Pet Rock: The Pop Culture Blog

Some things are a coincidence. Some things are a sign from above.

Three involuntary hearings of "Forever Your Girl" by Paula Abdul in a two-day span? A sign! A huge sign!

First hearing: On the radio driving across the Mojave Desert to Los Angeles.
Second hearing; In the bathroom at a non-elite Las Vegas casino.
Third hearing: At the blackjack table at the Bellagio.

At that third hearing, I officially gave up the coincidence theory and convinced the dude sitting next to me to sing along. What the hell, right? We were both on a major winning streak.

Fourth hearing: Right now in Old School Tuesday

R.I.P., Julius Carry, the man who portrayed Sho'Nuff, the Shogun of Harlem in Berry Gordy's "The Last Dragon."

It was a classic '80s kung fu movie, although more '80s than kung fu. Sho'Nuff was the antagonist to Bruce Leroy, the good guy who only uses his kung fu skills for good.

There's not a human who grew up in the '80s that didn't shed a tear when they heard Sho'Nuff died Aug. 19 in Los Angeles. Heck, I'm in Denver right now for the DNC and I should be sleeping, but I can't stop watching clips of Sho'Nuff on YouTube.

He definitely was the master (even if he did lose the epic battle for the glow at the end of the movie). Here's a little clip from the movie to help pay our respects to Carry.

We're not sure if there's a better way to kick off our new feature here at Pet Rock than to start TiVo alerts with this gem: "Amazon Women on the Moon."

It's a 1987 classic that spoofs commercials and 1950s sci-fi flicks. It features an old-school Arsenio Hall and an old-school Andrew Dice Clay.

Time: Saturday, Aug. 2, 3:25 a.m.
Channel: HBO Comedy (303 on Cablevision systems; 408 on Verizon)

Enjoy the trailer below.

The '80s and '90s All-Star Summer continues this Saturday when Rick Springfield plugs in his guitar and goes to work at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay.

That's right, folks. It's a big ol' open space surrounded by trees and funky plants and Rick Springfield is going to be loving it with that body, I just know it.

Contrary to popular opinion, Springfield's greatest hits include more than "Jessie's Girl." However, "Jessie's Girl" is still "Jessie's Girl." And everytime I listen to it, I find another hilarious lyric. This week, it's "I've been funny, I've been cool with the lines."

For those of you not willing to fork over the $35 for a ticket or if you're not around the Island, Old School Tuesday proudly presents "Jessie's Girl" in full 1980s mono.

Last week, lawyer friend Steve sent along this link: gethimabodybag.ytmnd.com. Fans of "The Karate Kid" will appreciate its singular function.

This past weekend, "First Blood" made the rounds on Spike TV. It is perhaps Stallone's best work in a non-"Rocky" environment. More importantly, it gave us Richard Crenna as Col. Samuel Trautman, one of the most underrated characters in 1980s movie history.

What are the odds that two separate incidents involving use the use of the word "body bag" in 1980s movies would show up within 48 hours of each other? Very slim, indeed, which is why I had no choice but to compare the two in Old School Tuesday.

It's such a tough debate. It's a very random word to use, especially in the early and mid-1980s when every show on television wasn't some version "Law & Order" or "CSI." Seriously, who else but a medical examiner or CSU worker would even think to say that word in a sentence on camera?

Of course, everyone knows and remembers "The Karate Kid" scene, where a gimpy-kneed Daniel La Russo (Lately, I've been wondering if it was an ACL tear or just a meniscus issue) guts out the win against nemesis Johnny Lawrence while Cobra Kai guy Tommy screams "Get him a body bag!" You can see that at the 28-second mark of the video below.

But Col. Trautman's usage requires a bit more background. He shows up to explain to the local Hope Sheriff Will Teasle (Brian Dennehy) that he should let John Rambo go peacefully instead of risking further death and destruction to his police force. The exchange is brilliant and begins at the 37-second mark of the clip below.

Trautman: "You want a war you can't win?"
Teasle: "Are you telling me that 200 of our men against your boy is a no-win situation for us?"
Trautman: "You send that many, don't forget one thing."
Teasle: "What?"
Trautman: "A good supply of body bags."

Before I started typing this, I wasn't sure which way I was going to vote when I posted the link to our poll. Now, after studying both clips, it's clear Col. Trautman wins this silly little debate.

When a random movie from the 1980s comes up in two different conversations on a Monday, I begin to wonder if the world is trying to influence my mind for Old School Tuesday.

After a few seconds, I stop wondering and scour YouTube for the clip. This week, it's "Midnight Madness," an '80s classic scavenger hunt movie set in L.A. It ruled Saturday mornings on HBO, usually preceded by or proceeded by "Star Wars." This was back when HBO had one channel and there was an actual cable box with buttons to push for each channel.

Yeah, it's that old, and it has a young Michael J. Fox. This clip, however, is one of the, um, uh, "musical numbers" from this classic. Enjoy Old School Tuesday.

- La Monica

There once was a time when puppets ruled the world. If you were a kid growing up in the 80s, you know what I mean ...

We learned several life lessons from watching Sesame Street and the Muppets, including how to count to 100 (The Count), share cookies (Cookie Monster), how to stay positive and enjoy rainbows (Kermit the Frog).

But it was Fraggle Rock that reached out to young viewers on a deeper level, offering amusing yet educational episodes on prejudice, social conflict and other complex issues in a happy place known as Fraggle Rock.

Just this week, Variety reported that the series will be turned into a live-action musical film with a mix of human characters and Fraggle Rock puppets. I can't wait to see it!

In the meantime, check out the intro to my fave childhood show:

NKOTB photos

And yes, Long Island girls-turned-women, they're coming to the Coliseum, so get out the aerosol cans and get that hair high!

May 16 - New York City: The Today Show
May 17 - East Rutherford: Izod Center
May 18 - Boston: Tweeter Center

Sept. 20 - Montreal: Bell Centre
Sept. 21 - Toronto: ON Air Canada Center
Sept. 23 - East Rutherford, Izod Center (Pre-sale: May 5, 10 a.m.; on sale: May 12, 10 a.m.)
Sept. 24 - Nassau Coliseum (Pre-sale: May 5, 10 a.m.; on sale: May 12, 10 a.m.)
Sept. 26 - Boston: TD Banknorth Garden
Sept. 27 - Atlantic City: Borgata (on sale May 17)

Oct. 4 - Chicago: Allstate Arena

Look for updated dates as they announce them at nkotb.com/tour

OK, so this may be the coolest thing we hear about and then do this week, perhaps even this month.

This Thursday (April 24) at 7:30 p.m. at the TriBeCa Drive-In (North Cove at the World Financial Center), they will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's epic "Thriller" music video.

This was a groundbreaking event in 1984, and all these years later, it remains the greatest video ever made. A bold statement, to be sure, but name one that is better.

“Thriller” video director John Landis will be on hand during the screening and the classic "Making of Thriller" video to follow. Folks will teach you the Thriller dance -- as if you don't remember it -- and then join in for the world's largest zombie disco. There's a face-painting station, too, so ghoul it up, son! P.S. It's free!

Get more info here and watch the entire video below -- the ENTIRE video just the way it debuted on MTV in 1984 -- just because you know you want to kill a few minutes at work today. (Note: The video player takes a few seconds to load and you might get hit with a 15-second commercial firs, but "This is Thriller, Thriller Night" and no one's gonna save you from the commercial beast that's about to strike, so deal with it.)

- La Monica

What do Canada, Alan Thicke, former pop-sensation Tiffany and James Van Der Beek all have in common? Yes, they are all things no one cares about anymore. However, they are also all featured in the new Robin Sparkles video "Sandcastles in the Sand."

The folks at "How I Met Your Mother" may just have another hit on their hands.

Watch the video here

Networks finally ran out of celebrities to cast on reality shows, so they're turning to their kids for help.

MTV debuts "Rock the Cradle" on Thursday night at 10 p.m., which features nine offspring of famous musicians competing for a record deal.

Sounds tragic in a lot of ways. But, at least we can say MTV is producing a show about music.

For some of you, these next two sentences may be hard to believe: There was a time when MTV aired original shows as a way to break up videos and promote different genres of music. Music Television, a network once aptly named, created programs about music and pop culture and would air them. No, seriously, it's true.

This was before The Real World and The Hills, before True Life and MTV Cribs.

Top 5 Thursday remembers all too well those days when the television was about music and not about, well, television. So here we go with our Top 5 countdown of the best old-school shows from MTV:

5) Headbanger's Ball

Metal heads partied deep into the night when this show came along. If not for host Riki Rachtman, there's a lot of music none of us would ever have been introduced to and spent money on back then.

4) 120 Minutes

When alternative music hit the scene, MTV went nuts. It soon became mainstream to be alternative. And even if you weren't too into this music, you watched this show on Sunday nights.

3) Beavis & Butthead

Arguably the most controversial show in MTV history. It started out as an excuse to play bad videos and then blew up into a full-fledged pop culture phenomenon. Love 'em or hate 'em, you watched this show and yelled "Kick me in the jimmy!" on more than one occasion. It's OK, you don't have to lie. We know you did. Heck, I did it on Monday.

2) Remote Control

An MTV classic and its first game show that paved the way for all those silly shows we watched (and loved) during the network's Spring Break coverage. Adam Sandler and Denis Leary got their starts here, as did Colin Quinn and the lovely Kari Wuhrer. Buzz-bin.com will tell you more about this show just in case you don't remember it. Buzz-bin.com will also show you video clips of "Beat the Bishop" and other elements of the show just in case you remember it and want to watch.

1) Yo! MTV Raps

Fab 5 Freddy. Ed Lover. Dr. Dre. 'Nuff said . . . but we'll say more anyway. The Ed Lover Dance. Rappers showing their normal side instead of acting hard. A feeling of hanging out in your basement with Ed, Dre and whatever big-name or up-and-coming rap artists came on the show that week. Fab 5 Freddy interviewing people on location and always being positive no matter what the interview subject said. (I still don't think he ever listened to what they said, but it was compelling TV.) By the way, MTV is honoring the 20-year anniverary of the show's start this April. Check the schedule and watch old clips at yo.mtv.com (and let me know if you beat a score of 8,000 on the Yo! quiz).

P.S. Other shows we liked but not in our top 5: The Cut, House of Style, Beauty and the Beach, Singled Out, Fade to Black.

- Mark La Monica

Gotta love when old school musical artists return with new albums but are forced to perform their old stuff, too. You know, the songs that we actually know.

This time, it's Taylor Dayne, a Long Island native, rocking out on the CW11 with "Tell It To My Heart" as she promotes her new album "Satisfied."

I was so fired up when I stumbled upon the video that for a moment I considered joining Taylor Dayne's I-Team. Seriously.

- Mark La Monica

That damn Soda Popinski!

It's been 20 years and he's still unbeatable in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out! You'd think after this length of time, he'd be a bit out of shape with wimpy noodle arms.

But oh no. He's still a mighty Russian with uppercuts that start at the floor and end at the top of the TV screen, Little Mac's rattled brain caught in the middle.

Thanks to Jitsu friend Jitsu and his keen ability to spend $5 to download the original game to his Wii, I scored the opportunity to conquer my childhood demons.

Isn't this what we dream about? To be older and wiser when we meet our childhood nemesis? To have that "one of these days" when we're at our peak and the sides are equal?

I cruised through the early rounds, laying out Von Kaiser in under a minute and taking Dom Flamenco to the third round just for fun. I even remembered the timing on countering Bald Bull's bull charge (no thanks to Doc Lewis).

Then came Soda Popinski, with his two left hooks, his Russian two-step and quick right jabs and those mighty uppercuts. He smoked me. Again. I felt like I made no progress in life. If there were an Alyssa Milano poster hanging on the wall, I'd have felt 12 years ago again. Sitting on a couch, no closer to personal glory as I see Little Mac sitting on a chair after the fight with Nintendo's game makers taunting me into retirement after losing the rematch.

Damn you, Soda Popinski!

But here's the major difference in life these days. Fueled by 20 years of anger and embarassment about rarely being able to beat the almighty Russian, I went on YouTube and typed in "Soda Popinski." I found a tutorial on how to use a glitch against Popinski.

Now we'll see what happens in our next fight. Bring back the Cold War, this Russian is going down!

- Mark La Monica