The Tape Store

The Tape Store ends the year 2020 in Angel Grove with the Teens with Attitude as they battle pollution and a new monster from Rita Repulsa--The Minotaur in "Teamwork" - Season 1 Episode 3 (09/08/1993).  In this episode we talk about Zordon's lack of leadership during this particular crisis, the questionable situation where Rita has somehow purchased a dump site in Angel Grove, and the interesting timing of Zordon's decision to gift the Rangers their power weapons.  There's also the controversies of "Zackgate" and "Alphagate".  You need to listen to figure it out.  Tune in and we'll see you there.  Happy New Year!

KEVIN!  This week we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Home Alone (1990), one of the best and most iconic Christmas movies ever.  As kids, we loved Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) and his reign of terror against the Wet Bandits, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern).  However, as we watched the film as adults, and parents, we found that we couldn't help but see real issues and dysfunction within the McAllister family.  We talk about young Kevin being neglected by his parents, bullied by his siblings, and treated horribly by selfish Uncle Frank (Look whatcha did ya little jerk!).  There's also the surprising heartfelt subplots involving the unexpected heroic characters of Mr. Marley (Roberts Blossom) and Gus Polinski (John Candy), and of course the brilliant soundtrack by none other than John Williams.

After a bombshell reveal in the cliffhanger of Part 1, we conclude the Saved By The Bell Christmas "Carol".  We learn more about the charming and endearing homeless man, Frank Benton (Steve Mendel) and his daughter Laura.  We also talk about the dynamic of Zack's family as a whole, their virtues and their flaws (including the absent Derek Morris - Zack's father), the big heart of Kelly Kapowski and the unintended consequences that result, THE SPORT COAT, and good Lord--the play.  That play.  THAT PLAY.

On December 7th, 1991, we were blessed with a two-part Saved By The Bell Christmas story.  This week we talk about Home for Christmas, Part 1.  We cover gingerbread "ladies", Zack's uncharacteristic twinge of generosity and his mysterious new love interest Laura, Lisa as a genuine and caring candy striper, Jessie's ineptitude when dealing with kids, and most importantly, the curious homeless man who impacts the gang in unexpected ways.  We know you're excited, and it's only Part 1.  Tune in for some 90s holiday cheer brought to you by some of our favorite TV teens.

This week on The Tape Store we talk about a rather difficult subject:  Edward Scissorhands.  We explore the story of this peculiar, brilliant, gentle, and rather tragic hero that we both feel deserved a better ending in Tim Burton's 1990 film.   Special thanks to our listeners who sent in questions and comments that helped guide our discussion in this episode.  We talk about Edward, the film's ending, the use of colors (SUBURBAN PASTELS), Vincent Price, the soundtrack, and more.

We wrap up our "Scary Stories" series this week with 1991's Scary Stories 3:  More Tales to Chill Your Bones.  We meet "Harold", "the Pale Face Lady", and several other sinister players in this unique and magical 80s/90s universe created by author Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell.  Join us we read several of our favorite chilling tales and see where the stories and conversation take us.  

This week in The Tape Store we continue our journey through the Scary Stories Treasury, with selections from MORE Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, the sequel to the classic children's horror story collection.  We choose some of our favorite tales from the compendium, read them, then talk about them.  Tune in.  Not quite finished with Spooky Season / Halloween?  Neither are we.

As it turns out, though High Spooky Month (October) is over, we're not done being spooky here in The Tape Store.  We open our 2nd season and November 2020 with Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1981), the collection of short stories that haunted many who grew up in the 80s and 90s.  In this episode, we read a selection of our favorite tales from first of the "Scary Tales" trilogy, and talk about them.