80's High

In space, no one can hear you scream. But in this episode, you can hear us gush more than a chestburster wound as we revisit the classic sci-fi action thriller horror movie that set up a killer franchise of cosmic horror, nightmarish creatures, and our hero Ellen Ripley persevering through it all. So hop out of your sleep chambers and fire up those flamethrowers, we're going down to the surface to see what lurks on the exomoon LV-426.

• The Beast Within: The Making of Alien documentary

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Bike rides, sleepovers, shooting stars, and ice cream melting down your wrist. Summer vacation was filled with the freedom and hope of endless possibilities (as long as you were home by supper). So we’re hopping in the backseat of the wood-paneled station wagon, arguing over the radio station, and getting truckers to honk their horns as we revisit the glory days of summer, the memorable trips, the sounds and smells that take us back, and all the little things that made summer break so special.

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• Why American's Love Affair with Cars is No Accident (Scientific American)

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When the bumps and slumps come at us in life, sometimes we need to hit the open road, breathe in the fresh air, and sink our hearts and hands into a new project. None of us have probably ever taken it as far as legendary folk musician Paul Simon; whom after several failed records, a marriage to Princess Leia Organa, and the loss of his Garfunkel partnership, packed it all up, violated international embargos by flying to South Africa during Apartheid, and created one of the most successful albums in the history of music. Buckle up, because we’re going to Graceland with our musical guest, Greg.

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• Under African Skies documentary (2012) 

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You’ve just finished packing up the elaborate family camp site, you’re doing 60 MPH down a dirt road in a station wagon, completely blinded by sunlight, and you knock a Bigfoot unconscious. What’re you supposed to do!? Join John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, and 6’ 9” Kevin Peter Hall as we take this 1987 family comedy back to class to find out how it holds up and dive into the world of cryptozoology, Patterson-Gimlin footage, and a slew of pop culture portrayals of our favorite elusive woodland ape. Let's get squatchy!

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• Harry and the Hendersons - IMDB

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It was the perfect triangle of awesome: people + riding dinosaurs + shooting lasers. With the power of our S.T.E.P. drive, we travel back to 1987 when the battle between the Valorians and Rulons first began, and when one of the most egregious - and awesome - examples of a cartoon series selling toys was born. Plus we venture into The Dinosaur Heresies, Bone Wars, Smithsonian gift shops, and the epic prehistoric "um, actually" of whether the brontosaurus ever existed. Get A.M.P.'d, you're a Dino-Rider now!

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• Dino-Riders World

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Good librarians have introduced us to beautiful stories throughout our lives; but only one librarian brought us Henry Huggins, Ellen & Otis, Ramona & Beezus Quimby, Ralph S. Mouse, and many more delightful characters. So let's pay tribute to Beverly Cleary, one of the most influential children’s book authors of all time, who's touched millions of lives through the humor and sincerity of her everyday characters. Extra credit if you correctly guess how many times we say "clearly" and how many hallway citations Ben issues.

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• The World of Beverly Cleary (official website)

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Round up your rock biters, luck dragons, and depressed horses, because we’re getting a posse together to battle The Nothing (WHATEVER that is)! Let's revisit one of the most recognizable children’s fantasy films (and theme songs) of the 1980s, as Bastion discovers the thrill of literature, all while trying to give the Childlike Empress a name and save a doomed kingdom from two horrible movie sequels.

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• The NeverEnding Story official music video

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Do you believe in miracles? Ben and Chris are actually talking sportball! And thankfully they have Coach Aaron, chief sports correspondent, to help discuss this momentous hockey game that shook the 1980 Olympics and went down in history as the greatest sports moment ever. This episode is packed with Cold War tension, an underdog tale fit for a movie, and some of our finest banter yet. So grab your goalie mask, pad up, and meet us on the rink!

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• 1980 Olympic Hockey USA vs. USSR (full game, original broadcast)

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We’ve all been there: your boss doesn’t like you, despite your hard work-ethic and can-do attitude, so he blasts you into orbit and forces you to watch terrible B movies, all in a mad experiment to see what happens to your sanity. Next step, construct some robot friends and get to razzing these failed flicks! Join us on the Satellite of Love as we revisit this beloved TV series that keeps coming back and do our best to riff the riffers of MST3K!

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• MST3K official website

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Retro gamers, grab your warp whistles, Goomba shoes, and finest Tanooki suits, cuz we're re-exploring the eight majestic worlds of Super Mario Bros. 3 in search of that next castle. We take to land, sea, and air, dodging hateful suns, annoying wrench weasels, hangry fish, and that jerk in a cloud, always one button press away from total meltdown. Plus we uncover so many magical secrets, cutting room floor concepts, and the head-scratching folklore of actual tanukis. So tune in, power up, and put a "DON'T TURN OFF!" sign on your NES... we're not stopping till we crush Bowser!

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• The Story of Super Mario Bros. 3 | Gaming Historian

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