Mon, 3 October 2022
The Hunter's Moon will grace our skies this week, which means you better stay inside if you don't have any silver bullets. Enjoy Stuff explores the mystery and history of the full moon.
Sunday is the Hunter’s moon. Have you noticed extra hair on your body? Do your teeth feel a little sharper? Are you craving the taste of blood? If so, please lock yourself in your home, and while you’re in there, listen as Enjoy Stuff explores the full moon.
News Now you can buy the Byers family house from Stranger Things (Christmas lights not included) The Star Wars Black Series Holiday figures have been revealed
What we’re Enjoying Shua is really digging the vibe of the new Star Wars series on Disney+, Andor. It’s a bit more gritty than we are used to, but Diego Luna is fantastic as Cassian, and the real world settings feel very ‘original trilogy’. In between his busy moving schedule, Jay has been reading some retro Dr. Strange comics from the mid 80s. It’s always fun to revisit the origins of some of the great stuff we are getting today.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout 31 Days of Horror is finally here! So far he has given us Night of the Creeps, The Final Girls, and tonight’s film Trick r Treat. Check back in to RetroZap every day this month to see what creepy movie Jay will give us next. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy The Full Moon! As long as humans have been looking up to the sky, we have been fascinated by the moon. And once a month, that mysterious jewel in the sky appears big and bright and full, giving us even more to wonder about.
Lycanthropy is the transformation of a person into a wolf and stories of this curse date all the way back to the Epic of Gilgamesh. Werewolves even show up in Greek mythology in the Legend of Lycaon.
Since these stories have endured, it’s no surprise that they showed up in movies very early. The first movie featuring a lycanthrope was The Werewolf from 1913. Unfortunately, it was lost to fire and can never be seen again. But a few years later, a silent western called Wolf Blood (1925) appeared and can still be viewed.
The 1935 film Wolf Blood starring Henry Hull gave us some of the tropes we still use today, such as the curse being passed on by a bite, transformations occurring because of a full moon, and that the cursed will try to lock themselves up to protect others.
The popularity has never disappeared in cinema. We still remember some legendary and groundbreaking films such as Universal’s The Wolf Man (1941) and An American Werewolf in London (1981) which started a new chapter in special effects. Plus, a few fun ones like Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf (1985)
Check out some classic (and wonderfully cheesy) films from Full Moon Entertainment. Or some classic music about our lunar neighbor like Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty, Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival, or Moonage Daydream by David Bowie.
But the movies aren’t the only place you can see people howling. Cartoons gave us the Groovy Ghoulies and Fang Face. And even our breakfast is not immune to the moon when you eat Frute Brute cereal.
What’s your favorite story of the moon? Do you stay indoors when the moon is full? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Fly Me to the Moon” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 26 September 2022
The New Scooby Doo Movies was the place to be for 70's Hollywood stars! This week Jovial Jay and Shua celebrate this fun Scooby series and how much fun they were on Enjoy Stuff!
Hollywood guest stars galore on 1972’s The New Scooby Doo Movies! Join us as we look back on one of the most unique of the Scooby series.
News David Harbour will star in a movie version of the 90’s racing video game Gran Turismo If you like Stranger Things, you can now stay in a very authentically themed room in a Graduate hotel Check out the new LEGO minifig-sized handheld video game from PocketStar Why are our favorite retro cartoons responsible for the climate crisis? Listen in to find out who the morons are that are making this claim Modern day Scooby Doo movies are coming to Netflix October 1
What we’re Enjoying Jay lept right into the new reboot of the Quantum Leap series, with Raymond Lee as the newest leaper. The premise follows a team that has been looking for Dr. Sam Beckett somewhere in time, but for reasons we aren’t yet aware of, Lee’s character Dr. Ben Song gets trapped for the same reason as the original. There’s a lot of potential here and we can’t wait to see where it goes. Shua got a bit more medieval by jumping into Amazon Prime’s Tolkien series Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power. It’s an origin story of the rings that takes place in a whole different age as the Peter Jackson movies. He is loving it!
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout 31 Days of Horror is coming on October 1! In the meantime, Sci-Fi Saturdays will be on a little break. But you can check out some cool new filming locations with his MCU Location Scout. There are new entries from She-Hulk and Thor: Love and Thunder. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Cartoons! In 1972 Hanna-Barbera debuted the second chapter of the still popular Scooby Doo series called “The New Scooby Doo Movies”. This popular series ran 24 hour-long episodes, the only Scooby Doo series to be that long. But what really made it stand out was the “real-life”-ish guest stars in each episode. These guest stars joined the Scooby gang to track down the truth of a mystery. A lot of the guests were voiced by their true life counterparts, or at least the voice actors that portrayed the animated characters on other Hanna-Barbera cartoons.
Some of our favorite guest stars were Don Knotts, the Harlem Globetrotters, Sandy Duncan, Davy Jones, Jonathan Winters, and Batman and Robin, and Don Adams. They got the opportunity to have fun with the Scooby gang and make us wonder who was going to be on next week.
Did you watch The New Scooby Doo Movies? Who were your favorite guests? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Enroy Ruff” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 19 September 2022
Sports movies help to inspire the world. But sometimes the best ones are about sports that are unconventional. This week Jovial Jay and Shua look at some of their favorite movies and how an unlikely sport inspires us to Enjoy Stuff!
Football, baseball, and basketball may be some of the most popular sports, but they certainly aren’t the only ones that we love to watch. Let’s look at some of the other sports on Enjoy Stuff!
News A new, super cool special edition of The Beatles Revolver will be coming in October A new trailer for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery trailer is released Get ready for a new TRON video game We cover a bunch of D23 announcements about Star Wars, Willow, Disney parks, and more!
What we’re Enjoying Shua has been smelling things up in his house with a new candle scent. The Magic Candle Company released their latest scent called Saturday Mornings and it smells just like Fruity Pebbles with a touch of childhood. Jay has been putting most of his energy into preparing for a big move! While going through all of his great stuff, he’s also been enjoying some horror movies in preparation for…
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout 31 Days of Horror is coming on October 1! In the meantime, Sci-Fi Saturdays will be on a little break. But you can check out some cool new filming locations with his MCU Location Scout. There are new entries from She-Hulk and Thor: Love and Thunder. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies! Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports…Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer! Again…and again. But there are plenty of other sports to enjoy too. Each one with their own way to tell an underdog story.
Diving, golf, bowling, skiing, dog sledding and more. This week we pull just a few movies from a nice long list of movies about unconventional sports. Listen in to see if you hear one of your favorites and let us know what we should add to the list!
Do you get inspired by sports movies? What kind of unconventional sports do you like? First person that emails me with the subject line, “The agony of defeat” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com
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Mon, 12 September 2022
Blade Runner was released 40 years ago. Over the years it has become known as an artistic, cinematic masterpiece. Join Jay and Shua as they revisit this haunting and influential film on Enjoy Stuff!
Ridley Scott’s vision for the Philip K Dick novel ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ was very different from the book, and Harrison Ford’s performance as Rick Deckard helped to make Blade Runner a legendary movie.
News Did you know there was a secret Back to the Future museum in Massachusetts? The new Delorean Alpha 5 prototype has been revealed Hostess has shared its upcoming fall lineup John Williams had a surprise for an audience at a concert in the Hollywood Bowl. A new song from the new Indiana Jones movie!
What we’re Enjoying During Better Call Saul’s final season, Jay wanted to rewatch all of Breaking Bad. It verified with him what an amazing pair of series they were. Are you a fan? Shua started a new docuseries on FX called Welcome to Wrexham. It’s about a small, failing football club in Wales that was purchased by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who want to revitalize the team and the community. A true and interesting story.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Sci-Fi Saturdays is going on hiatus until October 1 when we’ll get our first 31 Days of Horror movie reviews. Make sure you check one out each day. Plus, you can go back and revisit some of his past Sci-Fi articles on Retrozap.com. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies! Forty years ago, Blade Runner was expected to be another breakout sci-fi movie for the super star Harrison Ford. It may not have been the immediate success they had hoped. But over time it has only grown in popularity. Ridley Scott, early in his career, adapted the novel by Philip K Dick called ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’. He changed the movie title to another title that he had purchased, called Blade Runner, which was not related in any way to the Dick story.
The shoot was not an easy one, and sometimes tensions were high. But in the end we were given a sci-fi, noir, dystopian, cyberpunk piece of art. With themes of identity, technology, and mortality we, as an audience, are often left to interpret the stories of each of the complex characters.
The strong use of symbolism, the unique lighting, and haunting music became a model for futuristic movies from then on. It spawned sequels and spinoffs that may or may not have captured the feel of the original. Be sure to check out Jay’s Sci-Fi Saturdays article for Blade Runner for a terrific breakdown and analysis of the whole thing.
What do you think of Blade Runner? Would you own a replicant snake? Did you read all of these show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Tears in the rain” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com
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Mon, 5 September 2022
Mad Libs is a ridiculous word game that has been around for more than 60 years! By blindly picking fun, descriptive words from every part of speech, you create a story that will make you laugh out loud! Join Jovial Jay and Shua as they get goofy with words on Enjoy Stuff
Is movie hype fun? A lot of money is pumped into letting everyone know about your film. Trailers, interviews, products with movie images plastered everywhere….the machine makes sure we know about it. Is it too much or can it be an enjoyable experience?
News The Christmas Story sequel gets a date on HBO Max The inventor of the Trapper Keeper has died A new Confess Fletch trailer has been released The final Weird: The Al Yankovic Story trailer has also dropped Are you willing to try the Oscar Mayer Cold Dog? Kellogg’s could pay you $5,000 to have cereal for dinner A Clue animated series is in the works!
What we’re Enjoying Shua has been too busy to enjoy much, so he painted his classroom to enjoy that. The theme is inspired by Adventureland in the Disney Parks. What do you think? Jay watched the Jordan Peele suspense film Nope. He enjoyed it but has thoughts on where it falls on the spectrum of his other movies.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Sci-Fi Saturdays is going on hiatus until October 1 when we’ll get our first 31 Days of Horror movie reviews. Make sure you check one out each day. Plus, you can go back and revisit some of his past Sci-Fi articles on Retrozap.com. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Games! This week we break out the classic word game Mad Libs! We set up some goofy stories by blindly preparing a variety of words from just about every part of speech. Plus, we discuss some of the history of the game, and other ways you can play.
Do you like Mad Libs? Do you play it straight or get a little immature? Did you read all of these show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “I’m so adjective I verb nouns” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 29 August 2022
Enjoy the HYPE! Movie marketing has evolved over the years but no matter what form it takes, it's meant to get us all excited! Is it too much? Or is it what really makes the movie more fun? Jovial Jay and Shua look at the hype they grew up with and how we had fun with it!
Is movie hype fun? A lot of money is pumped into letting everyone know about your film. Trailers, interviews, products with movie images plastered everywhere….the machine makes sure we know about it. Is it too much or can it be an enjoyable experience?
News Ferris Bueller is getting a spinoff! Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi’s Return makes its way to Disney+ as an exciting documentary R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned is a sequel that snuck up on us Need more Sega games? How about the cool, new Sega Mega Drive Mini 2? The Child Mullet Champion has been crowned!
What we’re Enjoying Jay checked out the Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dog vampire movie on Netflix called Day Shift. Probably not an instant classic, but a fun, vampire hunting romp. Shua is loving the funny and creative Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks is an homage to the Sci-Fi films of the 50s. At the time it came out, it had some innovative effects and a ton of big named stars. Jay revisits it this week on Sci-Fi Saturdays to determine how well it has aged. Maybe not as well as we’d hoped. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies! In the early days of cinema, the only thing you needed to convince audiences to check out your motion picture was the fact that the picture was in motion. As audiences have become more sophisticated over the years, marketing movies has too.
When we were growing up, there were a variety of creative ways to let everyone know about your movie, and it was aimed at specific audiences. For example, Star Trek: The Motion Picture was for families. Where do families eat? McDonalds! Voila! The first Happy Meal.
In addition to kids' fast food toys, those quick dining establishments sometimes provided fine dinnerware, such as the Pepsi/Burger King Superman glasses in 1979. Now your family can invite people over for a fancy meal!
In 1989, Batman was everywhere, thanks to the marketing division. Billboards, cereal, TV, radio, everywhere! They used the well-known character of Batman by giving us simple images and using our prior knowledge to make it feel a bit more artistic.
The Matrix took an unknown premise to offer us a mystery. What is the Matrix? Nobody knew back then. And we desperately wanted to find out.
When Return of the Jedi came out, we enhanced our viewing experience with behind the scene TV specials that showed us exactly how they made it. Did this spoil the movie? On the contrary. We wanted to go check it out again to see how all that came together.
By the time The Phantom Menace was being made, Lucasfilm took marketing to a whole new level! You couldn’t go anywhere without seeing Episode I images. Some say they may have gone too far, but we know we sure had fun in the summer of ‘99.
Is hype a bad thing? Is it the fun part of the movie experience? Did you read all of these show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Jump aboard the Hype train!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 22 August 2022
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe not only introduced a generation of kids to new toys, cartoons, and movies; but it also changed the way all of those were marketed. This week we look back at the 40th anniversary of the toys and how they influenced us.
By the power of Greyskull, we have the scoop on how He-Man and the Masters of the Universe influenced a generation of kids and the whole toy industry.
News We have more news on the return of Quantum Leap Get ready for a new Highlander, but this time it’s Henry Cavill Mark Hamill’s Jack in the Box exploits can now be read about in a FREE comic book! Love Death + Robots has been renewed for a fourth season Fo shizzle, you’ve just gotta try out Snoop Dogg’s new cereal, Snoop Loopz We are pumped up about Tim Burton’s new Netflix Addam’s Family series called Wednesday
What we’re Enjoying Shua was interested and entertained by the Disney+ documentary series called Light and Magic. It was an origin story of the innovative special effects company Industrial Light and Magic. You may be surprised how their necessity to innovate has changed the way movies are made. Jay finally got to the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomex. It’s a fun mystery ride that keeps you guessing and laughing.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Sci-Fi Saturdays look at a great outing in the Star Trek movie franchise. Star Trek: First Contact may have been the second Next Generation film, but it felt like a first epic outing. Directed by Jonathan Frakes, it was a sci-fi, time-traveling, character-developing, action packed romp through the ST universe. Jay breaks it all down and gets you pumped to revisit the Borg and the crew of the Enterprise. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Toys! In 1982, Mattel’s battle for dominance over the juggernaut of Hasbro and their Star Wars action figures finally began to put a chink in their rival’s armor when they released a new line of toys for boys called He-Man and Masters of the Universe.
Despite not having background originating in movies, cartoons, or comic books, these toys used many of the aspects that boys were craving in the early 80’s, fantasy and power. To sell the toys to distributors like Toys R Us, Mattel ordered mini comics to go with the toys, and later a Lou Scheimer, Filmation animated series.
The model was an incredible success! Toys flew off the shelves and their profits soared! Not only that but it set the standard for selling a wide variety of toys by using media to promote it. Transformers, GI Joe, Care Bears…You almost couldn’t watch an 80’s cartoon that wasn’t connected to a toy line.
In addition to all of those and the merchandise that followed, He-Man also inspired a live action movie starring Dolf Lundgren as the title character and legendary actor Frank Langella as Skeletor. The movie went in a strange direction by mostly taking place on modern day Earth as opposed to Eternia. While it may not have been a success, it has gained a cult following.
He-Man is still around today, but hasn’t achieved the success the company enjoyed in the 80’s. Either way, it made a significant impact on several industries and is beloved by a large group of fans.
Did you watch Masters of the Universe? Do you have the power? Did you read all of these show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Let’s ride a tiger!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 15 August 2022
Steve Martin is a comedian, actor, musician, and so much more! This week we celebrate the birthday of an entertainment legend by looking back on an incredible career. Enjoy Stuff from a Wild and Crazy Guy!
Get ready to be amazed at the body of work from a talented entertainer! Steve Martin has been working for years to make us laugh. From The Jerk to Only Murders in the Building, we remember all the ways Steve impressed and entertained us on Enjoy Stuff.
News Remembering Olivia Newton John The Halloween Monster Cereals welcome back Frute Brute to the lineup Later this year, a John Hughes Movie Soundtrack Collection will be released in a New Box Set called “Life Moves Pretty Fast” Mark Hamill has fun at a Jack in the Box drive through where he once got fired A cool site called My80sTV.com provides you with some great retro entertainment An update on Choco Taco Soon you can play virtual mini golf in the world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth There is a live action Pac-Man movie in development
What we’re Enjoying Jay watched the popular movie Prey and was impressed with the original story and interesting new characters. He agreed it is a worthy addition to the franchise. Shua has enjoyed getting his mind blown by the twists and turns of season 4 of Westworld. It is a wild ride that keeps you guessing about what is really going on.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Sci-Fi Saturdays look at a John Carpenter sequel called Escape From L.A. Kurt Russel returns as Snake Pliskin in a 2013 dystopian Los Angeles prison. But it really doesn’t live up to the original, Escape from New York. Still, you can have fun and Enjoy even if it’s not what you expect. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Life! Steve Martin was born August 14, 1945. He really started entertaining people at 15 years old when he worked at the magic store in Disneyland.
But after that he went on to work in Hollywood as a writer on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and started developing his stand-up routine. Years of this lead to appearances on TV, especially Saturday Night Live.
Popularity rose to point where he got a leading role in his own movie. Carl Reiner directed him in The Jerk, his first big lead, in 1979. After that he dabbled in musicals, drama, cameos and so much more.
Check out this week’s show to hear about a ton of other roles he had such as All of Me; Three Amigos; Planes, Trains, and Automobiles; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; and more!
Plus, we touch on his music, which is pretty impressive in itself, and a ton of awards he has acquired over his life. Steve Martin truly is a legend.
Are you a fan of Steve Martin? What’s your favorite role? Did you read all of these show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Excuuuuse Me!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 8 August 2022
With so much uncertainty in the world, it can be hard to Enjoy Stuff. But sometimes that's what makes life interesting. This week we find ways to find the fun in the unknown on Enjoy Stuff.
Do you get anxious when you don’t know what to expect? It can be hard to get through each day when things are uncertain. This week we try to find the fun in not knowing and share what we do to cope.
News Remembering Nichelle Nichols Green candy bars?! Must be Halloween Get ready for National Mustard Day by enjoying a mustard donut Jake Gyllenhaal is going to star in a Rad House reboot And Selena Gomex will do the same with Working Girl (well, she probably won’t be playing a bouncer)
What we’re Enjoying Shua finally got around to seeing the Nicholas Cage action comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Nicholas Cage plays Nicholas Cage and Pedro Pascal plays Nicholas Cage lover, Javi Gutierrez. There’s a ton of Nicholas Cage and there’s a ton of laughs. Jay checked out the new film Honor Society with Angourie Rice and Gaten Matarazzo
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout It may be August, but it can still be Independence Day. That’s the movie Jay analyzes this week on Sci-Fi Saturdays. This legendary Roland Emerich disaster, popcorn movie was a big hit in the summer of 1996 and had everyone feeling the excitement of watching the world get destroyed. (Not so much fun when it actually happens) Jay breaks it down and looks at special FX, Societal Commentary, and fun. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Life! Pandemics, climate change, political uprisings, dogs and cats living together. It’s safe to say that the citizens of planet Earth have a lot on our minds these days. This can make it pretty tricky to face each day.
But here at Enjoy Stuff, we try to find the fun in everything, even uncertainty. The entertainment we watch can be full of the unknown as well. When we were younger, The Empire Strikes Back left us with questions that we didn’t get answers to for three years. As a kid, that can mess you up.
Disaster movies, horror movies, even dramas build up a sense of tension to get to an exciting climax. It’s fun to watch but can be harder to deal with when it’s really you. We look at some of the things we can do to keep a sense of hope in this crazy world.
What do you do to cope with uncertainty? How do you find hope? First person that emails me with the subject line, “The only thing constant is change” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com
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Mon, 1 August 2022
Powerful women influence history. As we grew up we watched some very strong female characters that helped to shape culture and bring about positive change. Let's remember great characters from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and how they inspired us!
What women inspired us growing up? Of course our moms. But we were so entrenched in movies and TV that there’s no way we could have escaped the influence of the characters that we saw there. Let’s explore the female characters that shaped us.
News RIP Tony Dow, Paul Sorvino, and TRON actor David Warner No Bueno! Chaco Taco is going away for good! Light & Magic, is now streaming on Disney+ Get ready for a spicy way to start your day with Cinna Fuego Toast Crunch! Just in time for school to start, Post is releasing two new snack packs; Starburst All Pink Juicy Gels and Fruity Pebbles Yogurt Snack Packs Matt Frewer will be b-b-back as Max in a new series on AMC Check out some retro news from San Diego Comic Con
What we’re Enjoying In anticipation of the new She-Hulk series on Disney+, Jay pulled out the 2004 She-Hulk comics by Dan Slott. These are great stories that we may or may not be seeing in the new series. But either way, it’s always fun to Enjoy Stuff. Shua has been listening to a book by John Scalzi called The Kaiju Preservation Society and narrated by Wil Wheaton. It’s a story of a guy that gets a job with a group of people that are observing and taking care of giant Kaijus on another Earth.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout This week Jay revisits a 1995 sci-fi movie with Peter Weller called Screamers. It’s adapted from a book by Philip K Dick and written by Dan O’Bannon. These sound great, but don’t really translate very successfully. Either way, you get some decent effects and action scenes with 90s cheese. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Life! Our incredible Moms worked so hard to raise us and we appreciate everything they did. But they weren’t the only women that we learned from as we grew up. As we watched movies and TV when our minds were impressionable, we got to see women have more opportunities and take charge to show the world that they were a force to be reckoned with.
Those characters helped to shape our view of culture and inspire us to be supportive partners in the challenge to give everyone equal opportunity. These characters were just a sampling of the many female influences we had, but they embodied some very positive characteristics. Listen in as we talk about actresses that showed independence, intelligence, strength, leadership, determination, and humor.
Who were the female characters that inspired you? How did they make a positive difference in your life? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Still, she persisted” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 25 July 2022
Take a break from the present, Pilgrim and mount up! Jovial Jay and Shua strap on the chaps, kick on the spurs, and don the ten-gallon hat as they remember some of the great Western movies and TV shows they grew up with. Get along l'il doggies and Enjoy Stuff!
Hollywood may have romanticized the Old West to create a pretty unrealistic view of history, but it sure made for some great movies. Cowboy movies have been around for more than 100 years, but some of them really stood out as we were growing up. Giddy up, pardners and get ready to Enjoy some Westerns.
News Kellogg’s and Nickelodeon are ready to fill your guts with slime! Well, Apple Jacks Slime Cereal anyway We have new, official images of the LEGO Atari 2600 set, and it is almost cooler than the real thing. The ice cream van is coming down your street. And the sign on the truck says “Hot” and “Now” because there are new Ice Cream inspired donuts at Krispy Kreme Nintendo is breaking into pictures! They just bought a movie studio to make their own movies based on their IP
What we’re Enjoying Look out for Shua because he’s been flinging axes at a place in town called Flanneljax. Who knew that axe throwing could be a fun group activity? Well, Monty Python knew it was OK to be a lumberjack. Jay finally made it to see Pixar’s Lightyear. He enjoyed the story but thought they could have done even more.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he revisits the 1995 Bruce Willis film 12 Monkeys. Willis plays a time traveler that is sent back in time to save the future from a raging disease. The world is a mess because of disease and famine and a bunch of leaders that aren’t helping to solve the…uh… Um, I don’t think he succeeded. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies, Pardner! Did you know that Westerns have been around since 1899? That’s practically the Old West anyway. (Maybe they were just called movies back then) The famous Great Train Robbery (1903) may not have been the first, but it helped secure the genre as a main staple in Hollywood forever.
When we were growing up, a lot of the classics were played on TV. That’s where we saw great flicks like The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Clint Eastwood established himself as a very tough cowboy in the Spaghetti Westerns by Sergio Leone. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966) especially has some legendary scenes.
John Wayne really epitomized the cowboy image in a ton of movies. The Searchers (1956) didn’t paint a very good picture of the Native Americans, but director John Ford established some incredible vistas that movie makers still use to set the scene today. And True Grit (1969) won him an academy award for the part of Rooster Cogburn. A role that would be reprised in 2010 by Jeff Bridges in the remake.
The 80s and 90s were no slouches when it came to Westerns either. The success of movies like Silverado (1985) brought forth a resurgence of the genre. Young Guns (1988) and Tombstone (1993) helped young stars make their mark and build some strong careers.
But they weren’t all just straight Westerns. Some were hysterical, like Blazing Saddles (1974) or Three Amigos (1986). Or they may have Sci-Fi elements in them like Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982) or Back to the Future III (1990).
Plus, it was a genre that could be easily played out on TV. Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. were going strong for years. The Westerns audience was built up by early stories of The Lone Ranger, Davy Crockett, and Daniel Boone.
Historically accurate or not, Westerns give storytellers the opportunity to tell some morality tales and establish some very interesting characters.
Do you like any Westerns? Would you wear a white hat or a black hat? Are you reading all the show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “There’s a snake in my boot!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 18 July 2022
The Untouchables is an iconic movie by Brian De Palma that kickstarted careers and told the story of Elliot Ness. Jovial Jay and Shua remember the 1987 film on Enjoy Stuff!
Al Capone may have lost his empire and died many years ago, but his legacy lives on in TV and movies. 35 years ago Brian DePalma interpreted his story in the movie The Untouchables. This week we look back and remember the legendary film.
News A new LEGO set featuring Bowzer is great for collectors and those with some coin You can bid on George Clooney’s Batman nipple suit for just $40,000 Day Shift is a new vampire hunter movie on Netflix, starring Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg “Missing Movies”, a consortium of film artists and professionals is trying to save long forgotten films Star Wars and Marvel are crossing paths again with Alden Ehrenreich
What we’re Enjoying Jay was pleasantly surprised to enjoy a new Hulu show called Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself. A poignant performance of illusion and identity. Shua read Wil Wheaton’s annotated autobiography Still Just a Geek, which paints a very true to life portrait of the actor’s struggles in life.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he revisits the 1995 film Strange Days. It tells the story of a not too distant Los Angeles future and a conspiracy. Despite the setting, it is an underrated sci-fi movie that is worth another look. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies! This week we look back for the 35th anniversary of The Untouchables. It tells the story of Elliot Ness and his quest to take down Al Capone, whose gang used American’s prohibition laws to gain power and money in the 1930’s. Make sure to read Jay’s Cinemanalysis article about The Untouchables on RetroZap.com.
Morality themes are just one of the many reasons this movie became legendary. Brian De Palma used his classic filmmaking skills to tell this story in a dramatic and intriguing way.
And the actors’ performances created the tension that kept the audiences intrigued, even though we knew some of the outcomes of the history. Kevin Costner plays Elliot Ness in one of his early film roles. Ness was the Federal Agent tasked to clean up Chicago in the 30’s
Robert DeNiro plays Al Capone. He really got into his role. He even wore the same type of underwear as Capone. His performance was downright scary as you watched and wondered how far the gangster would go.
And then there’s Sean Connery. His role as Jim Malone won him his only Oscar. He was a tough beat cop that helped Ness take down the bad guys in the ‘Chicago way’.
Listen in as we discuss what made this such a great movie and why you should see it again.
Have you seen The Untouchables? What did you think? Are you reading all the show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Never bring a knife to a gunfight” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 11 July 2022
It may be Slurpee Day, but that's not the only reason to celebrate! It's Shua's birthday! He and Jovial Jay will party by testing knowledge in a game of Gyp-Parody! Plus, we get to hear what's on Shua's Bucket List as we Enjoy Stuff!
Bucket Lists and Party games as we celebrate Shua’s birthday!
News The New Atari Collection comes with over 90 retro games including some surprises! Wanna buy a Jetsons house? You can in Tulsa, Oklahoma A vintage style Burger King has been found behind a wall in a Delaware Mall
What we’re Enjoying Thank you for Enjoying Stuff. Thank you very much! Shua is sporting some sideburns and rhinestones after experiencing Baz Luhrman’s movie, Elvis. It was a wild (and pretty accurate) depiction of the King’s life. Jay got to relive the days of dropping quarters at the Retrocade in Asheville, North Carolina. A two level trip back in time to the arcades of old.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. Ghost in the Shell is a classic example of Anime and great storytelling. Jay examines the classic tale on Sci-Fi Saturdays. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Life! As we get older, we start to look back on the stuff we’ve always wanted to do. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson taught everyone that this is called your bucket list. On Shua’s birthday, he has decided to share some of his bucket list items. He considers himself very fortunate to have accomplished a lot of his goals in life.
After reflecting on the wonders of life, it’s time for a little fun and games. Aleaks Jay-Beck leads Shua through a board of categories and questions on a game of Gyp-Parody. The categories are At the Movies, Prime Time, A Pocket Full of Quarters, and TechnoRetro Dads History. Play along and see how many Shua-Bucks you can win!
What’s on your bucket list? Did you do well at our version of Jeopardy? Are you reading all the show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Daily Double!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 4 July 2022
In the United States today marks the day that a revolution gave us our independence from England. Many movies also show us characters that fight against oppression, reminding us that we can stand together and fight for justice for all. This week we celebrate by rebelling!
Whether it’s the rebel alliance or just a breakfast club, it is important to be reminded to treat everyone fairly. We are all on this Earth together!
News A Back to the Future musical is headed to Broadway in 2023 John Williams is stepping away from movie music Michael J Fox will be given an honorary Oscar for his work on Parkinsons awareness Bill Nye just got hitched and is getting ready for a new show on Peacock next month Amazon Freevee adds a 24 hour ALF channel
What we’re Enjoying Jay watched Men With Brooms. A Canadian film with Leslie Nielsen that was recommended by Earbud Mike. If you want to experience a feel good story about curling, this one’s for you! Shua jumped into the next frontier, but not with Star Trek. Instead he has jumped right on board The Orville season 3. With its ramped up budget and timely stories, this is a good one.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. The Handmaid’s Tale is a chilling piece of speculative fiction. This movie deserves a revisit to remind us that society has the potential to take a serious turn for the frighteningly worse. Jay breaks it down and compares it to our world today. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies! Movies are a rich landscape of revolutions and rebellions. For decades cinema has been a place to tell of the bravery and heroics of rebels from the past, present, and future. Listen in for a listing of movies that we found rebellion in.
Which movies do you feel are good examples of rebellion? How do they inspire you to make a difference? Are you reading all the show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Freedom!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 27 June 2022
1982 was an epic year in movies! So many legendary films graced our cinemas and gave us a lifetime of memories. Jay and Shua remember some of the great stories that we saw 40 years ago on Enjoy Stuff.
Jump into the Wayback Machine for a trip to the movies in the summer of 1982! There were so many great movies to experience. Jay and Shua remember a ton on Enjoy Stuff!
News Planet of the Apes is coming to Marvel Comics Pluto TV has a 24 hour Transformers channel What do you think of French’s Ketchup flavored popsicle? The Voyager Spacecraft will be powered down soon A VHS copy of Back to the Future just sold for $75,000 Scientists have invented living skin for robots What do you think of the Lego Star Wars Summer Vacation trailer with Weird Al?
What we’re Enjoying Shua is here to tell you that Lightyear is a great movie and lots of fun. Go see it and enjoy! Jay revisited the under appreciated Mike Myers movie So I Married an Axe Murderer. It’s a fun movie with a lot of memorable humor. He also watched Eve of Destruction. It was also…a movie.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. Waterworld was the most expensive movie ever made for a while. Kevin Costner was on top of the world when he made this Mad Max on water saga. Did it live up to the hype? Read Jay’s article to find out. And don’t forget his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies! For many movie lovers, 1982 was the best year for movies. So many legendary films were released that year. This week Jay and Shua look at the successful movies that came out in the summer of ‘82. Check out the images below for some of the greats, and let us know which ones you like!
Which movies from ‘82 do you like? Do you still revisit them today? Are you reading all the show notes? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Kaaaaahn!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 20 June 2022
Surely you've heard of Leslie Nielsen. Surely you've seen some of the more than 200 movies he's been in. Surely you think he was one of the funniest actors ever. Jovial Jay and Shua look back on the memorable roles of this talented man. Listen in to Enjoy Stuff and don't call me Shirley.
Leslie Nielsen spent years trying to be a leading man in a number of dramatic movies with limited success. But then a lucky casting in the 1980 movie Airplane! as Dr. Rumack put him on a completely different path. After that, he became part of some of the funniest roles in history. Come along with us as we celebrate the career of a legend.
News Knives Out Sequel Gets Official Title With Teaser Video Butcher Billy has created some very cool Stranger Things posters The Thing is coming back to theaters for a couple days to celebrate its 40th anniversary Real Genius returns to video in a 4K ultra set
What we’re Enjoying Jay finally got to check out Operation: Mincemeat on Netflix and it didn’t disappoint. Have you seen this World War II movie about a real life British operation that helped turn the tide of the war and even gave a famous James Bond author some ideas. Shua experienced Jurassic Park: Dominion in the theaters and was pleasantly surprised how much fun it is. Check it out yourself and be prepared to Enjoy Stuff!
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he revisits a classic Keanu Reeves film from early in his career called Johnny Mnemonic. An interesting premise where Reeves gets to smuggle data in his brain. Check it out, including his articles on MCULocationScout.com for some great, interactive maps of filming locations.
Enjoy Movies! Leslie William Nielsen was born in 1926 in Canada. His father was a Canadian Mountie and his brother eventually became the Deputy Prime Minister. But Leslie caught the acting bug from a famous uncle and began his career acting on a wide variety of TV shows.
Eventually he was cast as the dashing captain in the 1956 sci-fi movie Forbidden Planet. This first role didn’t necessarily start a lucrative career, but it did give him his start in movies.
But he also continued some TV roles, such as the lead character in Disney’s Swamp Fox series.
The manly actor played the Captain of a doomed cruise ship in The Poseidon Adventure and this is what caught the eye of the Zucker brothers.
When the Zuckers were creating Airplane! in 1980, they wanted a cast of dramatic actors that had been in disaster movies. Nielsen fit that bill. He played Dr. Rumack, who took care of the sick passengers, described how the illness progressed with vivid details, and inspired Ted Stryker with tales of George Zip.
This breakout role dictated the rest of his career as he now played some of the zaniest characters ever created, most notably Lieutenant Frank Drebin. Drebin was the bumbling but dedicated detective of Police Squad, a special division of the Police Department. The unlikely hero made his debut in the short-lived TV series Police Squad, but really became successful in the Naked Gun movies.
After that, Nielsen made dozens of wacky comedies and spoofs and set the bar high for comedians after him. Especially when it comes to giving interviews and controlling bodily functions.
Are you a fan of Leslie Nielsen? Do you use his many movie quotes on a daily basis? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Don’t call me Shirley” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 13 June 2022
It's almost Father's Day! The TechnoRetro Dads look at some of the (scientifically minded) father figures that influenced them in movies and TV. Jay and Shua celebrate Dad-dom on Enjoy Stuff
Not all scientists are trying to reanimate the dead. Dr. Frankenstein may not have been a good father figure, but there were plenty of good influences in movies and TV. This week we remember some of the father figures we Enjoy classic movie dads.
News Big Hero 6 will soon come to Disney+ The prankster kid from Jaws is now a police chief on the island where the movie was filmed Did you get the limited edition mashup of Peanut Butter Ritz and Oreos? Season 2 of the Godzilla animated series is being released for the first time since it was on TV Check out this sweet ET Atari T-shirt given to the crew that excavated the Alamogordo landfill
What we’re Enjoying So much great stuff to enjoy this week! Shua can’t say enough great stuff about the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Such a phenomenal story. Jay likes that too, and is also watching Stranger Things and Love, Death, and Robots. So much great stuff to catch up on and Enjoy!
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. In the last few weeks he has covered the Kurt Russell film that started a TV franchise, Stargate; the first Trek movie with Picard as the captain, Star Trek Generations; and Godzilla vs Space Godzilla. And make sure to check out MCULocationScout.com for some Ms Marvel locations.
Enjoy Fathers! Did you have a positive father figure in your life? We hope so. Even though both Jay and Shua had supportive and teacherly dads, they still were influenced by other dads in movies and TV. Back in the 60s, Fred MacMurray brought his Absent Minded Professor to life when he helped the students at Medfield College achieve greatness through flubber.
For the next generation, Robin Williams did the same thing in the remake, Flubber. While neither of these scientists had children, they were good role models to young people and made sure the bad guy got what was coming to him too.
Rick Moranis played a father named Wayne Szalinski, who accidentally shrunk his kids in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He may not be responsible when it comes to safely securing his equipment, he would do anything to protect his kids.
Another Disney Dad that taught valuable lessons was Cornelius Robinson in Meet the Robinsons. Though there was a complex path for Lewis to get Cornelius’s advice, it was still a great message.
Doc Brown didn’t have kids of his own, but I bet he felt like he was raising young Marty McFly through all of their time traveling adventures. In the end he had a great message that Marty could pass down to all his children that Doc probably visited too.
And we have some honorable mention ‘dads’ too. These TV scientist help us learn the value of lighting things on fire in our kitchen along with many other lessons.
Who can you honor this week during Father’s Day? What valuable lesson, science or otherwise, did that person teach you? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Science rules!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com |
Mon, 6 June 2022
It's another episode of Enjoy Stuff Lite this week as Shua continues to galavant around the country. This time it's Jovial Jay vs Jedi Shua in a fun game of Geek Out! Hang out with the TechnoRetro Dads as they play a game that will tax not only their knowledge of geeky subjects, but their memory as well. How well do you stack up against Shua and Jay in this week's episode of Enjoy Stuff Lite? Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week boldly go where no one has gone before with the adventures of the Enterprise, new and old in Star Trek: Generations. And make sure to check out MCULocationScout.com for some Moon Knight locations and soon, more Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Enjoy Games! What sort of games do you like to play? Did you read all the way to the bottom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Geeking Out With the TechnoRetro Dads” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com We truly appreciate all you Earbuds who have hopped on board and joined us for our next chapter! Join in the fun by reaching out to us! And make sure to Share and Enjoy with all your friends! Share and enjoy! |
Mon, 30 May 2022
It's Memorial Day, and perennially a time associated with Star Wars. Thousands of Earbuds were gathered this last weekend in Anaheim, CA for the biggest Star Wars Celebration ever, and Shua was among the crowds! What sort of amazing things were happening at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022? Shua provides an insider's tale of the excitement, fan fervor, and of course the lines that make up the largest Star Wars party in the galaxy. Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he finds fortune, glory and inter-dimensional transport in the 1994 flick Stargate. And make sure to check out MCULocationScout.com for some Moon Knight locations and soon, more Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Enjoy Movies! What was your favorite reveal from Star Wars Celebration? Did you read all the way to the bottom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “The Force Is With Us” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com We truly appreciate all you Earbuds who have hopped on board and joined us for our next chapter! Join in the fun by reaching out to us! And make sure to Share and Enjoy with all your friends! Share and enjoy! |
Mon, 23 May 2022
Oil up those muscles and sharpen your sword because we are going on an epic journey in a time long ago, when sorcerers, warriors, and fantasy ruled the cinema. Journey with Jay and Shua as they look at classic sword and sorcery movies.
Conan the Barbarian has been around for almost 90 years, but 40 years ago the character was brought to life by Arnold Schwarzenegger, early in his career. This movie inspired a plethora of other stories throughout the 80’s. Mount those horses and journey to a forgotten age with Enjoy Stuff
News Transformers Optimus Prime has been turned into an epic LEGO set Christopher Walken joins Dune: Part 2 Get ready to learn half the battle when GI Joe gets a special screening courtesy of Fathom Events In a couple years we will get a follow up to This Is Spinal Tap Congratulations to Jovial Jay as his essay about 45 Years of Star Wars Expanded Universe Fiction is published in Bare-Bones #10 Make sure to check the boys out as guests on Podcast Stardust discussing Attack of the Clones
What we’re Enjoying Now that Jay has revisited Attack of the Clones, he couldn’t help but watch Revenge of the Sith too. Plus, he finally completed the story of LEGO Star Wars, The Skywalker Saga. Now he can get back to work. Shua watched Mike Myers secret society series The Pentaverate on Netflix. It was pure Mike Myers comedy with some fun jokes and thoughtful themes.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he stretches his muscles to keep up with Jean Claude Van Damme in the 1994 flick Timecop. And make sure to check out MCULocationScout.com for some Moon Knight locations and soon, more Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Enjoy movies! Conan the Barbarian made his live action debut in 1984 with a John Milius production of the same name. This was not Schwarzenneger’s first film, but it definitely put him on the road to stardom. Despite some of it’s dated effects and slow pace, it is a beautiful, fantasy epic.
There were a bevy of Sword and Sorcery films after the success of Conan. But we saw a few in a similar genre before. Disney films like The Sword in the Stone (1963) and the Harryhausen creations like The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) and its sequels and Clash of the Titans (1981).
Marc Singer brought a different type of barbarian to the fantasy world. His character of Dar in Beastmaster (1982) had the ability to connect and communicate with animals that helped him defeat the evil sorcerer played by Rip Taylor. Oops! I mean Rip Torn.
Fantasy lends itself to such a wide variety of movies such as The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) and a rare, early Disney PG movie called Dragonslayer (1981). These kept the interest in these types of mythical worlds.
Excalibur (1981) was a medieval tale of King Arthur that brought the ancient tale to the modern screen. It also inspired some cool artwork from Shua’s father. Fire and Ice (1983) featured rotoscoping animation from Ralph Bakshi. These are just a tiny sampling of this genre that was so popular during the 80s. There were so many more!
Are you a fan of Sword and Sorcery films? What type do you like? Did you read all the way to the bottom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Now we are dead!” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 16 May 2022
Journey across the stars on the anniversary of Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Jay and Shua remember what it was like in 2002 when we returned to the galaxy far, far away for another prequel and why we still love it.
Soon, we will get to see Hayden Christiansen reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker, ne Darth Vader, in the new Obi Wan series. But this week we remember when we met him for the first time in the sequel to the prequel Attack of the Clones.
News The Quantum Leap series gets a series order at NBC Cobra Kai season V will be here before we expected Mike Myers returns in a new series on Netflix called The Pentaverate The Blockbuster Video series is making progress at Netflix
What we’re Enjoying Shua has been keeping up with movies at the Alamo Drafthouse by using his newly purchased season pass. It’s been a nice way to spend time with his wife and see great movies at the same time. Jay also visited a movie theater to experience the wild, controversial new Marvel movie, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he looks at the 1994 Ray Liotta movie No Escape. And make sure to check out MCULocationScout.com for some Moon Knight locations and soon, more Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Enjoy movies! It was 20 years ago today, Yoda made Count Dooku pay! Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones premiered in May of 2002 and continued the story of Phantom Menace ten years later.
Even then the film got mixed reviews, but there is no doubt that there are some absolutely incredible accomplishments made by George.
Jay and Shua remember all the hype and fun that was to be had during this summer. Plus, we discuss some of the things we love about the movie.
Where does Attack of the Clones rank on your list? Can you find ways to enjoy the film? Did you read all the way to the bottom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Sand isn’t so bad” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 9 May 2022
Turn your Temple of Doom into a Temple of Enjoy as we look at the classic Indy Sequel from 1984. Jovial Jay and Shua share a delicious dinner of monkey brains and eyeball soup on Enjoy Stuff!
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom wasn’t just a gross out movie with dark action that was a catalyst for developing a PG-13 movie rating…it also had Short Round. But really it is an underrated Indy movie with lots of great stuff. And Ke Huy Quan is back in a new movie after being away from Hollywood for a long time.
News Eggo releases Mandalorian waffles! And in other breakfast news, Tropicana Crunch is a new cereal that is intended to be eaten with orange juice instead of milk A trailer for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story has been released and we are on board!
What we’re Enjoying Jay was inspired by an Enjoy Stuff episode and rewatched The Good Place. It’s still a thought-provoking series with humor and great themes. Shua is reading some pulp fiction in the form of a Star Trek novel. ‘The Vulcan Academy Murders” by Jean Lorrah is a goofy, fun Star Trek Murder mystery from 1984.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he looks at the 1993 Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes sci-fi movie ‘Demolition Man’. If for no other reason, you should read this article to find out the secret of the 3 shells. And make sure to check out MCULocationScout.com for some Moon Knight locations and soon, more Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Enjoy movies! Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom! The second Indy outing came at an interesting time in Steven Spielberg’s and George Lucas’s life. They were both dealing with bad relationship breakups and it manifested itself in the darkest Indy story we ever got.
But all that gross out fun and dark themes sure appealed to teenage Jay and teenage Shua. We revisit all the things that we loved about this movie and some interesting trivia.
Short Round was a beloved character that came from this film. Ke Huy Quan owned the role and it looked like he had a long future in Hollywood ahead of him. But other than the Goonies, he all but disappeared from our screens. Now he’s back in an A24 film called ‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’. It’s an impressive performance too, and a wild ride.
What did you think of ‘Temple of Doom’? Was it too dark for your taste? Did you read all the way to the bottom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “No time for love, Dr. Jones” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 2 May 2022
The Fourth Awakens on Enjoy Stuff this week as we celebrate Star Wars Day with our special guest Dennis Keithly. Join us as we catch up with what we've been enjoying from the Galaxy Far, Far Away!
The beginning of May means that it’s time to prepare to have the Fourth Unleashed! Star Wars Day is this week and we celebrate all things Star Wars with a special guest.
News Pixar just released a new, and very revealing trailer for Lightyear Images have been revealed of an upcoming LEGO set that looks like the Atari 2600. Now if it would only work as a console too! Doritos announced a Stranger Things promotion that will include a ‘Concert from the Upside Down’ later this summer.
What we’re Enjoying Shua found a comic based on the Orville TV series that takes place between seasons 2 and 3. Orville 2.5 is another fun addition to the franchise. Our guest Dennis revisited his Dungeons and Dragons themed novels from his youth called Dragonlance. A TSR published series that had some very promising stories in it. In anticipation of this year’s Thor: Love and Thunder movie, Jay has been reading Jason Aaron’s Thor series. Cool stuff that set the foundation for the cinematic story.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he goes back to the beginning of the dinosaur franchise to examine the 1993 masterpiece Jurassic Park. Is this the greatest sci-fi film of the 90’s? We’ll let you be the judge, but Jay makes some great points as he shares a ton of groundbreaking moviemaking and storytelling techniques that changed the way we see movies forever.
Enjoy movies! It seems that the words “May the Fourth be with you” is pretty much understood by everyone these days. This once inside joke has become as mainstream as Merry Christmas. But where did this handy pun originate?
We find the origins of the first clever person to put this date together with Star Wars, and it may not be where you think. And we track the exponential growth of the use of the Star Wars based joke to the massive promo machine it is today.
Then, we look at the Star Wars things we all have been enjoying. In anticipation of Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim at the end of the month, Shua has been listening to the 1980 NPR Radio Drama adaptation of Star Wars starring Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels. A fun version that gave us a way to experience Star Wars before the common use of VCRs.
Dennis has been putting together some great LEGO sets, including a Probe Droid and an A-Wing. And he’s been binge watching The Clone Wars animated series in anticipation of Celebration.
Jay has been making his way through the new LEGO Star Wars Skywalker Saga. He’s found a ton of clever, funny Easter eggs and joke throughout the game that makes an already amazing game even more fun.
We also report on some cool games and books that are available now. And to wrap it all up, Shua shares some Star Wars week puns and a collection of Funky Winkerbean comic strips where the artist Tom Batiuk shared Jedi Jokes.
Are you celebrating Star Wars Day? How will you channel your inner Jedi? Did you read all the way to the bottom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “Jar Jar shot first” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 25 April 2022
This week, a shocking season finale! You won't believe the cliffhangers! For the final season 1 episode of Enjoy Stuff, we look back at some memorable TV and movie cliffhangers of all time. Will everyone survive? Tune in next time...
We celebrate our season 1 finale by looking back on some other memorable finales and the origin of cliffhangers. Hang on for dear life as you Enjoy Stuff!
News Tom Hanks teams up with an old cast(away)mate to throw out the first pitch at the Cleveland Guardians game Netflix Releases Love, Death + Robots Season 3 Trailer
What we’re Enjoying Jay is channeling his inner brick while playing the recently released LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. As always, this LEGO interpretation of the films is fun and extensive. Shua finally got around to watching the latest and final season of the Netflix series Lost in Space. It’s tons of fun and another good interpretation.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he skips the decidedly non-sci-fi Groundhogs Day to check out the obscure 1993 film Nemesis, so named because “the inescapable agent of someone’s or something’s downfall” was too long for theater marquees.
Enjoy TV! Cliffhangers! These days they make us want to binge entire seasons of shows. But as early as the 70’s they gave us something to talk about in the long months leading up to the next season premiere.
According to Master Class, “A cliffhanger is a plot device in which part of a story ends unresolved, usually in a suspenseful or shocking way, in order to compel audiences to turn the page or return to the story in the next installment.” It began in 1873 in a Thomas Hardy novel called “A Pair of Blue Eyes”.
But in 1978, the writers of the TV series “Soap” saw it as an opportunity for audiences to be so intrigued at the outcome, that they will wait on pins and needles for the next season. Voila! Instant underground hype!
Fast forward to 1980 and the writers of the nighttime soap “Dallas” shot the main antagonist of the show and made just about everyone a suspect. ‘Who Shot JR?’ was on everyone’s lips in 1980 and is still one of the most successful cliffhanger endings in history.
Over the years many shows have used this technique to keep fans returning and to build an even bigger fanbase with word-of-mouth. “The Good Place”, “Friends”, “Walking Dead”...Even people who don’t watch the show could probably tell you about a memorable cliffhanger.
In 1990 a syndicated show used this in a way that had never really been done before. “Star Trek: The Next Generation” created a memorable cliffhanger that may have contributed to the continuing future success of the entire franchise with one word, “Fire!”
Movies can use this method too. “Back to the Future part II”, “Avengers: Infinity War”, and of course, “The Empire Strikes Back” gave us months or even years to speculate what solutions could possibly be created to satisfy us.
What are some of your favorite cliffhangers? Do they make you want to come back for more? Did you read all the way to the bottom? First person that emails me with the subject line, “I shot JR” will get a special mention on the show. Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 18 April 2022
Celebrate the birthday of the one and only Jovial Jay by taking a trip to Califor-Ni-Ay! Jay remembers all the great places he would visit growing up in the Golden State. It's a celebration of another trip around the sun on Enjoy Stuff!
Come with us on a visit of Jay’s favorite places in California that helped make him the man he is today. It’s a birthday celebration!
News Help wanted at Antarctica base to manage gift shop and count penguins Robbers steal $22,000 worth of cheese, and that’s no gouda! The new Netflix film Operation: Mincemeat looks good! I comes out May 11 A new, wicked trailer for Stranger Things season 4 looks amazing!
What we’re Enjoying Shua has been reading the latest fantasy novel from Antony Soehner called The Prince. An intriguing story about Prince Theo who has to deal with a wicked king. Check it out on antonysoehner.com. Jay checked out a new HBO Max series with Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi. It’s not what he expected, but he’s enjoying it so far.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. This week he revisits the 1992 Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren action flick, Universal Soldier. It is a surprising film that attempts to blend action/sci-fi with a social conscience. Make sure you check his articles out each week!
Enjoy Life! Today is Jay’s birthday! And what better way to celebrate than reminiscing about your childhood! It’s a TechnoRetro trip back to the state that made the man, California.
First we find out if there could possibly be any other events of historical significance besides the birth of the Jovial one. I guess there might be a few things that happened. Then we see if any well known people go around bragging that they share a birthday with the famous Jay.
And then the fun begins. What were some movies that were released around his birthday throughout the years? Where did Jay like to go see these flicks?
Next we cover TV. CHiPs, Hulk, and Manimal were just a few that influenced him. But can HE turn into a variety of animals? We may find out.
And finally, how did the fair-haired comic book fan entertain himself during the 80s? Bowling, mini-golf, and video games were the catalyst for genius.
We are so lucky that the world gave us Jovial Jay. So let’s crank some tunes as we party the week away in celebration of the birthday boy!
Did you enjoy any of the things that Jay did growing up? Is it your birthday? Do you ever read all the way to the bottom of these write-ups to read these questions? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 11 April 2022
Have you ever turned a song on the radio and instantly been transported back to a specific scene in a movie? We have. It's these songs that have been indelibly ingrained into our memory and associated with that movie forever. This week we look at some of our favorites and the movies that go along with them on Enjoy Stuff!
Quick! What does this song remind you of? Jay and Shua give each other clips of 10 songs and quiz each other to see if it makes them think of the same movie.
News Bruce Willis retires after almost 40 years of Film and Television due to aphasia. Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind at Epcot opening date announced Cracker Jack Introduces a new Cracker Jill line New cast for season 3 of Picard announced
What we’re Enjoying Jay, along with millions of us, tuned into the newest Disney+ Marvel series ‘Moon Knight’. It’s a pretty unique and mind blowing story. But he’s also been digging into the comic book origins and inspirations too. We recommend it. Shua has been killing random seconds of free time a day playing the ios app Mario Kart Tour. A fun distraction with a lot of fun, creative content and characters.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. He may not be able to recommend the movie this week, but we can for sure recommend the Retrozap article on the 1992 movie Freejack. This forgettable film stars Emilio Estevez, Mick Jagger, and Anthony Hopkins and had an interesting premise, but a less than perfect execution. The latest Marvel series on Disney+ is here! Now go check out some great filming locations for Moon Knight on MCU Location Scout.
Enjoy Movies! Do you remember your high school science lessons on memory? We sure don’t. But we do know that memories are important for reminiscing about the great stuff we grew up with. All that school learning is something called ‘explicit’ memory. It’s memory that you can remember by thinking about it. Book learning. But the memory you get when you smell that pine and think of a special Christmas, or the song that takes you back to that first make out session is called ‘implicit’ memory.
Implicit memory can be triggered by your senses. These outside stimuli trigger a thought back to another time that you might have been experiencing those senses. Strangely enough, the strongest time of a person’s life that is likely to have these memories is between 10 and 30 years old. Meaning all that nostalgia people have when they are in their 40s is actually a psychological norm.
We love when a particular song triggers a memory of a movie. So Jay and Shua each put together a separate list of songs that take them back to a film. And they try to guess each other’s pick. Are they enough alike that they can match them all?
Do you have songs that make you think of a movie? What kind of emotions do those trigger? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 4 April 2022
What are you lookin' at butthead? We're looking at Back to the Future because it's always fun to look back at our favorite films, especially if they're about time travel. Join Jay and Shua on a journey to the past, present, and future to get a taste of nostalgia on Enjoy Stuff!
Time travel stories have been around for quite a while, but Back to the Future made it more popular than ever before. Let’s revisit Back to the Future!
News A new Lego Back to the Future Delorean set is available now! One of only two original prototypes for the home Pong console just sold for more than you’d probably pay for it What is the new Pop Tarts flavor? Snickerdoodle! What do you think of the new Top Gun: Maverick trailer?
What we’re Enjoying Shua and his lovely wife decided to check out the new Sandra Bullock action comedy, ‘The Lost City’. They were pleasantly surprised how much fun it was. Jay has continued his western film viewings with a classic Sergio Leone spaghetti Western, ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’. A classic movies that set up a lot of details in movies that followed it.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. Sci-Fi Saturdays has a great article on Terminator 2: Judgment Day.The latest Marvel series on Disney+ is here! Now go check out some great filming locations for Moon Knight on MCU Location Scout.
Enjoy Movies! Back in the early days of cinema, time travel movies were far and in between. In 1960 we got a cinematic interpretation of HG Wells’s classic story, “The Time Machine”. “Planet of the Apes” revealed itself to be a time travel movie in 1968.
The 70’s and 80’s gave us some more modern day methods of riding a time wave with things like “Time After Time”, “Somewhere in Time”, and “Timerider”
But Time Travel became mainstream and common after a brand new idea in 1985 when Robert Zemeckis was finally able to bring his vision to screen in “Back to the Future”.
We talk about why we enjoy this classic film, from the frenetic pace to the performances to the new rules of time travel, this story seemed to strike all the right notes.
November 22, 1989 brought us the first of two sequels that were filmed back to back. Part II took us to a future that was fun and cheesy, but actually a little accurate. It also took Marty back to the past in 1955 where he had to find a way to save Doc, who was even further back in the past in 1885.
Just a few months later on May 25, 1990 we got the conclusion where we see Hill Valley when it was just getting started in the old west. The finale focused more on Doc than Marty, and it raised the stakes of getting back to 1985.
Jay and Shua remember times they saw it, even a trilogy marathon before the premiere of part III. Make sure you check out Jay’s write-ups on Retrozap.com about the whole trilogy!
Are you a fan of Back to the Future? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 28 March 2022
All the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, but with real Oscars! Who will take home their very own Oscar in the kind of categories you would expect from Jovial Jay and Shua, on Enjoy Stuff!
Best cereal when soggy! Best wit in a parody movie! Everyone can get into Enjoy Stuff categories. Join Jay and Shua on the goofiest tribute to the Oscars you have ever heard!
News Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai Series Details and Full Cast Announced Pay-Doh is getting its very own movie! Ghostbusters Spirits Unleashed Video Game Get a buddy a personalized video birthday greeting from Weird Al Jared Leto Says ‘Tron 3’ Is ‘Getting Closer’...sure…
What we’re Enjoying Jay was sporting a 10-20 gallon hat as he broke out some very classic westerns, such as John Ford’s ‘Stagecoach’ and Jimmy Stewart in ‘Winchester ‘73’. Get along l’il doggie! Shua went with a different Stewart this week as he has been enjoying Sir Patrick Stewart in ‘Picard’ season 2. Let’s make it so!
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. Sci-Fi Saturdays has a great article on an 80’s version of giant robots in “Robot Jox”. Plus an odd sci-fi movie that even featured a post-Star Wars Mark Hamill in ‘The Guyver’. This week brings the latest Marvel series on Disney+, so you can look for some great filming location for Moon Knight on MCU Location Scout.
Enjoy the Oscars! Sunday, March 27 was the 94th Academy Awards. So this week we celebrate our very own version of the Oscars by looking at some TechnoRetro categories and giving the winner their very own Oscar. (But a real life, famous Oscar). Tune in for the winners! Here are the categories:
Food Nominees - Best Cereal even when soggy Cap’n Crunch Cinnamon Toast Crunch Lucky Charms Froot Loops Frosted Flakes Winner gets Oscar Mayer
Comedy Nominees - Best Wit in a parody movie Leslie Nielsen Mel Brooks John Cleese Gene Wilder Simon Pegg Winner gets Oscar Wilde
Fashion - Most ridiculous costumes in a film Phantom Menace Fifth Element Tank Girl Batman and Robin Running Man Winner gets Oscar de la Renta
Best Non-Standard Sports Film Over the Top 1987 Baseketball 1998 Rollerball 1975 Cool Runnings 1993 Harry Potter 2001 Winner gets Oscar de la Hoya
Music - Best Retro song that’s aged well Power of Love Don’t stop Believin’ Let’s Dance - David Bowie Everybody wants to rule the world Winner gets Oscar Hammerstein
Cartoon - Best grumpy character on Saturday Mornings Garfield Grumpy Smurf Squidward** Skeletor Fred Flintstone Winner gets Oscar the Grouch
Movies - Best actor/actress that has played a superhero and sci-fi character Mark Hamill - Star Wars/Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Chris Hemsworth - Star Trek/Thor…. Patrick Stewart - Star Trek/X-Men Zoe Saldana - Star Trek/Guardians of the Galaxy Natalie Portman - Star Wars/Thor: Love and Thunder Scarlet Johansson - Lucy, Ghost in the Shell, The Island/Black Widow Winner gets Oscar Isaac
Did your favorites win? What categories would you like to see next time? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 21 March 2022
Revisit 50 years of The Godfather as Enjoy Stuff looks back at one of the most iconic pieces of storytelling in cinematic history. Learn about the history and why it is considered such a masterpiece.
There are many ways to celebrate Pi Day on March 14. Whether you make a nice round birthday cake for Albert Einstein or share all kinds of round food with your friends, we think you’ll have fun watching 80’s TV shows about Private Investigators. Join us for a circular show of Magnum proportions on Enjoy Stuff!
News Lucky Charms Charms Ice Cream Returns to Cold Stone Creamery for St. Patrick's Day Super Nintendo World set to open at Universal Studios Hollywood next year
What we’re Enjoying Shua spent almost a week enjoying musicals, including the broadway smash, ‘Hamilton’. But what really made an impact is watching his daughter in her High School musical ‘Newsies’. Her school presented a performance that was every bit as good as broadway. Jay checked out the newest Ryan Reynolds movie ‘The Adam Project’. A fun romp with lots of nods to cool pop culture stuff for the whole family.
Sci-Fi Saturdays/MCU Location Scout Be sure to check out Jay’s articles on Retrozap.com. Sci-Fi Saturdays looks at a Dolph Lundgren classic called “I Come in Peace” and an 80’s giant robot popcorn flick called “Robot Jox”. And now that “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is streaming, check out some new locations from that film on MCU Location Scout.
Enjoy Movies! In the 60s, movies looked and felt quite a bit different due to Hollywood’s Hays Code. But as the 70’s neared and a rating system was established, filmmakers gained some freedom to explore the art of cinema. In 1972 Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo jumped at the opportunity to bring the vision of The Godfather to the world.
Debuting on March 24, this mobster movie set the groundwork for this genre that few films have been able to capture to this day. The pacing, thematic elements, and complex character development flowed together in a new way.
This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the classic by looking at the whole trilogy and discussing how it came about, why it’s so respected, and new ways you can experience the world of the Corleones.
Are you a fan of the Godfather movies? What do you think? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 14 March 2022
Enjoy Pi Day with Jovial Jay and Shua as they take the idea completely out of context and talk about Private Investigators of 80s TV. It's a great episode to listen to 3.14 times!
There are many ways to celebrate Pi Day on March 14. Whether you make a nice round birthday cake for Albert Einstein or share all kinds of round food with your friends, we think you’ll have fun watching 80’s TV shows about Private Investigators. Join us for a circular show of Magnum proportions on Enjoy Stuff!
News Get ready for Easter candy and breakfast fusion with the new Rice Krispies and Apple Jacks treats And if that’s not enough sweet morning candy for you, try the Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Jelly Beans The Muppets’ Electric Mayhem is getting their very own series on Disney+ There is an ‘I Am Legend’ sequel being worked on with Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan The Quantum Leap reboot keeps getting new cast members. Raymond Lee will be the lead
What we’re Enjoying Jay is getting ready for Easter by exploring a variety of rabbit holes. One is Michael J Fox movies. Early movies like Midnight Madness and Teen Wolf make for a fun revisit of the actor’s origins. Shua was surprised to enjoy The Batman as much as he did. It was an interesting take on the Dark Knight with a detective story and a surprising message of hope by the end.
Enjoy TV! What is Pi? A delicious dessert? A mathematical constant? Well, yeah. But to recognize this year’s March 14, with different kinds of P.I.s; private investigators of the 80’s.
Magnum PI pushed Tom Selleck to the top of fame when he starred as Thomas Magnum, private investigator staying in the mansion of Robin Masters and tormenting the butler, Higgins. All this while solving crimes while driving around in a fancy car.
1984’s Riptide starred Perry King as Cody Allen and solved mysteries with his friends Nick and Boz, while driving around in a fancy car.
Simon and Simon were two brothers who, while opposite in a lot of ways, were great at solving mysteries and driving around in a variety of fancy cars.
Hardcastle and McCormick premiered in 1983 and starred the legendary Brian Keith as Judge Hardcastle who is trying to catch a bunch of criminals who escaped conviction with the help of a car thief named McCormick, who drives around in a stolen fancy car.
Hunter set the stage for overly-macho guys who carry big guns, but sometimes have a female partner. Rick Hunter and his partner DeeDee McCall help to save Los Angeles, but don’t always have the luxury of a fancy car.
Spenser for Hire showed us that the great Robert Urich as Spenser, saving the day in Boston with his reliable and not yet Star Trekified Avery Brooks, while driving around in a fancy Mustang car.
And this just scratches the surface. In our head cannon, they were all connected and worked for Angela Lansbury’s Jessica Fletcher.
What else can you do on Pi Day? How about some Pi-kus? Or maybe have a Pi-arty? Serve some Pi-themed food like Pi-napple or Pi-stachios. Whatever you do, have 3.14 times the fun on this fun Monday!
Are you celebrating Pi Day? Do you have a crime that needs investigating? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 7 March 2022
When we last left our heroes, Rocky and Bullwinkle, they were desperately trying to foil the plans of those dastardly fiends Boris and Natasha. This week Jay and Shua look back at the classic Jay Ward creation The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.
In 1959, Jay Ward productions created the first animated series for TV. Using a modern style of animation and very clever humor, they set up a crazy world that would inspire a kind of cartoon not found in the creations of giants like Disney or Warner Bros. This is Rocky and Bullwinkle!
News A Weird Al pinball machine will only set you back about $8,000 Scientists discover that the answer to life, the universe, and everything really is 42 (well, sorta) Indy 5 has wrapped filming! And Harrison Ford didn’t even have to go the hospital! Beetlejuice 2 may actually happen!
What we’re Enjoying Shua has been filling the silence of work time by listening to the offerings of classic Disneyland audio from a site called DisneyChris.com. It has just about any Disney audio you can think of from the parks, Disney storybook records, and even TV shows. Jay is getting ready for a season 6 return of Better Call Saul by rewatching the series. But which order should we watch this show? Listen to find out.
Enjoy Cartoons! The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle debuted in 1959. It was the first time we had ever seen an animated series on TV, and it established a style that would become popular with cartoons, advertising, and design. A show about a moose and a squirrel constantly foiling the plans of Pottsylvanian spies Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale sounds pretty far out there. And it was!
And to add to the wackiness of the show, other cartoons filled the space between cliffhangers our heroes had to endure. One was Fractured Fairy Tales when we got a very unconventional style of classics.
Peabody’s Improbable History introduced us to Mr. Peabody and his pet boy Sherman and all their time traveling adventures.
Dudley Do Right taught us all about how brave (and sometimes dimwitted) those Canadian Mounties could be. But they always managed to save Nell from the mustache twirling Snidely Whiplash.
Aesop and Son helped us learn valuable lessons from fables and then turned them into ridiculous puns.
Plus, these classic toons inspired live action movie versions. The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle from 2000 starred the likes of Jason Alexander, Rene Russo, and even Robert DeNiro!
Did you grow up experiencing Rocky and Bullwinkle? What lessons did you learn from this crazy pair? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 28 February 2022
Don't watch it, play it! In the late 1970s, Atari ushered in the gaming era! But throughout their history, the company had more turbulence than a game of Combat. This week we revisit their history and which games were the most influential on us. Live Pong and prosper!
What do Atari and Chuck E Cheese have to do with each other? What was the first standup Atari game, and why did it look like it belonged in The Sleeper house? These questions and more are answered as we look at the history of Atari.
News Stranger Things season 4 is coming, but we will see an end to the series after season 5 Berkeley Breathed’s Bloom County comic strip will be coming to Fox for an animated series Make sure to check out Shua on the Saturday Matinee Podcast this week
What we’re Enjoying Jay revisited a 1955 Spencer Tracy mystery movie called Bad Day at Black Rock. This intriguing tale of a one-armed stranger appearing in a small town with a secret is sure to give you a retro story to talk about. Shua has been trying to view all the best picture Oscar nominees before the broadcast of the awards on March 27.
Enjoy Games! In 1971, Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney adapted a computer game called Spacewar, created in 1962 by Steve Russell. The new game, called Computer Space, may not have been the gigantic success that the men had hoped for, but it laid the groundwork for their new business, dubbed Atari.
Computer Space led to Pong, which found it’s way across the country with eight to ten thousand machines sprinkled throughout bars and restaurants.
Bushnell then took over the country and used their success to grow the company quickly (yet, with questionable business practices). One of his successes was the home console, which started appearing on shelves in the late 70s.
Plus, Bushnell expanded his business ideas by purchasing Pizza Time Theater and began putting his arcade cabinets in Chuck E Cheeses across the country. It was a crazy idea that worked for quite a while.
Bushnell, now just Chairman of the Board after selling Atari to Warner Communications for $28 million, hired an interesting (and not very well liked) character named Steve Jobs. Jobs had some innovative ideas, but had some of them developed by his friend Steve Wozniak in some pretty underhanded scenarios.
By the 1980s Atari had become the fastest-growing company in the history of our country. But the writing was on the wall; the video game industry, and especially Atari, was getting ready for a crash. In 1983, shortly after their disastrous release of the failed ET video game, Atari was posting huge losses and other companies quickly filled the void in the market.
Jay and Shua have some good memories of Atari games though, both at home and in arcades. And collectors still try to acquire a wide variety of their creations. Despite their shortcomings, Atari helped to create classics and inspire future generations in programming, designing, artwork, technology, and more!
Did you have an Atari? What were some games that stood out to you? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 21 February 2022
It's Twosday! And to celebrate, Jay and Shua are taking a look at sequels. Not just movies, but TV, video games, music and more! Come have fun with us and Enjoy Stuff 2: Electric Boogaloo!
Today is February 22, 2022. Why is that important you ask? Well, if you are a numerophile then you might be really interested in the date 2-22-22. Especially at 2:22:22. For us, it means today is all about the number two! Specifically, sequels. Join us as we look into the the history and thought process behind making a continuation of a story.
News A Futurama revival has been ordered for Hulu RIP Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman Are you ready for a new Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers movie? It’s coming to Disney+ Soon we will get to see how Ralphie raised his kids in a Christmas Story sequel John Cena will be co-starring with the legendary stunt performer, Wile E. Coyote in Coyote vs Acme
What we’re Enjoying Shua Received a very special retro gift from his lovely wife for Valentine’s Day. Two peanuts collections in paperback form from the 60s helped to spark tons of childhood memories. She used to read them endlessly and his drawing career began when he would copy the pictures from Books. Jay started a new series on Amazon Prime. Reacher tells the story of a muscular Stranger who wanders into town and gets accused of murder. Trust us, it’s better than we are making it sound.
Enjoy Movies! (and TV, Games, Music, and more!) Sequels have been around almost as long as movies. But when did they start adding numbers to a title to indicate that it was a continuation of the plot? We found the first evidence of a Roman numeral in a title back in 1957 with a movie from England called Quatermass II. Roman numerals became really popular after 1974’s The Godfather part II. We got a plethora of sequels with those parallel little numbering systems with Superman II, Star Trek two, Rambo II, and of course the iconic weekend at Bernie’s II. They don’t all have Roman numerals but a sequel really means that someone liked the first story and wanted it to continue. Why do we like sequels? Is it just a cash grab from the studios? Or is it because we just don’t want the characters and story to end?
Sequels aren’t unique to movies either. Television shows sometimes have sequels, but usually they’re called spinoffs. The Jeffersons was a spinoff to All in the Family. Laverne and Shirley was a spinoff for Happy Days, as was Mork and Mindy. The title numbering may be different, but they are still sequels.
Video games jumped into the sequel world. Sometimes they would differentiate from the original by giving it a similar title like Donkey Kong Jr. or Ms. Pac-Man. Or sometimes they maintained their cinematic quality by giving them numbers like Streetfighter II or Mortal Kombat II.
Even the music industry got into the sequel numbering game. Some iconic albums were numbered with Roman numerals like Led Zeppelin II, McCartney II, Queen II, and Van Halen II. Plus tons of Greatest Hits compilations will throw numbers on their titles to let everyone know you need to collect the whole set. Now that’s what I call music!
Do you like sequels? Or do they annoy you that they may not be an original idea? Which one stands out to you?Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 14 February 2022
Love...exciting and Retro! Come aboard, we're expecting yo! On this Valentine's Day, you may need an idea for a date night. What better place to look than 80s movies? Jay and Shua offer up a plethora of ideas for a great movie themed date night. Immerse yourself in love while you Enjoy Stuff!
Feel the love on this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re more of a romantic that likes to show your feelings with a boombox over your head, or a scary night in the dark, we have a variety of 80’s inspired dates for any couple.
News -Get ready for a Toxic Avenger reboot with Peter Dinklage and a variety of other big stars -The new Lightyear trailer is out and it definitely goes to infinity and beyond! -Season 3 of Orville is finally coming, but not until June
What we’re Enjoying Zhōujiélún yīzhí zài liànxí kōngshǒudào, yǐ xīnshǎng yīxiē jīngdiǎn de jīlèi diànyǐng, lìrú 1972 nián de jīngdiǎn wǔxiá diànyǐng “wǔzhǐ sǐwáng”. Tāmen fēicháng yǒuqù! [dubbed version] Jay has been practicing karate to enjoy some classic chopsocky movies like Five Fingers of Death, a classic martial arts movie from 1972. They’re great fun! Shua has also been revisiting some old movies on Disney+, but these star Kurt Russell as Dexter Reilly. The silly, classic trilogy of The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, Then Strongest Man in the World, and Now You See Him, Now You Don’t helped set up Russell to become the icon he is today.
Enjoy Life! Need some Valentine’s Day date ideas? Look no further than 80’s movies. Listen in to this week’s show to see exactly what is involved in setting up the perfect date.
Choose from these themes, or mix and match! The John Cusack The As You Wish The Matthew Broderick The Molly Ringwald The Top Gun The Slasher
Whether you have a close significant other, a furry lovable companion, or are making your way through this Hallmark Holiday by yourself, come have fun with us.
Are you celebrating V-Day? Do you have any more ideas? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 7 February 2022
Who ya gonna call? Everyone knows that one! Ghostbusters of course! Enjoy Stuff straps on the proton packs and look back at the Ghostbusters franchise and review the latest outing. We're ready to believe you!
In 1984 a legendary movie brought us a group of misfits that protected New York from g-g-g-ghosts! Ghostbusters ushered in a new era of scary comedies, but it wasn’t the first one with that name. Join us as we remember the ones that came before and share our opinion of the latest release.
News -A live action He-Man is coming to Netflix -The Dungeons & Dragons movie will be followed by a streaming series in the same universe -Fraggle Rock - Back to the Rock is available now and tons of fun! -Michael J Fox just discovered a little movie called Back to the Future, and he actually likes it
What we’re Enjoying Shua and his daughter were excited to sit down and watch the return of the SyFy series Resident Alien, starring Alan Tudyk. It’s a fun sci-fi comedy with an intriguing story. Season 2 shows weekly now. Jay has been doing some underwater research by revisiting some movies of the ‘Underwater Ocean Dramas’ from 1989. Deep Star Six, Leviathan, and The Abyss may not all be on the same level as each other, but it’s always fun to see what was hitting the theaters of the past.
Enjoy Movies! Bustin’ makes us feel good! Ghostbustin’ that is. In 1984 Ivan Reitman teamed up with writers Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis to bring us a classic comedy that started a legendary franchise that answered the age-old question, “Who ya gonna call?” In addition to the writers, it stars Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Ernie Hudson. But this wasn’t the first movie that featured somewhat brave hunters of ghosts.
In 1940, the iconic comedian Bob Hope starred in The Ghost Breakers. It showed Hope in a rarely seen heroic role as he saved Paulette Goddard in a Scooby Doo-like mystery.
Then in 1975 we saw The Ghost Busters TV series with two guys that teamed up with a gorilla (yes, we said gorilla) as a group of misfits that helped people with ghost problems. Later, following the popularity of the Reitman film, Filmation adapted this series as a Saturday morning cartoon.
Speaking of cartoons, the powers that be saw an opportunity to adapt the ‘84 movie into animated form as The Real Ghostbusters. This one became popular and even spawned a collection of toys.
‘89 brought us a sequel to the movie with most of the characters returning. It wasn’t as well received, but it sure had a lot of fun moments and quotable moments.
Then the franchise went dormant for a few years until the 2016 reboot where our heroes were recast as women. And while many refuse to accept this movie as entertaining, it featured some great jokes and talented performers, such as Kristin Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth.
But in 2021, we were finally able to revisit the classic universe and probably witnessed the future of the franchise. Plus, we got to see the boys again, even digitized Harold Ramis from beyond.
Do you hope to see more of the Ghostbusters? Do you have memories of the 1984 movie? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 31 January 2022
What is the Matrix? Well, take this red pill and we will show you. Or listen to this episode of Enjoy Stuff to hear us look back on the trilogy and discuss the latest fourth film that was recently released. Follow the white rabbit and Enjoy Stuff!
In 1999 the Wachowskis released a groundbreaking film with stunning visual effects and some contemplative themes that still resonate today. In 2021 the fourth movie brought us back to Neo, Trinity, and the Matrix. Did it hold up to the originals? Jay and Shua look back at what they enjoyed and what the film means to them.
News -M&Ms is updating their mascots and brand -Coke is making changes to their iconic cans -Get ready for limited Edition Cinnamoji Toast Crunch Cereal -There’s a new Peeps line-up in time for Easter -‘Percy Jackson’ series is coming to Disney+
What we’re Enjoying Jay has been revisiting an older comic called MiracleMan. This character has been around since 1954, but was revived in 1982 by Alan Moore. It’s an interesting dive into comics history. Shua took a little time to himself and broke out the Super Nintendo Classic and explored the world of The Legend of Zelda- A Link to the Past. It’s been fun exploring this retro world.
Enjoy Movies! Have you ever felt you’re living in a world that isn’t quite right? You could be living in a computer simulation for the benefit of machines. Or you could just be watching the 1999 movie hit The Matrix.
Keanu Reeves stars as Neo, a computer hacker that discovers none of his world is real. Once Morpheus releases him and shows him the truth, Neo must discover whether or not he is the One, who is the savior in a prophesy that hopes to save all humankind.
Throughout the film, we see Neo find his true potential as he battles Agents of the Matrix, virtual computer programs that are seemingly indestructible and dangerous to the humans that have escaped their captivity.
Lilly and Lana Wachowski used this film to show their extraordinary filmmaking ability and also present a deep story that makes us question our reality and ponder destiny vs choice. After the incredible success of the first film, they followed it up in 2003 with two more stories that completed the trilogy. At least for a little while.
Before the two sequels showed us what our ultimate destiny would be, the Animatrix told us some of the history of the machine war in a series of Anime stories that laid the groundwork for this world.
Then, in 2021 Lana Wachowski was told the movie studio wanted to make a new Matrix movie with or without the Wachawskis. Sl she came up with Matrix Resurrections. Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann Moss returned with a few new surprises and ideas that added to the universe.
So the Matrix has a rich history that continues to give us interesting ideas to ponder. Where will it go from here?
Are you a part of the Matrix? Would you take the blue pill or the red pill? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 24 January 2022
Star Wars! If you've only seen it this way, then you haven't seen it at all. Luckily, in 1997 the Star Wars Trilogy - Special Edition returned to theaters and returned to our hearts. But this was much more than just a re-release! Jay and Shua look back at the anniversary of the biggest resurgence of a franchise in history!
Where were you in 1997? If you were like most of the world, you were standing in line to watch a 20 year old movie. The Star Wars - Special Edition not only gave us the beloved story back on the big screen, it also gave us a cleaned up look, experimental digital effects, and ‘a few new surprises’. This is the Star Wars Trilogy - Special Editon.
News -These two new Kit Kat flavors may be just what you’ve been looking for! -We are excited to share that a Quantum Leap reboot may actually happen! -Daniel Radcliffe is going to be playing Weird Al in a new movie (we’re not even kidding!) -Shane the Roving Spoonster found Jay’s long lost Beatles parodies -Please consider helping some of our neighbors who lost their homes in the Marshall and Middle Fork fires in Colorado on December 30, 2021 [link]
What we’re Enjoying Shua started the year by revisiting some favorite books. He’s been ‘lazy reading’ Ready Player One and Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline, which has prompted him to revisit all kinds of awesome things that were referenced in the story. Jay has been watching the mind-numbing, adult oriented action of John Cena’s Peacemaker on HBO Max.
Enjoy Movies! Star Wars celebrates the anniversary of yet another milestone; the release of the Star Wars Trilogy - Special Edition in 1997. But is a re-release of a movie really that big of a deal? You bet your sweet womp rat!
After the success of the re-releases, Lucas was able to do a ton of development which was focused on, but certainly not limited to, the prequel trilogy.
What was different about the Special Edition (SE)? To begin with, they were able to clean it up significantly. 20 years of degradation of the film meant that we could lose the brilliant piece of art forever. Plus, the company developed new restoration techniques which paved the way for film companies to restore other films.
Also, George used this as a chance to improve some things that he was never satisfied with because of budget or technology constraints. Some of these changes were exciting to fans, but some made them madder than a Wookiee losing a chess match. What did you think?
The boys share some stories of their experience with the SE back in ‘97. It made some memorable times in their lives, inspired them to get involved in fandom, and eventually led them to each other.
Was your Star Wars fandom sparked by the Special Editions? Did you join the throngs of people lining up to revisit an old movie? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 17 January 2022
Dream a little dream with Jovial Jay and Shua as they dive into the subconscious of Dream Movies.
Grab a glass of warm milk and get comfortable under that blanket because we are about to explore your mind. Movies that involve movies can sometimes get a little trippy. Do you believe what you see? Let’s look into the world of dream movies.
News -What genre fits with giant mechanized robots more than any others? Musicals, of course! And now there’s a Gundam musical just for you! -Looking to ditch those annoying headphones? Well, get ready for completely invisible ones! -We say goodbye to the beloved Betty White and a bevy of other celebrities who we’ve lost this year already. -Please consider helping some of our neighbors who lost their homes in the Marshall and Middle Fork fires in Colorado on December 30, 2021 [link]
What we’re Enjoying Who’s Jay gonna call? Ghostbusters! The boys finally got around to watching Ghostbusters: Afterlife and they were pleased. It was a nice combination of homage and new blood. After watching the Hawkeye series on Disney+, Shua wanted to check out the classic comic series by Matt Fraction that inspired so much of the show. Great art, story, and characters.
Enjoy Movies! What are dreams? Well, according to the Sleep Foundation, “Dreams are images, thoughts, or feelings that occur during sleep.” There’s a lot of speculation about why we dream, but there’s no arguing that the idea makes for a great movie-making opportunity. Let’s take a look at Dream Movies!
Dreams with actual dreaming- A classic movie with dreams as the central plot is the 1984 Dennis Quaid thriller Dreamscape. It explored the idea that some could go into your mind with you to control your dreams and even kill you! The same year, Nightmare on Elm Street looked at it from an even scarier point of view. Films like Wizard of Oz and Brazil tell stories that connect our dreams to reality. And Inception created dreams within dreams to give Leonardo DiCaprio opportunities to make us question what we’re seeing.
Daydreaming- But you don’t have to be asleep to let dreams affect the way you behave. Ralphie daydreamed about his Red Ryder BB gun until his dream finally came true (and his mother’s nightmare that he’d shoot his eye out). And The Secret Life of Walter Mitty showed how daydreams can be both dangerous to your mental health but also inspiring.
Was it actually a dream?- Some of the most thrilling dream movies make us wonder if we’re watching reality or that character’s subconscious dealing with a crazy world. Did Quaid really save Mars in Total Recall? Was Neo really plugged into the Matrix? And did George Bailey ever really exist in Bedford Falls, or is It’s A Wonderful Life just a bunch of bunk?!
Grab your Teddy and snuggle up with Jay and Shua as we take a trip around the world and back, and explore the world in your mind.
What dream movies do you enjoy? Got any dreams that would make a good movie? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 10 January 2022
Come Together as Jay and Shua Get Back to where they once belonged with memories, history, and influence of the Beatles on Enjoy Stuff.
This week we share our admiration and influence of the Fab Four. For many years Beatles music has been inspiring musicians and fans with their groundbreaking performances.
News -George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord gets Star Studded music video -Apparently George Jetson was born in 2022 -Please consider helping some of our neighbors who lost their homes in the Marshall and Middle Fork fires in Colorado on December 30, 2021 [link]
What we’re Enjoying The end of the year brought us a little time off to catch up with some fun stuff. Shua and his family had a great time in Anaheim, California at Disneyland and California Adventure. Plus, he watched Encanto and the latest season of Cobra Kai season 4. Jay has been immersing himself in all things Spider-Man in preparation for No Way Home. And he’s been experimenting with art on his Affinity program.
Enjoy Music! The Beatles are generally regarded as one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century. For Jay and Shua, despite the fact that they had broken up before either of them were born, they became an important influence in their life.
The guys look at the cultural impact of the Beatles throughout their history, while discussing their discography. And they share how the boys from Liverpool made a difference in their lives.
Throughout their relatively short history, they made twelve Albums
Do you enjoy the Beatles? What stories do you have? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 27 December 2021
Join Jay and Shua as they look back at 2021. There was plenty to indulge in, from movies, TV, and the premiere of our brand new podcast! Come along with us as we remember how to find the fun in everything, and how to Enjoy Stuff!
Despite all the challenges in the world, we certainly hope that 2021 has been good to you. If it seems like it may have left something to be desired, we try to look back on all the things that made us smile. This was 2021.
News -We said goodbye to Monkee, Michael Nesmith and designer of NES and Super NES Masayuki Uemara. -The Library of Congress just inducted some really cool movies this year -A new Toys R Us megastore is now here!
What we’re Enjoying Jay has been catching up on some fun holiday movies on his extra time off. Did it help to make a fun Christmas? Shua and his family are currently wrapping up their Christmas in Disneyland. He’ll post some reports on social media.
Enjoy Everything! We say goodbye to 2021 by looking back at a bunch of cool stuff that has happened.
Movies: The Green Knight, Jungle Cruise, and the return of amazing Marvel movies were some notable pieces of entertainment. Some were worthy of returning to a theater, and some were enjoyed right in our homes.
TV: Ted Lasso, Resident Alien, and The Mandalorian were only 3 shows on a long list of awesomeness. And the great thing is, there are so many more to come.
Podcasts: We said goodbye to good friends and a fun history when TechnoRetro Dads came to an end after 8 years. But in May we returned with Enjoy Stuff and are making new kinds of fun with more plans in the future. Jay signed off of Jedi Journals after 11 years of history-making Star Wars literature content. But he fired up some great Sci-Fi articles and a fantastic website called MCU Location Scout.
Personal Lives: Graduations, college, anniversaries. All the kinds of personal stuff you might expect from 2 dads. But we also started to see some positive results from getting in shape. Jay has actually become a runner! Shua turned the big ‘five-oh’ this year, and he did it by travelling out to see Jay in person! All this and more defined a year like no other.
So many great things took place in yet another challenging year for the world. We are so grateful that you chose to take us along through your year.
Were you able to find some good in 2021? What stood out to you? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 20 December 2021
It's Claus vs Claus on this week's Enjoy Stuff! Who emanates the most Christmas spirit. Jay and Shua look at 16 Santas from TV and Movies in a competitive bracket to determine the top 2021 Santa Claus.
Let’s get ready to Jiiiiiiiiiiingle! Jay and Shua rank Santa Claus based on a variety of traits to crown this year’s top Kris Kringle.
News -This is the week to grab those Froot Loops candy canes -Have you been enjoying your holiday cereals? We talk about the kind of variety you can find on the grocery shelves this year. -Last minute shopper? We have a few retro ideas for you.
What we’re Enjoying Shua got a couple early Christmas gifts this year. He has been trying to beat his high score on the new Arcade1Up TRON machine he received from his amazing wife. And speaking of amazing, he opens up his gift from Jay on the show and it was a great surprise. Jay has been revisiting all the Spider-Man movies so he was ready when Spider-Man: No Way Home came out last week.
Enjoy Christmas The ultimate showdown of Clauses happens here! As Master Blaster once said, “Who runs Christmas Town? Santa Claus runs Christmas Town!” Check out the rankings below and listen to the show for the final results.
Who do you think is the best Santa? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 13 December 2021
Get in the holiday spirit with Jay and Shua on a special, festive, musical episode of Enjoy Stuff.
When Jay finds out that the AT-AT he wished for one past Christmas is now within his grasp, he and Shua hop in the ‘76 Chevy Vega and head to the North Pole. But will they make it before Christmas? It’s time to Enjoy some Christmas music to get in the spirit of the holidays on the 2021 Enjoy (Stocking) Stuff(-er).
Songs Featured Merry Christmas Everyone- Shakin Stevens The Monkees - Christmas Is My Time Of Year (1976 Fan Club Mix) Brian Setzer - Jingle Bells Mel Blanc Christmas Chopsticks A Muppet Family Christmas - Sleigh Ride Seth MacFarlane - Little Jack Frost Get Lost Tom Lehrer Christmas Song Jingle Jangle - The Penguins William Shatner - Feliz Navidad Miley Cyrus & Bill Murray - Sleigh Ride (A Very Murray Christmas) Never do a Tango with an eskimo - Alma Cogan The Royal Guardsmen - Snoopy's Christmas Duck The Halls - Jing-a-Ling-a-Ling 77 Santas - Glenn Miller Orchestra Yoda Baby - Mega Couch Media Star Wars: The Mandalorian Theme x Carol of The Bells - Samuel Kim Music Spirit of Christmas - Christmas Chronicles 2 - Kurt Russell
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our Earbuds! Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 6 December 2021
If Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer doesn’t shine bright enough for you and It’s A Wonderful Life isn’t so wonderful, maybe you just need an alternate way to get into the holiday season. This week we dive off the Nakotomi Plaza right into unconventional Christmas movies.
What makes a Christmas movie a Christmas movie? Everyone likes to Enjoy Stuff around the holidays. But taste is a broad spectrum. While some enjoy wall-to-wall Christmas plot, others find the fun in movies that may have just a pinch of gingerbread sprinkled in.
News -We’ve got the Breakin’ action figures you’ve been waiting for since 1984! -The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes are getting the “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” treatment on December 7
What we’re Enjoying The Beatles are on the minds of Jay and Shua. Shua broke out some of his old Beatles vinyl albums and has really enjoyed the nostalgic feel of the limitations of albums. It’s been very therapeutic. Jay indulged in the hours long epic Peter Jackson Beatles documentary, Get Back on Disney+. If you’re a Beatles fan, it is worth checking out.
Enjoy Movies For the last few years people have been debating whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. So the TechnoRetro Dads break it down once and for all.
We look at a plethora of films that have some kind of connection to the holidays. Whether they take place around Christmas or they just have a scene where Mel Gibson beats someone up with a Christmas tree, we look at some unconventional films that fit many people’s holiday tradition bill.
Do you Enjoy any of the films on our list? Did we miss some? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 29 November 2021
Pull down the cardboard boxes of tinsel and get ready to increase your electric bill because it is time to decorate! This week the TechoRetro Dads take a look at the history of holiday decorating and what we do on this festively glowing episode of Enjoy Stuff.
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, strings of lights, and all the gaudy accoutrement you can find. Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to decorate for the holidays. But how long have people been celebrating by going over the top? Jay and Shua take a look at the very, very long history of holiday design.
News -We rundown a bunch of the cool things that have come out in the last couple weeks from movies to TV -Ridley Scott says he’s working on a Blade Runner TV series -”Oh Noooooooooo!” You may want to get rid of that Kool-Aid
What we’re Enjoying Jay watched the mind bending Edgar Wright film Last Night in Soho. It’s a fun thriller/horror film with some pretty cool effects. And there’s a fun twist at the end that may surprise you. Shua has been playing a new game that combines the technology of today’s phone apps and yesterday’s 8-bit football, with Retro Bowl.
Enjoy Life It’s time to deck the stuff with all you can find. But do you realize that people have been decorating for holidays for seven centuries?
First we take a look at the history of some of the most iconic decorations throughout history, such as the Christmas tree and Christmas lights. Where did they start and how have they changed?
Next, we talk about movies where decorating was an important part of the story. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has been inspiring crazy dads to blow fuses for many years. How much would something like that cost you?
Danny DeVito took decorating to unheard of levels in the movie Deck the Halls, also starring Matthew Broderick. Do you have enough lights to be seen from space?
Other films have been using decorating for plot devices too. Edward Scissorhands, Christmas with the Kranks, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and more.
Do you decorate for the holidays? Are you the envy of the neighborhood? Let us know. Come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 22 November 2021
Celebrate Thanksgiving with the TechnoRetro Dads as they think about all of the wonderful things in their life that they are thankful for and what makes them happy. There's never been a better time to find the fun in everything.
Life can be pretty rough for everyone. But we bet you have some things or people in your life that help to make it a little bit better place. During this Thanksgiving week we hang out and remember the things we can appreciate even in the toughest times, and have some laughs along the way.
News -Let’s meet the cast of the new Disney+ Willow series! -A Buckaroo Banzai sequel novel is now available to catch up with what the rock n roll surgeon has been up to -Ready for a TechnoRetro Christmas movie? Check out 8-Bit Christmas, releasing on November 24 -Rest in peace, Al. Quantum Leap’s Dean Stockwell passes away.
What we’re Enjoying Shua can’t get enough of the eccentric positivity of Jeff Goldblum on his documentary series The World According to Jeff Goldblum. Check it out on Disney+. Jay has been getting the Led out as he revisits Led Zeppelin IV 50th Anniversary. Plus, he found a really cool graphic novel, illustrating a great genre; The History of Science Fiction: A Graphic Novel
Enjoy Life This week, in America, people will be celebrating Thanksgiving. We love this time of year because it helps us to remember the great things in our life. Come join us as we thank the friends and family that have made a positive difference in our lives.
Plus, we have some fun with some classic movies and tv shows that we love revisiting this time of year.
We hope you have the opportunity to have a pleasant Thanksgiving, no matter where you live or who you can be with. And if you want to hang out with us and other Earbuds, come talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 15 November 2021
There's no better time to celebrate a day of peace and harmony. November 17 is Life Day. Jay and Josh celebrate the silliest Star Wars creation with the silliest Enjoy Stuff ever. Let's find ways to have fun with the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special on Enjoy Stuff!
Come with us back in time as we find the fun in everything, even the Star Wars Holiday Special! On this year’s Life Day, we remember some of the crazy scenes and situations we experienced on November 17, 1978 and have a little fun with them. With characters, situations, and sounds from the special, and a few parodies thrown in for good measure. Plus, the iconic Happy Life day song from High Adventure. This is the Enjoy Stuff: Star Wars Holiday Special Special! |
Mon, 8 November 2021
Take a journey through time, and the wild mind of Terry Gilliam in Time Bandits! 40 years ago, this film captured imaginations and created a fantasy time travel tale like nothing you've ever seen. Let's search for the most fabulous object in the world as we Enjoy Stuff!
Grab the map before the Supreme Being catches up with us! We are off on the original time heist with Kevin, the unsuspecting kid that gets swept up in the excitement of history while trying to talk some sense into God’s wayward assistants. This is Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits.
News -Boston Dynamics Teaches Spot to Dance like Mick Jagger -Golden Grahams Creamer? Absolutely -Arthur Fonzerelli’s Jacket, from Happy Days, is up for Auction -If you haven’t checked out the trailer for Lightyear, do it! It’s awesome!
What we’re Enjoying Prithee, have thou heardst of Ian Doesher’s book, Get Thee Back to the Future? It’s another in the Shakespearian series of pop culture presented in the language of the Bard. Shua has been enjoying the full casted audio presentation of the classic story of Marty, Doc, and the Delorean. Jay’s classic earworm has been working overtime as he has been enjoying listening to the iconic Fleetwood Mac album Rumours. It’s great music, but it’s also amazingly deep.
Enjoy Movies In 1981 Terry Gilliam directed his third film. Penned by Monty Python partner Michael Palin, the idea was to present a story told from the point of view of a kid. Literally. A low-angle point of view. But Gilliam believed a child couldn’t hold the movie alone, so he cast a troupe of little people to be the greedy bandits.
They were certainly no slouches either. David Rappaport (Randall), Malcolm Dixon (Strutter), Mike Edmunds (Og), Jack Purvis (Wally), R2-D2’s Kenny Baker (Fidgit), and more! Many were alumni of the Star Wars movies, and all had fun personalities for this crazy ride.
Plus, the historical figures were talented actors in their own right. Ian Holme plays Napolean at the end of the French Revolution. Michael Palin and Shelly Duvall play star crossed lovers across time periods. John Cleese plays Robin Hood, the leader of Merry Men you would’t expect. And the legendary Sean Connery plays King Agamemnon.
In an appropriate bit of casting, the very British Ralph Richardson reveals himself as God. And TRON’s nasty villain Sark, played by David Warner, gets to antagonize all of them as the Evil Genius.
With a strong cast, you already have a foundation for a great performance, but the story was so original and fun as well. It’s really more of an interesting coming-of-age story more than a time travel one. And with a surprisingly dark and mysterious ending, it will keep you thinking too.
Have you experienced Time Bandits? Talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 1 November 2021
Stuff. Enjoy Stuff. Join Jay and Shua as they look back on the long, action-packed history of your favorite British secret agent, James Bond. You'll be in double-o heaven as we Enjoy Stuff!
What’s a Bond movie that you can Enjoy? We like “Dr. No Time to Live and Let Die Another Daylights” Whether you’re into the fifties, manly-standard Connery fan, or prefer the gritty realism of Craig, there’s something for many tastes in the Bond universe. Jay and Shua remain shaken, but not stirred on Enjoy Stuff
News -The World of Jeff Goldblum returns to Disney+ for a second season next week. -A copy of Dragon Magazine has recently been uncovered showing D&D stats for cartoon characters.
What we’re Enjoying Jay thought the new Denis Villaneuve film Dune is a great interpretation of the book, and a visually stunning movie. Have you seen it? What did you think? Shua has been obsessed with old Monkees TV episodes on YouTube. They’re always good for a laugh.
Enjoy Movies The first James Bond movie came out in 1962. While it certainly wasn’t the first time Bond had come to life, it inserted the character into the mainstream for everyone to experience.
Sean Connery’s Bond in Dr. No began some of the classic Bond expectations, and then built on in the next few movies. We saw gadgets, his Astin Martin, and of course his favorite drink, a martini, shaken, not stirred (because we’re not cavemen!).
After a few movies Sir Sean was getting a little bored of the part and was replaced with George Lazenby, everyone’s favorite Bond. ….Just kidding. It was definitely a departure that wasn’t as well received, so Connery returned for Diamonds are Forever.
But he was really, really finished after that. He would NEVER, absolutely NEVER play Bond again. (At least that’s what we say) Roger Moore became the Bond a lot of people grew up with and he made it his own. He made more Bond movies than any other actors, still to this day.
Of course, Connery would return one more time in 1983, in the Never Say Never Again, the same year Moore’s Octopussy came out. But both of them were favoring prune juice to martinis by then, and Timothy Dalton took over for a couple films.
At the time, some didn’t care for his portrayal, but they have grown a following over time. But eventually, a fan-favorite choice named Pierce Brosnan took over for four films. While the films may have lacked a few things people expected from Bond, he definitely made his mark until a Bond for the 21st century took over.
Daniel Craig rebooted the whole universe with Casino Royale in 2006. His grittier, more realistic Bond really connected with a lot of fans and he ended up with 5 films, all closely connected up to this year’s release of No Time to Die.
Are you a fan of 007? Who could take over in the future? Could it be someone that is different than what we’ve seen before? Talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 25 October 2021
What are the scariest movies you've seen? Zombies, haunted houses, werewolves....what is it that gets your heart pumping? Jay and Shua crossover with 31 Days of Horror to talk about what keeps them up at night on Enjoy Stuff.
Jay and Shua compile a list of the movies that keep them up at night but are still fun. This week’s Enjoy Stuff looks at all sub-genres of horror and which films rise (backside up) to the top.
News -Mel Brooks’s History of the World part 2 will finally show us more of what we imagine real history to be -Toy catalogs may be a little different, but Amazon sent one this year that remind us of all the nostalgic fun of making your holiday list. -Speaking of toys, the Fisher Price Chatter Telephone can now make real phone calls.
What we’re Enjoying Shua learned a lot about an actor he’s always admired in Val. It’s an emotional no-holds-barred documentary about Val Kilmer put together from hundreds of hours and years of personal video footage. Jay has tried to cleanse his horror film binge watching by revisiting two classics: Chinatown and The Two Jakes with Jack Nicholson.
Enjoy Movies Some movies are memorable because of the intense screaming we experience when watching them. Jay and Shua compile a list of their favorite scare fests.
An American Werewolf in London has made a big impression on both the guys. And it’s created some scary moments during their childhood. (Plus a few nightmares)
Jay likes the suspense and drama of movies like The Shining and Phantasm. Shua gets his scary kicks from more modern day films like The Sixth Sense and Get Out.
Another couple movies that define Jay’s taste include some outer space aspects such as Alien, or John Carpenter’s classic The Thing. Shua prefers the humor in the horror remake/spoof Young Frankenstein.
No matter what your taste is, sometimes you can have fun with a little adrenaline. Scary movies can bring us together and create a few laughs, along with the shouts.
What are your scariest movies? Do you like haunted houses or aliens? Talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 18 October 2021
Halloween costumes are one of the favorite activities for Halloween, but where did the tradition come from? Jay and Shua look at the history of costumes and look back at some of their favorites. Join us for the Halloween season as we Enjoy Stuff!
Let’s look at the rich and creepy history of Halloween costumes. From the early days when goat heads were trending to this year’s favorite from Squid Game we snap on the rubber band and get prepared to sweat all night on our face. Get dressed up with us and Enjoy Stuff!
News -The Movies That Made Us Season 3 is now showing on Netflix with some great movie choices -William Shatner has successfully completed a brief trip to space, making him the oldest person in space ever! -The Beatles: Get Back premieres on Disney+ on November 25 -The TRON Machine has officially been announced and will be available for pre-order Tuesday October 19
What we’re Enjoying Jay really enjoyed the Muppets Haunted Mansion Halloween special on Disney+. It had some great Muppet humor along with some great references to the Disney ride and some fun celebrity appearances. Shua revisited a book he bought in 2010 called Earth (The Book) A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart and his crew at the Daily Show. It’s a planet sized parody of life as we know it.
Enjoy Halloween! Halloween costumes have been around for longer than you may realize. Since the days of the Samhain Celtic festival people have been pretending to be something else for reasons ranging from warding off evil spirits to scamming people out of candy.
As humans continued to pretend to become smarter and wiser, the tradition of costuming also continued. But it evolved into terrifying acts of pranking from young boys and ultimately a commercially successful tradition starting in the 50’s when parents fought back the violence with bribery.
Once adults realized they could keep kids from digging up corpses for fun, the costume rage grew exponentially. Each decade brought new costume trends. Clowns turned into pop culture icons and spooky legends like witches, vampires, and Hulk Hogan continued to be timeless favorites.
Jay and Shua reminisce about some of their most memorable costumes from the past. Werewolves, buccaneers, and Star Wars of course left a lasting memory on the guys.
What is the wildest costume you’ve come up with? Which one made the biggest impression? What’s a costume you’ve seen that you’d love to be able to try? Talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 11 October 2021
Classic horror movies were the foundation of a scream inducing movie genre. This week Jay and Shua discuss movies from the 31 Days of Horror articles and how they defined what was to come. Join us as we Enjoy horror movies
Since cinema was invented, filmmakers have been trying to make their audiences scream. The Horror genre is still going strong today, but where did all the ideas come from. This week we look at some of the classics that defined the genre and how it has evolved to what it is today.
News -Check out these Kellogg’s action figures from Plastic Meatball -William Shatner is heading to space for real! -The latest cereal to be inspired by other food is Wendy’s Frosty Breakfast Cereal -This amazing Ghostbuster projection display will make you want to trick-or-treat at this house in California
What we’re Enjoying Shua finally got around to watching the Disney live action remake Cruella. He liked it fine, but what really stood out to him was the soundtrack. The eclectic mix of punk, rock, covers, and new songs are a fun playlist to listen to this autumn. Jay read some cool comic biographies, The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and the Birth of Television and Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood’s Dracula both by Koren Shadmi and published by Life Drawn. It’s a new, fun way to learn about a couple of important men in Hollywood.
Enjoy Movies Filmmakers in the early days of Hollywood recognized that audiences love to be scared. And the idea quickly evolved into movies that have defined the genre even today. 1931’s Dracula with Bella Lugosi created some important characteristics of vampires that might just save your life today, (if you happen to run into a vampire). The movie’s popularity quickly spawned another story when the cinematic version of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein, giving us a Boris Karloff monster that has inspired hundreds of future stories.
Universal kept riding the wave with the Mummy (1932) and The Wolf Man (1941). It wasn’t too long before master filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock were honing the craft of the scare. Psycho is not only one of the best scary movies, but one of the best overall movies of all time.
But many of the ones on our list were likely never intended to be classics, or inspirations. Nevertheless, we began to see branches of horror movies about zombies, possession, haunted houses, and psycho killers. (Qu'est-ce que c'est?) Night of the Living Dead, Rosemary’s Baby, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Friday the 13th are just a few.
Do you like classic horror movies? What are some of your favorites? Turn on a classic and join us on Enjoy Stuff
Be sure to check out Jay’s articles, “31 Days of Horror” on RetroZap.com. Talk to us in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 4 October 2021
Zoinks! It's a g-g-ghost! Oh, nope, it's Scooby Doo and the gang. For more than 50 years these eternally young teenagers have been solving mysteries and catching bad guys. Jay and Shua take a look at the history of one of the most legendary cartoons ever on Enjoy Stuff.
Hey Scoob, is that a Spooky Space Kook or is it a Ghost Clown? Whatever the villain, Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are sure to catch them. Scooby Doo has been a staple for generations. What has kept them going? Who were the best bad guys? And where are the Scooby snacks?
News -What did you think of the new Stranger Things trailer? -Muppet Haunted Mansion is coming to Disney+ this week! -The new Cobra Kai Season 4 reveals a release date of December 31! -We have a new high scorer for the arcade game Pole Position -AMC Theaters are hosting surprise horror movies in October -Would you like a Babylon 5 reboot? It’s coming from original series creator J. Michael Straczynski
What we’re Enjoying Jay is digging the Hulu series Y the Last Man, based on the comic books. Do you think you could survive a world with only one dude? Just in case it might happen, you may want to watch this series. Shua has been revisiting an art book he got a few years ago. Cartoon Modern by Amid Amidi discusses the modernist 50s animation that was so popular in that decade. It’s a collection of beautiful, abstract cartooning.
Enjoy Cartoons In 1969 Joe Ruby and Ken Spears came up with a premise for a show that was inspired by Abbot and Costello scary movies. The cartoon wasn’t all that original, but it was well done and it sure was fun!
Scooby Doo, Where Are You? Was the first series, but it spawned dozens of follow ups. Still, those originals are beloved by generations. Even the clunky animation and repetitive plot structure didn’t deter us from tuning in for years and years.
The New Scooby Doo movies brought in famous characters and actors into the world of Scooby. These longer episodes crossed over into other worlds and sometimes introduced us to people we may not have known, like Mama Cass Elliot or Don Knotts. Batman and Robin stopped by and even the Harlem Globetrotters.
Sometimes Shaggy and Scooby set off on their own, and occasionally had to drag Scrappy along. These series may not have been as memorable, but it kept Scooby on people’s TV.
Sometimes the gang were depicted as young kids, sometimes more intricately animated, and sometimes they became post-apocalyptic zombie hunters. Eventually, their iconic status brought them to the live action movie screen.
These meddling kids continue to drive around in their Mystery Machine and solve mysteries, and we’re confident they’ll be entertaining us for years to come.
What’s your favorite version of Scooby Doo? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 27 September 2021
Think more about a sustainable way to approach life and share some of our tips to take some of the stress out of your life. This week we talk about mindfulness in the things we enjoy. Come on a fun journey with Jay and Shua as we Enjoy Stuff!
Come with us, leave yesterday behind and take a giant step outside your mind. Jay and Shua look into mindfulness this week.
News -Turkey Dinner and other new candy corn varieties are here for Halloween -Build-A-Bear Workshop Launches Online-Exclusive Beetlejuice Plush -‘The Thing’ Board Game back in Stock at Mondo -‘Flight Of The Navigator’ Reboot In The Works At Disney With Bryce Dallas Howard Directing & Producing -Ikea has some cool, TRON-like gaming furniture -Is the TRON Arcade1Up cabinet coming October 20? -General Mills Releasing New Apple Pie Toast Crunch Cereal For the Holidays
What we’re Enjoying Shua took his own advice and started a rewatch of the classic sci-fi series Buck Rogers. It’s exactly what he didn’t know he needed right now. Jay revisited a retro Jackie Chan movie called ‘Wheels on Meals’. Sounds like they’re in the mood for some action and cheesy humor.
Enjoy Life Are you grateful for the things in your life? Do you experience your day with mindfulness? How have movies made a difference with the way you see the world? Jay and Shua examine what helps them.
Jay shares a recent Eddie Murphy movie called A Thousand Words. Murphy’s character learns how his words and the way he views the world can really make a difference in people’s lives. Hopefully none of us has to be spiritually connected to a tree to learn about ourselves.
Bill Murray showed us that it takes a lot of work to get things right. And even then, it may come down to how you view the world. Have you found yourself in a destructive pattern?
The Truman Show helped us understand that we can learn things from watching other people. They’re triumphs and tragedies can teach us valuable lessons. Question your place in everything and you may just find yourself, even if it is a little scary.
And the classic Tom Hanks existential trip Joe Vs The Volcano reminds us to see the world as a big and wonderful place, and not as something that’s holding us down. These movies and so many more have helped to shape and influence us throughout our life.
What entertainment has made a positive difference in your life? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 20 September 2021
Shiver me timbers! International Talk Like a Pirate day inspires Jay and Shua to pick a pirate for any mood. Movies, theme park rides, baseball teams; what kind of pirate are you? Drink up me hearties and Enjoy Stuff!
Yo ho, yo ho! It’s a pirate’s life this week on Enjoy Stuff. We look at a bunch of movies, plus some other fun ways you can channel your inner Blackbeard or Jack Sparrow
“CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow!”
Sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow. Hoist anchor and join us on the poop deck of piracy. Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, by finding a pirate movie for any mood. Plus, some other ways to get some booty.
News -Creepy ’80s Toy Teddy Ruxpin is getting his own movie! -Picard renewed for Season 3 and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds gives us the Captain Pike series people have been looking forward to -The Pinball museum has fire sale
What we’re Enjoying Jay reaches another fitness milestone as he runs a virtual 5k. It’s like the OASIS, and healthy too! Shua’s weekly pleasure has a bit more sugar as he finally finds grape flavor Big League Chew bubble gum. At least he’s exercising his mouth.
Enjoy Movies Pirating takes many forms, but we love seeing them in movies. Hollywood has been cranking out buccaneer flicks for more than 100 years. It has developed into it’s own genre.
Want some vintage pirate history? Check out the classic Errol Flynn movie Captain Blood. Or see how Walt Disney himself interpreted those mutineers in Peter Pan or Treasure Island. Or a later modern day telling of Blackbeard’s Ghost.
But they’re not all really bad eggs. Peter Pan, Muppet Treasure Island, and Pirates: Band of Misfits give the whole family something to laugh at.
If you want some music while you sit in the crow’s nest, how about the Pirates of Penzance? Or maybe some inappropriate Monty Pythonesque humor in Yellowbeard or the questionable 80’s story of Ice Pirates.
It may look a little different, but we still think the Goonies and Princess Bride qualify as pirate movies. But the first one most people think of these days is the Pirates of the Caribbean with Johnny Depp’s quirky Captain Jack Sparrow.
Movies aren’t the only way to be a beggar and blighter. You could ride the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in the Disney parks. Or enjoy a baseball game in Pittsburgh. Or catch a documentary learning the truth about the out of work merchant sailors.
Do you kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 13 September 2021
TV in the 70's had its share of Sci-Fi even before Star Wars. Some of it may have been cheesy and kitschy, but it was loads of fun! Jay and Shua find a treasure trove of Disco-ey science fiction and don their sparkly bell bottoms on Enjoy Stuff
Did you grow up in the 70’s? If so, you probably watched more Sci-Fi on TV than you remember. If you didn’t, you gotta listen to us explain what inspired the great stuff we have today!
News -A cool dad make his kid a homemade Star Tours in their garage! -Get ready for a bunch of GameBoy games coming to the Nintendo Switch Online -The Matrix 4 gets a mind-blowing trailer
What we’re Enjoying Star Trek: Lower Decks has beamed its way into Shua’s heart. This series may be a parody, but it honors all the Trek shows with references and care. Check it out on Paramount+. Jay has been watching some Jackie Chan flicks. Supercop was the third in a series of Chan films that showcased his stunt work and karate ability. Oh wait, they all did that...
Enjoy TV Sci-Fi has been around for generations. And it really gathered some steam after Star Wars came out in 1977. But there certainly was some interesting stuff on television in the early 70’s. Saturday mornings had some great kid-centered cartoons like Sealab 2020, but Sid and Marty Krofft had some live action classics like Land of the Lost, The Lost Saucer, and the wacky Far Out Space Nuts.
Ark II and Jason of Star Command used a slightly bigger budget to enhance their effects, but they had their share of kitsch too. As kids, we didn’t care. We loved the imaginative adventures.
In syndication, we got some anime like Battle of the Planets and Star Blazers. Star Trek the Animated Series kept the Trek Dream alive.
Prime time TV kept trying to figure out exactly what Sci-Fi was with early showings such as Land of the Giants, Space: 1999, The Six Million Dollar Man, and the Bionic Woman. But as George Lucas unleashed his vision upon the world, the later 70’s showed us Sci-Fi juxtaposed in just about every genre of TV entertainment.
Comedies like Mork and Mindy and Quark kept us laughing. Hour long cinematic stories like Battlestar Galactica, Logan’s Run, and Buck Rogers experimented with episodic drama mixed with cheesy 70’s humor and music.
There were so many different shows to choose from! And it helped keep us involved and inspired to create all we have today.
Do you think 70’s Sci-Fi is groovy? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 6 September 2021
Mario has been a video game star for 40 years. And his brother Luigi has ridden his brother's coattails...er overalls to 'super' stardom. Join us as we look back on the Mario Bros and how they've evolved on Enjoy Stuff!
There are few characters that have been as popular as Mario on the video game world. His legacy spans more than 200 different games. He and his brother have also starred in cartoons and movies and they show no signs of slowing down. Let’s Enjoy Mario!
News -Kellogg's Sued by Woman Over Ingredients in Pop-Tarts -”Dug Days” Shorts premiered on Disney+ -The Rocketeer Will Return in a New Disney+ Movie -Suicide Squad almost had more Mario references
What we’re Enjoying Jay rewatched the 2020 Charlize Theron movie The Old Guard, a tale of immortal beings helping humanity and how they try to deal with each other. Check it out on Netflix. Shua revisited some classic books of his youth written by Keith Laumer. The Retief series is about an unconventional diplomat in space who gets things done by breaking the rules of the stuffy bureaucracy. Find these books on Amazon.
Enjoy Games Forty years ago, Jumpman rescued Paulina from the title character in Donkey Kong. That tricky ape went on to do some of his own follow up projects, but how many video game characters can say they’ve appeared in more than 200 follow-ups. Probably none but Mario. His legacy spans many years and a continual evolution that is still going today.
He may have started off as the hero in his first game, but in Donkey Kong Jr. he decided to show his nasty side as the antagonist. From there he went back to being the hero with his brother in the 1983 Mario Bros. In the 80’s popular games meant cartoon spin offs. The Saturday Morning Supercade gathered favorite characters of the arcade, including Mario.
Then his first real sequel dropped in 1988 in the strangely different Super Mario 2. Now you could play a variety of characters. This inspired other platforms like the Game Boy, another show with the first live action version, played by wrestler Lou Albano, and products galore.
His #3 game was even the focus of the 1989 movie with Fred Savage called The Wizard.
This year marks the anniversary of what is considered to be one of the best video games of all time, Super Mario World for the SNES. Along with new 16 bit programming, this game featured all kinds of new abilities, characters, and levels. We look back on the legendary game and how Mario and his brother continue to evolve today.
Are you a fan of Mario? Do you have favorite games? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 30 August 2021
Tom Lehrer was an American songwriter and satirist whose songs have been making audiences laugh for decades. His dark humor and sharp wit made people think about some heavy issues of the day, from war to politics. Let's learn about Tom Lehrer on Enjoy Stuff - A TechnoRetro Podcast
If you listened to the Dr. Demento show in the 80’s, you probably heard some of the comedy stylings of Tom Lehrer. His clever song parodies paved the way for greats such as Weird Al Yankovic. Jay and Shua take a look at his work and why we love it.
News -Frogger Game Show Trailer Released by Peacock -Get ready to get down to 3 tunes inspired by Lucky’s magical charms. -Starbucks PSL Makes Its Earliest Return Ever -Charlie Watts: Rolling Stones drummer dies at 80
What we’re Enjoying Shua checked out the dark, thought provoking, Arthurian legend The Green Knight. If you dig thinking about the movies you watch and tons of symbolism you might want to check it out. Jay just finished Andy Weir’s “Project Hail Mary” book. Another fun one that he has been enjoying.
Enjoy Music Tom Lehrer has an educational background in math, but he is best known for his songs he performed in the 50’s and 60’s. It was a time in history that our culture really needed some humor to help us understand and cope with some pretty nasty stuff happening in the world.
Even the threat of World War III wasn’t off limits to Lehrer’s wit. Plus, he accessed the deepest, darkest, depths of his imagination by writing about some truly disturbing topics like Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. He once said, "If, after hearing my songs, just one human being is inspired to say something nasty to a friend, or perhaps to strike a loved one, it will all have been worth the while."
He even wrote songs that helped educate a generation of Electric Company viewers. We learned important rules like Silent-e, L-Y, and O-U (The Hound Song). Let’s check out Tom Lehrer.
Have you ever heard a Tom Lehrer song? Did we inspire you to check him out? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 23 August 2021
I, for one, bow down to our robot overlords. Robots have been all around us for many years. Why do we have such an obsession for these audacious automata? Jay and Shua look at robots in movies, TV, and life in general on Enjoy Stuff.
Bang your head with some heavy metal! Robots have become a regular part of our life. We look at the history of robots and how they have programmed their way into our pop culture. This week on Enjoy Stuff, it’s The Life Robotic with 5T3V3-Z1550U.
News -The purchase of Casa Bonita by Matt Stone and Trey Parker is official -Mexico will soon be able to enjoy Krispy Kreme Donut Cereal -Dress up for breakfast with some Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles Cereal makeup
What we’re Enjoying Jay and Shua are both tremendously enjoying the Apple+ series Ted Lasso with Jason Sudekis. It has heart and humor with some great messages thrown in.
Enjoy Life Where did robots come from? How long have they been around? It may surprise you to find out that the first automated machine dates back to 1737. Though ‘Digesting Duck’ may have been a far cry from Boston Dynamic’s Spot robot, it was still the humble beginnings of centuries of mechanized men.
Once we got our first glimpse of a non-biological creature doing its thing, we couldn’t get enough. Soon they were beeping their way into books, movies, toys, and everyday life. We use them to entertain, to do jobs that are too dangerous for humans, and for companionship. (I love you, Roomba!)
To head off the imminent threat of a Cylon takeover, Isaac Asimov created three laws that should keep them in their place. But writers have been challenging that concept in many stories ever since.
But what makes a robot a robot? Could it be classified as an android or a cyborg?
What kinds of robots do you have a magnetic attraction to? Johnny 5? Wall-E? Or do you have more dark tastes and would like to snuggle up with the Terminator? Did you play with robot toys growing up? Or did you wait until we had real robots of today, like the Mars Curiosity Rover?
We would love to hear your thoughts on those plastic pals that are fun to be with. Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 16 August 2021
Goodbye summer! As the toasty months wind down, we remember some of the movies that made us remember why those vacations were so tiring. Jay and Josh revisit Summer vacation and camp movies as they Enjoy Stuff!
In summer, anything is popsicle! Do you remember family vacations? How about summer camp? There are a ton of movies where we can watch people’s summer hardships from afar and laugh!
News -The Monster Cereals are getting fruit snacks this year too! -The legendary Idris Elba is playing Knuckles in the Sonic 2 movie -Funko makes some classic board games and retro cereal Pop! figures. -Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Symphonic Suite Gets First Repressing Since 1980 -Get yourself a retro R2-D2 Tamagotchi
What we’re Enjoying Josh opens his latest Etsy purchase on the air; a TRON video game header sign. He can’t wait to get it framed. Jay has been watching the hysterical Monsters at Work on Disney+. Great stuff to check out.
Enjoy Movies Summer vacations are supposed to be about getting a break from the stress of everyday life, but not in movies. The more stress these characters come under the better.
We start with the classic 60’s Jimmy Stewart movie Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation. This movie seemed to be the inspiration for future summer movies like Summer Rental and One Crazy Summer. But who can take a road trip without thinking of Chevy Chase taking his family on a crazy road trip in National Lampoon’s Vacation. There are a ton of classics.
But some kids spent their summer at camp, and the movies didn’t leave them out. 1979’s Meatballs started off the wacky setting for campers and inspired more to come. Sometimes they missed the mark like 1980’s GORP. But a lot of them generated some hearty laughs for a variety of ages. From Camp Nowhere to Wet Hot American Summer, you can find some great Summer Camp memories at the movies.
What summer movies do you remember? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
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Mon, 9 August 2021
It's good to be the king. At least when that king is legendary director, comedian Mel Brooks. For more than 70 years, Brooks has given us memorable comedy to make us laugh and think. Jay and Josh look back on his films on Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro podcast
If you’re blue and you don’t know where to go to, why don’t you go where...movies make you laugh! Mel Brooks has written, directed, and starred in some of the greatest comedies of all time.
News -The Russo Brothers are developing a live action Battle of the Planets -There is another ‘Kelvin’ timeline Star Trek movie coming...someday -Would you eat Flamin’ Hot Cheetos ice cream? -The creators of South Park want to buy and restore a classic Mexican restaurant in Denver, called Casa Bonita -Stay tuned to Disney+ for a Lego Star Wars Halloween special called Terrifying Tales
What we’re Enjoying Jay has really been enjoying his new books with a collection of comic book artist Alex Ross’s Marvel work, plus the Making of Back to the Future. Shua liked looking behind the scenes of some of the Disney parks most iconic rides featured on Behind the Attraction on Disney+.
Enjoy Movies When Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner first performed the 2000 year old man sketch on Sid Caesar’s ‘Your Show of Shows’ they probably didn’t realize that it was the start of some comedy that would likely be around for 2000 years. Brooks’s success led him to begin writing and directing movies like The Producers and The Twelve Chairs. But just a few years later, he created two of the best comedies of all time, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.
Are his movies sometimes crude? Absolutely! Are they ridiculing all different types of people? Of course! But they also have important messages about racism, greed, and understanding. From the slapstick humor (and lack of dialogue) that should never have been made in the 70’s called Silent Movie to the completely offensive History of the World Part 1, Brooks has hooked us with our secret desire for naughtiness and taught us a valuable lesson along the way.
Even if you aren’t a fan of his later work, such as Spaceballs or Robin Hood: Men in Tights, you can still respect the creativity and success this icon has shared with us.
Are you a fan of Mel Brooks movies? Would you like to check them out for the first time? Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com
Enjoy Food Having a Brooks-athon? You’ll need snacks! Will you pick beans or Ovaltine? We give you a list of treats that would appeal to any character in a Mel Brooks movie! Well…..some of them anyway. |
Mon, 19 July 2021
Stamps, action figures, toenail clippings? Just about all of us have some sort of collection in our lives. But why do we collect? And what are great ways you can enjoy collecting? Jay and Shua take a dive into their collections (be careful, they're deep!) and share their insights about the art of collecting on Enjoy Stuff.
Gather ye acorns because we are about to jump into the world of collecting! For many people, collecting is an important part of their life. Do you have a collection? Beanie Babies? Pogs? Patrick Nagel Prints? Whether you’re using their value to pay your kid’s college tuition or just do it for the value of your own happiness, collecting can be a great way to Enjoy Stuff.
News -The Star Wars Visions teaser has been released and it looks great! -The Goonies Never Say Die board game is available now -Star Trek the Motion Picture to get a 4K Director’s Cut -A mint condition Super Mario 64 game sells for record $1.5 million
What we’re Enjoying Shua’s new Game-Boy-like iPhone case has been very useful on his long trips. Jay found his way back to the movie theater this week when he saw Black Widow with Shua. Both are having tons of fun this summer.
Enjoy Life Are you a collector? Jay and Shua share things that they’ve been collecting as far back as their childhood. Star Wars, comics, Disney, video games...they have acquired a lot of fun that have given them a lot of pleasure. And they share some of their more unusual collecting habits.
Plus, they discuss why people like collecting. Is it the thrill of the hunt? Maybe an investment? Whatever the reason, we talk about how to make the most of your collection and how to make it a positive experience.
We would love to know what you collect and how you share it with others. Let us know in the Discord channel or send us an email to podcast@enjoystuff.com |
Mon, 12 July 2021
Disneyland celebrates its birthday on July 17. Jay and Shua relive fond memories of the past and savor the challenge and promise of the future. Happy birthday to the Happiest Place on Earth.
On July 17, 1955 Walt Disney opened up his deathtrap to all who wanted to dive into his imagination. That first day may have been a disaster, but it just kept getting better. Jay and Shua share some of their experiences and how you can enjoy similar special experiences too, even if you can’t go to Disneyland.
News -Good news: The owner of a Flintstones themed house in California can keep character statues on her front lawn. Take that HOA!! -Check out the cool Jurassic Park/Transformers mashup -Jerry Seinfeld will be starring in a new Netflix movie about Pop-Tarts
What we’re Enjoying Jay has been enjoying hosting Shua at his house for a visit. And they went on an epic MCU Locations road trip. Make sure to check it out on Superhero Suite. In preparation for his trip to Disney World, Shua has been reading some good ol’ fashioned Disney comics. Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck go wild as they try to avoid the murderous Pete who literally tries to kill them. Wow!
Enjoy Life On July 17, 1955 Walt Disney uttered those iconic words, “To all who come to this happy place, welcome!” And since then, more than 800 million people have visited. Jay grew up in California and had a lot of great times in the park. Shua has been visiting for 32 years and loves it every time. The guys reminisce about great times they have had and the stories that go along with them. Plus, they look back at the history of the park and what Walt was thinking.
Disneyland may not be for everyone, and it certainly isn’t accessible to everyone, so they also talk about how people can enjoy experiences like they have had in other places too.
Enjoy Food If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland, you’ll for sure want to budget a ton of money for some of the great food they have there. Jay and Shua pick some of their favorites from the park.
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Mon, 5 July 2021
Grab a hot dog and a cold one as we look back at some of the most memorable patriotic movies to celebrate America's Independence. Get patriotic the way the founding fathers intended; freedom for all and a bucket of popcorn on Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast!
In America, July is the season to remember the freedom that we work so hard to preserve. And what better way to do that than to watch a patriotic movie? Whether Wil Smith and Captain America are fighting for our independence or Lin-Manuel Miranda is teaching us how groovy the founding fathers could be, this is the time to celebrate (even if it is on the beach away from the water).
News HBO Max is getting ready to premiere a very TechnoRetro version of some old Hanna Barbera friends in the new animated series Jellystone Harrison Ford is injured while making Indiana Jones 5 Happy Belated 95th birthday to Mel Brooks
What we’re Enjoying Shua decided to revisit a book he got a few years back all about the ridiculous mail order products you could order from comics back in the good ol’ days. Jay has been checking out his late Father’s Day gift. A book called Good Omens by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett. A fun story about the final judgement of mankind.
Enjoy Movies July 4th may be America’s birthday, but it’s also a great day for movies! On this episode we look at some classic movies that spotlight a spirit of America. Maybe it’s the plucky spirit of our heroes like Roy Schneider saving a beach from a deadly shark, or Captain America stopping the evil of the Red Skull. Or maybe it’s the idea that a president could actually be a hero that stops terrorists from taking over his plane or fires the final shot on invading aliens. It could even be a musical cast teaching us all about the history of how our founding fathers wrote a bunch of documents just so Nicolas Cage could one day rip them off. Whatever gets you in the mood for the Red, White, and Blue, we have it on our cinematic list. Get ready to return to the theater for some patriotic movies. |
Mon, 28 June 2021
Board games were the entertainment of choice growing up in the 70's and 80's. We look back at some of the memorable classics and how they came to be. Plus, news and fun as we Enjoy Stuff!
Break out the dice and lay out the gameboard, because we are looking back at some of the classics in games. Jay and Shua remember some of their favorites from childhood and share a few modern ones too.
News Fan favorite LeVar Burton begins his short run as host of Jeopardy in July Now you can get vintage game magazines sent to your door The Robotech collector’s edition is here! Is Kellogg’s bringing the classic Toucan Sam back to us?
What we’re Enjoying Jay is doing a little research for a character that will be showing up in the MCU pretty soon; Kang the Conqueror. He’s reading some classic comics where he appeared. . Shua has been enjoying a new book by ‘The Martian’ author Andy Weir. It’s called Project Hail Mary and lays out how one man does whatever he can to save humanity before the sun is literally eaten up. Check it out!
Enjoy Toys Growing up, did you enjoy time with Rich Uncle Pennybags? Or maybe you liked setting up the Rube Goldbergian Mouse Trap game. Perhaps you went for world domination as you strategically set up Risk. We love board games. Jay and Shua look at a brief history of some of their favorites and how you can enjoy them today.
Plus, they share some of the Earbud’s favorites too. |
Mon, 21 June 2021
In 1979 Gary Larson's Far Side was first published and a new era of comic strips was born. Shua and Jay remember the legendary masterpiece and how it influenced many things after. Plus, news and fun as we Enjoy Stuff.
Superman 2 was highly anticipated by audiences, but had a lot of drama behind the scenes. Either way, it’s a movie we still enjoy. Jay and Josh look back to the Super Sequel.
News Jeff Goldblum Joins Second Season of the Dungeons & Dragons Podcast 'Dark Dice' as an Elven Sorcerer Kit Kat Introduces Fruity Cereal Flavor Pillsbury Launches New Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls
What we’re Enjoying Both Shua and Jay have been enjoying Disney+’s newest Marvel content Loki. Is anyone surprised? Probably not, but Shua was surprised how much he’s enjoying it. And Jay revisited a classic comedy movie starring John Candy and Eugene Levy called “Armed and Dangerous”. Check them out!
Enjoy Toons Gary Larson’s “The Far Side” ran in newspapers for fifteen years, but his legacy has never died. His early career beginnings were like a Cinderella story, having fallen into the field with only a little effort. And his popularity spread fast. His unique style seemed to appeal to most people that had a tolerant sense of humor.
The influence of the strip inspired future cartoonists of course, but it has even made a lasting scientific impression. An insect has been officially named after him. Scientists have even adopted a Gary Larson joke as an unofficial name to a part of a stegosaurus.
Join us as we remember the genius of Gary Larson and The Far Side. |
Mon, 14 June 2021
In 1981 we knew a man could fly, but we were still excited to get another dose of the Man of Steel. And this time he's battling three nasty Kryptonians. Superman 2 turns 40 this week, so we take a look back as the adventure continues.
Superman 2 was highly anticipated by audiences, but had a lot of drama behind the scenes. Either way, it’s a movie we still enjoy. Jay and Josh look back to the Super Sequel.
News Would you like your very own miniature arcade? Even if it’s paper, this new find is pretty cool! We have an update on the Cheerios challenged issued by John Oliver Grab your wallet, because McFarlane Toys have a cool ‘66 Batman playset Sylvester Stallone teases a Rocky IV Director’s Cut
What we’re Enjoying Jay enjoyed Netflix’s new zombie movie from Zack Snyder, “Army of the Dead”. But it may make you think twice next time you’re in Las Vegas. Shua has been listening to Marvel’s Wastelanders: Old Man Starlord podcast. A new way to experience the Marvel characters.
Enjoy Movies In 1981 Americans finally got to experience the sequel to the smash hit Superman-The Movie with Christopher Reeve. Fans had been anticipating the release since the hint of General Zod and his cronies at the beginning of the first movie. The three villains were cast out of Kryptonian society with no dignity or remorse. But it was nothing compared to how the Salkinds were about to treat their director Richard Donner. He was quickly replaced with Hard Day’s Night director Richard Lester.
Hollywood drama aside, there was a whole generation of kids that thought Superman 2 hit all the marks. The action, humor, and comic bookiness of the film felt like a perfect balance even if it didn’t entirely stand the test of time.
Did you enjoy Superman 2? What’s your story? Let us know by sending us and electronic-M to EnjoyStuff@RetroZap.com or join in on the fun on our discord channel. |
Mon, 7 June 2021
There's no better time than now to be good to yourself. Jay and Shua discuss what has influenced their views of who they are and how they see the world. Get ready to remove negativity from your life and Enjoy Stuff!
It’s time to be proud of who you are! But that’s a lot easier said than done. Don’t worry Earbuds, Jay and Shua are here for you! Together we can help each other to get through the grand adventure of life!
News You heard us talk about PacMan 99, how about Joust deathmatch? ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ TV Series Begins Production at Hulu Avengers Campus now open in Disney’s California Adventure
What we’re Enjoying Shua has found a new, retro app for his phone. This one is called “Dispo” and if you thought that treating your phone like a disposable camera wouldn’t be fun, but Shua begs to differ. And Jay is enjoying revisiting some old Marvel “Eternals” comics to get ready for the new movies.
Enjoy Life Hey you! Yeah, you! You’re good enough, you’re smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like you! Now quit beating yourself up and be proud of who you are! But how do we do that? We’re starting with the men in the mirror, Jay and Shua. How much did the entertainment we consumed as we grew up influence us and how much was how we were raised?
Going through school can be tough for a kid. Teasing, bullying, and the day to day pressures can really drag a kid down. Luckily for us, we had comics, sci-fi, TV, and more to help us get away from the grind. And when we became parents, we knew we wanted to give our kids what they needed to traverse the gauntlet of childhood. Luckily all the great things we grew up with are easy to access today.
How can you remove that negativity in your life? We’ll talk about mindfulness and gratitude and how to live in the moment. Plus, we’ll share some of our favorite movies that help you remember that. And we have a lot of fun along the way. |
Mon, 31 May 2021
It’s time to get Looney! Shua and Jay kick off the summer by rolling on the floor laughing at the wackiness of years of Looney Tunes cartoons. Plus, News and more!
Overture, Curtain, Lights! This is it, you'll hit the heights! And oh what heights we'll hit! It's time for Looney Tunes and summertime! Let's look back at all the Looney characters!
News Is a TRON Arcade1Up machine on the way? Or more specifically, WHEN CAN I GET IT?!?! A ‘Flamin’ hot scandal on the Flamin Hot Cheetos movie. There can be only 2!! Henry Cavill the new Highlander? Scooby Doo, where are you? Or, where have you been for 52 years? Time for a reunion to find out!
What we’re Enjoying Jay has been revisiting Night Court while Shua gets his international music fix by watching clips from Eurovision. Was Iceland robbed?!?!
Enjoy Toons For 91 years the crazy characters of Looney Tunes cartoons have given us plenty of reasons to laugh. Legendary artists and directors like Tex Avery and Chuck Jones created iconic stories that raised generations of kids. Plus, the amazing voice talent of Mel Blanc gave personality to hundreds of characters! There are so many ways to enjoy Looney Tunes.
Enjoy Merchandise There is an almost never ending list of merchandise with those lovable characters on them. Clothes, toys, books, video games, and so much more. We find the most expensive and discuss some that made a difference for us. |
Mon, 24 May 2021
Do you feel the need for speed? Jay and Shua look back at 35 years of Top Gun, how to enjoy it, and what's coming in the sequel.
What we’re Enjoying News: Enjoy Movies Enjoy Music
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Mon, 17 May 2021
Grab your tokens and set the wayback machine to 1980 because Jay and Shua are looking at some legendary arcade games from 1980. Plus, news and one of the most classic video game movies, The Last Starfighter.
1980 wasn’t the year arcade games made their first appearance, but it brought us some of the most important and iconic game ever. They ushered in a golden era of video games and helped influenced a wide variety of other games and media.
What we’re Enjoying Jay shares a fun movie on Netflix and Shua shares a great TechnoRetro app that makes VHS style video.
News
Enjoy Video Games Do you remember the year certain arcade games were released? Probably not, but if there was any year that deserves to be remembered it’s 1980. Pac-Man, Centipede, Missile Command, Berzerk, and more ushered in a Golden Age of arcades and became the catalyst for cartoons, songs, toys, and beach towels. And they helped inspire tons of other games that evolved into what we have today. How do you enjoy video games?
Enjoy Movies There are a handful of eighties movies that were centered around video games. But one of the most legendary was The Last Starfighter. We remember the movie and discuss Jay’s Sci Fi Saturdays article. |
Mon, 10 May 2021
Bring out your dead! The TechnoRetro Dads who say "Ni!" are back to talk about Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Plus news and a very Spammy recipe.
In 1975, the British comedy troupe Monty Python presented their most ambitious project yet; the legend of King Arthur. Despite the difficulties they had getting the movie made, the film became a legend and one of the best comedies of all time. Get ready to Enjoy Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
News
Enjoy Movies How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to if you’re a king, you know. And you have to know that Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a legendary comedy that has inspired generations of fans to quote the lines and pretend to ride horses with coconuts. Jay and Josh take a look back at this classic film, plus the musical that it inspired, “Spamalot”.
Enjoy Food What movie snack goes with Holy Grail? Popcorn, Milk Duds? Nope. Spam! Have you ever tried Spam? Are you giving it a fair chance? We have some recipes that may even appeal to the fine dining connoisseur. Just try it and see if you Enjoy Spam! |
Mon, 3 May 2021
Welcome to Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast! Your Hosts, Shua and Jovial Jay love finding fun in everything they do. This week we revisit the classic Ewok movies from the 80's. Plus, news and more!
On the premiere episode of Enjoy Stuff, we take a look back at the 80’s Ewok TV movies, Caravan of Courage and Battle for Endor. It’s a nostalgic trip to the past as we pull up the Disney+ Vintage Star Wars Collection, sit back, and enjoy!
News
Enjoy Movies In 1984, just when we thought we weren’t going to get anymore Star Wars ever again, ABC presented a brand new movie, starring those lovable Ewoks! Originally titled the Ewok Adventure, we got to know the little girl Cindel and (for one movie at least) her brother Mace. As a follow up, we were graced with The Battle for Endor, starring Wilford Brimley. Now that you can now stream it on Disney+, we decided to revisit these classic vintage movies because it’s the right thing to do.
Enjoy Food In the Ewok movie, Cindel and Wicket pick some wild berries and make a pie. Did they enjoy the delicious dessert, or are there some hallucinogenic properties that could make you like these movies even more than ever? We come up with a recipe and even dub it by its very first name, “Cindel Pie” |
Mon, 26 April 2021
Jovial Jay and Shua are back! Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast is the spinoff show you’ve been waiting for. Before the first official show is released, get to know your hosts, their history, and what this show is all about. Get ready to Enjoy Stuff! Get to know the guys of Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast on this special Pilot episode before they get things kicked off in May. Remember, have fun, smile more, and Enjoy Stuff! We truly appreciate all you Earbuds who have hopped on board and joined us for our next chapter! Join in the fun by reaching out to us! And make sure to Share and Enjoy with all your friends! |
Thu, 1 April 2021
Join JediShua, shazbazzar, and Jovial Jay on this special sendoff show as they say goodbye to TechnoRetro Dads. We remember the great times, listen to memories from Earbuds, and visit with Shane the Roving Spoonster. It’s the closing of one chapter and the opening of the next on The TechnoRetro Dads
Come with us to the TechnoRetro Mall as we remember 8 amazing years of TechnoRetro Dads! JediShua, shazbazzar, and Jovial Jay look back on all the great movies, cartoons, toys, games, and cereal that they’ve shared over the years. We revisit some old clips and songs that will go down in the TechnoRetro Hall of Fame. Plus, we hear some memories from the most important part of the show, the Earbuds.
Thank you for so many great years! They have truly been an important part of our lives. Stay tuned in May for our spinoff show, Enjoy Stuff - A TechnoRetro Podcast.
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Mon, 29 March 2021
As the TechnoRetro Dads head into the sunset, we look back at the great things we've had the opportunity to share with our families throughout the years, and what they've shared with us. From movies to video games to music, Jovial Jay and JediShua wrap up the series looking to the past and sharing it with the future.
In the 8 years of TechnoRetro Dads, we have had the opportunity to revisit so many of the great things we grew up with that influenced who we are today. But even better than that, we have had a chance to share it all with our amazing families. This week we look at how the TechnoRetro Way has given us even more great experiences.
TechnoRetro News
Enjoy Stuff: A TechnoRetro Podcast Coming in May, The TechnoRetro Dads present a brand new podcast featuring Shua and Jovial Jay. Tune in for “Enjoy Stuff! A TechnoRetro podcast” Enjoy Stuff will look at all the great stuff we love in pop culture, and how you can enjoy it. It’s all about making a positive experience. We will talk about the movies, toys, tv shows, and games we’ve loved for years and the great new stuff that we love to do today. And we want to hear from you! How do you make every experience tons of fun for yourself, your friends, and your family? Keep this podcast feed open for Enjoy Stuff! A TechnoRetro Podcast, coming in May!
I Love My Cereal Well, this week we’re not so sure. A man has discovered some very unsavory items in his Cinnamon Toast Crunch. And until General Mills makes up for it, we are demoting them to Sergeant Mills! Tune in….if you dare.
Magazine Rack The April 1981 issue of Starlog features Hawk, the newest character for season 2 of Buck Rogers. How did they decide to portray this character and how did he prepare for it? Plus, some cool looks back at the making of Escape from New York, an update on Saturn photos from Voyager, and some cutout Fuse Blocks (Warning: Do not cut these out of your iPad!)
Vinyl Scratchback What music do you love? Is it still the stuff you grew up with? Have your tastes changed, or maybe even expanded? Do your kids sing along or roll their eyes? And can you tolerate their melodious choices or do you feel (like Huey Lewis) that they’re “just too darn loud”? The TechnoRetro Dads keep an open mind as they shape the next generation of music lovers.
TechnoRetro Arcade We love sharing video games with our kids. But like everything, they may not enjoy all of the games we love. Luckily, we’ve taken strides to get them into a few of the great ones we grew up with. And it has given us some fun times when our Padawans have surpassed our skills.
Let’s All Go to the Movies Movies may be the TechnoRetro Dads most important form of entertainment. And luckily for them, the kids seem to like most of the ones they like too. But the movie itself isn’t the biggest part of sharing with the youth. It’s better if it’s a whole, positive experience. How have we done it over the years, and have we sat through an occasional stinker just for our youngins? Of course!
Thanks to all the Earbuds that have supported us over the years! We love you and can’t wait until the next chapter! Stay tuned April 1, 2021 for the series finale of TechnoRetro Dads. |
Mon, 22 March 2021
It's a birthday extravaganza! We celebrate Jay's special day by looking at some of his favorites like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Micronauts, and Peter Gabriel. It's always fun to celebrate birthdays with your Earbuds, so grab a slice of cake and join The TechnoRetro Dads!
Let’s all don our pointy, cardboard hats with the snappy, elastic string as we celebrate Jay! Toys, movies, music, and more are the topics of fun discussions this week because we’ll use any excuse to party.
TechnoRetro News
Toys in the Attic Before Star Wars figures came out, we had a different space action figure to play with. Micronauts! The original Mego toys, based on the Microman toy line from Mego were tons of fun, and eventually worked great with all the Star Wars toys that were to come after. We remember what we had.
Vinyl Scratchback Jay shares a few of his favorite musicians growing up; Peter Gabriel and Yes. We look at some of their history and memorable hits that helped to shape him as he grew up. Sledgehammer, Shock the Monkey, In your Eyes were some of the great songs from Peter Gabriel that were gracing the airways in the 80’s. Yes has had a very long history dating back from the ‘60’s and released such memorable progressive rock hits like Owner of a Lonely Heart and Long Distance Runaround. Drop the needle on the record player as we spin some favorites on Vinyl Scratchback.
TechnoRetro Arcade What was your first home arcade console? Jay had an Intellivision that made some great memories. He’s recently found a working console that he’s cleaned up and got working to revisit some of those good times. Come to the home console wing of the Arcade and grab your numbered controller to revisit the biggest competitor of Atari in the early 80’s.
Let’s All Go to the Movies You probably have a list of movies that you love putting on for your birthday. Jay celebrates one that probably falls on a lot of lists; Raiders of the Lost Ark. We remember the first time seeing in, why we love it, how it affected us. We go back to the movie theater again to revisit the perfect movie! |
Mon, 15 March 2021
ATechnoRetro Dads: Bowzilla vs King Donkey! ll monsters attack! Soon we’ll get to see the ultimate battle between the Kings! Godzilla vs Kong premieres in a few days so Jay and Shua look at the history of the giant kaiju and choose who they think will be triumphant. But who would win if it was Donkey Kong vs Bowser?
Godzilla vs Kong is a battle years in the making. We look back at the history of both Titans and predict the victor. But they’re not the only monsters we pit against each other. We also debate the epic rivalry of Donkey Kong vs Bowser.
TechnoRetro News
Cereal Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No! It’s Superman Ice Cream! A talented baker in Michigan has come up with a delicious cheesecake ice cream recipe that Shane, the Roving Spoonster says is delicious.
TechnoRetro Arcade Legendary Titans battle in an epic battle for the ages. But this one takes place in the arcade. Donkey Kong and Bowser may have a common enemy, but who would win in a battle. Jay and Shua debate each other in the TechnoRetro Court. And don’t forget to vote on who you think would win too!
Let’s All Go To The Movies Godzilla vs Kong will soon grace our streaming services (and a few movie screens). We are excited for the sheer epicness of the battle. But these two have been going at it for years. Jay and Shua look back on the history or Godzilla, the first time King Kong joined the fight, and all the fun they’ve had over the years watching the battles. |
Mon, 8 March 2021
We can’t wait to return to the movie theater! But in the meantime, let’s imagine what our Ultimate Movie theater would look like. From food to design to ambience, Jay and Shua talk about what they would include if they could build the best cinema house possible!
We would like to invite you to the TechnoRetro Cinema! Jay and Shua aren’t just imagining a movie house, but a mecca for movie lovers that can get whatever they want!
TechnoRetro News
Cereal Shane the Roving Spoonster shares an update about the Crunchcup. It now comes in XL size! Would it work for you? Plus, Kellogg’s gets into the cereal mashup business with Frosted Flakes.
Let’s All Go To The Movies What would you include in your own movie theater? Recliner seats? A decorated lobby? Maybe you’d prefer a drive-in. We look at a brief history of cinema, and then decide what ours would look like. And we share our Earbud’s ideas too. Join us as we make movie theaters fun to go to again. |
Mon, 1 March 2021
What would you include in your Ultimate Arcade? Jay and Shua decide what the best video games, food, music, and more would be the best to include in the TechnoRetro Arcade. Plus, the March 1981 issue of Starlog on Magazine Rack.
If you could build your very own TechnoRetro Arcade, what would you make it look like? Would you just recreate your childhood refuge or would you deck it out with everything you ever wanted? We give our suggestions and the suggestions of our amazing Earbuds. And will Altered States be a good movie? The March 1981 Starlog should tell us. Or does it?
TechnoRetro News -Disney+ has released some very cool Muppet Show parody promo posters. -Daft Punk calls it quits. We think we know why. -Scooby Doo-The Sword and the Scoob premieres. Is it destined to be a classic? -The Knight Rider semi has been found by the Knight Rider Historians...wait...Knight Rider Historians?
Cereal Lucky Charms is going all out for St Patrick’s Day! From green milk to Candy Land, check out Shane, the Roving Spoonster’s report of what you can expect. Plus, Carnation Breakfast Drink is getting the cereal flavor treatment. Plus, what does more than 600 dominoes falling over in a school look like? They look like cereal boxes for the local food bank, and lots of good potential lessons for the students. And some drug runners got a lesson of their own when federal agents seized the cocaine they were smuggling in boxes of Corn Flakes. What a horrible way to waste cereal!
Magazine Rack The March 1981 issue brings us a variety of stories beginning with a not so thorough article about the upcoming horror movie Altered States. Then it takes a look at how The Incredible Shrinking Woman managed to get made because of the legendary Verna Fields. And how does the 1980 actor’s strike affect the movies that came later and does it reflect what we may see in movie releases in the coming year?
TechnoRetro Arcade If we’re gonna open an arcade, then we want to do it right! Sure it’s going to include tons of legendary video games, but what else does it need? How big will it be? What will the decor look like? What kind of food should we serve? We lay it out in our brains and incorporate some great ideas from our Earbuds as well. Join us in our Ultimate Arcade! |
Mon, 22 February 2021
Each year brings us a variety of movies that you may like, or could rather do without. And many of them pass through the night without another thought. But not in 1982. The entire year gave us so many influential and memorable movies that we continue to revisit today. Let’s take a look back at a bunch of them.
TechnoRetro News
Cereal Do you think the Crunchcup is a good idea, or another kitchen dud? Grape Nuts apologizes for the shortage by giving away free cereal!
Let’s All Go to the Movies Were you around in 1982? If so, you may have seen one of the many movies that came out that year. Action movies like Firefox and First Blood. Culture-changing stories like Tootsie and Deathtrap. And who could forget the plethora of Sci-Fi. Star Trek II, TRON, Blade Runner, and more! We look fondly back on almost 50 movies that we loved, how they made a difference, and the legacy they have created. |
Mon, 15 February 2021
Love! Horror! What better combination? In honor of Valentine's Day, we look at some famous arcade couples. And in honor of anniversaries, we look at the 30th of Silence of the Lambs. Get ready to hold your sweetie!
What better motivation than love? As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, we honor some legendary arcade characters and the love of their life that they must save. And 30 years ago Hannibal Lecter gave us something to fear and menus to avoid in the award winning Silence of the Lambs.
TechnoRetro News
Cereal Everyone seems very excited about the new Little Debbie’s Cosmic Brownie Cereal. Is it for you? Let us know what you think?
TechnoRetro Arcade So many of our favorite, legendary arcade characters started their adventures by rescuing their true love. Mario and Peach, Link and Zelda, Dirk and Daphne, who did you relate to? And were the damsels in distress in as much distress as we thought? We look at the games we loved and the relationship tips we got from the arcade.
Let’s All Go to the Movies Thirty years ago, Jonathan Demme brought us one of the scariest films of all time. Silence of the Lambs earned all of it’s accolades and awards as Jodie Foster portrayed a strong, intelligent woman against the insanity of Anthony Hopkins and his portrayal of Hannibal the Cannibal. The movie led us into an era where our culture was obsessed with crime drama, but none ever came close to scaring us like this. But Shua is pretty wimpy when it comes to scary movies, so he needs to silence his lambs by watching some horror comedies. Abbott and Costello, Monster Squad, Transylvania 6-5000; there were bunches of options for those that needed the kids table of scariness. |
Mon, 8 February 2021
Pew! Pew! Lazer Tag has always been a fun way to express our aggressive nature in a safe, futuristic way. From fun centers like Photon to backyard competitions on warm summer nights, the futuristic toy led us into the 21st century to prepare us for any zombie apocalypse that we may be facing.
Lazer Tag was Pho-tons of fun! It was a futuristic way to play cowboys. We got to run around and shoot lasers at each other in places like Photon. Jay and Shua remember the fun of running around in the dark getting zapped. Plus, news, cereal, jokes and more.
TechnoRetro News
Magazine Rack The February 1981 issue of Starlog Magazine features David Cronenberg’s Scanners. Plus, news about the Space Shuttle’s first launch, George Takei in politics, and a new book called Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Why didn’t we get our annual sequels to Christmas in the Stars? And some great looks at movies of the time.
TechnoRetro Arcade Did you ever go to Photon, The Ultimate Game on Planet Earth? It was a popular, albeit brief, facility where you could go play Lazer Tag without having to furnish your own batteries. Jay recalls his Saturday nights with his buddies, and even still has his Photon card.
Toys in the Attic If you weren’t lucky enough to have a Photon, maybe you had your own Lazer Tag game to play with your friends in the neighborhood. This Worlds of Wonder toy was very popular until some unfortunate accidents. It even spawned a cartoon, puzzles, and a Commodore 64 game.
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Mon, 1 February 2021
The Muppet Show was a groundbreaking television show that showed us that puppets weren’t just for kids. With the show soon available to everyone, we take a look back at the history of the show, some of the memorable guests, and how Henson’s vision grew into something even bigger.
It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights. In 1974 The Muppet Show helped Jim Henson to build his vision of bringing his creations to the world. On February 19, Disney Plus will make the show available for streaming. In addition, we look at the book and the music album that helped to share the show across other mediums as well.
TechnoRetro News
I Love My Cereal A tasty new Japanese Hershey’s cereal looks great in a variety of ways. Now we just need someone from Japan to send us some. A new cereal restaurant is opening in Indianapolis, but what are the mysterious pictures coming from the Cereal Box, Inc. Instagram all about?
Muppet Show Special Look We have loved the Muppet Show since the very first pilot in 1974. But it was a long road to get there. We look back on how Jim Henson started building his vision from his early days on Saturday Night Live, to he crazy pilot called Sex and Violence. And who were some of our favorite guest hosts on the show? Mark Hamill, Vincent Price, John Denver, and so many more made legendary appearances over the years. This is what we call the Muppet Show!
Vinyl Scratchback Shua shares songs and memories from The Muppet Show Album that includes some songs from the show along with some classic skits. So much Muppety goodness. |
Mon, 25 January 2021
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
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. |
Mon, 18 January 2021
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
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. |
Mon, 11 January 2021
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
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. |
Mon, 4 January 2021
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
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? |
Mon, 21 December 2020
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
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
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Mon, 14 December 2020
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
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. |
Mon, 7 December 2020
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
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 |
Mon, 30 November 2020
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
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 |
Mon, 23 November 2020
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.
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Mon, 16 November 2020
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. |
Mon, 2 November 2020
The TechnoRetro realm turns medieval as we talk with Superfriends Mike Witwer, author of Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook and Antony Soehner, author of After School Adventures.
Hungry? We hope so, because we have some delectable food from the Middle Ages as we welcome Michael Witwer, celebrated Dungeons & Dragons author, whose latest book “Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook” is available now. Plus, author of multiple D & D based novels, Antony Soehner stops by to share his latest series.
In the NEWS
TechnoRetro Cereal -News The Roving Spoonster’s very own Grand Rapids, Michigan is soon getting its very own cereal bar! And more impressive than that, it’s being run by a 17 year old! We wish all the best of luck to her and can’t wait to hear a review.
Superfriends Antony Soehner has written six great novels based in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and he’s not slowing down now. We discuss his work that’s available now, and what may be to come. Make sure you check out his great stories and share them with your friends by going to antonysoehner.com
Michael Witwer returns to TechnoRetro Dads to share another of his great Dungeons & Dragons literature projects. This time it’s an incredible cookbook with food straight from the realm. Pick up Heroes’ Feast - The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook, available now.
Would You Rather? Dungeons & Dragons Edition Would you rather have everyone in your D&D party have no hands and only fight with their feet, or have everyone’s weapons be made of seaweed? Mike and Tony use a spell to open the door and enter the chamber when suddenly they are confronted with these types of questions. Their only way out is to decide what they would do in these ridiculous scenarios. |
Mon, 26 October 2020
Not very scary Halloween specials were a staple as we enjoyed our retro candy choices. Do they stack up against today's sweets?
We really enjoyed the “not very scary” Halloween specials that would show up on TV every October. What were some of your favorites? We discuss them as we indulge in a variety of popular 80’s candy and pit them up against today’s choices.
In the NEWS
TechnoRetro Cereal -News The Roving Spoonster has shared cereal news that’s good for all! Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins launches a cereal for charity. Kellogg’s has cereal boxes for the visually impaired. General Mills held a contest with free artistic renderings of our favorite Monster Cereal mascots for anyone that entered. And for those that need a little boost in their taste buds, you’ll soon get a chance to use SpoonTEK. Cereal is the great uniter!
Saturday Mornings - Not Very Scary Halloween Specials You know the hype was building in October when the TV stations started playing the Halloween specials. Every episode of Scooby Doo made it seem like Halloween. In 1985 Garfield gave us his first Halloween adventure. And who could forget It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown? But only the Simpsons has given us more than 30 years of special episodes every year. We remember our favorite Treehouse of Horror episodes, plus Earbud ideas too.
Halloween Candy TechnoRetro Taste Test We know we loved candy in the 80’s (yes, even Bit-O-Honey). But does it stack up against the candy we have to choose from today? Are the new, fancy ones worth getting in your Trick-or-Treat bag? Jay and Shua push through the sugar sweats as they sample a plethora of sweet treats from the past and present. |
Mon, 19 October 2020
As Halloween approaches, get ready for some spooky games in the arcade! Plus, learn a lot about life on the 30th anniversary of Edward Scissorhands.
30 years ago, director Tim Burton presented a story of love and acceptance in the way only he can with the classic Johnny Depp movie Edward Scissorhands. And while you prepare yourself for a Halloween like no other, why not revisit some spooky games in the arcade?
In the NEWS
TechnoRetro Cereal -News The Roving Spoonster has shared his insight once again! Do you live in Massachusetts? You may be interested in Pixels and Pints where they are beginning to host all you can eat cereal and Saturday Morning Cartoon events. Check it out and let us know! And Post will be releasing some cereal infused bunnies for Easter this year. We can’t wait to try them out!
TechnoRetro Arcade - Spooky Games for Halloween Video games have had a rich history when it comes to games featuring scary monsters and situations. From all the way back in 1972 when Killer Shark appeared, the genre has been one of the most popular. We look at featured games such as Atari’s Haunted House, movie-based games like The Evil Dead, Halloween, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street. Plus, gory additions such as Splatterhouse and Doom. Do you like the Horror genre of games? Let us know!
Let’s all go to the movies! - Edward Scissorhands In 1990 Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp were just beginning their illustrious careers. And when now legendary director Tim Burton cast them in his surreal classic Edward Scissorhands, they ended up being the perfect pair to teach us all lessons about kindness, inclusion, and how to treat people that are different from us. We take a close look at the movie on its 30th anniversary and share what it’s meant for us. |
Mon, 12 October 2020
There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to Dads. We look at Twilight Zone: The Movie, the classic show, and the Golden Earring song and misheard lyrics of 80’s songs.
For more than 60 years the Twilight Zone has given us a ton of stories to fill us with dread and make us think about the world. Jay and Shua look back on the classic TV show, the Movie, and the Golden Earring. But are we hearing those lyrics correctly?
In the NEWS
Let’s All Go to the Movies - Twilight Zone: The Movie In 1983 four legendary directors put together some Rod Serling-esque stories to give us Twilight Zone - The Movie. We look back at the origins of Rod Serling’s creation and how it evolved into the movie and future versions of the show.
TechnoRetro Dads - Vinyl Scratchback Twilight Zone also inspired (sorta) a classic 80’s song by Golden Earring. This song was a definite product of the 80’s but we may not have been hearing all the lyrics correctly. We figure out what they really said and also share some other wacky misinterpretations of lyrics. |
Mon, 5 October 2020
October is here! And who better to usher in the spooky month than the Godfather of Spooky himself, Vincent Price!
Vincent Price became a legend in all things Halloween. We look back at some of his great roles and appearances in classic movies, TV shows, and songs. Plus, the TechnoRetro Dads Magazine Rack features the October 1980 issue of Starlog and the dwindling Sci-Fi options on TV.
In the NEWS
TechnoRetro Cereal -News The Roving Spoonster has done it again! Great cereal news. Holiday cereals will be hitting the shelves soon. The newest this year is Elf cereal, based on the Will Ferrell Classic. ARe our cereals going back to basics? General Mills is, even with their recipes straight from the 80’s. And if you’re looking for a new video game, why not check out Cereal Killaz?
TechnoRetro Dads - Vinyl Scratchback Danny Elfman’s genius has given us a ton of classic music over the years, but one of their biggest mainstream hits was Dead Man’s Party. We look back at the history and influence of the classic whether it’s October or any other month.
Let’s All Go to the Movies Vincent Price has hundreds of acting credits to his name over his career. But in 1953 he began developing his trademark type of character in House of Wax. From there he starred in a variety of spooky movies, often parodying himself. Plus, he made appearances in TV shows from Love Boat to the Muppet Show. We talk about our favorites, what are yours?
Toys in the Attic - Shrunken Head Apple Sculpture Vincent Price didn’t stop at the movies. He also endorsed some creepy toys too. All you need is an apple. This would be perfect for Halloween, so get your twisted Mr. Potato Head knockoff now! |
Mon, 28 September 2020
Don't look now, but Michael Keaton is moving into your house. We look back at Pacific Heights and movie-based video games that never were.
In 1990 Michael Keaton terrified any yuppie that was looking to become a landlord. We look at Pacific Heights. And we think about movies that didn’t get their own video games in the TechnoRetro Arcade.
In the NEWS
Let’s All Go To The Movies - Pacific Heights Suspenseful thrillers were all the rage in 1990. Michael Keaton, in his next movie after Batman, gets into the game with Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine as he channels his not-so-inner sociopath. He is Carter Hayes and he’s making the young couple’s life miserable as he rents out their apartment and proceeds to torment them in a complex scam that threatens to ruin their life.
31 Days of Horror Jovial Jay continues his tradition of watching a scary movie a day in October. This year’s RetroZap posts will be a plethora of “H-origins”. With movies like Dracula, The Invisible Man, and Psycho, the month looks to be a promising fright-fest. He tells us some of the movies he’ll be sharing as we prepare for 31 Days of Horror.
TechnoRetro Arcade - 1990 movies that would be horrible video games James Bond, Batman, Jurassic Park...these movies all got great video games. Why not other 1990 movies. Wouldn’t you love to play a Pretty Woman video game? Or how about showing off your gaming skills as Mel Gibson’s Hamlet? The obscure (and fictitious) Obscure Games room gets some imaginary additions as we wonder what could have been. |
Mon, 21 September 2020
Slide on those knee pads and pile up the cardboard boxes! The TechnoRetro Dads are preparing movie stunts and look at Lee Majors’s 80’s macho show, The Fall Guy.
We might fall from a tall building, we might roll a brand new car. But we should probably leave that up to the professional stuntmen.
In the NEWS
TechnoRetro Cereal - News Are you ready for gingerbread? If so, it’s making its way to your breakfast as Kelloggs introduces gingerbread toaster pancakes. And what is the greatest spinoff in history? We’d say Honey Nut Cheerios.
TechnoRetro TV Lee Majors is known for his macho roles. And he got to show off about as much machismo as anyone could handle back in the 80’s with his stuntman-turned-bounty-hunter Colt Seavers. He would catch those fugitives with his partners Howie and Jody and use his Hollywood stunt skills to do it for our dramatic entertainment. Jay and Josh look back at the retro ABC show The Fall Guy.
Let’s All Go To The Movies - Classic Movie Stunts Hollywood has a rich history of movie stunts. From Buster Keaton to Jackie Chan, the stunt people risk their lives for our pleasure. We take a look at some of the classic, memorable stunts from movies we love. First, Jackie Chan tops our list with some of the craziest stunts you’ve ever seen. And who could forget how many times James Bond has thrown his body all over the place. Plus, we remember the incredible thrills of Speed and Raiders of the Lost Ark. |
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