In the mid-80s, Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories was a weekly treat for fans of the far-out and freaky with its John Williams’ theme and oddball anthology style.  Every Monday night brought another mini-movie as science fiction crossed over with comedy, horror, drama, or fantasy.  Now that it’s back on AppleTV+, shazbazzar and JediShua renew their fervor for the series as the “third season” picks up where we left off more than thirty years ago.

In the NEWS

• Netflix plans to bring back Kids in the Hall.
• Amazon announces third season of Lost in Space.
• Disney+ claims they will not pursue Tron series.
• Remember the vibrant career of Max Von Sydow.

We Love Our Cereal…

…but not everyone is a fan of cartoon cereal mascots.  Aldi is set to follow the trend of pulling cartoon characters from boxes of sugary cereal.  Syracuse alumnus kicks off a new business creating a brand of “healthy” kids’ cereals.

Saturday Mornings: Jonny Quest

Who knew that Jonny Quest was originally aired in a prime time slot in the ‘60s?  While it wasn’t actually Saturday morning fare, the short-lived series was ahead of its time in artistic style, story content, and pretty much everything except for the dog.  Somehow, Bandit must have sneaked onto the set unseen and the Quests couldn’t get rid of him.

Amazing Stories

From the John Williams theme to the stranger than Stranger Things vibe of the show, anthology series Amazing Stories touched a nerve among teens who were looking for science fiction/fantasy entertainment in the mid-1980s.  Now that the series is being continued on AppleTV+, the ‘Dads revisit the show they loved more than thirty years ago.

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

Where would Mark Hamill go to plug the sequel to Star Wars?  A comedy variety show, of course.  Accompanied by the characters of Star Wars, Mark had a blast with the “argyle gargoyle” and the entire cast of The Muppet Show as Mark, Luke, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca invaded the Muppets’ stage in this unapologetic “vaudevillainous” stop on the press tour as the hype for The Empire Strikes Back continues to grow in February 1980.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Beneath your feet a superheated maelstrom is churning, burning, yearning to be borne to the surface through a crack in the crust and carried to new heights in a funnel-shaped mountain in hopes of bursting forth into our cruel, cool world.  Magma, lava, it’s all the same — just a different location.  Tune in for explosive eruptions on TechnoRetro Dads as we explore the hot topic of volcanoes.

In the NEWS

Nik Wallenda walks across the mouth of a volcano . . . on a tightrope.  And he did it just in time to be featured on this volcanic episode of TechnoRetro Dads.  Yep.  We’re that hot!

We Love Our Cereal…

…even in pancakes.  And the world seems to agree.  Cap’n Crunch has a new Berrytastic Pancake Mix you can make at home.  Or, if flipping flapjacks sounds like too much work, you can go to IHOP and enjoy their cereal pancakes.  Swiss Miss will soon release Lucky Charms hot chocolate you can heat over the cone of a volcano (if you’re daring).  Florida girl is a cereal hero who continues collecting boxes of cereal for the less fortunate in the Tampa area.

Joe Versus The Volcano

Thirty years ago, Tom Hanks was connived into agreeing to jump into a volcano for Lloyd Bridges because Robert Stack clouded his mind through masterful manipulation.  And just when it seemed that things couldn’t get any stranger, Meg Ryan showed up with Meg Ryan and Meg Ryan — all of whom were more than a tad bit interested in Tom Hanks.  Add some orange soda and an island big enough for Abe Vigoda and Nathan Lane and you’ve got a match Vegas would love to see.  In the aftermath of Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas, we were given a red hot battle in Joe Versus the Volcano.

TechnoRetro Arcade: Volcanoes in Video Games

Whether it was the never-changing vector-graphic volcano in Battlezone or “Lethal Lava Land” in Mario 64, we lava the explosive eruptions and  magmaficently brilliant digital flows in video games at home and in the arcade.

Feedback

• The Jeffries tubes on the Enterprise-D came from the Red October.
• Less than Jake did a song for a Pac-Man cereal commercial.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

You can #chillyourbowl in the frigid waters of Russia with Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin in the first film adaptation of a Tom Clancy “Jack Ryan” novel.  

In the NEWS

• Tony Soehner publishes the first book in a new series of Dungeons & Dragons novels.
• Bob Iger leaves office and people want to know if he will pursue a political office.
• Jif peanut butter gets into the digital graphics game with a bit of flavorful fun.

We Love Our Cereal…

…and when there’s gold in boxes of Lucky Charms, there’s even more to love.  But when buying a box of cereal means you have to pawn your wedding ring, we’re not overly excited. 

TechnoRetro Arcade: Video Game Cereals

From Donkey Kong to Pac-Man, cereals have been known to capitalize on licensing video games to garner more of the Saturday morning cereal lovers’ pastimes.

The Hunt for Red October

With an iconic soundtrack by Basil Poledouris and an all-star cast featuring Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, Joss Ackland, Tim Curry, Stellan Skarsgård, Courtney B. Vance, Jeffrey Jones, Fred Thompson, Sven-Ole Thorsen, and Gates McFadden, The Hunt for Red October preyed on our lingering fears from the Cold War and our interest in suspenseful action movies.  JediShua and shazbazzar remember and rewatch The Hunt for Red October thirty years later.

Feedback

Check out these voicemails and electronic-Ms from our EarBuds!

• Onkl Mawks analyzes the voices of your hosts.
• Chris the Arvadinian has a favorite arcade game.
• Ben C. Foster shows his artistic talent in music and pen & ink drawings.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

How did two years of “Retro Day” pass without us noticing?  Join shazbazzar and JediShua as we make up for lost time in a week devoted to a mix tape of truly TechnoRetro tributes.  

In the NEWS

• Masters of the Universe finds its voice(s)
• Scott Bakula talks Quantum Leap
• Rick Moranis and Joe Johnston to return for Shrunk.
• Wil Wheaton hosts E-Sports game show.
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars is back!
• New Amazing Stories trailer.

We Love Our Cereal…

…and magic.  However, the lines between science, magic, and downright witchcraft are getting blurry with the pink pebbles that may make blue poo as Post announces Magic Fruity Pebbles.

Vinyl Scratchback: Retro Mix Tape

JediShua and shazbazzar suggest five-song TechnoRetro Day mix tapes from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s.  Several EarBuds chime in with their ideas, too!

TechnoRetro Arcade

Remember what it was like to go into the arcade at the mall or shopping center with a five-dollar bill?  With a bit of foresight based on hindsight (it is 2020, after all), JediShua and shazbazzar plan their TechnoRetro Day trip to the arcade.

Saturday Mornings

The ‘Dads dig into truly retro cartoons they dug as kids (even if they weren’t strictly Saturday morning fare).  With just a bit of controversy, their lists of TechnoRetro Day cartoons will have you reaching for a chilled bowl of your favorite cereal this Thursday.

The Road to the Empire Strikes Back

During the three year-long interval between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, the kids of the ‘70s needed something to keep them in that galaxy far, far away without losing their minds waiting for there heroes to return.  Thankfully, Kenner had the prescription to keep hypersensitive kids from going full-on hyperactive: Star Wars action figures, playsets, and vehicles.  Take a trip back in time as shazbazzar and JediShua relive the timeless toys from 1978, 1979, 1980, and beyond on the Road to the Empire Strikes Back.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Tune up and tune in for some cartoon tunes as animated bands set the stage for music and memories on this mid-February episode of TechnoRetro Dads.  

In the NEWS

• The Academy Speaks Korean
• Gear up for Retro Day

We Love Our Cereal…

…and Buffalo does, too.  Check out The Cereal Spot where the bowls are chilled all winter!  Go to Kansas City and get you a super bowl of Mahomes Magic Crunch!  In Japan, you can even get a sweet box of Hershey’s Matcha Chocolate cereal.

Saturday Mornings

Listen to the bands as they play cartoon tunes on Saturday mornings from the 1960s to the early 1990s.  Some of these may be more obscure than others, but with a little help from EarBuds, shazbazzar and JediShua have pieced together a nice set list of songs from animated television.

Let’s All Go to the Movies: Witness

When an eight year-old Amish boy witnesses a murder as he travels to Philadelphia, John Book has to get involved for everyone’s safety as the case is investigated.  Remember Witness from 1985 starring Harrison Ford, Lukas Haas, and Kelly McGillis, and many more famous faces.

The Road to the Empire Strikes Back

From soundtracks to disco covers, the music of a galaxy far, far away lived on in the late ‘70s and 1980 as we all eagerly awaited the sequel to Star Wars.  Get out the turntable and spin some vinyl with JediShua and shazbazzar as we listen to everything from orchestral music, disco, and even read-along books on the Road to the Empire Strikes Back.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

The football champions have been crowned.  Grammy and Oscar have had their nights.  Once again, it’s time for TechnoRetro Dads with an episode that’s longer than a commercial for Super Mario Bros. 3.  

In the NEWS

• Starbucks has secret drinks from a GFFA.
• Galaxy’s Edge has new drinks, too.
• New DeLoreans are coming.
• Atari is in the hotel business.

We Love Our Cereal…

…but not the way everyone eats it.  JediShua reveals why #ChillYourBowl is better than a recent TikTok challenge as shazbazzar unveils the best ice cream cereal ideas ever will soon be in the freezer at your local grocery store.

TechnoRetro Arcade

In 1990, Mario and Luigi got new powers and costume changes in Super Mario Bros. 3.  The U.S. release of this game brought in lots of cash for Nintendo after the longest commercial in video game history was shown in theaters under the name The Wizard.

Romantic Scenes from TechnoRetro Movies

With Valentine’s Day coming this week, it’s a great time to look back at some great movies from our younger years to highlight some of the most romantic scenes in the movies we love.  It shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that these movie scenes taught us life-long lessons about love.

Don’t Forget!

Although the GOLIVERSE marathon for Cure Childhood Cancer is over, you can still make your tax-free donation to help eliminate childhood cancer in our lifetime by making your gift here! 

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Sure, you recognize Mom and Dad are palindromes, but did you notice the racecar?  It was a Toyota.  Yep, that was another one.  It could be expanded in context, too: A Toyota. Race fast, safe car. A Toyota.  Wow, that was long!  And we saw a Jawa sew DNA.  Okay, that really didn’t make much sense, but if it was an offworld Jawa, it might explain something about baby Yoda.  Since this is the last show before Palindrome Day, shazbazzar and JediShua wanted to remind you that next Sunday is 2020.02.02 (or 02.02.2020).  So get busy going backwards and forwards at the same time.  Wait, isn’t that what TechnoRetro Dads is all about?  

In the NEWS

• Funko Vinyl figures in retro soda cans.
• Classic Dungeons & Dragons modules altered.
• Denver artist creates visionary worlds in retro objects.
• Terry Jones of Monty Python departs this life.

TechnoRetro Arcade

Nintendo seems to have forgotten Stanley, the hero of Donkey Kong 3.  So have the rest of us, evidently.  Witness the child of Galaga and Donkey Kong below:

https://youtu.be/n3kjQzcp7Lk

Game Shows

From Wheel of Fortune to Jeopardy, game shows have been a part of our lives since childhood.  We remember hosts, games, prizes, and more from shows like Tic Tac Dough, Press Your Luck, Scrabble, Hollywood Squares, $10,000 Pyramid, $25,000 Pyramid, The Price is Right, The Gong Show, Name that Tune, Sale of the Century, Concentration, Card Sharks, Jokers Wild, Win, Lose, or Draw, as well as Double Dare, Remote Control, and Legends of the Hidden Temple.

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

Comic books were essential for the continuing story of Luke Skywalker and his friends after Star Wars left theaters.  Part of the hype leading up to The Empire Strikes Back included catching up with old friends and meeting new ones in the pages of Marvel’s Star Wars comic books.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

The LSU Tigers are the undisputed champions of college football.  JediShua has had some experience with electronic and hard-hitting Big Toe football.  Scott Ryfun has an odd collection of football games.  The Mississippi State Bulldogs have an entertaining new coach.  And of all the games we're talking about this morning, football really isn't it.  But you would do well to take a RISK and tune in to TechnoRetro Dads right now!

In the NEWS

• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker nominated for the Academy Awards with Missing Link.
• Disney is considering remaking Space Camp.
• Quantum Leap looks like it might be making a comeback.

We Love Our Cereal…

…and Cheerios love our hearts.  Plus: Reese's Big Puffs have been spotted in the stores.  Is the picture on the front of the box a scale version of these enormous cereal puffs we've been hearing about?

TechnoRetro Arcade

JediShua and shazbazzar imagine what their home arcades could be like even as Shua is actually putting his together.

Saturday Mornings

Part of the fun of our youth was sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal on Saturday mornings before your friends (and maybe your family) got up.  Some EarBuds chime in on shows they remember.  

Risk: A Game of World Domination

Start with one continent and then expand outward while protecting your land from outside attackers in the classic game of Risk.  Draw your cards, move your pieces, roll the dice, get ready to fight in this game that continues to be popular after over sixty years.

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

With no internet access to quench Star Wars' fans' thirst for information about the upcoming sequel, kids and adults relied on print media to provide sufficient bits of news to keep the hype going and growing on the long, long drive down the Road to The Empire Strikes Back.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

Whether Mr. Cab Driver refuses to pick you up or Lady Cab Driver is caught in the Crosstown Traffic, Baby, You Can Drive My Car while we talk about cars this week on TechnoRetro Dads.  Take us along on your Monday morning commute for a road trip through five decades of love bugs, imperial slugs, with wheels, deals, and lots of banana peels.

In the NEWS

• Disney+ Willow series in preproduction.
• Legendary Visual Futurist Syd Mead dies at 86.

We Love Our Cereal…

…but Mexico evidently doesn’t like iconic cartoon cereal mascots like Tony the Tiger.  However, Gene Simmons does enjoy his cereal — with ice cubes.

Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)

In the third sequel to Disney’s The Love Bug, Herbie has ended up in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and has been inherited by Pete from his uncle Jim Douglas. As he goes to pick Herbie up with his friend DJ, the two are pickpocketed by an orphan boy named Paco.  In an unexpected twist, Paco also robbed some bad guys, who are after some Incan gold. In the stolen wallet was a piece of film that would lead the villains to the gold.  Seeking an escape, Paco hides in Herbie and gets onboard the cruise ship Sun Princess.  All our heroes meet up with Captain Blythe, Louise, and her anthropology student niece, Melissa. The captain tosses Herbie overboard after his mischievous antics and all seems lost.  But Herbie swims to shore, meets up with Paco, fights a bull, and helps Paco, Pete, and DJ race for the gold. 

JediShua’s New TechnoRetro Studio

The walls are up.  The shelves are installed.  The collectibles are being displayed.  Soon, JediShua will share the O.A.S.I.S. with family, friends, and EarBuds in a fun-filled room with absolutely no rabbits allowed — except on boxes of TRIX.  

The Road to The Empire Strikes Back

Forty years ago, young Shua and younger shaz anxiously awaited the sequel to the most amazing movie they had (and have) ever seen.  Join the TechnoRetro Dads each week as we remember the five month long drive down the Road to The Empire Strikes Back.

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.

As the smoke clears from shazbazzar’s ongoing battle with the chipmunks, Sheldon Norton and JediShua help clear shazbazzar’s vision by providing insights into some aftershocks of Star Wars that could have catapulted Disney into the modern age of science fiction with the last movie made “the old-fashioned way”.  It’s perfect 20/20 vision in the first episode of 2020 this Monday morning!

Sad NEWS

• Jack Sheldon of SchoolHouse Rock fame dies at 88.
• Caroll Spinney from Sesame Street dies at 85.

We Love Our Cereal…

…and dad jokes on cereal containers’ labels that our Roving Spoonster discovered over the holidays.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Sheldon, Shua, and shaz recount their experiences watching The Rise of Skywalker for the first (second and third) time before studying some Star Wars Aftershocks from 1979.

The Black Hole

After the blockbuster success of Star Wars, filmmakers rushed headlong into the cinematic “space race” in hopes of capitalizing on the success of George Lucas’s zeitgeist.  Even Disney was not immune to the attraction of the stars above, embarking on a quest the Mouse had never before undertaken.  That’s how Disney found themselves pulled into the inescapable gravity of a huge budget and PG rating of The Black Hole.  In a quest to discover answers, Disney tells the story of how German scientist Hans Reinhardt maintains his ship, the Cygnus, next to a black hole, planning to plunge the ship into and through the dark monstrosity in his quest for knowledge: specifically, what caused the cause that created the known universe.  

EarBuds’ Toy Catalog

The results of the “toys for all” bracket of 2019’s toy catalog are in.  SPOILER ALERT: It’s Nerf or nothing!

Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds!  Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com.  Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic.  Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.