"This is the sound of my soul"

Spandau Ballet will re-release its signature hit "True" on May 5 to mark its 25th anniversary, according to the band's official website.

The digital release will include the original single, a new mix by guitarist/songwriter Gary Kemp and original co-producer Tony Swain, a remastered album version, a live version of the song and -- if that's not enough -- a live recording of the band's other big hit, "Gold."

This summer, the band expects to release Spandau Ballet Sight and Sound, a CD/DVD featuring all the band's hits and accompanying videos.

Bryan Adams still cuts like a knife

Never thought I'd be saying this, but where has Bryan Adams been when we needed him most?

Actually the answer is Europe, where a musician can still butter his bread with just a guitar and a microphone. No fancy beat-box producers required -- or wanted.

Now the rest of us can enjoy the fruits of his travels: Adams' new CD -- "11" -- hits Wal-Mart on  May 13 (another exclusive deal for the mega-mart). However, the disc has already been released in Europe and is available as an import from the usual online vendors for those who don't want to wait.

Don't worry about hurting the laid-back Canadian's feelings either way. Adams seems comfortable out of the hottest spotlights, chugging along since his 1980 self-titled debut. Hard to believe it would take him four years to get his first big break on the charts with 1984's "Lonely Nights." Still, his patience has paid off with 21 top 10 hits and 65 million records sold.

So what does the new disc offer? Some quick highlights:

OUT OF LOVE: Adams is at his best when singing about the highs and lows of the heart. "Something to Believe In" laments the total loss of faith when a lover leaves him emotionally stranded: "Cruel twist of fate keepin' me awake when I need to sleep to take away the hurtin'." Been there, done that. And it still aches to hear it again.

BACK IN LOVE: How Bryan can flip the switch from the beautiful and necessary misery of heartache and suddenly crank out an epic celebration like "She's Got a Way" is the key to his career: "Whenever she touches me, no one else can feel, as much as me."

EUROPEAN INFLUENCE: According to the press kit, the album was recorded in hotel rooms and backstage at concert venues in Europe over the last two years. The result: a clean, retro feel totally devoid of today's electronic influenza.

A LITTLE HELP FROM A FRIEND: Though "11" is mostly produced solely by Adams, uber-produer "Mutt" Lange (Def Leppard, AC/DC, The Cars) joins back up with him for "I Thought I'd Seen Everything" and "We Found What We Were Looking For."

CATCH HIM LIVE: Adams is doing only a short 15-city tour across the U.S. in May to promote the new album. (One show lands in Orlando, Fla.) Check out his official website for dates and locations.

BUY OR NO BUY: First answer these questions: Did you like the latest offerings by REO Speedwagon, Loverboy, R.E.M.? Then give this disc a chance. On the other hand, are you listening to the new Madonna CD for the 10th time in three days? Stay away ... stay far, far away. Not even Bryan Adams can help you.

Wendy & Lisa call the office

It's a weird week at Stuck in the 80s when Wendy & Lisa call the office -- to talk to the TV critic, not me.

Earlier today, Eric Deggans got the chance to chat with the two lovely sirens, formerly of Prince and the Revolution, who are in the news now for expertly handing the scoring duties for TV's "Heroes."

I spent maybe 60 seconds on the phone with the pair beforehand, gushing childishly my declaration of never-ending love before handing the microphone over to Eric, who promptly did the same -- only with less drool.

However, I did manage to get two tasty bits of gossip from the interview. Lisa did most of the talking while Wendy shouted in tid-bits from the elsewhere in the room.

IS THERE A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH PRINCE: "I just hate him! (laughing). No, we totally love him. We both love him so much it's stupid. And he is not an easy boy to love sometimes. He is crazy. Yes, I'm sorry. You can quote me. Crazy!"

STILL IN TOUCH WITH HIM? "We've been through so much together with him, and we still communicate, we still come back together. He always knows he can always get us. ... Even to this day, he still sends tracks ... and says 'Will you put a guitar track on it?' "

For fans out there, Wendy & Lisa say they're currently working on a new CD of their solo work. And the soundtrack for "Heroes" was just released in the last month.

The excommunication of Madonna

How many more mind-numbing, techno-laden albums must we endure from Madonna before we come to this painful realization: The Material Girl we knew and loved from the '80s is long dead and buried. She's no longer one of us.

Her latest disc -- "Hard Candy" -- bears more resemblance to a Britney Spears collection of b-sides than anything else. Perfect for the booty-bumping, Red Bull-saturated twenty-something crowd -- but total heresy for the older set of us who prefer to remember the subtle but surreal pleasures of tunes like "Live to Tell" and "Crazy for You."

Times pop music critic Sean Daly reviewed "Hard Candy" on his blog yesterday, and it's not hard for 80s fans to read between the lines: "Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Timbaland and Pharrell bring their synthy booty beats and marching-band samples, Madonna purrs out every dumb 'give it to me' cliche, and we all dance naked," he writes.

Meanwhile, I writhe in agony. Timbaland again? Isn't it enough he destroyed the latest Duran Duran album? How much longer must we be subjected to his Vanilla Icing of the pop music scene?

The only song I could come close to enjoying was "Incredible," a six-minute-long lamentation about  ... hell, I have no idea. The message goes back and forth, but one verse stood out:

"You don't know what you got 'til it's gone.
And everything in life just goes wrong.
Feels like nobody's listening
And something is missing."

I'll tell you what's missing, Madonna ... It's you.

[AP photo]

In the air tonight? Phil's retirement

Phil Collins is ready to call it a night. The Genesis frontman and solo splendor told a British newspaper that he's done with touring and recording.

Read the full story from the Times of London and decide for yourself how sincere his retirement notice is. Personally, I think he's just a little tired from the worldwide reunion tour that Genesis wrapped up. And since the band didn't get anywhere close to here in Florida, I figure they have unfinished business.

"Having joined a reformed Genesis for a world tour last year, he says he's through with the touring and there's no album planned. He'll write, but only because he doesn't know how to stop writing," the Times says, without quoting Collins per se.

Apparently, he's smarting from that dreadful Cadbury commercial where a gorilla plays the drums along to "In The Air Tonight." Hey, whatever pays the bills, I say. If the Rolling Stones can sell out to Microsoft, and Modern English can cash checks from Taco Bell, so be it.

Come on, Phil. One more solo tour at least! Maybe smaller venues. (I have one in mind here in Clearwater that'd be perfect. You can have the dressing room next to mine.) I'm sorry, but these are desperate times. You can even play "Susudio" if you want.

[AP photo]

Bon Jovi's bad medicine

Jon Bon Jovi plays the St. Pete Times Forum on April 27. [Atoyia Deans | Times]

If there's any aging rocker who really should insist on staying Stuck in the 80s, it's gotta be Jon Bon Jovi.

During his show in Tampa on Sunday night, he won the audience over with hit after hit from the golden decade. But not before planting them firmly in their seats during his more recent work.

Give credit to Bon Jovi. What appreciation he couldn't earn through faux country songs, he solicited through butt wiggles and toothy grins. The guy knows how to work an audience.

The show finished up just before 11 p.m. Here are some quick observations.

HIT THE HIGHWAY: Opening the show with the title track from his new "Lost Highway" disc was an omen for the night. The first half of the show was littered with tunes from this rightly unappreciated album. Hard to believe that Bon Jovi has cranked out only 10 studio albums in 25 years, and this is the best they can do?

PARTY TIME, BATTALION STYLE: If beer sales at a Bon Jovi concert could be an consumer confidence indicator, we'll soon be out of our long economic depression. I felt like we were filming a Budweiser commercial tonight.

WHAT THE ?!?: Name one musical instrument that has no business in a Bon Jovi concert. If you said "violin," you're today's lucky winner. But there it was, played by a hottie that looked like she was picked out of the crowd for the honor. Still, I kept expecting the Dixie Chicks to walk out on stage.

FRIENDLY FANS: One thing you gotta love about a Bon Jovi show: There is no shortage of revved up female party-goers. It's the ultimate Ladies Night. From the one who kept offering Sean her drink to my cute, next-door neighbor who used her cell-phone to light up my notebook while I scribbled down these gems of wisdom.

JON NEEDS A VACATION: The rehearsed stage banter is starting to feel a little tired, Jon. Maybe what you need is 5 years off the concert circuit. Maybe restart the acting career. Just take time off and recharge the live performance batteries. Your fans will be waiting when you get back.

MARRY ME JON!: I lost count of how many "I (heart) Jon Bon Jovi" and "Mrs. Bon Jovi" shirts I saw in the ranks of female fans tonight. You get the feeling they're just happy to be breathing the same air molecules as their hero.

OLD SCHOOL: I was never a fan of "Runaway" -- until tonight. They ripped through it like it was 1983 all over again. That's what I call keeping the faith. Thanks, guys.

CHANGE OF PLANS: "Livin' on a Prayer" was slated to be the first encore, but it ended up being the first set finale tonight. "Dead or Alive" proved to be the final encore. An oddly sedate way to end things.

PICK UP THE TEMPO: "It's My Life" seemed like it was a beat too slow. In a way, that was the theme of the night. Come on, guys. It's an anthem! Don't play it like you're the opening act to a funeral.

PLAYING TO THE CROWD: Jon donned a Tampa Bay Storm jersey for the encores and said coach Tim Marcum and Bucs coach Jon Gruden were in the crowd. On NFL Draft Day? Impressive.

TAKE THAT BRUCE FANS: People thought I was insane for saying Bon Jovi was the ultimate East Coast rocker, over grampa Bruce Springsteen. Bruce was here last week and drew about 16,000. Bon Jovi -- a little more than 20,000. Glory days, yeah, they'll pass you by.

OK, EVEN I SANG ALONG: "Bad Medicine" is one of those tunes that your body forces you to participate in. I'm not ashamed to admit I gave Sean Daly a sweaty bear-hug when the band launched into it. (Just tape up those ribs, Sean. They'll heal in a few weeks.)

FINAL GRADE: A B-minus maybe, but only because they were happy to play their 80s hits. After all the hype, I just expected more. Maybe it's because the performance is so slick and rehearsed. Or maybe because it's nearing the end of the tour. It certainly can't help to be supporting an album that sounds nothing like their best work.

Still, a night of 80s rock with thousand of drunken fans is a nice way to end the weekend. Maybe that's the magic of Bon Jovi. All it takes for it to work is a microphone, a stage and a neverending supply of golden amber inspiration.

OK, pretty boy, let's see what you got

Jon Bon Jovi -- singer, actor, part own of an Arena Football team. Nah, none of these titles do him justice. Can we just agree that you also have to throw in words like "heart-throb" or "pretty boy?"

Tonight, Pretty Boy Jon plays Tampa's St. Pete Times Forum, and I'll be there to catch my first-ever Bon Jovi show. I gotta confess: I'm going in there with a bit of a chip on my shoulder. Last night, I caught a re-run of VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s, and "Livin' On A Prayer" was the top song.

Are you kidding me? It sends me into a rage every time. I want to cry "Fix!" and hunt down the warped computer hackers in Jersey who concocted this crime.

I'll get over it by the 7:30 start time. If you tune into the blog tonight, I'll try to blog some from the show. Maybe even include a photo of me and Ritchie Sambora sharing a beer bong or two.

In the meantime, here's the set list that the band was playing earlier this month:

1. “Lost Highway”
2. “Born to be My Baby”
3. “You Give Love a Bad Name”
4. “Complicated”
5. “Runaway”
6. “I Love This Town”
7. “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”
8. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”
9. “Blaze of Glory”
10. “Welcome to Wherever You Are”
11. “Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night”
12. “We Got It Going On”
13. “It’s My Life”
14. “Bad Medicine” (with partial version of “Shout”)
15. “I’ll Be There For You”
16. “You Want to (Make a Memory)”
17. “Bed of Roses”
18. “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
19. “Have a Nice Day”
20. “Keep the Faith”

Encore:
21. “Livin’ on a Prayer’
22. “Last Man Standing”
23. “Wanted Dead or Alive”

We went a little nuts this episode

The latest episode of Stuck in the 80s is online. What's the topic? It's a Reader Mailbox Extravaganza, including the Angriest Letter Ever!

Other highlights: Great song picks for an 80s disco night, our plans for a Stuck in the 80s get-together in either Tampa or Las Vegas, and co-host Sean Daly's story about his epic trip to the kind of doctor that men don't like to talk about in public. Right, Fletch? (At least he didn't use the whole fist, Sean.)

Click here to download the show. Or click here to get all our shows delivered free via iTunes. Either way, you'll have a ball. Maybe two.

'Thriller' really livens them up

Contestants from the Bravo TV series "Step It Up and Dance" perform at the  Tribeca Film Festival. Click here to see their performance video. [Getty Images]

Another day, another 80s anniversary. This time, we mark the 25th anniversary of the landmark "Thriller" video by Michael Jackson.

MJ fans in New York tried to create "the world's largest zombie disco" this week by staging a mass dance exhibition at the Tribeca Film Festival. Among those in attendance, video director John Landis and Jacko choreographer Vincent Patterson, who tried to coach a few steps for the masses assembled.

Rollingstone.com reports the "disco" never really happened: "But the night was electric nonetheless due to the carnival atmosphere, a big-screen outdoor screening of 'Thriller' and 'The Making Of Michael Jackson’s Thriller 'and just witnessing the awe that classic Michael Jackson still inspires in fans all these decades later."

A few more "Thriller" factoids:

• In 1999, MTV ranked it as the best video of all time. No surprise. (The real surprise: Madonna's "Vogue" is No. 2?!?)
• With a budget of $800,000, it was the most expensive music video made at that time. (Jackson would later spend more than that for four future videos.)
• The 45-minute "Making Of" video was filmed largely so that -- paired with the 15-minute video -- it could be sold in stores.
• Both the "Thriller" video and Landis' other opus -- "An American Werewolf in London" -- offer the same disclaimer at the end of the credits: "Any similarity to actual events or persons living, dead, (or undead) is purely coincidental."

Divorce already? What 'cho talkin' about?

This photo released courtesy of Twentieth Television shows actor Gary Coleman, left, and his wife Shannon Price on the set of "Divorce Court." [AP photo]

It is with great sorrow and complete humility that I announce this tragic news: Newlywed Gary Coleman is set to get a divorce from his wife of less than year (and who's about half his age).

The 40-year-old Diff'rent Strokes star and his 22-year-old wife, Shannon Price, will appear on TV's "Divorce Court" on May 1 and 2, according to the Associated Press. The couple wed in August 2007 after meeting on the set of the comedy flick  "Church Ball."

Among the issues they'll discuss with Judge Lynn Toler: Gary's intimacy issues and their monthly fights.

"If he doesn't get his way, he throws a temper tantrum like a 5-year-old does," says Price, according to a show transcript given to the AP. "He bashes his head in the wall, too."

If you leave? Wait, they're back

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark -- oh please, just call them OMD -- is heading out on the road again.

The band is planning a UK tour for the fall, to be followed by more dates in Europe. No word on whether they'll hope a plane a play a few other continents, according to OMD's official website.

OMD also is set to release a CD and DVD recorded during their live concerts from 2007, when they were playing their classic 1981 "Architecture and Morality" album again. The CD version of "OMD Live" is out already, while the DVD will debut within the next few months. All the tracks were recorded live at the Hammersmith Apollo in London in May 2007.

Pacino's "cockroaches of the '80s"

Al Pacino has made exactly 2,347 movies during his long, distinguished career. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration. But it seems that way. So isn't a little odd that only FIVE of them appear in the '80s? What gives?

Turns out, I know the answer. Pacino -- who turns 68 years old today -- pretty much retreated from films in the 80s after several of the flicks he starred in were commercial and critic disasters. We're talking dreadful, unwatchable stuff like Revolution (1985), Author! Author! (1982) and Cruising (1980).

Instead, he spent the decade on stage, which does me no good for this blog, since I've yet to write a "Top 5 Stage Performances of the '80s" list -- nor am I likely to do so anytime in this lifetime.

So say hello, and happy birthday, to my little friend. A little extra "Scarface" love today.

TOP 5 "TONY MONTANA" LINES FROM SCARFACE:

5. "I always tell the truth. Even when I lie."

4. "I bury those cockroaches!"

3. "All I have in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break them for no one."

2. "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."

1. "Say hello to my little friend!"

John Cusack is a "prima donna?"

We've forgiven Australia for so many things: Paul "That's not a knife!" Hogan, Midnight Oil, and even those dreaded Vegemite sandwiches. (Damn you, Men at Work, for implying they were so tasty!)

But now Aussie actor Paul Leyden is spouting off that 80s hero John Cusack is a "prima donna." Unless that's yet another Down Under slang word for "cool, beer-swilling Cubs fan," this means war.

"John Cusack was one of my favorite actors until I met him," Leyden said during a radio interview, according to Australia's Daily Telegraph (which, given the country's odd behavior, could actually be a telegraph instead of a paper). "I have to say one thing - and this is my favorite line when people ask me what I think of John Cusack - he plays nice guys on film. So, read between the lines."

The two worked recently together on the set of "The Factory," a horror movie starring Cusack and written by Leyden that's due for release in 2009.

I know what you're all thinking: "Who the hell is Paul Leyden anyway?" Good question. I had to look it up myself. Leyden's pretty much a journeyman TV actor who has popped up now and again in various shows. He has played the role of "Simon Frasier" in "As The World Turns" for the last few years as well.

In other words, when it comes to reliable commentary about stars like Cusack, Leyden is a few kangaroos short of a zoo, even in a land where "the beer does flow and the men chunder."

To his credit, when the Vegemite hit the fan, Leyden backed down, saying his comments were "lost in translation."

"I feel terrible that I've said something about someone I have absolute admiration and respect for," he told the Herald-Sun. "I was joking around."

"Those summer nights are calling..."

This could be a big summer for die-hard Journey fans -- both of them. No, just kidding. Though I was mocked via e-mail last week by a new friend who is completely baffled with my love affair with the band: "I really, really hate Journey. Do you now rescind your friendship?" she asked.

It's Journey, baby! Love means never having to sing "I'm sorry" in falsetto.

Things seem to be clicking again for our San Fran friends. The band just unveiled a redesigned website, a brand new singer, a new album is coming in June and a U.S tour begins in July.

The new album is "Revelation" and is set for release June 3. Don't expect any advance reviews; the band's management says no copies will be made available to critics before the release date.

"Revelation" is actually planned as a three-disc set. The first disc will have 11 re-recorded Journey classics, presumably with Arnel Pineda now on vocals instead of Steve Perry. The second disc has 11 new songs. The third disc is a concert DVD.

Journey will back up "Revelation" with a tour, set to begin July 9 in Denver. For Tampa Bay fans, Journey is is set to play Tampa's Ford Amphitheatre with Heart and Cheap Trick on July 30. Still no word on when tickets go on sale. I'd gladly pay double to sit an ice chest instead of a regular seat. Outdoor shows in July? Who's cryin' now!

Achin’ to be reunited? Maybe ...

As Spearsy tries to get his bearings -- it's all ball-bearings these days -- on his first day back to work, correspondent Jane files an emergency Stuck in the 80s post:

In the wake of this week's reissue releases of their first four albums, The Replacements are entertaining the idea of a reunion, giving hope to '80s indie rock fans for the first live taste of the group since they disbanded in 1991.

Remastered versions of "Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out the Trash," "Stink," "Hootenanny" and "Let It Be," originally produced on the Minneapolis label True/Tone, have been released through Rhino Records, with new bonus tracks on each, including alternate versions, demos and some surprises. Of note are covers of Bill Haley & the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" and "Hey Good Lookin' " on "Stink" along with T.Rex’s "20th Century Boy" and my personal favorite, "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)," initially performed by the DeFranco Family, both on "Let It Be." The reissues of the band’s remaining major label albums originally released on Sire/Reprise are due out later this year.

Per Billboard.com, Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson have been fielding offers to perform in a number of venues, including the respected Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with what would be a revamped 'Mats lineup. Original drummer Chris Mars is retired from the music business, and lead guitarist Bob Stinson died in 1995.

"We actually talked about it again this year ..." Stinson said. "At the last minute, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do, so we didn't do it. But I think Paul and I have something to offer each other still."

"I'm very hesitant about dragging the name out there and what damage we could do to the legend," Westerberg said. "But, I don't know. The records hold the key to the whole thing."

JANE'S TOP 5 FAVORITE REPLACEMENT TUNES:

The only "Sure Thing?" Moving stinks

Hurray for the cable guy, I'm finally back online after my long move. Actually, it was a move of about two miles, but you try packing and unpacking 236 DVDs of 80s movies in 48 hours. Still looking for my copy of "The Sure Thing." I'll cry myself to sleep tonight if I don't find it by sundown.

Having just completed my first move in 8 years, I'm suddenly feeling empathy toward Tom Hanks' character in "The Money Pit," a movie I absolutely depised and couldn't connect with until my fourth trip to Target yesterday. (Not a good thing when the cashiers all know you by your first name and noticed that you've changed shirts twice during the day.)

Thanks to all the well-wishers out there concerned over my physical and mental well-being over the last few days. I can report no scrapes, bumps, broken bones or other ailments at this time. However, I'm pretty sure my downstairs neighbors will beat me to a pulp if they have to endure another two days of listening to me drop boxes and smash into walls all hours of the night.

For now, just a quickie list.

TOP 5 "OH, I HEAR YA" QUOTES FROM THE MONEY PIT:

5. "That's why I've gotta sell the house. It turns out, Carlos was Hitler's pool man."

4. "UP and DOWN, UP and DOWN! Strong strokes! PAINT! Don't tickle. And don't smoke!"

3. "Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him."

2. "I'm speaking so loud I'm hallucinating! For a while, I thought the Care Bears were here!"

1. "Ahh, home crap home!"

The godfather of '80s television

This afternoon, the role of the Stuck in the 80s blogger will be played by Jane:

Cocktails and dreams everyone! Spunky Stuck in the '80s cub reporter Jane here, filling in for Mr. Spears, who is up to the top of his handsome head in packing material and moving boxes, furiously searching for the one with the towels in it, so he can finally take a shower. Dude, it's got to be there somewhere -- good luck!

Today we're celebrating the birthday of one of the seminal figures in television: the late Mr. Aaron Spelling, born April 22, 1923. (Alas, Spelling passed away in 2006. No word on whether the sea-plane sprinkled his ashes over a waving Mr. Roarke and Tattoo.)

Known now more as the father of media gadfly Tori and the godfather of "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place," Spelling was first and foremost a man of the '80s. You couldn't turn on the tube in those days without encountering one of his programs on the screen. I should know -- I watched most of them.

From the one-two punch of "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" on Saturday evenings, which I would tune in to before getting ready to go out to some late-night college party; to the original must-see TV of "Dynasty" on Wednesday nights; to the charming Nick-and-Nora throwback sleuths Jonathan and Jennifer Hart.

I did draw the line at watching some Spelling shows. He was also responsible for "Life with Lucy" -- the awful sitcom that served as Lucille Ball's last staring role. Nobody's perfect.

So grab a glass of champagne from Isaac, our friendly "Love Boat" bartender, and let's toast to ...

AARON SPELLING'S TOP 5 CONTRIBUTIONS TO 80s TV:

5. THE CATCH PHRASES: He provided us with "Da plane! Da plane!" ..  "Smiles, everyone, smiles" and "Love, exciting and new..."  True confession: I have Jack Jones crooning the "Love Boat" theme on my iPod. Shut. Up.

4. THE ULTIMATE 80s BABE: He signed not one, but two paychecks for Heather Locklear (T.J. Hooker and Dynasty), thus garnering the eternal gratitude of men young and old everywhere.

3. THE FASHION: He was single handedly responsible for the popularity of shoulder pads, huge jewelry pieces and shellacked, sky-high coiffures, thanks to the fashion-consciousness of "Dynasty" and its spin-off, "The Colbys." Admit it, you yourself sported one or all of these looks or dated someone who did.  This was the fashion of the day, and we were all slaves to it.

2. KIRK, YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, MY OLD FRIEND: He gave William "T.J. Hooker" Shatner and his hairpiece something to do during the '80s other than attending Star Trek conventions.

1. THE GUEST STARS: He kept half of Hollywood employed via the enormous amount of guest star opportunities on his shows. When those opening credits rolled for "The Love Boat" or "Hotel" or "Fantasy Island," you never knew whose name would pop up: Andy Warhol, Shirley Jones, John Ritter, Roddy McDowell, Carolyn Jones (who was married to Spelling in the '60s), Sonny Bono, Ethel Merman, Charo. The Screen Actors Guild must have loved this guy. As did the Retired Actors Home.

Here's to you, Mr. Spelling. Thanks for the memories.

Moving out with Richard Pryor

Today is Moving Day for the Stuck in the 80s mansion. So as I try to squeeze my collection of a-ha import CDs, "Police Academy" DVD box set and life-sized Ione Skye plush pillow (I gave her my heart...) into new 1-bedroom apartment, I thought I'd give you a moving-theme blog item.

TODAY'S RETRO-REVIEW: 1988's "Moving," starring Richard Pryor, Beverly Todd and Randy Quaid. Directed by Alan Metter ("Back to School" and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun.")

THE TAGLINE: "On the New Jersey Turnpike, no one can hear you scream."

THE PLOT: Arlo Pear (Pryor, with the best character name of all time) is a family man with a nice job in New Jersey. But after being laid off, the only similar job he can find ... is in Idaho. (Wow, this practically writes itself.)

MAYBE YOU REMEMBER: The great Morris Day (of Morris Day and the Time) makes a cameo. Man, someone get Morris a better acting agent. He could have been solid gold in the '80s.

SURELY YOU CAN"T FORGET: A very young Dana Carvey, as the man with multiple personalities hired to drive Arlo's car to Idaho. And no, it's not his first big-screen credit. Carvey was in 1981's "Halloween II" as "WWAR Assistant."

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID: The Washington Post said: "The movie seems to have been conceived as a kind of fantasy of contentment and affluence for the black audience, and its message seems to be, 'Yes, it's true. We, too, can be as insufferably upscale and boring as whites.' "

WHY WE LOVE IT ANYWAY: It's sure a lot better than "The Toy." And with a rich cast of cameos -- including Dave Thomas -- it's hard not to enjoy getting into the moving spirit. Just keep Quaid away from my boxes of porn material.

TOP 5 MEMORABLE LINES FROM "MOVING":

5. "Keep the weed whacker, Frank! Be happy with it because you have to friends! Nobody wants to talk to you!"

4. "I gave him the wrong g---amn finger!

3. "Who you think you talkin' to? I'll stomp a mudhole in your a--, poop butt!"

2. "Ma'am, that dog hasn't farted since March '78."

1. "There's no G---amn way, I'm G---amn moving to Ida-son of a bitch, s--t eating-ho."

Are you ready for Bruce?

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band hits Florida this week -- though a few days later than planned.

Springsteen delayed a couple of dates after the death of keyboardist Danny Federici last week. His show originally scheduled for tonight in Tampa is now Tuesday. Am I going? Nah, I'm not a huge Bruce fan. Remember, I'm the same idiot who argued that Bon Jovi was the better East Coast rocker.

Plus, I doubt he'll play enough of the songs that I really enjoy. And by that, you know what's coming next.

TOP FIVE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN SONGS OF THE 80s:

To all the duets I've loved before...

Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson. Ann Wilson and Mike Reno. Phil Collins and ... just about everyone. Like it or not, the '80s might be the ultimate decade of the duet.

But what were the best -- and worst -- duets of the 80s? That's right, time to build another list in anticipation of a future podcast.

As always, here are some guidelines. The artists don't need to be '80s artists per se, though that would help in their "greatness" -- but the song itself needs have been released in the decade. Feel free to add bonus points if it plays a significant role in another '80s phenomenon (a movie soundtrack, landmark concert, TV show, etc.) For the "worst-of" list, consider the cheese factor. And I personally will take points off for remakes of songs from earlier decades.

Here are some to consider...

FIVE GREAT DUETS OF THE 80s:

Almost Paradise (Ann Wilson and Mike Reno):  The prom theme for everyone who graduated high school in the mid-80s and love theme for "Footloose." [video]

Separate Lives (Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin): Haunting, poignant and it never gets old -- unlike the movie -- "White Nights" -- in which it appears. [video]

Don't Give Up (Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush): A contender for the top spot thanks the pedigree of the two singers and the fantastically simple video by Godley & Creme.

Under Pressure (Freddie Mercury and David Bowie): Tainted for a decade when Vanilla Ice sampled it for "Ice Ice Baby," this song has the No. 31 spot on VH-1's list of 100 Greatest Songs of the 80s. [video]

Close My Eyes Forever (Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne): Ah-ha. Tripped you up with a hard-rock entry. See if you can tell Lita apart from Ozzy in the video.

FIVE DREADFUL DUETS OF THE 80s:

Ebony and Ivory (Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney): "Side by side on my pee-yano!" [video]

The Girl Is Mine (Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson): "I'm a lover, not a fighter." Yeah, we know, Michael. That's what freaks us out. [video]

State of Shock (Mick Jagger and Tina Turner): "State of Denial" is more like it. Easily one of the most painful songs of the 80s. [video]

Dancing in the Streets (David Bowie and Mick Jagger): Recorded for Live Aid, so I feel a little bad putting it on this list. Allegedly, their first choice was to cover "One Love." Bob Marley just got lucky, I guess. [video]

To All The Girls I've Loved Before (Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson): Words simply fail me at this point. [video]

OK, gang, time to fill in the blanks. Help us compile the best and worst.

The fountain of Electric Youth

We've been teasing you all week about the Stuck in the 80s podcast with Deborah Gibson. (Doesn't "Deborah Gibson-Spears" have a nice ring to it?) But now the wait is over.

We went first-class all the way for her visit here. Bought some real bottled water (and we're considering auctioning off her half-used bottle on eBay). Invested in some quality clear plastic cups. Sean Daly even wore shoes that day.

So set aside a good 45 minutes for this show because Deborah will weave some brilliant tales from her 20-plus years in the entertainment business, including the scoop on her frequent visits to the Playboy Mansion.

Click here to download the show. Or click here to get all our Stuck in the 80s podcasts via iTunes. There's also the 12-minute video of highlights from the video available too.

I'm here til 2pm today if you want to chat along while you listen.

'You don't treat me like your punk, ok?'

Call me a masochist, but I love 1989's "Best of the Best." I'll watch it every time it's on cable -- which seems like every Friday night about 2:30 a.m.

What's great about it? Surely not the disturbingly simple plot. Or the odd casting of James Earl Jones as a Tae Kwon Do coach for the U.S. national team. Not even the ballooning figure of the late Christopher Penn as cowboy hat-wearing board-crusher.

It's Eric Roberts. It was the last great role for an actor who has managed to snatch B-movie status from mouth of a once-promising film career.

Roberts turns 52 years old today. How will he celebrate? Depends on what dinner theater he's performing in tonight. Here's a birthday list for you, Eric.

TOP 5 ROLES OF ERIC ROBERTS IN THE 80s:

5. BEST OF THE BEST (1989): "Pop it, Pop it Tommy, POP IT!"

4. THE COCA-COLA KID (1985): "Is that the Australian sound? I mean, do we have the Australian sound here?"

3. RUNAWAY TRAIN (1985): "Hey Manny, You don't treat me like your punk, ok?"

2. STAR 80 (1983): "Well, you can take your magazine, you mansion and your movies and shove'em ALL up your a-- now."

1. THE POPE OF GREENWICH VILLAGE (1984): "Horses ain't like people, man, they can't make themselves better than they're born."

[AP photo]

Four unexpected words: Boy George on tour

Last time we saw Boy George, wasn't he sweeping streets on prison work release or community service? Or chaining his friends to bedroom walls?

Well, the Boy is back in town. Pollstar.com reports that Boy George has a series of concert dates planned for this summer, including a few stops in the U.S. out on the west coast.

I can't speak for all of 80s Nation, but I'd rather see a Boy George impersonator now than the real thing. You know, someone who'll dress Old School and play the classics. And let's face it, someone who doesn't like one of the Munsters.

[AP photo]

We're still lost in her eyes

Deborah Gibson's in-person visit this week still has the Stuck in the 80s headquarters building in sunny St. Petersburg, Fla., in a tizzy.

And why not? She was the last great singer-songwriter of the '80s, and she'd probably still be kicking out Top 10 hits today if that plague of grunge, boy bands and Britney wannabes hadn't infected the music biz in the '90s.

But don't write Deborah off just yet. She told us yesterday she has an album's worth of ideas and songs -- and she's just waiting for the right time to launch the comeback bid.

Here's a short video with highlights from our conversation with her. You'll have to wait until the weekend for the full podcast tribute.

Me and Deborah? Only in my dreams

Our groundbreaking -- nay, just flirty -- interview with Deborah Gibson is over, and though pop music critic Sean Daly and I feel forlorn and deflated after watching her drive away, I'm left with one beautiful consolation:

Sean got the goodbye handshake. I got the goodbye hug.

My co-host is delirious with rage and envy. And I may never wash this shirt again -- which really wouldn't be a first, since I'm not sure it was washed when I put it on today.

We shot video of the interview, so expect to see that soon. The full podcast interview won't be available until Saturday, I'm guessing. In the meantime, here are some highlights:

ON DEBBIE VS. DEBORAH: "Everybody in my real life for the first 16 years of my life called me Deb or Deborah. The record company came along ... and they made up names. They wanted to go with 'Debbie G' ... go with just 'Deborah.' So by the time they came back around to 'Debbie Gibson,' I was like, 'Fine!' "

ON HER SQUEAKY CLEAN IMAGE: "I've never touched a drug. I've actually never been drunk in my life. I've never had a whole drink -- I don't like alcohol."

ON TODAY'S YOUNG CELEBRITIES: "It definitely is a different world. But it also is a little ridiculous. Too many kids are getting the message that if you buy the right $3,000 handbag and dance on the right table in the right club you'll have a career. The media is rewarding that behavior and handing people what appears -- from the outside -- a career."

ON HER 2005 PLAYBOY APPEARANCE: "It's funny for me to watch other people squirm when I was so comfortable with it. ... I came up with 8,000 creative ways of creating g-strings. Boobs and booty -- a day on South Beach."

Oh, I know you want the scoop on her frequent visits inside the Playboy Mansion, her latest flame and how she keeps her tanned skin so soft to the touch. You'll have to wait for the podcast for those details -- 'cause Daly sure can't talk with expertise about that last detail!

Will she bring the hat today?

It's Deborah "Seriously, Steve, no more jokes about Debbie" Gibson Day here at Stuck in the 80s! In just a few hours, we'll have her sitting two feet from me and Sean Daly, who upon wise suggestion from our readers will be forced to wear a Hannibal Lecter mask for everyone's safety.

We're trying to think of fun ways to surprise her during her short visit with us. We could, quite possibly...

• Challenge the self-proclaimed "pop music princess" to a trivia challenge...
• Have Sean serenade her with a falsetto medley of Gibson's top 10 tunes...
• Or just go ahead and grant her a restraining order against us as soon as the podcast is finished. Yeah, that might seem most practical. It's the gift that keeps on giving ... from 100 yards away.

In the meantime, enjoy Stuck in the 80s uber-fan David Peterkofsky's "Best of Deborah Gibson" playlist:

She just can't shake his love

You know how to tell if you're still relevant and beloved? When you have stalkers! (And not just the lovable kind that send you bags of Funyuns or Sean Daly's head edited onto a Tom Selleck photo.)

Deborah "Don't Call Me Debbie" Gibson has filed for a restraining order against 44-year-old Spanish man who runs a Gibson fan club, alleging that he follows her on concert tours and has even shown up -- out of the blue -- at the front door of her home.

According to Gibson's filing, Jordi Bassas Puigdollers also left a note under her door last week asking to meet in person in El Paso, Texas. "If you like, contact me," the note said, according to the Associated Press. It was signed with his phone number and included his e-mail address, which begins with the moniker "debhead."

AND ISN'T IT A SMALL WORLD BECAUSE ... Deborah "I'm serious about not calling me Debbie" Gibson also is going to be our guest this week on the Stuck in the 80s podcast! And get this: She has offered to appear in person for the interview! (Get a bucket for Sean's drool.)

Gibson is in Florida this week to promote her performing arts summer camp ("Camp Electric Youth") and her online singing competition ("Total Pop Star"). This year also marks the 20th anniversary of her  accomplishment of becoming the youngest person to write, produce and perform a No. 1 hit -- 1988's "Foolish Beat."

Got a suggested question for Deborah "It's okay to call me Deb" Gibson? Drop me a comment.

World's worst Motley Crue story

I remember the first time I ever heard of Motley Crue. It was the early '80s, and my high school in nearby Clearwater, Fla., was holding its twice-a-year lip-sync show, which was a big deal back in those days -- concert lighting, huge amplifiers, fake smoke, the works.

I'm sitting right down in front of the stage when the faux Crue is announced. Out come these gorgeous girls with their hair teased up and their bodies wrapped tightly in spandex. I immediately recognized them from the stoner-mallrat clique, but they never looked this good!

The sold-out crowd of probably 1,000 hormone-infused teens jump to their feet for the chest-shaking, hip-grinding, burlesque club performance of "Shout at the Devil." When it's done, I lean over to my friend and say with a straight face, "Wow, I think Motley Crue is a hotter girl-group than the Go-Go's!" He readily agreed.

Imagine the shock and horror -- well, the embarrassment -- the next day when I purchased the latest Crue album only to discover they weren't actually females. I've never forgiven Vince, Tommy, Nikki and Mick for that gender-bending splinter in my young psyche.

So imagine the cold sweat when I discovered that Motley Crue has just announced they're hitting the road again for a mega-tour. This time they're doing it right -- far less spandex, I hope, and the shows start right here in Florida in July. For those of us in Tampa Bay not mentally incapacitated by high school lip sync shenanigans, there's a show at the Ford Amphitheatre on July 3. Click here for a full list of dates.

Asia's 'Phoenix' is an odd bird

Just a year after drummer Carl Palmer told the Stuck in the 80s podcast that "the world is not waiting for an Asia album," that's exactly what we have.

"Phoenix" hits store shelves today, but Asia fans might be surprised to hear that buying it isn't a no-brainer decision.

"Phoenix" is a prog-rock masterpiece in many respects, but in achieving that, it sets aside a lot of what made Asia such a guilty pleasure to some of their fans.

Don't look for many FM-friendly hits here. There are no worthy descendants to "Heat of the Moment" or "Don't Cry." Instead, you'll hear 12 tracks -- many slowly paced as ballads -- that are beautifully composed and performed by four artists who finally seem comfortable showing off their musical roots.

Hard-core music critics who appreciate each of the four members' long-steeped history in legendary prog-rock acts will absolutely treasure this disc. But some Asia fans are going to wonder where the fun, catchy melodies went. Here are some other thoughts:

CHEER UP, JOHN: Bassist and vocalist John Wetton often turns to sadder personal moments for inspiration ("The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," "Don't Cry"). The misery continues in "Heroine" and "Alibis."

A SEQUEL: Listen carefully to "Never Again" and it's like you're hearing "part 2" to the pessimistic  war-anthem "Wildest Dreams" from the band's debut album. "Never again will I bear arms against my brother ... Never again will I spill blood of any mother's son."

'YES' FANS WILL BE HAPPY: Guitarist Steve Howe's imprint is much bolder on "Phoenix" than any previous Asia album. His guitar work finally breaks free of the swirling keyboarding of Geoff Downes, and the pair of songs Howe writes -- "Wish I'd Known All Along" and "Over and Over" -- are two of the most memorable.

A TASTE OF ALPHA: Looking for a tune that reminds you of "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes?" Try out "I Will Remember You," a more mellow cousin of the tune that highlighted the band's last group effort. "Locked in my memory, your silhouette. The only face I see, I can't forget."

AN 'EXTRAORDINARY' FINALE: The disc's last song -- "An Extraordinary Life" -- was written by Wetton after his heart bypass surgery last year. Finally here (and in "Nothing's Forever") you get a taste that John -- and maybe the whole band -- is happy, healthier and having fun again. "So, seize the day. Wake up and say, this is an extraordinary life. Enjoy today, come what may."

If there's an echoing refrain and message from "Phoenix," surely this is a worthy one.

'I want more boom boom boom!'

Neil Diamond, honorary '80s star for the day, is heading out on tour again. Click here for the full slate of dates. For those of us in Tampa Bay, he's got a date Oct. 24 at the St. Pete Times Forum. (Tickets go on sale April 21.)

When you hear Neil Diamond, you probably think "Cherry Cherry" or "Sweet Caroline." Nice tunes, but what goes through my head is the 1980 movie "The Jazz Singer" -- easily one of the worst movies featuring some truly great music.

"The Jazz Singer" actually was the second movie my family purchased on VHS after we acquired our tape player. (The first? That was "Can't Stop The Music" -- for $80!!) So needless to say that -- like every other 80s movie out there -- I know every line of the "Jazz Singer" by heart now.

My favorite character? Not Diamond's "Jess Robin." Nah, it's Paul Nicholas playing the obnoxious punk rock singer "Keith Lennox." A singer and stage performer for years, Nicholas would find fame in the U.K. later in the '80s as the star of the TV sitcom "Just Good Friends." For now, hopefully he's happy that one of his "Jazz Singer" quotes made the list today.

TOP 5 FAVORITE LINES FROM THE JAZZ SINGER:

5. "That ain't no brother! That's a white boy!"

4. "That was, um, very nice. Now why don't you just piss off and take those four clowns with you."

3. "Hello? ... Hello again?"

2. "I offered him my body. He settled for ice cream."

1. "Boom boom boom! I want more boom boom boom!"

Dr. Feelgood meets Mr. Joystick?

Def Leppard and Motley Crue are set to become the first two bands to release a song first using just a video game.

The Crue released "Saints of Los Angeles" today on the Xbox version of the game Rock Band. Def Leppard will release "Nine Lives" on Thursday (April 17) on Guitar Hero 3. Both tunes will later be available for download at the usual music sites.

"I know from personal experience how much more you get into the music by playing the game – which is why we were keen to explore this opportunity," Def Leppard singer Joe Elliot told Gigwise.com.

Never gonna give up rick-rolling