20 Years of "Can't Buy Me Love"

My late night party dance of choice has always been the worm. (That and the one where you pick up one leg and put it through the other, but I don’t know what that’s called.) One of these days, though, I’ll have the nerve to break into the African Anteater Ritual. As long as the age range of the room checks out, it can't miss.

I bring this up because it’s time to celebrate another 80's movie milestone. It was 20 years ago this very day that theater goers first saw Patrick Dempsey go from “totally geek to totally sheik” as Ronald Miller in “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

Last fall, Entertainment Weekly named “Can’t Buy Me Love” number 41 in its list of the 50 best High School movies. I’m calling this a little deceptive though as several movies higher on the list are a bit misplaced. EW took "high school" a little too literally on this one. Both “Hoosiers” and “Hoop Dreams” are great movies in which the characters are high school students, but have a much better place on a top sports movies list. For a movie to be on this list, high school life needs to be at the heart of the story. I certainly don't see how a documentary fits in with the spirit of a list topped by “The Breakfast Club” and “Fast Times.” The miscasting goes on, but the bottom line is that "Can't Buy Me Love" got robbed of at least a few rungs. (Feel free to debate the list by leaving comments). Not to worry though. Just My Show is here to show the love.

It’s 20 years later and Patrick Dempsey is totally sheik once again as McDreamy on “Grey’s Anatamy.” But what about Ronald’s best friend Kenneth? You know, the likeable red headed nerd that gave us one of the best movie lines of the 80s. He’s Courtney Gains, and he too, has been working steadily since "Can't By Me Love" ("The Burbs", "Memphis Belle", "Sweet Home Alabama"). Most importantly, he's here to help celebrate the big birthday with us. And yes, we’re gonna try to get him to say it! Have a listen...


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