Sunday, May 28, 2023

Flopcast 577: Maids and Butlers FlopFight Part 1 - Nonstop Sass Attack

We grew up in a world where seemingly every sitcom included a maid or a butler. Even middle class TV households somehow afforded live-in servants. And this week all those maids and butlers shall do battle in a good old fashioned FlopFight! What would happen if Benson (from Soap) and Florence (from The Jeffersons) were stranded on an island? How about hula-dancing Alice (The Brady Bunch) versus Batusi-dancing Alfred (Batman)? Anything could happen, and this week's winner will advance to the final round next week. And it's gonna get weird, so our special guest judge is a weirdness expert: Co-Director of the DragonCon American Sci-Fi Classics Track, Joe Crowe! So let's get ready to FlopFight. It might get a little messy, but a parade of Diff'rent Strokes maids should come along to mop up.

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Flopcast 576: Tape Your Melons

Another quick and silly Flopcast, including: Way too much Scotch tape trivia from Kornflake; this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees (and how they ranked in the 80s); Dolly Parton's new star-studded rock album (hey, where's Tiffany?); Bernie Taupin vs. REO Speedwagon; the Love Boat musical; and a "Chickens in the News" story from Mexico, where there are chickens in the trees and on the subway.

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Flopcast 575: Sponges and Shiny Blankets Everywhere

It's a quick Sunday brunch edition of The Flopcast! Except we forgot to have brunch! Anyway, Kevin has tales from the cold and rainy Margarita Half Marathon (with margaritas and shiny blankets), and the hot and grueling Providence Marathon (with Mickey Mouse hands and Jeff Goldblum heads). We also have some comic book recommendations: the new Shazam and Peacemaker series from DC Comics, and the new Jim & Celeste collection from friend of The Flopcast Jon Sloan. (Shazam and Peacemaker do not have forewords by Kornflake, but Jim & Celeste absolutely does!) Also: Happy Birthday to one of our favorite Go-Go's, Jane Wiedlin! Because go go go go go.

Sunday, May 7, 2023

Flopcast 574: Soggy Tacos

For just the second time in three horrifying years, Kevin and Kornflake are together in the same place for the Flopcast! And that place is... a hotel room in New Hampshire! (This is Kornflake's home state, and that explains A LOT.) To celebrate, we're learning some weird New Hampshire facts involving UFOs, old libraries, state songs, and a shopping mall where Kornflake may have gone to college. We also go through a list of famous people from New Hampshire, including three SNL cast members and someone who witnessed Kevin's terrible old Spam-juggling act. Finally Kornflake breaks out some giant weird New Hampshire cookies, and there is much chomping. This was all part of her plan to help Kevin carb up for a half marathon the following day. (Update: Kornflake promised miserable steady rain for the whole race, and she was CORRECT.)

Sunday, April 30, 2023

Flopcast 573: You Had an Enya Record?

It's another concert report, as we leave the house and creep down to Rhode Island to see Flopcast favorite Joan Osborne! And since Joan's big hit album (and that song - you know the one) came out way back in 1995, we're looking at the other albums we bought that year. There were lots of 1995 records from the women of the Boston rock scene (Juliana Hatfield, Mary Lou Lord, Belly, Letters to Cleo), as well as plenty more Lilith-friendly artists (Jewel, Ani DiFranco, Aimee Mann). We also recall the debut of Ben Folds Five, a weird covers album from Elvis Costello, and a band only Kornflake remembers. Plus: The Top Ten movies of 1995, a 90s edition of The Pudding Pages, and Happy Birthday to the guy who co-wrote all those Alanis songs. (Isn't this podcast ironic? No, it is not.)

Sunday, April 23, 2023

Flopcast 572: Hey Hey

We're just sipping Green Day coffee and yipping through a few miscellaneous subjects. Including: A reunion of Slipnutz (one of the greatest bands ever to specialize in slipping on nuts); Disney animator Ron Clements (we're looking forward to his version of DC's goofy robot team the Metal Men); a concert report on the last Monkee standing, Micky Dolenz; a look at the debut albums of 1967 (including the big three: Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, and Mr. Spock); and a Chickens in the News story from Woonsocket, Rhode Island involving DoorDash, Mr. Hibachi, and a frazzled hen who just wanted to cross the road.

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Flopcast 571: The Super Dictionary - From A to Chicken

1978's The Super Dictionary attempted to teach kids vocabulary using DC Comics superheroes. We don't know if it succeeded as a learning tool, but it sure succeeded in being super weird. (If you've ever seen that silly image of Lex Luthor stealing forty cakes, it comes from this very book.) This week we're examining a few Super Dictionary entries, which involve Wonder Woman sneezing, a banana for Aquaman, Robin chasing "the bad women" on bicycles, Superman trapped in a "soapy water ball," Supergirl as a centipede, Hawkgirl dancing on the ceiling like Lionel, and much more. We had to stop at "chicken," because we just couldn't take it anymore, but perhaps we'll revisit this bizarro book someday. Meanwhile, Happy Birthday to Conan O'Brien, whose podcast is way more popular than ours. Possibly because he doesn't just read from a dictionary.

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Flopcast 570: Have Some Back Hair, Crunch Some Birds

We haven't reviewed a weird school book club magazine from the 80s since... oh wait, it was three weeks ago. Thanks for your patience. This time we're looking at a 1984 issue of Maniac, a short-lived Dynamite-type magazine aimed at a slightly older audience, with an added twist of Mad-style humor. This issue includes: Maniac holiday stickers; caricatures of Brooke Shields, Boy George, Mr. T, and Splash-style Daryl Hannah; a bizarre Maniac Top 40 list (spoiler: rubber chickens are at number 27); horse brains and rooster eggs; a disturbing variety of pen pal options; chances to win a signed Judy Blume book, a Betamax VCR, or a ZZ Top key chain; a shocking interview with Kate and Allie star Ari Meyers; dreamy posters of Billy Idol, David Lee Roth, and Duran Duran; the Dynamite "Bummers" page (sorry, that's the Maniac "Give Me a Break!" page); and yes, chocolate-covered birds. Okay, we officially love Maniac. The cover promises "laughs and more laughs." Our podcast does not.

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Flopcast 569: Maple Fools

A quick springtime mixed bag of weirdness: April has arrived, and Kornflake is celebrating with a sugary holiday of her own making, Maple Fools Day. Speaking of sugar, National Whatever Day finds us wishing a Happy Birthday to the writer of The Archies' greatest hit. Our impromptu Funko Pop game is so shocking that you won't believe your cold dead black vinyl eyes. Kevin races through Salem, Massachusetts for twenty miles in seach of giant black cats and Elizabeth Montgomery statues. And we randomly discover a short-lived 80s sitcom with a cast including the guy from Family Affair, the guy from Northern Exposure, and Magic Johnson. What does it all mean? Hey, we were hoping you could tell us.

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Flopcast 568: I've Been a Dirty Dog

As suggested/threatened last week, we're doing a Top 4 ½ List of 1980s dogs. (Kornflake is obsessed with dogs, Kevin is obsessed with the 80s... this had to happen.) Including: Several cartoon dogs, a Muppet dog, a WWF wrestling dog, a rock star dog, a certain beer-chugging dog who did NOT know when to say when, and much more. Yes, we've gone to the dogs, but for our show, that's probably an upgrade. Also: Happy Birthday to Footloose/Lost Boys mom Dianne Wiest, an update on KangaROOS, and Kornflake's Pinky and the Brain mystery socks.

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Flopcast 567: I Know Where You Stuff Things

It's about time for another Dynamite magazine review, but to mix things up, we're looking at a different (but eerily similar) magazine called Winner. A single issue of Winner was sold through school book clubs in 1982, and it's essentially a sports-themed version of Dynamite. Our discussion includes: John McEnroe's hair; Chris Evert on SNL; KangaROOS, the sneakers with pockets; how Kevin learned to juggle Spam; Larry Bird vs Dr. J vs Mike Brady; an ice skating lesson from Linda Fratianne; the longest baseball game in history (yes, it happened in Rhode Island); a wedding on rollerskates; the shockingly high cost of a keyboard for your Intellivision; and why sad kids have the best posters. Also: It's National Puppy Day, so you might as well send all your dogs to go live with Kornflake.

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Flopcast 566: You Know I Love Falco

It's another Flopcast tribute to V66, Boston's music video TV channel of the mid-80s! (We do this every one hundred episodes. It's all we have.) This time we thought we'd look at Billboard's Top 66 songs of 1986, an amazing list of absolutely classic 80s pop. (Flopcast favorite Billy Ocean made the list twice, and no, that's not nearly enough Billy Ocean.) And Kornflake has even pared the Top 66 list down to her own weird Top 4 ½ List, including freestyle stars The Jets and Lisa Lisa, a Rocky sequel song from Survivor (but not that one), one hit wonder Sly Fox (remember them?), and more. (And do Kevin and Kornflake agree on the list's worst song, which somehow landed way up at number 12? Oh yes.) For more V66 fun, as always we recommend the wonderful documentary Life on the V. Also: Happy Birthday to Michael Caine, who coincidentally starred in approximately every 80s movie.

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Flopcast 565: Books in Space

The Flopcast Book Club is finally back in session, and we're discussing Bill Mumy's new memoir Danger, Will Robinson: The Full Mumy. Best known for Lost in Space and The Twilight Zone, Bill was one of the busiest child actors of the 1960s, and has stayed busy with television, film, and music projects ever since. We cover Bill's Disney movies co-starring seals and raccoons; his experiences on The Munsters and Bewitched; his adventures with Shaun Cassidy, Rick Springfield, and "Weird Al" Yankovic; his comic book band Seduction of the Innocent; his new supergroup Action Skulls; and most importantly, his Pez collection. And don't forget Bill's other band Barnes & Barnes, whose classic novelty song "Fish Heads" somehow led to a year's supply of iced coffee for Kornflake. (RIP Robert Haimer, the other half of Barnes & Barnes, and thanks for the decades of weird music. Yeah.) So stay out of the cornfield and check out the book. We recommend reading it while a big goofy robot screams at you.