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.
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:
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Tampa Bay. To hear the latest "Stuck in the 80s" episode now, 
Wowsers, Steve! You got this up quickly. I guess Ms. Gibson has that effect on you.
Posted by: Marissa | April 19, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I had a HUGE crush on Debbie Gibson when I was a kid. Hers was the first concert I ever attended when I was in 6th grade.
Does her butt look as good in person as it did in PB?
Posted by: Brandon | April 19, 2008 at 10:45 AM
I admit that I didn't get a close look there, Brandon. I was transfixed by her arms and shoulders, all toned and tanned.
If I keep talking this way, I'm going to "bring the hat," whatever that means today.
Posted by: Spears | April 19, 2008 at 10:50 AM
I just watch the video and my first comment is she looks amazing today!!!
Posted by: Miguel Duarte | April 19, 2008 at 11:05 AM
I can see the blog is no place for a woman today.
Posted by: Marissa | April 19, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Are you kidding? It's practically Women's Liberation Day here!
Posted by: Spears | April 19, 2008 at 11:17 AM
It's drooling guy day. Who are you kidding?
Posted by: Marissa | April 19, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Okay, just because of this podcast, I downloaded 'Electric Youth.' I'm contemplating getting 'Anything Is Possible.' I think Miss Gibson won me over with her intelligence.
Posted by: Bassnote | April 19, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Ugh! Constantine Maroulis? Egads. That's disappointing.
Posted by: Marissa | April 19, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Hey,Marissa i`m not drooling! I just drank a couple of Scotch Whisky glasses in the middle of the afternoon, but that`s all right! Can you believe that this woman never drank in her entire live?
Posted by: Miguel Duarte | April 19, 2008 at 12:20 PM
If anyone would have told me a week ago that I would cop to enjoying a "Debbie Gibson Podcast," I'd have said they were delusional.
Apparently the joke is on me. Not only does Ms. Gibson have it all over Ms. Ringwald as a stage performer, she gives a much better interview as well.
I especially appreciated how you didn't feel the need to bombard her with questions, but instead let her speak freely, allowing HER to shine.
And considering you sprung for the "real bottled water," I bet she'll gladly set aside the double-barrelled surname. Deborah Spears, indeed.
Posted by: Tonianne | April 19, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Every time Deborah tries to bring Steve in, he's busy looking at the questions! Haha!
Posted by: John Hays | April 19, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Better to be caught prepping your questions than caught unprepared in an interview. At least that's what my reporting professor instilled in me.
And I rather liked that Mr. Spears is good with the the double barreled surname. I for one will use this when I become jane (maiden name)-Copeland after Stewart and I tie the knot.
Posted by: jane | April 19, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Deborah Gibson! ! !
Woohoo! ! !
I too had a huge crush on her when I was a teenager in the 80s. Her Electric Youth concert was my first concert I went too. I still have the t-shirt I bought at the concert!
Steve & Sean, you guys rock!
Posted by: keith T | April 19, 2008 at 09:01 PM
two podcasts in a row, first my letter was read on the spring break episode, then i won the mmm on the d. gibson episode. dont i feel special
Posted by: chad | April 19, 2008 at 11:17 PM
It was a great podcast. She was definitely flirty and a consumate professional. She knows how to work an interview! She definitely has a lot more depth that lots of the pop stars of today.
Posted by: Spell Girl | April 20, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Great interview. More of these please! Can you please interview the Coreys (if you haven't already)- Haim and Feldman. That would be awesome.
Posted by: Emily | April 20, 2008 at 12:07 AM
You know, at one point I was working on an interview for the two Coreys, but someone it feel through. I think because whatever project they were working on was postponed.
But they'd be great to have on.
Just so you know, some of the guests we hope to have on the show during the summer include: Cyndi Lauper, the B-52s, Billy Squire, Journey and Colin Hay.
Posted by: Spears | April 20, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Sounds like a great line-up of guests, but the one that excites me most is Colin Hay. That will be truly awesome if you can snag Mr. Hay for an interview. Those of us who have been bugging you for a Men At Work podcast will be satisfied.
Posted by: Bassnote | April 20, 2008 at 08:38 AM
Colin Hay is touring with the Ringo Starr All-Star band this summer, and I've already requested an interview. So cross your fingers.
Posted by: Spears | April 20, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Just so you know, I've still got "Shake Your Love" popping into my head every couple of hours.
Posted by: Walter Cox | April 20, 2008 at 09:47 PM
Walter, you're not alone. I got rid of it. Thanks for shaking it loose again. Damn it.
Posted by: Marissa | April 20, 2008 at 10:03 PM
How cool is Deb or Deborah Gibson ??!! Didn't take much notice of her in the '80s, but now.....
Posted by: Mike F | April 21, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Fun interview. Deborah looks hot too.
Posted by: Plebes | April 21, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Wow.
She's talented, seems to have her head on straight, and (takes a moment to peruse the internet for pictures from a certain men's magazine) Great Googly Moogly! She is undeniably smoking hot.
Here's a sentence I never thought I'd type: "Please sign me up for the Deborah Gibson fan club."
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go clear my browser cache...
Posted by: Brad | April 22, 2008 at 12:25 AM
Deborah is so cool!
Posted by: connie | April 22, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Don't feel too bad guys. In addition to never being high or drunk, Deborah has never been married or had kids. Those 2 things alone age you like nothing else.
Posted by: DenverMatt | April 23, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I thought Debbie Gibson's music was trash 20 years ago, but after going back and listening to some of her songs after the podcast, I'm surprised that I may have been too hard on it. It was hard to like Debbie Gibson when you're wearing a "Ride the Lightening" (Metallica) t-shirt and trying to live life in a way that would make Axl Rose proud.
Posted by: Garrett | April 23, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Been a fan of Deborah since the beginning, glad to see her finally received respect. Great interview! Please invite her back!
Posted by: belle | April 24, 2008 at 05:50 PM
I am from Rutland,Vermont. Deborah Gibson is my favorite performer because Deborah and I are the same age! My date of birth is September 2,1970 which is only 2 days after Deborah's date of birth!
Posted by: Francesco Spallieri | April 27, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Just like Heaven 17/BEF gave Tina Turner a helping hand back to the top, maybe Steve'n'Sean will be responsible for the return of Deb/Deborah Gibson....
Posted by: Mike F | April 28, 2008 at 12:55 AM
I'd love to have Deborah as a frequent co-host. Not sure she'd be up for that challenge though.
Posted by: Spears | April 28, 2008 at 01:28 AM