Stuck In The Middle - A Gen X Podcast

Feeling old yet, Slackers? When we were young, there were so many movie stars—and not just the Brat Pack. Sean Penn, Kiefer Sutherland, and Elisabeth Shue come to mind. Fast forward to today, and these former young heartthrobs and beloved teen idols have become Hollywood royalty, winning some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Emmys, and Tonys. Movi...

Top 5 all time, Slackers! Ever wonder why we have always been "list" oriented - or maybe that's just me? "Top 5" this or "Top 10" that - from Casey Kasem's American Top 40,  MTV's Top 20 Countdown,  later TRL , to Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 500 series, lists have been a regular part of our lives. With the advent of the internet, many of us were the early adopters of "listicles" on web forums whe...

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t watch any of this year’s Grammy Awards.  This used to be appointment viewing back in the day, but now - not so much. I thought, let’s revisit the ceremonies of 1975, 1985, and 1995. While we might not be tuning in now, these past shows seems to actually matter - and I recognize that is because I am an old man yelling at clouds! While you early Xers may recall t...

Diamonds are forever, Slackers! In this episode we will revisit the Diamond-certified albums from the 1980s that dominated the charts. These weren’t just records—they were the soundtrack for our generation. From Michael Jackson’s Thriller , which owned the airwaves, to AC/DC’s Back in Black , the 80s gave us albums that endure today. Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet gave us new global superstars (and...

Get on your tin foil hats, Slackers! In this episode, we take a look at the wild conspiracies that shaped the 1980s—a decade full of political scandals, social upheaval, and a growing sense of mistrust in authority. Some of the most notable were the Iran-Contra Affair, The Crack Epidemic, Denver International Airport and the Satanic Panic. We dive into how these conspiracies became the backdrop fo...

They’re out to get me, Slackers! In this episode, we explore the rise, fall, and enduring legacy of Guns N' Roses, one of rock's most iconic bands. From their formation in 1985 to the release of Appetite for Destruction , we cover their breakthrough into superstardom and the cultural shift they sparked. We delve into key moments, including lineup changes, controversies, and their influence on hard...

Hey, Slackers! Ever miss the old TV guides? I know I would love to look at that crazy grid and plan on what to watch during the week. Thanks to TVTango.com, you can find pretty much every TV listing going all the way back to 1950. While we were raised on the "Big Three" networks of ABC, CBS, and NBC, there was another network before FOX was launched in 1987 - The Dumont Television Network, which r...

Happy New Year, Slackers! This is a year in review episode, diving into the music, movies, and TV that topped the charts in 2024.  Unlike the retrospective shows I do from the 70s, 80’s or 90's, it is amazing how I don’t know very much about new music, I am slightly more aware of current TV shows, but I do have a pretty good handle on the box office. Did I become a cinephile at some point?! How ma...

Merry Christmas, Slackers! This is a short but hearfelt episode of the podcast. A quick review of Krampus, a surprisingly great Christmas-horror flick with an amazing cast, some reflections on the spirit of Christmas and a series of obnoxious events, and even a recitation of the Night Before Christmas. Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy holiday no matter what you celebrate. Be back next year wi...

Jingle, Jingle, Jingle, Slackers! Back with a Christmas themed "Whatever Wednesday"!  Topics include: Those we lost in 2024 and the Christmas (or Hanukkah) movies they performed in. Bizzare Christmas Movies like Santa With Muscles or Anna and the Apocalypse. Weird Christmas songs - let's just say that Tiny Tim had a very strange sense of humor related to STDs, while "Weird" Al Yankovic had some fe...

It’s the Christmas Season, Slackers! Did you know that Santa Claus first appeared in a short film all the way back in 1897?! Since then, there have been dozens of live action (and animated) movies and shows starring that jolly old elf. Given the iconic nature of the character, finding the right actor is important. And when Hollywood captures lightning in a bottle, you know they are going to capita...

Gimme a break, Slackers! Sometimes, things end up lost to time. Great albums. Cult favorite movies. And of course, sitcoms. Some sitcoms are truly forgotten gems, while others are just forgettable - and perhaps best left in the past. This week's episode is dedicated to those sitcoms that might have been huge hits but lacked that rewatchability factor, the solid shows with extra life in syndication...

 Happy Thanksgiving, Slackers! This episode is just me giving thanks for you, the listeners of the Stuck in the Middle Podcast. So, listen to the pod, then go eat some pumpkin pie. Watch Planes, Trains & Automobiles . Enjoy time with friends and family.  Maybe listen to Depeche Mode. Or the new Linkin Park. Peace!

Let’s go crazy, Slackers! Ah, it's been 40 years since 1984, a year filled with superstars and franchise movies topping the charts. This is definitely one of those oddly Gen X defining years. The early X-ers celebrated their last year as teenagers, while kids like me were just starting to explore music and movies separate from our parents. The music charts featured numerous songs from hit movie so...

Time to get back to music, Slackers On this week's episode, I give my top 10 most listened to albums of all time. While there are many other records that I would put among my favorite records if all time, this list is based on listens. Many of these albums are from my teen years - when I would listen to cassetes until the lettering had worn away or the tape became frayed or tangled - but these are...

How we doing today, Slackers?! It's the day after Election Day and we may or may not know who the next President of the United States will be. In the spirit of Election Day, let's take a dive into all the elections that have occurred since 1965. Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden - those have been the winning candidates since Gen X has been alive. From third party...

Happy Halloween, Slackers! Remember those hard plastic masks, with edges sharp enough to cut you, while completely obstructing your vision and breathing?! Perfect for a nighttime activity like trick or treating! Were you ever a Princess Leia, ET, Indiana Jones, or Michael Myers? What about Elvis, Michael Jackson, or Madonna? On this week's episode we break down the most popular costumes of the lat...

Spooky SZN continues, Slackers! This week we break down the “top 36” 80’s horror flicks as ranked by Slashfilm. While I can’t say I agree with the exact order of these movies - and admittedly some I’ve never seen - the top 10 is pretty solid. The 80’s was peak horror in many ways, with not only slashers, but great tales of hauntings, monster movies, body horror, and worst of all - the evils of man...

It's spooky time once again, Slackers! Although I say it often, I really think that there is a certain sensibility that is convyed by Gen X filmmakers. There is something that I can't exactly put my finger on, but everything from shot selection, dialogue, pacing, and most significantly, the film score, all have an intangible that can only come from growing up in our era. Perhaps it is due the rise...

Do you love 'em or hate 'em, Slackers?! After decades of having an ambivelent stance on this legendary group, I have recently started to go down The Police rabbit hole. Starting with Stewart Copeland's Drumeo video, I began to go back through the band's history and it's few but mighty records. With a career that lasted only 7 years, the five records that they did record have gone down in history a...

Will Gen X ever truly “arrive”, Slackers?  With the Boomers basically holding on to power with every bit of strength they have left and the Millennials seemingly leapfrogging us, when do we get into those top power positions?  While we have not made the impact in the political sphere that I would like, we have several members of our generation seated at the heads of many well known corporations. U...

This is a scandalous episode, Slackers! While we see a new scandal hit the news seemingly every day, this is nothing new. This week I take a look at the biggest scandals of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. There are tawdry affairs, criminal activities, murder, mayhem and much more! Names like Madonna, Jane Fonda, Roman Polanski, Jerry Seinfeld - and yes, even way back in the 90’s, Sean Combs - they all h...

Sure, everyone has heard of Coppola and Scorsese and Spielberg. But those guys are two silent generations and a Boomer! What about those Gen X filmmakers that have really made an impact on Hollywood? It turns out that there were way more notable directors from our generation than I had originally expected. This is only part one. Part 1 covers those directors born between 1965 and 1969. You may rec...

Let’s take a trip into the past, Slackers. What was happening in the world, 30, 40, and 50 years ago? Was the world that different of a place? On this episode, we take a look at the economy, the political climate, top TV shows, music, movies, and general pop culture from 1974, 1984, and 1994.  While many things are different, the general themes of the day never seem to change all that much. Betwee...

Time to access the memory banks, Slackers. A few weeks ago we covered one hit wonders, but what about those one season TV shows? Why does a show that was barely on our TV screens have such a strong imprint in our memories? Regardless of quality, shows like Misfits of Science and Manimal have somehow endured in pop culture. Was it because they were actually terrible, were they any good, or were the...