'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.

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 excommunication of Madonna

How many more mind-numbing, techno-laden albums must we endure from Madonna before we come to this painful realization: The Material Girl we knew and loved from the '80s is long dead and buried. She's no longer one of us.

Her latest disc -- "Hard Candy" -- bears more resemblance to a Britney Spears collection of b-sides than anything else. Perfect for the booty-bumping, Red Bull-saturated twenty-something crowd -- but total heresy for the older set of us who prefer to remember the subtle but surreal pleasures of tunes like "Live to Tell" and "Crazy for You."

Times pop music critic Sean Daly reviewed "Hard Candy" on his blog yesterday, and it's not hard for 80s fans to read between the lines: "Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Timbaland and Pharrell bring their synthy booty beats and marching-band samples, Madonna purrs out every dumb 'give it to me' cliche, and we all dance naked," he writes.

Meanwhile, I writhe in agony. Timbaland again? Isn't it enough he destroyed the latest Duran Duran album? How much longer must we be subjected to his Vanilla Icing of the pop music scene?

The only song I could come close to enjoying was "Incredible," a six-minute-long lamentation about  ... hell, I have no idea. The message goes back and forth, but one verse stood out:

"You don't know what you got 'til it's gone.
And everything in life just goes wrong.
Feels like nobody's listening
And something is missing."

I'll tell you what's missing, Madonna ... It's you.

[AP photo]

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.

She just can't shake his love

You know how to tell if you're still relevant and beloved? When you have stalkers! (And not just the lovable kind that send you bags of Funyuns or Sean Daly's head edited onto a Tom Selleck photo.)

Deborah "Don't Call Me Debbie" Gibson has filed for a restraining order against 44-year-old Spanish man who runs a Gibson fan club, alleging that he follows her on concert tours and has even shown up -- out of the blue -- at the front door of her home.

According to Gibson's filing, Jordi Bassas Puigdollers also left a note under her door last week asking to meet in person in El Paso, Texas. "If you like, contact me," the note said, according to the Associated Press. It was signed with his phone number and included his e-mail address, which begins with the moniker "debhead."

AND ISN'T IT A SMALL WORLD BECAUSE ... Deborah "I'm serious about not calling me Debbie" Gibson also is going to be our guest this week on the Stuck in the 80s podcast! And get this: She has offered to appear in person for the interview! (Get a bucket for Sean's drool.)

Gibson is in Florida this week to promote her performing arts summer camp ("Camp Electric Youth") and her online singing competition ("Total Pop Star"). This year also marks the 20th anniversary of her  accomplishment of becoming the youngest person to write, produce and perform a No. 1 hit -- 1988's "Foolish Beat."

Got a suggested question for Deborah "It's okay to call me Deb" Gibson? Drop me a comment.

Pulling a Ferris -- corporate style

It's cold, flu and allergy season here in Tampa Bay. By that, I mean it's spring training for Major League Baseball and co-workers are disappearing faster than in "Night of the Comet."

Of course, '80s fans know that to call in sick the right way requires a slick technique often referred to as ... Pulling A Ferris.

(God bless Matthew Broderick for his multiple contributions to popular culture. Aside from giving the English-speaking world a dozen good strategies for staying home sick, he also inspired me to once fool the U.S. and Russian defense forces to declare global thermonuclear war. Ah, memories.)

So here are some recommended "Pulling a Ferris" strategies for grown-ups. These aren't mine per se -- let's just say I've collected my favorite ones from my nearly 20-year career of hanging around fellow slackers:

MENTAL DAY OFF: Just want to skip a day from work and do nothing special? Sweaty palms won't cut it, Mr. Bueller. I recommend using the exploding diarrhea excuse (trademark pending). No one at work will want you using the same restroom. Plus that's a symptom that comes and goes (literally) and you'll be back on your feet in 24 hours.

DAY AT THE BALLPARK: Trickier because you could be spotted, either by fellow Ferris-pullers or on TV. Plus, an outdoor venue brings the possibility of sunburn. For this excursion, I recommend trying this: "My doctor called and ordered a sudden series of tests on me. I'll be spending half the day at the clinic giving blood and stool samples." Nobody will want to know anything more. And who can blame you for shagging foul balls once the needle torture is over. (Don't forget to wear a Band-Aid or two on the arms for added sympathy.)

THE EXTENDED WEEKEND: For this, you need the advanced planning. Start a few days before the weekend, claiming unusual fatigue or trying a little fake heavy coughing. Maybe even leave work an hour or two early one day to see if you can "catch the doctor" on the way home. Then -- and this is the hard part -- set your alarm clock for very early that Monday morning -- 3 or 4 a.m. Call the boss's voice mail and leave a wheezing, hacking message saying you've been sick all weekend and won't make it in today. Hang up awkwardly, as if you almost passed out just from the energy expended, and go back to bed.

COMMON MISTAKES: Never have a spouse, friend or partner handle the phone call to the office. (Sorry, Cameron.) They're never convincing liars. Also, avoid the urge to involve a co-worker in your scheme. If Times pop music critic Sean Daly and I both call in sick the same day, the authorities will be scouring all the wing and beer joints in town looking for us.

Remember, 80s-worshippers, life moves pretty fast. If you don't skip work once in a while, you might miss it.

What song was playing? "Gory Days?"

An Australian woman was sentenced to eight years in jail this week for killing her partner -- because he wouldn't let her play her favorite Bruce Springsteen CD.

"I mean, who doesn't like Bruce Springsteen?" Karen Lee Cooper told police in Brisbane after she was arrested. "I'm 49 years old and I want to play my own music."

Cooper had been charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter after arguing she had no intention on stabbing her de facto husband through the aorta while drinking that day.

What was her favorite Springsteen album? The story from the Aussie newspaper doesn't say. I'm open to suggestions from you Springsteen-philes out there.

[AP photo]

Doc confirms: Swayze has cancer

A day after web tabloids were on fire with the "news" that heartthrob Patrick Swayze had just five weeks to live, his doctor has gone public with the bad news that the actor does indeed have pancreatic cancer.

However, the doctor disputes the grim prognosis.

"Patrick has a very limited amount of disease and he appears to be responding well to treatment thus far," Swayze's personal physician Dr. George Fisher said in a statement released to the Associated Press.

On Wednesday, the National Enquirer reported online that Swayze's cancer had spread to other organs despite receiving chemotherapy since being diagnosed with the disease in January. The tabloid said doctors were not optimistic and told Swayze to prepare for the worst.

So which version is true? Probably a little bit of both. Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most serious cancers because it's hard to detect early. Medical websites say many of those with the disease die within six months because it spreads so fast. If Swayze was diagnosed in January, then a 5-week prognosis would seem to be on the early end of his life expectancy.

Swayze made his big-screen debut in 1979's Skatetown U.S.A. He appeared in 11 movies during the 80s, including Red Dawn, The Outsiders, Youngblood, Uncommon Valor and Next of Kin.

One of his co-stars in 1989's "Road House" -- musician Jeff Healey -- died Sunday after a lifelong battle with cancer.

Idol robs us of our '80s dignity

I'm looking for the right analogy to express my overall condition after American Idol's spotlight on the '80s last night.

Got it: It's like going to your first college party, getting drunk and finding a really hot girl that hangs on you all night. Only you wake up the next morning hungover and find out the really hot girl was in fact your younger sister. And to top it all off, there are photos all over MySpace of your friends tea-bagging you and posing next to your passed-out corpse of a body.

In other words: You should have known better.

There are so many reasons to be disappointed this morning. Here are a few:

SONG SELECTION: A Whitney Houston song for a guy? Oh Chikezie ... 80s co-host Sean Daly was right -- take the easy win with some James Ingram. And "Tainted Love" -- are you kidding me, Danny? Why not pick something more cliche -- like the "Super Bowl Shuffle" or "Don't Worry, Be Happy?"

THE PHIL FACTOR: Everyone figured we'd hear Phil Collins at some point, but "Another Day in Paradise" is toward the bottom of the list. "Against All Odds" would have been the right call. Maybe a little "In The Air Tonight."  (I guess we should be happy at least that it wasn't "Susudio.")

TOO SIMPLE MINDED: "Don't You Forget About Me" is an 80s classic, and probably the most "pure" 80s song of the night. I was happy to see it chosen. Too bad Michael Johns bungled it.

THE PAULA FACTOR: Paula Abdul had her moment of fame in the '80s, so I didn't expect her to stay silent all night. But just once I'd like to see her get cranky and start handing out some bad reviews. (God help us all if a female contestant picks a Paula song to perform tonight. Simon might projectile vomit.)

TONIGHT WILL BE WORSE: Expect the poor song choices to continue. Expect someone to perform a song originally sung by a male (I'm thinking a Journey or REO tune). And expect me to be back online tomorrow morning, aspirins in hand, checking out MySpace for photos ... just in case.

They Might Be Giants class photo ... circa 2008

They might wear glasses. They might be wearing the same clothes they wore to a Mac users group meeting today. And they might dress up as a tree stump and wolverine in a leisure suit for album covers.

But don't make the mistake of thinking They Might Be Giants might also be geeks.

"We never really identified with that characterization. We don't feel [like geeks]. I don't even know what that is exactly," Giants co-founder John Linnell said. "I feel like culture has changed a lot since we started. It seems really mainstream now to know something about technology."

Linnell -- the wolverine in that photo, I'm guessing? -- is this week's guest on our Stuck in the 80s podcast as the band slowly heads south for their March 11 show at St. Petersburg's Jannus Landing. Here are some highlights from our interview.

On the public's reaction when they first started playing live: "Originally when we started out, we were playing in the safety of the Lower East Side in New York. We started out playing for friends of ours. Mostly we were performing in clubs and rooms that hosted performance art so we were often the most normal thing that was happening. We fit right in."

On why they rework their classics during live shows: "I think we just forget how they go. We try to make it interesting each time, but we're really just trying to do a good show. We're not really making a statement about rejecting an old arrangement."

On their move into children's music: "We just felt it'd be fun. It seemed like a break from stuff that was more high pressure. What we didn't expect was that the kid's record was going to be a big seller. Suddenly, it seemed like it was a career move. We weren't thinking rock critics were ever going to hear it or talk about it. So maybe that was part of what was good about it."

On winning a Grammy in 2001 for the theme song to Malcolm in the Middle: "It was very weird. I think we felt like we were imposters. We'd always made fun of the Grammys. The whole thing was very dream-like. And we pretty much stopped making fun of the Grammys after that, I'm embarrased to say. It kind of shut us up, which was maybe the point. They give you one so you'll stop mocking them."

Click here to listen to this week's show. Or just click here to download all our shows for free on iTunes.

Balki in the soaps? Don't be ridi-coo-lus

Look who's back on TV. Bronson Pinchot is joining the cast of "The Young and the Restless," playing the part of a publicist named Patrick.

Pinchot, whose offbeat characters ruled the '80s, has been enjoying a resurrection in his acting career, thanks to his appearance on VH1's "Surreal Life." He'll join the soap opera from March 14 through 26, according to the Daytime Dial blog.

But is Pinchot's turn as "Balki" in TV's "Perfect Strangers" really the opus of his acting career? Not hardly.

TOP FIVE ROLES FOR BRONSON PINCHOT:

5. THE FLAMINGO KID (Alfred): Bronson always works great as a sidekick. Throw in Matt Dillon and you have what might be one of the most underrated (or just forgotten ) movies of the early 80s.

4. SECOND SIGHT (Billy): Not a great movie. But John Larroquette shines as a private detective who uses Bronson's psychic abilities to solve crimes.

3. PERFECT STRANGERS (Balki): The TV show, which ran for eight seasons, had a rapid following around the world, where it was rebroadcast (often with Balki taking on a different name.) Popular lore has it that comic legend Lucille Ball considered it one of her favorite shows.

2. RISKY BUSINESS (Barry): He overshadows Tom Cruise in many scenes and gets all the good lines. Plus, he invents the Memo Minder!

1. BEVERLY HILLS COP (Serge): Single-handedly popularized espresso ... "with a little lemon twist. You should try it, it's good!"

[Perfect Strangers promotional photo]

The best '80s band ... from the '90s

What happens when you combine a couple synthesizers, some New Wave melodies and four guys from Frankfurt, Germany?

The best '80s band from the '90s, according the Check Battery Daily -- the now-defunct band that performs the new Stuck in the 80s podcast theme song.

During the band's 10 years of existence, Check Battery Daily cranked out two albums, appeared occasionally on TV, played a slew of gigs and even cracked the charts in Europe for online music.

Not bad for a band named after a U.S. Army jeep.

Christopher dArcy, the band's lyricist, recently took time out to answer the bigger questions.

Why start an 80s band in the 90s?

"Against the mainstream Check Battery Daily had decided that there is still a place for good music besides loud techno music and boring beats."

"Unfortunately the '90s were not the ideal time for an '80s band."

There's got to be a good story about the band's name.

"Check Battery Daily -- we read this on the battery compartment of a U.S. Army jeep and we found this kinda cool. At that time we decided that, if we ever would have our own band, that would be its name. I would assume that was somewhere in the mid '80s and we were just crazy for electronic music."

"Later I bought myself the first set of synthesizers and started composing myself. And much later [the band] started composing sarcastic songs about our friends which we produced as gifts for their birthdays. And then it just happened - many people liked the songs, so we started to become a real '80s band."

How did the music scene of Frankfurt influence your sound?

We are based in the area of Frankfurt -- actually a bit left of Frankfurt, but know one will know that town. Frankfurt itself is still today the center of the German electronic music scene, maybe also due to the fact that still today one of the largest international fairs for musical instruments is conducted there every year.

Any success stories?

"We recorded our first record in 1989 (named "Our First") and to our surprise it was far more successful than we expected, so in 1990 we released our second record ("Our Next"), which also was a great success."

"We continued to play on stage, winning even some contests and we even aired on TV, but we realized that electronic music doesn't work that well on stage if you have four singers and only one
person playing an instrument. So we started to just use our voices on stage and sang a-capella. And this started our second success wave."

"We also continued working on 80's pop, but the '90s were hungry for something new, so we didn't produce another album. Well, we released 'Our Best' in 1995, but that was about it."

How did the band break up?

"By the time we started considering that the time has come again for great synthesizer melodies, Check Battery Daily found a sudden end."

"In 1998 (vocalist) Bernhard Wurm died in a motorcycle accident. And since the band was always four friends making music together, the band died with him. We felt that there is no space for an external replacement."

Which of the popular bands did you listen to?

Our influences are without doubt Depeche Mode, but also a-ha and Alphaville.

And yes, we still love the '80s and its music. Just listen to our "Ode To The Eighties!"

-- For more information Check Battery Daily and to hear their songs online, visit their official website.

The new Knight Rider car is a Mustang?

Does this honestly look like a state-of-the art car capable of being a super-hero? Of course not. It's a Ford.

The new star of NBC's Knight Rider (part deux) is a Mustang! K.I.T.T. is rolling over in whatever junkyard graveyard he's currently residing in. (Actually, K.I.T.T. is alive and well -- and probably living in sin with The General Lee -- but that's not important right now.)

I'm queasy enough with Knight Rider making a return in movie form. But now they're sullying tradition by having a Mustang stand in for the old Trans-Am?

My first car was a 1982 Mustang. Bright white. Decorative (aka "fake") air scoop in front. Let me tell how much I loved that thing. The engine caught on fire -- twice. The rear-view mirror fell off weekly. And in the last year of ownership, the only way I could get the car into gear was by sticking a butter knife into the transmission hole. American craftsmanship.

But according to NBC's publicity machine, the new K.I.T.T. "is absolutely the coolest car ever created: its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system; its weapons systems efficient; and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- is capable of actually shifting shape and color."

Let's hope it knows how to made last-minute appointments at the service garage too. But wait! There's more: "Its artificial intelligence makes it the ideal good cop partner: logical, precise and possessing infinite knowledge. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it."

Trust me on this. If you do manage to obtain "the ultimate car," invest in a couple of fire extinguishers. They might come in handy.

-- The two-hour movie version of Knight Rider airs on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

[NBC publicity photos]

I no longer wish to be a Member

The news we all dreaded to hear is finally upon us: The Members Only Jacket is making a comeback.

According to the Daily Candy blog, the New York City boutique Henri Bendel is stocking the jackets again ... this time in some interesting colors -- black, white, cognac (tasty!), chocolate (yum!) and metallic gold leather (ok, just freaky).

Lord knows I'm a sucker for anything 80s, but I draw the line at the fashion of the era. Unless someone knows where I can get a "Frankie Say" t-shirt, because that would be valuable information.

In case you're wavering on this one, the price tag should deter you. Wait for it ... a Member's Only jacket will set you back $950!

[Getty Images photo]

Out of the blue, Debbie Gibson is back

Debbie Gibson -- oh, sorry ... Deborah Gibson -- is back and ready to entertain the masses. Whether we like it or not, I guess.

Gibson just signed a deal with Harrah's in Atlantic City, N.J., for a three-week engagement (on May 4-24 for those who seriously are considering going). The announcement on her official website says Debbie will perform her late-80s hits along with Broadway tunes that reprise her many stage roles in the years since her solo career went into much-needed hibernation.

Are you seriously going to make me write a top 5 list for this news update? OK, dinner is served. Today's menu: cotton candy. And no, I don't have any of these on my iTunes. So there's NO WAY I'm looking up the lyrics for these dogs.

TOP 5 SONGS FROM DEBBIE GIBSON'S CATALOG:

5. Only In My Dreams

4. Shake Your Love

3. Out of the Blue

2. Foolish Beat

1. Lost In Your Eyes

[Publicity image from www.deborah-gibson.com]

There goes my metal bikini fixation

The Eighties Revival may have officially died last night: A Wookie-like contestant on American Idol actually wore the infamous Princess Leia metal bikini during his audition.

For all 80s fans -- especially those of the humanoid, male variety -- the image of Carrie Fisher dressed as a slave girl for Jabba The Hutt is sacred to us. It's not to be mocked, satirized or even duplicated without great care and reverence.

When Jennifer Aniston indulged Ross on "Friends" and wore the metallic bikini during foreplay, we gave a polite golf-clap because it was a simple and effective nod to our fetish.

But on Tuesday night, when cheesesteak-enhanced Ben Harr dropped his robe to reveal our beloved Leia outfit, it was as if millions of voice cried out in terror and then were suddenly silenced. Judges Paula, Randy and Simon did the right thing: Ben was immediately exiled to the forest moon of Endor where a thousand Ewoks tore every strand of hair off his chest with their bare teeth.

Ben, you should have done your research first. There are entire websites dedicated to this cultural phenomenon. For example, go to Leia's Metal Bikini, which is the closest thing to porn that 80s fans can view safely on their work computers. There you will find photos of Fisher in costume (along with scores of other scantily clad females in similar outfits) and even buy the outfit for your own Leia at home. It's enough to make you go to the dark side of the force -- if only for 10 to 15 minutes of quiet, alone time.

The urban legend among 80s nerds, proudly including myself, is that in 1983's "Return of the Jedi," Fisher's bikini didn't fit nearly as snuggly as Harr's version. When she would recline back against Jabba, the top and bottom of the metal outfit would push out from her body, giving nearby film crew members an unobstructed view of her bare goodies.

Fisher didn't mind -- she bragged in interviews that "slept with some nerd" to get the role in the first place. "Some nerd!" And you wonder why I wear that term as a badge of honor. Whereas Ben Harr wears it as a punchline. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got some more bikini browsing to do.

What's the ultimate 80s fashion piece?

Whenever I mention I write a blog about the 80s, usually the first thing out of people's mouthes (other than an obnoxious snort) is something like: "Where's your Member's Only jacket?"

For the record, of course I owned one. A nice maroon knock-off brand version, which I probably wore for one short winter. Thankfully I outgrew it and I'm sure it's sitting in some thrift store to this day.

But let me ask this: Is a Member's Only jacket the definitive piece of 80s fashion? Or is it something else? The Ray-Ban sunglasses maybe? Leg-warmers? That dreaded, sleeveless Union Jack t-shirt made popular by Def Leppard?

Let's break some fashion icons down:

MEMBER'S ONLY JACKET: Possibly the only piece of fashion with a punchline for a name. The snap-collar was the distinguishing feature. Both nylon and leather versions available. (Still allegedly worn by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.)

RAY-BAN SUNGLASSES: Give "Risky Business" and Tom Cruise the credit here. Moderately priced then. Expensive as hell now. And still very popular. (Never owned an authentic pair myself.)

OCEAN PACIFIC GEAR: Only a fool said "Ocean Pacific" -- it's just "OP" ... right? I never liked the beach- and surf-theme shirts and shorts. The designs faded fast, and they only looked good on blonde, tanned beachgoers. Still around today? Check it out.

LEG-WARMERS: Who gets the blame for these? The movies "Fame" and "Flashdance?" Pat Benatar? Jane Fonda? Rumor has it they're sneaking back into the fashion world today. This is NOT my fault.

PARACHUTE PANTS: Whose idea was it to create pants made of nylon and zippers? They were to the 80s what bell-bottoms were to the 70s. I never owned a pair. And since they've been extinct since '89, I never will.

VANS: You can thank Jeff Spicoli and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" for unleashing this brand of casual shoe on the world. The skating world embraced the uniquely patterned shoes, and they're still with us today.

SWATCHES: Watches from Switzerland -- they only look cheap. So many varieties, you could spend a lifetime looking and never see every one. Don't get me started on the "Swatch protectors." And yes, still around today. (Check out a Swatch commercial from the 80s.)

Don't forget: Converse tennis shoes, Frankie Say shirt, rubber bracelets, hair bows, stone-washed jeans, rhinestone gloves, neon shirts.

So what's the ultimate 80s fashion accessory? Which ones did we leave off?

Do these guys look dangerous?

Word is starting to spread about the pain and humiliation about to be heaped upon me for creating Stuck in the 80s.

iTricks.com, a website for magic news, has an item today about Penn &Teller's upcoming show about "the good old days," featuring a segment on Stuck in the 80s. Other than the "Me Decade" zinger, it's right on the money. And it even appears readers there have some empathy toward the 80s.

"Ah, the 80s. Everything was perfect then," said one comment. "Dennis DeYoung was in Styx where he belongs. Uri Geller was obscure once again. And most importantly, Steve Perry was in Journey, not that other poseur. Whatever! Gag me with a spoon."

Yes, the 80s, when Penn & Teller were the stars of a 1989 flick called "Penn & Teller Get Killed." Poofy Dennis DeYoung hair and all.

Still, I appreciate the support from the magic community. Now if I can just get Gob Bluth and Harry Anderson on board.

These shoulda been contenders

While compiling our list of New Year's Eve songs, one thing struck me: Why weren't more of these songs bigger hits?

No, not Sean Daly and Stephanie Hayes' picks! They went for the no-brainer tunes (and I'm still amazed that some of you out there like "Kiss" by Prince. Detestable song. And totally not a dance tune, which is it's only redeeming quality.) But songs like "The Walls Came Down" by The Call. I guess that band wasn't MTV-ready like some of the bigger names of the decade.

So here's the idea. Let's build our own list: Songs that should have been bigger hits in the 80s.

Obviously, there are some small qualifications we should agree to. Like, the song HAS TO BE BE FROM THE 80s! Also, while it's OK to have been a marginal hit, obviously anything too high in the charts is a hit already. Just trust your instinct and start leaving comments with your picks. Here are some of mine.

STEVE'S LIST OF SHOULDA-BEEN 80s HITS:

"We Close Our Eyes" (Oingo Boingo): Not my favorite song from one of my favorite bands, but easily the most radio-friendly of the bunch. Listen. ("I looked death in the face last night. I saw him in a mirror. And he simply smiled. He told me not to worry. He told me just to take my time.")

"Don't Let's Start" or "She's An Angel" (They Might Be Giants): One poppy and one not-so-poppy pick from the two Johns, possible the most under-appreciated act of the 80s.

"Straight to Hell" (The Clash): One of the most perfect songs from the "Combat Rock" album. ("Lemme tell ya 'bout your blood, bamboo kid. It aint Coca-cola ... it's rice.") Overshadowed by "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

"Ghost Dancing" (Simple Minds): It charted only in the UK, and still well below other tunes on the "Once Upon a Time" album. Listen to a live version though. Brilliant. ("If these old city walls should crash, amid the rubble you'd find us breathing.")

"Bittersweet" or "Like Wow - Wipeout" (Hoodoo Gurus): Two great cuts from the damn-nearperfect "Mars Needs Guitars" album. If you don't own that disc from '85, you're letting the best of life pass you by. ("Tears so bittersweet fill my eyes whenever we meet.")

Share your list and tune back in soon for a compiled and ranked list as well as a podcast.

Crazy for Swayze: One-hit wonders in '87

The Stuck in the 80s podcast crew has recovered from its holiday coma and is ready to hit the studio again. The next subject we'll tackle: the one-hit wonders of 1987.

(Yes, that means we finally have to confront Patrick Swayze's crime against humanity -- "She's Like The Wind.")

But here's the bigger dilemma: The further we get into the 80s, the more unfamiliar I'm getting with some of these tunes. I feel a disturbance in the force here, as if the schlocky and hellish bubblegum pop of the 90s is reaching back in time and exerting unnecessary and unwanted influence on my beloved 80s music.

Here's a list of potential songs to choose from for this show:

• Swing Out Sister -- "Breakout"
• Wa Wa Nee -- "Sugar Free"
• Patrick Swayze & Wendy Fraser -- "She's Like the Wind"
• The System -- "Don't Disturb this Groove"
• T'Pau -- "Heart and Soul"
• Buster Poindexter -- "Hot, Hot, Hot"
• Pseudo Echo -- "Funkytown"
• Kane Gang -- "Motortown"
• Living in a Box -- "Living in a Box"
• Jon Astley -- "Jane's Getting Serious"
• Bourgeois Tagg -- "I Don't Mind At All"
• Club Nouveau -- "Lean on Me"
• Company B -- "Fascinated"
• Breakfast Club -- "Right on Track"
• Jimmy Davis & Junction -- "Kick the Wall"
• Hipsway -- "The Honeythief"

We'll pick about 7 or 8 songs to feature in the show. Anyone have any favorites? Better yet, anyone have a great story associated with one of the songs? If so, leave us a comment or fire away an e-mail for use in our Reader Mailbag segment.

Build the ultimate 80s New Year's playlist

What do you have going on New Year's Eve this year? Whatever it is, it'll be better than what I did back in 1985.

A bunch of friends and I -- fresh from our first semester of college -- sat around the house, sipped Old Milwaukee and watched the date change on The Weather Channel. No kidding. We were glued to the TV, silent as it switched from Dec. 31, 1985 to Jan. 1, 1986.

Meanwhile, literally next door -- steps away, my ex-girlfriend was throwing a "party for two" with her new boyfriend (a "more mature" fellow if you believe what she says. Whatever.)

My goal for every New Year's Eve since that dreadful night: Throw or attend a party that will eventually wipe that awful memory from my 80s-saturated brain. So far, no luck. The pain lingers.

But this year, I have you -- the 80s nation -- to help. I want to build "The Ultimate New Year's Eve Playlist" for the annual get-together ... and maybe even for a special podcast. They don't need to be "themed" songs for New Year's Eve -- just really fun songs that get you in the mood to stay up all night.

I'll need your suggestions, but here are some that come to mind.

Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg: Play this one very early, before everyone's so liquored up that depression sets in. Raise a glass and toast to the memory of the "leader of the band."

Rock Lobster - B-52: This song never fails to get people on their feet. I love any song with lyrics like "He was in a jam. S'in a giant clam!"

I Could Write A Book - Harry Connick Jr.: A little hokey, I know, but it reminds me of the New Year's Eve scene in 1989's "When Harry Met Sally," the ultimate New Year's Eve movie of the 80s. (Maybe the only one.)

New Year's Day - U2: Truth be told, it's one of my least favorite U2 songs. I never understood having the video for the song with the band playing in the snow.

1999 - Prince: Oh yeah, a truly cliche song. Play this one very, very late. People will either love it, or they'll head home. Either way, mission accomplished!

What other songs are can't-lose for parties on New Year's Eve?

Would you like to play a game?

It's just the holiday season without a little toy talk. And no, not the kind that require two C batteries and an adult ID to buy.

First, click here to listen to our special "Toys and Games of the 80s" podcast from last December. (Don't blame me if you can't stop singing the Mon-chi-chi song afterward.) While you're enjoying the re-run, check out these 80s-oriented stocking stuffer ideas:

Sixteen Candles Talking Keychain: It's been featured here before, but I can't get enough of it. "Farmer Ted" rules. Plus, it has Long Duk Dong's "Ohhhh, sexy girlfriend!" on it. Price: $9.89. (There's also a Blues Brothers talking keychain on the same webpage. Click here for more info.

AC/DC action figures: Brian Johnson tipped us off to the existence of these during our fantastic interview with him. (Click here to listen.) I wonder if Angus would fit into my Millennium Falcon toy. For those about to rock, it'll cost about $30. Click here to view.

Rubik's Cube: Back in the early 80s, could anyone have foreseen we'd still be playing with these evil puzzles 25 years into the future? The Cube can be found at just about any retailer for $10. (Target has the special anniversary edition here.) But if you want to know all there is to know about the puzzle's history, visit its official website.

Merlin Electronic Puzzle: I can't believe these still exist -- and look pretty much exactly as they did when I owned one in the early 80s. My claim to fame? I could program Merlin to play the Olympic Anthem. For $12, I can do it again. Click to view.

Roller Skates: No, not in-line skates. That are for people young enough to still have balance. I'm talking old-school skates -- "quad skates" as they're called these days. My most treasured present of the 80s: A pair of Blue Devil speedskates. Click here to see what I'm talking about. Back then, they cost $99. These days? Pretty much the same!

Micro Machines: I never got the attraction -- they're just like regular toys ... only much, much smaller. Wouldn't much, much bigger be better? They still sell these, including a special Classic Star Wars set for about $25.

Gobots: Before the Transformers came the Gobots, with its own TV show and everything. What's the difference? Ummm, none really except that Gobots are no longer made. (Plus, Gobots is a better 80s name). Click to view.

80s TV Shows: They're all available on DVD now. From Dynasty to WKRP in Cincinnati to Greatest American Hero. (I'm still waiting for the DVD of "Double Trouble" to come out. Gotta love Jean Sagal and Liz Sagal as "Kate and Allison Foster.")

What toys from the 80s would you still buy today?

'Thriller' turns 25

When you're growing up in the 80s, there are some things you feel you can imagine happening in the future. Flying cars. Colonies on Mars. The Cubs in the World Series. Concert tickets costing hundreds of dollars. (Sadly, only the last one is true.)

But yet it feels entirely surreal to think that TODAY marks the 25th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album. Wasn't it just yesterday I was trying to moonwalk in my Converse high-tops? (Yeah, I know NOW that you need a smooth sole.)

The album's stats are eye-popping. More than 100-million in worldwide sales. Seven top-10 singles. Eight Grammy awards. And it all happened while M.J. was still on his first nose-job. Staggering!

To celebrate, download our Thriller podcast -- one of the Stuck in the 80s episodes that we still consider to be our best work. In it, you'll hear the Vincent Price's previously unreleased second stanza of the "Thriller" poem, Quincy Jones' amazing story about getting Eddie Van Halen to play on "Beat It" ... and Sean Daly's first reference to my "hairy knuckle pursuits" of young ladies.

Click here to listen. Or click here to get all our podcasts for free via iTunes.

Most quotable movie lines: The top 20

They're lines you've said a million times -- and will say a million times more. Repeated so often that -- admit it -- you sometimes forget what movie they came from.

Welcome to the final 20 quotes from our epic 80 Most Quotable Movie Lines of the 80s list. They're not the greatest lines from 80s movies -- just the ones that you've quoted the most over the years.

(Click here to see Nos. 21-40, 41-60, 61-80.)

Today's big winner: Fan favorites "Caddyshack" and "Top Gun" -- easily two of the most quoted movies of the last 27 years.

But there are some mind-benders in here as well, including everyone's favorite line from one of John Cusack's most obscure movies.

Enjoy the list. Leave some feedback at the end. Check out the other 60 lines linked above, and always remember ... well, "I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you."

80 MOST QUOTABLE MOVIE LINES OF THE 80s: The Top 20

20. "Take me to bed or lose me forever." (Top Gun)

19. "Corn dog!" (Night Shift)

18. "Khhaaaaan!" (Star Trek 2)

17. "Demented and sad, but social." (Breakfast Club)

16. "I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you." (Top Gun)

15. "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!" (Caddyshack)

14. "I pity the fool." (Rocky 3)

13. "Bueller?...Bueller?" (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)

12."Heeeerrrre's Johnny!" (The Shining)

11. "Go ahead, make my day." (Sudden Impact)

10. "Wax on, wax off." (Karate Kid)

9. "I'll be back" (The Terminator)

8. "Shall we play a game?" (War Games)

7. They're heeere." (Poltergeist)

6. "I must break you!" (Rocky 4)

And the top 5...

5. "Game over, man, game over!" (Aliens): Bill Paxton's bit role in a largely forgettable movie gives him a line for the ages. (And surely a great sound clip for shutting down your computer.)

4. "Be the ball" (Caddyshack): Chevy Chase could have a top 80 list of his very own. But his "Be the ball" advice to Danny in Caddyshack now is a standard piece of advice during any friendly sporting event. ("Where did it land?" "Right in the lumberyard.")

3.  "Yippee Ki-yay, motherf@#$%!!" (Die Hard): Bruce Willis, you dirty dog -- this line can't enjoy its full impact on a family-friendly blog. And I nearly cried when he resurrected it for "Live Free or Die Hard."

2.  "I want my two dollars!" (Better Off Dead): You remember the line, but probably not the character's or actor's full name. (It was "Johnny Gasparini" played by Demian Slade, whose only other memorable role was Frankie Avalon's son in 1987's "Back to the Beach.)

1. "Say hello to my little friend!" (Scarface): The "f-word" is repeated more than 200 times in the 1983 movie, but it's this "little" line by Al Pacino that people always imitate. Why? Because it can be used a hundred different ways -- including as a punchline on a popular gnome t-shirt.

There we are. Let the debate start. What lines are over-hyped? What lines did we leave out?

Best music-movie moments: the Top 10

The list of the 20 best music moments in 80s movies continues today with the top 10 songs. (Click here to see nos. 11 through 20.)

Remember the main criteria: The song has to be almost inseparable from the movie in which it appears. Unfortunately, "Melt with You" by Modern English is inseparable from a Taco Bell commercial these days. (You corporate heathens! Just because we love your gooey Mexican treats doesn't mean you can rape the 80s music catalog for jingles!)

So without further profanity, I give you..

THE BEST MUSIC IN MOVIES MOMENTS OF THE 80s: The Top 10

10. "Old Time Rock N' Roll" (Bob Seger) in Risky Business: Tom Cruise -- in sunglasses and underwear -- in possibly the most parodied music scene in movie history. And that's why it falls to No. 10 on the list. (You could also take Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" for this spot.)

9. "Just Once" (James Ingram) in Last American Virgin: Poor Gary can't catch a break with Karen. And he'll burst into tears every time he hears this song.

8. "Melt With You" (Modern English) in Valley Girl: The perfect tune for the dating montage scene between Randy and Julie. It also plays as they head to the Valley Sheraton at the end.

7. "Any Way You Want It" (Journey) in Caddyshack: Rodney Dangerfield was a god in this movie. And only God would have a golf bag that played a Journey tune. "So what?!? So let's dance!"

6. "Wild Thing" (X) from Major League: Originally written by Chip Taylor in 1965, it plays while "Wild Thing" Ricky Vaughn (Charlie Sheen) comes out of the bullpen.

5. "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" (Tears For Fears) in Real Genius: Professor Hathaway's house explodes with popcorn and Val Kilmer enjoys the last truly great comedy he made. (Until the sequel, we hope.)

4. "You Lost That Loving Feeling" (Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards) in Top Gun: The sad thing is that this humiliating moment only bought Maverick the chance to buy Kelly McGillis a beer.