Stuck in the '80s Podcast

The world lost one of the great voices of classic rock and early MTV music in 2024 with the passing of Greg Kihn. Best known for hits like Jeopardy and The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em), Kihn built a career filled with sharp songwriting, unforgettable hooks and a warm sense of humor that made him beloved by generations of rock fans. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Spearsy honors...

The world lost one of the most commanding and respected actors of his generation with the passing of Louis Gossett Jr.. Whether playing a tough military drill instructor, a wise alien survivor or a deeply human mentor figure, Gossett brought intelligence, strength and emotional depth to every performance. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Steve and Chuck Coverly honor the legendary acto...

On July 25, 2024, the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast officially turned 19 years old — meaning the show has now entered its 20th year celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. What began in 2005 as a simple nostalgia podcast for Gen X fans has grown into one of the longest-running and most beloved ’80s pop culture podcasts anywhere. This week, Spearsy and Bra...

For many Gen X movie fans, few fantasy films captured the imagination quite like The NeverEnding Story. Released during the golden age of practical-effects fantasy cinema, the movie introduced audiences to Falkor, Atreyu, The Nothing and the unforgettable Childlike Empress played by 10-year-old Tami Stronach. Four decades later, Tami returns to the world of fantasy filmmaking with the new movie Ma...

Everybody knows the term “one-hit wonder,” but the 1980s also gave us dozens of artists who managed to crack the Billboard Top 40 twice before fading from mainstream radio rotation. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Steve and Brad launch Part 1 of their new “Two-Hit Wonders” series — celebrating the bands and artists who may not have dominated the charts for years but still helped defin...

Nearly 40 years after Beverly Hills Cop helped turn Eddie Murphy into one of the biggest movie stars of the 1980s, Axel Foley is finally back. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Steve and Brad review Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the Netflix sequel that reunites audiences with the wisecracking Detroit detective and many familiar faces from one of the defining action-comedy franchises of the...

Few labels in 1980s pop culture became as iconic — or as controversial — as the “Brat Pack.” This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Steve and Brad dive into the renewed conversation surrounding the Brat Pack thanks to Brats, the new Hulu documentary directed by Andrew McCarthy. The documentary revisits the rise of a generation of young actors who helped define 1980s cinema while also explori...

Few artists have ever dominated pop culture the way Prince did during the summer of 1984. With the release of Purple Rain and the accompanying Purple Rain, Prince transformed from a critically acclaimed musician into one of the biggest superstars on the planet. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Spearsy and guest co-host Patty Lin celebrate the 40th anniversary of the album, movie and cu...

For fans of Dirty Dancing, there may be no greater bucket-list destination than Mountain Lake Lodge — the real-life Virginia resort where much of the beloved 1987 movie was filmed. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Spearsy and his wife share stories from their recent visit to the iconic filming location while exploring why Dirty Dancing continues to hold such a special place in Gen X po...

The summer of 1984 is often remembered as one of the greatest moments in pop culture history. MTV was exploding, blockbuster movies dominated theaters and radio playlists were packed with unforgettable songs that still define the decade today. But beyond the superstar acts already ruling the charts, the summer of 1984 also introduced audiences to a remarkable group of new artists releasing debut a...

Few actors captured the optimism, energy and underdog spirit of the 1980s quite like Michael J. Fox. Whether starring in sitcoms, time-travel adventures or heartfelt comedies, Fox became one of the defining faces of Gen X pop culture during the MTV era. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Steve and Brad revisit two of his most beloved “small-town dreamer” movies in a special movie battle...

Few voices captured the emotional atmosphere of the early MTV era quite like Martha Davis of The Motels. With haunting vocals, deeply personal songwriting and unforgettable songs like Only the Lonely and Suddenly Last Summer, The Motels became one of the most distinctive bands of the 1980s new wave movement. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Spearsy sits down with Martha Davis for a wid...

The 1980s may have been dominated by MTV and English-language pop music, but some of the decade’s most memorable songs came from artists singing in entirely different languages. Whether through infectious hooks, groundbreaking electronic sounds or pure cultural curiosity, these international hits somehow crossed borders and became part of the shared soundtrack of Gen X life. This week on the Stuck...

For decades, Hall & Oates seemed almost inseparable — one of the most successful and recognizable musical duos in pop history. From blue-eyed soul and polished pop to MTV-ready rock anthems, Daryl Hall and John Oates helped define the sound of late ’70s and ’80s radio. So when news broke that the partnership had effectively come to an end, it stunned longtime fans who grew up with their music as p...

Who ya gonna call? For Gen X movie fans, the answer has been the same since 1984. Ghostbusters wasn’t just a blockbuster comedy — it became one of the defining cultural landmarks of the MTV era, blending supernatural chaos, endlessly quotable dialogue and one of the greatest ensemble casts of the decade. But how do the modern sequels Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire stack up...

Few actors can say they’ve successfully navigated five decades of constantly changing television and film culture, but A Martinez has done exactly that. With a career spanning daytime television, primetime dramas, westerns and streaming-era fantasy series, Martinez remains one of the most versatile and enduring performers in Hollywood. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Spearsy sits down...

If the 1980s had a peak year, most Gen X fans would probably choose 1984. It was the year of blockbuster movies, nonstop MTV, iconic albums and some of the biggest pop hits ever recorded. But even during a year overflowing with massive songs and superstar artists, a handful of great tracks somehow slipped through the cracks or became overshadowed by even bigger hits from the same artists. This wee...

Some movies become blockbusters. Others become something even more special: cult classics that refuse to fade away. That perfectly describes Rad. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the most beloved underdog movies of the BMX era. While it may not have received the same attention as some of the decade's biggest theatrical releases, Rad has earned...

It's always a little strange coming back to reality after a week aboard The 80s Cruise. One minute you're watching legendary artists perform just a few feet away, singing along with hundreds of fellow Gen X music fans and hosting trivia contests with some of your favorite people. The next minute you're unpacking luggage and trying to explain to your friends why you spent seven days talking about o...

For years, fans of Moonlighting wondered if the beloved 1980s comedy-drama would ever finally arrive on streaming. Thanks to music licensing issues and complicated rights negotiations, one of the most innovative and influential TV shows of the MTV era remained frustratingly difficult to watch for decades. But now the wait is finally over: Moonlighting is streaming on Hulu, and this week on the Stu...

During the late 1980s, The Escape Club carved out a unique place in the MTV era with a sound that blended rock, pop and atmospheric new wave energy. Songs like Wild, Wild West, Shake for the Sheik and I'll Be There helped the band stand out on radio and MTV during one of the most crowded and competitive periods in pop music history. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast , Spearsy sits down wi...

Few topics generate more passionate debate among music fans than the annual nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Every year brings a new list of deserving artists, controversial omissions, surprising inclusions and endless arguments about what exactly qualifies as "rock and roll" in the first place. This year's class is no exception. On this week's episode of the Stuck in the ’80s podca...

There are few moments in music history that feel as impossible today as the recording of We Are the World. Imagine gathering some of the biggest stars on the planet into a single recording studio and asking them to leave their egos at the door for the sake of a humanitarian cause. Somehow, against all odds, it happened. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve and Brad review The Greatest...

Every generation has a handful of actors who feel larger than life. And then there are the even rarer performers who somehow manage to become larger than life while also seeming like genuinely good people. Carl Weathers was one of those people. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, we pause to remember Carl Weathers following the news of his passing at age 76. To honor his remarkable career,...

Awards season always inspires passionate debate. Who deserved to win? Who got robbed? Which movies stood the test of time? And perhaps most importantly, which films were so spectacularly awful that they became entertaining in their own right? This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve and Brad revisit the Academy Awards of 1984, honoring the movies released in 1983 and exploring one of the...