatest Hits.
Tags: 80s tv, 90s tv, ABC, answering machine, believe it or not george isn't at home, believe it or not i'm walking on air, george costanza, george costanza's answering machine, george's answering machine, greatest american hero, jason alexander, joey scarbury, nbc, seinfeld, william katt
4 comments
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songspeak
Thank you for being a friend
We lost our first Golden Girl yesterday when Estelle Getty passed away at age 84. I used to watch Golden Girls with my grandparents when I was a kid, and it amazes me how much of the humor must have gone over my head at the
time. I’m not the only person my age who used to watch it, and it’s odd to think of a show about a bunch of old ladies appealing to 10 year olds.Poor old Estelle suffered from Lewy’s Body Dementia, and it was this sickness that led to her untimely demise.
What does this have to do with songspeak, you ask? Well, I know myself and others have songspoken the Golden Girls theme song on many occasions. That, as well as Sophia’s spunk and sass, prompted me to post.
Tags: 80s tv, 90s movies, estelle getty, golden girls, Lewy's Body Dementia, stop or my mom will shoot, sylvester stallone
3 comments
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songspeak
Knight Rider vs. Street Hawk
Like so many television shows these days that have bastard versions of themselves (think Flip This House vs. Flip That House), there existed two particularly oss shows in the 80s called Knight Rider and Street Hawk. I watched them both. My wife Kristen and her brother used to watch Street Hawk growing up. When this came up in conversation recently, I referred to Street Hawk as “Knight Rider on a Motorcycle”. But as this video shows, I may have spoken foolishly.
You know you want to watch the opening sequences. (more…)
Tags: 80s tv, david hasslehoff, flip that house, flip this house, frank fontana, hassle the hoff, joe regalbuto, knight rider, motorcycle, rex smith, street hawk
4 comments
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songspeak
Things That Make You Go Hmmmm
This past weekend in Martha’s Vineyard, there truly was something made Matt and I go, “hmmmm”. On Saturday, walking around the harbor, heading to lunch, we saw all sorts of boat people docked and lounging. However, there was one, older, shirtless guy who had a fake palm tree with Christmas lights wrapped around the trunk, hanging out in the back of his boat, listening to music. And the song that he was blasting for all to hear was Things That Make You Go Hmmmm by C & C Music Factory.
Matt had forgotten this song even existed, and the entire ridiculous situation struck us as hilarious. What Matt didn’t know (and this falls under the “you learn something new every day” category) was that the song was based on a recurring segment on the Arsenio Hall Show. Which makes the song even more ludicrous.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, the video for said song (and I never realized how much Freedom Williams looks and kinda sounds like Ice-T in this video):
Tags: 80s tv, 90s music, 90s tv, arsenio hall, c & c music factory, freedom williams, ice-t, martha's vineyard, the arsenio hall show, things that make you go hmmmm
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