Guess who's coming to Tampa Bay...

This summer's biggest 80s show -- The Regeneration Tour -- has announced it will play Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on Aug. 30.

And yes, that's the same tour that a handful of Stuck in the 80s fans -- myself included -- are flying across the country to see on Aug. 2 in Las Vegas. (Surely there are other things to do in that town, right? Aside from getting "Ione Skye" tattooed across my chest.)

The lineup for the Clearwater show is slightly different than other stops on the tour. The Human League, Belinda Carlisle and Dead or Alive won't be on this leg. Instead, Missing Persons, the Romantics and A Flock of Seagulls will join ABC and Naked Eye. Personally, I think the lineup is just as good for the local show.

You know that what means: I'll definitely be up for watching that show again later that month. So anyone up for coming down to Tampa Bay that weekend, give me a holler.

I don't like ... Bon Jovi?

Check out this rare video of the Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays" -- featuring a duet with Bob Geldof and Jon Bon Jovi:

 

Seemed like a good for today. But it's not the most bizarre duo I found today. Here's Bon Jovi and Pavarotti singing "Let It Rain." Want to stretch it a little more? Try Bryan Adams singing "O Sole Mio" with Pavarotti -- and he's fantastic.

Retro-review: "This is my moment"

 

SPECIAL MOTHER'S DAY RETRO-REVIEW: 1983's "Terms of Endearment," starring Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine and Jack Nicholson. Written and directed by James L. Brook (from the novel by Larry McMurtry).

THE PLOT: Emma (Winger) is the rebellious daughter to Aurora (MacLaine), a stuffy, emotionally distant mother who disapproves of her daughter's husband (the always great Jeff Daniels) and life. It takes Emma's illness -- and an affair with her neighbor (Nicholson) -- for her motherly instincts to finally kick in.

MAYBE YOU REMEMBER: A sequel -- "The Evening Star" -- was released in 1996, with MacLaine and Nicholson returning to play their roles from "Endearment." The movie was a dud both with critics and the box office.

SURELY YOU CAN'T FORGET: The supporting cast was simply amazing -- even the bit parts played by Danny DeVito and John Lithgow. But Nicholson stole the show as the raunchy, retired astronaut "Garrett Breedlove," a character that didn't even exist in the novel. But believe it or not, he wasn't the first pick for the role. Burt Reynolds, James Garner and Harrison Ford all were in line in front of Nicholson, who won an Oscar for his work.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID: "This is a wonderful film. There isn't a thing that I would change, and I was exhilarated by the freedom it gives itself to move from the high comedy of Nicholson's best moments to the acting of Debra Winger in the closing scenes." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times.

WHY WE STILL LOVE IT TODAY: You could drop this movie into any decade, and it would still make you sob like a baby before the final credits role. That's the magic of director James L. Brooks. But don't discount the chemistry of a handful of actors -- Winger, Lithgow, DeVito and Daniels -- who at that moment in time were just discovering how great they could be.

TOP 5 "MOM" QUOTES FROM TERMS OF ENDEARMENT:

5. "OK, you're allowed to say one mean thing to me a year. That'll do until you're 10."

4. "Grown women are prepared for life's little emergencies."

3. "My daughter is in pain. I don't understand why she has to have this pain."

2. "Impatient boys sometimes miss dessert!"

1. "This is my moment."

'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.

Willie and Scott ... friends forever

We recorded our epic "Top 10 TV Theme Songs of the 80s" podcast today, and now I'm stuck singing "Charles in Charge" at my desk over and over and over again. (And if click this link, now it's in your head too.)

Where did the song fall on the list? You'll have to wait for the weekend to hear the show and discover. However, I will reveal that, during an uncomfortable moment of silence in the show, I  confessed my never-dying admiration for the Scott Baio/Willie Aames dynasty of acting.

Which makes you wonder: How much longer must we wait for our podcast tribute to 1982's "Zapped?" Click here to see the never-released trailer for the movie.

"... Someone still loves you"

It was one of the most sublime moments in '80s music: A sold-out Wembley Stadium falling in love again with Queen during the band's 1985 Live Aid Performance. The highlight of their short set -- "Radio Ga-Ga" -- the one time all afternoon when everything came together, if only for four minutes.

Whenever possible, I recommend starting your workday by playing the song. Nothing bad can happen when you start the day with an upbeat Queen song. (Better than picking "Who Wants to Live Forever" or "I Want To Break Free.")

But is "Radio Ga-Ga" just a happy phenomenon, or was it one of the truly great "anthems" of the '80s? I'm thinking of making our Sunday night chats on the blog a regular event -- what does everyone think? Maybe 8 or 9 p.m.? We'd have a topic to get us started -- I was thinking "name your favorite anthems" might be a good start. You know my feeling already ...

"You had your time, you had the power. You've yet to have your finest hour."

Famous 'dos of the 80s

Sadly, given our advancing ages, most of us are well beyond having to worry about frosted highlights, extra-strength hairgel and other hirsute adventures.

But that doesn't mean we can't drag our hairy heroes through the mud again. I mean, come on, Limahl. Are there fishing lines holding those hairstrands up?

Today's challenge: Name were the best celebrity/musician hairdos of the 80s.

I'm just jealous, because I was born with Pete Rose hair -- completely straight, fly-away hair that refuses to conform to any modern style. Unless I use tons of gel, but then I look like Crispin Glover.

Feel free to consider actors, celebrities and musicians for the list. Here are some obvious inclusions:

MIKE SCORE (A Flock of Seagulls): Perhaps the poster man-child for interesting hair. Sadly, he's bald now. (And he says he hates playing "I Ran" -- go figure.)

HOWARD JONES: His hair is sorta halfway between Mike Score's and that MTV Veejay Alan Hunter. Sadly, these days he looks more like Christopher Lloyd in "Back to the Future."

THE B-52s: Just Kate and Cindy. Fred looks just fine.

AIMEE MANN ('Til Tuesday): Once sported the infamous "rat tail," which really should be the official hair accessory of the '80s.

ANNABELLA LWIN (Bow Wow Wow): She went mohawk -- and au natural -- for an album cover. One problem. She wasn't 18 yet.

Add your nominations to the list. We'll unveil the final ranking on a later date. In the meantime, go visit a stylist and ask for the featured look. Time to bring back a classic!

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.

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!

Never gonna give up rick-rolling

Hillary Clinton, Scientologists and the New York Mets -- they've all been "rick-rolled." And if you clicked play on the YouTube video above, now you have been too.

The Internet prank to trick innocent web-surfers to click on Rick Astley's 1987 song "Never Gonna Give You Up" as many times as possible is nearly a year old now, according to media reports.

The Mets fell victim this month when the team's online poll, asking fans which song to feature as a sing-along during the eighth inning, was hijacked and Astley's tune was "picked" over much more obvious choices.

Feel free to drop a comment with your favorite rick-roll site. Here's a good one.

Viva Las Eighties

I know you'll find this hard to believe, but I firmly believe it: Las Vegas is stuck in the '80s too.

I just got back from a short visit, and I was amazed at what I uncovered. First, of course, there's this very trendy "weiner" shirt. It just beckoned me inside one of the otherwise nondescript tourist souvenir shops. I thought: "Brilliant! It'd make a great prize for future Name that 80s Tune and Mystery Movie Moment segments."

Then I saw the $30 price tag and decided against it. But don't lose faith. There's more.

THE MUSIC: Standing at a urinal in tears after blowing $90 in 3 minutes, what music is playing in Harrah's restroom? "Enola Gay" by OMD. Yeah, I should have stayed at home -- or least away from the crap tables -- yesterday too.

THE FAKES: Go see any impersonator show (there are dozens to choose from). Guess which performers get the biggest howls from the audience: Madonna, Prince and Michael Jackson. And I know this will just sound like bashing, but Madonna's impersonator was more attractive and sounded better than the real thing -- at least her British accent sounded real.

THE DEALERS: At least one casino, the Imperial Palace, hasCelebrity Lookalike Dealers. At least I hope that isn't the real Billy Idol dealing cards there. In the midnight hour, he cried blackjack, blackjack, blackjack!

THE SHOWS: Last time I was here, Sheena Easton was playing the Hilton. But unless Lynn-Holly Johnson was sitting on my lap while Sheena sang "For Your Eyes Only" for two straight hours, I wasn't interested. This visit: No '80s acts camped out here at all! I'd like to think that's because they're still raking it in on the regular tour circuit -- and not because Englebert Humperdinck makes for a better draw than Rick Springfield.

THE DRINKS: After enjoying a few Romulan Ales for breakfast (beer with blue food coloring) at one hotel, it's always nice to find some Bryan Brown wannabe who'll juggle the bottles around "Cocktail" style before making me a Red Eye. The only thing missing in Vegas -- Elizabeth Shue naked by a pool waterfall. But there's always next year.

Give me the knife, George?

I've been known to bungle and misunderstand lyrics to my favorite songs -- often. For years, I thought Billy Squier's "Stroke Me, Stroke Me" was actually "Long Live, Skunk Man." Which in all fairness, made more sense to me as a 12-year-old than "Stroke Me" did.

Another bad one: Pete Townshend surely was singing "Let Mother Open The Door" -- right? I never did understand his fascination with parental duties, so imagine my relief when I found it was "Let My Love Open The Door." (Seriously though -- he cranked out some brilliant songs during his solo career, didn't he?)

But my favorite one of all:

George Benson singing "Give Me The Knife?" Wow, he's pretty happy for someone who obviously wants to kill somebody. I still can't sing along with changing "Night" to "Knife." His 1980 tune hit the Top 5 on the pop, R&B and jazz charts.

Benson is playing Tampa's Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, April 5. His performance is part of a two-day concert. Other acts playing include Boz Scaggs, Al Green and Dr. John. Go to the Ford Amp website for more info.

(Be forewarned: I'm betting they'll escort you out quietly and quickly if you start yelling 'Give Me The Knife').

A six-pack for St. Patty's Day

On this lovely St. Patrick's Day, the official holiday of the 80s, allow me to make a toast:

May your big-screen TV never break down on TBS's Big 80s Weekend, especially during "Red Dawn." May your old VHS player never eat the only copy of "Compromising Positions" left in the world. May you never be ashamed to do the "Thriller" dance alone at the office Christmas party. And more importantly, may your 80s heroes never grow old.

Lastly, may you never forget to raise your glass when one of these movies comes on.

A SIX-PACK OF THE GREATEST DRINKING MOVIES OF THE 80s:

6. ABOUT LAST NIGHT: (1986) Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Jim Belushi. What they're drinking: Beer, straight from the keg. "Oh, aren't we a couple of sluts?"

5. MY FAVORITE YEAR (1982): Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker. What they're drinking: Anything you can put in a flask. "Ladies are unwell ... Gentlemen vomit."

4. COCKTAIL (1988): Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown. What they're drinking: Red Eye, beer, frothy rum drinks. "Beer is for breakfast around here. Drink or be gone!"

3. STRANGE BREW (1983): Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis. What they're drinking: A "two-four" of Elsinore Beer. "This movie was shot in 3B - three beers - and it looks good, eh?"

2. ARTHUR (1981): Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli. What they're drinking: Martinis, scotch. "I've taken the liberty of anticipating your condition. I have brought you orange juice, coffee, and aspirins. Or do you need to throw up? "

1. BARFLY (1987): Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway. What they're drinking: Everything. "Listen, I drink. And when I drink, I move in the wrong direction... "

Outside the 80s: Beer Fest, 40-Year-Old Virgin, Leaving Las Vegas, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Animal House, Old School, Bad Santa, Sideways, The Big Lebowski, Swingers, Casablanca, The Legend of Drunken Master, Baseketball.

Top Gun tunes: a target-rich environment

There's some enduring quality to Top Gun. I just can't leave it alone on the blog.

Maybe it's because it's on TV about 30 times a day (seriously -- I watched it start to finish twice yesterday). Maybe it's the great quotable lines. It could even be the "not that there's anything wrong with that" volleyball scene. (Well, no, it can't be that.)

Or maybe it's just got a killer soundtrack that keeps us hooked throughout the entire film.

But what are the best and worst tunes of Top Gun? Here's my ranking of them -- from best to worst -- in playable format:

That's right ... Iceman ... I am dangerous

"Top Gun" is on TV these days more than the year it first buzzed the tower at theaters. I consider this movie a "target-rich environment" for quoting at nonsensical times during my workday.

My coworkers, on the other hand, are ready to go "Cougar" on me and turn in their wings. (Which is fine, because that gives me my dream shot -- Miramar!) I'll pulled no less than a "4-g negative dive" today at the office, bringing up memorable lines more lines than Iceman waxes that flattop of his. (God bless, Val Kilmer.)

I know what you're thinking: How can I irritate my friends and coworkers in similar fashion? I'm here to help.

TOP 10 TOP GUN LINES TO RECITE TO ANNOY COWORKERS:

10. Swilling down Starbucks on the way in from the parking lot: "I feel the need ... the need for speed." (Or, if you're already caffeinated enough, "Time to kick the tires and light the fires!")

9. When coming in the office door: "Good morning, gentlemen, the temperature is 110 degrees."

8. When your boss asks you to do something: "That's a negative, Ghost rider, the pattern is full."

7. When seeing your friend in the restroom: "Hey Goose, you big stud!" (Or, if you're feeling daring, "Great balls of fire!")

6. After that three-martini lunch to nobody in particular: "I flew with your old man. VF-51, the Oriskany. You're a lot like he was. Only better... and worse."

5. When passing off an assignment to a subordinate: "If you screw up just this much, you'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dogs--t out of Hong Kong!"

4. On spotting targets at Happy Hour after work: "Too close for missiles, I'm switching to guns."

3. What to tell your wingman at Happy Hour after switching to guns: "Do not fire until fired upon."

2. What you tell yourself when your ATM won't cough up more cash: "Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash."

1. And whenever you get the chance: "Take me to bed or lose me forever."

Ready to Walk the Dinosaur again?

Eighties funksters Was (Not Was) are back. It's been 20 years since their biggest hit -- 1988's "Walk the Dinosaur (video)" -- but Don and David Was are plotting a return to the music biz.

The Detroit-based act has a new album -- "Boo!" -- set for release on April 8. The band, which also includes Sweet Pea Atkinson and Sir Harry Bowens, performed the new material during a Valentine's Day show in Los Angeles (with Kris Kristofferson and Brian Wilson) and has their eyes set on SXSW in Austin.

Though the band stopped touring and recording in 1992, the Was brothers have kept themselves busy. Don Was did producing work for artists including Bonnie Raitt, the B-52s and Elton John. David went to Hollywood and produced movie and TV soundtracks.

What are their prospects for a total rebound? Pretty good, if you read between the lines of the LA Times review of their February show. "It was chaos. Good chaos," Ann Powers wrote. "The kind that happens in that mythical Detroit, the one Was (Not Was) still brings to town."

[From left, Sir Harry Bowens, David Was, SweatPea Atkinson and Don Was. Photo by Ellen Stone]

The masquerade's forever

We just finished putting the finishing touches for our next Stuck in the 80s podcast: Great songs from bad movies. And you can't discuss that topic without including Berlin's "Masquerade" from the movie "Perfect."

Was "Perfect" a truly hideous movie? It wasn't the best work by John Travolta -- not his worst either (see "Two of a Kind.") As for co-star Jamie Lee Curtis -- not bad. But it's no "A Fish Called Wanda" either.

I put "Perfect" squarely in the "Golden Child" camp of '80s movies -- still entertaining to watch 20 years later, but certainly a campy, guilty pleasure at best.

FIVE MEMORABLE LINES FROM PERFECT:

5. "Somebody's editing with their elbows!"

4. "Always treat a famous person as if they're not. And a person who's not as if they were."

3. "She's the most used piece of equipment in the gym."

2. "It's a lot more fun looking for Mr. Goodbody than Mr. Goodbar."

1. "I guess I'll go see if I can scare up a gang-bang."

The 15 ultimate front men of the 80s

They rule the stage with absolute authority. And back in the '80s, they probably ruled the posters hanging in your bedroom and dorm rooms. Without them, the band would be playing the Holiday Inn lounge in Kankakee, Illinois.

We asked our readers for their picks for the best front-men of the 80s, and we received an avalanche of replies. Today, we unveil the final ranking.

Remember, solo acts weren't eligible, so no whining about Rick Springfield, Prince, Huey Lewis or Madonna not being on the list. Females, of course, are eligible, but it just sounds weird to say "front-women." As usual, fire away with your feedback.

Here are the final picks, along with reader comments on why they belong on the list.

THE 15 BEST FRONT-MEN OF THE '80s:

15. DAVID GAHAN (Depeche Mode): "Without him, Depeche Mode are just three guys playing keyboards. Who the hell wants to see that?"

14. ROBIN ZANDER (Cheap Trick): "Forever associated with the words, 'I want you ... to want ... me!' "

13. BONO (U2): "White flag in hand, he's hard to top."

12. ANNIE LENNOX (Eurythmics): "She can really command a stage."

11. MORRIS DAY (The Time): "The only reason to watch 'Purple Rain' -- and this year's Grammy Awards."

10. CHRISSIE HYNDE (The Pretenders): "Chrissie IS the band, regardless of whatever weird lineup they sported."

9. DAVID BYRNE (Talking Heads): "He was Mr. 80's and was everywhere. Speaking In Tongues, Stop Making Sense, Little Creatures is a great run. Not to mention all the pioneering and great videos for MTV."

8. JELLO BIAFRA (Dead Kennedys): "I think Jello gets the nod just because of the whole FrankenChrist controversy."

7. DANNY ELFMAN (Oingo Boingo): "An amazing manic energy when I saw Oingo Boingo in the 80s. It was a thing to see."

6. STEVE PERRY (Journey): "I've seen a LOT of concerts, mostly AOR, and Steve Perry was the best. He sounded just as good or better on stage than he did on the studio cuts."

5. STEVEN TYLER (Aerosmith): "I saw Aerosmith in 1988 -- with Guns 'n Roses as opening act - and no I will not nominate Axl Rose -- Steven tore up the stage."

4. BRIAN JOHNSON (AC/DC): "I'd bet money that he could have wiped the floor with any other guy you name, and then out-drink him."

3. DAVID LEE ROTH (Van Halen): "I was listening to Van Halen this morning on my commute, in effect casting my vote for Diamond Dave all the way...the hair, the clothes, the moves, the attitude."

2. MICHAEL HUTCHENCE (INXS): "I saw them on the Kick tour, and he held the audience riveted."

1. FREDDIE MERCURY (Queen): "The ultimate showman. I still get chills when I see 'Radio Ga-Ga' performed at Live Aid." (See it)

Honorable mention: Terri Nunn (Berlin); Debbie Harry (Blondie); Martin Fry (ABC); Colin Hay (Men at Work); Robert Smith (The Cure); Morrissey (The Smiths); Jim Kerr (Simple Minds); Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music); Paul Stanley (Kiss); Rob Halford (Judas Priest); Henry Rollins (Black Flag); Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band); Phil Collins (Genesis); David Coverdale (Whitesnake); Belinda Carlisle (Go-Go's).

Don't you ... forget about them

Admit, you have forgotten about Simple Minds. That's OK. They only cranked out one of the '80s most signature anthems. But the good news is that they're back.

The Scottish group, still fronted by charismatic Jim Kerr, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a new album and tour.

"Thirty years in music is a big deal after all, or is it not so!" Kerr writes on the band's official website. "Don't tell me you don't agree with me on this unless your name happens to be Dylan, Bowie, Lou Reed, and Jagger etc. If so then yes, you're right."

Right now, the tour just has U.K. and European dates on it. But the interesting news is that Simple Minds also announced they'll perform their 1982 album "New Gold Dream" in its entirety on this tour. That record includes staples such as "Promised You a Miracle," "Glittering Prize" and "Someone, Somewhere In Summertime." Other hits from later years will comprise the show's second half.

The six-date tour begins in April, and there is no plan to extend the tour into the United States.

According to the band's publicist, the new studio album is planned for a 2009 release.

I like the trend of bands playing the entirety of classic albums. But if I could pick a Simple Minds that I want to hear in full, I have another one in mind.

FOUR GREAT SIMPLE MINDS ALBUMS:

4. Street Fighting Years (1989): "Belfast Child" and "Soul Crying Out."

3. Sparkle in the Rain (1984): Features "Up on the Catwalk" and "Waterfront."

2. New Gold Dream (1982): "Promised You a Miracle." "Glittering Prize," and "Someone, Somewhere In Summertime."

1. Once Upon A Time (1985): "Alive and Kicking," "Ghost Dancing," "Sanctify Yourself" and the title track.

[Photo from Bob Thacker]

Wearing your 80s pride

St. Patrick's Day is easily the favorite holiday of any '80s fan. It's all about the beverages -- pure and simple -- and you don't even have to buy a greeting card. And now, 80stees.com -- the website that sells t-shirts decided to our favorite decade -- is joining in the spirit.

That's right, 80s-themed t-shirts to celebrate St. Patty's. (Of course, if you want the real Scarface shirt, that's available too.)

The company's website has TV shirts that go with movies, music, TV shows, video games and even junk food from the 80s. I'm not sure whose job it is to think up ideas for the shirts, but I consider that occupation a beloved public service, right up there with providing health care for the homeless or fetching the shopping carts outside the grocery story.

And if you want to be more subtle -- green, but not Irish -- check out this little baby from Caddyshack. If you end up wearing this shirt on March 17, I'm not saying people won't stare and give you curious looks. But at least this year it won't be because you shot green beer out your nose.

They Might Be ... chatting live

Hey gang, ready to get a sneak preview of this week's podcast? It's our interview with John Linnell from They Might Be Giants.

The show is stuffed full of their music, but it also has the usual segments toward the end -- reader mailbag, Mystery Movie Moment and Name that 80s Tune.

Click here to download the show. Remember, it's only available online here today. I won't be uploading it to iTunes until Tuesday. Meanwhile, I'm here and ready to chat. Fire away with your questions and comments.

I'm just sitting here on a pinhead, calling you an angel, calling you the nicest things.

20 great songs, 20 bad movies

No other decade cranked out great soundtracks like the '80s. Trouble is -- sometimes the movies didn't live up to the music. (Someone's glaring at you, Rick Springfield!)

After a ton of reader feedback, here comes another top 20 that's certain to tweak some people the wrong way: The 20 best songs from really bad movies.

Some criteria to keep in mind: Though some movies are truly criminally bad ("Howard the Duck"), the song from that movie might not be truly great (Let's face it, "Don't Turn Away" isn't Thomas Dolby's best work either.) Likewise, some movies might not be truly awful ("St. Elmo's Fire), even the song is still quite good. (That's the nicest thing anyone's said about John Parr lately.)

So here goes. As usual, this is for entertainment purposes only. No wagering.

TOP 20 GREAT TUNES FROM BAD MOVIES:

20. Against All Odds (Phil Collins) from Against All Odds

19. Man In Motion (John Parr) from St. Elmo's Fire

18. Who Made Who (AC/DC) from Maximum Overdrive

17. Meet Me Halfway (Kenny Loggins) from Over The Top

16. Back To Paradise (.38 Special) from Revenge of the Nerds 2

15. Flash (Queen) from Flash Gordon

14. Twist of Fate (Olivia Newton-John) in Two of a Kind

13. No More Lonely Nights (Paul McCartney) from Give My Regards to Broad Street

12. View to a Kill (Duran Duran) from View to a Kill

11. Into the Groove (Madonna) from Desperately Seeking Susan

10. Is Your Love Strong Enough (Bryan Ferry) from Legend.

9. True Faith (New Order) from Bright Lights, Big City

8. One Vision (Queen) from Iron Eagle

7. Nobody's Fool (Kenny Loggins) from Caddyshack 2

6. Best Man in the World (Ann Wilson) from The Golden Child

5. Masquerade (Berlin) from Perfect

4. Hazy Shade Of Winter (The Bangles) from Less Than Zero

3. Together In Electric Dreams (Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey) from Electric Dreams

2. Xanadu (ELO and Olivia Newton-John) from Xanadu

1. Love Somebody (Rick Springfield) from Hard To Hold

Personally, I consider "Love Somebody" to be Springfield's best song. (I can't believe I had an internal list of that hidden inside me.) But "Hard To Hold"? I still have bad memories of going on a first date with a girl to see this movie -- only to find out she'd seen it already ... that same day. It's all downhill from there.

Honorable mentions: Don't Turn Away (Thomas Dolby) from Howard The Duck; Absolute Beginners (David Bowie) from Absolute Beginners; Love On The Rocks (Neil Diamond) from The Jazz Singer; Who's That Girl (Madonna) from Who's That Girl; Kiss (Prince) from Under The Cherry Moon; Get Up Offa That Thing (James Brown) from Doctor Detroit; Who's Johnny (El DeBarge) from Short Circuit; Take It Easy (Andy Taylor) from American Anthem

OK, what songs did we forget?

For you, Xanadu!

Did your happy hour on Friday go like this video? Mine always does. A bunch of mimes break-dancing, young professionals with cheesy facial hair on roller-skates. Typical end-of-the-workweek for the Stuck in the 80s crowd.

If loving the soundtrack to Xanadu is wrong, I don't wanna be right! In fact, my plan for tonight -- once I escape the mimes on wheels -- is to download the entire soundtrack on iTunes and sit there at my home computer, singing along with Olivia Newton-John. Sorry, we all have our demons.

Is Adam an ant or a bookworm?

Adam Ant is working on a new book about his artistic creations throughout his career. (That's one way to put off a comeback in music.)

Tentatively titled "Adam Ant Art," the book would discuss his influences (both musically and visual) and will feature some of Adam's unpublished original artworks, including storyboards for music videos and hand-written lyric sheets.

Essential Works, Adam's literary agent in London, says the book -- if published -- will only be sold direct to fans online. "We'd hope to have a decision on whether the book goes ahead within the next couple of months," says EW's Michael Gray. Adam previously released an autobiography -- "Stand And Deliver" -- in 2006.

The art book would also feature a CD featuring songs from Adam's September 2007 performance at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London  -- his first live concert in several years.

For more information and pre-ordering information, go to adamantbook.com.

Rick Astley would never ...

This graphic is making the rounds on the Internet lately, proving once and for all that the web was designed for people stuck in the 80s.

This is why I love the '80s...

If this song and video doesn't put a smile on your face, then you're quite possible hopeless. Call your psychiatrist's office and ask them to up the dosage.

Philip Oakey is responsible for this tune -- the theme song to 1984's "Electric Dreams," starring Lenny von Dohlen and the always lovely Virginia Madsen. Oakey, of course, is best known as the front-man and singer for the Human League. In 2004, Oakey and the rest of the League were honored with the "Q Innovation in Sound Award."

Special thanks to uber-fan Bassnote for remembering this gem. I might very well have to put this in the top 10 list of happiest songs of the 80s. What other great 80s songs have we all forgotten about?

Live Chat: 'Here's to successful fertilization'

Are you ready to laugh, cry and swear off the opposite sex? You better be, because our latest podcast is now ready for an unofficial debut.

The subject: the great 1988 John Hughes semi-autobiographical flick "She's Having A Baby."

Click here to download it. It's not on iTunes yet, so you'll have to use the this link.

Among the topics that are discussed:

• Is this John Hughes' best flick of the 80s? Or possibly just his most under-rated one?
• OK, so maybe it's not his best flick. But is this the best soundtrack?
• Which co-star steals all the best lines -- Alec Baldwin, John Ashton, maybe even the great Dennis Dugan as Kevin Bacon's  disgruntled mentor at the ad firm?

As always, I'm here and free to chat as you listen to the show. Gotta love Saturday chats. Hit me with whatever topic you like. Meanwhile, the obligatory list.

TOP 5 MEMORABLE LINES FROM SHE'S HAVING A BABY:

5. "College is like high school with ashtrays."

4. "He's plenty old and people don't mature anymore. They stay jackasses all their lives."

3. "You're quite the barbecue chef, Jake."

2. "How do you feel about alcoholics?" ...  "Um, I like alcoholics?"

1. "You BURNED the dog!"

The majestic presence of They Might Be Giants

They Might Be the only "cool" band I still listen to. They Might Be the reason I watch the opening credits to "Malcolm in the Middle." And They Will Be calling me on the phone next week to chat.

They Might Be Giants is coming to Tampa Bay next month, but before they can play their March 11 gig at Jannus Landing, John Flansburgh and John Linnell will have to join me for a special Stuck in the 80s podcast interview.

I'm one of many fans who joined the TMBG kingdom in 1990 with the release of their album "Flood." Only after hearing that disc did I go back and hear the real gems from the '80s. These days, I pre-order every album they record and dutifully take off the day from work -- aka "pull a Ferris" -- when it arrives so that I can sit home and play it a dozen times.

So how will I ever narrow down the 3,000 questions I'd like to ask them? The answer: By asking you to leave comments below with your suggestions for questions. What do you want to know from They Might Be Giants?

In the meantime...

TOP 5 THEY MIGHT BE GIANT SONGS FROM THE 80s:

5. PUT YOUR HAND INSIDE THE PUPPET HEAD: "It's a mighty zombie talking of some love and posterity."

4. PURPLE TOUPEE: "I shouted out, 'Free the Expo '67 'til they stepped on my hair, and they told me I was fat."

3. DON'T LET'S START: "When you are alone you are the cat, you are the phone, you are an animal."

2. SHE'S AN ANGEL: "Somewhere they're meeting on a pinhead, calling you an angel, calling you the nicest things."

1. ANA NG: "We still haven't walked in the glow of each other's majestic presence."

[Official publicity photo]

I painted it in the heat of the moment

Once upon a time, this was my secret shame: I painted a big Asia mural on the wall outside my college dorm room in 1985. (Hume Hall at the University of Florida, in case anyone really wants details.)

The mural remained there for about 10 years, until the entire building was torn down. (For the record, I also painted stars in neon paint on the dorm room ceiling, so when you turned on a black light -- which was required equipment for every college kid back then -- and killed the lights, you'd see a virtual galaxy above you. (High-brow entertainment, especially if you added a Pink Floyd album and other enhancers to the equation.)

For years, I'd return to campus in the fall for football games and visit the dorm to see the painting. Sometimes I'd knock on my old room door and ask if they see anything at night when then turn off the lights. "You're the 'star' guy, aren't you?" they'd exclaim. "Did you do this freakin' Asia painting, too?" I always flat-out denied it.

UF has since rebuilt Hume Hall. And don't think I'm not tempted to return there late one night, paintbrush in hand. Pride in the 80s -- it's a horribly addictive vice.

At his 1984 prom, purple reigns

It's prom fever around here, thanks to the upcoming 80s Prom Party at Tampa's Crowbar on Valentine's Day night.

Am I going? Still not sure. I'd love one more chance to slow-dance to "Hold Me Now" and "True." And at least this time, I know I won't be carded when trying to purchase alcohol at the dinner beforehand. (I think my mistake was trying to order Cold Duck.)

One person who's dying to go is Mark Seaman, aka Big Tex here on the blog. Here's a photo and note from our good friend:

"In honor of the '80s prom at Crowbar, I'm submitting my own prom pic from '84. Notice that my date and I are both wearing purple gloves that we dyed ourselves (maybe it was a Prince thing?)  Anyway, that was about 60 pounds ago..."

Oh man, I hear you, Mark. I stopped keeping track about a hundred large pizzas ago. But I love the gloves.

The 80s prom night returns!

What are you doing for Valentine's Day? If you're anything like me, you'll be camped out in front of the TV, totally alone, sobbing while watching John Cusack get a pen in exchange for his heart in "Say Anything." Or watching the mopey Lawrence Monoson (aka "Gary") get royally screwed over by Diane Franklin in "Last American Virgin."

But now, there's another option -- at least for those of us in Tampa Bay. Ybor City's Crowbar is hosting its annual "80s Prom" party on Thursday night. And true to form, party-goers are being asked to wear their 80s formal wear for the evening! (I know I have a pink cumberbund laying around somewhere.)

DJ Mike B from WMNF will be spinning 80s tunes all night (How many times will we hear OMD's "If You Leave"?), and the band Rancid Polecats will be playing. The two party-goers dressed most like the 80s will be crowned "king and queen" of the prom. Check out the photo of some of last year's contestants. (Even in the year 2008, I have no chance of being king.)

Cover is $8 for singles, $10 for couples, and the party starts at 10 p.m. Click here for more information.

Will I be there in person? Much like my Senior Prom, I'll need a miracle to get a prom date this close to the party. So unless Maria, the Swedish exchange student who saved me back in '85, comes back to Florida in time, I may be forced to sit this dance out.

I want Peter Cetera's hair

Seriously, have you ever seen such great hair? Peter Cetera is the man! (Or should I say "the mane?")

After debuting this week's Stuck in the 80s podcast about "romance in the 80s," I can't seem to get "Glory of Love" out of my head. (Remember former co-host Cathy Wos' advice for defeating the ear worm? Hum the theme to "The A-Team." Well, it's not working this time.)

Lots of cool trivia associated with this particular song:

• The tune was actually co-written by Cetera, his ex-wife and David Foster ("St. Elmo's Fire" score).
• The song was written for Rocky 4, but they passed on it.
• It earned Grammy and Oscar nominations in 1987, but won neither (losing the Grammy to Sting and the Oscar to "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun.)

In a 1986 interview with Japan's SoundCity, Cetera said hearing "Glory of Love" on the radio was a "strange" experience at first, mainly because radio stations assumed it was a Chicago tune -- not a "Peter Cetera song." By the time the DJs got it right, the tune had become Cetera's first No. 1 solo single.

You gotta have Faith-a, Faith-a, Faith!

Talk about getting stoned: George Michael has signed on to appear in more episodes of ABC's "Eli Stone," the new legal drama/comedy about an attorney (played by Jonny Lee Miller) who begins to think he's a prophet after a series of bizarre hallucinations.

The first one: Hearing George Michael's "Faith" over and over again during the series pilot last week. Michael then appears -- singing on Eli's coffee table and in the lobby of his office. It's an entertaining start to the series, which appears again tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern time. (I'm hooked on it after one episode.)

TV Guide reports that Michael will return in the show's eighth and ninth episodes to both sing and act.

"Having George and his music in the pilot was great because it really set the tone for the entire show," executive producer Marc Guggenheim told TV Guide. "He's such a talented and smart guy and amazingly collaborative."

They're not too shy-shy about reuniting