Smurfs & Headbangers Ball
Friday, October 29, 2010 at 6:12AM It’s kind of ironic that one of the main Twitter topics yesterday was things I miss from my childhood, because it’s been something I’ve been carefully pondering for some time now.
See, I had this aspiration of sitting down, growing a huge long beard, smoking lots of weed, and writing this amazing tell-all book about my childhood.
Then, family, fatherhood, honey-do lists, and the like happened. Mr. Book probably isn’t ever going to happen.
So, now, I’ve decided to stop sandbagging my drunken dad childhood memories and start blogging them. Why not, right?
So, I started to make a list of possible blog topics I could cover in-between writing about things like why I’d make a shitty terrorist, how winters are a cock-blocking drought for me, and the unfortunate history of a Snuggie family gone wrong.
A sneak peak at my “childhood possible blog topics yet to come”:
- My brother shooting BB’s at my feet in the garage to make me dance
- My brother throwing me outside tied up and naked
- Coming home drunk for the first time
- My brother and I being chased by my rabid mother and her deadly wooden spoons.
But in the process of tossing together a wandering list, I couldn’t help but ponder the wonderful things I miss from my childhood.
Smurfs
Those blue bastards were so magical at the time. Papa Smurf had all the answers and Smurfette was so damn hott. Gargamel was that nasty bastard next door, or in my case, my father. Regardless, you always pulled for the short acid-trip characters to kick some ass and persevere.
Inspector Gadget
That guy makes MacGyver look like a bish. I’ll never forget dropping my book-bag at the door, whipping open the refrigerator door, finding my favorite strawberry and banana yogurt, and plopping down on the chair to take in yet another episode of this cartoonish clutz as he solves an unforgettable crime.
Life was so simple then.
Headbangers Ball
I’ll never forget the hotel room I was in when MTV went live on the air. It was like seeing porn for the first time.
The sound blaring through the TV set. The feeling of not giving a rat’s ass as you let the music video reveal how your life just “should be.” All filled with the anticipation of what video could possibly be next?!
Then, the impossible happened when I was hitting my teenage years. MTV launched Headbangers Ball. I was blessed with the ability to listen to hardcore, talented musicians at a time of day when we had to sneak out of bed to watch. Rebellion mixed with bad-assnes for the win!!!
MTV and Headbangers Ball were the staple of my existence well into college until the network completed its journey of slowly turning into complete shit.
So enough of my ramblings. Those are three prize 1980’s kid choices…what are yours? Tell me what in the hell you miss.
Reader Comments (13)
Yo! MTV Raps, Mr. Wizard, The Snorks, Mr. Salty, Mon Chi Chis...
I loved Inspector Gadget. Yeah, now its all, go go gadget spellcheck or or washing machine loader. Errr... whatever.
Strongest pop culture memories for me would probably be Madonna, The Princess Bride, and Nerds. (I also remember the start of MTV - you know, back when they actually played MUSIC VIDEOS).
I blogged about nostalgia - jelly bracelets & such - a while back, if you're interested:
http://www.kellynaturally.com/post/Rubber-bands-mix-tapes-and-nostalgia.aspx
My Little Pony. The REAL ones, not the midget, jacked up ones they have come out with in the past 5 years. My hearthrob was MacGuyver. So funny to see reruns now. The acting, background music and storyline to pretty much all of the episodes are horrible. I didnt think so back then though!
Oh this is taking me back. My sister and I would watch Three's Company it seemed like everyday. We didn't understand the humor but couldn't get enough. Also , Fraggle Rock, The Muppets, Different Strokes, The Cosby Show and Ramblin Rod. Not sure if that was a local show or not. Probably as it was so low budget, and now would not even be considered for T.V.
This post makes me feel old as my stuff is from the 60s and 70s.
The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, The original Johnny Quest, Rockem Sockem Robots, Full size Yodels. Hell, I miss everything Drakes.
I miss real Halloween when you could just hang with your friends and go from house to house without fear of urban legends.
I miss The New York Experience which was a great place to hang out for free in Rockefeller Ctr. when I was in High School.
I miss Thundercats.
I miss my bike the most. I miss riding around with the neighborhood boys playing cops and robbers. We had the 5 block radius on lock down on weekends. It was ours for 2 days of the week and we explored every inch of it, nothing was off limits. I even had a siren on my bike with an ancient style PA system on it. That little gem got me in trouble a few times as a teenager.
Now the thought of letting a child ride around the neighboorhood unsupervised scares the hell out of me.
No one thought of 21 Jump Street. That's when my Johnny Depp obsession started. I tried to watch it on Hulu a while back and was left wondering "what the he'll is this sh@t?" I miss the skating rink and the Madonna "Like a Virgin" clothes I used to wear. Big lace bows in my hair, lace fingerless gloves, and all the other stuff that went with it =}
Saturday Night Live! How could not love this in the late 70's early 80's! Coming home drunk and/or stoned, sitting down with your munchies and just rolling to Belushi, Aykroyd, Chase, Radner and later, Eddie Murphy! Classic late night comedy!
Monty Python's Flying Circus. This may be before your time, but this was what got me to love British humor!
Saturday morning cartoons
Fun fruits - before douchey "fruit snacks" became the thing, Fun Fruits? And then yogurt covered Fun Fruits?
Apple II e games
The great big 10 color pens with little clickers for each color - ALL the rage by 6th grade or so
Metroid, original Mario series
The plastic charm necklaces that were big links and huge charms (phone, dog, unicorn? CHECK check and check)
Bloody Mary and Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board
Top Cat and the Heathcliff cartoons
Garfield cartoons and later, shamefully, I liked the US Acres cartoon
I miss ABC After School Shpecials, having no responsibilites and making out for hours.
Night Court, Looney Tunes (especially Bugs vs. Daffy), and the Moody Blues (thanks to my dad).
The smurfs were awesome, and did you see the preview for their movie?! I'm so stoked, I will be lining up like all the Tweens did for Twilight!!!
Lisa Frank school supplies, my Garfield telephone, HyperColor shirts, stirrup leggings, Totally Hair Barbie, banana clips (omg my hair looked so awesome in banana clips), Jem, a fresh perm, an aerosol can of hairspray and Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth perfume. Followed shortly by my love for Robert Smith, the Misfits and Morrissey... it was all downhill from there.