Do these guys look dangerous?
Word is starting to spread about the pain and humiliation about to be heaped upon me for creating Stuck in the 80s.
iTricks.com, a website for magic news, has an item today about Penn &Teller's upcoming show about "the good old days," featuring a segment on Stuck in the 80s. Other than the "Me Decade" zinger, it's right on the money. And it even appears readers there have some empathy toward the 80s.
"Ah, the 80s. Everything was perfect then," said one comment. "Dennis DeYoung was in Styx where he belongs. Uri Geller was obscure once again. And most importantly, Steve Perry was in Journey, not that other poseur. Whatever! Gag me with a spoon."
Yes, the 80s, when Penn & Teller were the stars of a 1989 flick called "Penn & Teller Get Killed." Poofy Dennis DeYoung hair and all.
Still, I appreciate the support from the magic community. Now if I can just get Gob Bluth and Harry Anderson on board.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Some pimping of "The Final Countdown" might pique Gob's interest...can't help you with Harry.
Posted by: jane | January 10, 2008 at 04:37 PM
I don't think I have heard 'gag me with a spoon' since the 80s. lol
Posted by: 80sfan | January 10, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Dear Lord is this movie really that old? I thought it came out in the 90's. Amusing enough for a Saturday night, I guess. Give my regards to the Bullsh@t gang, would ya?
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | January 10, 2008 at 08:16 PM
I just caught them in "My Chauffeur" the other day on cable. Great little cameo.
BTW, someone suggested we do a whole podcast episode on slang of the 80s. I would guess "gag me with a spoon" would come in close to the top of the list.
Posted by: Spears | January 10, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Like, totally, Steve! Like, I'm so sure!
Posted by: Marissa | January 10, 2008 at 08:51 PM
there's a song worth a listen or two...Valley Girl by Zappa! Even inspired the making of one of your favorite movies Steve!
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | January 10, 2008 at 09:03 PM
The only 80s slang I think I used was if you were officially dating someone exclusively, you were "going" with her.
Which still drives my mom crazy. "Going where?" she'd ask.
Posted by: Spears | January 10, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Considering how little Rudy Cosby spanked them on Celebrity Fear Factor, I'm fairly confident you can hold your own in their presence.
Posted by: Tonianne | January 10, 2008 at 09:05 PM
or how about a show on Zappa in the 80s? or at least a show about the PMRC senate hearings and the repercussions still felt today? (like the explicit lyrics stickers, the prosecution of Luther Campbell and 2Live crew, and Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys..all a direct result of the witch hunt started by Tipper Gore ( one reason I felt dirty voting for Al in 2000, but the alternative was not too appealing either...and look how that has turned out...thanks Florida and the Supreme Court!) ok, enough venting....
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | January 10, 2008 at 09:07 PM
er...make that Huxtable.
Posted by: Tonianne | January 10, 2008 at 09:08 PM
So I was on a website of 80's slang.. and I know I didn't get into the whole 'Valley Girl' slang.. but "Eat S*** and Die", was surely at the top of my list. Along with awesome, 'veg out' and 'bite me'.
Posted by: Carla | January 10, 2008 at 09:15 PM
My friends and I only used Val-speak when we were intentionally trying to be foolish.
I did have a friend that ended every phrase with an upward inflection. Every statement was in the form of a question, but not in the Jeopardy fashion. I think she still does that. Which explains why we rarely speak to each other.
Posted by: Marissa | January 10, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Yeah, I think that would be slightly annoying Marissa!
Posted by: Carla | January 10, 2008 at 09:19 PM
Dude, that was totally tubular...like, gnarly, man!
Posted by: Marissa | January 10, 2008 at 09:19 PM
True confession: I went through a very unfortunate phase my freshman year of college when I partook in Valley Girl speak fairly regularly, much to the dismay of my boyfriend at the time and my pals. Fortunately, it was short-lived.
I also went through a phase when I would add Spanish words to my vocabulary for no good reason -- much like the Peter Scolari character on Newhart. This was not, alas, as short-lived as the Valley Girl phase.
I'm so ashamed.
Posted by: jane | January 10, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Jane, you should hang your head in shame ... with the rest of us who were part of a newfound culture. As if! Like, oh my Gawd! It's like, Oh my Gawd! ya know? totally...
Posted by: Marissa | January 10, 2008 at 09:52 PM
It'll be fine..
What could possibly go wrong!?
*give 'em HELL, Steve!
For all people on Earth who are stuck in the 80’s you are our knight in Member’s Only jacket and Ray Ban glasses (sun glasses which you only wear at NIGHT of course).
Posted by: uglykid80s | January 10, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Penn has a new video blog at http://crackle.com/c/pennsays
You can also find archives of his radio show at http://pennfans.net
Posted by: Jon | January 11, 2008 at 04:52 AM
Douglas, as I recall Penn and Teller Get Killed was one of those movies that was in limbo for a while after it was completed, so it may very well not have been seen by most people until the early 90s. I know I didn't see it until it came out on video. Not even sure it played in all that many theaters.
Posted by: GlennS. | January 11, 2008 at 09:29 AM