By the Spring of 1987 it was evident that the tides were shifting all around us - leaders, music, television, and of course motion pictures
  Behind us already in ‘87 was Stallone, Freddy Kruger, Woody Allen, The Coen Brothers, Smoke Show Kim Cattrall, John Hughes, and of course Riggs & Murtaugh   The Giants had won Super Bowl XXI - The Chicago Bulls were making back to back playoff runs with their new star Michael Jordan and a little family show was premiering on a new network - the network was FOX, and the show was “Married With Children” 
  It was all moving very fast, and the Spring run up to the historic Summer of ‘87 was not going to pass quietly Hopper, Nolte, Reynolds, Hoffman, Beaty, Michael J Fox (again), the patron Saint of 1987 Steve Guttenberg (again) would all make appearances 
  However, it would be an old friend of The Latch Key Kids that would once again steal the show - just like he did in Studio 8H on Saturday Night Live earlier in the decade Eddie Murphy would remind everyone he was one of the funniest and most bankable actor this side of Beverly Hills
  So, let’s catch up with Axel & Friends because it’s time to sit back and relax Mom & Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and welcome to The Latch Key Kids Present “My Favorite Year Part III: Secret Of My Success”

They say things happen in threes and in 1987 three of the best Hollywood had to offer joined together to tell a story that even now, 35 years after its release leaves a lasting impact.  John Hughes, Steve Martin, and John Candy were quite literally at the top of their games when they brought to life the Thanksgiving classic Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
The film would mark a turning point for all three men, who’s roots were connected by the likes of Second City, Saturday Night Live, and National Lampoon.  As their careers continued to skyrocket into the 90’s, each of them would forge a unique and unforgettable path that helped define a generation.
However, despite the countless roles and movies that would identify them.  The Jerk, Stripes, Vacation, Mr. Mom, Roxanne, Summer Rental, The Three Amigos, Splash, Home Alone, The Breakfast Club, Uncle Buck, Parenthood, Ferris Bueller, The Blues Brothers, Father of the Bride – it is the story of Del Griffith and Neal Page’s Thanksgiving journey that stands alone. A bona fide cinematic classic that captures and re-captures the heart each and every year around the Thanksgiving table.  The Latch Key Kids are going to tell you why….Because it’s time to sit back and relax Mom & Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Present This Season Three Special Edition Of My Favorite Year 1987 – Planes, Trains, And Automobiles.

Somewhere in the middle of the 20th century’s most eclectic decade one year helped define the world through its movies, music, TV, and sports.  I asked many would say that year was 1984 or 1989 – and while they might not be wrong The Latch Key Kids will make the case in our 3rd season that the year in question is in fact 1987.  A year that would see over 220 movies released, over 100 TV shows premiere, a year that would see one of the highest year over year increases in worldwide box office, and more classics that we could ever do justice too – not to mention the release of Bad / Appetite For Destruction / Strangeways Here We Come / Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me / Bum Rush The Show and Momentary Lapse of Reason
From the start of the year with Woody Allen’s ‘Radio Days’ and winter Brat Pack-esque classics like ‘Mannequin’ / ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ and ‘Less Than Zero’– horror sequels like “Nightmare on Elm Street 3’ ‘Creepshow 2’ – sequel starters ‘Lethal Weapon’ and of course one of the biggest sequels of all time the #1 movie of 1987 ‘Beverly Hills Cop II”.  It would have cool customers Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, hell even Prince.  Spielberg, Stone, Levinson and of course DePalma at his Chicago best with perhaps the greatest ’87 had to offer in ‘The Untouchables’
So where do we begin?  It’s almost inconceivable but we will try because that’s The Latch Key Way…but one thing is clear we would never put Baby in a corner!  I guess it’s best to start at the very beginning…So, let’s kick off Season 3 there….Because it’s time to sit back and relax Mom & Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Present “My Favorite Year Part I: Dead of Winter”

The 1970’s had been a time of great upheaval and nowhere was this more apparent than The United States of America the times were so turbulent that even a stuffy, censored, and money hungry industry such as television took a chance on group of irreverent actors and their Canadian leader and rode that rocket ship all the way to a Prime Time Emmy…

Well, the 1970’s were over and so was that group of irreverent actors and their leader - The 1980’s had arrived and by October 1980 everyone was gone and in their place were a group so misguided they didn’t even realize the talent that was right in front of them.

Saturday Night Live as we know it would have died a slow death at the hands of these individuals had it not been for one young man - a young man from New York, with a love for Peter Sellers, and a wit so quick and lethal that  the walls of Studio 8H could barely contain him

That young man was Eddie Murphy and by 1984 he had not only saved the show he was about to shoot the most successful film of any SNL actor…

From 48 hours to Beverly Hills, from Harlem to Zamunda, from racy standup to down home family films one man has done it all and had you been listening to Eddie Murphy had been telling you he was going to do it from the very beginning…

Let’s take a look at his remarkable story together because it’s time to sit back and relax Mom and Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Present “Ready For Prime Time Players Part XI:  What Is That? Velvet?”

By 1980 the last TV show to have started in the 1960’s Hawaii 5-0 was ending its run and shooting had already started in Hawaii on its replacement Magnum P.I.  By 1980 the path was clear for a one time B movie actor to broker his way through a convention and a hostage negotiation to ascend to the Presidency in November.  Meanwhile in New York City the once “Not Ready For Prime Time Players” were actually on in Prime Time almost every Wednesday night with a Best of SNL accompanying the new season 5 shows on Saturday.  The 1970’s were ending in more ways than one and the entire cast, writing room, and even the creator Lorne Michaels were looking beyond Season 5 of Saturday Night Live to what was next.  Broadway, Television Series, Movies these were all in the future for Jane Curtain, Garret Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner.  But before these groundbreaking, pioneering, and 100% original performers moved on we would get one last trip around the dial at Studio 8H.  

Let’s take that trip with them together because it’s time to sit back and relax Mom and Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Presents: “Ready For Prime Time Players Part X: Tuesday’s Gone.”

In August 1978 on the shores of beautiful Hurricane Lake in picturesque Ontario Canada sat Camp White Pine.  Also sitting on the shores of beautiful Hurricane Lake in picturesque Ontario Canada at Camp White Pine were Ivan Reitman and Harold Ramis the director and writer of a new film about to begin filming called ‘Meatballs’.  Who wasn’t sitting on the shores of beautiful Hurricane Lake in picturesque Ontario Canada at Camp White Pine was the star of ‘Meatballs’ - Bill Murray.  Shooting was set to start in 3 days.  We all know how this story ends - Murray shows up, eventually, and so begins one of the most prolific movie careers in Hollywood history.  Across 43 years and 60+ major motion pictures the movie career of this “Ready For Prime Time Player” has come a long way from Howard Cosell’s or even Lorne Michael’s “Saturday Night Live” in fact Bill Murray is the ultimate pioneer from that first group of SNL stars drawing up the treasure map that so many have tried to follow, and the best part is he still hasn’t finished exploring!  

So, let’s catch up to Tripper, Pete Venkman, Carl Spackler, Phil Connors, Big Ern McCracken, or just plain Bill Murray and together look at how this son of the mid-west and one of nine brothers and sisters was able to avoid all the trials and tribulations many others found leaving SNL and cashing in on that Hollywood dream!

Because it’s time to sit back and relax Mom and Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Present “Ready For Prime Time Players Part IX: It’s In The Hole!”

By 1978 New York was changing - The city was broke - Billy Martin got fired - Studio 54 was making more money than the mafia. While down at Studio 8H things were changing for our “Not Ready For Prime Time Players” - in fact they weren’t even called that anymore, as the show that had started just 3 years earlier was now the launching pad for some of Hollywood’s biggest and most bankable stars like Chevy Chase, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Even superstar acts like The Rolling Stones used Saturday Night Live to reinvent themselves as the 1970’s were coming to a close.  Season 4 while not the final year of the golden age of SNL would prove to be our last with most of the cast together - after Season 4 this group would never again work together - no more Tuesday all-nighters, no more after parties, no more Blues Bar, no more living on couches - after Season 4 things would never be the same again.  So, let’s take the trip together one last time to the Olympia Cafe, a final visit with the Festrunk Bros, The Bees, one more infomercial from Ron Co, and of course sayonara Samurai Futaba.  

The bright lights are calling so it’s time to sit back and relax Mom and Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Present “Ready For Prime Time Players Part VIII - The Pepsi Syndrome” 

From the golden age of SNL one man transcended the writing room, the stage, the silver screen, the recording studio, and the egos.  One man was able to; for the most part not only avoid self-destruction but put his friendship and sanity on the line to help others as they were spiraling out of control.  One man was able to parlay his lizard brain and high intellect into a career that has spanned seven decades and has taken him from the back alleys and speak easy’s of Ottawa all the way to the Academy Awards - Of course that man is Fred Garvin Male Prostitute or his more recognizable name Dan Aykroyd.  Did you know Aykroyd played drums for Muddy Waters, starred alongside John Candy in a popular Canadian TV show while simultaneously working on SNL, and started not one but two multi-million dollar businesses that give back to the communities they serve?

There is a reason we here at The Latch Key Kids call him “The Real Genius” let’s find out why together because it’s time to sit back and relax Mom & Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Presents “Ready For Prime Time Players Part VII: It Just Popped In There”

By the Fall of 1977 New York City had emerged from the Summer of Sam, Studio 54 was opened wide, and Reggie Jackson was about to become Mr. October.  Meanwhile at Studio 8H the die had been cast after a remarkable first two seasons of what was now officially called Saturday Night Live and what a difference two years makes - the show that couldn’t get some affiliates to even carry the show in October of ‘75 was pulling down close to a 40 share in the ratings meaning that in 1977 and 1978 an unprecedented 4 out of 10 TV sets were tuning in to the Not Ready For Prime Time Players every Saturday Night.  From the Check Brothers to Samurai Night Fever to Nick Winters singing Star Wars…even OJ - season 3 would have it all and then some - oh yeah even the return of Chevy Chase…I’m sure that went off without a hitch.  So, grab your bell bottoms and final net hairspray..

Because It’s Time To Sit Back And Relax Mom And Dad Won’t Be Back For At Least An Hour And Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Present: “Ready For Prime Time Players Part VI: Cheeseburger Cheeseburger Cheeseburger”

March 5, 2022, marked the 40th anniversary of the death of John Belushi.  In many ways and for many people, especially those who loved him, his death served as a wakeup call to the dangers of a lifestyle where there were no holds barred, no limits too far, and no high to be left behind.  However, when looking back from our perch here in the 21st century, it’s clear that what we lost on that morning in the shadow of the Chateau Mormont, was much more than a comedian.  We lost a force of nature - a dynamo - a fearless performer who was just scratching the surface of an immense reservoir of talent that went far beyond the Ray Ban sunglasses of Jake Blues, or the child like antics of John Blutarsky, or even the street wise disposition of Ernie Souchak.  We lost a prime example of America -  where the son of a hard working Albanian restauranteur rose up and conquered the world of Television, Movies, and Music when in 1978 he could claim the most watched Television show in Saturday Night Live, the #1 album with “The Blues Brothers - Briefcase Full Of Blues”, and up until that point the highest grossing comedy movie of all time ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’.  What John Belushi meant to his generation and beyond is hard to quantify, sort of like the Theory of Relativity, most be people can’t explain it…all you know is that it’s hard to imagine a world without it or without him.  So, let’s go on that roller coaster together because…

It’s time to sit back and relax Mom and Dad won’t be back for at least an hour and Welcome To The Latch Key Kids Presents “Ready For Prime Time Players Part V: We’re On A Mission From God”