Our 'Halloween' pledge: No more dead nudity
The great podcast/audio comment/autoerotic asphyxiation experiment is finally online. And if ANY of those three phrases scare you, it's probably best to just move along and go download some Debbie Gibson tunes or check to see if anyone has responded to your last post on the New Kids on the Block message board.
Our 2-hour-long commentary to 1978's Halloween isn't for the timid. And it would greatly be enhanced if you rented a DVD of the John Carpenter classic to watch while you listen along. It would probably be a good idea to listen once the kids have gone to sleep and you can open a nice romantic bottle of Wild Turkey as well.
Usually, at this point, I'd give you a few hints as to what to expect. I'm not going to this time. Best you experience it the same way we did while recording it: Total surprise, total bewilderment, total disgust.
However, on the remote chance you actually enjoy this week's show, please drop us a comment or e-mail. And let us know which '80s movies deserve the full audio commentary treatment next.
Click here to download the show. Or click here to get 144 far more sane episodes for free via iTunes.
[Publicity photo from Halloween]
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:
How 'bout St. Elmo's Fire?
Posted by: The Man Known Only as.......Rowan | October 11, 2008 at 02:23 PM
How 'bout St. Elmo's Fire?
Posted by: The Man Known Only as.......Rowan | October 11, 2008 at 02:26 PM
We'd probably rather do a movie we haven't covered yet. Plus, Sean hated that flick.
Posted by: Spears | October 11, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I don't remember if you've done a Ghostbusters show. That'll be good one. What with the sequel talk and all.
Posted by: The Man Known Only as.......Rowan | October 11, 2008 at 02:32 PM
I look forward to digging out my copy of Halloween and listening to this. I hope there will be others in the future. Perhaps this can get you two into the online movie commentary business like this site (http://www.rifftrax.com/).
I am a bit disappointed you didn't choose one of the great horror films of the 80s like Nightmare on Elm Street, though Halloween is a fine film. Maybe next time.
Posted by: Ms. M | October 11, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Auto-erotic asphixiaton experiment? OMG Spearsy, this sounds most salacious. I hardly have time to listen to the regular podcasts, much less a 2 hour one? Howevah, Joe is out of town tonite so I will try to listen later. I remember the movie pretty well. I've seen it many times.
Posted by: jo | October 11, 2008 at 03:42 PM
I'm listening without the movie. Like Jo, I've seen it enough to know what's happening based on your comments.
I'd tell you what I'm doing while listening to this epic length 'cast, but then I'd have to kill you.
Posted by: Marissa | October 11, 2008 at 03:52 PM
Meatless Leader,
Here in the land of the bandwidth-deprived, it's going to take the better part of three hours to download this whopper, so I won't be able to listen to it until later.
I gotta go put on my dress uniform for tonight's Navy Birthday Ball, and something tells me by the time Harriot and I get home, listening to a two-hour podcast (even a brilliant one) will be a stretch!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | October 11, 2008 at 03:59 PM
I`ll download the show and i will listen it one of this days.I`m trying to see if i find the movie so i can listen with the movie on.
As i told you before Caddyshack would be a great movie to comment,you have to comment on a campy commedy.Or...Miami Spice!
Posted by: Miguel | October 11, 2008 at 08:57 PM
god, was sean thrashed or what. the giggles, slurring, its frickin hilarious. i might have to go rent it.
Posted by: CHAD | October 11, 2008 at 08:57 PM
im agreeing with rowan, i'd say do a ghostbusters commentary. so many lines, that would be interesting hearing ya'll shots, especailly while drunk.
Posted by: CHAD | October 11, 2008 at 09:01 PM
"Shut up!"
"No, YOU shut up!"
Posted by: Former Producer Dave | October 11, 2008 at 11:03 PM
ok, just got finished watching the movie. makes for an interesting view, pretty funny.
Posted by: CHAD | October 11, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Hey Chad, do you think it would help if the movie audio would be included with the commentary?
Posted by: Former Producer Dave, aka Maestro | October 12, 2008 at 12:01 AM
i guess it wouldnt hurt, but you could hear a lot of it anyway. but if you include the audio, it would have to be at a lower level than the commentary. either way, i was just cracking up at seans drunkness. when he started giggling when jessica arrived, i was right there with him, laughing my a** off. i know he's quite the character, but drunk sean must be a hoot. and i would also guess, he might be hard to keep under control.
Posted by: CHAD | October 12, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Hey, someone take a count of the number of times Sean declares he's going to pass out.
Posted by: Marissa | October 12, 2008 at 01:17 AM
it was alot, marissa
Posted by: CHAD | October 12, 2008 at 01:21 AM
Even though it is, technically, a seventies movie, I think this is a great idea. I'm downloading now and cannot wait to watch the dvd of Halloween (which, as a horror freak, I am legally required to own) while listening to the podcast. Considering how many times I (and many others. I'm sure) have seen most movies discussed on the podcasts, I think commentaries for eighties movies is a great idea and a brilliant way to make us watch them again!
Posted by: J Dub | October 12, 2008 at 04:41 AM
Steve, you mention while the credits are rolling that Blue Oyster Cult has a song listed: DON'T FEAR THE REAPER. It's playing on the radio when Annie and Laurie are driving around smoking pot. Definitely a good choice by Carpenter to sneak it in there.
By the way, I posted that as a trivia question during the live chat.
Posted by: Marissa | October 12, 2008 at 11:18 AM
I almost used Don't Fear the Reaper as the closing music, but it didn't feel right.
Posted by: Spears | October 12, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Did it need less cowbell?
Posted by: Marissa | October 12, 2008 at 11:55 AM
I am glad the rest of the world gets to experience a drunken Spears and Daily. Spears and Wild Turkey is an interesting evening no matter what may be going on...Gobble Gobble
Posted by: Sharpie | October 12, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Hey, I was barely touching the stuff that night!
Posted by: Spears | October 12, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Yeah, I've vouch for Spearsie on that one, Sharpie. Now Sean....that's another story. It'll be "Beer Only" the next time!
Posted by: Former Producer Dave, aka Maestro | October 12, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Me thinks Mr. Daly needs sugar-free Kool-Aid next time. Although, I have to admit he added plenty of color to the podcast. I can't imagine what ended up on the editing room trash bin.
Posted by: Marissa | October 12, 2008 at 07:52 PM
I will reveal some of the editing choices during tonight's chat. I don't have the actual clips.
Posted by: Spears | October 12, 2008 at 08:02 PM
actual clips, now that would be interesting
Posted by: CHAD | October 12, 2008 at 08:17 PM
You should do a commentary on The Evil Dead. Deadites are the only horror movie antagonists that have ever scared me.
Posted by: Aaron | October 13, 2008 at 12:26 AM
I finally took time to listen your podcast.Unfortunately without the movie.Like you guys there,here seems impossible to find the movie.And besides my DVD doesn`t say Hitachi,so it would be difficult to follow you.
Good podcast.I enjoyed it.Sean laughing through half of the show,you talking in the scariest bits.It was fun.Now time for commenting on some campy stuff.
Posted by: Miguel | October 18, 2008 at 11:28 AM
they already did a st.elmo's fire podcast..
Posted by: Wesley | October 22, 2008 at 07:28 AM