When We Were Young – an 80s and 90s pop culture podcast
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG takes a look back at different beloved parts of pop culture from our formative years (1980-2000), and decides if they hold up today.
Can you imagine living in a world where millions of people are glued to their screens 24/7, watching the life of an ordinary person unfold while being bombarded with advertisements that are disguised as part of the entertainment?
Of course you can! It’s 2024, and we’re already there. But back in 1998, the premise of THE TRUMAN SHOW was still a pretty radical idea, giving moviegoers a glimpse of the future shortly before the reality TV boom of the 2000s and long before the rise of social media. Audiences who thought they were in for a summer comedy starring Jim Carrey found themselves instead confronted with deep philosophical questions about freedom versus choice, artifice versus authenticity, surveillance versus privacy, and other heady topics – unaware that they were witnessing the rise of the world’s first influencer.
The film stars Jim Carrey as likable everyman Truman Burbank, who’s lived his entire life unaware that every move he makes is broadcast to adoring fans across the globe. His mom, his wife, his best friend, and everybody else in town are in on it. The Truman Show gave Carrey newfound credibility as a dramatic actor and showcases peerless supporting performances from Laura Linney as Truman’s increasingly unhinged wife and Ed Harris as the God-like “creator” behind this massive production.
There’s no question that Peter Weir’s fable-like film was ahead of its time in numerous ways, which only lends itself to an even richer conversation than was possible back in the late 90s. But how does this unusual blend of comedy, drama, and satirical science fiction hold up as entertainment now that there are millions of Truman Burbanks among us? Is the movie held back by dated technology and a plot that hinges on 1990s broadcast television, or is it time to hail The Truman Show as a timeless masterpiece?
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
131: “This Must Be Pop” – *NSYNC
Mar 29, 2024
Following the breakout success of the Backstreet Boys in the mid-to-late 90s, a wave of warbling wannabes took to the airwaves, all vying for coveted poster space on the walls of teenagers across the globe. For many 90s kids, the latter half of the decade is best remembered as a hunky blur of chiseled abs, soulful harmonies, and frosted tips.
But only one band had what it took to be a true rival to the Backstreet Boys. That is, of course, *NSYNC, another Orlando-bred quintet whose origin story is strikingly similar to BSB’s. That other major boy band’s breakout in the U.S. took place in 1998, when “I Want You Back” announced the arrival of five new dreamboats for impressionable young girls to obsess over. (Or hate with fiery vengeance, if they were BSB 4 LYFE.)
In this episode, the When We Were Young podcast revisits Lance, Chris, J.C., Joey, and Justin and tries to classify the type of thing they do. We also discuss our favorite and least favorite members of the group (prepare for surprises!), and debate whether their music still gets us high, or if we’re prepared to say “Bye Bye Bye” to *NSYNC’s entire catalog.
Did we drive ourselves crazy overdosing on bubblegum pop for this two-parter on the top gentleman crooners of the late 90s? You bet. But God must have spent a little more time on this episode of the podcast, because after chatting about every *NSYNC single, we still find time to reminisce about boy band also-rans like 98 Degrees and 5ive.
*NSYNC die-hards, proceed with caution. We can’t guarantee this discussion won’t tear up your heart!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
130: “Oh My God, We’re Back Again” – Backstreet Boys
Mar 20, 2024
Are they original? Not a bit. Are they the only one? Certainly not. Are they sexual? Well, that’s up for debate!
The When We Were Young podcast dives into all these questions and more as we discuss the Backstreet Boys, pioneers in the bubblegum pop craze that was larger than life in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Boy bands were all the rage around the turn of the millennium, starting with the international success of everybody’s favorite musical act named after an Orlando flea market. (Okay, maybe they are the only one.)
The Boys broke out big time with “I’ll Never Break Your Heart,” the first of many heart-related tracks that would soon hit the charts. Over the next few years, Nick, Brian, Kevin, Howie, and A.J. rocked our bodies, showed us the meaning of being lonely, and announced their return before most of us had even heard of them. They also fought to dominate the charts against a wave of other crooning gentlemen seeking to capitalize on their formula for teenage infatuation, including *NSYNC, 98 Degrees, and LFO.
But all fads fade with time, so how do these massive hits sound to our 2024 ears? Are the Boys still our fire? Or is sharp-tongued criticism all we have to give? Yes, it’s finally time for Chris, Becky, and Seth to take on BSB. So if you want it that way, we’ve got it that way! (If you want it some other way, we can’t help you.)
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
129: “I Guess I’m A Pretty Sick Guy” – American Psycho
Jan 23, 2024
New Year, new you? Who better to turn to for inspiration than a good-looking, well-educated, wealthy New York City investment banker with a razor sharp wit and killer taste in music?
Patrick Bateman has a flawless skin care routine, does one thousand crunches per day, stays up to date on the latest in fashion and food, can share insightful music criticism at the drop of a hat, and always returns his videotapes on time. Aside from his need to engage in homicidal bloodlust on a massive scale, he’s practically perfect!
At least, that’s what too many viewers of 2000’s AMERICAN PSYCHO seem to think, based on the way Christian Bale’s suave psychopath has been memed and emulated across the internet. Fresh off our last episode, which examined the problematic worship of Scarface’sTony Montana, we’re scrutinizing an even more deranged cinematic role model. Patrick Bateman first stirred up controversy in the publishing world as the narrator of Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel, then caused an uproar all over again in Mary Harron’s satirical film adaptation, even as it proved Bale had the chops to be a leading man.
Does American Psycho really glorify violence and celebrate misogyny, racism, and homophobia the same way the Bateman character does? Or has this subversive send-up of 1980s materialism just been misunderstood by certain audiences (like, say, TikTok influencers)? This podcast makes for ideal listening during intricate skin care routines, insane workouts, and even while waiting for a table at the hottest restaurant in town! (For audio accompaniment to murders and executions, we recommend Huey Lewis and the News.)
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
128: “Say Goodnight To The Bad Guy” – Scarface
Dec 30, 2023
Bright lights, joyful music, expensive baubles, and white powder everywhere! Could it be Christmastime again? Or is it perhaps a sweltering, sweaty drug war in Miami, circa 1983?
Actually, it’s both, as When We Were Young celebrates the holidays the only way we know how – with narcotics, chainsaws, and expletives galore, all courtesy of Brian De Palma’s ultraviolent crime classic SCARFACE.
Americans have a long history of looking up to men who aren’t the best role models. That explains why Tony Montano, the Cuban crime lord unforgettably embodied by Al Pacino, became an unlikely role model for millions of moviegoers who turned the controversial gangster flick into a stone cold classic over the four decades that followed its release. Some viewers find inspiration in Tony Montana’s upwardly mobile immigrant story, while others find the film’s execution of the American dream to be even more crass than the capitalist excess it’s critiquing. And then there are those who just really like the F-word and machine guns!
To celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary, Chris, Becky, and Seth sample from Scarface’s many extremes, exploring everything from the incestuous implications of its sibling relationship to the over-the-top carnage of its finale – all set to a throbbing disco soundtrack, of course. Do we still consider Scarface to be a lil’ fren’ to cinema? Or is Tony Montana a bad guy we prefer to say “goodnight” to indefinitely?
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
127: “NOW A Warning?!” – Death Becomes Her
Nov 30, 2023
Death comes to us all – unless you’re Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. These two actresses have found the secret to living forever: being immortalized in one of the most beloved horror comedies of cult cinema, DEATH BECOMES HER (1992).
Robert Zemeckis broke new ground with the movie’s mind-bending Oscar-winning (and neck-twisting) special effects, and the film was a hit at the box office despite critics not being too impressed by the literal death-defying antics of these two frenemies.
Has time been kind to Mad(eline) and Hel(en) in the last 30 years? Or is “Death Becomes Her” just a rotting corpse covered in spray paint? Join us as we revisit the past and share our own insecurities about aging. Bottom’s up!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
126: "I Award You No Points, And May God Have Mercy On Your Soul" - Adam Sandler's 90s Comedies
Oct 21, 2023
Put on your yarmulke, it’s time to celebrate ADAM SANDLER! In the third and final installment of our series Saturday Night Leavers – Celluloid Man-Children Of 90s Cinema, we revisit Adam Sandler’s most memorable Saturday Night Live sketches, from Canteen Boy to Opera Man.
Then we dive into his big-screen adventures in BILLY MADISON, HAPPY GILMORE, and THE WEDDING SINGER, where Sandler plays men who range from romantic losers to (arguably) lovable idiots with anger issues. Adam Sandler has perfected the art of buffoonery in his decades-long, billion-dollar-earning career, but does his first chapter as a leading man still bring the laughs? Or are we all now dumber for having listened to it?
One last question: Do you have any more gum?
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
125: “Fat Guy In A Little Coat” – Chris Farley’s 90s Comedies
Sep 30, 2023
Saturday Night Live is not just a TV comedy institution but also an incubator for some of the brightest comedy stars of the silver screen. In our three-part miniseries Saturday Night Leavers – Celluloid Man-Children Of 90s Cinema, we are surveying the careers of three men who left the show in 1995, and who took their SNL fame to new heights by becoming movie stars.
In Part Two of the miniseries we discuss Chris Farley, one of the hottest stars to ever burst out into national fame from Saturday Night Live. Farley took his unforgettable comedic persona and superstardom to the cinema immediately after SNL fired him in 1995, but his career was tragically cut short by his death in 1997 at the age of 33.
We begin by discussing our own childhood needs for attention and approval from strangers, and then we investigate Chris Farley’s upbringing as a hell-raising but sensitive and devoutly Catholic boy in Wisconsin, his meteoric rise in improv comedy, and our own favorite moments of Farley’s career in SNL and beyond. Then we revisit Chris Farley’s two best known film roles: co-starring with SNL alum David Spade in 1995’s hit brake pad sales comedy TOMMY BOY, and in 1996’s less-than-hit political(?) comedy BLACK SHEEP. How do these movies hold up now?
Whether or not you knew him as a “heartbreaker” or “not hygienic,” and whether or not he ever really lived in a van down by the river, Chris Farley was an inescapable staple in American homes throughout the 1990s. And quotes from his sketch and movie characters were on the tongues of countless grade-school youth, including at least one host of this podcast. Do… do you remember that? It was awesome!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
BONUS Mini-Sode: So I Married An Axe Murderer
Sep 28, 2023
Here’s a bonus mini-sode where we discuss Mike Myers’ SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER (1993) as well as our own childhood pop cultural touchstones. Join us for the rest of Mike Myers’ epic journey from schwing! to swinger in Part One (Episode 124) of our Saturday Night Leavers – Celluloid Man-Children Of 90s Cinema mini-series!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
124: "Shall We Shag Now Or Shag Later?" - Mike Myers' 90s Comedies
Aug 31, 2023
Many of the big screen’s most successful comedians got their start on the small screen, and no TV series has launched more comedy all-stars than Saturday Night Live. In 1995, the long-running weekend staple experienced a major shakeup with the exit of many of its most popular cast members, including Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, and Mike Myers – all of whom followed up their successful stints on SNL with feature comedies.
In the first of three episodes focusing on the film careers of these SNL funnymen, we set our sights on Mike Myers, who kicked off the sketch-to-film trend of the 90s by bringing Saturday Night Live’s Wayne Campbell from public access television in Aurora, Illinois to nation-wide box office smash in 1991’s WAYNE’S WORLD. The irreverent comedy co-stars SNL’s Dana Carvey as sidekick Garth and boasts more catchphrases than you could count in a lifetime, but do these wacky slackers have what it takes to party on into the 21st century, or… NOT?
Next up, we thaw out 1997’s AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY, the outrageous spy spoof starring Myers as a time-hopping 60s swinger who must fight off both his outmoded sexual politics and his maniacal hairless doppelganger, Dr. Evil. The Austin Powers franchise cemented Myers’ status as a major box office drawn and 90s comedy legend, and spawned even more inescapable catchphrases, but is it still groovy, shagadelic, and totally switched on? Or does it make us want to say, “No, baby?”
And in case that isn’t enough to get you all verklempt, our discussion also touches on some of Myers’ beloved SNL characters who didn’t make the transition to the big screen, including Simon, Dieter, and Linda Richman, as well as the Wayne’s Worldand Austin Powers sequels. Join us on Mike Myers’ epic journey from schwing! to swinger in Part One of our Saturday Night Leavers – Celluloid Man-Children Of 90s Cinema miniseries!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
123: "We're Into Barbie!" - Girls' Toys of the 80s & 90s
Jul 23, 2023
We hope you like the color pink, because that’s all you’re getting in this episode! In the second part of our Toys of Summer series, we look back at the most popular toys from our youth that were targeted at little girls – the gentle equines of MY LITTLE PONY, the disturbing, dead-eyed CABBAGE PATCH KIDS, the complicated backstory of JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS, and of course the ubiquitous BARBIE, who first appeared on shelves wearing a black-and-white-striped bathing suit and has since become synonymous with the color pink.
Mattel has sold billions of Barbie dolls in the last 60 years despite often being the target of controversy; the doll has been a best friend and role model to the little girls who play with her while also contributing to their low self-image. Is there still a place for Barbie today? The inevitable box-office success of Barbie’s first live-action big-screen adaptation might make you say Yes, but when it comes to the dolls, are we as willing to let the next generation of women spend their days imagining themselves as a buxom blonde bombshell?
Join Becky, Chris, and Seth as they explore the gender politics of playing with Barbies, try to make sense of the absurd backstories of Jem and the Holograms and the Cabbage Patch Kids, and compare the stark differences between marketing to boys and girls.
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
122: “More Than Meets The Eye” - Boys’ Toys of the 80s and 90s
Jul 20, 2023
In this “Boys’ Toys” episode of our two-part TOYS OF SUMMER podcast, we revisit icons ranging from Zack the Lego Maniac to Sergeant Slaughter in remembrance of the toys we played with in the 80s and 90s that were marketed primarily to boys.
As it turns out, some of our favorite cartoons from childhood were more than meets the eye – they were advertisements in disguise, created explicitly to get us to buy plastic playthings! The toy-to-TV-show trend kicked off with Hasbro’s relaunch of its G.I. JOE action figures in 1982, rebranded as the “Real American Hero” in a corresponding animated series. It was soon followed by action figure juggernauts HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE and THE TRANSFORMERS. Using bulging muscles, explosive hardware, and cartoon violence to appeal to young boys, these series often wrapped up with a wholesome life lesson to balance out the mayhem (before cutting to a commercial break encouraging us to buy the latest bazooka-toting action figures).
Along the way, we touch on other toys marketed mainly to boys during this era, including Hot Wheels, Nerf, Tonka Trucks, and Super Soaker – and of course, share thoughts on 1986’s TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE and how the death of Optimus Prime traumatized a whole generation of youngsters.
With the fabulous secrets of our favorite toy brands revealed to us, do any of these products still have the power? Or do companies like Hasbro and Mattel just look like Decepticons to us now? With movies like BARBIE and TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS in theaters this summer, it’s the perfect time to reconsider the lessons we learned from toy-branded cartoons and commercials in the 80s and 90s. Because now we know that the cartoons we loved as kids were a total sham — and knowing is half the battle!
(This episode may contain a choking hazard for children under 3. Becky, Chris, and Seth sold separately.)
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
121: “I Had Bugs For Lunch” – Indiana Jones Part 2
Jun 29, 2023
After thoroughly raiding the lost ark in their previous outing, Chris, Becky, and Seth found themselves on shockingly shaky ground with Indiana Jones superfans. Can the three opinionated podcasters escape the wrath of Indy’s admirers this time around?
When We Were Young excavates the further adventures of cinema’s favorite tomb-raiding hunk, digging into Steven Spielberg’s wildly different sequels. First up is 1984’s INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, which saw Harrison Ford joined by Kate Capshaw and Ke Huy Quan for a disturbing descent into human sacrifice and child slavery. Stuffed with gross-out gags and ultra-macabre special effects, the film outraged parents and alienated critics, but still managed to rake in plenty of that sweet summer movie money and become a staple in many VHS collections. (Thanks in large part to a McDonald’s promotion!)
And finally, we delve into 1989’s INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, which hewed closer to the adventuresome tone of the 1981 original, with daddy issues added to the mix as Sean Connery came aboard to play Indy’s cranky but lovable father. It was, of course, another gigantic hit, capping off the original film trilogy while paving the way for a TV series, video games, and a super popular Disneyland ride that would hold us over until Dr. Jones’ first return to the big screen nearly two decades later.
Will When We Were Young rip fans’ still-beating hearts from their chests and crush them with criticism once again? Or will we permit these sequels to sip from the Holy Grail and live on for all eternity?
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
“It’s Not The Years, Honey, It’s The Mileage” - Indiana Jones Part 1
Jun 21, 2023
Why did it have to be podcasters? After seven years of fan requests, When We Were Young is finally getting around to the beloved Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr. franchise – better known to moviegoers by his canine-inspired nickname, Indiana Jones. With Harrison Ford stepping back into the role after a long hiatus for this summer’s INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY, it’s the perfect time to look back at the film that started it all.
Blockbuster groundbreakers George Lucas, who created the character, and Steven Spielberg, who helmed all three films in the original trilogy, joined forces in 1981 for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, a film that defied low expectations to become one of the most treasured movies of the 80s. The summer smash was hailed as a masterpiece upon its release, raking in cash at the box office for almost an entire year and earning a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars.
How does everybody’s favorite archaeologist hold up as an action hero four decades after his first foray onto movie screens? Does unearthing this action-adventure classic still reward audiences with bountiful riches and wondrous delights, or just a bunch of booby traps? Grab your bullwhip and fedora, watch out for massive balls, and join us for an episode that’s bound to dig up some controversial opinions!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
119: “Don’t Forget To Breathe” – Interview with Author Chris Clews
Feb 01, 2023
The Karate Kid features one of the most beloved movie mentors of all time in Mr. Miyagi, who teaches young Daniel valuable lessons about patience (taking time to breathe), efficiency (putting the whole body’s strength into a single punch), and achievement (if you can catch a fly with chopsticks, you can accomplish pretty much anything).
In this special interview episode, When We Were Young talks to author and keynote speaker Chris Clews about more life lessons that can be found in ‘80s pop culture, whether in films with iconic movie mentors like The Karate Kid and Dead Poets Society, or those with much more questionable role models like The Lost Boys and Road House.
In his new book Raised on the ‘80s, Chris Clews identifies 30+ life lessons from the music and movies that defined pop culture’s most excellent and totally awesome decade, including Trading Places, Cocktail, The Breakfast Club, Die Hard, and the music of Prince. We talked to Chris about his favorite bits of wisdom from our favorite ’80s films, as well as his experience growing up in the ‘80s, why Patrick Swayze is the ultimate ‘80s icon, and the best way to reboot an ‘80s blockbuster while staying true to the original.
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show! And after you check out this interview episode with Chris Clews, check out his new book Raised in the ‘80s here: https://chrisclews.com/books
118: “Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy” – The Karate Kid
Jan 24, 2023
If you’re an ’80s kid, you can remember karate being the chosen after-school activity of pretty much everyone in your class (and likely yours too). You can thank THE KARATE KID for getting everybody in a gi.
In our latest episode, we revisit the original 1984 film in the hit franchise that would span decades, as well as multiple sequels and reboots, discussing how this movie set the formula for nearly every mentor-protege story that would follow. We’re also happily joined by Becky’s big sister Chelsea, who shares why she’s been a big fan of this movie since she was a kid. (It only has a little to do with crushing on a baby-faced Ralph Macchio.)
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
117: “A Blue Furry Charles Dickens Who Hangs Out With A Rat?” – The Muppet Christmas Carol
Dec 22, 2022
Do you feel that chill in the air? This holiday season, When We Were Young’s listeners will be visited by three all-knowing spirits who serve as guides through the past, present, and future of all things Muppet.
Our last episode chronicled the humble beginnings of Kermit and company through their rise to global superstardom with The Muppet Show and The Muppet Movie in the late 70s. In this episode Chris, Becky, and Seth discuss their youthful memories of more recent Muppets exploits like the original MUPPET BABIES cartoon of the 80s, the MUPPETS TONIGHT primetime series that aired on TGIF in the 90s, and a star-studded pop album called KERMIT UNPIGGED that at least one of our hosts cherished.
Next we revisit the Muppets’ musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic ghost story in 1992’s THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, which stars a pitch perfect Michael Caine as yuletide-loathing miser Ebenezer Scrooge, and a bunch of puppets as Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, the Marleys, and even the author himself. Then we are confronted by the present and future of Jim Henson’s beloved creations since the Muppets were officially taken over by Disney in the early 2000s.
Does The Muppet Christmas Carol still warm our hearts and send us out into the snowy streets to pass out savvy pop culture critiques to the needy? Or have the years turned us into cold, cruel Scrooges ready to say, “Bah, humbug!” to this Disneyfied departure from the Muppets’ scrappy roots? Celebrate the 30th anniversary of this furry, funny holiday classic with When We Were Young!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
116: “Music To Hug Frogs By” – The Muppet Show & The Muppet Movie
Dec 14, 2022
It’s When We Were Young’s most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational episode yet! Gonzo, Miss Piggy, Fozzy, and friends may be best known for kid-focused fare these days, but Jim Henson’s world-famous puppets originally had roots in more grownup entertainment, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, the first season of Saturday Night Live, and a “Sex & Violence” TV special that provided a test run for puppets on primetime.
In this episode of the podcast, we look back at the very beginning of Henson’s puppeteering career on public access television more than two decades before the gang got their very own variety program in THE MUPPET SHOW, which became a worldwide phenomenon starting in 1976. Chris, Becky, and Seth rewatch some of the series’ most notable episodes with guest stars Rita Moreno, Steve Martin, Harry Belafonte, and Elton John, and discover that their mileage for puppets delivering dad jokes may vary.
Then we revisit Kermit and company’s big screen debut in 1979’s THE MUPPET MOVIE, which awed fans by taking the Muppets out of the studio and having them ride bikes, drive cars, and show off their felt feet for the very first time, all in pursuit of Hollywood stardom.
Do we still feel a rainbow connection to these early Muppets outings? Or have the lovers and dreamers aged into old fogeys sitting up in the balcony, heckling the lovable puppet performers down below? Play the music, light the lights, raise the curtains, and prepare for some controversial opinions on the When We Were Young podcast’s Muppets episode tonight!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
115: “Stupid Is As Stupid Does” – Forrest Gump
Dec 02, 2022
It’s Part 2 of Hanksgiving, our special holiday series showing gratitude for America’s Dad TOM HANKS! In this episode we revisit 1994’s FORREST GUMP, the blockbuster dramedy from Robert Zemeckis that won as many Oscars as it had catchphrases.
Becky, Chris and Seth debate whether this light-as-a-feather stroll through mid-to-late 20th century America is just as beloved now as it was upon its release, or if it’s gone as stale as a 30-year-old box of chocolates.
Elvis, John Lennon, JFK – anyone who’s anyone is making a computer-generated appearance in our latest episode!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
114: "I Wish I Were Big" - Big
Nov 22, 2022
Happy Hanksgiving, everyone! In our first of two episodes sharing our gratitude for one of Hollywood’s most endearing, reliable stars – that would be none other than TOM HANKS, of course – we take a look back at the actor’s breakthrough performance in the hit 1988 comedy BIG.
Is a romance between an adult woman and a 12-year-old boy in a 30-year-old man’s body problematic? Kind of!
We also discuss some other less-than-memorable body-switching flicks and what we would have wished for if we encountered a Zoltar machine at age 12. Let’s see if BIG still captures our heart and soul (as played on a comically oversized piano).
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
113: “I’m Your Number One Fan” – Misery
Oct 26, 2022
Becky, Chris and Seth wanted to pull out the big scares this Halloween season, and what’s scarier than being adored?
Join us as we take a look back at MISERY (1990), director Rob Reiner’s first (and only) foray into horror. This film gave us Kathy Bates — and gave Kathy Bates an Oscar — and introduced the term “hobbling” to millions of horrified moviegoers.
In this episode, we discuss whether iconic movie villain Annie Wilkes had an influence on Hollywood’s leading ladies breaking bland and embracing frumpiness, and if James Caan was the best choice for the role of Stephen King stand-in/author Paul Sheldon. We also share the artists we believe we’re the number one fans of, who we promise we will not imprison in our homes.
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
112: “I’m Rooting For The Crocodile” – Anaconda, Lake Placid & Deep Blue Sea
Oct 05, 2022
Oh, you thought we were done talking about all the creepy-crawlies that go bump in the night, that slither in wait hoping to swallow you whole, and that can somehow turn on a gas oven using a dorsal fin? Hardly! In this dazzling, toothsome, and scaly finale to When We Were Young’s ‘90s Creature Feature extravaganza, Chris and Seth revisit three more hit movies that represent the monstrous tail end of this genre’s heyday.
First, they were pretty sure the end was near when their boat sank in the jungles of the Amazon River and they were nearly swallowed whole by an immense ANACONDA (1997), but they were saved at the last moment by a documentary film crew led by JLo, Ice Cube, and an indecipherable but legendary Jon Voight.
Hoping to find respite and relief in the calm waters of LAKE PLACID (1999), they instead found Betty White raising a world-record killer crocodile, and Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, and Oliver Platt competing to see who’d had the most severed heads flung at them.
Finally, in one last desperate attempt to get away from it all, Seth and Chris took a trip and a dip in the DEEP BLUE SEA (1999) heading to an underwater scientific research station at the forefront of Alzheimer’s research – but the three resident bioengineered mega-sharks who also lived there immediately crashed their party and proceeded to flood them out! These giganto makos had the gall to eat Seth’s parrot, and one of these cunning sharks nearly got Chris too – until he took all his clothes off and electrocuted it. Dazed and shocked to have made it out alive, our hosts have sworn never to leave dry land or violate the Harvard Compact ever again.
Grab your swimsuits as we revisit the waterlogged beasts of the latter days of Hollywood’s creature features in what is by far the wettest episode of WHEN WE WERE YOUNG yet. Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
111: “Put ‘Em On The Endangered Species List” – Tremors, Arachnophobia & Congo
Sep 22, 2022
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the ’90s, an elite team of podcasters has been selected to journey deep into the jungle, dive deep into the ocean, and dig deep underground to locate some of the deadliest predators ever known to moviedom.
Two of cinema’s greatest auteurs made creature features that have gone down as classics – Hitchcock’s THE BIRDS in the ’60s and Spielberg’s Jaws in the ’70s. In their wake, however, the genre known as “nature horror” took a steep downhill turn into low-budget schlock, and sadly creature features became an endangered species.
But for a brief, beautiful window during the 1990s, movies about hungry, hungry critters great and small came roaring back! The genre flirted with becoming mainstream again, nabbing bigger budgets, bigger stars, and monster-sized box office receipts (in some cases).
So welcome to Part One of our ’90s Creature Sexa-Feature! (“Sex” as in “six.” Get your mind out of the gutter – there might be alligators down there!) In this episode, we unearth 1990’s TREMORS, which features Kevin Bacon and Reba McEntire pole-vaulting away from giant worms, then direct all eight of our eyes toward the shrieking spiders of ARACHNOPHOBIA (from that same year), which still has the power to scare at least one of our hosts off his tuffet. Finally, we go bananas for the killer gorillas of CONGO (1995), which features Tim Curry, Laura Linney, and a host of others giving performances that are almost as big as the lost diamonds of Zinj.
Pour yourself a green drop drink and pack up that sesame cake, because we’re hunting down and rounding up the very finest big screen animal attacks of the 90s! (Survival not guaranteed.)
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
110: “Who Is Your Daddy And What Does He Do?” – Kindergarten Cop & Junior
Aug 24, 2022
If you thought we had just one bun in the oven for our lineup of Arnold Schwarzenegger comedies about birth and child-rearing – surprise! This topic is actually twins!
In our previous episode, we cooed over 1988’s Twins, in which Schwarzenegger popped his cherry as a humorous leading man and wowed us with his lack of vanity in getting laughs. In this episode, we carry our “Schwarzepreggers” topic to term, seeing if Arnold’s final two collaborations with Ivan Reitman are what we’re expecting – and if they still deliver.
In KINDERGARTEN COP (1990) Arnold stars as Detective John Kimble, a grim cop who learns that the only way to bust a drug dealer is to go undercover as a kindergarten teacher. (Don’t ask.) There’s plenty of deception, betrayal, yelling at children, gunplay on school grounds, and even a feral ferret – but are the laughs here, or absent? This bizarre blend of kiddie hijinks and deadly police drama just might have to stay after class.
Then, Arnold teams back up with Reitman and Danny DeVito for JUNIOR (1994), a movie about how becoming a single parent affects a man’s love life, friendships, and career – because he has inseminated his new work crush Emma Thompson’s secretly stolen ovum, implanted it in his own abdomen, and become pregnant himself. Junior is notorious for pushing high concept star vehicles to their extreme, subverting Schwarzenegger’s tough guy persona as he contends with morning sickness and kooky cravings instead of the usual cyborg nuclear attack. But nearly 30 years later, does Junior fill our bellies with laughter as easily as it fills Arnold’s belly with a viable infant? Grab some forceps, because the chuckles may not come so easily this time around!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
109: “The Most Fully Developed Human The World Has Ever Seen” – Twins
Aug 17, 2022
Arnold Schwarzenegger became world famous in the 1980s as the jacked-up star of macho blockbusters like CONAN THE BARBARIAN, PREDATOR, COMMANDO, and THE TERMINATOR. But in the late 80s and early 90s, he teamed up with GHOSTBUSTERS director Ivan Reitman for a trio of family-friendly comedies, starting with 1988’s TWINS. Schwarzenegger’s comic chemistry with Danny DeVito drove this broad, fairly inexpensive studio comedy to rake in over $200 million and become the fifth-biggest earner at the box office that year, proving Arnold’s ability to draw big crowds outside the action genre and paving the way for several more seminal turns in blockbuster comedies.
In this episode of the podcast, we look back at Arnold’s austere Austrian childhood and the 1977 documentary PUMPING IRON, which chronicles the bodybuilding championships that first catapulted him to worldwide renown (and also chronicles his orgasmic workouts). Then, we check back in on TWINS and see whether this beloved 80s comedy still has us laughing for two. (One blue line means we didn’t like the movie. Two blue lines means we did.)
So join us for the conception of our “Schwarzepreggers” lineup and see if Ahnuld’s comic chops have held up as well as that hulking body — or if he should’ve just stuck to his day jobs as world-class athlete, popular governor, and unparalleled action hero instead. Along the way, we discuss Schwarzenegger’s big screen sex appeal (or lack thereof?), marvel at his unique combination of himbo charm and tireless ambition, ogle his out-of-this-world physique, and debate whether Arnold can still tickle our funnybones as effortlessly as he could break all of our other bones.
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
108: “The Big Orange Couch Is in Place, So Hop On!” – SNICK
Jul 14, 2022
If you were a ’90s kid, chances are you wanted just two things in life: for Nick to take over your school, and a spot saved for you on the big orange couch synonymous with SNICK.
Nickelodeon’s Saturday night programming block for pre-teens launched in 1992 and became an instant hit with the demographic who was still awake at 8pm but had nowhere to go. Now that we’re all grown up, is there anything worth revisiting in any of the many shows that graced the SNICK lineup?
Submitted for the approval of the Midnight Society, we take a look back at CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL, ALL THAT, ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?, THE SECRET WORLD OF ALEX MACK, ROUNDHOUSE, THE ADVENTURES OF PETE & PETE, and some of the other shows that made us feel like we finally had something to do on a Saturday night. Plus, we try and figure out why Super Soakers had such a monopoly on children’s advertising in the ’90s.
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
107: “I’ll Be Right Here” – E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Jun 13, 2022
You know the score. You know the quotes. You know the poster. Forty years ago, a wrinkly alien with a magic touch waddled into moviegoers’ hearts and made E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL one of the most beloved family films ever made. Steven Spielberg’s alien opus surpassed STAR WARSas the #1 film of all time and remained the biggest hit in a decade that also saw the release of GHOSTBUSTERS, BACK TO THE FUTURE, theINDIANA JONEStrilogy,and BATMAN. It also delighted critics and audiences alike, spawning toys, video games, and one of Universal Studios’ most memorable rides. In short, E.T. was everywhere in the 80s.
In this episode of the podcast, When We Were Young takes you back to Spielberg’s childhood, chronicling his rise from suburban nerd to world’s most popular filmmaker. Then we chat about CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, Spielberg’s first foray to the friendly skies, which offers a surprisingly dark vision of one man’s life-shattering obsession with the unknown. Then it’s on to “the Summer of Spielberg,” when both E.T. and the Spielberg-shepherded POLTERGEIST entered theaters in June 1982, each becoming instant classics of suburban childhood interrupted by paranormal events.
What is it like coming back to such a monumental movie as adults? Are we still over the moon for this film, or merely silhouetted against it? Grab a bag of Reese’s Pieces and join us for an episode that’s well worth phoning home about!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
106: “…And Start Getting Real” – MTV’s The Real World Part 2
May 24, 2022
In Part 1 of our look back at MTV’s The Real World, we were impressed with how quickly the show defined the tone, format, and style that reality television would use for the next thirty years (and counting). But it was the show’s third season, with the infamous slob Puck facing off against courageous AIDS activist Pedro, that made The Real World a real sensation, ushering in a wave of reality shows at the turn of the millennium that hasn’t died down since. (Listen to Part 1 here if you haven’t caught up: https://themfp.org/wwwy-105-mtv-real-world-1/)
For Part 2, we look back at that groundbreaking (and heartbreaking) San Francisco-set season, which aired in 1994. Then we fast forward to one of the show’s other major scandals and reveal who we side with regarding the infamous Seattle Slap. Finally, we revisit personal favorite Real World seasons from our teen years and talk about the cast members who made the biggest impressions on us.
As The Real World turns 30 this May – and is therefore way too old to be a cast member on The Real World – it’s time to celebrate the series that just might have had a greater influence on the TV landscape than any other show of the 90s.
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
105: “Stop Being Polite” – MTV’s The Real World Part 1
May 19, 2022
What do RuPaul, Guy Fieri, Jennifer Hudson, Ozzy Osbourne, Honey Boo Boo, and the Kardashians have in common? They all owe a debt of gratitude to MTV’s THE REAL WORLD, which popularized the tone, format, and style most reality shows still adhere to today.
In 1992, a show that followed regular people in their ordinary lives was groundbreaking. So extraordinary, in fact, that many contemporary critics thought reality television was a laughable fad aimed exclusively at brainless teens. The Real World’s first season, set in a New York City loft, got the formula down surprisingly quick, featuring all the partying, pranks, and heated debates we came to expect from the series in later years.
For this podcast, Chris, Seth, and Becky reminisce about their own experiences “being taped,” discuss their memories of the reality TV boom that blew up right around the millennium, then check out The Real World’s most memorable – AKA most notorious – episodes in honor of the show’s 30th anniversary. This era of the series covered topical social issues ranging from AIDS to abortion to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” so there’s a lot to cover here!
Pack your bags for a whirlwind trip through one decade in America, with stops in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, San Francisco, Chicago, and Hawaii. Controversial opinions are mandatory, but clothing is optional!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show. And donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds at AbortionFunds.org
104: “I’m Gonna Get Medieval On Your Ass” – Pulp Fiction
Mar 31, 2022
McDonalds, TV pilots, Elvis, and foot massages – just the usual topics of conversation between gangsters, drug users, hitmen, and criminals, at least in Quentin Tarantino’s world. The release of the writer/director’s heavily-lauded PULP FICTION in 1994 was a groundbreaking moment for both Tarantino and movies, and its pop culture-obsessed characters and narrative-jumbling structure influenced the next decade or so of cinema (for better or worse).
Do Pulp Fiction’s accolades remain as bright and shiny as whatever’s in that briefcase? Or are we right in striking down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger? Join us for an expletive-filled adventure back to the ’90s – seriously, make the kiddos cover their ears for this one.
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
103: “The Only Thing That Kills The Demon Is Love” – Natural Born Killers
Mar 28, 2022
Hollywood got a double dose of ultraviolence in 1994 with the release of not one but two postmodern, blood-soaked meditations on pop culture and the media from a new and exciting filmmaker named Quentin Tarantino.
The first of these, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, directed by Oliver Stone, was so controversial at the time that Tarantino himself disavowed it (along with a sizeable portion of moviegoers and critics). Nearly 30 years after its release, there’s still a lot to discuss and debate about Mickey and Mallory and whether its satiric and satanic take on the media remains relevant.
There’s also quite a lot to say about the eccentric writer/director’s pre-1994 films TRUE ROMANCE and RESERVOIR DOGS, as well as his influence on ’90s cinema as a whole. That’s why this is just Part 1 of our Tarantino deep-dive—so make sure you tune in for our talk on his arguable (and yes, we do argue) masterpiece PULP FICTION in Part 2!
Follow When We Were Young on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
102: “Reality Is Very Disappointing” – Mannequin & Mannequin On The Move
Feb 26, 2022
Sometimes, iconic characters from a movie become pop culture references that outlast and outshine the movie itself. Sometimes, you’d rent a movie at Blockbuster based on the cover alone. And sometimes, ambitious white women in ancient Egypt or “Hauptmann-Koenig” time travel and teleport into beautiful mannequins in a department store in Philly! In 1987 and 1991, that sometimes and those iconic characters were the namesakes of MANNEQUIN and MANNEQUIN TWO: ON THE MOVE.
Whether in the role played by Kim Cattrall in the first outing (playing an Egyptian character – in ancient Egypt) or by Kristy Swanson in the sequel, the female lead of this well-known franchise is a woman hopelessly trapped in a department store window mannequin until a hapless and bumbling (but secretly talented!) handsome guy named Jonathan or Jason arrives to become her instant true love and render the force of life into her immobile body. Cue the instantly-iconic Starship power ballad “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and the inevitable wedding bells!
In both movies, Meshach Taylor plays the indefatigable and fabulous Hollywood Montrose, an out and proud gay man who does window displays at the Prince and Company department store and who helps these men meet their mannequin matches. How moving are Mannequin’s representations of women and of “Hollywood” in 2022? Is the Mannequin still vibrant and vivacious – or have time or Egyptian gods or a cursed necklace turned her back into cold, expressionless, painted fiberglass? Also, why don’t more movies Have A Dog? Our podcast hosts surveyed every cranny and corridor of Prince and Company by hang glider to answer those questions and revisit these movies.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts) so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
101: “Would You Please Check My Head For Signs of Spoiling?” – Return To Oz
Jan 13, 2022
As we discussed in our 100th episode, L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz delighted generation after generation of children, and MGM’s 1939 musical adaptation became one of the most popular and cherished motion pictures of all time. So it’s only natural that in the ’80s, Disney decided to pay tribute to these Oz classics in a family film that puts Dorothy in an insane asylum and turns her beloved trio of friends to stone… right?
With a surprisingly dark storyline and truly frightening special effects, it’s no wonder 1985’s RETURN TO OZ scared the hell out of more children than it charmed. (Surprise! It wasn’t a hit.) Disney’s pseudo-sequel to a film that everybody knows and loves is largely forgotten, but that doesn’t stop When We Were Young’s hosts from checking back in with the many-headed Princess Mombi, the sinister but fabulous Nome King, and the kooky, cackling Wheelers. Fortunately, young Fairuza Balk and a handful of lovable new comrades, including Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, and a sassy hen named Billina, are on hand to brighten things up between shudders.
Is Disney’s dystopian vision of Oz worth the return trip? Or do we wish Dorothy had just followed her own advice and stayed home this time around? Return with us to the scary old land of Oz — if you dare!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
100: “Bang On My Chest If You Think I’m Perfect” – The Wizard Of Oz
Jan 03, 2022
Surrender, Dorothy! For the 100th episode of When We Were Young, Seth, Becky, Chris and returning guest host Jan have clicked their heels together three times and summoned a twister to whisk them all the way back to 1939, when the ultimate Hollywood classic landed on the big screen in glorious Technicolor. Watching THE WIZARD OF OZ has been a childhood rite of passage for several generations now, its characters and quotable dialogue known to just about every man, woman, and child this side of Munchkinland. But does the film itself still have the brains, heart, and nerve to dazzle discerning modern day viewers?
First, Oz aficionado Chris recounts his history with the original fantasy series by L. Frank Baum, which is much more robust than you might think. Then, strap on some sparkly slippers and skip down the yellow brick road with us once again as we revisit the classic film — going gaga over Toto, debating the best and worst tracks from the iconic soundtrack, and marveling at the film’s unforgettable makeup, production design, and special effects. Plus, discover who has the hots for the Tin Man, who thinks the Scarecrow is the ideal life partner, and which hosts think the Cowardly Lion is due for a poaching. (We don’t dodge the tough questions on this podcast.) Repeat after us: there’s no podcast like When We Were Young!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
99: “Help Me Help You” – Jerry Maguire
Dec 11, 2021
When We Were Young’s Tom Cruise double-feature sets sail on what might be the movie star’s ultimate role, the titular charming and conflicted sports agent of Cameron Crowe’s JERRY MAGUIRE.
This 1996 romantic drama made a star out of Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. (the latter winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor) and cemented Cruise’s status as Hollywood’s go-to leading man with his record-breaking fifth $100-million-plus-earning feature.
Decades later, does Cruise’s performance still complete us? Does the film have us at “Hello?” Do the script’s seemingly endless quotable moments, er, show us the money? (Sorry.) Join us on the final stop of our Cruise down memory lane, with a pit stop discussing the actor’s other notable 1996 entry, “Mission: Impossible.”
And show us the money to help cover the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California via our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
98: “Take Me To Bed Or Lose Me Forever” – Top Gun
Dec 01, 2021
Do you feel the need? The need to speed back to the 80s and bro out with Iceman, Wolfman, Slider, Viper, Goose, and Maverick all over again? If so, you’ll love Part One of our cruise through the career of the galaxy’s biggest superstar (don’t tell Xenu), starting with the 1986 blockbuster that first catapulted him to worldwide fame – TOP GUN.
The name “Tom Cruise” may be synonymous with movie stardom now, but back in 1986, he was still best known for his undie-baring breakout in the teen sex comedy RISKY BUSINESS, so having him headline an action-packed military drama was a bit of a gamble. Of course, Top Gun ended up topping all expectations, becoming the year’s highest-grossing film, launching a killer soundtrack, winning an Academy Award for the soaring romantic ballad “Take My Breath Away,” and cementing its place in history as one of the most iconic 80s movies.
Now, as Top Gun approaches its 35th anniversary with a long-awaited sequel on the horizon, it’s time to find out whether these boys are still worth playing with after all these years – or if we’ve lost that loving feeling for this classic dad flick. So take a deep breath, get inverted, and select your wingman carefully, because we’re heading right into the danger zone of Reagan-era jingoism and mid-80s machismo – and we’re not stopping until we’re going Mach 2 with our hair on fire. (Whatever that means!) Will we take Top Gun to bed, or lose it forever?
Donate to help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California via our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
97: "There Is No Dana, Only Zuul" - Ghostbusters & Ghostbusters II
Oct 27, 2021
In our latest episode, we answer the existential question that has plagued mankind for centuries:
Who you gonna call?
Join us as we take a look back at Ivan Reitman’s groundbreaking action-comedy GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) and its spooky, silly sequel GHOSTBUSTERS II (1988). The film that launched a thousand merchandise opportunities, “Ghostbusters” began as something VERY different in the mind of co-writer and co-star Dan Aykroyd and ended up being one of the most successful movie franchises of all time.
Nearly 40 years after the original film’s debut, does “Ghostbusters” stand proudly like the Statue of Liberty strolling through the streets of Manhattan? Or is it more like a river of slime? We’ve got some unfinished business with Peter, Ray, and Egon – and, unlike the movie, we don’t forget Winston.
We ain’t afraid of no ghosts… but we are a little anxious about incurring the wrath of Ghostbusters loyalists with our critique of these beloved films.
Donate to help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California via our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
96: “Draw A Crazy Picture, Write A Nutty Poem" - Shel Silverstein
Sep 15, 2021
If you’re a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a magic bean buyer, or you just hate doing dishes and taking the garbage out, you’ll surely find something to relate to in our episode on celebrated author, illustrator, poet, and all-around Renaissance Man Shel Silverstein.
Though WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS was first published in 1974, long before we were even born, Silverstein’s groundbreaking poetry collection was a staple in classrooms, on library shelves, and at bedtime throughout our childhoods, along with later volumes A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC and FALLING UP.
Award-winning author Elissa Brent Weissman joins us for a look at how writing for young readers has changed in the decades since we were young readers ourselves. Then we discuss Uncle Shelby’s salacious origins (far outside the realm of children’s fiction) and have a heated debate about what his massively popular children’s book THE GIVING TREE is really about. Finally, we dive back into Silverstein’s poetry to share which pieces still strike a chord with us.
Revisit Hungry Kid Island, get reacquainted with Ridiculous Rose, and fire up the Homework Machine one last time, because we’ve got some flax golden tales to spin in the latest episode of When We Were Young — the only podcast that 10 out of 10 tree stumps agree makes them happy.
Donate to help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California via our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
95: "He Can't See Without His Glasses" - My Girl
Aug 16, 2021
If you’re nostalgic for the summers of your youth, there’s a chance you’re likely also pining for the first time you watched MY GIRL (1991) and MY GIRL 2 (1994). In When We Were Young’s Manic My Girl Monday episode, we discuss the surprising lack of child-friendly drama flicks and reflect on how we spent our summer breaks as kids before launching into our discussion of the movie that made children and adults everywhere break down in tears.
Does the coming-of-age story of Vada Sultenfuss (Anna Chlumsky) and her beloved bespectacled bee-inflicted best friend Thomas J. (Macaulay Culkin) still turn on the waterworks, or does it just not work? How many of you older millennials are crying right now just thinking of Vada bawling, “He can’t see without his glasses!”? Be honest!
PLEASE HELP US defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
94: “Okay To Go” – Men In Black & Contact
Jul 07, 2021
It’s Part Two of (deep breath) the When We Were Young Early Late Mid-to-Late 90s Summer Alien Invasion Spectacular, taking on the top alien flicks to invade 1997! In our latest episode, here come the MEN IN BLACK (clap clap), Barry Sonnenfeld’s massively successful action-comedy starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and a slew of Oscar-worthy makeup effects.
We also take a look back at Robert Zemeckis’s metaphysical and emotional drama CONTACT, which launched Jodie Foster into space to meet a very different kind of alien. (Or did it?!) Despite being released at the peak of UFO mania in the 1990s, these films could not be more different.
Jump on our spaceship as we fly through a wormhole back to 1997 to decide if the Men in Black still make the summer blockbuster look good, or if we’d rather make contact with a movie adapted from an astrophysicist’s book.
Give us some sugar to defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
93: "Now That's What I Call A Close Encounter" - Independence Day & Mars Attacks!
Jun 30, 2021
In the mid-90s, multiplexes were invaded by an influx of movies centered on mankind’s first contact with extraterrestrials. And unlike the cute and friendly aliens we got to know in the 80s, like E.T. and ALF, the space invaders of the 90s mostly just wanted to annihilate us, starting with our favorite tourist destinations.
Part One of the When We Were Young Early Late Mid-To-Late 90s Summer Alien Invasion Spectacular looks at two of the deadliest interstellar assaults to ever breach the silver screen, both celebrating their 25th anniversaries this year.
First up, we celebrate the 4th of July in the most American way possible — with mass casualties, tons of military hardware, a bombastic presidential speech, and a stripper! Roland Emmerich’s record-smashing INDEPENDENCE DAY (1996) raised the bar for special effects-loaded summer entertainment, redefining the blockbuster with its cataclysmic destruction of U.S. landmarks (a popcorn movie hallmark ever since).
Next, we attempt to shield ourselves from Tim Burton’s outrageous sci-fi send-up MARS ATTACKS! (1996), with a cast so star-studded that it stars Jack Nicholson twice! The wacky comedy had just as much death and destruction as Independence Day, but came in for a crash landing when it opened in theaters, and has been largely forgotten since.
Which of these uncomfortably close encounters holds up better now that we’re viewing them from a distance? Do we prefer President Pullman to President Nicholson? A dog that outruns an explosion, or a chihuahua with Sarah Jessica Parker’s body? Will Smith’s fresh quips, or ack-ack-ack-ack? Get answers to these and other probing questions in a podcast that’s truly out of this world!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
92: "You'll Be Dumb With Wonderment" - Moulin Rouge!
May 28, 2021
If ever a movie earned its exclamation point, it’s MOULIN ROUGE! In Part 2 of our Baz Luhrmann Spectacular Spectacular, we revisit the scintillating (and over-stimulating) 2001 musical that saw the likes of Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor belting out pop music’s greatest love songs.
Though the film earned several Oscar nominations (and two wins), it was a divisive cinematic experience upon its release, and twenty years later not much has changed. Luhrmann’s gift is his song—or rather his version of Elton John’s song—but is it one you’d want to re-open?
Sling back some Absinthe and join us as we debate the beauty, freedom, truth and love of Moulin Rouge! Why? Because we can can-can, that’s why.
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
91: "My Only Love Sprung From My Only Hate" - Romeo + Juliet
May 25, 2021
Baz, Baz, wherefore art thou Baz Luhrmann? On the latest episode of When We Were Young, we travel back to the mid-90s (and then even further back to the 16th century) to rewatch the Australian director’s frenetic modern-day adaptation of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S ROMEO + JULIET (1996). The film was a hit at the box-office and cemented Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes’ status as the heartthrobs of their generation.
Plus, the film’s soundtrack was considered one of the all-time greats, filled with original Bard-inspired tunes by the likes of Garbage and Radiohead. Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed lovers is still considered a classic, but does Baz’s exhilarating adaptation stand the test of time, too?
Pray, join us in merriment for Part I of our Spectacular Spectacular review of the films of Baz Luhrmann – or do you dare bite your thumb at us, sir?
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
90: “It Rubs The Lotion On Its Skin, Or Else It Gets The Hose Again” - The Silence Of The Lambs
Apr 24, 2021
Have the podcast hosts stopped screaming? Not yet! We follow last episode’s discussion of the Best Actress nominees of 1991 – including the groundbreaking, genre-defying tale of female outlaws Thelma & Louise – with a look at the night’s big winner, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. The serial killer thriller not only won the Best Actress Oscar, but also Best Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture – a feat accomplished by only two other films in the Academy’s 93 year history.
Like Thelma & Louise, The Silence Of The Lambs is now known for inserting intelligent, fully realized female characters into a genre typically dominated by men. And like Thelma & Louise, The Silence Of The Lambs generated plenty of controversy upon release, especially around its gender-bending antagonist, Buffalo Bill. Of course, it also birthed one of the most memorable and quotable screen villains of all time, with Anthony Hopkins’ brief but tasty turn as cannibal psychologist Hannibal Lecter.
In this episode, we dissect the film both as a crowd-pleasing, nail-biting thriller and through the lens of its sexual politics. Jodie Foster’s much-lauded performance made FBI trainee Clarice Starling one of the greatest screen heroines of the 90s, but does she still hold her own against the infamous Dr. Lecter 30 years later?
Is The Silence Of The Lambs still a snack? Or should we send this thing back to Baltimore? Grab your best bag and your cheapest shoes, lodge an exotic moth in your throat, and get a nice bottle of Chianti ready, because this podcast is going all the way to the FBI. Bon appétit!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include recording remotely, purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
89: “You Watch Your Mouth, Buddy” – Thelma & Louise
Apr 20, 2021
When it comes to leading ladies, you’d have a hard time finding a more powerhouse lineup than 1991’s THELMA & LOUISE, which saw both of its stars nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars that year. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon play BFFs whose road trip goes seriously south when they shoot a rapist and end up as unlikely outlaws bound for Mexico — via the Grand Canyon, of course.
Callie Khouri’s original screenplay was so groundbreaking and audacious, it attracted the attention of nearly every actress in Hollywood — and was passed on by nearly every studio executive at the time, who pushed Khouri to make her characters more “ladylike” and change the controversial (and now totally legendary) ending.
In this episode, our hosts discuss a film that had the odds stacked against it ever getting a greenlight, which has since become one of the most iconic and beloved films of the 90s. We also dust off the two other runners-up from the 1991 Best Actress race, seeing how For The Boys’ Bette Midler and Rambling Rose’s Laura Dern stack up against Sarandon and Davis.
Does Thelma & Louise still feel as fresh as it did 30 years ago? Would the film still ruffle as many patriarchal feathers if it were made today? And what ever became of that handsome newcomer who plays the drifter? Climb in your Thunderbird, lock a cop up in the trunk, and leave your sex hair as is, because we’re in hot pursuit of the ultimate female buddy movie — and we think we have it in our sights!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
88: "I Don't Need You Anymore" - #1 Pop Singles Of The 90s
Mar 23, 2021
We came away from our musical journey through the #1 Pop Singles of the 1980s loving many of the biggest hits of the decade. Good job, 80s! The 90s? Well, that’s another story.
We’ve already discussed some of the decade’s biggest breakouts on the podcast, including No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Spice Girls, and Nirvana, all of whom got to #1 on our own personal charts at one point in time. But the #1 Pop Singles of the 1990s are a much more scattered affair, veering from upbeat pop cheese to gangsta rap to disco-dance throwbacks, with a whole lot of “adult contemporary” in the mix.
As it turns out, the Billboard charts of the 90s watched America go through a diverse range of musical moods, from mourning the death of British royals to celebrating barely-contained boners on the dance floor — plus a lot more Costner worship than should be permitted in one decade. Of course, the mid 90s also saw a Latin-flavored dance craze that’s not just a #1 Pop Single, but also the #1 Most Cringe-Worthy Aspect of the whole decade! (Maybe even the entire 20th century!)
So which songs do we want to “Hold On” to, and which have reached the “End of the Road?” Be forewarned — just because these songs were #1 does NOT mean we will always love them.
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
87: "Let Me Hear Your Body Talk" - #1 Pop Singles Of The 80s
Mar 21, 2021
In the days before YouTube and Spotify, most people discovered new music through a little device called the radio, and tracking the popularity of hit songs was much simpler. Back in the 80s, Billboard determined which songs charted through sales of physical singles on cassette tapes or CDs, and of course, airplay on the radio — which is how singles by artists like Blondie and Prince became inescapable at that moment in time.
In this episode, your When We Were Young co-hosts take Billboard’s #1 charting pop single from every year of the 80s out for a spin — and the results are mixed! If “80s music” makes you think of Madonna, Billy Joel, Van Halen, or even A-ha, you’re not alone — but none of these popular artists actually dominated the charts in any given year of the decade. (Believe it or not, neither did the King of Pop himself!)
While some tracks, like 1983’s chart-topper “Every Breath You Take,” are no-brainers, there are a few head-scratchers in the mix, too. The 80s were surprisingly big on ditties about Oscar-winning divas and the gaits of ancient peoples. So put on your best aerobics attire and join us as we whisper carelessly about the #1 Pop Singles of the 1980s —the ones we still have plenty of “Faith” in, those we’re desperate to “Look Away” from, and everything in between.
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
86: “Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.” - The Fly
Jan 02, 2021
We’ve been afraid… been VERY afraid… for most of 2020. Now we’ve made it to the New Year – a time of change, of hope, of possibility. But if you’re considering mutating into a human-insect hybrid as your New Year’s resolution, may we suggest… not?
After chilling with John Carpenter’s barf bag classic The Thing in our previous episode, we’re buzzing about another horror maestro’s take on 50s sci-fi – David Cronenberg’s THE FLY remake (1986), starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis as a couple that meets cute, falls in love, and soon has a baby on the way – while daddy is sprouting coarse insect hairs, vomiting milky white acid, and losing his teeth and fingernails in the most graphic way possible. It’s not a good look!
We talk about how The Fly embraces its B-movie roots, while also elevating body horror to new heights of critical and commercial success (plus an Oscar for its all-too-convincing makeup effects). And we admit that, at the tail end of a most unusual year, we can relate to this mad scientist’s unease about becoming a slimy, shriveled hermit. So join us in kissing off 2020 the way it deserves – with exploding baboons, larvae babies, and displaced appendages. You’ll be disgusted… you’ll be VERY disgusted!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
85: “The Chameleon Strikes In The Dark” - The Thing
Dec 24, 2020
Is this a podcast, or is it merely pretending to be? It’s 2020, so we’re celebrating the holidays a little differently this year. We’ve swapped twitching tentacles for twinkling lights, exploding wolfdogs for red-nosed reindeer, lighting killer space beasts aflame for roasting chestnuts, and a creeping existential dread for jolly good cheer. Ho, ho, ho!
The 1980s saw a revival of 50s sci-fi B-movies, with notable remakes offering similarly bizarre chills and thrills with one major upgrade — some of the most stomach-churning special effects ever put to the screen. John Carpenter’s THE THING (1982) is a horror staple now, but it wasn’t so warmly received when it opened for audiences who had just fallen in love with Spielberg’s cuddly alien pal E.T., and Carpenter’s career never fully recovered.
We discuss how late 20th century horror masters took the traditions of drive-in camp classics and made them their own with gross-out gore and cringey body horror, then hunker down and contend with The Thing in all its goopy, arm-chomping glory. Did Carpenter’s classic deserve to be left out in the cold? Or was it a masterpiece merely imitating a box office bomb? Zip up your parka, secure your blood bags, and prepare for a not-so-silent night, because this is one story of immaculate reproduction that isn’t so blessed.
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Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
84: "In the End It's All Nice" - Requiem For A Dream
Nov 23, 2020
As if 2020 couldn’t get any more dismal, we sat down to rewatch Darren Aronofsky’s REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, a movie so depressing that many of its viewers refuse to ever watch it again. Released in the year 2000 to positive reviews and horrified audiences, Aronofsky’s film about drug addiction and the depths people will go to get their fix still carries the reputation of being a traumatizing film-watching experience.
Is “Requiem” just as viscerally unnerving twenty years later? Join our discussion as we consider the appeal of disturbing cinema and share why Ellen Burstyn’s performance as Sara Goldfarb is in a category all its own.
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
83: “You’re The Moron That’s Been Invading My Turf?” - Hackers
Oct 23, 2020
In cyberspace, there is no right or wrong… there’s only fun and boring! At least, that’s what 1995’s techsploitation thriller HACKERS would have you believe.
After getting caught up in THE NET in Part 1 of our “net-rospective,” Part 2 finds our hosts recalling other 90s movies involving the internet, including The Lawnmower Man, Virtuosity, Johnny Mnemonic, and Disclosure, which were heavy on virtual reality but short on stuff people actually use the internet for nowadays. Then, we take a deep dive into Hackers, starring future sweethearts Johnny Lee Miller and Angelina Jolie, plus an eclectic supporting cast that includes Matthew Lillard, Fisher Stevens, Penn Jillette, and Marc Anthony.
With its pulsing techno soundtrack, rave-inspired fashion, and some badass rollerblading, we marvel at how 90s one film can be — and cringe at Lorraine Bracco’s unintentionally hilarious turn as a trashy corporate executive whose main function in the story is repeating nonsense computer jargon with perpetually increasing desperation.
Is this teen-oriented techno thriller still a seriously righteous hack? Or, when viewed through a modern lens, does it seem universally stupid? Hackers of the world unite for our latest episode!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
82: “Give Us The Disk And We’ll Give You Your Life Back” - The Net
Oct 21, 2020
You’ve got podcast! In our latest episode, we’re flashing back to the bygone days of floppy disks, away messages, and actually disconnecting from the world wide web sometimes. It’s a two-part When We Were Young Net-rospective as we reminisce on all things internet, including the cyber-conspiracy thrillers that were Hollywood’s first attempt at cashing in on the dot-com boom of the 90s. In Part 1, our hosts recall their earliest memories of both the net and THE NET — the 1995 techno-thriller that raised issues of online privacy long before social media made being tracked and manipulated by sinister forces part of our everyday lives.
First, we share our memories of chat rooms, CD-ROMs, and what it was like to dial-up with a modem every time we wanted to get online. Then, we learn a little about why 1995 was such a seminal year for the information superhighway, before diving into that year’s surprisingly prescient Sandra Bullock flick — made back when ordering a pizza on the internet was still just a bit of movie magic.
So close out that chat with CyberBob, get a virtual fire started, and whatever you do, don’t push the ESC key — because we’ve only just begun hacking into the 90s!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
81: “It’s So Tasty, Too!” - Nick At Nite Part 2
Sep 23, 2020
Does the phrase “Bewitched Be-Wednesdays” ring a bell? If so, you may remember that the mid-90s spawned a revival of classic sitcoms from the 50s, 60s, and 70s through Nick At Nite’s Block Party Summer programming, allowing a whole new generation of viewers to binge “oldies” like I Love Lucy, The Munsters, I Dream of Jeannie, and Welcome Back Kotter for the very first time.
In Part 1 of our return visit to TV Land, we checked in on the seminal, groundbreaking Mary Tyler Moore Show — which is still fresh and funny nearly 50 years after its debut — and the horror-inspired sitcom The Munsters, which is… less so. In Part 2, our look back at Nick At Nite’s Block Party Summer continues, starting with “Lucy Tuesdays” and an appreciation of TV’s mischievous redhead goddess of physical comedy, Lucille Ball.
Join us as we revisit seven beloved Nick At Nite shows to see which ones still taste just like candy, and which go down like a spoonful of Vitameatavegamin now that our TV palettes have matured. So fold your arms, twitch your nose, and toss your hat up in the air as we take you back to a long-ago era before we were young, when entertainment was sweeter, simpler, and way more sexist. Yeah… these shows have some ‘splainin’ to do!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
80: “I Hate Spunk” – Nick At Nite Part 1
Sep 21, 2020
Hello, friends! In the latest episode of When We Were Young, we are sitting on the sofa, there’s a TV in the corner, we are watching Major Nelson… and Mary, Lucy, Samantha, Herman, Horshack, and Sergeant Joe Friday, too.
Does the phrase “Bewitched Be-Wednesdays” ring a bell? If so, you may remember that the mid-90s spawned a revival of classic sitcoms from the 50s, 60s, and 70s through Nick At Nite’s Block Party Summer programming, allowing a whole new generation of viewers to binge “oldies” like I Love Lucy, The Munsters, I Dream of Jeannie, Welcome Back Kotter, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show for the very first time.
We revisited seven of these beloved shows to see which ones still taste just like candy, and which go down like a spoonful of Vitameatavegamin now that our TV palettes have matured. So fold your arms, twitch your nose, and toss your hat up in the air as we take you back to a long-ago era before we were young, when entertainment was sweeter, simpler, and way more sexist. Yeah… these shows have some ‘splainin’ to do!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
79: “We End Up In Bed Together” – The X-Files Part 2
Aug 16, 2020
Last time on the podcast, we shared our own histories with the X-Files from back When We Were Young – so listen to Episode 78 for Part 1 of this conversation. Here in the second installment, we talk about some of the most impactful and fan-favorite episodes from the course of the show, as well as the X-Files Movie: Fight The Future – and we discuss the cultural impact of The X-Files and its online fan community.
Do we get drawn deeply into the mythology arc where Mulder and Scully seek to uncover the truth about extraterrestrial life? Do we think David Duchovny can actually act? And in the inevitable Buffy vs X-Files showdown, can any of us truly win?
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
78: "Nobody Down Here But The FBI's Most Unwanted" - The X-Files
Aug 14, 2020
The Truth Is Out There… but so are lies. And so are two extremely beautiful FBI agents. And so is a Fluke Man who lives in the sewer, but also hides out in Porta-Potties! The WHEN WE WERE YOUNG podcast continues our Quarantine Indoor Summer Slam by revisiting Chris Carter’s THE X-FILES, the long-running smash hit Fox TV drama starring Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as FBI Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, respectively. In this first X-amination, we uncover the shocking truth about each of our hosts’ pasts with the X-Files, our love for the lead actors, the history of the series and its creator Chris Carter, and we rewatch the pilot.
The X-Files brought spooky atmospherics and an hour of stories of little green men, government conspiracies, and sometimes-silly-sometimes-terrifying “monsters of the week” to primetime TV audiences throughout the 90s. And it made science fiction horror into unexpected ratings and Emmys gold for many years of its original 9-season run. Beyond just Nielsen ratings and statuettes, The X-Files deeply influenced TV drama itself and built a new template for “procedural” television dramas emulated by countless shows today.
Delight as our hosts uncover the mysteries of which of us actually watched the X-Files first – it’s not who you think! Find out which of our hosts lives on a rolling platform under his bed – it’s probably exactly who you think! So much is revealed – and there is STILL so much left to uncover! Tune back in a few days from now when we upload the second episode of our invXtigation, covering all the most important and fan-who-is-Seth-favorite episodes of the series.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
77: “I Learned That From A Rat” – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze
Jul 03, 2020
If you thought this podcast was done discussing everyone’s favorite gang of pubescent crime fighting reptiles, we’ve got news for you! Less than a year after the first TMNT movie did some major league butt-kicking at the box office, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE offered a second helping of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo — plus their furry but wise sensei Splinter, their cutlery-inspired arch-nemesis Shredder, and a whole lot of shameless pizza promotion.
There’s no question that this sequel is more kid-friendly than the original, replacing Judith Hoag’s feisty April O’Neil with the more amiable Paige Turco, ditching the hockey-stick wielding bad boy Casey Jones, and giving our heroes a teenage pizza delivery boy sidekick. It also shows off more of Jim Henson’s creature effects with its super-sized baby villains Tokka and Rahzar. But TMNT II is perhaps best known as the film debut of Vanilla Ice, whose “Ninja Rap” inspires the hip-hop dance number that no early 90s family flick should be without.
And before we’re completely done dining on turtle soup, our hosts reminisce about the video games, action figures, concert tours, and other wild TMNT merch we begged our parents to buy us — and recap their recent viewing of 1996’s SPACE JAM, too. Go ninja, go ninja, go listen to part two of our podcast — back by bodacious demand!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
76: “They’re Heroes In A Half-Shell, And They’re Green” - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Jun 30, 2020
The world’s most fearsome podcast team unleashes its most tubular episodes yet, diving deep into the mythos of those lean, green phenoms of yore, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
First, we check out the comic book where it all began, discussing how a black-and-white spoof aimed at adults became one of the most popular children’s franchises of all time. Radical! Next, we revisit the kitschy cartoon series — and the catchy theme song we’ll never be able to get out of our heads, even if our brains are removed from our bodies and placed in awkward bald-guy-in-red-underwear human suits. Righteous! And finally, we return to 1990’s live action TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES movie and debate who, exactly, this mashup of samurai lore, stoner slang, dated movie references, and goofy kiddie humor is supposed to be for. Cowabunga!
Do we still feel the Turtle Power after all these years? Or has this whole franchise aged about as well as April O’Neil’s bright yellow jumpsuit and white go-go boots? Don a trench coat, grab your nunchucks, and head on down to the sewers for another cool (but rude) episode of When We Were Young!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
75: “Sal’s Famous Pizzeria is Here to Stay” – Do The Right Thing
Jun 13, 2020
Riots. Fires. Police violence. Ruinous bigotry. A cacophony of voices calling for justice for Black Americans. These are all very present in today’s newspaper headlines and social media feeds, and also set the scene for Spike Lee’s seminal modern classic DO THE RIGHT THING, which is no less urgent in 2020 than it was upon its 1989 release.
Lee’s film was praised by most critics but received a backlash from some, who wrongly believed the film itself would incite riots upon its summer release. Instead, When We Were Young happily joins in the thoughtful conversation on racial tensions Do The Right Thing has prompted for thirty years and counting, finding the film not only rightfully angry but also vibrant, loving, insightful, and incredibly funny.
As the world mourns the senseless killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others by those meant to serve and protect, our cohosts discuss just how difficult it is to “Fight the Power” when that power is armed with a license to kill citizens without cause, and debate what “doing the right thing” even means anymore. Black Lives Matter — and that’s the truth, Ruth.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on the iTunes and Google Play Stores so more folks check out the show.
74: “There’s Something Very Familiar About All This” – Back To The Future Parts II & III
Apr 17, 2020
We’ve already passed the future depicted in BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART II (1989) and we know just how many things the action-adventure flick got wrong about the year 2015. (Though the film’s hellish alternate reality where a boorish, corrupt egomaniac is in charge rings familiar.) But does the film otherwise hold up more than 30 years later, or does it sink like a hoverboard over water? Is BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART III (1990) the superior sequel? And will we ever figure out why Marty is best friends with someone more than three times his age?
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on the iTunes and Google Play Stores so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
73: “You’re Safe and Sound Now, Back in Good Old 1955” – Back To The Future
Apr 15, 2020
Great Scott! We’re back! And we’re discussing one of the most popular movie trilogies of all time. BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) was an enormous hit straight out of the gate, turning Robert Zemeckis into one of Hollywood’s most sought-after directors and the Delorean into a car people actually wanted to own. The time travel action-adventure is still one of the most beloved films from the 1980s, but now that we’re looking back at it from the future, does the trilogy’s premier installment stand the test of time? Join our debate, and stay tuned for Part 2 later this week!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on the iTunes and Google Play Stores so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
72: "Whatever Happened to Predictability?" - TGIF
Oct 28, 2019
If you’ve been waiting for us to tackle ABC’s family-friendly Friday night programming block known as TGIF – you got it, dude! TGIF premiered in 1989, and hosted, oh, about a hundred thousand sitcoms, maybe a dozen or so you may actually remember today. If you were a child of the 90s, there’s no doubt you likely waited all week to tune in to “Full House,” “Family Matters,” “Step By Step” and “Boy Meets World” – and maybe even “Dinosaurs,” too. This week we’re taking a look back at these family shows to see if their laugh tracks and heartwarming moments still entertain us as adults.
Join us as we tackle the big questions: where did all the family members disappear to on “Step By Step?” How are three single men sharing a house in San Francisco NOT gay? Is Urkel just an incel in disguise as a geek? And, most importantly, will we go insane listening to catchphrase after catchphrase after catchphrase? Have mercy.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on the iTunes and Google Play Stores so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
71: "I Am Jack’s Medulla Oblongata” - Fight Club
Oct 09, 2019
Shirts and shoes are forbidden in the latest episode of the When We Were Young podcast — and the fight will go on as long as it has to.
It’s been 20 years since David Fincher’s savagely funny and brutally violent satire of Gen X male angst debuted in theaters, so we’re breaking Rule #1 and Rule #2 and talking all about FIGHT CLUB! (Something tells us Tyler Durden wouldn’t mind.) Though the film initially flopped in theaters, this trippy dark comedy found a cult following on home video and turned Tyler Durden into one of the most iconic film characters of all time thanks to Brad Pitt’s killer performance — and his equally killer physique.
Two decades later, is Fight Club still a beautiful and unique snowflake? Or does the film’s critique of consumer culture and fragile masculinity fail to land a punch? Tune in for all the soap-making, ear-hitting, Martha Stewart-bashing mayhem you can handle, because this is our podcast, and it’s ending one minute at a time.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
70: "Don't You Ever Laugh as the Hearse Goes By" - Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
Aug 08, 2019
They eat your eyes, they eat your toes – but all we’re asking for is your ears to listen to us revisit SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK, the book series featuring stories retold by Alvin Schwartz and nightmare-inducing illustrations by Stephen Gammell. There was nothing more exhilarating to an 80s and 90s tween than flipping through these books under the covers with a flashlight, both hoping for and dreading the scares you’ll get before you go to sleep.
The “Scary Stories” series remains popular with kids, is not so popular with a certain sect of overprotective parents who still hope the books get banned from their children’s libraries, and is finally getting a big-screen adaptation 38 years after the release of the first book. But now that we’re adults, are the stories really all that scary? Are Gammell’s watercolor drawings as creepy as we remember them? And can someone tell us why the car behind us is repeatedly flashing their high beams? Join us for our latest episode — if you dare!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
Look at these films, aren’t they neat? Any Disney fan’s movie collection’s complete if it includes THE LITTLE MERMAID (1989), BEAUTY & THE BEAST (1991), ALADDIN (1992) and THE LION KING (1994). These movies aren’t just the four most popular films from Disney’s Renaissance period (which lasted a full decade and includes 10 animated flicks); they’re also responsible for saving the animation department at the Mouse House and making an unprecedented mark on animation, Broadway and pop culture in general.
Instead of watching Disney’s “live action” remakes of these classics, we took a magic carpet ride back to the late 80s and early 90s to revisit the films themselves. Are Ariel, Belle and Jasmine modern feminist icons, or are they still stuck in traditional gender roles? Does The Lion King still rule our hearts? And who’s the hottest prince of them all? Hurry and listen to our latest episode before the last rose petal falls and we all turn into furniture forever!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
68: “Suck Me, Beautiful” - American Pie
Jul 04, 2019
Feeling patriotic this July? Well, if there’s one thing more American than apple pie, it’s a questionable attitude toward sex — and that’s exactly what we’re serving up in our latest episode!
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of AMERICAN PIE, When We Were Young looks back at the wave of 80s teen sex comedies that inspired it, from the problematic peep-show that is Porky’s to lewd, lowbrow early roles from Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise, and John Cusack. It’s no secret that these films peddled T&A to get butts in seats back then, but how titillating does all that groping, leering, and objectification of females look from a modern vantage point?
Then, it’s time to ogle American Pie all over again. The rude and raunchy sleeper hit comedy helped launch the careers of Jason Biggs, Tara Reid, Chris Klein, Mena Suvari, Seann William Scott, and Natasha Lyonne amongst others, with memorable turns from comedy legends Eugene Levy and Jennifer Coolidge, too. But how does a story about four horny teen boys making a pact to lose their virginity by prom night hold up in 2019? Is American Pie still a solid laugh-and-cringe fest, or have changing sexual mores over the last two decades made its comedic prowess go limp? No flute, baked good, or suspiciously murky beer escapes scrutiny in our latest episode!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
67: "Hi, I'm Chucky, Wanna Play?" - Child's Play
Jun 20, 2019
Some movie characters become way bigger than the movies they’re in, and that definitely holds true for Chucky. The redheaded murder-loving doll is no doubt one of horror’s most recognizable villains, but how often do you hear people fondly talk about the films he stars in? (There are seven and counting!) Inspired by a fresh reboot releasing this month in theaters – the first Chucky film without creator Don Mancini – we take a look back at CHILD’S PLAY (1988) to see if Chucky’s introduction to the world is deserving of any modern day recognition from horror fans.
We follow that with a viewing of CHILD’S PLAY 2 (1990) and BRIDE OF CHUCKY (1998), two sequels that could not be more different from one another despite being made by the same person. We also reveal our favorite childhood playthings, discuss Chucky’s, um, problematic behavior towards women, and debate just how young is too young to enjoy schlock horror movies. Wanna play?
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
66: "This Town Needs An Enema!" - Tim Burton's Batman
Jun 06, 2019
Every generation gets the BATMAN it deserves, and ours is hands-down the best to ever glower down at us from the big screen — Michael Keaton’s scowling, brooding Caped Crusader, and his equally brooding (but also very neurotic) take on orphaned playboy Bruce Wayne.
Early in his career, Tim Burton controversially cast everyman Keaton as the superhero who redefined the modern blockbuster as more than just a movie — with a pop soundtrack by Prince, fast food tie-ins, and an iconic logo everyone was wearing back in 1989. (And ever since.) Jack Nicholson’s unforgettably over-the-top Joker also raised the bar for movie villains (and movie star paydays) in one of the decade’s very biggest films.
The mass-marketing returned in 1992’s BATMAN RETURNS, which upped the ante with two larger-than-life adversaries — the oozy, outrageous Penguin, played with gruesome gusto by Danny DeVito, and Michelle Pfeiffer’s seductive but deeply damaged Catwoman.
The podcast invites When We Were Young superfan Jan to reminisce on all the Batman merch, cosplay, and fan fiction of our youths, before revisiting Burton’s Batman films with a critical eye. Does the macabre camp of 1989’s Batman hold up against the more somber Batmen of recent years? Is its chilly, gleefully anarchic, and disturbingly erotic sequel decidedly not okay for kids? And, in a movie landscape that’s now littered with superheroes, do these Batman films look quaint alongside Marvel’s colossal conquest of the multiplex — or is Tim Burton’s singular vision just so much yummier?
Strap on your utility belt, fire up the Bat-vehicle of your choice, and have your butler ready a dirty limerick to excuse your absence, because Gotham City’s most wanted are wreaking havoc upon our podcast — and only your nostalgia can stop them!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
65: "The Whim of a Madman" - Speed
May 24, 2019
Cinematographer-turned-director Jan De Bont never met a mode of transportation he didn’t want to blow up, and it all started with SPEED (1994), the action-thriller that whittled Keanu Reeves into the wooden king of turn-your-brain-off blockbusters (see also: the Matrix and John Wick franchises). This high-concept hit has one of the most iconic movie plots of all time, with madman Dennis Hopper planting a bomb on a city bus that will go boom if the odometer falls under 50 MPH. Fortunately, a very plucky Sandra Bullock is on hand to help careen through Los Angeles’ notorious rush hour traffic and quip some snappy one-liners in her star-making role.
And if all those elevators, buses, and subway cars make you claustrophobic, you’re in luck! We’ve also booked a honeymoon suite aboard SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL (1997), De Bont’s Caribbean-set sequel that finds Sandra Bullock and Almost Keanu taken hostage on a cruise ship by yet another disgruntled psycho. (After a half-dozen mai tais, you’ll swear it’s Titanic!)
So join us as your favorite hotshots take a pop quiz that asks just one question — is Speed still worth the ride, or should we hit the brakes?
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
64: "Happy Happy Joy Joy" - 90s Nicktoons
May 10, 2019
If you were older than a toddler and younger than a teenager in the 90s, chances are you were obsessed with Nickelodeon. The kids network churned out countless entertaining programs for younguns in the 1990s, particularly a slate of original animated shows they referred to as Nicktoons. DOUG, RUGRATS and REN & STIMPY premiered on the same day in August 1991 and had unprecedented levels of success for original cartoon series – and that’s about all that they have in common.
So is Doug Funnie still funny? Can we relate to Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica and the rest of the babies as adults? And what the hell was going on with Ren and Stimpy anyway? Join us, you dumb babies, as we revisit the network’s first three original cartoons and try and fail to get Nickelodeon’s super catchy doo-wop bumpers out of our heads.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at http://patreon.com/whenwewereyoung
63: “It’s Hard to Stay Mad When There’s So Much Beauty” - American Beauty
Apr 25, 2019
“I feel like I’ve been in a coma for 20 years… and I’m just now waking up.”
That’s what Lester Burnham tells us in AMERICAN BEAUTY, and may also describe some people’s reaction to this Best Picture winner from 1999, which is a mite more controversial in the wake of the #MeToo movement — and allegations of sexual misconduct by its Oscar-winning lead.
When We Were Young invites you to “look closer” at the stunning cinematography, the innovative editing, the memorably melancholy score, and, of course, Alan Ball’s sharp-tongued screenplay, which follows a doofy dad through a particularly fatal midlife crisis and satirizes upper middle class suburbia. There’s plenty to cherish here, from the darkly comedic performances of Annette Bening, Mena Suvari, and, yes, even Kevin Spacey — but what about its approach to gender and sexuality in the 90s? Is this a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing youth in your middle age, or is watching Spacey lust after a teenager in 2019 just too… icky?
Does American Beauty hold up like a plastic bag on a blustery day? Or is the bloom off the rose? Find out in our newest episode!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
62: "But It Did Happen" - Magnolia
Apr 11, 2019
The year 1999 was a banner year at the cineplex, with dozens of fresh, exciting stories being told by a new crop of auteur filmmakers. Paul Thomas Anderson released his breakthrough movie Boogie Nights two years previous, but it was his epic drama MAGNOLIA (1999) that solidified his place as one of the decade’s most thrilling new directors.
This three-hour ensemble stars basically every actor you love, including Philip Seymour Hoffman as a kind hospice nurse, Julianne Moore as a jittery gold-digger dealing with pangs of guilt, and an Oscar-nominated Tom Cruise as a magnetic pickup artist with a past he’d rather not face. The film was loved by critics upon its release, but how does it hold up 20 years later? Join us as we venture to the San Fernando Valley and discuss our futile attempts to figure out “Magnolia.” And remember to bring your umbrella, because there’s an 82% chance of frogs.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
61: "Who Is The Fairest One Of All?" - Disney's Golden Era 1937-1942
Mar 29, 2019
Magic mirror on the wall, which Disney animated movie is the greatest one of all? It would be easy to make an argument for any of the Mouse House’s first five full-length animated features – SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937), PINOCCHIO (1940), FANTASIA (1940), DUMBO (1941) and BAMBI (1942) – as their all-time best.
The five films of Disney’s Golden Era are beloved for good reason: they tell simple stories with endearing leads, lovable sidekicks and memorable villains, with catchy songs and gorgeous animation to boot! But has anything gone stale in these classics in the last 77+ years? Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s off to debate the problematic elements and possibly racist characters of Disney’s earliest animated movies we go!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
60: “Do You Have The Time To Listen To Me Whine?” - 1994 Alternative Music
Mar 14, 2019
When Kurt Cobain died in April 1994, the grunge movement expired too, giving way to a broader spectrum of angry, bummed out rock that came to be defined as “alternative” (even though it may very well have been the dominant rock of the mid to late 90s).
A landmark year for music in many ways, 1994 brought debuts, breakouts, and/or essential recordings from bands like Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots, Oasis, Nine Inch Nails, Bush, Hole, Weezer, and The Offspring amongst others. And while many of these artists could easily fill an episode of the podcast all on their own, the fact that so many essential albums were released in a single calendar year made it impossible for us to keep ‘em separated.
Rewind 25 years back to the past to rediscover some of the 90s’ most iconic tracks, from Beck’s “Loser” to Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” to see which 1994 breakouts have stood the test of time. If you loved alternative music in the 90s, then welcome to paradise!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
59: "Earn This" - Shakespeare in Love vs. Saving Private Ryan
Feb 21, 2019
Don’t snub our latest episode! It’s awards season, so the When We Were Young podcast is taking a hard look back at the Academy Awards from 1999, which saw a battle royale between Steven Spielberg’s knockout WWII epic SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and the Harvey Weinstein-backed costume rom-com SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.
First, the hosts reminisce about their earliest Oscar memories and relive some of the telecast’s worst dance numbers. Then, we travel back to D-Day with Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, and a whole lot of bullets and explosions to see if Spielberg’s gritty drama is still as harrowing and awe-inspiring as it was back in 1998. And, more importantly — should it have defeated Shakespeare In Love as the year’s Best Picture?
For Your Consideration: relive one of the 90s most memorable Oscars telecasts, when Roberto Benigni leapt onto the seats and into our hearts, Gwyneth Paltrow tearfully accepted her Best Actress award in an iconic pink Ralph Lauren dress, and host Whoopi Goldberg channeled Queen Elizabeth. The When We Were Young podcast would like to thank our agents, husbands, kids, pets, landlords, therapists, and… hey, stop playing that music, we aren’t finished yet!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
58: "She's Evil! She's Brilliant!" - Michael Douglas Erotic Thrillers
Feb 07, 2019
There’s something about Michael — Michael Douglas, that is. The actor has starred in the top 3 highest-grossing erotic thrillers of all time: FATAL ATTRACTION (1987), BASIC INSTINCT (1992) and DISCLOSURE (1994), where he was the object of obsession for a lonely psychopath, a conniving man (and woman) eater, and a lecherous ladder-climber. What is it about him that drives the ladies wild?
In our latest episode, we take a look back at these femme fatales and the man that ties them all together to touch on Hollywood’s view of sexually aggressive career women, sexual harassment in the workplace, and most importantly the wonders of receiving an email in the early days of the Internet.
Better hide your bunny, dear listener, because we won’t be ignored.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and email your episode suggestions to wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes so more folks check out the show!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
57: "A Run-By Fruiting" - Mrs. Doubtfire
Jan 24, 2019
the When We Were Young podcast
The late, great Robin Williams played many iconic characters in the 90s, including Aladdin’s Genie and a grownup Peter Pan. But nothing showed off his talent for manic physical comedy and rapid-fire zingers quite like the 1993 family comedy MRS. DOUBTFIRE. It may just be his signature role — at least, for kids who grew up in the 90s.
In the latest podcast, we look back at the tradition of funnymen dressing as funny-looking women, from Tom Hanks in the awkward sitcom BOSOM BUDDIES (1980) to Dustin Hoffman in the Oscar darling TOOTSIE (1982) to Martin Lawrence in the raunchy BIG MOMMA’S HOUSE (2000). Then, it’s time to say “Hellooooooo!” again to Euphegenia Doubtfire, cinema’s most successful cross-dresser (with over $400 million at the box office). Williams plays Daniel Hillard, an out-of-work actor who assumes the alias of a no-nonsense nanny to spend more time with his estranged family. (That’s what any loving father would do! Right??)
We also discuss the thin line between acceptable Movie Dad behavior and criminal offense, depictions of divorce in 90s movies, and the broader question of whether gender-bending comedy still works in the more enlightened, less binary 21st century. So pad that bra and tuck accordingly – before Child Protective Services revokes your custody of this podcast.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
56: "She's So Lucky, She's A Star" - 1999 Pop Girls
Jan 03, 2019
Oh baby, baby, how was the world supposed to know that BRITNEY SPEARS’ 1999 breakout debut ‘Baby… One More Time’ would become one of the best-selling albums of all time, turn the performer into the biggest star on the planet for decades (for better or worse), and usher in new wave of blonde teen pop singers hoping to capture the same success?
In When We Were Young’s latest episode, we head back to 1999 to revisit Britney’s instant domination in pop culture, as well as the debuts of CHRISTINA AGUILERA, MANDY MOORE and JESSICA SIMPSON. Have the last 20 years been kind to these four debut albums? Or do they make us cry, cry, cry in our lonely heart? Join us as we debate the definition of pop music, get disgusted by Joe Simpson’s inappropriate comments about his daughter, and get dirrty discussing the subtext of “Genie in a Bottle.”
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
55: "Another Reason To Hate Christmas" - Gremlins
Dec 20, 2018
Never get them wet. Avoid bright lights. Don’t feed them after midnight. And whatever you do, don’t miss When We Were Young’s holiday episode! The yuletide takes a dark turn this year as we take a look back at the Chrismas-set horror-comedy GREMLINS (1984) and its less successful but much more bonkers sequel GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH (1990).
“Gremlins” is notable for paving the way for the PG-13 rating and making the horror-comedy genre mainstream. But are these trouble-making creatures’ hijinks charming, or just super annoying after all these years? Is “Gremlins 2” still as insane as we remember it being? And is Gizmo still the cutest thing ever? (Spoiler: Yes, he is!) Grab a midnight snack and run a bath as we shine a light on Joe Dante’s cult classic!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
54: "...And I'm All Out Of Bubblegum" - 80s Dystopias Part 2
Dec 06, 2018
The 1980s may not have been quite as bleak as 1984 predicted, but the Reagan era did see plenty of doom and gloom in entertainment, from Mad Max and Blade Runner to The Terminator and RoboCop. In When We Were Young’s latest episodes, Reel Gents podcast host Travis Dukelow joins us to dissect a cornucopia of dystopias unleashed in the 80s.
In Part One, we cover Terry Gilliam’s legendary BRAZIL (1985), which takes several cues from Orwell’s 1984 and adds a healthy dollop of dryly absurd British humor. Jonathan Pryce stars as meek cog-in-the-machine Sam Lowry, whose heroic fantasies offer the only hope of escape from a dreary, duct-ravaged world — at least, until Robert De Niro shows up as the world’s most swashbuckling repairman. If your vision of the future involves Christmastime, lobotomies, plastic surgery gone awry, and terrorism, this is the dystopia for you!
If you prefer a more scathing satire of consumerism and media, however, look no further than John Carpenter’s camp classic THEY LIVE (1987), discussed in Part Two of this episode. It stars wrestler Roddy Piper as John Nada, a down-on-his-luck drifter who suddenly learns that roughly half of America’s population is being brainwashed by television — and the other half are aliens. This cult favorite features magic sunglasses, excessive ass-kicking, and absolutely no bubblegum — and yet feels strangely prescient about the state of the world in 2018.
Is it 1984 yet? Join us for this two-part dystopic extravaganza before the inevitable collapse of society renders podcasts obsolete!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
53: "My Complication Had A Little Complication" - 80s Dystopias Part 1
Dec 04, 2018
The 1980s may not have been quite as bleak as 1984 predicted, but the Reagan era did see plenty of doom and gloom in entertainment, from Mad Max and Blade Runner to The Terminator and RoboCop. In When We Were Young’s latest episodes, Reel Gents podcast host Travis Dukelow joins us to dissect a cornucopia of dystopias unleashed in the 80s.
In Part One, we cover Terry Gilliam’s legendary BRAZIL (1985), which takes several cues from Orwell’s 1984 and adds a healthy dollop of dryly absurd British humor. Jonathan Pryce stars as meek cog-in-the-machine Sam Lowry, whose heroic fantasies offer the only hope of escape from a dreary, duct-ravaged world — at least, until Robert De Niro shows up as the world’s most swashbuckling repairman. If your vision of the future involves Christmastime, lobotomies, plastic surgery gone awry, and terrorism, this is the dystopia for you!
If you prefer a more scathing satire of consumerism and media, however, look no further than John Carpenter’s camp classic THEY LIVE (1987), discussed in Part Two of this episode. It stars wrestler Roddy Piper as John Nada, a down-on-his-luck drifter who suddenly learns that roughly half of America’s population is being brainwashed by television — and the other half are aliens. This cult favorite features magic sunglasses, excessive ass-kicking, and absolutely no bubblegum — and yet feels strangely prescient about the state of the world in 2018.
Is it 1984 yet? Join us for this two-part dystopic extravaganza before the inevitable collapse of society renders podcasts obsolete!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
52: "Come With Me If You Want to Live" - The Terminator & Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Nov 19, 2018
We need your clothes, your boots, your motorcycle and your full attention for our new episode! James Cameron’s THE TERMINATOR (1984) put the filmmaker on the map, becoming a classic almost instantly upon its release. By the time T2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991) came out seven years later, Cameron had become one of the most successful filmmakers of all time and Arnold Schwarzenegger was a bonafide movie star.
It’s clear that the first two films in the long-running (and seemingly never-ending) Terminator franchise are the most beloved by fans – but can they survive our scrutiny? Does Linda Hamilton hold up as a feminist hero? And was casting Arnold as the titular terminating cyborg actually the wrong call? It’s judgment day on When We Were Young.
We also sit down with Ben Foster, co-director of the new sci-fi adventure TIME TRAP, to discuss the hardships of indie filmmaking and why people are so drawn to the time travel genre. Come with us if you want to relive two of the most iconic sci-fi movies of all time!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
51: “Everyone’s Entitled To One Good Scare” - Halloween
Oct 18, 2018
Masks on, listeners! This October, we’re celebrating Halloween by celebrating HALLOWEEN — the iconic horror film that unintentionally concocted the formula for an entire genre. John Carpenter’s 1978 chiller was made on a shoestring budget and went on to become the most profitable independent film ever made. It also launched horror’s most enduring villain, the tight-lipped but heavy-breathing Michael Myers, and the career of Jamie Lee Curtis, crowned the genre’s official Scream Queen.
Curtis returned to her blood-spattered roots in 1998’s HALLOWEEN H2O, co-starring Josh Hartnett, LL Cool J, and Michelle Williams, in the 90s slasher revival spawned by Scream. Now, in 2018, she once again portrays Laurie Strode, the “Final Girl” who made her famous, in David Gordon Green’s new spin on this cinematic classic.
The podcast welcomes wife-and-husband duo Chelsea and Dan to discuss all matters of splatter, then looks back at the original Halloween in observance of its 40th anniversary. After countless knock-offs and a string of subpar sequels, is Halloween still worth hallowing? Or does its violence against nubile babysitters come off as much less enlightened four decades later? And is Halloween H2O still the franchise’s only decent sequel? Come for the Carpenter, and stay for the Cool J, as we cower in the closet all over again!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
50: “Reader Beware, You’re In For A Scare!” – Goosebumps
Oct 08, 2018
Calling all creeps! If you were a literate kid in the 90s, you almost certainly cracked open a GOOSEBUMPS book at some point. With 62 titles in its original run, R.L. Stine’s legendary YA horror anthology is one of the best-selling book series of all time. It also spawned games, toys, lunchboxes, apparel, two major motion pictures, and one very Canadian TV series — and the spin-offs just keep on coming.
When We Were Young invites Goosebumps fanatic Daniel Montgomery onto the show to reminisce about the halcyon days of the Scholastic Book Fair and our favorite preteen reads. Then we dare turn back the cuckoo clock of doom to revisit three classic titles from our childhoods, including The Haunted Mask and Night of the Living Dummy, to see if Stine’s writing still thrills and chills.
From outlandish twist endings to the many, many fakeout scares, there’s at least as much campy comedy to Goosebumps as there is genuine spine-tingling. Do these books still dish out the deep trouble, or was R.L. Stine just crying monster all along? We’ll spoil the “gotcha!” right now — yes, this episode does involve a teenage Ryan Gosling. Listener, beware!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
49: "3 Minutes To Wapner" - Rain Man
Sep 20, 2018
How does 1988’s Best Picture Oscar winner hold up? We’re too busy answering a question from a half hour ago to weigh in right now, so you’ll have to listen to When We Were Young’s latest episode, just in time for the 30th anniversary of Barry Levinson’s RAIN MAN.
Dustin Hoffman’s Academy Award winning role set the stage for many actors playing mentally or physically disabled characters to go for the gold. Does this still come off as a credible way to depict autism, or have changing times made this a more problematic performance? And how do we feel about Tom Cruise as a full-on dramatic leading man in an action-free film?
Take a break from memorizing that phone book and make sure you’re wearing the proper underwear, because we’re about to make like Wapner and judge whether Rain Man soars like Qantas or sucks like Kmart.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episode suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
48: "Put Me Back In! Put Me Back In!" - Look Who's Talking
Sep 06, 2018
Our Summer Bruce Willis trilogy – Bruce Willogy, if you will – comes to a close as we return to the womb and the year 1989 to reexamine Amy Heckerling’s hit comedy LOOK WHO’S TALKING. Willis voices Mikey, the titular talking baby… who isn’t really talking, per se, since we are just hearing his thoughts… though sometimes the actor playing Mikey on screen is actually talking but we don’t hear what he’s saying… look, this movie turned out to be way more confounding than we thought possible.
We also discuss the film’s two lesser successful sequels, LOOK WHO’S TALKING TOO (1990) and LOOK WHO’S TALKING NOW (1993), and count the many diminishing returns of talking babies and talking dogs. Plus, we deliver the good news about one of our hosts expecting their own bundle of joy, and get nostalgic about the last year of podcasting during our 2nd Anniversary special!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
47: "Light As A Feather, Stiff As A Board" - The Craft
Aug 23, 2018
Do you believe in magic? In this episode, your three favorite podcast hosts call all four corners with the help of returning guest Krissy, our go-to guru for movies involving spells and sorcery.
First, we chat about the stigma of being goth in the 90s, and casting fake spells on our enemies. Then, When We Were Young explores the dark arts via 1996’s THE CRAFT, starring Neve Campbell, Robin Tunney, Rachel True, and Fairuza Balk as teenage witches Sabrina wouldn’t be caught dead with.
From the fashion to the soundtrack to the casting of Skeet Ulrich as the big man on campus, The Craft casts a very dated spell in some ways. But how does the film’s twisted take on 90s “girl power” hold up 22 years later? Is Balk’s kooky, spooky turn as the coven’s queen bee Nancy as magnetic as we remember? With perfect love and perfect trust, we bind you from not listening to this podcast.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
46: "For I Compose the Music of the Night" - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Aug 09, 2018
The Phantom of the Opera is here… and so are Eva Peron, Mr. Mistoffelees and Jesus Christ! Our latest episode explores the magical musical world of ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, the man who pretty much composed the soundtrack to Broadway, the West End, and our childhoods in the 1980s and 90s.
Andrew Lloyd Webber – we’re sorry, SIR BARON Andrew Lloyd Webber – is arguably the most successful Broadway composer of all time, boasting many of the highest grossing musicals in history. His legend and influence cannot be disputed, but do his shows stand the test of time?
Is “Evita” still high, flying adored? Is “Phantom” best kept hidden far below the opera house? Does “Cats'” memory live on? Does “Jesus Christ Superstar” need to be crucified? Go, go, go Joseph, and join us on this symphonic journey through Lloyd Webber’s biggest hits!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
45: “Is That Hair Gel?” – There’s Something About Mary
Jul 26, 2018
THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY (1998)
Bad taste. Bad behavior. Bad hair. There’s a lot to be offended by in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1998 hit comedy, THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this month. But does all that bad make for a good movie? Or have movie audiences matured beyond jokes targeting the mentally challenged, the physically disabled and the incredibly wrinkled and tan in the last 20 years?
In our latest episode, we debate the merits of “Mary’s” reliance on crude comedy – from Ben Stiller’s unfortunate zipper incident, to Cameron Diaz’s infamous hair don’t, to Chris Elliott’s presence. (He’s super gross, right?) We also discuss our appreciation of – or very, very deep disgust for – gross-out humor in general.
So is there still something about the Farrelly Brothers’ “Mary?” Listen and find out!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
44: “Come Out To The Coast, We’ll Get Together, Have a Few Laughs” – Die Hard
Jul 09, 2018
DIE HARD (1988)
Welcome to the party, pal! In this episode, we’re celebrating Christmas in July with the 30th anniversary of DIE HARD, a (debatable) holiday favorite. John McTiernan’s 1988 hostage thriller posed Bruce Willis as a kinder, gentler action hero alternative to the likes of Schwarzenegger and Stallone — but don’t worry, he still murders lots of greedy terrorists. Ho, ho, ho!
This genre classic set the mold for many action flicks that followed, and featured one of the most beloved bad guys of all time in Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber. But what about its depiction of women in the workplace as a threat to masculinity? Or its serious skepticism toward capitalism, the media, and law enforcement? Before you RSVP “yes” to John McClane’s holiday bash, remember this: Die Hard also co-stars a series regular from TGIF’s Family Matters.
Will Die Hard hold up as well as Nakatomi Plaza under fire? And how about those sequels? Kindly remove your shoes before stepping into this nostalgic experience, because it’s time to say “yipee-ki-yay,” podcast lovers!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
43: “Prepare the World for Bad News” – Deep Impact & Armageddon
Jun 28, 2018
Grab some tissues, because in our latest episode, we’re sharing the movies that made us cry when we were young!
In the summer of 1998, two blockbusters hurtled into theaters with virtually the same premise: astronauts blasting up into space to blow up deadly space rocks with nuclear weapons. In many ways, these twin disaster flicks couldn’t be more different. DEEP IMPACT has Tea Leoni, Elijah Wood, and a comet, focusing on journalism and science. ARMAGEDDON stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and an asteroid, concerning loudmouth white male oil drillers with minimal education or training. (Bet you can’t guess which one Michael Bay directed!)
In 2018, these doomsday vehicles turn out to be surprisingly relevant in terms of current politics, but how do they hold up as mindless special effects-driven entertainment? When We Were Young discusses America’s actual first black president Morgan Freeman, plus child marriage, daddy issues galore, and the efficacy of Ben Affleck’s animal cracker seduction. You won’t want to miss a thing!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
42: “Life, Uh, Finds A Way” – Jurassic Park
Jun 07, 2018
JURASSIC PARK (1993), THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK II (1997), and JURASSIC PARK III (2001)
Dodgson! Dodgson! We’ve got Dodgson here! Does the fact that JURASSIC PARK is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month make you feel like a dinosaur? Or does the impending release of JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM have you ready to RRRUUUUNNN toward the nearest cineplex all over again?
You don’t have to be a clever girl to know that the original holds up — Steven Spielberg’s monstrous masterpiece is arguably the definitive blockbuster of the 90s. The When We Were Young podcast spares no expense in recounting the film’s lengthy development and risky production, also touching on Jeff Goldblum’s rock star nerd allure, the iconic score by John Williams, and how those once-groundbreaking CGI effects hold up 65 million years later.
But chaos theory kicks in once we extract 1997’s THE LOST WORLD from amber and dig up the fossilized remains of 2001’s JURASSIC PARK III. Are these sequels one big pile of dino droppings, or do they, uh, find a way? Turn the light off, hold onto your butt, and say the magic word, because we have a T-Rex, we bred raptors, and they do NOT happen to be vegetarians. Who’s hungry?
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
41: “A Waste of Perfectly Good Yearbook Space” - 1999 Prom-Coms
May 17, 2018
90s PROM-COMS
We bet you can’t make that girl with glasses listen to this podcast. In our latest episode, we look back to the teen movie explosion of the late 90s via SHE’S ALL THAT, NEVER BEEN KISSED, and 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, all released in the first few months of 1999, and all culminating at — where else? — the prom! (Gasp!)
If you don’t think Drew Barrymore, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Julia Stiles are three of the world’s least desirable women, you may have trouble buying the mischief and shenanigans teen boys resort to in search of true love. This was the moment in pop culture when teen entertainment took a cue from Shakespeare and other classic literature — without doing much to update centuries-old sexual politics. If you thought 80s teen comedies were problematic, wait ’til you get a load of the sexist, stalkerish antics of 90s dreamboats like Freddie Prinze Jr., Heath Ledger, Andrew Keegan, Paul Walker, and Joseph Gordon Levitt!
Are any of these 1999 prom-coms “all that,” or are there 10 things to hate about each? We hope you rented a limo to fit all the snark, angst, and inappropriate romance of these teen comedies!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episode suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
40: “Laughter, Secrets, Cheesecake” – The Golden Girls
May 03, 2018
THE GOLDEN GIRLS (1985-1992)
Hungry for a midnight snack? Cozy up in the kitchen with your three best audio-friends and help yourself to a slice of rich, satisfying comedy cheesecake, because it’s time to visit THE GOLDEN GIRLS! From 1985 to 1992, this show about four women of a certain age was a ratings smash and an awards darling, winning each one of its pitch perfect stars an Emmy. As it turns out, it was also one of the edgiest shows on primetime, tackling issues like gay marriage, prescription drug addiction, AIDS, and suicide ahead of its peers.
Are we still thankful to call Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia our pals and confidantes? Or has this old sitcom about aging gracefully aged not-so-gracefully? Whether you’re listening from St. Olaf or Sicily, you’ll want to tune in for all the quips, barbs, and geriatric slut-shaming we can muster… before one of your favorite podcast hosts gets shipped off to Shady Pines.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, delivery food to eat our feelings, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
You can’t touch us, but we can touch you. In When We Were Young’s raw, uncensored NC-17 episode, we reveal our most inappropriate pop culture encounters from childhood, then set our sights on the Las Vegas underbelly (and undercarriage) of 1995’s SHOWGIRLS, widely considered to be the best bad movie of all time.
Meet the consistently hot-and-bothered Nomi Malone, who hails from “different places.” She’s a dancer but not a stripper (except by profession) and definitely not a prostitute, who dreams of one day leaving behind the seedy, sleazy world of removing her clothes for money to become a topless dancer. She is not a prostitute.
Meet Cristal Connors, the gorgeous “Goddess” who takes a manipulative, seductive interest in this Amazonian ingenue. Will Nomi ever do Cristal’s nails? Will Cristal ever do Nomi? After a bare-breasted leather dance-fight, who will push who down the stairs?
Paul Verhoeven’s uniquely confounding flop is explicit but never sexy, strikingly feminist and queasily exploitative, and features the most enthrallingly misguided star turn of all time from Saved By The Bell’s Elizabeth Berkley. So put your nightie on, crack open a can of Doggy Chow, head over to Versace and THRUST IT, because it’s showtime, darlin’.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, adhering to a pretty strict drug regimen to keep our minds limber, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
So here’s the story from A to Z: you wanna get with us, ya gotta listen carefully! In this episode, we’re headed back to the years of 1996-1998 when the world collectively spiced up its life big time with the introduction and pop domination of THE SPICE GIRLS.
This was a special time in our youth when adult women were referred to by the infantile pseudonyms of Ginger, Baby, Scary, Posh and Sporty; when platform heels and cheetah-print jumpsuits were trendy; and when we couldn’t get enough of the undeniable hooks packed within nearly every single released by the British pop quintet.
But do those songs hold up today? And after two decades, does the Spice Girls’ slogan/mission statement of “Girl Power” come off as a genuine feminist battle cry… or a cringeworthy gimmick? Slam it to the left, shake it to the right, chicas to the front – hai, si, ja, hold tight for the latest episode of WHEN WE WERE YOUNG!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, adhering to a pretty strict drug regimen to keep our minds limber, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung.
37: “Thank You, Mario! But Our Princess is In Another Castle” – Video Games
Mar 15, 2018
NINTENDO Video Games & THE WIZARD (1989)
Sliding down drainpipes… chucking smiley-faced vegetables at ghost-faced villains… transforming into a raccoon and flying through the air… either we just took a large dose of LSD, or we’re entering the weird, wonderful world of Super Mario. (Possibly both!)
In the pursuit of channeling the competitive spirit of our youths when our main concern in life was finding warp zones, we spent a whole day playing decades-old video games we loved as kids, including Tetris, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong Country, Goldeneye and every Mario Brothers game from Super Mario through Super Mario World.
In this episode, we discuss the experience of playing these old-school games as adults, debate the gender fluidity of Super Mario 2 boss “Birdo,” and vex our many frustrations regarding the 1989 film THE WIZARD, Nintendo’s grand attempt to create a movie-length commercial for Super Mario 3 and the Power Glove. Listen as our hosts are joined by lifelong gamer Mike Van Gorder from Countless Thousands (countlessthousands.com!) and find out if our gaming marathon inspired us to welcome the plumber brothers and all their pixelated companions back into our hearts.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at Facebook.com/WWWYShow and you can email us your episodes suggestions at wwwyshow@gmail.com. Don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which includes purchasing movies/shows/music to review, teleporting through pipes, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles, California, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
36: “You’re a Lebowski, I’m a Lebowski” – The Big Lebowski
Mar 01, 2018
THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998)
A rug that really tied the room together until it got peed on. A hippie burnout who kept burning. A Vietnam vet who drags everyone else into his world of pain. Add to this a case of mistaken identity, the kidnapping of a trophy wife (in the parlance of our times), and an erotic artist seeking a good and thorough man and you have just *a few* of the characters and plot elements of the woolly and disoriented world of THE BIG LEBOWSKI, the cult favorite 1998 film by the legendary writer-director team of Joel and Ethan Coen.
The Big Lebowski was on every single level the intentional opposite of its Oscar-winning, box office-hit predecessor FARGO (1996), and audiences and critics at the time (like some of our hosts) didn’t abide this strangely hypnotic film. The Coens’ vision of Los Angeles is distinctly un-Hollywood, and it’s filled with anachronistic characters seemingly unstuck in time from the Wild West, the Summer of Love, and the Vietnam War all thrown into the plot of a 1950’s Raymond Chandler detective novel that is playing out in the very early 1990’s. There are so many ins, outs, and what-have-you’s you may need to mix a White Russian and roll a joint just to think it all through.
And in the years since its release, new shit has come to light – and now film audiences of all generations fully embrace and revel in the journey of Jeff Bridges’ stoned drifter The Dude (or His Dudeness, Duder, or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing) recovering the few things that keep his universe together – his car, his rug, and his Creedence tapes. Let’s see if our hosts found joy in this movie about bowlers who never actually roll, or if they believe in NOTHING.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, adhering to a pretty strict drug regimen to keep our minds limber, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
35: “Express Yourself, Don’t Repress Yourself” – Madonna
Feb 15, 2018
MADONNA
Before there was Britney. Before there was Beyonce. Before there was Gaga. There was one woman who reigned the radio waves in the 80s and 90s — Her Madgesty, now and forever the Queen of Pop.
Ms. Ciccone is known for her iconic, chameleonic looks, and it just so happens that our hosts each gravitated toward a different era in her storied career. First, Becky goes bananas for I’m Breathless, the Broadway-inspired Dick Tracy soundtrack, and the revealing concert documentary Truth or Dare.
Next, Chris whips his co-hosts into shape for the leather-heavy Sex/Erotica/Bedtime Stories period, which ignited a very sado-masochistic relationship between Madonna and the media. Last, Seth looks directly into the Grammy-winning Ray of Light, which introduced us to a softer, gentler, and much more geisha-like incarnation of the Material Girl.
We were all crazy for at least one of these albums growing up, but what happens when we listen like virgins as adults? Is Madonna’s 90s oeuvre still something to remember, or should it invoke the power of goodbye and take a bow? Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it — it’s time to see if the best-selling female artist of all time can still justify our love.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
Help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
34: “Can I Keep You?” – 90s Teen Idols
Feb 01, 2018
90s TEEN IDOLS JONATHAN TAYLOR THOMAS, DEVON SAWA, JONATHAN BRANDIS, BRAD RENFRO, ANDREW KEEGAN, and RIDER STRONG
For our very special Valentine’s Day episode, we’re taking a look back at the fanatic love we had back in the day for the 1990s’ biggest teenage heartthrobs. If you didn’t have a poster of Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Devon Sawa, Jonathan Brandis, Brad Renfro, Andrew Keegan or Rider Strong on your wall and would stare at it for hours and maybe even practice kissing on it… well, you clearly were more emotionally mature than we were as pre-teens.
In this episode we dive into the history of teen idol mags like Tiger Beat and BOP, discover that LADYBUGS is most definitely not a movie for children, and try not to feel like creeps discussing the wholesome sex appeal of teenage boys. Also, Becky shares the intimate details of her internet relationship with JTT (or, more likely, someone pretending to be him). It’s our most embarrassing episode yet!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
33: “My Recipe For Disaster” – Dante’s Peak & Volcano
Jan 18, 2018
DANTE’S PEAK and VOLCANO (1997)
Don’t look back. The pressure is building. This thing’s gonna blow, and it’s hotter than hell! No, this is not When We Were Young’s episode on the best porn of the 90s — it’s the pyroclastic flow of natural disaster flicks unleashed by Twister’s sweeping success in the summer of ‘96. To blatantly rip off our first episode, Episode 33 surmounts Dante’s Peak and pokes around in the stinky tunnels of Volcano, two back-to-back disaster doppelgangers from 1997.
First, Chris relates the real-life 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, the basis for Dante’s Peak’s magmatic magic. Then, Becky harkens back to her days as a budding geologist to scientifically measure the likelihood of a volcano suddenly bursting from the loins of Los Angeles.
One has Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton, the other has Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche. Both feature thwarted vacations, youth in peril, charred limbs, and dogs leaping away from lava in the nick of time — but neither was a seismic event at the box office. This podcast once concluded that Twister doesn’t suck, but does Volcano blow? Is Dante’s Peak dormant or active? And which rates higher on the disaster epic Richter scale? In this episode, strong opinions flow like magma until these hosts are toast!
[Please excuse the audio quality in this episode – in keeping with our disaster theme, the computer fucked up the recording! We assure you we’ll return to peak fidelity in future episodes.]
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
32: “The Royal Penis is Clean, Your Highness” – Coming to America
Jan 04, 2018
COMING TO AMERICA (1988)
Eddie Murphy was already a huge star when “COMING TO AMERICA” was released in 1988, and he went on to make a few more hits (and, let’s be honest, a few clunkers). But the story of Prince Akeem’s trip to Queens, NY to find his true love is one of the most beloved (and quoted) films of Murphy’s whole career.
On this week’s episode of WHEN WE WERE YOUNG we revisit John Landis’ comedic fairy tale, discussing everything from the amazing wedding day tribal dance in Zamunda to the fourth-wall-breaking pooch we affectionately refer to as “Judgment Dog.” We also jam out to some of Murphy’s forays into pop music, because you didn’t think we could pass up the chance to sing along to “Party All The Time,” did you?
Does “Coming to America” still make you crack up after all these years – or when you think of garbage, do you think of Akeem? Listen to our latest episode now! And bark like a dog. A big dog.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
31: “Deck Them Halls and All That Stuff” – Christmas TV Specials
Dec 21, 2017
RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE REINDEER (1964), A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (1965), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (1966)
In our first holiday episode, When We Were Young looks back on Christmas and Hanukkah traditions from childhood, debates the pros and cons of believing in Santa Claus, and shares favorite festive pop culture (or mourns the dearth of good Hanukkah music).
Then, we check in on the annual animated Christmas specials we watched as kids: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Do these family-friendly specials still make us shout out with glee (“yippee!”), or have they held up as well as a bad banana with a greasy black peel? We hope you’ve practiced your Snoopy dance, because this is When We Were Young’s holliest, jolliest episode yet. Happy holidays! Not just Christmas!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
30: “The Water is Freezing and There Aren’t Enough Boats” - Titanic
Dec 07, 2017
TITANIC (1997)
It’s been 20 years, and we can still smell the fresh paint… the sheets had never been slept in… and we’d never heard Celine Dion belt her heart out over James Horner’s pennywhistle. To mark the 20th anniversary of a film as gargantuan and ambitious as the ocean liner itself, When We Were Young once more opens the door on James Cameron’s 1997 disaster-romance. Are you ready to go back to Titanic? (If not, too bad — it’s way too late to get off.)
Everyone knows Titanic dazzled critics, swept the Oscars, and sold a hell of a lot of dreamy Jack Dawson posters. The self-proclaimed King of the World’s crowning glory went on to become the biggest movie of all time on so many levels, a pop culture event as rare as the Heart of the Ocean. But are Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio’s performances still unsinkable? Is the film’s elaborate production as impressive as ever? Do our hearts really go on and on… or is it time to break our promise and just… let go?
Strip down to nothing but a multimillion dollar necklace, prepare to go down like a gentleman, and cooome baaaaaaaack… because there’s not enough room for everyone on this Podcast of Dreams.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
29: “We Gladly Feast On Those Who Would Subdue Us” - The Addams Family
Nov 23, 2017
THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991) & ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993)
To mirth! To merriment! To manslaughter! Thanksgiving isn’t known for inspiring many movies, but the mysterious and spooky Addams clan should make you feel better about your own family’s freakishness this holiday season. In this episode we spend some quality time with Morticia, Fester, Wednesday, Thing, Cousin Itt and the rest of the gang in their big screen debut, THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991) and its sharper sequel ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993), which features a fiery ode to the first Thanksgiving feast.
First, we delve into the characters’ origins in a macabre New Yorker comic, then debate whether it was The Addams Family or The Munsters we watched on Nick At Nite growing up. Then we dive into the creepy plot twists, kooky soundtracks (Tag Team and MC Hammer?), and the altogether ooky performances of Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, podcast MVP Joan Cusack, and more. So serve yourself a heaping helping of When We Were Young! (Yes, this podcast IS made from real Girl Scouts.)
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
28: “No TV and No Beer Make Homer Something Something” – The Simpsons’ Golden Years
Nov 09, 2017
THE SIMPSONS (1989-1999 Seasons)
Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie and the seemingly unlimited citizens of Springfield have been up to their TV hijinks for nearly thirty years. But chances are every episode you love from THE SIMPSONS likely aired in just the first decade of the show’s run. The Simpsons’ Golden Years (1989-1999) are referred to fondly as producing some of the best TV in history, reflecting just about every aspect of our world while making its own undeniable impact on pop culture.
So how do “King Size Homer,” “Marge vs the Monorail,” “Itchy and Scratchy and Poochie” and all the other classic episodes hold up? Have the show’s takes on sexual politics, immigration and gun control become dated over time, or are they still relevant? And how many Simpsons references can Becky and our guest host, writer/comedian Justin Zirilli, make before Chris explodes? Up and at them! We’re taking a deep dive into this perfectly cromulent show this week on WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
27: “I’m Everything You Ever Were Afraid Of” - Stephen King & Stranger Things
Oct 20, 2017
STAND BY ME (1986) & STEPHEN KING’S IT (1990)
Stranger things have happened than what happened on Stranger Things — thanks in large part to one of horror’s most prolific names. In honor of the Netflix nostalgia-fest’s second season, When We Were Young takes a look at the 1980s oeuvre of its biggest influence, Stephen King.
Following two true blue horror masterpieces, Carrie and The Shining, King unleashed a wave of spine-tingling adaptations with varying degrees of schlock, from pyro pixie Drew Barrymore in Firestarter to the killer car in Christine. We discuss these titles and their influence on Stranger Things, then dwell on the 1986 coming-of-age classic Stand By Me, which blends some macabre moments with a more melancholy tale of boyhood, mortality, and purple vomit. Finally, we all float over to 1990, where Tim Curry’s fearsome fanged clown Pennywise awaits us in the sewer-dwelling TV movie It, recently remade as the most successful horror film of all time.
How does Stranger Things — which tries so very hard to emulate the 1980s — stack up against the stuff that actually scared us back then? Can looking and feeling like when we were young really capture the essence of when the When We Were Young hosts were young? If your brain is exploding from all the nostalgia-within-nostalgia nesting doll action happening here, great.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
26: “Smart, Clean, Totally Decent Human Being… Gay!” – The Birdcage, Ellen and In & Out
Oct 06, 2017
THE BIRDCAGE (1996), ELLEN: “THE PUPPY EPISODE” (1997), IN & OUT (1997)
Come one, come all, and COME OUT ALREADY for When We Were Young’s most same-sex-loving episode yet! In honor of Coming Out Day, Episode 26 takes a furtive glance back at the gay 90s, which marked a sea change in pop culture’s depictions of people who are — yep! — gay.
First, our hosts coop up in The Birdcage, Mike Nichols’ 1996 comedy that pushes Robin Williams and Nathan Lane back in the closet to appease Ally McBeal’s right-wing parents. Next, we touch on Ellen DeGeneres’ game-changing “Puppy Episode,” the coming out party heard ’round the world. And finally, we celebrate the 20th out-iversary of In & Out, starring Kevin Kline as a small-town teacher outed at the Oscars, and Joan Cusack as his increasingly desperate bride-to-be.
Plenty of social progress has been made in the days since Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and DOMA, so how do these mid-90s gay characters hold up in 2017? Practice your John Wayne walk, book some therapy with Oprah, and stop dancing to “I Will Survive,” because our hosts’ opinions of these films are definitely NOT homogeneous.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
25: “Glitter in the Dark” – Blade Runner
Sep 21, 2017
BLADE RUNNER (1982)
Do androids dream of electric sheep? Do replicants dream of unicorns? Does Sean Young dream of being in a movie where she isn’t manhandled by a major movie star? In Episode 25 of When We Were Young, the lines between man and machine are blurred as we discuss Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Daryl Hannah, in advance of the Ryan Gosling-starring sequel Blade Runner 2049.
First, the gang shares childhood visions of Things To Come, and wonders why there are so many dystopias in the fictional future (and so few utopias). Then, we dive into the year 2019 (by way of 1982, in 2017) to revisit the darkest, wettest, most neon-geisha-filled depiction of Los Angeles ever. We all agree that Blade Runner has amazing parking meters and fierce eye makeup, but is the story itself worth the film’s cult classic status? Opinions may differ!
In a special bonus segment for WWWY superfans at episode’s end, the gang celebrates a full year of podcasting. We’ll share the pop culture revisits that surprised us most, our favorite funny moments that are all about Becky, and the resurrection of Playtime – in which a Death Match determines once and for all what movie, album, or TV show held up the best over the years. (Hint: it’s not Roger Rabbit, Kevin Smith, or Buffy.)
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
24: “How I Became the Prince of a Town Called Bel-Air” – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Sep 07, 2017
THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR (1990-1996)
This is a story all about how Will Smith’s life got twist-turned upside down when he seamlessly transitioned from rap star to sitcom star with his hit NBC series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which ran from 1990 to 1996.
It’s almost easy to forget Smith’s TV days, since he’s spent most of the last two decades as one of the most bankable movie stars of all time. But before “Suicide Squad,” before “Independence Day,” and yes, before “Gettin’ Jiggy With It,” Smith was showing off his comic (and dramatic) chops as one of TV’s freshest talents.
In our latest episode, we take a look back at Smith’s sitcom days and discover that “Fresh Prince” was basically the king of the “very special episode.” We also realize that none of us fully understand the weird turns that take place in Smith’s pre-TV single “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
23: “Take This Pink Ribbon Off My Eyes” – No Doubt
Aug 21, 2017
Sorry we’re not home right now, we’re walking into 1995 to discuss No Doubt’s breakthrough album TRAGIC KINGDOM in our latest episode!
We’ve already repeatedly mentioned Tragic Kingdom on the podcast, and there’s good reason for that – all three When We Were Young hosts count this album as the first or one of the first CDs they ever purchased, as well as one of the most influential during their pre-teen years. Gwen Stefani’s mid-90s style certainly still inspires Becky’s fashion sense today, but how does the band’s seminal ska-pop-punk record hold up after 22 years?
Because Tragic Kingdom’s 14 tracks aren’t enough for us, we also touch on the Anaheim outfit’s first two albums, the self-titled NO DOUBT (1992) and THE BEACON STREET COLLECTION (1995), as well as their anticipated follow-up RETURN OF SATURN (2000). Listen, but be forewarned: there be many impromptu a cappella renditions of No Doubt songs in this episode.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
22: “Dirt in the Skirt” – A League of Their Own
Aug 07, 2017
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992)
Did a baseball diamond used to be your playground? If so, you’re probably one of the fans who made the Rockford Peaches stars of the most successful baseball movie of all time. Penny Marshall’s World War II-era dramedy is a who’s who of major league 90s names, from Geena Davis to Rosie O’Donnell to Tom Hanks to Madonna. (And Marla Hooch!)
There’s no denying that the film is a feminist feat: a rare sports drama directed by and starring women. A League of Their Own paved the way for so many stories about female athletes to follow, like… uhh… has anyone seen my new red hat?
In honor of the film’s 25th anniversary, the When We Were Young hosts drug their chaperones and trade oven mitts for baseball mitts, debating whether Betty Spaghetti & co. knock it out of the park or drop the ball. And all without letting our noses get shiny!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
21: “Einhorn is Finkle! Finkle is Einhorn!” – Jim Carrey’s 1994 Movies
Jul 17, 2017
Somebody stop us! In Episode 21, the When We Were Young podcast says “alrighty, then!” to a trip back to 1994, when Jim Carrey soared to superstar status in three back-to-back blockbusters: DUMB & DUMBER, THE MASK, and ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE.
We’re not just talking out of our asses here. Clearly, Carrey was one of the most bankable stars of our youth… but how do his rubber-faced hijinks hold up when viewed for the first time as adults? Are these comedies still sssmokin’ – or do misogyny and homophobia end up making everyone involved look like a LOOHOOO-SE-HER?
It’s the most eye-popping, jaw-dropping, fourth-wall-breaking, catchphrase-spewing, Cameron Diaz-introducing episode of the podcast yet! Fire up your ’84 sheepdog, kill a couple pretty birds, and prepare to hear the most annoying sound on Earth as we spend an entire year with Jim Carrey! (Seriously… won’t somebody stop us?)
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
20: “You Remind Me of the Babe” – Labyrinth and Dark Crystal
Jul 03, 2017
Turn back, Sarah – we’re headed into the imaginative mind of Jim Henson on this week’s episode, and anything could happen! Though many think of The Muppets or Sesame Street when they think of Jim Henson, if you were coming of age in the mid-80s and into fairy tales, myths, and gender-bending pop, LABYRINTH (1986) was surely more your bag.
With the help of our guest “Labyrinth” superfan Krissy Fox we rewatch Henson’s darkly humorous, whimsical tale of an aggressively pansexual Goblin King who enjoys infant theft, mind games and synthy pop tunes – you know, good clean family entertainment! We also take a look at Labyrinth’s gloomier but just as impressively designed predecessor THE DARK CRYSTAL (1982).
Join us as we discuss Henson’s legacy, Bowie’s bulge, and… well, we talk about Bowie’s crotch a LOT, because c’mon, it’s RIGHT THERE.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
19: “You Could Never Be Jell-O!” – My Best Friend’s Wedding
Jun 19, 2017
Dearly beloved, we gather today to celebrate the union of a pretty woman, Ms. Julia Roberts, and a talented filmmaker, Mr. PJ Hogan. If anyone can show just cause why they should not be joined — well, that’s too bad! It happened twenty years ago this month.
In honor of wedding season, the hosts of WHEN WE WERE YOUNG share their childhood visions of holy matrimony before revisiting two nuptial-themed films by Aussie auteur PJ Hogan. First, we say “I do” to 1994’s MURIEL’S WEDDING, a quirky drama that’s not nearly as terrible as Muriel herself. Then we attend MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, an unconventional 1997 rom-com that has our hosts thoroughly divided.
Is Rupert Everett’s scene-stealing George a dated stereotype, or a monumental achievement in queer representation in summer blockbusters? Is Julia Roberts playing a heinous sociopath… or a lovably heinous sociopath? Most importantly: will Jell-O always be bested by crème brûlée? Say a little prayer for us, because contrary to rom-com tradition, happy endings are not guaranteed on this podcast.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now. You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
18: “Your Mother’s A Tracer!” – Chasing Amy
Jun 06, 2017
The WHEN WE WERE YOUNG podcast isn’t even supposed to be here today! But in this episode, we took a fresh look at Kevin Smith’s influential 90’s romantic comedy CHASING AMY, and touched on CLERKS, DOGMA and the rest of the “View Askewniverse.”
Does this quirky and queer comedy starring Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck hold up? Join in as we take a fresh look back with 2017 eyes on this 1997 film that was seen as a new step forward in representing queer characters in cinema, given our current wave of LGBTQ social progress and the evolution of non-heterosexual characters in mainstream movies.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
17: “Game Over, Man!” – The ALIEN Franchise
May 15, 2017
Encounter the xenomorph in WHEN WE WERE YOUNG’s ickiest episode yet! First, the gang discusses their personal experiences with body horror, including bruised ears and splinters in places there should not be wood.
Then, it’s time to get all face-huggy and chest-bursty with Sigourney Weaver in the ALIEN franchise, beginning with Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi/horror classic and moving on to James Cameron’s rock-’em sock-’em sequel, featuring a lovable turn from the late Bill Paxton. Have countless rip-offs dulled these classics, or are they still capable of making your jaws-within-jaws drop? Next, we quickly touch on David Fincher’s regrettable ALIEN3 and the campy Joss Whedon-penned ALIEN: RESURRECTION, which adds Winona Ryder to the mix.
This is a mostly comprehensive look at one of the most influential horror franchises ever made… mostly… in anticipation of ALIEN: COVENANT, due May 19. Strip down to your most retro panties, climb into the nearest available power-loader, and GET AWAY FROM HER, YOU BITCH! Because in space, no one can hear you make fun of the way Becky describes her history with this series.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
16: “Here We Are Now, Entertain Us” – Nirvana
May 01, 2017
Bring your friends and your anti-depressants to the 16th episode of the WHEN WE WERE YOUNG podcast, when we revisit Nirvana – the band that later became known as the entire musical genre called “grunge.”
In this episode we listen to the two most popular albums of the definitive Seattle rock band: 1991’s worldwide smash Nevermind and 1993’s In Utero. We also touch on their 1994 MTV Unplugged album, the documentary film MONTAGE OF HECK, and the music of the grunge-era bands that followed in Nirvana’s wake.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/music to review, ordering delivery food to eat our emotions, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
15: “Businesswoman’s Special” – Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion
Apr 17, 2017
Is that an earthquake? In honor of the 20th anniversary of their 10 year reunion, we join the Madonna twins and a big giant girl who smokes and says “shit” a lot to revisit 1987 and 1997 in ROMY & MICHELE’S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION. Watch out, Tucson!
Chris and Seth have a special place in their hearts for this teen comedy made specifically for the C-Group (and anyone else who ever had their hamburger stolen by a deludanoid), and mutually agree that this is the cutest the When We Were Young podcast has ever looked. Meanwhile, Becky (the obvious Rhoda of this episode) comes to the scarf-folding fun with a fresher perspective to examine how this cherished cult hit holds up against today’s comedic standards. The WWWY gang is also joined by special guest Chelsea, inventor of Post-Its, to discuss her fancy-schmancy formula for glue.
Grab your flip phone and your huge notebook, because When We Were Young is due in Tucson later (for a business thing), and we’re not stopping until our shoes are overflowing with blood. If you hate throwing up in public, you’ve come to the right podcast!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung, and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!
14: “I’m Not Bad, I’m Just Drawn That Way” – Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Apr 03, 2017
Robert Zemeckis’ WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT (1988) effortlessly blended live action and animation in a cinematic experience never seen before (and rarely since). It was also a colossal hit for Touchstone Pictures (aka the Mouse House, Disney!) and managed to delight children, adults, classic cartoon fans and noir thriller aficionados — no small feat!
Your beloved WHEN WE WERE YOUNG podcast hosts originally saw this live action-animated-comedy-mystery hybrid blockbuster as little kids; now that we’re old enough to have a complicated appreciation of Jessica Rabbit’s heaving bosom, we decided to head back into Toontown to see if the groundbreaking flick still holds up today.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung, and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!
13: “In An MMMBop, They’re Gone” – Now That’s What I Call Music
Mar 20, 2017
Heya, Barbie! Wanna go for a ride? How about all the way back to 1998, when boy bands were just starting to be a “thing” (again), we listened to music on compact discs, and the blonde brothers Hanson seemed like they might have long-lasting relevance in the pop music sphere? (Okay, that last part was never true.)
In our latest episode, When We Were Young revisits NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL MUSIC VOL. 1, along with other compilation CDs you could order over the phone (what?!), like the ready-to-rumble JOCK JAMS and the whale-saving, orca-flowing PURE MOODS. We listen to acts ranging from the poppiest of pop (Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys) to moody alternative acts (Everclear and Fastball), seeing how they’ve held up over the past couple decades. (‘Cause that’s what you get when you mess with us.) Yes, we even pause to throw back a bottle of beer and debate what the hell was up with the 90s revitalization of swing spearheaded by the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies’ “Zoot Suit Riot.”
So don’t “Fly Away” — please “Say You’ll Be There” as we get “Together Again” with the musical masterpieces and misfires of the late 1990s — and some surprisingly dark origin stories. Let’s go party!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/whenwewereyoung
12: “She Saved the World A Lot” – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Mar 06, 2017
In every generation, there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the podcasts. She is the slayer. In When We Were Young’s 12th episode, Chris shares his teenage infatuation with Buffy The Vampire Slayer. (The TV show, not the movie. Obviously.) He also brings WWWY’s very first guest host, Kevin Murray, Buffy fan extraordinaire, to help him slay the apocalyptic criticisms rising from Seth and Becky’s Hellmouths.
We know Joss Whedon fans still love Buffy, but how does it hold up for newbies to the Scooby gang? We look at episodes from each of the first five seasons, including standout classics like “Hush” and “The Body” and the phenomenal musical “Once More, With Feeling,” to see what made the series such a groundbreaking cult hit. Grab your crossbow, get your vamp face on, and be prepared to die a couple of times, because we’re off to Sunnydale!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/whenwewereyoung
11: “Now I’ll Never Be a Teen Model!” – The Brady Bunch Movie
Feb 21, 2017
In the latest episode of WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, we discuss what made us laugh the most growing up. If you thought THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE (1995) and A VERY BRADY SEQUEL (1996) were the funniest (and most quotable) movies ever made, you’re in good company!
Twenty years later, do either of these satirical TV adaptations stand the test of time and still make us laugh? Or are they as stale and unfunny as the TV show they’re based on? Throw on your Sunday best, kids, we’re talking the Brady movies!
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/whenwewereyoung
10: “Hailing a TAXI CAB” – Jagged Little Pill
Feb 07, 2017
Why are you so petrified of silence? See if you can handle this as the When We Were Young podcast revisits Alanis Morissette’s 1995 monolithic album JAGGED LITTLE PILL. One of the best-selling albums of all time, and with about half its songs chart-topping singles, this album is and has always been pigeonholed as “angry chick rock.”
Join our hosts as we contemplate our musical outlets for anger, discuss our personal histories with Jagged Little Pill and Alanis while revisiting each song, and end the show with a cover of one of the hosts’ favorite deep album cuts.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe and review us on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
9: “Who Needs Reasons When You’ve Got Heroin?” – Trainspotting
Jan 16, 2017
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG travels back to the mid 1990s, when Hollywood was inundated with an exciting new class of independent filmmakers who would change the movie business as we knew it. People – yes, even us youngsters – were paying attention to films with low budgets and unique visions. But only one of those films featured a dead baby crawling on a ceiling.
TRAINSPOTTING (1996) is one of the most provocative, intoxicating films to come out of the 90s indie scene. But 20 years after its release, has the high worn off? Take a jump into the Worst Toilet in Scotland (it’ll be worth the trip, we swear) and join us as we discuss whether Danny Boyle’s surrealist joyride into the world of heroin addiction still holds up today. (We bet Boyle hopes it does – the sequel comes out in just in a few weeks!)
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, TV shows and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
8: “I Gave My Panties To A Geek” – Molly Ringwald
Jan 02, 2017
Your first crush. Detention. The prom. That time your entire extended family was horrendously racist toward a foreign exchange student. In Episode 8, When We Were Young takes you back to simpler times (and a song from Simple Minds) with the Molly Ringwald teen trifecta brought to you by the legendary John Hughes.
From the panty-sniffing hijinks of Sixteen Candles to the shattering teen angst therapy of The Breakfast Club to Duckie’s heartbreaking snub in Pretty In Pink, we’ll discuss the many highs and lows of Hughes’ comedy stylings and marvel at Ringwald’s iconic charm. Consider this your trigger warning, because we also examine offensive cultural stereotypes, homophobia, and an explicit endorsement of date rape… and that’s just in the first movie.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, shows, and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
7: “Some Wes Carpenter Flick” – Scream
Dec 19, 2016
What’s your favorite scary movie? If you grew up in the 90s, there’s a good chance your answer is SCREAM. In Episode 7, WHEN WE WERE YOUNG plunges bone-deep into the millennial teen horror craze with the franchise that (re)started it all, the meta horror-comedy written by then-unknown Kevin Williamson and directed by shock maestro Wes Carpent- er, Craven.
So burn some popcorn, lace up your generic black boots, and prepare to see what your insides look like, because we’re about to discuss why the Scream movies are the ultimate slut shame and bicker about which one has the best Gale Weathers hairdo. (It’s definitely Scream 2.) Then, in an ironic “gotcha!” twist, you’ll discover that this is all just a podcast within a Stab movie within a Scream movie that Tori Spelling is listening to. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to go out to the backyard to investigate a strange noise. We’ll be right back!
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, shows, and more hold up now.
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account, and don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes!
Check out all our episodes on our show page on www.themfp.org/category/wwwyshow, and follow us on social media here: Facebook: wwwyshow Twitter: @wwwyshow Gmail: wwwyshow@gmail.com
6: “Song As Old As Rhyme” – Disney Pop Hits
Dec 05, 2016
The 1990s were an innocent time where cassette singles ruled and Disney pop songs were a regular fixture on the Billboard charts. The singles released during this decade earned the Mouse House multi-millions in sales and more often than not scored some sweet Oscar glory, but are any of these recordings — sung by actual humans, not their cartoon counterparts — actually something you’d want to listen to today?
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG reviewed all 13 pop singles from Disney/Pixar’s releases from the 1990s (from 1991’s Beauty and the Beast to 1999’s Toy Story 2) to see if any of these songs stand the test of time. Join us as we sing with all the voices of the mountain (including Vanessa L. Williams’) and catch up on what Peabo Bryson’s been up to the last few decades.
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, shows, and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
5: “Welcome to Being Dead” – Don Bluth
Nov 21, 2016
Hey, kids! Do you like cartoon mice? Catchy songs? And lots and lots of death? If your answer to these questions is “yep, yep, yep!,” then have we got the podcast for you! In Episode 5, When We Were Young revisits our childhoods through the filmography of Don Bluth, a former Disney animator gone rogue whose lifelong rivalry with the Mouse House makes for one fascinating tale.
So let’s reminisce about the forgotten link between VHS tapes and fast food, ponder why so many kiddie flicks revolve around being violently orphaned, and see how old faves like The Secret Of NIMH, An American Tail, Land Before Time, All Dogs Go To Heaven, and Anastasia hold up against Disney’s 80s and 90s offerings. (Hint: the Bluth films have much more poverty and murder.)
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, shows, and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes!
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
4: “Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That” – Seinfeld
Nov 07, 2016
“Seinfeld” is the most successful and arguably the most beloved sitcom of all time. But how do the antics of TV’s favorite self-absorbed foursome hold up today?
In this episode of WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, we take a look back at the 90’s hit series to see how it holds up nearly two decades after its polarizing finale. Are the show’s views on sexuality, gender and race antiquated, or was it ahead of its time? And most importantly, is “Seinfeld” still funny? Grab your Junior Mints and throw on your puffy shirt, because we’ve got a whole lot to say about the “show about nothing!”
When We Were Young is a podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, shows, and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to subscribe to and review us on iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/when-we-were-young-podcast/id1156377018?mt=2
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
3: “Harmonious and Productive” – Election
Oct 17, 2016
Movies, Music, TV and More… Nothing is Safe. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG takes a look back at beloved parts of pop culture from our formative years (1980-2000) and decides if they hold up today.
Episode 3 of WHEN WE WERE YOUNG assesses the candidates and votes unanimously for the 1999 Alexander Payne film ELECTION, starring Reese Witherspoon as overachieving high school honor student Tracy Flick, Matthew Broderick as moralistic and egotistical high school history teacher Jim McAllister, Chris Klein as polite and sweetly simple jock Paul Metzler, and Jessica Campbell as his rebellious and punk as hell lesbian sister Tammy Metzler.
You can help us defray the costs of creating this show, which include purchasing movies/shows/etc to review, imbibing enough sedatives to take down an elephant, and producing & editing in-house at the MFP Studio Studio in Los Angeles CA, by donating to our Patreon account at patreon.com/WhenWeWereYoung
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to Subscribe on iTunes!
2: “A Serious Cackling” – The Blair Witch Project
Oct 03, 2016
In October of 1994, three podcasters disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland. Police were baffled by the podcasters’ vanishing… mostly because podcasting had not been invented yet. A year later the MiniDisc player they recorded to was discovered. 21 more years later, that recording is released here.
Just in time for Halloween (and yet another sequel), WHEN WE WERE YOUNG’s second episode tackles 1999’s unlikely horror hit THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. Is the ultra-low-budget thriller still as groundbreaking as it was in the pre-smartphone era, or does it deserve to be banished to the woods? Kick your map in the creek, apologize to everyone’s moms, and follow us on this audible journey… because Becky totally knows where we’re going! Right, Becky? …Becky?
When We Were Young is a new podcast devoted to the most beloved pop culture of our formative years (roughly 1980-2000). Join us for a look back to the past with a critical eye on how these movies, songs, shows, and more hold up now.
You can follow us on Twitter at @WWWYshow, on Facebook at @WWWYShow, you can Email us at wwwyshow@gmail.com, and don’t forget to Subscribe on iTunes!
1: “We Got Cows” – Twister
Sep 19, 2016
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG takes a look back at different beloved parts of pop culture from our formative years (1980-2000) and decides if they hold up today.
Strap yourself down to a pipe with us and enjoy our first episode as we revisit TWISTER, a 1996 Jan de Bont action thriller starring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
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