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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Check out Courtney's Music!

The "La Bamba" Coin Toss

Hopefully some of you've had a chance to listen to my interview with Lou Diamond Phillips for the 20th anniversary of "La Bamba." This one was great to do in that I could talk about a movie that I really enjoyed as well as the great music of Ritchie Valens that it turned me on to.

One thing I talked about with Lou is the factual accuracy of the film. While it sounds like there was a great effort to portray events correctly, there are usually at least some minor liberties taken in biographical movies for the sake of telling a good story in a short period of time. That being said, I give you the real story behind one of the most important moments in the film. On the actual 20th anniversary of "La Bamba's" release, I chatted with Grammy Award winning musician Tommy Allsup, who lossed the coin toss to Ritchie Valens for the final seat on the tragic flight. Have a listen...


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Check out Tommy's new CD!

20 Years of "Summer School"

I can't say that I ever had to go to summer school, but I probably came dangerously close once or twice. (Thanks for nothing Mr. Gendreau!) Every June though, some teenager somewhere has to can their big July plans after report cards come out. But since it never happened to me, I'll call it a small sacrifice for inspiring one of the great 80's movies.

Before the film snobs start in, yes, I'm aware that classics like "Raging Bull" and "Rain Man" opened between 1980 and 1989. When I say 80's movies, I mean the fun ones that Roger Ebert loves to tear apart ("Fast Times," "Can't by me Love," etc.), but most of us can just enjoy for what they are.

20 years ago this very day, one of those memorable ones hit theaters. "Summer School," you may forget, was actually directed by comedy legend Carl Reiner and starred Mark Harmon, who's up there in that Tony Danza likability group (who hates Tony Danza?) It gave us a pre-"Cheers" Kirsty Alley and, of course, a great group of subpar students. Yes yes, an early appearance by the beautiful Courtney Thorne-Smith as Pam definitely made (ok, it still makes) this movie even more enjoyable. But it's horror film buff Francis "Chainsaw" Gremp, who leads the classroom anarchy and helps carry the movie. Chainsaw was played by Dean Cameron, who you've also seen in "Men at Work" and the "Fast Times" TV series, among other things. I caught up with the very friendly and VERY honest Dean Cameron in the car, to chat about his time on the "Summer School" set. And here is my first ever graphic language warning! (Dean loves to drop the F-bomb). Have a listen...


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Links: Urgent & Confidential: Dean Cameron's Nigerian Spam Scam Scam
(DVD cover art courtesy of Paramount Home Video)

Wa Wa Watch it!

Nobody will come to the defense of scripted television more than me. After all, it's the biggest thing we talk about here and I was as angry as anyone when it started getting phased out by reality television. That doesn't mean some of it's not still fun to watch though. In fact, there's something about VH1's reality programing that almost always get me. (Wait, I know what it is...Emmanuel Lewis sleeping in a bunk bed with MC Hammer. If you can't appreciate that, please see your way to the door.) Now they're at it again with the new series "Scott Baio is 45...and Single."

The basic idea of the show is that Scott Baio, who most people know has had his fair share of lady friends, is trying to get his life in order. To do this, he has to confront the women of his past, while getting guidance from a life coach and support from his buddies (one of which is Jason Hervey from "The Wonder Years," who also produces the show).

Despite a clear lack of interest in sitting around and talking about the good old "Happy Days," the first episode provided some great cameos from Scott's TV past including a face to face sitdown with shortcake herself and a phone chat with the Fonze. From the looks of the coming up preview, there's lots more on the way. If you're visiting this blog, my guess is you'll get a kick out of it.

So does Scott really need to get his head screwed on straight or do people need to cut him a little slack? Who better to ask than his TV mom? Ellen Travolta (John's big sister) played Scott's mother in two different characters over three series ("Happy Days", "Joanie Loves Chachi" and "Charles in Charge.") Have a listen to our chat...



(Photo courtesy of VH1)

Cool Off With a Chipwich

It's hot out there this week. We're talking triple digits in some parts of the West and so hot in the East that New York City is on blackout watch. No doubt people everywhere are heading for their freezers or running for the ice cream truck. (I'm sorry, but if you don't still get at least a little excited when you hear the ice cream truck coming, you're not someone I want to associate with!)

Lots of choices my friends: the ice cream sandwich, the fudgsicle, the creamsicle, the chocolate eclair. But I ask you, is there any more reliable than the Chipwich? Such a simple idea. Such a classic. That's why I was so surprised when I learned that the Chipwich has only been on the market for about 25 years. Seriously, can you imagine a time without the Chipwich? (Yes, as someone who's been known to down one or two before noon, I may be a little biased.)

I was also happy to find out that despite being currently produced by Nestle, the Chipwich was not created in a big corporate boardroom, but by a regular guy right here in New York. It started in a small ice cream shop, gained a following in push carts around the city and then invaded freezers everywhere. It's often duplicated, but there's only one original. Despite the fact that he's no longer directly involved with the product he put on the map, Chipwich inventor Richard LaMotta (seen with his stand) was nice enough to share his cool story on this scorching summer day.

Have a listen...


Links: Chipwich, myStudentBiz
(Photos courtesy of Richard LaMotta)

Battle For The Backyard

With July 4th coming up, odds are you might be headed out to a backyard BBQ. If your friends are like mine, it's only a matter of time before you break out some of the classic games you grew up playing. So the question I put out to you now...what is the greatest backyard game you played as a kid, that still makes for a great time when you're hanging out with your buddies now? We're looking for one or more of the following: nostalgia, chill out factor and ability for serious backyard rivalry and competition if desired.

Let's throw a few off the list right away. In my personal experience, I haven't seen a whole lot of croquet in my post college years, nor have I seen a whole lot of people over ten playing scoop ball (not sure I ever really knew what it was called in the first place). On the reverse end, I don't think bocce ever had mainstream appeal with the under ten crowd and just to cover all our bases...Slip N' Slide and the long discontinued Wet Banana are backyard classics, but not games. (If you do plan on breaking these out though, beware of roots. I can still feel those bad slides all these years later.)

So here for your consideration is the field for Just My Show's Battle For The Backyard: WIFFLE Ball, Frisbee and horseshoes. Of course, like any good debate, all sides must have a fair chance to state their case. Below is a representative of each, who will try to convince Just My Show listeners that their game is the best. Listen to each audio clip, think long and hard, and then cast your vote by leaving a comment. Write in votes are welcome.

WIFFLE BALL: Stephen Mullany, VP of The Wiffle Ball Inc.

(and grandson of the inventor)

Listen

FRISBEE: David Waisblum, Frisbee Product Manager at WHAM-O/ Professional Frisbee Disc Golfer

Listen

HORSESHOES: Alan Francis, World Horseshoe Tossing Champion (record 12 time world champ-the Tiger Woods of horseshoes)

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(Photos courtesy of The Wiffle Ball Inc. , WHAM-O, White Distributors)

Umm...This Was Awkward

Kids, if you're gonna try this at home, here's a tip. When you call to get someone's contact info, spell out the name.
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