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Top 20 Kid Shows From The 80s & 90s

                                        

Remember the innocence of childhood? The birthday parties. The water gun fights. The sleep overs. Oh, and the television shows! This is a countdown of the top 20 kids shows from the mid 80s and mid 90s. There are some exceptions, though, and they are as follows:

Though excellent shows, programs such as Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Sesame Street, and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" are absent from this list. This isn’t just because they premiered decades ago but also because their target demographic was roughly children six and under, rather than kids aged seven to fifteen, which this countdown represents.

Similarly, this is a countdown shows that were specifically targeted for kids only.  As beloved as programs like The Cosby Show and Family Matters were, they won’t be on this countdown as those kinds of shows appealed to a much broader age demographic.

Lastly, though everyone loves a good hero, classic superhero shows (X-Men, Batman, Spider-Man) are absent as well because these characters have been established for years, already have a rich legacy and fan following, and are so universally beloved that they would unfairly skew the countdown. This list also won’t include old favorites such as The Flintsones and Tom and Jerry for similar reasons.

With that long disclaimer behind us, it’s time to get nostalgic!

20)  Ren & Stimpy
This was most certainly an atypical kids show. Created in 1991, “Ren & Stimpy” became just the third Nickelodeon cartoon (a.k.a Nicktoon) to ever be aired on the network. This animated series followed a neurotic Chihuahua called Ren Hoek and a dimwitted cat named Stimpson J. Cat (Stimpy). The two were an unlikely pair as they experienced countless wild and bizarre adventures together. What made this show a hit with kids was its off-beat sense of humor. Whether an episode dealt with odd scenarios like Ren using Stimpy’s body fat to enhance his own pectoral muscles in season four, or the series’ concept of faux commercials featuring characters such as the melodramatic superhero and breakfast spokesman Powered Toast Man, the series was no doubt a bold gamble by Nickelodeon. And it worked.

19)  Legends of the Hidden Temple
This series aired from 1993 to 1995 on Nickelodeon and was a physical challenge game show for kids. The set resembled Ancient Central American iconographies and included a giant animatronic talking head named Olmec. As kids were split into teams of two and given animal names (silver snakes, green monkeys, etc), Olmec would speak of a particular historical figure and any artifact that he or she used. The six teams would then battle it out for the chance to enter the temple and retrieve the hidden artifact from its chambers. The appeal of the show was that it was a mix of trivia knowledge and physical competition. Taking place in an artificial temple setting, the series allowed kids to be immersed in a world only seen in Indiana Jones films.

18)  Hey Dude
Any great kids show must have a catchy theme song, and “Hey Dude” is no exception. People who grew up in the 1990s not only remember this unforgettable tune but can probably still recite it word for word (“Singin' yippee tai aie ay, Yippee tai aie what?!”). Debuting in 1989, this show centered on a fictional Bar None Dude Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. It portrayed the lives of a sweet but dim witted ranch owner Mr. Ernest, his often dejected son Buddy, and a staff that included smug Ted, saccharine Melody, privileged Brad and even-tempered Danny. The series ended in 1991 due to Nickelodeon having just put the finishing touches on its Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida. The network wanted to keep costs for its shows down by filming them all at their new sunshine state home, and “Hey Dude” was unfortunately filmed on location in Arizona. Still, this show was beloved due to the characters. Whether it was seeing Ted’s undying quest to score a date with Brad or witnessing Mr. Ernest bumble his way through a mid-life crisis, this series deserves a spot in the top 20.

17)  Guts
Networks like Nickelodeon were smart to realize early on that what young people wanted to watch was kid versions of adult programming. In “Guts,” the series’ concept was very much like the original television run of “American Gladiators” (1989-1996). “Guts” debuted in 1992 and was an action sports game show that featured three kids competing against each other in four athletic challenges for points. Hosted by the energetic Mike O’Malley (Yes, Dear) and with the help of English referee Moira Quirk, this show had kids competing in baseball, basketball, football, and water events. Oftentimes though, the challenges required kids to wear elastic harnesses, as they were told to jump incredible heights or climb intimidating walls. And who can forget the Aggro Crag? The fifth and final event, this last challenge always decided the winner. Contestants would have to climb an artificial mountain while activating a series of lights on the way to the peak. Along the way, the kids were forced to deal with simulated lightning storms, rock avalanches, and raining confetti that would simulate a snow effect.

16)  Tiny Toon Adventures
Produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and Warner Brothers Animation, “Tiny Toon Adventures” hit the small screen in 1990 on FOX. It was set in the fictional city of Acme Acres where most of the characters attended Acme Looniversity. The university was founded to teach cartoon characters how to become funny, with graduates receiving a "Diploma of Lunacy," giving them the opportunity to become full-time cartoon characters. The original Looney Tunes characters played a role in this series as they taught the classes that the Tiny Toons attended. Most of the Tiny Toons characters were designed to resemble younger versions of Warner Brothers’ most popular Looney Tunes, as Buster Bunny was a Bugs Bunny clone and Plucky Duck was easily modeled after Daffy Duck. This series did incorporate gross out humor but also was satirical and poked fun at other shows. Though resembling past characters, “Tiny Toon Adventures” certainly had originality. Who can forget Montana Max, the ill-tempered, money hungry tycoon who became the character that viewers loved to hate (and was voiced by Danny Cooksey, best known for his character of Budnick on the Nickelodeon show “Salute Your Shorts”). Or Elmyra Duff, the clueless red-headed animal lover girl whose overexcitement and oblivious nature caused her pets great harm. Whichever character you liked, Warner Brothers was able to take classic Looney Tunes characters and successfully re-tool them for the enjoyment of an entirely new generation of kids.

15)  Animaniacs
The series was the second animated show produced by Steven Spielberg in 1993 and it was definitely “Wakko.” Featuring the Warner Brothers siblings (Yakko, Wakko, and Dot) and a host of other characters, this show consisted of two or three cartoon shorts that involved pop culture references, slapstick humor, and cartoon violence similarly found in older shows such as “Tom and Jerry” and “Looney Tunes.” The show, though, would also have educational segments, like when Yakko would rapidly name countries all over the world while attempting to make them rhyme with accompanying up-tempo background music. Who can forget great characters such as “Pinky and the Brain,” two genetically engineered mice who reside in a cage at the Acme Labs research facility. In every episode, the megalomaniac Brain devises a plan for world domination that always ends in failure (Stevie Griffin, anyone?). Pinky is his cockney accented side kick who always just seems happy to be along for the ride. These characters and many more made “Animaniacs” a hit with both children and adults alike. Though the show ended in 1998, it was wildly successful and even won eight Daytime Emmy Awards.

14)  Doug
Doug Funnie. Skeeter Valentine. Patti Mayonaise. Roger Klotz. Porkchop. These are the characters of “Doug,” a sweet coming-of-age animated series that premiered on Nickelodeon in 1991. Doug Funnie was a recently relocated sixth grader in the fictional town of Bluffington. Most episodes often started with Doug writing in his journal about recent life events, and then the episode would be a flashback of said events that were narrated by Doug himself. In this sense, the show seemed to have an animated “Wonder Years” vibe to it. Regardless, Doug would tell stories about his affection towards Patti, his great friend Skeeter, and his troubles with rival and bully Roger Klotz. Doug’s faithful companion was his doug, Porkchop. The show not only featured characters with unusual names, but unusual skin tones. Doug’s skin was white, yet his best friend was blue, his love interest was dark brown, his bully was green, and even his mother was purple. Nevertheless, Doug was an endearing character due to his wild imagination. Oftentimes, Doug’s imagination would allow him to become his alter ego, Quail Man (Quail Man was essentially Doug wearing his underwear on the outside and a belt around his head, but he was capable of doing great things). “Doug” was loved by its viewers because the series focused on how one deals with being the new kid in town. Almost every kid can relate to that awkwardness and anxiety, and “Doug” helped kids across America get through those hardships with laughter.

13)  Fraggle Rock
A show for kids in the 7-12 demographic, this program was a little more grown up than its “Sesame Street” counterpart. Running from 1983 to 1987 on HBO, this series was a Jim Henson production that utilized a new cast of puppets for the world of “Fraggle Rock.” With every character having a precise personality and yet an undefined visual distinctiveness, “Fraggle Rock” subtly dealt with complex issues such as tolerance and personal identity. Similar to Henson's other productions in “Seasame Street” and “The Muppets,” “Fraggle Rock” became a worldwide hit. The success was due of course to the Muppet characters themselves. Although the Fraggles were an entirely new creation, kids had become familiar with the look and sound of these characters due to previous Henson productions. The appeal of the show, though, was in the peculiar world that the Fraggles inhabited. Living seemingly in an underground world, the “Fraggle Rock” community consisted of the Fraggles themselves, the giant Gorgs, and the Doozers. The show certainly allowed a kid’s imagination to soar to new heights, which was almost certainly Jim Henson’s goal.

12)  You Can’t Do That on Television (YCDToTV)
Using unknown child actors, this sketch show debuted in 1979 in Ottawa, Canada. In 1981, Nickelodeon took a chance on this show, and it quickly became one of their highest rated shows. The series slowly started to decline in Canada, but it was so successful in America that Nickelodeon began airing the program five nights a week. In the 1990s, and even today, Nickelodeon is best known for its green slime. The network can thank YCDToTV for this, as the show would dump green slime on the heads of anyone who uttered the phrase “I don’t know.” The show is beloved by many people to this day, and it arguably had one of the biggest impacts in the young network’s lifespan. Kids of all ages eagerly tuned in to see what kind of fun, wacky sketches would be unleashed on the show.

11)  Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
No doubt similar to the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” premiered in 1993 on FOX. Donning colorful suits and slick helmets, the Power Rangers had the unique ability to morph into powerful warriors drawn from the spirit of dinosaurs, protecting the world from the forces of space witch Rita Repulsa. The Power Rangers themselves were teenagers who grappled with school, relationships, and, well, saving the world. The series has since gone through more than a dozen incarnations and currently airs on Toon Disney. The success of the series is not difficult to understand. The show appealed to kids due to the superhero concept but also the fact that the protagonists on the show were almost of the same generation as the viewers who watched at home. Loaded with action and a diverse cast that included two female rangers, an Asian heroine and a black male hero, the show did a brilliant job of reaching a broad audience. A mix of Ninja Turtles and Transformers, the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” were certainly a new breed of superheroes for a new generation of kids.

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Moby - Last Night

It's strange when a deep artist makes a shallow album. Is its shallowness actually well-disguised depth? Is it ironic? Is it a philosophical statement of the lack of substance in our culture? Or is it simply what it is, a musical treat with no goals other than to be a sugary snack?

Moby is a deep artist. He probably never should have become a household name, but 1999's Play was a great album that transcended all sorts of boundaries and launched Moby into the international spotlight. The man has a lot of opinions, and his inability and/or unwillingness to shut up about them earned him a cultural backlash that is nearly on par with America's backlash against disco.

Moby is a deep artist, but Last Night is a shallow album. This is Moby's tribute to his roots as a New York DJ in the mid- to late-'80s. New York dance music in the '80s was exciting -- hip-hop was exploding in the five boroughs and New Jersey, house was finding its legs on the post-disco dancefloors of clubs like the Paradise Garage, and the musical alchemy of bands like Talking Heads and Blondie was completely changing rock.

Unfortunately, Last Night makes it sound as if Moby was stuck in the DJ booth at some crappy club in the suburbs instead of immersing himself in the great music that was happening a few miles away. I don't hear an inspired reinterpretation of early '80s New York on here; I just hear a bunch of dance music cliche'ss being poured through Moby's mixing board. And that's a shame.

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Satisfy your craving for a taste of the '80s

                        

Trips to the cineplex and the mailbox are triggering warm and fuzzy feelings in Julie Owens these days, reminding her of moments she had forgotten about.

"I felt wicked nostalgic for my old Mickey Mouse phone when I saw the hamburger phone in the movie 'Juno,' " said Owens, 35, a public-transit contract administrator from Orland Park, Ill.

It's no surprise to trend forecasters that the '60s, '70s and '80s are in vogue with people between the ages of 18 and 35, some of whom weren't even born when the objects of their affection first bloomed. Stores such as Urban Outfitters, for example, find plenty of takers for retro chic. The Intelligence Group, a New York research and consulting firm whose clients include Microsoft, Nike and MTV, calls this "accelerated nostalgia." The idea is this: In an age when life and technology change at a dizzying pace, young people find it "increasingly rare to come upon something with such history," said Melissa Lavigne, IG's marketing director.

So how big is retro?

                   

                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                

                                            

                                            

It's so big that you don't have to turn to eBay or thrift shops to find some of your old favorites. Many companies are making plenty of money as they satisfy America's craving for nostalgia.

"About eight years ago, we realized that we don't really sell candy anymore. What we're really selling are memories," said Jon Prince, the third-generation family leader of the McKeesport Candy Co., known to most people these days as candyfavorites.com.

The walk down memory lane is getting a little more crowded. Even the aisles of discount stores have occasional retro reminders intended to entice Baby Boomers and Gens X and Y.

Here are a few more interesting nuggets from the bandwagon.

Sweet life

Prince's grandfather launched McKeesport in 1927. Anyone born from the late '40s onward will find something to jog their sweet tooth in their Retro Packs (from $12.38 to $79.95). Pixy Stix, candy necklaces, Boston Baked Beans, Necco wafers, wax lips — it's all here from the veteran candy wholesaler (candyfavorites.com or 888-525-7577).

Dialing the past

Most Millennials are too young to have actually lived in a home that used phones with the delayed gratification of rotary dials. That doesn't mean they don't like the look, though. At urbanoutfitters.com, the Web-only Back Room Wall Phone ($50) looks like the real thing from decades past, but its push-button dialing, redial, flash and other features let you know you have stepped into a time warp.

Spinning the present

If you want the best of both worlds with your music collection, you could spend $100 to $400 on a new USB turntable that will turn your Duran Duran or Foghat albums into MP3 files. Or, primarily for iTunes users, you could buy Griffin's iMic ($39.99 at stores like Circuit City or Staples, or at griffin technology.com). It works with Apple and Windows XP and links up your existing turntable and your computer. It definitely takes practice and patience, but I found that the iMic's Final Vinyl application's filters — and Griffin's friendly tech-support staff — make the learning curve bearable.

Got a sweet tooth?

Wax candy lips and Boston Baked Beans were popular treats in the '80s. You can find just about any candy from back in the day to take care of your sweet tooth.

Old school  jams

Got a bunch of vinyl you don't know what to do with? The iMic, below, can help transfer those old LPs to MP3 files to bring those tunes back to life. Then, you can play them on your iPod Boombox.

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80s Love Songs

I listed some 80s love songs I like by female artists. You can sample and buy the MP3s of them. They are all on my must hear 80s songs list.

Magicby Olivia Newton-John (1980)
More Loveby Kim Carnes (1980)
Self Control (LP Version) by Laura Branigan (1984)
Smooth Operator (Single Version)by Sade (1984)
Take My Breath Awayby Berlin (1986)
Total Eclipse Of The Heartby Bonnie Tyler (1983)
Woman In Love (Album Version)by Barbra Streisand (1980)

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Trio brings '80s hits to Phoenix Pride

When it comes to girl groups of the '80s, Exposé is the Rodney Dangerfield of the bunch. These women don't get the respect they deserve.

Sentimental 40-somethings will wax nostalgic about the Go-Go's or the Bangles. Even Bananarama gets more spins on radio stations devoted to the Breakfast Club generation.

But according to the Billboard singles chart, Exposé was the most successful of the bunch, notching eight top 10  pop hits under their designer belts.

"This is a group that was very huge for just a few years," says Mike Abrams, senior program director at dance station Chrome XM 83. "But they were one of the top, if not the top, artists in their genre."

But being a top group in a niche genre isn't always an easy sell. The trio came out of the Miami freestyle scene, a hybrid Latin/hip-hop/pop sound that was huge among Hispanics - not exactly an area familiar to most of the mainstream music press.

"It's definitely a bigger format when it comes to the Latino community," said Abrams, who should know: He worked at freestyle outlet Power 92 in Phoenix in the early '90s, the tail end of the Exposé era.

Back then, the group was like the freestyle Supremes. Exposé consisted of Jeanette Jurado, Ann Curless and Gioia Bruno, all beautiful, belting out urgent, high-energy workouts like Come Go With Me and Let Me Be the One.

Other freestyle acts included Lisa Lisa, the Cover Girls and Sweet Sensation, but Exposé made the biggest splash in mainstream music.

But even during the band's heyday, Jurado says, the trio faced an uphill battle.

"I think part of the craziness of the whole deal was that our management wanted to market us as a name but not as a face," she says. "Then Clive Davis and our record company, Arista, wanted to bring our personalities to the public. It was this struggle between the two, and we were never presented 100 percent from both ends."

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The 80's Are Back!

                                    

The 80's refuse to die no matter how much you kick it in the ribs. And you can get your own kicks in as well as hear some cool music this summer.

The Regeneration tour features 80's icons as Belinda Carlisle (of the Go Gos), ABC, Dead Or Alive, A Flock of Seagulls and Naked Eyes.

The tour starts Aug. 1 and runs until Aug 29. Tickets for Atlanta, San Diego and L.A are on sale with more dates to be announced. Totally!

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Happiest songs of the 80s (Nos. 21-40)

Are you happy yet? If not, this list of 80 Happiest Songs of the '80s really hits its stride today.

Try not to listen to too many of these songs at once. Your coworkers and significant others will wonder why you're not gloomy anymore. Impressions are important, after all.

Today's happiest 80s star: Huey Lewis was tired and grumpy when we interviewed him on the Stuck in the 80s podcast a year ago, but we'll always have "Do You Believe In Love." Dare I say classic?

Click here to see Nos. 1-20, 41-60, 61-80.

HAPPIEST SONGS OF THE 80s: (Nos. 41-60)

40. It's My Life (Talk Talk): [video]

39. She's a Beauty (The Tubes): [video]

38. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (The Police): [video]

37. Let's Go Crazy (Prince): [video]

36. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car (Billy Ocean): [video]

35. Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Richie): [video]

34. Do You Believe In Love (Huey Lewis & The News): [video]

33. Space Age Love Song (Flock Of Seagulls): [video]

32. Jenny 867-5309 (Tommy Tutone): [video]

31. P.Y.T (Michael Jackson): [listen]

30. Something So Strong (Crowded House): [video]

29. Funky Town (Pseudo Echo): [video]

28. Freeze Frame (J. Geils Band): [video]

27. It's Tricky (Run D.M.C.): [video]

26. Turning Japanese (The Vapors): [video]

25. She's Tight (Cheap Trick): [video]

24. Stone In Love (Journey): [live performance]

23. I'm Still Standing (Elton John): [video]

22. Rush Hour (Jane Wiedlin): [video]

21. What A Feeling (Irene Cara): [video]

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10 Horror Remakes That Should Be Made

There are dozens of '80s horror movies that were pretty "broke" in the first place and could use a good update. Some were never that good to begin with, and some look more like a product of their big-haired era than others. It leads one to the question of why a movie should EVER be remade and there are really only two answers - to bring a forgotten story to a larger audience or to fix a movie that didn't quite work the first time. For the most part, a movie that didn't work twenty-something years ago won't work now, so remakes have to walk a fine line - source material that's good enough to warrant a second look but not great enough that any future attempts will pale next to the original. With that in mind, as a service to the producers who will be looking for the "next Prom Night" after this weekend, here are The Deadbolt’s ten suggestions for horror films that are just itching for a remake.

10. Lady in White (1988)

Falling neatly into the nobody-saw-it category of remakes is Frank LaLoggia's Lady in White, an unusual little ghost story that originally starred Lukas Haas and Len Cariou. The movie barely made a dent in the slasher-crazy world of '80s horror movies, but it's the kind of alternative to what the genre is currently doing that could really make an impact in the '00s. Think about all the buzz that The Orphanage built at the end of last year (not enough if you ask us) and how tired people are of the same-old-slash-old when it comes to the torture porn genre. We could all use a good ghost story to wash the taste of The Hitcher and Hills Have Eyes 2 out of our collective mouths. And Lady in White is a solid, old-fashioned, hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck supernatural tale that starred Haas as a kid who gets locked in school closet during Halloween of 1962 and sees something unusual in the classroom that leads him to the murderer of a young girl. Lady in White was something that not a lot of ghost stories were or are to this day - scary. Lukas Haas would later appear in My Chemical Romance's video for "Welcome to the Black Parade" because two members of the band were fans of the scary flick. If someone could recreate the same atmospheric chills as the original in a remake, it could inspire a whole new generation of Screamo fans.

9. Child's Play (1988)

Hold up. I know that this sounds like a really bad idea at first. Half of you are probably in the camp that the original is good enough that it should stand on its own and the other half are probably so exhausted by the awful sequels that the mere prospect of another film in the franchise makes you hurl. We understand and feel your pain. But that's precisely why a Child's Play remake isn't a half-bad idea. In much the same way that Zombie tried to amend for the recent Michael Myers flicks by restarting the Halloween franchise, somebody really should be forced to give audiences some celluloid atonement for a few of the Chucky movies. There's still a lot of strength in the original concept of a childhood toy gone very wrong. Imagine if someone could take the idea seriously again. Turn Andy, the childhood lead, into a loner kid, maybe even aging him a little bit, who pairs with his sadistic toy to wreak havoc on the bullies who have wronged him and the adults who have left him to wither. Yes, we're actually suggesting a serious Child's Play movie, which could be the worst idea ever or could be a fascinating alternative to the cookie-cutter remakes that litter the genre. It certainly wouldn't be like any of the other remakes on this list. At least not until someone remakes Puppet Master or Demonic Toys. Wait, there’s an idea...

8. The Hunger (1983)

The Hunger is infamous for a number of reasons, very few of which have anything to do with the film's quality. The Hunger marked the debut of director Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance), starred David Bowie, turned into a cult hit in goth circles, and gained worldwide infamy for a lesbian seduction scene between Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon. Lesbian vampires in goth makeup? Evanescence is already writing the soundtrack for the remake. Seriously, The Hunger is a campy, cheesy film but it features some themes about aging that are certainly even more relevant in today's botox-crazed society. Deneuve played a vamp whose eternal partners went through rapid aging just before they died. When one (Bowie) went to a doctor for help and went from suave club dude to old man in mere minutes, the doc (Sarandon) became fascinated with the situation and eventually became the vamp’s lover. The original chose atmosphere over character and story and looks incredibly dated, but there's enough good material here to warrant a remake. Goth kids everywhere would line up days in advance and if you kept the lesbian material, so would most of the horny young men in America. Imagine Wild Things with bloodsucking instead of just sucking.  At the very least, it’d make a fortune on DVD.

7. Demons (1985)

Written by the amazing Dario Argento and directed by the son of the influential Mario Bava (Lamberto), Demons is one f-ed up movie that not nearly enough people have seen, making it the perfect fit for a remake. The basic foundation of the story is a tale that's been told for decades and is not going to go away any time soon - art will kill you. In the original, a group of people are invited to the opening of a new movie theatre. As the movie unfolds, they start to turn into demons and kill each other. It's mostly played for gore and Argento-esque insanity, but Demons has themes that could easily translate to today's censor-ific world, one who believes that Eli Roth and Rob Zombie are making horned creatures of teenagers anyway. The original chaos comes from a demonic mask (most foreign horror movies do) but the remake could play off the power of cinema straight away. We've all been sitting in a theater, watching a horrible movie, and just hoping that the guy next to us might turn demon and start a rampage just to alleviate the boredom. We think that did happen during License to Wed. Oh, no, wait, we hoped it would happen.

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"Brat Pack" films endure time

While so much fascination centers on the rise and fall of child stars, the true Hollywood horror story is that of an ’80s group full of teenage angst. The ’80s were years unique in their culture and atmosphere, but even with such a specific background, the movies of “The Brat Pack” remain timeless.

A group of young actors that caught lightning in a bottle for a brief period of time, “The Brat Pack” traditionally comprises Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Demi Moore and Andrew McCarthy. The group nickname refers to the principal actors of two seminal 1985 movies, “The Breakfast Club” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

The downfall of the budding talent does not originate from personal mistakes like those of the most infamous former child stars. Instead, the actors simply never matured into equally successful leading roles as adults.

For a film that is largely set in a library, “The Breakfast Club” is remarkable. Like a one-act play, the strength of the film comes from the strong acting. Legendary writer and director John Hughes wrote each character to span the various high school stereotypes, and at the end of the film, the characters are literally identified as a “brain,” an “athlete,” a “basket case,” a “princess” and a “criminal.”

How these characters weren’t immediately dismissed is a testament to the acting, particularly Nelson’s vivid, in-your-face portrayal of rebel John Bender. In what looked like a breakout performance, Nelson’s wry cynicism and sarcastic remarks injected the film and its characters with a heavy dose of reality.

“St. Elmo’s Fire” takes the same basic formula that made “The Breakfast Club” work so well — a comedy-drama built by a cohesive ensemble cast — and targets the young adult crowd. Moping about the claustrophobia that comes with high school stereotypes in “The Breakfast Club,” actors Nelson, Sheedy and Estevez then moved on to bigger topics in “St. Elmo’s Fire” like marriage and career choices.

Despite their appearances in both films, the three show their range by fitting into both worlds — yet another reason why the ultimate failure of “The Brat Pack” is eternally puzzling; the group was not simply typecast. As much as “The Breakfast Club” and “St. Elmo’s Fire” are grouped together, they are fundamentally different films. From the release of “The Breakfast Club” to the release of “St. Elmo’s Fire” mere months later, Nelson went from rebel to conservative “wannabe” socialite, Sheedy went from total recluse to extrovert and Estevez went from confident jock to obsessive nerd.

As accessible as the two films are, they are injected with plenty of ’80s flair, particularly the soundtracks. Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” is a song now traditionally associated with “The Breakfast Club,” while one might think of Lowe’s saxophone blaring with “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Modern viewers can forgive the two films for their somewhat preachy endings because if ’80s nostalgia has taught the following generation anything, it’s that the ’80s and subtlety never went together. After all, that is a decade that championed the after-school special.

Seeing the ranting of Nelson or the brooding of McCarthy on-screen showcases their lost potential. When viewing “The Breakfast Club” and “St. Elmo’s Fire,” two cult classics forever preserved in film lore, its hard not to feel sad about the fates of the cast.

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Does the NKOTB Reunion Signal An 80s Shoe Comeback?

If the New Kids on the Block can get back together, anything is possible. But since I’ve also noticed some influences from the 1980s in runway collections already (neon colors! even some shoulder pads!), it seems even more likely…  Could the fashionable masses take a giant step backwards in time and go seriously 80s? Well, better safe than sorry.  Just like you should have a few gallons of water in your house and band-aids just in case, here’s what you should stash in your closet in case of a world gone crazy. And don’t worry, with my picks, you can wear them now and even years in the future without hating yourself later (let’s not talk about that side ponytail thing I did once upon a time ).

Even if you weren’t alive in the 80s, I’m sure you know that legwarmers were big (I think they’re still around some even now). Well, the younger of us paired them with sneakers, but the stylish teenagers matched them with some thin-heeled pumps, also a throwback to the dress-to-climb-the-corporate ladder/power suit era for women. I like the basic black leather pair below by Guess which would blend equally well with tailored pants today as they would with a poofy-sleeved prom dress back in the day.  And on that strain, do you remember the Guess brand itself? The jeans, the tops, the shoes, the purses - they were all huge in the 80s and Guess is still around. So, because in addition to neon (love those Lacoste sneakers), checkerboard patterned prints were uber popular during the decade, I’ve added a second pair of Guess heels- this time platforms for some “now” power and black and white checks for the vintage quality.

Last, who could forget Michael Jackson and his plethora of sparkle (the single glove, most famously). So for instant 80s, it’s easy to take a cue from The King of Pop and pour some glitter on your shoes. I am diggin’ these red Marc by Marc Jacobs  jellies (below right). Just match them with a red leather jacket and you’re ready to have a dance-off with some zombies (YouTube the Thriller video if you didn’t laugh; I’m not saying it’ll make me funnier but at least you’ll be entertained).  See, I told you I was going to make the 80s less scary! - and yet your feet would totally blend in if you warped back there in a time machine. Now pull out some of those old John Cusack movies and a little Bill & Ted for the weekend…  if it does mature into a full-blown trend, maybe it wouldn’t be so “bogus” after all.

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