Ruined Childhoods

Many people overlook Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, but Dan and Jon look at it for exactly what it is — it’s a fun collection of gags that culminates in the ONLY hot air balloon chase scene in cinematic history. It’s also the first installment of MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU - the Ruined Childhoods celebration of the 4th installments in movie franchises.

Next episode: Live Free or Die Hard

Frank Oz’s 1991 comedy What About Bob? is the focus of Ruined Childhoods’ final “April’s Fools” installment. Dan and Jon assess the story’s treatment of mental illness and how it could be updated to reflect society’s evolved understanding of and attitude towards mental illness and therapy. They also determine the best options to expand the story and explore the characters further, including books based on ideas in the movie and a look at Bob’s past, including his wife’s love for Neil Diamond. Also: Jon describes his experience watching Dan’s Instagram Live video (@ruinedchildhoodspod), and we hear from our friend French Fry Phil.

Next episode: Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

“April's Fools” month on Ruined Childhoods concludes with a singing bush and a plethora of piñatas - it’s 1986’s ¡Three Amigos! Jon and Dan discuss the more memorable aspects of the movie, assess how the role of Dusty was a stretch for Chevy Chase, and brainstorm options of how they might expand the world of the Three Amigos, with or without the Amigos. Also: Dan journeys into the depths of his cryptic memory to recall specific details around both seeing Three Amigos in the theater and showing it to Jon and Scott on VHS; Dan shocks Jon by unearths his mythical cigar box of ticket stubs; Jon reveals more about Dan's psychotic movie-fandom

Next episode: What About Bob? (1991)

In this installment of April's Fools, Dan and Jon wax poetic about 1992's Brain Donors, a Marx Brothers homage set in the ballet world. Not only do they brainstorm sequels, prequels, etc, but stay tuned until the VERY END for a GREAT surprise.

Next Episode: ¡Three Amigos!

Disorderlies

On the first of three episodes celebrating April’s Fools, Dan and Jon celebrate the insanity of the 1987 cult classic Fat Boys feature, Disorderlies. Dan has a Memento moment and recalls the bizarre circumstance under which he first saw the film and Jon has a Beautiful Mind-style wall of string that connects Disorderlies with the next film in the April’s Fools series…

Brain Donors (1992)

Masters of the Universe

On this very special episode of Ruined Childhoods, Dan and Jon have the power of Grayskull as they speculate about the upcoming Masters of the Universe reboot and break down the original 1987 live-action adaptation of the popular toy line and animated series. Dan takes a deep nostalgia dive as he reminisces about his love for the “He-Man” action figures, the movie posters on display when he and Jon saw Masters in the theater, and his awesome “He-Man” Halloween costume from 1983.

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Next Episode: Disorderlies (1987)

Avoid exposing them to bright light. Don’t get them wet. Never feed them after midnight. While these rules may not apply to Dan and Jon, they do apply to the creatures at the center of one of 1984’s biggest hits, Gremlins, and its 1990 sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch. Listen in on their discussion of the finer points that make these movies stand out, the potential of reboots and sequels, and Warner Brothers’ recently-announced animated series.

Next episode: Masters of the Universe (1987)

This week, the Ruined Childhoods brothers take on the Benedict brothers - as in Vincent and Julius Benedict from 1988’s TWINS. Dan and Jon debate the potential of the long-rumored sequel, TRIPLETS, their ideas for possible prequels and remakes, and the career revivability of Kevin Hart.

Next episode: GREMLINS (1984 & 1990)

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Dan and Jon get creepy, kooky, ooky, and spooky as they talk all about The Addams Family. They revisit the history of the characters, from their origins in the cartoons of Charles Addams, through the beloved 1964 TV adaptation and the hit films from the 1990’s, right up to their newest incarnation - an animated feature film, expected to hit screens in October 2019. Also, Jon’s ideas to expand the Addams “Cinematic Universe”, and Dan drops some Hammer on us.

Next episode: Twins (1988)

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