'Tension breaker ... had to be done'
I thought I was wasting time this morning by watching Summer School on cable before work. (Note to '80s Nation: You are NEVER wasting time by watching '80s movies. EVER.)
Today's important piece of mascot trivia: Mr. Shoop (Mark Harmon) is teaching summer school at Ocean Front High School, where the mascot is .... ta-dah! ... the Sharks! (Click here to see more '80s high school mascots.)
A little more Summer School trivia for a Friday morning...
- Harmon is wearing the exact same model of Hawaiian shirt that Montgomery Cliff wears in From Here to Eternity. At movie's end, Harmon and Kirstie Alley make out in the surf, a la Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the same classic flick.
- The same school used in this movie was also used in Karate Kid three years earlier.
- Does that musical score sound familiar? Yep, it's by Danny Elfman, who also contributes his song Happy to the soundtrack (heard during the opening and closing credits).
- Mr. Shoop takes over the remedial English class for the summer because the original teacher wins the lottery. That teacher is played by ... Carl Reiner, who was also the movie's director.
Click here to relive our Tribute to Summer podcast, including Sean Daly's very weird theory about Mark Harmon's chest.
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.
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I actually did the tension breaker thing before a Spanish exam in high school. My teacher wasn't amused, but several students appreciated the sentiment.
Posted by: Eric S | November 08, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Yet again, Mr. Spears prompts me to make a visit to my Netflix list! It's now next in my Queue!
Posted by: Brent D | November 07, 2008 at 06:48 PM
My favorite line from Summer School, "Fact: you know why so many drunk drivers get in wrecks? Because they don't learn how to drive drunk."
What ever happened to Dean Cameron and Gary Riley?
Posted by: julie in nc | November 07, 2008 at 05:42 PM
Wow, I haven't seen that movie in ages. Thanks for the reminder. I need to try and find it again.
Posted by: sarcasmisonemoreserviceioffer | November 07, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Glad you clarified, because I was sure you meant "boinked."
Posted by: Spears | November 07, 2008 at 09:29 AM
That's "picked" not "oicked". &^$$*# typing
Posted by: Bassnote | November 07, 2008 at 09:26 AM
Love the movie "Summer School". I oicked it up on DVD a while ago. If i could find the soundtrack on CD, I will be a truly happy man.
Posted by: Bassnote | November 07, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Ah, that's a most excellent podcast. I highly recommend it.
Doesn't that one also have the tale of the sweaty tip?
Posted by: Marissa | November 07, 2008 at 09:07 AM