Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast (technoretro dads)

80s teen comedies were tons of fun at the time, but were they a deeper influence than we remember? Plus, the classic puzzle-platform video game Lemmings and other brain busting games. 

 

When we were independent enough to see more mature movies, we often chose from a variety of 80s teen comedies. Sure they were ridiculous, but they also presented relatable coming of age stories that stuck with us into adulthood. Plus, keep your mind sharp by playing the ‘91 classic Lemmings or other puzzle platform video games. 



TechnoRetro News

  • Mortal Kombat is set for a more mature and true to the game rated R version
  • A Buckaroo Banzai sequel novel is finally coming from the original author
  • The original Muppet Show will soon be on Disney+
  • Are you on board for a Willy Wonka prequel movie?
  • How about a Young Guns 3 sequel?



I Love My Cereal

More classic cereals are getting the snack bag treatment with Cap’n Crunch’s Oops! All Mega Berries. And the Ghostbusters sequel will start out the hype with a General Mills cereal



TechnoRetro Arcade

Lemmings has been a favorite for 30 years. In this puzzle platform video game, you control a pack of lemmings (or more scientifically accurate; a ‘slice’ of lemmings) as you lead them to safety. And we would occupy ourselves with other puzzles like Tetris, Qix, The Incredible Machine, Minesweeper, and Myst.  What were some of your favorites?



Let’s All Go To The Movies

The 80s gave us so many great movie genres that have influenced us in different ways. But were Teen Comedies just mindless fun, or did they make a difference too? We look back as some of our favorite goofy, fun, sometimes raunchy selections and how they may have been deeper coming of age stories for all of us to learn from as we grew up. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-35.mp3
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Bro, do you even TechnoRetro? Have movies shaped your life? What cartoons taught you life lessons? How does cereal teach independence? This week we look at why we still love all the great things we grew up with and how they shaped who we are. 

 

We grew up with so many great things. And we still love remembering it all today. Has it affected who you are as much as us? Jay and Shua reminisce about how they got where they are and share some of the influences of you, the Earbuds, too. 



TechnoRetro News

  • We have confirmation that the TRON coaster at Disney World will be delayed.
  • Congratulations to The Mandalorian for winning Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy series at the Critics Choice Super Awards.
  • Could Cobra Kai be getting a spinoff series soon?
  • The Willow series loses a director
  • Bethesda and Lucasfilm Games announce a great new Indy game
  • The Risk Board Game is getting a live action series treatment



I Love My Cereal

Shane the Roving Spoonster gives us news of a tasty cereal snack from Post. Plus, UK cereal gets an organic version. Will it be tasty? We want to know!



Saturday Mornings

Whether you enjoyed GI Joe, Bugs Bunny, or Challenge of the Super Friends, Saturday morning was a special time in a kids life in the 70s and 80s. Which shows were your favorites? Did the raving commercialism actually do us harm, like the so-called experts claimed? Or did it help us with creativity and ethics? That’s probably a matter of opinion, but either way, they stuck in our brains all these years. 



TechnoRetro Arcade

Did you have a local arcade in your town? Or did you have to ride your bike to the 7-Eleven to indulge in your favorite game? Jay and Shua share their stories about why the enjoyed their experiences with the house of games and how it helped them grow. 



Let’s All Go To The Movies

Arcades weren’t the only escape we got to go to when we were younger. The movies gave us an opportunity to learn valuable life lessons too. And a lot of times we capped off the time with a little jaunt around the mall. How did you experience your movies? Let us know, and try to make it a great experience for the next generation. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-34.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

If you're wondering which decade dripped the most machismo, it had to be the 80s. Iron Eagle was a perfect movie example of this, but it probably had something to do with the montage-style music it included. Jay and Shua look at both this week on TechnoRetro Dads.

 

Need an F-16, but just for an afternoon? No problem! Just get Chappy to help you grab a couple so you can go rescue your dad from his Biyalian captors.  Thus the plot of the 1986 macho film, Iron Eagle. Plus, this movie included a macho soundtrack, a staple of many 80’s flicks. We look at montage music on Vinyl Scratchback.



TechnoRetro News

  • A Rubik’s cube movie is in development, but will it be the Dark Knight of game movies?
  • Michael Keaton is Batman, now and forever. Seriously! We are getting word that he will be THE Batman in the DCU.



Let’s All Go to the Movies

In 1986, movies about the military and macho heroism was all the rage. So the Louis Gossett Jr movie, Iron Eagle came at a perfect time. Doug Masters must rescue his father from his Biyalian captors after he is shot down illegally. But Doug is only 18 years old. So he enlists the help of experienced Air Force Colonel Chappy Sinclair.  They use their wits and plot conveniences to hijack a couple F-16s and begin their mission. We break down all the crazy, unlikely fun of Johnny Lawrence’s favorite movie.  



Vinyl Scratchback

If you need to show a lot of things happening at once, remind everyone of what’s going on, and with every shot, show a little improvement, to show it all would take too long, you need a montage. It was a great way to move the plot along in 80s films. We look at some memorable montage music on Vinyl Scratchback. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-33.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

We're sure all the Earbuds are ready to start a fresh new year! Let's do it by bursting our brain while watching the horror classic Scanners. Plus, the January 1981 issue of Starlog and our recap of the amazing TechnoRetro gifts we got for Christmas this year.

 

Now that the holidays are over, we can get back to horror movies, right? Well, that’s what David Cronenberg though in 1981 when he brought us Scanners. A new month brings a new issue of Starlog from 1981 on the Magazine Rack. And we share the great gifts we were lucky enough to receive for Christmas. 



TechnoRetro News

  • Netflix gave us a Christmas gift when they announced that season 3 of Cobra Kai would premiere early on January 1
  • We send all our best wishes to legendary voice actor Tom Kane who has been recovering from a stroke
  • The surviving Beatles have been keeping busy during the pandemic. Both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr released new music. 
  • Saturday Morning cartoons have returned to MeTV!




Cereal

Shua shares some holiday discoveries and The Roving Spoonster has two great stories. Pebbles has a great filter if you are a user of TikTok. And you can share it to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Kellogg’s is releasing a Crayola Crayons cereal, but does it taste as authentic as the real thing?



Magazine Rack

The cover story about Star Trek actor Mark Lenard doesn’t even scratch the surface of what you can find in this issue of Starlog. If you were lucky enough to pick up the actual paper copy, you would have acquired a free vinyl disk by Neil Norman who plays sci-fi songs in his own special style. And you could read about the animated Flash Gordon, the Wild Wild West, and an announcement about the upcoming Star Wars Radio Drama. And tons more! Check out the Magazine Rack!  



Let’s All Go to the Movies

In 1981 David Cronenberg was experimenting with all kinds of gruesome special effects as he built his directing career.  Michael Ironside, in one of his early roles, stars as an evil, telepathic ‘Scanner’ who wants to build an army of more evil, telepathic Scanners. How well does the 40 year old movie hold up by today’s standards. And what did this groundbreaking movie do to push special effects into the future. This is Scanners



Toys in the Attic

Jay and Shua give a rundown of the great TechnoRetro gifts their friends and families bequeathed upon this this holiday season. Toys, games, comics, and more for the grateful Dads. What did you get?

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-32.mp3
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Santa Claus has been around for a long time, but in 1985 we got to see him in his very own movie! Dudley Moore and John Lithgow star in Santa Claus the Movie. Plus, the Earbud Toy Catalog Champion has been chosen!

 

Have you ever wondered about the origins of Santa Claus? We get to find out in Santa Claus the Movie and also learn why commercialism is an evil, greasy mistress. Plus, Christmas memories, arcade toys, and the Champion of the Earbud Toy Catalog. 



TechnoRetro News

  • We say goodbye to another Star Wars legend. Boba Fett, Jeremy Bulloch, passed away at age 75. We honor his memory and his kindness. 
  • Chris Pine plays Dungeons & Dragons?! Well, he’ll be playing someone in the new D&D movie




Let’s All Go to the Movies

Did you see Santa Claus the Movie in theaters? Or did you decide to see Rocky IV instead? David Huddleston gets to present his interpretation of the man in the red suit, but still gets third billing after Dudley Moore and John LIthgow. Either way, Jay and Josh look back on a legendary movie made by the same people who brought us Superman in 1978. 

 

Toys in the Attic

We remember arcade games we received for Christmas when we were growing up. From LED sports to Pac Man watches, we explain why we had so much fun with toys that were so Low-Def. And the Earbuds join in too. 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog 2020

The final results are in!  The final four found UNO vs Lego and GI Joe vs Big Wheel. Who took the Championship this year? 

 

Christmas Memories

The memories of Christmastime helped to shape who we have become in our lives. And with this year’s holidays being so different than ever, it’s a great time to build special, new memories with your family. We reminisce about the before time, the long, long ago with Christmastime of the past. And Shua shares the great gift that was given to him by Jay. Check it out here: https://imgur.com/gallery/txNflqN 

 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-31.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Ernest Cline's "Ready Player Two" has arrived. We give our spoiler-free impressions of the new novel. And 40 years ago, the legendary Robin Williams gave us his interpretation of Popeye. Plus, the Toy Catalog and tons of breaking Star Wars news

 

In 1980 Director Robert Altman gave us his idea of the classic comic character Popeye. But it wasn’t quite the blockbuster they expected. And we’ve been looking forward to the release of Ready Player Two. It’s here! What did you think?



TechnoRetro News

  • Back to the Future will get some answers to unanswered questions in a new DeLorean Owner’s Manual. 
  • Breaking! Disney made announcements of TONS of new projects. We give our first reactions of all the Star Wars coming our way

 

Cereal

General Mills announces 16 new cereals for 2021. The Roving Spoonster found us all the scoop of some tasty morning treats. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies

He’s strong to the finish, ‘cause he eats his spinach. He’s Popeye the Sailor Man! And in 1980 he was played by the legendary Robin Williams. Director Robert Altman made the film with his own style, and a feel that was reminiscent of the original strip. But despite the attention to detail, the film didn’t hold up to expectations. Was it the writing? The performances? The music? Whatever it was, it launched the movie career of Robin Williams and gave us fun stuff to talk about. 

 

Book Review

Ready Player Two is the follow up to Ernest Cline’s best selling novel Ready Player One. The story hits “continue” right where we left off from the first book. We find Wade dealing with all the pressure of becoming the most powerful man in the world. But not long after he takes control of the OASIS, a new threat emerges and it could spell disaster for the whole world. Jay and Shua review the novel without spoiling it for you. And we want to know what you thought. Send us a message to podcast@technoretrodads.com 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog 2020

This week we break down the Creative Toys Division of the Toy Catalog. Who will be the winner of this round? Rubik’s Cube? Lego? And make sure you vote on the last division “Fun For All!” as we make our way to the Final Four. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-30.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Flash! Ahhh ahh! He'll save every one of us. Forty years ago we got a modern day interpretation of a classic space hero! Flash Gordon may not have been the hit they hoped, but it has lived on in legendary status. Plus, the December 1980 issue of Starlog on the Magazine Rack.

 

Flash Gordon has been around for 86 years, and the 1980 interpretation has gained a cult following all on it’s own. Let’s talk about his history and celebrate 40 years of Flash. 



TechnoRetro News

  • RIP David Prowse
  • New casting announcements for the Willow series, including Enfys Nest herself 

 

Cereal

Today’s cereal news is brought to you by the letter S for Sesame Street Cereal. Coming soon! We speculate how good the new flavor or Fruity Pebbles is going to be. And for those of you that like to think healthy, Foodnerd may have some new plant-based cereals for you. 

 

Magazine Rack

The December 1980 issue features the new movie Flash Gordon. They show a lot of sci-fi love for it. Plus, mentions of Outland, Heavy Metal, and Escape from New York. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies

The 40 year anniversary of Flash Gordon generates all kinds of conversation as Jay and Shua remember their experiences, talk about the making and history of the Character. Sam J Jones and Max Von Sydow star in this 1980 classic.



Earbud Toy Catalog

The results are in for the next division of The TechnoRetro Dads Earbud Toy Catalog! The other divisions; Creative Toys and Fun for All are up now!   Will your favorites make the cut? Share the survey with everyone and check back all week to see which toys are moving to the next rounds. Look on social media and Discord for the links to the surveys

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-29.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Kevin! Don’t be sad that you’re Home Alone! You have The TechnoRetro Dads to keep you company. We remember the movie on its 30th anniversary and the video games it inspired. Plus, the Mousetrap game that may have just inspired Kevin’s booby traps. And the results of the first matchups in the Earbud Toy Catalog. The holidays are here!

 

We may all be Home Alone this year, but we can still have some fun. We remember Kevin McCallister’s antics and the Mousetrap board game that reminds us that we can play at home. 



TechnoRetro News

  • Ready Player Two is available now! What do you think?
  • Indiana Jones is timeless. Well, we hope so since Indy 5 begins pre production next year. 

 

Let’s All Go to the Movies!

30 years ago Kevin McCallister taught us the true meaning of Christmas while protecting your house from really, really stupid burglers. Home Alone is one of the highest grossing comedies of all time. Let’s look back on all the holiday fun!

 

TechnoRetro Arcade

Home Alone inspired a slew of video game versions for tons of platforms. We compare them and discuss how it could look today.

 

Retro Holiday Shopping

We remember the old stores we used to go to for the holidays and why they stuck in our memories. Do you remember going shopping with Mom or Dad? Let us know your stories!

 

Toys in the Attic

Mouse Trap was a fun board game. Did you know it actually had rules?! Us neither. We though you just set up the Rube Goldberg device and captured your Star Wars figures with it. We look back at the 58 year old game and share our experiences. 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog

The results are in for the first division of The TechnoRetro Dads Earbud Toy Catalog! The next round is Action Figures. Will your favorites make the cut? Share the survey with everyone and check back all week to see which toys are moving to the next rounds. Look on social media and Discord for the links to the surveys

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-28.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT

Happy Thanksgiving from The TechnoRetro Dads! Tons to be thankful for even this year. Wacky cereal recipes for your feast, video game mods for the season, and some of our favorite retro Thanksgiving specials. Join us at the table for a holiday week of fun and laughs. 

 

Missing everyone for the strangest holiday season ever? Come hang out with The TechnoRetro Dads! We have cereal recipes, video games, Thanksgiving specials and more!  



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser continues to make progress and we have now been given a taste of what the rooms will look like. Star saving now because you may need to dip into your kids’ college fund to afford it. But one Disney property that won’t break your bank is the Star Wars Lego Holiday Special on Disney+. It’s tons of fun!

 

Cereal 

The Roving Spoonster has shared some adult cereal flavored beverages to indulge in for the holidays. More companies are trying out the snack bags. And you can flavor up your coffee too. Unless you want to just drink it straight. 

And we have some cereal supplements (or straight out replacements) for your Thanksgiving feast. 

 

Earbud Toy Catalog

The TechnoRetro Dads Earbud Toy Catalog is back! This week, we feature retro games!  Share the survey with everyone and check back all week to see which toys are moving to the next rounds. Look on social media and Discord for the links to the surveys



TechnoRetro Arcade

What if some of our classic arcade favorites had their characters replaced with turkeys for Thanksgiving? Join us in the arcade and make sure you don’t get gravy in the Pac-Man machine.



Saturday Mornings

Thanksgiving specials may not be as common as other holidays, but there are still some great ones. From the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Charlie Brown Special, we always had some great TV to look forward to. We remember some of the most popular and discuss some more obscure ones. What specials do you remember?

 

Thankful for Thanksgiving

It’s the perfect time to look at our life and truly appreciate all we have to be thankful for. Jay and Shua share some of the most special things in their life and how it’s impacted them even today. And we are always thankful for all of you. 

 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-27.mp3
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We pay tribute to the memory of Sir Sean Connery (and others) when we look back at some of the movies that made a difference to up. And the November 1980 issue of Starlog focuses on Mark Hamill in the Magazine Rack. 

 

Connery. Sean Connery. The legendary actor passed away at age 90 recently. But he left behind a slew of memorable films and set a bar for a generation of machismo higher than just about anyone else. Jay and Shua look back at some of the greatest ones and Shua remembers how his father turned him onto the actor. 



TechnoRetro Cereal -News

General Mills has once again begun to include some toys in their cereal. But how long will Cereal be around? Well, the village of Cereal, anyway. And keep your eye out for the latest cereal flavor in the grocery store aisles as Cinnamon Toast Crunch-flavored milk will soon be a reality. 



Magazine Rack

In November of 1980, The Empire Strikes Back had changed the way we saw Sci-Fi in the cinema, and we couldn’t get enough of it. This issue features the long-awaited interview with Mark Hamill who may have predicted the future of Star Wars almost 40 years ahead of time. Plue, the state of science fiction on TV as Starlog looks at everything available from the point of view of the culture that gave us the foundation for everything we have today. 



The Star Wars Holiday Special!

It’s been 42 years since CBS graced us with the first Star Wars sequel.  It’s aged like a fine cheese. Whether you love it, hate it, or pretend it doesn’t exist, it’s always fun to talk about. But what would it look like if it aired today? We recast a modern day version and speculate what it would look like to a whole new generation to be embarrassed by. 



Mandalorian

Season 2 of Disney+’s hit series is back. Jay and Shua give their brief impressions of how it’s looking so far.



Movie Legends

Did your dad turn you on to Sean Connery movies? Ours did. The late actor left behind a library of movies to inspire your machismo. We look at some of the most memorable roles of Sir Sean that made a difference to us. 

Direct download: TechnoRetro_Dads_8-26.mp3
Category:TechnoRetro Dads -- posted at: 5:58am EDT