"The Muppet Show" Season 4, Episode 17. My Take

Yes, this 1980 "Muppet Show" (on youtube HERE, but NOT on DVD!) featured the Stars of "Star Wars"! Don't hold your breath for Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, or Yoda, but we do get Mark Hamill, C3PO, and R2D2. They've busted into the Muppets' studio in search of Chewbacca of all things! 

The invasion from a galaxy far, far away is okay with Kermit. This scotsman (who gargles Gershwin) was set to host, but Kermit feels the "Star" stars might be better for ratings. But that's not all . . . 

"Out of This World" Season 1, Episode 10. My Take

It had been so long since I'd seen this show! I don't know if it's the only episode of the amazing "Out of This World" on youtube, but you can watch this one (Baby Talk) HERE.  Doesn't Dad look great in that shot above?

It's funny how much comes back to you when you see these old episodes, even though it's probably been 25 years since I've seen this one. I feel like I'm already in my cold, cold grave. The episode starts out with Donna exercising with the Cliff and Kendall of his time- Uncle Beano. Beano is so much like Cliff and Kendall that he uses sandwiches as barbells and takes a bite with every rep! Cliff and Kendall would do that too if they worked out! But that's not all . . . 

"Small Wonder" Season 4, Episode 20. My Take

Whoa! Technology in the 80's, right!?! As a kid I was a big fan of "ALF" and "Small Wonder" and so wanted two things: an alien best friend and a robot best friend (the universe gave me Kendall). I wanted a robot like Vicki, the walking-talking example of artificial intelligence that usually wore a maid's uniform. 

From the back, Vicki looked like Teddy Ruxpin when you were changing his batteries. The fun begins in this episode when Dad gives Vicki some kind of upgrade. And if you thought Vicki would be useful before . . .

Now she can converse with animals! And converse she does! But that's not all . . . 

"Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown" My Take

This 1985 "Peanuts" special finds everyone's favorite beagle getting hitched! Yep, 20 years after "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Snoopy finally found the one. 

It began, like many great love stories, with a girl (Peppermint Patty) borrowing a "watch dog" (Snoopy)  one night when her father was out of town. Trouble was- this watch dog ran off in the middle of the night! 

Peppermint Patty insisted that "Chuck" take on the responsibility of watch dog. You can't blame her- she was alone and I seem to remember, that in 1985 Freddy and Jason were slashing people left and right! Charlie Brown declined the dog collar but then . . . 

. . . lost all dignity by accepting a bone. Hey, it was late. He was tired. 

But that's not all . . .

"Designing Women" Season 3, Episode 1. My Take

This episode of the other 80s-90s sitcom that featured four incredibly talented actresses playing four wise-cracking women finds our leading ladies on vacation. (Technically, "Designing Women" starred seven incredibly talented actresses as leads- just not at the same time.) In the shot above, our heroines from Atlanta pay unconscious homage to their predecessor "The Golden Girls." But this pajama breakfast comes later. 

The story starts with our ladies arriving at the condo of Julia's boyfriend (Mark Twain, above). All the women designers have brought their men along, except Suzanne. Suzanne had no man to bring and her pet pig she left with Anthony. 

This is her giving a great speech about being alone and how everyone else can cram it. Suzanna Sugarbaker owned this episode- whenever she wasn't onscreen I was thinking, "What is Suzanne doing? Where is Suzanne?" Personal note: DELTA IT'S NOT TOO LATE! YOU CAN STILL HAVE A COMEBACK! CALL RYAN MURPHY! But that's not all . . . 

Punky Power!

I've been watching numerous episodes of "Punky Brewster" on Youtube, and have had so many A-ha moments while doing so!

First, I was shocked to find a proto-Cliff and Kendall in Punky's obese cousin Louise. She was a wisecracking fatso that never let a minute go by without a self deprecating fat joke. (Sound familiar?) She even arrived in a canary yellow sweat suit that shouted "I Brake For Donuts."**

But of course after a few life lessons in "Punky Power" she resolved to shed the weight! (And she did, in an epilogue Louise returned newly slimmed down). "What is Punky Power?" I hear you asking. Well, Punky describes it as Believing in yourself, never giving up, having faith that things will turn out okay, and knowing you can do anything you want if you really try. I wish you Punky Power today! Of course if YOU use it, you can insert your own name. Fat cousin Louise used "Louise Power" to shed pounds, for instance.

Another A-ha moment occurred when I saw an episode entitled "Reading, Writing, and Rock'n Roll." In this episode Punky was forced to sit out a rock concert by the Pop-Gods DeBarge and made to write a book report instead. Through a believable series of events, Henry (Punky's adoptive father) impersonates a rock journalist and gets into DeBarge's backstage area and convinces the guys in the group to drop by and teach Punky a lesson about the joys of reading. It was an A-ha moment when I realized Henry had used "Henry Power" and reached his goal of instilling a love of reading in Punky, by way of having pop royalty drop by.

They also drop a cassette into the stereo and lip-synch a few numbers for Punky who had to miss the show, but is now reading one of the group's favorite books: Tom Sawyer. And this blond guy is named Chico. From what I can tell he's not really in DeBarge, but just kind of comes on the side like a dinner roll. And he dressed like that. And people accepted his heterosexuality. (He has five children! And was stabbed in 2003, but is very alive). It was the 80's.

See, even Henry was won over and became a huge DeBarge fan! Punky Power to all!!! If you feel like revisiting Punky, start with THIS episode. It's the one where she gets boobs!!

**really.

Jem!!!!!!!!!!!

When you were a 7 year old boy, didn't you just LOVE "Jem"??!?!? I did!! Jem and the Holograms, the evil Misfits, earrings that transformed you into a rock star, purple hair- all the necessary ingredients for a young boy's favorite show!!

For some reason my parents made me stop watching it! They said it was because one of the characters threatened suicide. Perhaps it was because I should have been watching G.I. Joe? Who knows!! I did watch the loin-cloth loving He-Man though!

ANYWAY- "Jem" is coming to the cable network Hub on May 31st! Do you have Hub? It's a channel way out on the outskirts of town. Kind of a quasi-Nick at Nite. They also air "Family Ties" and "Batman" from the 60's (another tights-wearing show I loved at that age).

News!

Look What's on DVD!

Oh Ted- I'm still in love with you!! "Hey Dude" the Nickelodeon show that ran in my youth (and your's?) is finally coming to DVD!

What happened to the days when kids were entertained by an ethnically diverse group of teens working on a dude ranch? These days it's all superstar tweens hiding in plain sight and seizure cartoons! Don't they see how dreamy Ted was?

If you're not in it for Ted (I don't understand you), but you might like the fact that it also stars Marcia Brady from the Brady movies and some butch gal who must have been related to Jo from "The Facts of Life." Oh! And a real live Native American! (He provided the ethnic diversity). At least this is what I can recall from my days as an 8 year old hopped up on Little Debbies watching Nickelodeon. Don't quote me!

Sitcoms of the 1980's

If you've got some time to kill on the internet, you may want to head HERE and read an in-depth look at the sitcoms of the blessed decade of the 1980's. It was then that the sitcom nearly died and then was reborn bigger than ever, thanks primarily to The Cosby Show.

Some of my favorite shows were created then (Roseanne, The Golden Girls) and nearly every show mentioned warms me with a misty nostalgia, just as one of the best of the decade- The Wonder Years- would want. Even the shows they toss of as being "less than stellar," like Mr. Belvedere, Growing Pains, or The Facts of Life make me long for the days of poofy shoulder pads and New Coke. And don't you agree with the 10 year old me, that Mike Seaver was super cute, right? I mean before he became over-the-top born again?

*Okay I will admit that Full House is awful. I LOVED it as a kid- even had stacks of VHS tapes full of what I called my favorite show- but unlike those gals in Miami or the denizens of Lanford, IL- Michelle and her outs-cream haven't aged well.

Something Something Flux Capacitor!

It's the (72nd) birthday of the one and only Christopher Lloyd who gave us the indelible Doc Brown that took us to the future and back and back and forth like that several times.

GREAT SCOTT!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Don't let Biff get the sports almanac!!!!!!

Looks Good!

YES!!!

Pee-Wee's 25!!

Happy Anniversary to one of the greatest motion pictures ever made: "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure"!!

The world was forever changed for the better 25 years ago today when Francis stole that bike and (reportedly) hid it in the basement of the Alamo! I only ever think of Pee-Wee when I hear of the Alamo, and will forever be grateful for that!

I'm a loner Dottie, a rebel! I lived it Dottie. It was on a night just like tonight, on this very stretch of road . . . Au revoir Simone! I'm ready, she's ready, we're all ready!!! Take a picture, it'll last longer. I know you are but what am I? The stars at night are big and bright- deep in the heart of Texas! I say we let him go. BRILLIANT!

You Know Who Was Cute in the 80's?

Rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy!! I just watched "St. Elmo's Fire" for the first time ever and was hit with these facts!!
Now if the movie had been made today Andrew McCarthy's character really would have been gay and not just in love with Ally Sheedy, right? Right?

Speaking of 80's teen heart-throbs, how can one leave out the mega hot Johnny Depp in that "Nightmare on Elm Street" of his? The outfit alone!!!

I could never have pulled that look off. Kendall and I would be locked behind bars if we wore the mid-riff exposing jersey over those sensuously loose sweat pants! On Will Ferrell it would be considered comedy- on Cliff and Kendall: tragedy at its zenith.

Talk About Your Halloween Treats!

The Sexy 1980's!

In a bold move- the paparazzi have leaked some pictures from the "Sex and the City 2" movie shoot that perfectly coincide with this week's episode of Cliff and Kendall: Coast to Coast!

This portion of the movie has the potential to be goofy- but all if forgiven by seeing the gals in their 1980's wardrobe! LOVING IT! These pictures are totally making my life a little bit better!

New Episode: The Awesome 80's Show!

We totally give the material decade what for!!! Check out the preview video above and the real thing on itunes and www.cliffandkendall.com!

For Kendall

This is why Kendall and I are the way we are. It's also the reason Kendall believed he was a mannequin in the story his mother told on our Mother's Day episode. Come- experience intense deja vu with us, won't you??

Thank God: E.T. Staying Home

From IMDB:

"Director Steven Spielberg has ruled out plans to make a sequel to kids' movie classic E.T., insisting it's "a closed story".

The filmmaker was reported to be in talks with the movie's star Drew Barrymore, who featured when she was just six years old, to reunite her character Gertie with her extraterrestrial friend in a new installment of the picture, 27 years after the original.

But Spielberg has already dismissed the notion, telling Empire magazine: "I'm never going to make E.T. II - E.T. is a closed story.

"It had a beginning, middle and a definite ending, and we had nowhere to take it except to go home with him. Nor did I want to bring him back to Earth for a second time."

Old Things are Funny

They Meant it When they Said "Never"

In the latest news of everything ever made once being made again- "The Never Ending Story" will now be remade for another generation of kids.  Atreyuuuuuuuu!!!!

So get on your flying dogs and let's go!!! Can't wait til they remake the sequels!  I'm not sure why they don't write new stories anymore.  Here's a story: 

A man is riding down the road and meets some kid- who knows magic and uses his skills to rebuild houses but he is intercepted by a Dark Angel who flies on a big dog- like the one in "Spirited Away" not the one pictured below. So this kid is kidnapped and the guy from the beginning has to get him back with the help of his saucy girlfriend he met while he was washing in a tub of water near a river stream and she was beating some dirty clothes on a rock. Anyway- they run into trouble when they meet a slightly evil leprauchaun on their way to rescue that magic kid.  Add in some songs by Phil Collins and/or Nas and HIT is written all over the first royalty check!