Writer and trivia host Terrance Balazo returns to the show to mark the passing of Olivia Newton-John. Beyond achieving iconic screen stardom as the “good girl gone bad” Sandy in Grease, she changed the sound of country music in the seventies and then pop music in the eighties with “Physical”, the biggest chart hit of the decade and a key influence on performers like Madonna and later Kylie Minogue.

Of course we discuss Grease (and Grease 2), but we also dive into Olivia’s notorious rollerskating musical Xanadu as well as her screen debut in the obscure 1970 British sci-fi musical comedy Toomorrow and her reunion with John Travolta Two of a Kind (featuring the uncredited voice of Gene Hackman as God!)

Plus, we watched her insane 1980 prime-time tv special Hollywood Nights, an all-star salute to Tinseltown.

Patrons of the Junk Filter podcast can access additional exclusive episodes every month: some of our notable previous guests include Jared Yates Sexton, David Roth, Bryan Quinby, Alex Shephard and Sooz Kempner. More to come! Sign up at https://www.patreon.com/junkfilter

Follow Terrance Balazo on Twitter.

Terrance’s Twitchstream for his weekly trivia contest Another Round Trivia.

Olivia Newton-John accepting the 1974 CMA award for Best Female Vocalist of the Year

Argentine trailer for a 1979 cash-in re-release of Toomorrow (Val Guest, 1970)

Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights (ABC TV special, 1980)

Trailer for Xanadu (Robert Greenwald, 1980)

TV spot for Two of a Kind (John Herzfeld, 1983)

“Magic” - Olivia Newton-John, 1980

"Physical" music video - Olivia Newton-John, 1981

“Make a Move on Me” - Olivia Newton-John, 1982

Olivia’s anti-crack PSA, 1987