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
In a special interview episode, When We Were Young talks to author & speaker Chris Clews about the life lessons ‘80s movies can teach us - drawing important insight from movies as wide-ranging as THE KARATE KID, COCKTAIL, THE OUTSIDERS, and ROAD HOUSE.
118: “Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy” – The Karate Kid
Jan 24, 2023
We revisit 1984's THE KARATE KID, discussing how this movie kicked off a franchise and set the formula for nearly every mentor-protege story that would follow.
117: “A Blue Furry Charles Dickens Who Hangs Out With A Rat?” – The Muppet Christmas Carol
Dec 22, 2022
Chris, Becky, and Seth conclude our Muppetacular with a holiday episode discussing youthful memories of MUPPET BABIES, and revisiting THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL on its 30th anniversary.
116: “Music To Hug Frogs By” – The Muppet Show & The Muppet Movie
Dec 14, 2022
In our most Muppetational episode yet, we look back at Jim Henson's worldwide phenomenon THE MUPPET SHOW (1976) and Kermit & company’s big screen debut in 1979’s THE MUPPET MOVIE. Do we still feel a rainbow connection to these early Muppets outings?
115: “Stupid Is As Stupid Does” – Forrest Gump
Dec 02, 2022
In Part 2 of When We Were Young's Hanksgiving episodes we revisit 1994's FORREST GUMP, the blockbuster dramedy from Robert Zemeckis and Tom Hanks that won as many Oscars as it had catchphrases.
114: "I Wish I Were Big" - Big
Nov 22, 2022
Happy Hanksgiving everyone! Tom Hanks is one of Hollywood's most endearing and reliable stars, and in part 1 of 2 episodes honoring him we'll see if the actor's breakthrough performance in the hit 1988 comedy BIG still captures our heart and soul.
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
In this dazzling, toothsome, scaly finale to When We Were Young’s ‘90s Creature Feature extravaganza, Chris and Seth revisit 3 more hit movies from the monstrous tail end of the genre’s heyday: 1997's ANACONDA, and 1999's LAKE PLACID and DEEP BLUE SEA.
111: “Put ‘Em On The Endangered Species List” – Tremors, Arachnophobia & Congo
Sep 22, 2022
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! Part 1 of our Creature Sexa-Feature revisits TREMORS, ARACHNOPHOBIA, and CONGO.
110: “Who Is Your Daddy And What Does He Do?” – Kindergarten Cop & Junior
Aug 24, 2022
We see if Arnold Schwarzenegger’s final two Ivan Reitman collaborations KINDERGARTEN COP and JUNIOR still deliver in the final term of "Schwarzepreggers!" Do these comedies fill our bellies with laughter? Grab some forceps and let's find out!
109: “The Most Fully Developed Human The World Has Ever Seen” – Twins
Aug 17, 2022
In the late 80s & early 90s, action star Arnold Schwarzenegger teamed with Ivan Reitman for three family-friendly comedies about birth and child-rearing. Part One in our “Schwarzepreggers” lineup looks back at 1988’s TWINS. Are we still laughing for two?
108: “The Big Orange Couch Is in Place, So Hop On!” – SNICK
Jul 14, 2022
We’ve got a spot saved for you on the big orange couch as our podcast revisits SNICK, Nickelodeon's Saturday night programming block for pre-teens in the ‘90s.
107: “I’ll Be Right Here” – E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Jun 13, 2022
40 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. Grab a bag of Reese’s Pieces and join us for an episode that’s well worth phoning home about!
106: “…And Start Getting Real” – MTV’s The Real World Part 2
May 24, 2022
MTV's Real World became a sensation in its San Francisco-set third season. In Part 2 of our podcast we revisit the antics of Puck and company, and we touch on other series-defining moments and seasons of the reality show that started them all.
105: “Stop Being Polite” – MTV’s The Real World Part 1
May 19, 2022
MTV’s THE REAL WORLD popularized the tone, format, and style most reality shows still adhere to today. Episode 1 of our 2-parter revisits the show's origins, our hosts' own history "being taped," and the first two seasons in NYC and LA.
104: “I’m Gonna Get Medieval On Your Ass” – Pulp Fiction
Mar 31, 2022
PULP FICTION (1994) was a groundbreaking moment for both Quentin Tarantino and movies, but do the film’s accolades remain as bright and shiny as whatever's in that briefcase? Let's get into character and find out!
103: “The Only Thing That Kills The Demon Is Love” – Natural Born Killers
Mar 28, 2022
Nearly 30 years after its release, there's still a lot to discuss and debate about 1994's NATURAL BORN KILLERS and whether the film's satiric and satanic take on the media remains relevant. Part 1 of a 2-part Tarantinotacular.
102: “Reality Is Very Disappointing” – Mannequin & Mannequin On The Move
Feb 26, 2022
We travel through time and space only to land inside a department store display mannequin in Philadelphia, revisiting 1987’s hit MANNEQUIN and sequel MANNEQUIN TWO: ON THE MOVE. Are these romantic comedies about mannequins brought to life still moving?
101: “Would You Please Check My Head For Signs of Spoiling?” – Return To Oz
Jan 13, 2022
1985’s RETURN TO OZ scared the hell out of more children than it charmed. That doesn’t stop When We Were Young’s hosts from revisiting it for the podcast as we celebrate releasing 100 episodes of the show.
100: “Bang On My Chest If You Think I’m Perfect” – The Wizard Of Oz
Jan 03, 2022
For the 100th episode of When We Were Young, Seth, Becky, Chris, and returning guest host Jan have clicked their heels together three times to revisit the quintessential film classic THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939).
99: “Help Me Help You” – Jerry Maguire
Dec 11, 2021
The final stop of When We Were Young's Tom Cruise double-feature sets sail on what might be the movie star's ultimate role as the titular charming and conflicted sports agent JERRY MAGUIRE (1996). Does Cruise's performance still complete us?
98: “Take Me To Bed Or Lose Me Forever” – Top Gun
Dec 01, 2021
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 as Part One of our Tom Cruise sets sail revisiting TOP GUN!
97: "There Is No Dana, Only Zuul" - Ghostbusters & Ghostbusters II
Oct 27, 2021
This Halloween season we look back at Ivan Reitman's groundbreaking action-comedy GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) and its spooky, silly sequel GHOSTBUSTERS II (1988). We ain't afraid of no ghosts... but we are a little anxious about the wrath of Ghostbusters fanboys!
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 just hate doing dishes and taking the garbage out, you’ll surely find something to love in our episode on celebrated author, illustrator, poet, and Renaissance Man Shel Silverstein.
95: "He Can't See Without His Glasses" - My Girl
Aug 16, 2021
In When We Were Young's Manic My Girl Monday episode, we reflect on how we spent summers as kids before launching into our discussion of MY GIRL, the Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin movie that made children (and adults) everywhere break down in tears.
94: “Okay To Go” – Men In Black & Contact
Jul 07, 2021
In Part Two of our When We Were Young Early Late Mid-to-Late 90s Summer Alien Invasion Spectacular, here come the MEN IN BLACK (clap clap) and the metaphysical and emotional drama CONTACT. Fly with us through a wormhole back to 1997's UFO mania!
93: "Now That's What I Call A Close Encounter" - Independence Day & Mars Attacks!
Jun 30, 2021
In Part One of our Mid-90s Alien Invasion Blockbuster Extravaganza, we celebrate the 4th of July looking up in awe at Roland Emmerich’s record-smashing INDEPENDENCE DAY and attempt to shield ourselves from Tim Burton’s sci-fi send-up MARS ATTACKS!
92: "You'll Be Dumb With Wonderment" - Moulin Rouge!
May 28, 2021
In Part 2 of our Baz Luhrmann Spectacular Spectacular, we revisit the scintillating (and over-stimulating) 2001 musical that saw Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor belting out pop music’s greatest love songs - MOULIN ROUGE!
91: "My Only Love Sprung From My Only Hate" - Romeo + Juliet
May 25, 2021
We travel back to the mid-90s and then even further back to the 16th century to rewatch Baz Luhrmann's frenetic modern-day adaptation of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET (1996), in Part I of our Spectacular Spectacular review.
90: “It Rubs The Lotion On Its Skin, Or Else It Gets The Hose Again” - The Silence Of The Lambs
Apr 24, 2021
We follow last episode’s discussion of the Best Actress nominees of 1991 with a look at the night’s big winner, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Get a nice bottle of Chianti ready, because this podcast is going all the way to the FBI. Bon appétit!
89: “You Watch Your Mouth, Buddy” – Thelma & Louise
Apr 20, 2021
"You Watch Your Mouth, Buddy" - Thelma & Louise
88: "I Don't Need You Anymore" - #1 Pop Singles Of The 90s
Mar 23, 2021
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 dancefloor - plus more Costner than a decade could hold.
87: "Let Me Hear Your Body Talk" - #1 Pop Singles Of The 80s
Mar 21, 2021
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.
86: “Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.” - The Fly
Jan 02, 2021
We’ve been afraid… VERY afraid… for most of 2020. And to kiss off the year the way it deserves, we’re buzzing about another horror maestro’s take on 50s sci-fi: David Cronenberg’s THE FLY remake.
85: “The Chameleon Strikes In The Dark” - The Thing
Dec 24, 2020
We’re celebrating the holidays a little differently for 2020 by revisiting John Carpenter's horror staple THE THING. Zip up your parka, secure your blood bags, and prepare for a not-so-silent night: this story of immaculate reproduction isn’t so blessed.
84: "In the End It's All Nice" - Requiem For A Dream
Nov 23, 2020
As if 2020 couldn't get any more depressing, we sat down to rewatch Darren Aronofsky's "REQUIEM FOR A DREAM" for our latest episode. Is this acclaimed film about drug addiction just as traumatizing to watch today as it was back in the year 2000?
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 in Part 2 of our "net-trospective."
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
The mid-90s spawned a revival of classic sitcoms from the 50s-70s through Nick At Nite’s Block Party Summer programming. In Part 1 we talk about comfort food TV and check in on the groundbreaking Mary Tyler Moore Show and the horror-inspired The Munsters.
79: “We End Up In Bed Together” – The X-Files Part 2
Aug 16, 2020
In the second part of our X-Files discussion, we revisit impactful and fan-favorite episodes from the show, and the X-Files Movie: Fight The Future - and we discuss the cultural impact of The X-Files and its online fan community. Part 2/2
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. 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. Part 1/2
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! Go ninja, go ninja, go listen to part two of our podcast — back by bodacious demand.
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 — a deep dive into the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES franchise. Do we still feel the Turtle Power after all these years?
75: “Sal’s Famous Pizzeria is Here to Stay” – Do The Right Thing
Jun 13, 2020
Spike Lee’s seminal modern classic DO THE RIGHT THING is no less urgent in 2020 than it was upon its 1989 release, so our cohosts discuss just how difficult it is to “Fight the Power” or do the right thing when that power is armed with a license to kill.
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 Westerns were already dated by the release of BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART III (1990). Do these sequels hold up more than 30 years later, or sink like a hoverboard over water?
73: “You’re Safe and Sound Now, Back in Good Old 1955” – Back To The Future
Apr 15, 2020
Great Scott! We're back! BACK TO THE FUTURE (1985) is still one of the most beloved films from the 1980s, but does the trilogy's premier installment stand the test of time? Join our debate, and stay tuned for Part 2 later this week!
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've got it, dude!
71: "I Am Jack’s Medulla Oblongata” - Fight Club
Oct 09, 2019
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!
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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