Greetings, Programs!  

Wake up from your sugar rush slumber to some great news and other noise from TechnoRetro Dads.  JediShua is living large with his summer plans (in spite of having a snow day in the middle of Spring Break) while shazbazzar bemoans the popular squishy Easter treats: Peeps. So whether you’re losing your sweet tooth or overdoing the jelly beans this week, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your craving for fun with your EarBuds with TechnoRetro Dads. 

In the NEWS:  We get out the correction tape on The Tick, a Dad documents his family’s struggle with his son’s terminal cancer in a video game,  and casting continues for Ready Player One (for better or worse), and the writer of The Martian has a short story added to the official RP1 canon. 

Tom Hanks and Shelley Long experience the joys of home ownership and remodeling in the 1986 film, The Money Pit…and it isn’t as easy as HGTV makes it look week after week.  In the classic physical comedy stylings of Tom Hanks, this movie may not win a major award, but the fun memories flow freely as the ‘Dads remember this movie from thirty years ago.

But it goes back even further, as shazbazzar brings his… not-quite-a Mr. Microphone down from the attic to broadcast his voice on any FM radio.  The premise was better than the presentation for little shaz in 1979, though, when his generic wireless microphone failed to achieve the same effects (and results) of the Mr. Microphone advertised on television. 

And, with the release of Batman v Superman, we reveal the winner of the “Battle of the Bowls” in this month’s cereal challenge.  Our EarBuds’ taste buds were seriously challenged with the task of choosing one over the other in the categories of crunch, flavor, appearance, and more.  

We love to hear from our EarBuds! If you want to leave us a voicemail, be sure to call us at (209) TR-TRDad or record a message on your computer or phone and send us an electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  

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Greetings, Programs!  

Spring is here and the ‘Dads are a bit feverish to get outside and play in the warm sunshine.  Take a trip back to the carefree days of riding your bike with your friends from morning till night as shazbazzar and JediShua recall the bicycles of their youth.  Whether it was a Schwinn, Huffy, Murray, Free Spirit, or Kent, a bicycle was a two-wheeled ticket to freedom — even if you were restricted to simply riding around the block.  Bicycles could become anything you imagined, from horses to cars to X-Wings or TIE Fighters, and as we got older, our bikes carried us to friends houses, movie theaters, and even Carter Caves!  With the weather getting warmer, it’s time to get out your bike and ride.

PLUS: Entertainment is the NEWS this week!  Indy 5 has been announced with an expected release date in 2019 (since Spielberg is tied up in the OASIS with a certain futuristic film at the moment), shazbazzar speculates on Tim Burton’s anticipated sequel to Beetlejuice, and JediShua reveals Amazon’s plan to resurrect The Tick with Patrick Warburton, whom shazbazzar somehow confused with that guy who played Brisco County, Jr. and starred in Army of Darkness. 

Astronaut Scott Kelly stars in the TechnoRetro Dads’ SCIENCE LESSON as we discover the effects a year in space has on the body, as well as the impact of returning to Earth after twelve months away from gravity.  One impressive fact: you’ll come home taller than you were when you left!

Be sure to participate in the Battle of the Cereals with Batman v Superman cereals in this month’s TechnoRetro Cereal challenge on our Facebook page.  And if you want to leave us a voicemail, be sure to call us at (209) TR-TRDad or record a message on your computer or phone and send us an electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.  

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Greetings, Programs!  

Time passes by so quickly when you’re immortal.  It’s hard to believe that it’s been thirty years since the sword-clashing battle between Connor MacLeod and the Kurgan ended with Clancy Brown losing his head and Christopher Lambert winning the Prize.  Crowned with rock anthems and ballads by Queen, Russell Mulcahy’s 1986 classic stand-alone film ushered in decades of sequels, series, and controversies with Highlander, the story of a Scottish boy with a French accent who just wouldn’t die.  Instructed by Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez, an Egyptian with a Scottish accent, Connor MacLeod squared off against the Kurgan, a Russian with an inexplicable American accent way back in the 16th Century.  It’s a tale that spans the centuries and continues to thrill fantasy fans today.

Michael Nipp from The Deucecast Movie Show joins shazbazzar and JediShua for a glimpse of the kind of magic that made Sean Connery, Christopher Lambert, and Clancy Brown the Princes of the Universe in an imaginative game of life and death where the Prize is the ability to grow old and die. 

But that’s not all there is to this week’s TechnoRetro Dads!  Starlog Magazine makes the  NEWS with a complete digital collection of past issues online.  PLUS: JediShua shares a cereal recipe for National Cereal Day that’s sure to be an Escape that’s both cheerful and fruitilicious.  And don’t forget to join in the Battle of the Heroes in the Batman v Superman Cereal Challenge this month!

In the SCIENCE LESSON, a real-life Solar Sail is almost ready for it’s maiden voyage among the stars…or at least to the space surrounding our planet.  Find out how you can get involved in the next wave of space travel before it gets off the ground.

With musical memories and international versions of a cult classic, today’s TechnoRetro Dads is 77 minutes of energy that might make you lose your head…figuratively speaking, of course.

Greetings, Programs!  

What happens when mortal enemies are stranded alone in a life-threatening hostile environment?  Will they overcome their animosity towards each other in their efforts to survive?  Will they choose to take their chances on their own?  Will they continue their fight against one another in spite of their common plight?  Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr. explore the possibilities in 1984’s Enemy Mine as a human and a Drac choose temporary tolerance over continued animosity in a story that shows how enemies can become true friends when they are put in a position in which they must rely on each other for survival.  More recently, a human and a Lasat explore the same story as Agent Kallus and Zeb from Star Wars Rebels forego their long-standing battle in order to survive being marooned on a Geonosian moon in last week’s, “The Honorable Ones”.  This week, shazbazzar and JediShua revisit the somewhat forgotten movie from their youth as well as take a brief look at its similarities with the latest episode of Rebels.

On this “Leap Day” episode of TechnoRetro Dads, the ‘Dads explore the solar reasons for having an extra day added to the calendar almost every four years, revealing some truths (and some possible “false facts”) about Leap Year that you may not know, making sure to provide all EarBuds with opportunities to wow their co-workers and friends with mostly unimpressive trivia.  (After all, most of us won’t be around to see the next time there isn’t a Leap Year on its regular 4-year schedule in 2100.)  

But there is some NEWS that may be significant to children of the 70s and 80s.  Funko makes a return to The Dark Crystal, Bill the Cat goes solo with his own picture book, Mondo makes Madballs, a young MacGyver is presented his first Erector Set, and Wade Watts is cast for Ready Player One.     

Most importantly, TechnoRetro Dads satisfy their sweet tooth cravings around the campfire with Kellogg’s SMORZ and Malt-O-Meal’s S’mores cereals.  Jeremy the Spider-Pan from The Neverland Podcast submits a guest review as Armando sends in a S’mores cheesecake recipe and several EarBuds send in their thoughts about the marshmallow, chocolate, graham cracker tasting (?) cereal in this month’s cereal challenge.

Topped off with Doc Brown’s discovery of a ninth planet in our solar system (yep, the same Doc Brown that challenged the planetary status of the last ninth planet in our solar system, Pluto) in the SCIENCE LESSON, this episode is one that won’t be repeated for at least four years!

Don’t skip your 77-minute bowl of TechnoRetro goodness as you start your Leap Day.  It’s sure to get your extra day off on the right foot — or left foot — whichever you prefer.

Hey, Hey, all you Monkees!  

It’s hard to believe, but The Monkees have been in our collective consciousness for fifty years!  Way, way back in 1966, a nifty comedy featuring four Ben Frank types trying to make their way in a world overpopulated by bands of all shapes, sizes, sounds, and silly names.  And even though TechnoRetro Dads shazbazzar and JediShua weren’t around when the show premiered in color on NBC, they remember The Monkees from their youth through records, reruns, and their very first rock concert (not The Monkees’ first concert, obviously, the ‘Dads’ first concert).

This week on TechnoRetro Dads, SuperFriend Richard Woloski (Skywalking through Neverland, Talking Apes TV) lends his expert opinions on the “Pre-Fab Four” for 77 minutes of going bananas with good times, trivia, and tunes as they gush in their fandom for the four musical primates as they celebrate the ingenuity of inventing a band for a TV show and ending up essentially launching a musical career that has spanned six decades with fans of all ages. 

But it’s not all talk.  JediShua and Richard get their chance to prove their expertise as shazbazzar quizzes them Jeopardy-style with Monkee-centric categories like “THAT GIRL”; “COLORS”; “EVERY ‘DAY’ IS GETTING BRIGHTER”; “LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION”; “STATUS SYMBOL LAND”; and “THEY’RE ANIMALS!” Find out who is the big winner in this less-than-impressive imitation of the game show where you ask the questions.  

What was your experience with The Monkees?  Did you have a favorite song or memorable episode?  Let us know by tweeting us @TechnoRetroDadds or sending us an electronic-M to podcast@technoretrodads.com. PLUS: Don’t forget to chime in on our February Cereal Challenge by eating “SMORZ” cereal and reviewing it in our poll on Facebook.  We’ll be talking all about the chocolatey, marshmallowy, graham-cracker cereal next week on TechnoRetro Dads.   

Have a Pleasant Valley Monday with 77 minutes of fun with TechnoRetro Dads as you wake up and take on the day. We guarantee your smiles will be brighter and your Head will be filled with songs from a long time ago that are as good today as they were in the late ‘60s! Share and spread the love!

Greetings, Programs!  

Hopefully you remembered to find a Valentine over the weekend, but today we change gears just a bit to cut loose with some Presidents to the tunes of Kenny Loggins with Footloose.  JediShua and shazbazzar take a TechnoRetro look at the dance movie that made Kevin Bacon in 1984.  While the ‘80s music and feel of the film are undeniably dated, the generation-gap, small town versus big city story is as real today as it was 32 years ago.  So kick off your Sunday shoes this Monday morning and turn up the fun with TechnoRetro Dads.

As always, though, there’s much more to this episode as the ‘Dads reveal upcoming releases: a new Monkees album, Armada makes its paperback debut, and more movie dates change — specifically, Ready Player One and The Flash.  Also in the NEWS, Voltron returns with a new series on NetFlix, and shazbazzar and JediShua make an appearance on Rebel Force Radio.

Kellogg’s makes an appearance in CEREAL NEWS with recipe ideas, specifically a tropical concoction we renamed “Krispies Colada”.  Don’t hesitate to send us your cereal recipes via electronic-M to podcast@technoretrodads.com.    

In celebration of the end of football season, the ‘Dads pull out some bubble gum machine helmets from the ATTIC and reminisce about some favorite (and not-so-favorite) helmets they had.  One question lingers, though: Will these helmets fit 12” figures from the ‘70s and ‘80s?  

It’s a blend of new and old as the kids get a day off from school on this Presidents’ Day.  So sit back for a rousing round of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” with TechnoRetro Dads.

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With a brilliant victory over Cam Newton’s Panthers, Denver’s Broncos claim another SuperBowl championship for Peyton Manning and football lovers need to find another object for their affection.  No need to worry, EarBuds!  TechnoRetro Dads is here this week with some advice to ensure a lovely Valentine’s Day for you and your significant other in plenty of time for you to be a romantic love hero as February’s holiday approaches.  Feel like staying in next Sunday night?  We’ve got a few ‘80s romance movie suggestions for you to cuddle up with your cutie on the couch and watch together while snacking on some Valentine’s Day Chex Mix.

And for those who may be feeling a little lonely this February 14th, if you find yourself always nagging, bragging, complaining about things, take a good look at Kathleen Turner — now there’s one hekuva girl!  JediShua and shazbazzar take another look at 1984’s Robert Zemeckis film Romancing the Stone with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, and the always handsome and hilarious El Guapo.  If you’ve seen it before, it maintains all the charm and humor that you remember.  If you’ve never seen it — it’s well-worthy of a Valentine’s Day viewing.

IN CEREAL NEWS, General Mills gets real with an actual rabbit to support TRIX cereals.  Cinnabun wins Big G’s search for a live mascot to roll-out their growing line of naturally-colored cereals — not all of which are shades of brown!  PLUS: the latest craze in alcoholic beverages use used cereal milk as a mixer.     

Romance abounds in that galaxy far, far away with three couples in The Force Awakens discussion.  Discover the answers to these perplexing questions: Which of these couples have the best chance to find love?  Which couple will go down in history as icons of romance? And just when you thought you knew everything about Star Wars, TechnoRetro Dads uncover the in-universe origins of the Ewoks.  

This is an episode you can’t afford to miss — unless you want to be in the dog house next Monday morning.

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Greetings, Programs!  

When Barbie was topping the toy charts, Hasbro decided to try out a “boy’s version” of the doll and G.I. Joe was born.  For over fifty years, G.I. Joe has occupied store shelves and toy boxes throughout the United States.  In the ‘70s, Joe evidently studied martial arts and earned his Kung-Fu Grip.  Once Kenner’s Star Wars line captured the market, Joe underwent major plastic surgery, shrinking him down to less than one third his size and giving him many more points of articulation.  Since then, G.I. Joe has demanded attention from kids and collectors with hundreds of figures, numerous vehicles, and not a small number of playsets.

But that’s not all!  G.I. Joe became A Real American Hero in 1983 with Sunbow’s five-part mini-series featuring the toys in animated form.  With another hit mini-series in 1984, G.I. Joe escalated to television stardom as fifty-five new episodes of the show released in 1985.  Since then, G.I. Joe has put his name on several iterations of animated television programming as well as a couple of live-action Hollywood features.  

IN THE NEWS, General Mills offers Star Wars fans a chance to attend Star Wars Celebration in London, any new Labyrinth movies will continue the story, not retell it, and new DeLoreans will soon be in production.  

JediShua and shazbazzar review Wheaties, a cereal that’s nearly a century old (the cereal itself, not the actual flakes they consumed over the past month).  Did Wheaties make them more athletic?  Will their faces grace future orange boxes on shelves in the cereal aisle in your local grocery store?  Discover the answers to other questions in the TechnoRetro Dads Cereal Challenge this week.

So pour yourself a bowl of Wheaties, get your toys down out of the attic, and turn on some classic G.I. Joe cartoons and celebrate G.I. Joe Day with shazbazzar and JediShua as your work week (and February) kick off!

Greetings, Programs!  

Whether you want to bewitch the mind or ensnare the senses, bottle fame, brew glory, or even put a stopper in death, there’s only one potion master that will do: Severus Snape.  We remember some of our favorite roles of Alan Rickman, from Hans Gruber in Die Hard to the Sheriff of Nottingham, to his portrayal of an actor portraying an alien crew member of a very Trekkish television show, Alan Rickman delighted audiences for decades with his precision command of every aspect of himself on screen.

IN THE NEWS, J.J. Abram’s vision of WestWorld has been delayed, Darkwing Duck does not get a movie voiced and animated by Jim Cummings, but it looks like he will get a comic book.  Concept designer and animator of such visually mesmerizing projects as TRON: Uprising, Aeon Flux, Gorillaz, and The Beatles: RockBand, Robert Valley, provides fans with an opportunity to help him realize the transfer of a graphic novel to film through a Kickstarter for Pear Cider and Cigarettes. 

The bulk of this week’s show, however, is the discussion and debate about Rey’s heritage, spurred by a post by Joe Tavano at RetroZap.com. As Maz Kanata put it, “Who’s the girl?”  JediShua, shazbazzar, and Joey-Wan Kenobi put forward their best (and worst) thoughts for consideration, with reasons supporting or derailing some of the most common and most outlandish theories about Rey’s parents that they’ve heard.  Although the next saga installment of Star Wars has been pushed back to December 2018, these three throw out enough speculations (with or without evidence) to keep fans talking for 23 months.  PLUS: new questions arise, like “Is Kylo Ren a Star Wars version of TRON’s CLU?” and the identity and origin of Snoke.  There are many things about Star Wars we don’t know since this sequel trilogy started over a month ago, and speculation is a blast!

So sit down with your bowl of Wheaties, plug in your ear buds, EarBuds, and tune in for 77 minutes of family, friends, and fandom this Monday morning as you get ready to start another work week.

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Greetings, Programs!  

Whether you’re off to the rodeo in the middle of winter or you’re watching a preschool neighborhood Mardi Gras parade, there’s always time to share some favorite memories with your EarBuds.  Join shazbazzar and JediShua as they take a mind trip to 1986 with memories of the Jim Henson/George Lucas collaboration, Labyrinth.  With the recent passing of David Bowie, it only seemed appropriate to talk about some of the more influential aspects of his work on the lives of the ‘Dads, and both agree that his portrayal of the Goblin King Jareth will always remain in the forefront of their minds.

But there’s more!  Cereal sales are down in the NEWS.  Is it because of increased droughts?  Is too much grain going into our gas tanks taking its toll on the breakfast food industry?  Or are the ‘Dads to blame because EarBuds are living vicariously through them and not consuming as much sugary-sweet, brightly colored cereals as they did before the CEREAL segment began?  But never fear, General Mills hasn’t been in business for a century and a half because it can’t endure an economic downturn from time-to-time. 

TechnoRetro Dads discover a new way to organize some of your favorite movies by watching them in alphabetical order.  Because, because, because, because, because JediShua finds Of Oz the Wizard online, he follows the Yellow Brick Road to Arst Arsw, enduring hours of oddly edited versions of the films according to alphabetically arranged dialogue.  Really, who thinks up these things?!

In the meantime, if you’re not already a member of Audible, you can get your 30-day free trial and a free download of an audio book of your choice through this #TechnoRetro link: AudibleTrial.com/TRDads.  We suggest lazy reading the novelization of Star Wars: The Force Awakens as you continue to feel the awakening of the Dark Side and the Light.

So get up, put 2 Euros in the LEGO Cheerios cereal vending machine, and tune in to 77 minutes of delicious TechnoRetro crunchiness — it’s part of your balanced breakfast every Monday morning.

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