Pop Culture Affidavit

Pop Culture Affidavit, Episode 15 — One Savage Evening

This time out we have an extra-sized and extra-AWESOME episode of the podcast. Joining me is my friend and fellow podcaster Michael Bailey (of Views From the Longbox and From Crisis to Crisis) and we spend THREE FULL HOURS discussing the films of Savage Steve Holland!

Who is Savage Steve Holland, you ask?

You may not necessarily recognize the name but any child of the Eighties will recognize the phrase “I want my two dollars!” That’s right, Savage Steve directed Better Off Dead …, the 1985 John Cusack classic about breakups, French foreign exchange students, psychotic paperboys, and weird neighbors who sit at home crocheting and snorting nasal spray.

But that’s not all we talk about. We also reminisce about Savage Steve’s other two films: the 1986 beach romp One Crazy Summer, which also stars John Cusack as well as Demi Moore and Bobcat Goldthwait; and we talk about his least-known but most-underrated film, How I Got Into College.

Here’s where to listen:

Also, here’s a few great extras. First, the theatrical poster for Better Off Dead … (more…)

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam” Episode 3

It’s episode 3 of “In Country” and time for a little R&R for Ed Marks and his friends as they take a long weekend in Saigon but wind up getting more than they bargained for in The ‘Nam #3: “Three Day Pass.” The issue was written by Doug Murray, pencilled by Michael Golden, inked by Armando Gil and features events from April 1966. As always, in addition to the summary and review of the issue I’ll be talking about the story’s historical context as well as taking a look at the letters, ‘Nam Notes, and ads.

You can listen to it on iTunes or right here: In Country, Episode 3

In Country: Marvel Comics’ “The ‘Nam,” Episode 1

Introducing a brand-new podcast about “The ‘Nam,” Marvel Comics’ Vietnam War comic book that ran from 1986-1993. Over the course of the next 100 episodes, I will cover every single issue of the series as well as some unpublished stories and other pop culture featuring the Vietnam War.

This episode features issue #1 of “The ‘Nam,” where Doug Murray and Michael Golden introduce us to Ed Marks, a newly drafted G.I. who is about to start serving in the Vietnam War in 1966. I’ll take you through the issue’s events, give my opinion/critique and will also provide some historical and cultural context for the month when the story takes place (in this case, February 1966). I’ll also cover the issue’s lettercolumn as well as ads. So join me as I take my first step into … The ‘Nam.

You can download the episode via iTunes or listen directly at the Two True Freaks website

In Country iTunes feed

In Country Episode 1 direct link

Pop Culture Affidavit, Episode 12 — A Lloyd Meets Girl Story

In 1989, Cameron Crowe wrote and directed one of the seminal movies of the teen film genre. Starring John Cusack, Ione Skye, and John Mahoney, it’s Say Anything …, one of my favorite movies of all time.

Join me as I take a look back at the movie, talk about my favorite scenes and also take a look at the soundtrack.

You can listen here:

Pop Culture Affidavit Episode 11 — The Columbia House Thirteen

Hey everyone, take advantage of this special offer where you will get a ton of CDs for JUST ONE PENNY!

Does that sound familiar? If it does, then you’re familiar with Columbia House, the record, tape, CD, and video club that flourished in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s and provided mail-order entertainment for America, one person at a time (or at least that’s what the commercial says).

So, this time around, I not only take a look at Columbia House but at my personal experience with Columbia House, as I got my very first CD player when I was sixteen years old (twenty years ago!) and also signed up, eventually starting my music collection with thirteen CDs.

I had very different tastes in music back then.

You can listen here:

The following is a list of albums and songs mentioned in the podcast in case you’re interested in actually checking out the music (and if you are interested in purchasing some, use the Amazon link at Two True Freaks) …

Alice in Chains, Dirt (“Would?”)
Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction (“Think About You”)
Guns N’ Roses, Use Your Illusion I and II (“Breakdown,” “You Ain’t the First,” “Estranged,” “Pretty Tied Up”)
Elton John, Greatest Hits 1976-1986 (“I’m Still Standing,” “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues”)
Last Action Hero Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (AC/DC, “Big Gun;” Def Leppard, “Two Steps Behind;” Aerosmith, “Dream On;” Cypress Hill, “Cock the Hammer”)
Denis Leary, No Cure for Cancer (“Asshole”)
Megadeth, Countdown to Extniction (“Symphony of Destruction”)
Nine Inch Nails, Broken (“Wish,” “Physical [You’re So],” as well as the remixes of “Wish” and “Happiness in Slavery” on Fixed)
Say Anything … Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Peter Gabriel, “In Your Eyes”)
Singles Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Paul Westerberg, “Waiting for Somebody”)
Stone Temple Pilots, Core (“Plush,” “Wicked Garden”)
Wayne’s World Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (“Wayne’s World Theme [Extended Version];” Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody;” Jimi Hendrix, “Foxy Lady;” Gary Wright, “Dream Weaver;” Tia Carerre, “Ballroom Blitz;” Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Skiamikanico”)

Pop Culture Affidavit Episode 9: Your Cure for PCSD

In 1985, Joel Schumacher directed a seminal film that perfectly captures the angst of youth having been unleashed onto the world after graduating from college. Okay, that’s giving this movie too much credit, but St. Elmo’s Fire is still one of the best illustrations of Post-Collegiate Stress Disorder, or PCSD. So let’s go back to the Eighties with one of the ultimate Brat Pack movies!

You can listen here:

Pop Culture Affidavit Episode 7: Well, That’s One Way to Spend a Grand

When you’re a total geek and you’ve got a ton of money to blow, what do you do? Well, you spend it on getting a popular girl to go out with you! At least that’s the premise of “Can’t Buy Me Love,” a 1980s romantic teen comedy if there ever was one.

So take an hour or so and go back to 1987 and all of its bad hair as I talk about this Patrick Dempsey classic as well as dive into my own personal review archives, all in the name of love. And getting people to listen.

You can listen here:

Pop Culture Affidavit Episode 2 — We All Float Down Here (or, Why I Hate Clowns)

In the second episode of the Pop Culture Affidavit podcast, I take a look at Stephen King’s It, both the 1986 novel as well as the 1990 TV movie starring Tim Curry as the evil Pennywise The Clown. It’s a Halloween treat that will remind you why demonic clowns dwelling in sewers will make you swear off the circus forever.

You can listen here:

And, for your viewing enjoyment, here is a scene from the TV movie version of It:

Introducing … Pop Culture Affidavit: THE PODCAST!!!

It’s the very first episode of the Pop Culture Affidavit podcast! Each month, I’m going to be offering a “deluxe-sized” version of my blog posts … mainly stuff that I have really wanted to talk about but that I consider “special” enough to warrant about an hour’s worth of time in an audio format.

This first episode is all about the summer of 2012, including movies, comics, and my trip to the Baltimore Comic-Con.

You can listen here: