Episode 125: Halloween Special - Stranger Kids

It is the weird time, the time of long shadows, where the cold bites harder, above the ragged fingers of blackish clouds claw at the bone-white surface of the moon. It is the time of bizarre happenings, of disquieting omens and of throwback 80s nostalgia weird fiction that you can binge watch on a popular streaming service.

Grabbing the chance as the kids whizz by (you know, on their bikes) those other kids, the ones from the 80s mull over the new hotness of all things 80s throwback. Is the current fad any more than that? Are kids on bikes integral to the vibe? Are these artefacts true to the era, or just fluffy (if tentacly) nostalgia for the time of the 80s? Does any of this matter if we're all having a good time?

Taking in the sights along the way the 80s kids stroll, unaided by human-powered bi-pedal assistance, through the cultural thicket, and wonder what happened to the good old family weird fiction movie of yore. Has the double whammy of IT and Stranger Things created the illusion of a new phase of the 80s culture revival, or is there more to be gained in the future from the neon past of the Goonies, the Monster Squad and, of course, Explorers?

This episode uses Excerpts of John Bartmann's My Time Done Come, available on Bandcamp and used under a Creative Commons License

Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/302HalloweenSpecialStrangerKids/3-02-Halloween-Special-Stranger-Kids.mp3

Episode 118: Rowdy Roddy Rose Tinted Spectacles

We have established that Ghostbusters, Back To The Future, The Thing, Big Trouble In Little China, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Gremlins, Aliens, The Lost Boys, The Terminator, Blade Runner, Conan The Barbarian, Brazil, Predator, Commando, Return of the Living Dead, Nightmare on Elm Street, Explorers, The Goonies, Robocop and dozens of other great moments in cinema took place in the 1980s. But does that mean the 80s were necessarily a better time for pop culture than any before or since?

You cannot deny the 70s, the 00s and, sigh, even the 90s had their moments, but can it be true that in the 80s even the low points were higher? Is that a matter for ultimate aesthetic truth? Or is it just a bunch of grumpy old men crying into their Back to the Future trilogy box sets about past glories?

As the All-New, All-Retro 80s Kids are determined to make the bright future pay homage to the neon-tinted age of shoulder pads it is absolutely vital that they ask "Why are we so obsessed with the 80s?" with the rise of Stranger Things and synthwave it may seem that we're not alone, but is all just the future glimpsed through Rowdy Roddy Rose tinted spectacles? Or does the 80s truly live again?

Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/20180sNostalgiaEditFinal/2-01-80s-Nostalgia-Edit-Final.mp3

This episode features an excerpt from Whisper of Night Streets by the estimable Eva Schlegel.

Episode 108: And Now, The End Is Near

SPOILER WARNING! This show is about the ends of shows. So the topic of conversation is necessarily spoiler-heavy. Listen with caution!

You had to know it was on its way. There's only one year left in the Noughties, those final Top 5s and we're a mere 7 letters from the end of the alphabet.

All that remains is for the kids to sweep up, arrange the barstools neatly and turn out the lights. Cue the emotional piano music, like all great shows the 80s Kids is winding up to the big finish.

So, before we take that last step into the arena of finality, why not take the opportunity to get all beardy that one last time?

In a conclusion to the "navel-gazing" strand of the cast Leo and Ian talk about show finales. They go hunting for the common threads in that most elusive of beasts: the satisfying conclusion.

"Lost" is bound to come up again, as it does, but there's also a look at "Star Trek: TNG", "Buffy", new "BSG" "Fringe", "Blakes 7", "Babylon 5", "Twin Peaks" and "The Shield" among others.

So as the roundabout slows try not to get anything in your eye. You can rest assured that the kids aren't going to go out in an "everybody dies" toys from pram kind of a finale.

Incidental Music by incompetech.com



Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/Episode108AndNowTheEndIsNear/108-And-now-the-end-is-near.mp3

Episode 41: Top 5 Films Of The 80s Grand Slam - Part 2

This week our heroic trio finish off recounting their personal top five films from the 1980's! Having vanquished numbers 5, 4 and 3 last week all that remains is to hunker on down and chew through their remaining top two. Of course the joy of it all is they don't know what each other has picked and so it is entirely possible they've all selected exactly the same films making this a somewhat short blunt episode of general agreement and consensus.

Either that or it's going to be a lengthy debate over up to six films with heated words and ruthless disagreement over each others pithy choices. Well, either way here we are. Cometh the hour cometh the Top Five films of the 1980's from the perspectives of Messrs Justin, Ian and Leo.

What will their last two films be? The Second best films of the 80's: Will Justin's choice be so brilliant we can't even look at it? Will Ian's be a short film? Will Leo's have a showdown at the top of a very tall building? And finally the Number one best film of the 80's: Will Justin's choice make us ask profound questions on the human condition? Will Ian's make us ask 'Who's the Daddy?' and lastly will Leo's final choice have a showdown at the top of a very tall building? Let us find out together!

Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/041Top5FilmsOfThe80sGrandSlamPart2/041-Top-5-Films-of-the-80s-Grand-Slam-Part-2.mp3

Episode 40: Top 5 Films Of The 80s Grand Slam - Part 1

This week our Trio finally sit down and begin the lengthy process of confessing what their personal top FIVE movies of the 1980s actually are. They don't know what each other has picked, so not only will this be a journey of discovery but suspense too as it is totally possible they picked the same movies and will have to nervously laugh it off.

So, sit back and enjoy the start of the epic ramble as the 80s Kids lay bare their kinks and quirks. What will the verbose meta spinning Leo pick for his Number 5? Will it require a black board with diagrams to explain?

What about the artistically balanced Justin? Will his Number 4 make your head pop open? And of course the Sci Fi obsessive Ian, will his Number 3 make you want to throw yourself out an airlock? Well. Lets find out!

Incidental music “Monkeys Spinning Monkeys” by Kevin McLeod of incompetech.com

Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/040Top5FilmsOfThe80sGrandSlamPart1/040-Top-5-Films-of-the-80s-Grand-Slam-Part-1.mp3

Episode 28: 1985 - Mcgann DEAD After Geriatric Spy Drives Delorean Commando Style In Brazil

The 80s kids finally arrive in the year 1985! However after only a brief look at the massive list of films to cover they give up on the project almost immediately. Instead they gather up only 10 of the most memorable starting with probably 85's most identifiable screen offering, “Back to the Future”. Digestion begins.

Spielberg's long shadow is felt throughout, from the Goonies to Young Sherlock Holmes and Weird Science. It's the age of the young person having an amazing adventure, with thrills and laughs along the way. Unless your name happens to be Dorothy Gale, in which case things are looking very grim indeed.

Leo continues to follow Schwarzenegger's offerings with delight and glee while Ian recoils in nausea and exasperation at Roger Moore's now rather flaccid 007. Justin cheers him up with diversions in 85's more artistic film offerings with the visually stunning Brazil and Legend.

As usual Leo unleashes the Zombies to the indifference of some. On the subject of rising unexpectedly from the dead … Paul McGann returns to our screens as the Titular Time Lord for the first time in 17 years! As before his Dr Who vehicle crashes and burns, this time with startlingly different results. The 80s Kids muse on the implications in a nice chat at the end.

Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/0281985McgannDEADAfterGeriatricSpyDrivesDeloreanCommandoStyleInBrazil/028-1985-Mcgann-DEAD-after-Geriatric-Spy-drives-Delorean-Commando-style-in-Brazil.mp3

Episode 21: 1984 - Killer Robots Marshmallow Men Nightmares And Too Many Movies

There's literally too much 1984 to fit into one episode this week as the kids take a good stab at cramming it all in to the one hour.

Obviously, they fail miserably, both in that they overrun and also in that they can't possibly get through everything even so. This was the year of Beverly Hills Cop, The Terminator, Ghostbusters, The Karate Kid and The Temple of Doom.

That's not even the full list of notables, so it inevitably gets a bit hectic. In the end, though, hectic is how we like things round here so let's get together and hold on tight for the first run through one of the most cinematic years in living memory.


Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/0211984KillerRobotsMarshmallowMenNightmaresAndTooManyMovies/021-1984-Killer_Robots_Marshmallow_Men_Nightmares_and_Too_Many_Movies.mp3

Episode 20: 1983 - All The Way Down And Then Back Up

1983 was not one of cinemas proudest years, crammed with sub par sequels and burdened with a short-lived 3-D fad. Not that there weren't good, even great, movies about but almost all of these came from the left field.

1983 was the underwhelming finger pause before what most people think of as 'the eighties' really kicks in. So the eighties kids this week go a-burrowing, down into the heart of 1983 recounting the disappointments, unearthing the triumphs, ready to move forward into a number of far more hectic years.

Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/0201983AllTheWayDownAndThenBackUp/020-1983-All_The_Way_Down_And_Then_Back_Up.mp3

Episode 19: 1982 - Everything Happening All At Once

You won't believe your eighties at the gems up for discussion in this week's cast. Indeed the kids themselves are bowled over by the sheer cinematic variety on display.

1982 was the year of The Thing, Poltergeist, Tron and Wrath of Khan. In no year previously could these be considered the frosting on a giant movie cake, so it just goes to show 1982 was a veritable cornucopia of cinematic goodness.

So join us to find out if Blade Runner is just misunderstood, if ET really is all that and speculate as to whether the Dark Crystal is suitable entertainment for children of any age as the 80s kids get blown away by the awesome might of '82


Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/0191982EverythingHappeningAllAtOnce/019-1982-Everything-Happening-All-At-Once.mp3

Episode 18: Pity The Fool Who Messes With Our Imports

Fire up your robot car, get out your welding irons and affix some sheet metal to a 4x4, turn into whatever animal you want as long as it's an eagle or a tiger, it's time to look at some of the 80s viewing aimed at younger audiences from across the Atlantic.

Of course, there were anomalous programmes such as the A-Team which didn't start out for kids, things that straddled the gap like Knight Rider and stuff aimed squarely at the younger viewer such as Benji, Zaxx and the Alien Prince.

Basically, if it had a real person in it and it came from the USA in the 80s the 80s kids are getting into it this week. (The cartoons, well, they merit a whole show to themselves He-Man and Transformers fans!)

SPECIAL BONUS CONTENT: Response to feedback, listen on after the end theme to enjoy this response to a detailed fan comment from our Pod-O-Matic page.

Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/018PityTheFoolWhoMessesWithOurImports/018-Pity-The-Fool-Who-Messes-With-Our-Imports.mp3

Episode 16: Never Forget The Gunge

Nowadays genre television is of such a high quality that it's a tough game to get into. Faint hearts abound as TV Channels would rather put out tosh like 'Sharknado' than produce a low-production value genre show.

In the 80s this shame was no issue as channels worldwide embraced monsters made of rubber and gaffer tape, sets made of cardboard and endless scenes shot in quarries. Not only that but we went right along with them embracing shows that begged the indulgence of our imaginations to make up for the lack of an effects budget.

The 80s kids examine with affection the role that the UK played in our genre landscape from our attempts at robot based sitcoms to the special schedule for good telly dictated by only having a handful of broadcast channels. It's a good, solid UK-based nostalgiafest this week and all the better for it. Last one to the sofa has to wear the Helmet of Justice!


Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/016NeverForgetTheGunge/016-Never-Forget-The-Gunge.mp3

Episode 15: 1981 - Genre Movie A Go Go

1981 dawns bright and fresh in our memory this week, a year so crammed full of cinematic goodness an hour barely seems like an adequate amount of time to cover it all off.

The legacy of Star Wars and Halloween is felt in '81, perhaps, more heavily than it was felt previously. The amount of SF and fantasy released in '81 was truly staggering. The traditional horror fodder of the 70s was being left behind in a deluge of slasher movies, gross out horror and more fantastic fare featuring exploding heads, Babylonian zombies and flesh-warping werewolves.

The eighties were most definitely here but still finding their feet, so let's look at the triumphs and tragedies of one of the most imaginative years in cinematic history.

 
Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/0151981GenreMovieAGoGo/015-1981-Genre-Movie-A-Go-Go.mp3

Episode 14: 1980 - A New Decade Dawns

For a cast called Revenge of the 80s kids the 80s have, thus far, lost out to the previous decade in terms of air time.

Well, all that is coming to an end as of now. This week we look at 1980 itself in all it's new decade-y glory. From Airplane to the Elephant Man from Altered States to Empire the eighties kids cover off a year confused as to which decade it even belonged in.

Also, The invocation of Hawk the Slayer has drastic consequences that may change the face of the podcast forever!


Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/0141980ANewDecadeDawns/014-1980-A-New-Decade-Dawns.mp3

Episode 13: It's Beginning To Look A Bit Like Robo

Bit of an emergency podcast this week as sound files in Leo's hard drive go mysteriously astray. So we poke around in a couple of recent news items, SyFy's recent darker themed programming and trepidation surrounding the upcoming RoboCop reboot, before talking Verhoeven.

The Dutch director brought the late 80s and 1990s some defining cinematic moments from ED-209 to Arnie's head exploding on Mars, from Sharon Stone's calculated wardrobe malfunction to the sight of Doogie Howser SS.

The 80s kids ponder the violent imagery and deeper motivations of the man who made the 90s sexier and gorier than the previous decade.


Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/013ItsBeginningToLookABitLikeRobo/013-Its_Beginning_To_Look_A_Bit_Like_Robo.mp3

Episode 12: Sue's 80s Top 5

Right before we surge forth into the 80s we take a moment to connect with Sue and her top 5 of the 80s.

The reason being that our own Top 5s of the 70s were a good intro to those shows but the 80s presents a trickier problem for the 80s kids. Sue, though, has found her own choosing process easier and so we take a first bite of the sweet fruit of the 1980s in this special episode. Enjoy!


Direct Link: https://archive.org/download/012Sues80sTop5/012-Sues_80s_Top_5.mp3