The Alphie II was a very simple learning toy produced by Playskool (circa 1980). It ran on batteries and came with different insert cards to help children learn math, spelling, matching skills, etc. It also played music.
The Alphie II was a very simple learning toy produced by Playskool (circa 1980). It ran on batteries and came with different insert cards to help children learn math, spelling, matching skills, etc. It also played music.
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Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop,” is reviving his classic album, “Thriller,” supposedly working with producers such as will.i.am and Kanye West.
In a supreme effort to save what’s left of his shattered career and tarnished image, Jackson is remixing and updating some of his greatest work to change with the post-Moonwalk musical times. By adding some of today’s most revered artists, Jackson hopes to solidify his already iconic mark on popular music – while trying to add some much-needed cash in his silver-sparkling hands.
A remake of Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Something,” has been rolling around many entertainment Web sites recently. The track features Akon yelping over a plain yet corny piano opening, then attempting to cover the track with minimal originality.
If I wanted to hear “Wanna Be Startin’ Something,” in the original capacity, I would opt to remove Akon’s pointless and cornball support. MJ must have gone down the list of performers on the Billboard Top 20 list and selected the most talentless ones.
What’s next, “Smooth Criminal” featuring T.I. and “Leave Me Alone” with T-Pain? (Not taking anything from these two.)
Wouldn’t it be better if MJ created more new music, instead of dwelling in his past feats? I guess as long as he and R. Kelly don’t remake “Trapped In The Closet” together, the kids are safe.
But I think he still has a few more “Hee, Hee“s and “Woo“s left to make an album – without employing every one-hit wonder in heavy radio rotation.
Akon shouldn’t have even sung a verse, since everything he sings sounds exactly the same.
He should’ve just stuck to the refrain, “Mama-se, mama-sa, ma-ma-koo-sa.”
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There once was a blissful world of tongue and cheek, where terms like "politically correct" did not exist and people watched sitcoms and movies for entertainment rather than the new staple, reality shows. I call this land the 80s, and from it emerges the ever present 80s film. A time where movies were supposed to be funny and silly and they actually were.
But sometimes there was a dark side, and this is where "The Lost Boys" comes in. Quite possibly after having just directed "St. Elmo's Fire," director Joel Schumacher was looking for something with a bit more bite, and he found that in Janice Fischer and James Jeremais' story of a group of decadent teenage vampires and their exploits.
In the center of it all are Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), who recently moved into this land of iniquity with their mother after her divorce. And, as young teenage boys do, Michael goes in search of a little randiness; he manages to find some, but of course not without trouble following along with it. Michael's love interest, Star, just happens to come with a few attachments - a group of guys, namely David (Kiefer Sutherland) and their taste for nightlife, with blood as their chosen refreshment for the evening.
The Frog brothers are a duo of vampire menace and maliciousness played by Corey Feldman and Jamison Newlander. They brought the fix of comedy to the film that every cult 80s film holds the right to have. The classic scream hug consisting of an embrace joined in with bloody murder screaming is something you just don't see today - pure hilarity. But on top of this, they must prove Sam's mother is dating a vampire and, my what fun ensues at the dinner table. However, Grandpa (Barnard Hughes) steals the show quite a few times with his quirky and matter-of-fact personality. The taxidermy jokes are priceless, and frankly I haven't seen better since.
These days, everyone has gone on to relatively lucrative lives, but they will always be transfixed in the lost boys section of our hearts. Haim and Newlander obviously knew this as they are planning to return to their Frog brother's glory in the straight to video "The Lost Boys 2: The Tribe," due out this July. Perhaps this is a nostalgic attempt to remember when their careers had more of a pulse. But just maybe it can live up to its predecessor.
Whenever I look at the latest vampire movie with all its blood and gore, I can only reminisce about what once was. "The Lost Boys" has become a staple for present vampire movies. Most contemporary tales of the vampire are similar in detail to its predecessor, and this could be the ultimate homage. Though I must say I wish they wouldn't, because there can only be one "The Lost Boys."
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Although there were too many hair bands in the 80s who focused too much on looking good and too little on learning to play instruments, the 80s really brought the guitarist front and center. Here's a list of some of the best guitarists to emerge from this decade:
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The action movies of today seem to be group efforts. Teams of soldiers, cops, cowboys and/or Spartans battle scores of villains for the future of peace and other important stuff. Wimps.
We remember when an action hero fought alone, spraying evil-doers with lead and one-liners, without the help of anyone, except maybe a dog or some random chick. It was a simpler time back then, a time known as the '80s.
Celebrating the return of Sylvester Stallone as John J. Rambo, here are some of the top '80s action stars.
Sylvester Stallone
'80s High Point: First Blood (1982)
'80s Low Point: Rhinestone (1984)
Sly Stallone was one of the few action heroes who had an Oscar pedigree thanks to 1976's incomparable underdog tale, Rocky. In the '80s, Stallone turned down the acting chops and turned up the awesome chops as he got totally ripped and only signed up for films where he killed more than 235 people.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
'80s High Point: The Terminator (1984)
'80s Low Point: Twins (1988)
If you wrapped an atomic, sword-shooting bazooka in muscle and fists and fired it from atop your talking, two-headed lion, you still wouldn't be as deadly as Arnold was in flicks like Commando, Conan the Barbarian and Predator. Schwarzenegger was the go-to guy when you needed to ventilate some terrorists, punch an alien in the pancreas, travel through time to hand out some face killers to an unborn child, or be Danny Devito's long-lost twin.
Harrison Ford
'80s High Point: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1982)
'80s Low Point: What low point?
Who were they then? By the time the 1980s were over, Harrison Ford had appeared in five of the Top 10 highest grossing films of that decade. In those five movies, Ford played two of the greatest characters in film history (Han Solo and Indiana Jones).
Where are they now? Ford's winning streak at the box office may have slowed down a tad, but he's still a big name star. He's also still in shape, as he's set to reprise his role as Indiana Jones in the franchise's upcoming fourth film, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
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People Magazine is reporting that the former five hardest working kids in show business might just become the five hardest working middle-aged men in show biz. That's right - New Kids on the Block are reportedly planning to follow in Extreme's footsteps as the latest former Boston glory band returning to the spotlight.
Just how long has it been? Bostonist remembers back when teen mag pin-up boy Joey Joe McIntyre (who has subsequently dropped the extra Joe) was busy modifying the vocals to "Please Don't Go Girl" because his voice had finally deepened (that would be the Hangin' Tough World Tour). Now? Joey McIntyre has a new baby. Oh, and he's 35 years old. Yeah.
In honor of this news, we present our take on the discussions that surely must have taken place prior to the decision to update the official NKOTB website. We'd like to think that the process went as follows:
Step One - Realize the amount of enjoyment that could take place from such a reunion.
Step Two - Acknowledge the potential for what could be accomplished through said reunion.
Step Three - Accept that only McIntyre, Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight,
Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood would make such an event take place.
Step Four - Discuss the manner in which the band could take its musicianship to the next level.
Step Five - Inquire about whether people are aware of the timeliness of this reunion.
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Watching our favorite spandex-clad super-warriors of American Gladiators the past few weeks, we've been treated by NBC wunderkind Ben Silverman to a preview of the network's upcoming Knight Rider remake. Gladiators? Knight Rider? Rambo tearing up the multiplex? It's the eighties all over again!
Given that Silverman's recipe for invigorating NBC is to pillage the glorious recent past — and given that Gladiators' ratings thus far suggest the strategy is totally successful — we thought we'd offer the tanned, gleaming genius some advice on what other shows he might nab from the era of big dreams and bigger hair.
10. The Equalizer
9. Misfits of Science
7. Hardcastle and McCormick
6. Remote Control
5. Tenspeed and Brown Shoe
4. Small Wonder
3. Max Headroom
2. Bosom Buddies
1. Police Squad! and Sledge Hammer!
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Time for another Eighties Retro Flashback. Today's entry is sponsored by:
The original "Baby on Board" sign that could be attached to your car window with a suction cup. It spawned millions of others, including the classic "Mother-in-law in trunk."
Today it's time to remember the boom box, sometimes referred to as a "Ghetto Blaster." No matter what you called it, you could put it on your shoulder and take your tunes anywhere. Perfect for showing off your incredible breakdancing moves.
A video to help you remember the past is below.
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In Oklahoma City,
A lot has happened since the Chargers defeated Casady in basketball last week, starting with the invasion of a certain multi-colored cube first popularized in the 80s. That’s right, I’m talking about the Rubik’s Cube. This interesting trend emerged after Winter Break during which Daniel Pappas and Caleb Villaflor became intrigued with it. As they brought the cubes to school, others’ curiosities were peaked; thus, the fad spread like wildfire among the senior class.
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