80's High

The juice is loose once again, and this time, we're going back to the future for the return of one of the 80's most beloved horror comedies. Lydia, Delia, and the Ghost with the Most are joined by a fresh cast of characters--both alive and undead--as they rampage across the mortal plane and the Neitherworld for the sequel without equal, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. We'll get into a million ways to die, jilted lovers, surprise cameos, modern claymation, meet cutes, fabulous musical numbers, clever callbacks, and much more! While you're waiting on hold with a Bob, why not join us on this madcap caper to see how it holds up to the original movie because Dostoevksy put it best when he said... "I love the 80's!"Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- The Definitive History of Beetlejuice (ScreenCrush) Top 10 Behind the Scenes Facts About Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (WatchMojo)…

Welcome back, classmates! You thought we were trapped in the podcast afterlife, but we survived the sandworms and checkered hallways to bring you another gem from that radical decade. Join us as we dive into the bonkers history of this classic movie, our memories of it hitting the big screen, and the strange twists as Beetlejuice goes animated, almost Hawaiian, then into the sequel waiting room for over 30 years. We talk ALMOST all things Beetlejuice in this episode, stopping short of this year's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice release. We save those juicy details for the next episode, so you can listen to this one without any worries of sequel spoilers. So grab your handbook, draw a chalk door, and walk with us into the glowing light for a dark comedy adventure with Burton, Keaton, Ryder, O'Hara, Davis, Baldwin, Elfman, and more!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- The…

In response to a once-in-a-century drought and famine in Ethiopia, Harry Belefonte, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones assembled the ultimate cast of legendary musicians to come together one top-secret evening to record the best-selling single in America and pop music history, “We Are the World.”Their passion, talent, and efforts not only brought short and long-term aid to struggling communities throughout Africa, but set an incredible precedent both for musicians from astoundingly different backgrounds to create art together and for music to strive to create real-world change on a global scale. So sing along with us as we revisit this incredible moment in pop culture and close the yearbook on our Senior Year of 80’s High.Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at…

In the 80’s, teenagers hustling for money was a tough racket. Robert Romanus was selling second-hand concert tickets and Phoebe Cates was scooping ice cream at the mall, while Judge Reinhold grilled hamburgers and Kevin Bacon got canoes ready at Camp Crystal Lake. But who would have imagined that babysitting would give the greatest teen job adventure of the decade?!After Bradley Whitford insanely cancels his date with Elisabeth Shue, she’s locked into the wildest night of Chicago babysitting ever put on screen, encountering a gang fight, surviving a stolen car black market, meeting a legendary superhero, Die Hard-esque skyscraper antics, and an improv blues break-downs. Gather the family around and let us babysit you as we revisit the 1987 comedy classic, Adventures in Babysitting!Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!Support the show by tossing us some lunch…

You've got the touch! You've got the power! 1984 was a radical pop culture year in the heart of the 80's, but one toy line demanded the hotness of Cabbage Patch dolls and Pound Puppies take a back seat and clear plenty of Toys 'R' Us shelf space as Transformers hit the US market and forever changed just how awesome action figures could be.The intergalactic battle between Optimus Prime's Autobots and Megatron's Decepticons crash-landed with an iconic "transforming" sound effect in our televisions, toy boxes, comic book racks, and more, quickly becoming one of the most successful children's properties of the decade, and enduring in countless globe-spanning iterations in the decades beyond. Join us as we transform into space and time to rediscover the lasers and chrome that filled our TV sets and hearts. Autobots, roll out!Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and…

Thank you for being a friend. Travel down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant. If that theme song just flooded you with warm nostalgia, side-splitting laughter, and tearful moving moments, then you too must've been a fan of one of the most popular sitcoms in television history - The Golden Girls! We're sitting down for a slice of cheesecake at the kitchen table with Rose, Blanche, Sophia, and Dorothy to delve into this classic show featuring strong female leads with full lives and enduring friendships tackling every topic you can possibly imagine. Picture it, an episode filled with sass, support, and joy awaiting your listening ears. Won't you lounge on the lanai and listen for a spell?Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired…

Never go alone. Never go with someone else. It could be any one of us. It could be you. It could be me. It could be all of us, or none of us! What do we do?! Why don’t we wait here, see what happens... Paranoia and distrust settle in as co-host Mikey rejoins us to delve deep into the icy thrills of John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece, The Thing. When a horrifying being from another world thaws near remote Norwegian and American bases in Antarctica, the mimicking monster overtakes and assumes the form of each lost, terrified, and paranoid team member until there may be no one left to consume and assume. What originally horrified and grossed audiences out has grown into an icon of terror, suspense, and practical effects that rivals titanic 80's science fiction tentpoles like ALIEN and The Fly. Dawn your parka, keep track of your friends, and trust no one, as we try and suss out… The Thing!Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first…

Gather round, dear listeners, as we tell a tale of dungeon crawling through the D&D-inspired 1989 board game revolution, HeroQuest! Taking on the roles of barbarian, dwarf, elf, and wizard, we’ll face off against Zargon's evil forces of orcs, goblins, fimirs, mummies, gargoyles, and more, as we search for traps, treasures, and the secret sauce that made this one of the greatest “game systems” to ever come out of the 1980s.And most excitedly, we’re joined by The Bard, famous for his popular 2016 YouTube video, “Why HeroQuest is so Great,” to help us understand the best thing about HeroQuest. Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- The History of HeroQuest: A Board Game Introduction to…

You remind us of the podcast! What podcast? The podcast with the power! What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind us of the podcast! Meandering through this episode, Ben and Chris clumsily navigate the twisting corridors and puzzles of Jim Henson and David Bowie’s 1986 fantasy classic, Labyrinth. Spring boarding off the brilliant mind and artwork of Brian Froud, Henson and his team endeavored in the mid-80’s to produce a more comedic and light-hearted fantasy adventure than their 1982 The Dark Crystal. The result sent little-known Jennifer Connelly to team up with a misfit band in search of her stolen infant half-brother, knocking out pitfalls and puzzles with greater efficiency than Odysseus could ever muster. Come back with us and remember why no one could get enough of “Dance, Magic, Dance!”Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and…

As caped crusaders begin to disappear, a motley band of heroes must come out of retirement to crack the case and save the world. No, we’re not talking about Ben and Chris returning from summer break to kick 80’s High back into gear - we’re talking about Watchmen, the groundbreaking 1986 comic maxi-series by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins. Our dynamic duo is joined by co-host Corey to delve into the origins of what Damon Lindelof called “the greatest piece of popular fiction ever produced.” We’ll do our best to untangle the complex web of narratives across time, provide hot tips on superhero fashion, form, and function, and see how this eighties icon holds up in a hyper-saturated world of Avengers, X-Men, mutants, Boys, and more! -- We Love the Eighties -- Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more! Support the show by tossing us…

Double surprise! It's a SECOND bonus summer episode of 80's High! And this time, we brought a comb! As summer winds down into fall, we're walking the tracks back to 1986 to revisit the magical film by director Rob Reiner with its amazing cast, including Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, John Cusack, and Richard Dreyfuss... wow! Like last time, we're featuring a full episode from our dear friend at Ding Dong Darkness Time, Allison Dickson. Last summer, Allison, Chris, and fellow guest host Kate Jenkins revisited the nostalgia-packed Stand By Me and the short story The Body that inspired it. And to make this an 80's High experience, we've captured Ben's memories, favorite moments, and final assessment from his rewatch. So join us for this look back in time on childhood friendship, summer adventure, growing up, and standing up to the hardships of life. Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you…

Surprise, it's a bonus summer episode of 80's High! And WE. MADE IT. FOR. YOUUUUU! As the summer heatwave hits, we're downshifting back to 1986 with the first and only film director credit for the man of macabre himself, Mr. Stephen King. It's big trucks, lawnmowers, steamrollers, the Green Goblin, lots of guns and explosions, and a whole lotta campy fun! This time, we're featuring a full episode from our dear friend at Ding Dong Darkness Time, Allison Dickson. Last summer, Allison and Chris took a spin back to Maximum Overdrive, the short story Trucks that inspired it, and the little-known second movie adaptation for television also called Trucks. And they are three wildly different takes. Speaking of takes, this wouldn't be 80's High without both hosts chiming in, so Ben and Chris kick off the episode and then come back at the end to get Ben's earliest memories, favorite moments, and hot final takes you won't wanna miss. So buckle up and sit back, we're going into overdrive! Support the show by tossing us…

In the summer of 1989, the world came down with a Joker-induced case of Batmania as visionary director Tim Burton and leading man Michael Keaton put the "dark" in our Nocturnal Knight for the first time on the big screen. An iconic score mixed with an incredible set, costume, sound, and lighting design - as well as amazing performances by Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, and Michael Gough - transformed our understanding of this hero from pop-color comic book pages and spandex-wearing Adam West into something we couldn't know at first if we should love or fear. Strap on your utility belt, fuel up your Batmobile, and tell Alfred not to hold up dinner for you because we are traveling back to that magical summer where the Batman we knew changed forever.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Batman Fandom Wiki Batman 1989 IMDB Fans of Batman The Batman Universe -- Teacher's…

"It may be Chicago’s equivalent of King Tut’s Tomb... Nobody knows what’s in it. Some say money. Some say bodies. Some say it’s booby trapped, and we’re gonna open it.” In the spring of 1986, Geraldo Rivera hyped what was to be the greatest television event of the century: uncovering the mystery of Al Capone’s vaults beneath the Lexington Hotel in Chicago, live on primetime. But as the subterranean crews dug deeper and Rivera grew more frantic, we witnessed something entirely different unfold that night... was it some of the greatest career-saving courage ever made by a “newsman” or the birth of trash television and the 24-hour news-cycle? Classmate Allison Dickson returns as we unearth the origins of the primetime spectacle that glued more than 30 million viewers to their televisions, eager for an answer to, “what was inside Al Capone’s vaults?”Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! Check out…

When Ben and Chris lift their microphones into the air and shout “By the Power of the 80’s!” they magically transform into the two most radical podcasters on the planet, with the power of nostalgia, sass, and puns! Follow us back in time to when toymaker Mattel made potentially the biggest mistake in its history, but was rescued by the brilliant mind and creativity of designer Roger Sweet, who invented the most swoll, barbarian-inspired, deus ex machina magic-enabled cast of heroes and villains ever: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe! Learn how the very first cartoon created to sell toys came to be as we dungeon-dive into the Castle Grayskull labyrinth of comics, cartoons, action figures, playsets, Dolf Lundgren's movie catastrophe, Kevin Smith's animated double-return, and more. And remember classmates, always be a Battle Cat, never a Cringer!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I…

Who would have guessed that in 1985, Hollywood not only created a movie based on a board game, but that it may have been one of the best game-based movies of all time?! That’s right, we're driving through the pouring rain to the eerie mansion on the hill to rewatch the movie Clue! And we're keeping our friends close and our enemies closer, because we’ve invited Classmate Aaron to help us explore the origins, secret passageways, and endless wise cracks that make this movie so memorable. From the knock-out cast to the quotable lines, this episode will leave our fans screaming, “let us in, let us in!” and the haters seething with “flam - flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl- heaving breaths…” Whoever knew podcasting was just a red herring!?Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- The Crazy Story of How "Clue" Went From Forgotten Flop to Cult Triumph (BuzzFeed)…

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Two 80's nostalgia podcasters take deep dive into the world's only reliable news! That's right listeners, we were lucky enough to snag an interview with Greg D'Alessandro, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Weekly World News, to talk all things Elvis, Bat Boy, Manigator, Bigfoot Hooker, and the entire Marvel-esque cast of characters that bejeweled the supermarket checkout aisles of our childhoods with outrageous headlines and out of this world photos. Greg regales us with stories from WWN's past, present, and future as we thin-slice fact from fiction, uncover the paper's black and white origins, and have more fun than aliens skipping their saucer across Lake Erie. Tune into this episode because the more you listen, the more you get involved!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Weekly World News official site Submit your stories to Weekly…

Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi broke onto the rock scene with their debut album, producing a few modest hits, but not quite making a splash. Their second album also made some noise on the airwaves, but didn't bring the success they desired. The third time had to be the charm. And in August 1986, Slippery When Wet hit record store shelves, introducing INSTANT smash hits like "Livin' on a Prayer," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive," and more. Spending an incredible 9 1/2 months in the top five on the Billboard 200, Slippery When Wet enjoyed two of those months at #1, was the best-selling album of 1987, and introduced 80's glam metal to the global stage. Tune in with Ben & Chris as we break down this iconic album and its addictive tracks, learn about the philtrum and Mixolydian mode, and even make connections to R2-D2 and the U.S.S.R.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your…

We swore we'd never do a movie about Toons again, not after our tragic past with that falling piano. But fate had a way of showing up at our doorstep... and making us laugh our butts off! Because we've strapped a rocket to our backs and Acme-d to the golden age of Hollywood to visit our cartoon pals Roger, Jessica, Benny, Baby Herman, a litany of Disney and Warner Brother favorites, and our favorite IRL noir detective, Eddie Valiant, on their zany journey into the seedy world of pattycake, murder, and the dreaded DIP! Can they outwit Judge Doom and the Weasels? Can we ever stop gushing over the endless talent packed into this movie? Take a listen, and smile-darn ya-smile! Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- The Making of Who Framed Roger Rabbit Complete History Of The Soviet Union, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris Tetris Trailer Music [The final countdown] - Epic…

From Big Wheels to Power Wheels, tricycles to bicycles, getting your own set of wheels was a right of passage in childhood. Your new rims opened up a world of possibilities and autonomous freedom, rolling down the street to meet up with “the gang” in the woods, at a field, or at a friend’s house - a pile of bikes already strewn across the front yard. Ride back with us to the 1980s to explore the origins of some of the most popular children’s summer rides, and how these helped sculpt the summer culture of the most radically-rolling decade in history.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Who Invented the Greatest Toy in History?! (AKA Big Wheel) History on the Development of Electric Ride-On Toys Learn the Power Wheels Story The Benefits of Outdoor Play: Why It Matters Our Children Spend Half as Much Time Playing Outside as We Did in the 80s 50 things to do before…

In the midst of an oil crisis and collapse of the fledgling video game industry, Nintendo was challenged to reinvent an affordable way to keep fans glued to their home television sets. Step 1: Ensure the company’s champion, Mario, hopped right out of the box on Day 1. Step 2: Evolve everything they’d learned from arcades-turned-bowling alleys. And Step 3: Reposition the Famicom from a video game system to a toy, by plugging in the most iconic video game blaster of all time. Deck yourself out in camo and climb into your 80’s blind spot with us as we revisit the ingenious tech, addictive gameplay, and nostalgic soundtrack of Duck Hunt. Smug retriever dogs need not apply.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Duck Hunt (NES) - Teens React: Retro Gaming Eagle Tortilla Chips - Duck Hunt (with the Odd Couple) Commercial -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High:…

"It’s here at last / a great podcast / on Reading Rainbowwww!" Fly back with Ben and Chris to the summer of 1983 to revisit the groundbreaking television show that brought literature to children beyond the school year and redefined what educational TV programming could achieve. The ever-wonderful LeVar Burton, and many other friends to know, showcased wonderful children’s books, gave kids an earnest voice, and took us behind the scenes to learn how the world worked around us. Thank you to Reading Rainbow for helping to inspire a lifelong love of storytelling, a respect for tough jobs, and the drive to read everything that we can get our hands on!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Reading Rainbow official website LeVar Burton Reads podcast LeVar Burton's Book Club ‘Butterfly in the Sky’: Film Review (The Hollywood Reporter) Why We All Need Subtitles Now (Vox) --…

Theorizing that we could time travel by researching and reminiscing, airwave personalities Ben and Chris entered their recording studio to develop a not-so-top-secret podcast, known as 80’s High. Pressured to achieve maximum edutainment and topical variety or risk losing listeners, Ben and Chris dove into the 1989 television sensation, “Quantum Leap,” and vanished. They awoke to find themselves in the past, surrounded by inexplicable Centurions, blue screen technology, and unfathomably good writing for a TV series. Fortunately, contact with their own time was maintained through brainwave transmissions with Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell, the show’s stars, whose phenomenal acting and broad talents kept audiences captivated as they put right what once went wrong. Join Ben and Chris as they venture through time and space to unravel this lightning in a bottle; hoping that each episode of 80’s High will be the one that brings them nostalgic bliss.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at…

Musician Herbie Hancock has made a titanic career out of fusing together disparate sounds, and Rockit was the breakout song that put him on the pop culture map. By crossing jazz with synthesizers, hip hop, drum machines, and DJ scratching, this song became the breakdancer's anthem of 1983 in school cafeterias across the country. And always a man to say yes to the possibilities, Herbie unleashed upon an unsuspecting MTV crowd a music video that gave us future shock, filled with disembodied figures writhing to the beat, popping and locking, kicking and twitching, and haunting our minds with the specter of what we just witnessed long after the TV went cold. Where did this video come from? Who made those unsettling mannequins? And what does it all mean? Join us as we explore the fascinating stories and characters that brought this song and its music video to life. Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!…

What happens when Pee-Wee Herman, Sarah Jessica Parker, and the director of “Grease” join forces in a NASA laboratory to prod a kid's brain and find the start button on a mercurial space ship? We unlock a movie that is part unsolved mystery, part government thriller, part zany comedy, and totally out of this world (even though we barely leave Earth)! Travel back - and forward again - in time with us aboard the technologically ground-breaking Trimaxion Drone Ship (Max) as we study this rare and bizarre specimen from the summer of 1986!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Life After the Navigator documentary Flight of the Navigator | VFXcool (Captain Disillusion) Disney to reboot 'Flight of the Navigator' with Bryce Dallas Howard at the helm (Space.com) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and…

It all started with a late night sketch meant to draw a few laughs, but little did Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird realize they had a wildly successful entertainment franchise at their fingertips. From the ink on the comic book page to the cartoon that launched a sprawling toy line, Turtlemania was everywhere in the late 80s and never really left us. They leapt to the movie screen, arcades, and video game consoles. Sometimes they were silly, other times dark and gritty. But every time, our heroes in a half shell delighted audiences with over-the-top action, sassy quips, helpful allies like Splinter and April, and dastardly plots to foil, thanks to The Shredder, Krang, and their rogue's gallery of baddies. So grab your signature weapon and headband and meet us at the party wagon because we're leaping from the sewers and into Dimension X with the cowabunga nostalgia of Turtle Power!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll…

Come along with the Snorks! Swim along with the Snorks! That's right, we're heading down to the ocean floor to revive the hidden animated gem that followed our plucky gang of thumb-sized creatures as they go on snorktastic adventures dodging oil drills, outwitting Dr. Strangesnork, and hiding from the ravenous Snork Eaters. Now you might be thinking this is an obvious Smurfs knockbuster, and well, you'd be totally right! Find out how spite led to this show's creation, along with the tantalizing tale of Captain Ortega and an impressive cast of grade A voice actors. Snorkiscopes down, it's time to dive in!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Snorks Wiki (Fandom) Snorks toys (I Love the 80s) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at gregreedmusic.com…

Once upon a time, there was a boy who saw the world in stories, portrait, and sound. From his humble home movies of toy train wrecks and classmates at war, Steven Spielberg grew into the most commercially successful filmmaker of all time and a beloved creator of cherished movies from breakouts Jaws and Close Encounters, to E.T. and Indiana Jones in the 80s, then beyond to Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and so many more. And those are only movies he directed. We also get into his brilliant list of writing and producing credits, movie studios he founded, and the personal stories that informed so much of his work. So find a comfy, familiar spot because we're leaping into the fantastical worlds brought to the silver screen by the one and only Steven Spielberg.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- "Spielberg" documentary (HBO Max) Steven Spielberg…

Nothing says Halloween in the 80's quite like trick-or-treating late a night, running through a Jacycees haunted house, reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and bobbing for apples at school. But where did these traditions comes from? And why do we love them so much? In this episode, we bring back classmate Mikey to explore the traditions that have made Halloween endure. From an ancient Celtic festival to the Catholic church, from the painful plastic of Ben Cooper masks to a haunted house with walls literally lined with guts. So grab a costume and pillow case and join us for a journey back to the 80’s, the ancient past, and up to today as we celebrate our favorite holiday.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- History of Halloween (History.com) Five Reasons Humans Need Halloween (Greater Good) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High:…

“Hey, snap out of it! Look around, or else you’re going to miss something incredible!” If Talking Heads frontman David Byrne could condense the wit, complexity, and ironic sensibility of their hit single off of 1980’s Remain in the Light into a 2022 Tweet, this would be it. Blending rock, synth, dance, Afrobeat, and even radio-broadcast preachers into a wholly unique New Wave sound, Once in a Lifetime - and its avant-garde music video - lit up the airwaves and video waves of radio, vinyl, and MTV in the early 80’s, inspiring a generation. One such muse-inspired author, Suzanne Mattaboni, joins us on this episode to co-host and share her perspective on the Talking Heads, as well as her new novel, Once in a Lifetime.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Kermit the Frog - Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime" (Laser Time, YouTube) Women With Attitude: How ‘80s New Wave…

Whether during indoor recess or a weekend with friends, we couldn't get enough of those fun, silly, amazing, frustrating board games of the 80's. Whether commanding troops or sliding chutes, using our brains or leaving it to chance, we tear through the games of yore like hungry hippos, exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly. Games like Mouse Trap, Pictionary, Connect Four, Risk, Clue, Life, Mall Madness, Crossfire, the dreaded Monopoly, and too many more to name, we explore our cherished memories and those of our listeners. We even uncover the oldest board game to ever exist, and it's way older than you think. Enough talk, let's play!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- 80s Then, 80s Now - Board Games A short history of board games (Doug Mann) What is the Oldest Board Game in the World? (Underdog Games) Benefits of playing board games (Bucks County Free Library)…

When the bulldozers arrive and the goons start harassing, it seems all is lost for our group of tenants in their historic, lone apartment building in the Lower East Side. What they need is a miracle. And who should answer the call but two little sentient spaceships hungry for metal, dying for power, and eager to start a family. The Fix-Its bring joy not only to our downtrodden residents but to us as the audience. Can our alien pals foil the big bad's plans and repair everything that's been lost? Gather up your nuts-n-bolts, make room in your rooftop shack, and for everything holy, do NOT jam a shovel into a fuse box because we're revisiting the heartwarming classic film, * batteries not included.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Batteries Not Included Fandom Wiki Ten Things You Didn't Know About Batteries Not Included (Minty Comedic Arts) The Real-life ‘UP’ House…

After taking his first accordion lesson at the age of six, "Weird Al" Yankovic catapulted from Lynnwood, CA to become one of the greatest parody (and accordion) artists of all time! Michael Jackson to Madonna, George Harrison to Nirvana, Weird Al flipped our perspective of cool on its head and gave us catchy, hilarious tunes that were sometimes better earworms than the originals. Just in time for this fall’s “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” and his current 2022 tour, join us as we travel back to the 80’s to commentate on the Pop Culture Commentator himself!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- "Weird Al" Yankovic official website Weird Al Yankovic Behind the Music (VH1) "Weird Al" Yankovic Goes Beyond Insanity While Eating Spicy Wings (Hot Ones) Twinkie Wiener Sandwich from UHF (Binging with Babish) Lin-Manuel Miranda Freaked Out Meeting Weird Al (Conan on TBS) The…

In the 1980's, we would do anything to convince our parents to roll through the drive-thru just for the chance to snag the latest toy from our favorite cartoon or movie. Whether you longed for Barbie or Hot Wheels, McRobots or Boo Buckets, cruise on back with us to discover the hotly debated origin of kids meals, unlock the memories of your favorite prizes, and find out how the fast food chains have fared amidst the legal battles, health concerns, and plastic waste.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Did McDonald’s Invent the Fast Food Kid’s Meal? (Culinary Lore) The History of the McDonald's Happy Meal Toys (Wide Open Eats) The Past, Present, and Future of Happy Meal Toys (Eater) McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys: A Timeline of the Best Toys Over the Years (Quality Logo Products) The Era of fast-food toys begins to melt away (NNY 360) Taco Bell discontinues kids’ meals…

When Gordon Shumway smashed through the roof of the Tanner's home 36 years ago, his blunt, sarcastic, comedic quips made him our favorite Alien Life Form. Whether you saw yourself as an ALF mocking humanity’s strange behaviors and beliefs or as a Willie trying to kick out that annoying family member LONG after the party was over, these four seasons had an undeniable impact on pop culture. We peek behind the puppet and beneath the stage, uncovering the drama on set and figuring out if this show passes the Shumway Bechdel Test. So grab the popcorn and hide your cats, because we’re tuning back into ALF! HA!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- ALF TV website Paul and Linda Fusco in an ALF interview at UConn Paul Fusco - Under The Puppet #23 ‘ALF’ Got Canceled Because He Was a Homebound Alien, Plus the Actors Hated the Show (Cheat Sheet) Tina Fey on the NBC's…

Join us as we set off on a globetrotting adventure, following a trail of discarded kettles, walking sticks, snorkels, and more in search of the most elusive champion of hide-and-seek to ever grace the pages of our childhoods. Whether you knew him as Wally or Waldo, Martin Handford’s incredibly detailed and delightful illustrations had us peering into rich scenes of Hollywood sets and epic pirate battles, magnifying glass in-hand, muttering to ourselves, “Where’s Waldo?”Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- 14 Facts About Where's Waldo? (Mental Floss) Algorithm Plots Best Path For Finding Waldo (Mental Floss) Where on Earth is Waldo? (Melanie Coles) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at gregreedmusic.com Cover art by Alex Goddard at…

Only the cleverest SCUMM could solve these puzzles! Grab two of your iconic friends - Bernard, Jeff, Michael, Razor, Syd, or Wendy - and boldly enter the kooky Edison Mansion to save your ensnared girlfriend, Sandy Pantz! We’re headed back to 1987 to explore the cult classic video game from LucasFilm Games, Maniac Mansion. This game is full of iconic music, foundation-building game systems, and enough creative twists, turns, and cyphers to make you wonder, “did a dastardly meteor and two unlikely tentacles write this thing?!” Let's step inside and see the world of point-and-click adventures this game and many of its offspring have given us.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Maniac Mansion: The classic graphic adventure game (Classic Gaming) The Untold Story of Maniac Mansion: For Nintendo, the baddest bad word is kill (Wired) Why Adventure Games Suck And What We…

When something strange goes bump in the night, who ya gonna call? The REAL Ghostbusters! That's right, we're dusting off the Ecto-1 and traveling back to the cartoon spinoff that expanded the franchise in a bid to sell us awesome toys... and it worked! And we get into all the ghoulish details, from the rivalry brewing with Filmation's Ghost Busters to the controversial decisions to change the cartoon, as well as the metaverse of Garfield and the coolest toilet toy ever. And as a bonus to you AMSR fans, Ben crinkles a lot of paper bags as he excitedly reveals his 80's toy collection!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Ghostbusters Wiki (Fandom) The 10 Best Episodes of The Real Ghostbusters (Monkeys Fighting Robots) The 14 Best The Real Ghostbusters Episodes (Slash Film) Cincinnati Toy Heritage mural -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High:…

Every kid in the 80s remembers the craze that hit the schoolyards and drugstores overnight... the arrival of those colorful wax packs of Garbage Pail Kids. Adam Bomb, Nasty Nick, New Wave Dave, Phony Lisa... with misfits and mayhem on every card, the characters we came to love were reviled by parents, banned in schools, slapped with a lawsuit, and even turned into one of the worst movies ever. And it's no surprise with their depictions of murder, mutilation, drugs, guns, and gross-out humor... they said so much about counter culture and lampooning of the era. Classmate Aaron returns with his stack of well-worn cards in hand as we flip through the trashy collection of crass and creepy curios that was Garbage Pail Kids.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- GEEPEEKAY.com The Shocking History of Garbage Pail Kids (Den of Geek) ‘Garbage Pail Kids’: HBO Max Developing…

Dust off your stereo and dig out those old cassette tapes, because in this episode we're going back to the lost art of making mix tapes (mixtapes). Whether crafting a message for your crush, mixing a sweet road trip playlist, or looking back on hip hop culture's influence on getting your DJ sets into the public, we reminisce on all the feels that made this phenomena so memorable and connect the dots to where we are today. Press play and record, listeners, you don't want to miss this one.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Exploring the Lost Art of the Mixtape (EDM Identify) Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture "John Dillinger and the Blind Magician" by Allison M. Dickson (LeVar Burton Reads podcast) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at…

If laughter is the best medicine, get ready for a triple dose of humor revisiting the stand-up comedy of Elayne Boosler. She broke through the industry to become the first female comedian to have a one-hour cable special, then went on to create two more in the 80's alone. With charisma and candor, Elayne works through her material effortlessly and seamlessly, weaving comedy gold from single life, double standards, dating, baseball, and so much more. So order your two drinks and give some love as Elayne Boosler takes the stage in her comedy specials Party of One, Broadway Baby, and Top Tomata.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Elayne Boosler official website Tails of Joy (Elayne's not-for-profit animal rescue organization) Elayne's tribute to comedian Louie Anderson The Comedy Master Who Hasn’t Gotten Her Due: Elayne Boosler (NY Times) Fifteen Women Who Changed the…

It was the dance fitness sensation that swept the nation--and the world! And we asked Jazzercise instructor Whitney to stop by and show us the moves that made Jazzercise a household name and a flourishing business, all thanks to the tireless energy of its founder Judi Sheppard Missett. And if you think this was an exercise craze of the past, think again! This episode is all about fun, community, empowering women, and of course, steamrolling a few dirtbags. Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Jazzercise official website The Fitness Craze That Changed the Way Women Exercise (The Atlantic) Third generation joins the Jazzercise family business (The San Diego Union-Tribune) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at gregreedmusic.com Cover art by Alex…

Ben & Chris share a sneak peek of a typical day at 80's High, along with a handful of episode highlights from 2021.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at gregreedmusic.com Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com

When it comes to quintessential Christmas movies, who can deny the nostalgic tale of Ralphie and his memories of that one particular Christmas when all he wanted was a Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time. So let's take a fond look back at this holiday hallmark, chock full of brilliant scenes, witty dialogue and narration, and all the characters we know like our own family. You'll come for the leg lamp, decoder ring, and tongue on a flagpole, but stay for perhaps our wildest and darkest fan theory yet! Nadafinga!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- A Christmas Story House & Museum A Christmas Story 2 official trailer A Christmas Story's Darkest Theory Uncovers a Killer Link to Black Christmas -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram:…

Come dream with us tonight, as we pop in our cassettes and tune into the magical world of Teddy Ruxpin, his pals Grubby and Newton Gimmick, and the world of Grundo. We learn all about Teddy's Disney origins, Nintendo connections, and spin-offs that include a cartoon, live-action show, Teddy 'n Chill, and a new doll design with eyes your nightmares won't soon forget. For extra credit, count how many times Ben gripes about animal species and Chris throws around the term janky.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Kids React to 80's Toys - Teddy Ruxpin Teddy Ruxpin Hospital What's inside the original Teddy Ruxpin? (viewer beware: this is a literal toy deconstruction!) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at gregreedmusic.com Cover art by Alex Goddard…

Buckle up traveling listeners, we're taking to sky, rail, and road to relive the three-day misadventures of Neal Page and Del Griffith in this delightful John Hughes film. Is it a buddy comedy, road trip movie, or a Thanksgiving classic? The answer is yes! We laugh through the litany of F-bombs, near misses, slapstick antics, and memorable cast. We cry at the heartfelt moments Steve Martin and John Candy beautifully bring to life. And most of all, we marvel at all the Bacon! So join us to revisit the great movie we know, the hidden gems you might have missed, and the nearly four hour cut it could have been... Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Official "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" movie trailer 15 Moving Facts About Planes, Trains and Automobiles - Mental Floss 13 Things That Still Hold Up Today - Screen Rant Airplane Food…

Enter the magical world of Fraggles, Doozers, Gorgs, and Silly Creatures as we revisit one of the most beloved, charming kids series ever created that not only entertained your socks off but strove to achieve world peace and end war in the process. No, really! So grab your radish sticks, find a hole in the wall, and dance your cares away... we're going back down to Fraggle Rock.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Down at Fraggle Rock: Behind the Scenes documentary Ben Folds Five "Do It Anyway" ft. Fraggle Rock official music video -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at gregreedmusic.com Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com

The foulest stench is in the air, so we're dusting off the funk of 40,000 years with the iconic 14-minute short film/music video that changed every game in entertainment. Classmate Reagen joins us for a howling discussion of MJ's legendary Thriller album, track, and video, as well as musings on moonwalking, Ola Ray, popcorn gifs, werecat dating tips, and so much more. Can you dig it?Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Thriller official music video Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is the eternal Halloween bop — and so much more (Vox) Vincent Price's monologue/rap (with missing verse) -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme song by Greg Reed at gregreedmusic.com Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com

It was a genre that defined a generation of horror, from every hidden stalker trope to the teens who just wanted to have fun. Movie aficionado and classmate Mikey joins us as we talk through how slasher films came into existence, hit a fever pitch in the mid-80s, and gave way to 90's horror and beyond. We hit the highlights--and many lowlights--that made these movies the unstoppable monsters they were. So stay together, lock your doors, and don't you dare wander off alone... because we're talking Freddy, Jason, Michael, Leatherface, Chucky, and so many more villains ready to spoil our good time.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film In Search of Darkness Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's…

Join us for a sprawling conversation of a sewer clown, the Losers Club, Lovecraftian horror, the giant space turtle, and the "miasma of events" that brings this haunting tale to life! Author Allison Dickson, our resident Kingophile, sits with us to talk through the 1986 novel, as well as the 1990 miniseries, the 2017/2019 movies, the macroverse, and the man behind it all. Come down here with us, and you'll. float. too.Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show! -- Can I Borrow Your Notes? -- Stephen King official website Allison Dickson official website The History and Psychology of Clowns Being Scary - Smithsonian Magazine Easter Eggs You Missed in IT - Looper IT Chapter Two: The Biggest Easter Eggs, Cameos, Callbacks & References You Might Have Missed - Collider -- Teacher's Pets -- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast and Twitter: @high_80s Theme…