'Square Pegs' finally wins popularity contest

It took 25 years, but die-hard fans of "Square Pegs" finally get their wish: The complete series will soon be available on DVD.

A very young (and far cuter) Sarah Jessica Parker starred in the TV series, which lasted only the 1982-83 season. The May 20 release date of the DVD set coincides with the debut of Parker's "Sex in the City" movie.

According to a review by the Washington Post, the three-disc set sadly lacks an audio commentary and deleted scenes. But a short documentary -- "Weemawee Yearbook Memories" -- reunites most of the major players (including Amy Linker, Jami Gertz and Tracy Nelson), who talk at length about the experience of making the show.

Tribute is also paid to actor Merritt Butrick, who played "Johnny Slash." Butrick, also known to "Star Trek" fans as "Dr. David Marcus" (and to "Zapped" fans as "Gary"), died of AIDS in 1989.

Among the highlights of the 20-show set are guest appearances by Bill Murray, Devo, Martin Mull, John Desmore and Tony Dow.

Have faith: George Michael is coming

We told you it was just a matter of getting his ducks in a row: George Michael's "25 Live" tour has finally and officially announced its dates for North America.

The tour begins June 17 in San Diego and wraps up Aug. 3 in South Florida. And yes, he has a date for Tampa -- the St. Pete Times Forum on Aug. 2. Nice!

Click here to see the full schedule. Tickets are $56.75-$151.75 and go on sale at 10 a.m. April 7 at the Forum box office and through Ticketmaster at outlets; www.ticketmaster.com; and (813) 287-8844 and (727) 898-2100.

Also, Michael will release a 2-disc CD set called "Twenty-Five" on April 1. The set features 29 songs; a DVD will have 40 videos.

Trying to decide if this tour is worth the money? Here's the set list for his recent tour stops in Europe:

• Waiting Intro
• Flawless
• Fast Love
• Father Figure
• Star People
• First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
• Praying for Time
• Too Funky
• You Have Been Loved
• Everything She Wants
• My Mother Had a Brother
• Shoot the Dog
• 20 Minute Intermission
• Faith
• Spinning the Wheel
• Jesus to a Child
• An Easier Affair
• A Different Corner
• Amazing
• Too Funky (reprise)
• I'm Your Man
• Outside
• Careless Whisper
• Freedom 90

[AP photo]

80s movies to sober you up

New Year's is long over. Time to empty the trash can of Absolut and Wild Turkey bottles. And Stuck in the 80s is here to help.

Oh no, I'm not going on the wagon. In fact, while you're reading this, I'm floating on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean -- glass of something potent in hand -- taking a much needed vacation.

But these movies will help provide the inspiration that I myself cannot possibly supply.

MOVIES FROM THE 80s TO HELP SOBER YOU UP FOR 2008:

CLEAN AND SOBER (1988): Michael Keaton, Morgan Freeman. If this movie doesn't sober you up, stop reading now. The rest of my list won't help. "The best way to break old habits is to make new ones."

LESS THAN ZERO (1987): Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz. This could also be billed as the Robert Downey Jr. biography on the E Channel. "Do you know that you girls have televisions between your legs?"

BAR FLY (1987): Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway. Should be packaged with "Clean and Sober" as the box-set from hell. "Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead."

SCARFACE (1983): Al Pacino, Michell Pfeiffer. Lesson No. 1? Tony, just pay attention to the next rule. "Lesson number two: Don't get high on your own supply."

ARTHUR (1981): Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli. Actually, I think this movie may be responsible for where I am today. And for my bad luck with potential father-in-laws. "You must've hated this moose."

COCKTAIL (1988): Tom Cruise, Elisabeth Shue. Bryan Brown kills himself with a very expensive bottle of booze, thus negating Couglin's Law. "Anything else is always something better."

MY FAVORITE YEAR (1982): Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker. Pretty much O'Toole playing himself. And who would blame him? "Stone, you can watch me or you can join me. One of them is more fun."

STRANGE BREW (1983): Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas. Too much beer and suddenly you're running around a castle in your pajamas and playing hockey with insane asylum inmates. Ah, who am I kidding? Sounds fun! "My brother and I used to say that drownin' in beer was like heaven, eh? Now he's not here, and I've got two soakers... this isn't heaven, this sucks."

Our sport, our field, our decade

High school football could have been king in the 80s. Seriously.

The best book ever written about it -- "Friday Night Lights" -- was published in 1989. (Why did it took so many years for it to make it to Hollywood and TV?)

And some of the best (and worst) movies ever about the sport were made in the 80s. The best one from any decade? I'll go with 2004's "Friday Night Lights" again, even though it's not nearly as good as the book or TV show -- how weird is that? And as much as I love to watch "Varsity Blues" every time it's on cable, it takes the title for least realistic sports movie since "Gus" -- the field-goal kicking mule. (Alas, it was made in '76.)

Now that the season is about to start again, how about a closer look at the best and worst of the bunch from the 80s.

THE BEST: All The Right Moves (1983)

Stars: Tom Cruise, Lea Thompson, Craig T. Nelson, Christopher Penn.

The plot: A football player and his coach look to escape the steel towns of Pennsylvania.

Realism factor: Aside from the fireworks going off when rival Walnut Heights scores a touchdown, I think it's fairly flawless. Craig Nelson is the embodiment of every high school coach I've ever met (he would of course later go on to prove this again in TV's "Coach.") And yeah, Tom, that WAS pass interference! Next time, go for the ball.

Favorite line: "You're not god, Nickerson. You're just a typing teacher."

THE WORST: Wildcats (1986)

Stars: Goldie Hawn, Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Nipsey Russell, Bruce McGill.

The plot: A female track coach accepts her dream job -- head football coach ... at the worst school in the city.

Realism factor: The female coach is possibly the only realistic angle to the entire movie. Otherwise, you have players break-dancing on the field (that's 15 yards unsportsmanlike conduct), profanity during the plays (another 15 yards and possible ejection) and a 400-pound player jumping high enough to block a field goal. (No flag, but come on!)

Favorite line: "If you're going to shake my hand, I'd rather do you did that before you checked his jock."

THE GUILTY PLEASURE: The Best of Times (1986)

Stars: Robin Williams, Kurt Russell.

The plot: Two men seek to turn their lives (and the fortune of their town) around by replaying an important game from their high school days.

Realism factor: You wouldn't ask how realistic "Field of Dreams" is, would you? Same deal here. Just enjoy the shot at redemption (and secretly wish it could happen to you as well.)

Favorite line: "I was lucky." "No Jack, you were due."

Top 20 guys movies from the 80s

Tonight is one of those rare nights when the stars align, the heavens open and for just a few precious hours, you get a peak at the universe's grand plan.

In other words, it's a guys-only party at the Stuck in the 80s woodland retreat. No wives (and no cell phones turned on so wives can't call), no rules, no napkins. Just cigars, Milwaukee's Best beer (for sentimental reasons), greasy food topped with cheese and cheese-flavored products and the best movies from the 80s we can find.

Here are some movies to consider if you are afforded the similar freedom anytime soon.

TOP 20 GUYS-ONLY MOVIES FROM THE 80s:

For the sports:

• Major League (1989): Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen. "Remember, fans, Tuesday is Die Hard Night. Free admission for anyone who was actually alive the last time the Indians won the pennant."
• Bull Durham (1988): Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins. "The rose goes in the front, big guy."
• Hoosiers (1986): Gene Hackman, Dennis Hopper. "Strap, God wants you on the floor."

For the blood:

• Die Hard (1988): Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman. "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho."
• Scarface (1983): Al Pacino, Robert Loggia. "Every day above ground is a good day."
• Highlander (1986): Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery. "I apologize for calling your wife a bloated warthog, and I bid you good day."
• The Road Warrior (1981): Mel Gibson, Steve J. Spears (seriously, some guy the same name as me played "The Mechanic" in this flick): "I am gravely disappointed. Again you have made me unleash my dogs of war."

For the music:

• The Blues Brothers (1980): John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd. "Your women. I want to buy your women. The little girl, your daughters... sell them to me. Sell me your children."
• Spinal Tap (1984): Michael McKean, Christopher Guest: "Certainly, in the topsy-turvy world of heavy rock, having a good solid piece of wood in your hand is often useful."

For the sex:

• Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982): Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold. "So what Jefferson was saying was "Hey! You know, we left this England place because it was bogus. So if we don't get some cool rules ourselves, pronto, we'll just be bogus too." Yeah?"
• Porky's (1982): Dan Monahan, Wyatt Knight. "What do you use for a jockstrap, kid? A peanut shell and a rubber band?"
• Risky Business (1983): Tom Cruise, Bronson Pinchot. "My daddy used to spank my bare bottom. Now he's gone. Will you take his place?"

For the laughs:

• Night Shift (1982): Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton. "Corndog!"
• Back to School (1986): Rodney Dangerfield, Keith Gordon: "Maybe you can help me straighten out my Longfellow."
• Fletch (1985): Chevy Chase, Joe Don Baker. "Do you have the Beatles' White Album? Never mind, just get me a glass of hot fat. And bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia while you're out there."
• Stripes (1983): Bill Murray, Harold Ramis. "We're all very different people. We're not Watusi, we're not Spartans, we're Americans. With a capital "A", huh? And you know what that means? Do you? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world."

For the bonding:

• Fandango (1985): Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson. "Here's to us and the privileges of youth!"
• 48 Hours (1982): Eddie Murphy, Nick Nolte. "I want the rest of you cowboys to know something, there's a new sheriff in town. And his name is Reggie Hammond. So y’all be cool. Right on."

For the drinking:

• Bachelor Party (1984): Tom Hanks, Adrian Zmed. "Hi, come on in! Drugs to the right, hookers to the left."
• The Adventures of Bob and Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew (1983): Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas. "If I didn't have puke breath, I'd kiss you."

And you remember the jingles used to go...

The name of the group is "The Wrong Trousers," a Coronado, Calif.-based acoustic indie act. (Yep, they have a MySpace page, upon which they claim Alfred Lord Tennyson, Thomas Jefferson and Salvador Dali as influences.)

I can never get enough "Video Killed The Radio Star." (Click here to see a rare live Buggles performance.) Lucky for me, I'll be seeing Asia perform it live Thursday night in Clearwater.

'Tension breaker ... Had to be done'

Today's retro-review: Summer has hit Florida full-force today. So it seems like a good time to review an often-underrated classic -- 1987's Summer School, starring Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley.

The plot: Mr. Shoop (Harmon, in perhaps his finest hour) is a high school gym teacher who looks forward to summer breaks as much as his students do. But this year, he's forced to teach a remedial English class filled with the school's biggest bone-heads. And so, hilarity ensues. And then, of course, hilarity ends when he finds his class must pass a standardized test or he'll lose his job.

Sound familiar: Picture an entire class of Jeff Spicoli's -- "Slow Minds at Ridgemont High" is how one critic compared it. (Read it)

Maybe you remember: Robin Thomas as Vice Principal Gills, channeling the future genius of Steve Carell. or Ken Olandt as Larry, the kid who can't stay awake because he moonlights as a male stripper.

Surely you can't forget: Dean Cameron in his acting opus as "Chainsaw" and a pre-Melrose Place Courtney Thorne-Smith as "Pam," the surfer chick who lusts after Shoop. And Kirstie Alley, when she was still thin and incredibly hot.

One nasty review: "A comedy so listless, leisurely and unspirited that it was an act of the will for me to care about it" -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times. (Read it)

Why we love it anyway: I'm baffled by the bad reviews. This is Mark Harmon's "Citizen Kane" ... Dean Cameron's "Streetcar Named Desire." And Courtney Thorne-Smith's .... well, it's just her "Summer School." But the top 5 quotes below don't even begin to do this movie justice, since so much of the humor is visual and conversational. And the tunes! Who can forget "Happy" by Oingo Boingo and "Mind Over Matter" by E.G. Daily.

Top 5 lines from Summer School:

5. "This menstruation thing? It's a scam! Women are so lucky."

4. "You want me to lie? Okay."

3. "It's just like you said Gills! We're psychopaths! Somebody better call the school nurse!"

2. "Eeeeeyaaaaaaaaah! ... Tension-breaker. Had to be done."

1. "You can't fail me! I stayed sober for this!"

Livin' on the air in Cincinnati

I know I say this every time, but ....

Best opening credits to any 80s series:

For fans of the show, here's the big news: "WKRP In Cincinnati" Season One is now available in stores on DVD. The three-disc sets includes audio commentary from show creator Hugh Wilson and cast members Loni Anderson ("Jennifer Marlowe"), Tim Reid ("Venus Flytrap") and Frank Bonner ("Herb Tarlek").

The set also has some behind-the-scenes featurettes and the infamous "Turkeys Away" episode. (See a clip.)

WKRP TRIVIA CHALLENGE:

1. Where was programmer Andy Travis from -- before coming to work at WKRP?

2. Why is Les banned from conducting interviews at Riverfront Stadium?

3. What's the name of Herb's wife?

4. What was Venus Flytrap's real name? Why did he change it?

5. What was the official "mascot" of the radio station?

Through the eyes of John Hughes

Special 80s montage video here sent by a fan of the podcast:

Wow, incredible stuff there! The thanks goes to David Blanchard, a freelance movie trailer and DVD special features editor living in Los Angeles. Having graduated from high school in '82, Blanchard sat down with Stuck in the 80s for a short Q&A to talk about his love of the 80s.

Still have a vivid memory of your first John Hughes flick?

Blanchard: "'The Breakfast Club' was the first. When I saw the movie initially it seemed very much like an intimate stage play because most of the story took place in the school's library and during one day. It was funny, thought provoking, and very emotional all at the same time. I connected right away."

So does Breakfast Club top your list, or do you prefer another Hughes movie?

Blanchard: "That has to be 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off.' My friends and I probably saw it eight times in the theater alone. Between cable and DVD viewings I've lost count after that. Who doesn't want to be Ferris Bueller? Or at least have him as a best friend. It's just a film that never gets tired."

Any of JH's movies really not click for you?

Blanchard: "Don't hate me, but it's 'Pretty In Pink.' It was great but I still rate 'Some Kind Of Wonderful' above it. Drummer girl Watts is the best!"

Which of his actors really caught your eye?

Blanchard: "Like a lot of people I go straight for Molly Ringwald, even from a guys point of view. To me her characters were the ones you wanted to hang out with, be friends with, or seriously date. She just always seemed 'real' to me."

Putting aside our hero, what other 80s movies really fire you up?

Blanchard: "I'm a huge fan of the 'Back To The Future' movies, especially the first one. Definitely 'Blade Runner', as well as 'Tron', 'Escape From New York', 'E.T.', 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure', and 'Highlander'. Not a lot of people put this on their 80's top 10 lists, but I also really like 'Ladyhawke'."

OK, one last Hughes question. If he ever made a sequel to Sixteen Candles, would Jake and Samantha be together 20 years later?

Blanchard: "I think if they weren't together it certainly would ruin the fairy tale ending of the first one a bit. If they did stay together and down the road had kids, I bet one would be a girl in her teens by now. Yearning to be with that one guy at school who seemed unattainable, she'd eventually turn to Mom for advice...and Samantha would have plenty."

Magic music to make your morning mood

Contrary to what my previous post implied, the Internet did NOT kill the video star. If anything, it preserved our 80s guitar heroes for all eternity. Or at least until YouTube.com goes bankrupt.

Here are five more great live performance to cherish:

Rush - Spirit of the Radio: The definitive song by the Canadian trio? I say it is. And one of many Rush songs that any good "air drummer" knows by heart. See it here performed in Frankfurt, Germany, during the band's "R30" tour. (Click to view)

Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun: Long before it became a commercial jingle for Wendy's hamburgers, it was an anthem of ... well, something unprintable. (Actually, it's about a crush on a girl in high school, according to fan sites.) Enjoy this 1984 performance in London, and particularly savor Gordon Gano's attempt to get the camera man to sing along. (Click to view)

U2- Sunday Bloody Sunday: Everyone knows and loves the live performance at Red Rocks. Try this one though -- 1983 in Germany with Bono introducing the tune in the native tongue of the fans. How long must they sing this song? Probably for every U2 tour until the end of time. (Click to view)

Men At Work - Overkill: Of all the 80s bands reuniting this summer, why can't Men At Work be one of them? Rumors have it that the band is still upset with former frontman Colin Hay over financial issues. In the meantime, relieve the magic in this video from 1982 (and try not to sob). (Click to view)

Big Country - Fields of Fire: Speaking of sobbing, it's hard to watch a Big Country performance without lamenting the untimely and tragic death of frontman Stuart Adamson in 2001. So in honor of Stu, enjoy one of Scotland's favorite bands -- definitely one of the most underrated bands of the 80s -- in this 1983 performance on Britain's legendary TV show "The Tube." (Click to view)

Thirsty for more holiday flicks?

Here's a holiday movie that was released too late to make our list of Top 20 Holiday Movies of the 80s: Home Alone. The 1990 movie was written by John Hughes, but directed by Chris Columbus, who went on to direct the first two Harry Potter movies. (His best directing work of the 80s? The much underrated 1987 flick Adventures in Babysitting.)

If you're a fan of Home Alone, then here's some good news: A new special edition DVD has just been released. The "Family Fun" edition includes audio commentaries by Columbus and Macaulay Culkin, several behind-the-scene featurettes and more footage of "Angels With Filthy Souls," the fictional gangster movie that Culkin uses to spook the burglars.

I'm not a huge fan of the Home Alone franchise or Culkin's, so I'll pass on this offering. I thought the original movie, admittedly clever at times, has been tainted by Culkin's off-screen antics and watered down by the inexcusable pair of sequels that followed. Short of the Jaws and Friday the 13th movies, it's hard to imagine a more painful set of follow-up movies. However, a top 5 list seems appropriate.

Top 5 quotes from Home Alone:
5. "You bomb me with one more can, kid, and I'll snap off your cajones and boil them in motor oil! "
4. "How can you give Kris Kringle a parking ticket on Christmas Eve? What's next, rabies shots for the Easter Bunny?"
3. "No clothes on anybody? Sickening."
2. "This house is so full of people it makes me sick. When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone."
1. "You guys give up yet? Or are you thirsty for more?"

Spending Thanksgiving with John and Steve

Does your Thanksgiving feel a little incomplete? Maybe you forgot the basics: Enjoying a classic flick from the 80s with the ultimate holiday feel. I'm talking about Steve Martin, John Candy and Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Some say this 1987 flick was John Hughes' true masterpiece. It's certainly his best "grown-up" film. But does it beat out Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller? Steve Martin reportedly has said it's his favorite film starring himself. (No, Steve ... Parenthood was slightly better.) Ah, leave the debate for the day after Thanksgiving. For now just enjoy this film for what it's worth.

First a little trivia to whet your appetite:

• Though primarily known as a Steve Martin-John Candy flick, it also features appearances by 80s favorites Kevin Bacon, Lyman Ward (Ferris' dad), Ben Stein and Michael McKean.
• There are multiple references to Hughes' next film -- She's Having a Baby -- sprinkled through the film (it's playing on the TV in the motel room for one).
• The film got an R-rating for a 60-second-long F-word tirade by Martin at the rental car counter. During that span, he uses the word 18 times.
• John Hughes shot more than twice the footage of most movies at that time. A 3-hour version of the movie actually exists, though the director has said it would take tons of editing and production to get it ready for viewing.

Top 5 printable quotes from Plains, Trains and Automobiles:
5. "Larry Bird doesn't do as much ball-handling in one night as you do in an hour!"
4. "If they told you wolverines would make good house pets, would you believe them?"
3. "St. Louis to Chi-town is booked tighter than Tom Thumb's ass."
2. "If I wanted a joke, I'd follow you into the john and watch you take a leak. Now are you gonna help me or are you gonna stand there like a slab of meat with mittens?"
1. "Those aren't pillows!"

Attack of the DVD clones

Sci-fi nerds, rejoice! The original theatrical versions of the first three Star Wars movies are coming to DVD soon. Director George Lucas finally gave into the wishes of hard-core fans who didn't appreciate his tweaked versions of the movies (which Lucas considers the "definitive" version of the movies). The discs will reach stores in September.

Some changes fans will get the embrace:
-- Han Solo pulls his gun first and kills bounty hunter Greedo in the original version of Star Wars (aka A New Hope). Lucas revised the scene in later editions so that Solo and Greedo fired at the same time -- taking away the whole George W. Bush "shoot first, find weapons of mass destruction later" feeling of the scene.
-- Also in the original version, Jabba the Hutt doesn't wander around the Millennium Falcon before Solo, Luke and Obi-Wan depart for Alderaan. (The entire scene with Jabba was later digitally inserted for the revision of the movie).

I could go on and on about the subtle differences, but that would prove only two things: 1) I'm such a geek that I actually know the differences; and 2) You're such a geek that you'd actually continue reading about the differences.

So why did Lucas finally decide to release the original versions on DVD? Because even in a galaxy far, far away, a fat payday is still cause to whoop it up -- Ewok style!