What is up, Hellfire Club, I mean, Slackers?

This week is all about Thanksgiving and Stranger Things 5. I’m giving thanks (even though some days it’s been tough to find my gratitude) and laying out my final predictions for the season. More specifically, who’s who in the ST dead pool. The Duffer Brothers keep saying they channeled the spirit of series finales that actually left us satisfied. And Return of the King. Weird, right?

I believe them, but with stakes this high, not everyone’s walking out of Hawkins alive. My quick, gut-level, not-exactly-bold picks:

• Robin? Safe.
• Dustin? Safe.
• Steve? Eleven? I’m not so sure.
• And what about Murray!?

This show is set right in the years I was in middle school, so it’s always felt lived-in for me and the Mrs. Watching our own kids get just as hooked as we were on Nightmare on Elm Street or any John Hughes movie—that’s the real magic. Truly cross-generational.

There are only a handful of shows that have ever really made me feel excited and nervous for the fate of fictional characters. Great art can do that to ya.

Happy Thanksgiving, Slackers. Please, pass the pumpkin pie (the only pie that matters).

Was it all just a dream, Slackers?!

This week I’m revisiting the series finales from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s that truly stuck the landing. Picture the night MASH aired its 90+ minute finale, when over a hundred million people tuned in, Bob Newhart delivering the single greatest punchline in sitcom history, and the entire Cheers gang finally walking out of that bar (the finale which I attended live in Boston!). These were the endings that felt perfect when they happened and somehow still do.

We’ll hit the classics: Mary Tyler Moore turning off the newsroom lights, St. Elsewhere’s snowglobe mind-bender, Quantum Leap’s quietly devastating final title card, and a handful more that make you understand why a good finale used to feel like a national holiday.

And yeah, when Game of Thrones famously face-planted in its last episode and the internet melted down, most of us immediately thought, “They could have just studied M*A*S*H or Cheers for five minutes.” If you remember what it felt like when television actually knew how to say goodbye, this episode is for you.

Hi Ho, Slackers!

Has there really been a shift in how TV dads are portrayed? Maybe so. This week I’m looking back at the dads who embodied the values of their era.

Jim Anderson and Ward Cleaver weren’t comic relief. They were steady, thoughtful men who held real jobs, owned their mistakes, and guided their families with quiet authority. No cartoonish antics, just solid leadership.

In the ’60s and ’70s the pattern held. Steve Douglas raised three boys alone after losing his wife, balancing career and parenting without becoming a punchline. Danny Williams juggled show business and fatherhood with energy and care. Even Archie Bunker, flaws and all, was fiercely protective of his family.

By the ’80s, Steven Keaton and Jason Seaver brought warmth and competence to the screen. A former ’60s activist and a psychiatrist working from home, both were involved dads who shared the load. Al Bundy was the outlier, a dark joke about working-class frustration, not the rule.

Most of the time they were teaching, listening, holding things together. The real “doofus dad” era came later and lives mostly on certain outlets. From the 1950s through the ’80s, these men were the backbone of their families. If entertainment truly shapes society, maybe network TV needs more of this, not less.

What is up, Slackers?!

After teasing it a couple of weeks ago, here we are with another “Whatever Wednesday”!

So, what’s on the menu for this episode? Me complaining about stuff again, a belated shout-out to the late, great Ace Frehley, some new TV series I’ve been watching, a few more horror movie reviews, and giving some love to another great Gen X podcast.

Got any topics you’d like to hear covered on a future episode? Let me know at [email protected], on Instagram, X, and YouTube @stuckpodx, or over on the Facebook page.

Happy Halloween, Slackers!

True to form this season, I've been deep in a horror marathon. While the bulk are fresh 2025 releases, I caught up on a handful I missed from the last few years.

From elevated dread to relentless slashers and wildly unhinged horror-comedy, there's a flavor for every fright fan. I've kept this as spoiler-free as possible—perfect if you're lining these up for your Halloween weekend binge.

Drop your top picks from the past year in the comments.

Hey, Slackers!

This episode was meant to be a laid-back "Whatever Wednesday," but it turned into something deeper as I felt the need to share what's been weighing on me.

Recovering from surgery has been tougher than expected, and I open up about the challenges I've faced. Like many of us, especially in Gen X, we tend to push through pain, illness, or struggles with a "grit your teeth and move on" mentality. While there's strength in that resilience, it can also be a risky approach that overlooks our well-being.

I also touch on the state of our healthcare and food industries and their profound impact on our health. This shouldn’t be a political issue—the goal is simple: a happier, healthier population with world-class standards.

This isn’t my typical pop culture episode. It’s raw, honest, and reflective, born from a year of navigating serious health challenges. Here’s hoping for brighter days in the months ahead.

Get your popcorn ready, Slackers!

We all know the legendary names—Spielberg, Scorsese, Raimi—directors who kicked off in the 1970s and kept crafting cinematic masterpieces for decades. But what about the filmmakers who delivered massive hits yet couldn’t sustain the magic? For one reason or another—whether it was a lack of the right scripts, budgets, or staying power—their box office glory faded.

Take names like John Badham, Michael Cimino, and Don Bluth. They created undeniable classics, films that some might argue defined entire decades. Yet, despite these triumphs, their success was fleeting, and they struggled to recapture that spark.

We’re diving into directors behind major hits and beloved movies that’ll have you saying, “That was one of my favorites!” or “They directed all those?!” These filmmakers made waves but, for whatever reason, didn’t cement their place among the all-time greats—whatever “great” even means.

Hey Slackers, we're taking a fun detour this episode!

Longtime listeners know I was a die-hard hair band and metal fan back in the '80s, which, let's be honest, made me a bit of a genre snob. Looking back, I realize I missed out on a ton of incredible music from that decade.

Inspired by my son’s request for a fresh playlist, I decided to step outside my usual rock, metal, punk, and emo comfort zone. Instead, I dove into the vibrant world of synth-pop, new wave, EDM, and alt-rock, curating a collection of tracks spanning 1980 to 1989. These are songs that lit up the charts or defined the underground scene—definitely not my typical picks!

From the moody brilliance of Joy Division to the raw energy of the Pixies, I’ve crafted what I’m calling an "Offbeat '80s" playlist. But I need your help to make it even better! Early Gen Xers, 120 Minutes devotees, and alternative music lovers—hit me up with your must-have tracks to round out this out. What gems am I missing? Let’s build this playlist together!

More 80s goodness on deck, Slackers!

The 1980s were a springboard for musicians who left chart-topping bands to chase solo stardom, often outshining their former groups with blockbuster success. This episode explores artists who turned band fame into iconic solo careers, surpassing their groups’ album sales with hits that defined the decade.

Going solo was a bold move. Some swapped gritty rock for sleek pop, others wove in soulful R&B or forged entirely new sounds. Their debut albums were massively successful, with singles that dominated radio and MTV, becoming instant anthems for a generation. 

What’s even crazier is that many of these artists sold millions more records than their former bands, crafting music that captured the 1980s spirit. From stadium rock to heartfelt ballads, their songs were everywhere - literally everywhere if your name is Phil Collins. And he wasn’t the only one to spawn from Genesis!

Yet, not every artist’s solo leap soared. Why did some “sure-thing” talents stumble? Was their style shift too bold, or did their solo vision lack the spark of their band’s collective magic? I'm looking at you, Robert Plant!

Hit it, Slackers!

On this week’s episode, I’m debunking the myth that the best guitarists always deliver the greatest solos. Sure, virtuosos like Eddie Van Halen shred with jaw-dropping skill, but do their weedly-weedly-dee solos always elevate the song? Not necessarily! Sometimes, simpler is better—think melodic, tasteful, and hummable solos that truly serve the music.

Is Eddie Van Halen a better guitarist than Mötley Crüe’s Mick Mars? No question. But does he craft the best solos? Not always.  Is Eric Clapton an all time great? Duh, but why does a guy named Mike Slamer have one of the best power ballad solos of all time?

In my opinion technical prowess doesn’t always trump soulful, song-driven solos. 

Expect a heavy dose of ‘80s classics, a nod to a ‘70s gem, and some early 2000s bangers.