Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 27: TV THEME SONGS!

Posted on by Jay

PSPep27WebClick the picture to listen

OR

SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES!

To arrive at their optimum relaxation zone, some people listen to the soothing sprinkle of a rainstorm or the natural sounds of a tropical rain-forest. But, for my ears, there’s something about TV theme songs that I find strangely comforting. Maybe it’s little details like the “sha-la-la-la” at the end of the Family Ties theme or the hum at the end of the Diff’rent Strokes intro that make me have that extra fondness for them. If you consider yourself the same kind of wacko, then you’re reading the right website! This week, the Purple Stuff Podcast brings you a show entirely dedicated to a select bunch of TV theme songs.

To say that my iTunes is quite a hodgepodge of various types of music is an understatement. If you listened to one of my playlists while driving around with me, you’d likely hear one of hundreds of TV theme songs. Chances are, you’d know the lyrics to the majority of them. That’s what makes it fun. You don’t even need to be an avid viewer of a show to have the theme song stuck in your head, which makes the genre that much more incredible. This is one of the reasons why I felt so compelled to convince Matt that we should do a whole show about some of the TV themes that stand out most to us.

After an arm bar into an Irish whip, followed up by a flying forearm, Matt agreed that it was a good idea. I’m kidding of course, but it did take a little bit of convincing since it is so difficult to do a show like this and not be accused of leaving all the important themes out. Everyone has their favorites, but these are just a handful that we felt compelled to talk about. Some of your favorites are ours too, but we’d need 8 episodes to touch on ALL the good ones.

Personally, I think some of the best TV theme songs are the ones that work on different levels. Some TV themes are great for what they are and work splendidly as a theme for a show, yet other TV themes soar beyond that. There are TV themes that are so catchy that you wonder how the hell they haven’t been deemed required curriculum in music classes in schools. Others are so versatile that they could be covered by metal and punk bands. Most of all, the best TV themes are the ones that pop into your brain the minute you hear someone mention the name of the show that it’s from.

I demand equality for TV theme songs. Even though a show’s theme usually undergoes subtle changes between seasons, a TV theme has the power to bring to mind the full reel of scenes in the opening credits. I loved when the opening credits of a show were so ridiculous. You can sit there and pick out the episode that each scene was from. The theme will also make you reminisce and sing along. Some themes are cheerful or quirky while others are arena-ready and triumphant. In all cases, there’s a lot to discuss so check out The Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 27 and share some of your favorite theme songs in the comments!

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 26: Not Your Average Scares!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp26WebLISTEN HERE

Subscribe on iTunes

We’ve turned the corner folks. Now that we’re halfway to HALLOWEEN, it’s time to start teasing ourselves with little tastes of that sweet, sweet candy corn. On the new episode of The Purple Stuff Podcast, we do something that’s, well…halfway Halloweeny! Let me tell you more.

An outright Imperial March toward Halloween ain’t gonna happen for a few more months, but there’s no reason we can’t temporarily bask in the spooks and chills of Halloween in the off season. You know you want it.

With all the incredible stuff that is getting released, this episode pairs so well with this moment in time. Think about it. Ghostbusters is back in a big way, on toy shelves, in liquid Ecto Cooler form, marshmallow form, and in the theaters soon. And I can’t forget Mountain Dew Pitch Black which made its way back into our mouths, in not only cans and bottles, but Slurpees again! We’re in a bona fide nostalgic renaissance, and Matt and I are going to talk through it the entire time on The Purple Stuff like annoying jerks in the back of a movie theater.

The premise of this show is to spotlight things that are unexpectedly nightmarish. We’ve dubbed this episode, “Not Your Average Scares,” and it’s a full tank of nightmare fuel. Not to spoil it too much, but you’ll hear about pulse pounded phone calls, eerily loud tones, puppets, dummies, and blue people. Is that not the best sales pitch ever? Shit, I recorded this show with Matt and I want to to listen to it now!

If you’re a Halloween freak like we are, this show will give you that extra jolt that you’ll need to survive until we find ourselves on the true trail to Halloween. We hope you enjoy this one. Only 174 days to go!

*An ENORMOUS thank you to everyone who has made doing The Purple Stuff Podcast worthwhile. Many of you have been respective readers and viewers of both Matt and my exploits through the years and we really appreciate you listening and subscribing.

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 25: 1992!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp25Web1

LISTEN HERE!

I’m here with 2 good things to tell you. It’s Friday, which you likely already know PLUS we’ve got a new Purple Stuff Podcast for you! This time around, we’re taking you back to when the USA Basketball Dream Team was in full effect, Right Said Fred scored a hit with “I’m Too Sexy,” and WWE Superstar Paige was born. I won’t waste too much time pitching it to you because it’s pretty simple: It’s all about stuff we liked in 1992. Much like our 1986 episode, we discuss movies, TV shows, video games, and all sorts of other random nostalgia from back then. Join us as Matt and I take another trip down memory lane and celebrate what we think is the coolest stuff from ’92. Check it out in the link above, or SUBSCRIBE on iTunes, Stitcher, and Podbean. Thanks for reading and listening! Let us know what your favorite stuff from ’92 was in the comments!

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 23: Batman ’89!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp23Web

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW!

The DC heroes are about to blow up the big screen. Fans of the DCU are in their glory right now. Even though there’s been so many movies based on DC properties, the DC film universe will be ushered in with the premiere of Batman v. Superman. I was out on the black carpet event with Miss Sexy Armpit for the premiere of the film at Radio City Music Hall, and it’s making me count the minutes until I’m in the theater for this. Growing up, World’s Finest comics were always at the top of my list, so I’m extremely excited to see my two favorite heroes on the big screen, and even more pumped to finally see Wonder Woman joining the fray. In light of this major DC Comics event, let’s recall one of the biggest DC Comics movie events of all time, Batman ’89!

Can you imagine living in a world where there wasn’t super hero movies in theaters every 2 months? That’s how things were back in the day. If you were around then, you know what I mean. Super heroes wound up becoming almost taboo to be a fan of. For me, things were doubly worse since I was both a fan of comics AND wrestling…and KISS for that matter. All the cards were stacked against me, but I wore my obsessions proudly, and I’m glad I did, because there was a payoff – a major one. In June of 1989, one of the biggest pop culture phenomenons was released to theaters: Batman.

In modern times, we’ve been spoiled by 8 Batman movies (9 if we count BvS!). The first Batman film in 1966 was an answer to that era’s Batmania hysteria caused by the TV show. In 1989, comic fans and moviegoers came out in full force to show that they were ready to get caught up in their generations Batmania. I was so lucky to be deeply entrenched in Batman my entire childhood, so to experience this kind of fervor for my favorite hero was astounding.

If there was a popularity contest between Bats and Supes, let’s just say, Supermania wasn’t really bandied around too often. That’s not a knock on Superman, but there was something mysterious about the 1989 Batman that made it so easy to fall in love with the film. One of the reasons for this is likely the fact that it was such a dark departure from the over the top, campy colorful fun of the ’60s TV series. If you weren’t reading Batman comics at the time, this was a brand new Batman that brought viewers into new territory. If you watch the film now, it seems pretty light, but in ’89 this was a dark, Noir inspired adventure which was unforgettable to so many who saw it in it’s theatrical run.

If you are a fan of this film, I recommend that you document your love for it. As it is with other forms of entertainment like music and books, the impact that the ’89 Batman movie had on the public may be documented for future generations in news articles, but it’s difficult to capture what kind of a massive Bat-frenzy it actually was. If you walked into a mall in 1989, to say that would’ve noticed over a hundred Bat symbols EVERYWHERE is not an exaggeration. Whether you went into a toy store, music store, or grocery store, Batman was literally everywhere. Two opposing boxes of cereal promoting Batman v. Superman cannot compare to how we were all lovingly swaddled in Batman’s cape with all kinds of goodies. You didn’t even have to be a hardcore Bat-fan to own a t-shirt or magazine that promoted the film.

What amuses me about all these superhero movies that come out, Marvel’s included, is that even though they make bank, we get flooded with them. All they have to be is “good.” Consider this: Will Batman vs. Superman make the same kind of impact that Batman ’89 did? Most likely no. It could wind up becoming the most well-reviewed DC inspired film ever, but I will wager that most Batman films since then did not have the potential to romance fans the way the ’89 film did. This is because on-screen Batman was in a unique spot to reinvent himself and turn the genre into serious business. Looking at this trajectory, you would not have any of the Nolanverse films without Batman 1989. Credit also has to go to Superman ’78 for being the genesis of the modern superhero film, but Batman ’89 had Kim Basinger!

I can write volumes about this movie because of how much I love it, but why not listen to our latest Purple Stuff Podcast where Matt and I talk all about it? In Episode 23, we detail many of our ’89 Batman memories. Matt and I share stories of seeing the film in the theater, the toy line, dressing up, reciting lines, the Prince soundtrack, theme parks and much more. This is our testimonial to what an indelible mark Batman 1989 left on us. If the Joker wrote this post, he may have ended it something like this: “…If you gotta go…go with a Smile!”

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 22: GHOSTBUSTERS!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp22Web

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!

Have you experienced feelings of dread in your basement or attic? No, seriously, because I have. But sometimes, shit happens and who are you going to call? The Purple Stuff Podcast, of course!

Ghostbusters has been a gigantic part of my life. If you’re reading this, I’m sure you can relate. I saw the original in the theater when it first came out and I don’t think any movie has had more impact on me. It helped mold my taste in movies. Comedy and horror are my favorites, but mix them together and it doesn’t get any better for me. That combo isn’t for everyone, but I don’t think it’s ever worked better than in the original Ghostbusters film. I am an apologist for the sequel as well. In fact, I have them both memorized, which is pretty sick considering that I probably should’ve used that brain power to do better in math growing up. I considered math knowing the line “But at 19%, you didn’t even bargain with the guy!” Turns out, the Ghostbusters were shit at math too.

Math bad, talking good.

Matt and I are back with a Purple Stuff that will conjure up all kinds of Ghostbusters nostalgia for you. With the trailer for the new Ghostbusters movie, the cans of Ecto Cooler on eBay, and those Key Lime Slime Twinkies all hitting the web, it’s a perfect time to switch on your proton packs and turn up the volume on the stereo in the Ecto-1! In this episode we discuss the movies, the Kenner toy line, and our own personal memories revolving around everything Ghostbusters.

For me, Ghostbusters never faded away. In one form or another, I’ve consistently kept Ghostbusters in my life, and to experience it finally making a huge comeback splatters me with a jolt of positive mood slime. During the times when the boys in gray were having some down time, we Ghostbusters fanatics were still celebrating every little piece of psychokinetic activity that we could. Whether it was the latest video game, comic book, or Krispy Kreme donut, they were all little triumphs that brought us to this big moment.

You can see all kinds of Ghostbusters content here at The Sexy Armpit. Going back many years into the archives, there’s some awesome stuff and some embarrassing stuff. I’ve come a long way with this site, and Ghostbusters has been there with me since the beginning. I’ve managed to throw numerous Ghostbusters references in all of my Halloween Specials as well. It’s a passion of mine. One that I share with Dinosaur Dracula. His obsession with all things Ghostbusters has been well documented since the beginning, especially his love affair with Ecto-Cooler. So, getting to relish in this moment where we can all celebrate our love of Ghostbusters is nothing short of amazing.

This Purple Stuff Podcast is going to bury the needle on your PKE Meter! Unfortunately, we aren’t offering hot beverage thermal mugs and free balloons for the kids, but our show is FREE on iTunes, Stitcher, and Podbean. Thanks for listening! Now, if you’ll excuse me, my girlfriend just called, she said her tub tried to eat her.

 

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 21: HE-MANIA!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp21Web2

LISTEN HERE!

Teela, Toys, and Trapjaw. Those are three of my favorite T’s, but for those who know me, talking is probably my fourth. What if all those concepts were combined? This week, it actually happens on The Purple Stuff Podcast, as Matt and I present our aural appreciation for one of the greatest action figure toy lines and cartoons of our childhood: Masters of the Universe.

Who wouldn’t want to listen to two grown men wax poetic about He-Man for 63 minutes? If that doesn’t seduce all the hot ladies out there I don’t know what will. We discuss everything from Slime Pits to Silver Screen Skeletor. From a behind the scenes standpoint, I’d been throwing out the idea for a Masters of the Unvierse themed show for a while and Matt was 100% on board with it, but we knew we didn’t want to half-ass it. We had to give it the proper time and attention. That time is NOW.

The stage has truly been set for HE-MANIA. I submit that even though the Masters of the Universe is a property so intertwined into ’80s culture, I feel like the forthcoming big screen adaptation will be huge. If they do it in the style of Game of Thrones, we could be on the verge of the second coming of MOTU! A guy can dream, can’t he? With director McG attached to the film AND the new Filmation style Club Grayskull figures in the midst of being released by Matty Collector, there’s no better time than now to celebrate our love of all things He-Man (and I never miss a chance to talk about She-Ra as well.) So, put your Power Sword into your sheath, hop onto your Sky-Sled, and join Matt and I for a mammoth MOTU podcast the size of Granamyr himself!

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 20: 1986!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp20Web

LISTEN HERE!

In your life, I’m sure certain years are more special than others. For me, the best ones were just about any year in the ’80s. Hell, finally getting bestowed with a show like The Goldbergs really hit home for me. Although, I must admit that I was one of the 12 people that actually enjoyed That ’80s Show, but that’s a whole other topic. Tonight, it’s time for THE 20TH episode of The Purple Stuff Podcast! The last show featured Matt and I discussing recent geek news, but now we’re going back in time…to 1986!

It pains me to type this, but 1986 was 30 years ago. F*ck! Instead of letting that sentiment creep into my brain and make me feel like a crotchety old skeleton, let me tell you more about tonight’s episode. The rationale here is that 1985 and 1987 pretty much rule thanks to the immense amount of cool crap associated with those years, yet ’86 seems to be living in their shadow. We figured, why not give ’86 it’s due? It definitely had its share of awesome stuff whether it was a toy line, movie and TV release, or an amazing food gimmick. You may even be surprised at some of our choices!

Matt and I each bring a bunch of our favorite aspects of 1986 to the table. We discuss everything from My Pet Monster and Lazer Tag to Samantha Fox and Nerds Cereal. We had a blast conjuring up these memories and even call for a couple of items to make big comebacks. I’m sure you’ll dig this one, so hop into your imaginary DeLorean, punch in 1986, and turn the volume up to 88! (Actually, don’t do that, you’ll blow out your friggin’ speakers! 11 is fine!) Thank you for listening! Spread the word!

Remember, you can Subscribe to The Purple Stuff Podcast on iTunes! We’re also on Stitcher, and Podbean.

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 18: Pop Culture Mascots!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp18Web

LISTEN TO EPISODE 18 HERE!

For some people, pop culture mascots are as close to us as family members. Think about it. You may have sat at your kitchen table next to a cardboard box with that Cheerios honeybee on it half the mornings of your life. You sure as hell remember watching about a thousand commercials where the Kool-Aid Man crashed through some wall and made you want to submerge yourself in that delicious beverage. Maybe you had a special place in your heart for the Hamburgular? No matter what product or food item it was, you likely have memories and attachments for some of their brand mascots.

Some of those mascot memories that you have might be buried. Matt from Dinosaur Dracula and I are here this week on the Purple Stuff Podcast to bring those memories to the surface as we discuss a select group of mascots that we fondly remember. These choices are all ones that we feel positive about, but you may recall when Matt shared his irrational fear of the Scrubbing Bubbles characters. That is a perfect example of how these brands plant little seeds in our heads. From my perspective, it’s fairly easy to get me to buy your product. As long as the mascot is female with neon colored hair or on the other end of the spectrum, something that is haunting or creepy looking, I’m way more apt to buy in to the product. Either way, they all conjure up varying opinions and anecdotes, which is definitely the case in Episode 18 of the PSP.

The mascots we bring to the table on tonight’s Purple Stuff may not be your favorites, but they are just as notable for various reasons. For instance, why bring up the Trix Rabbit when we could discuss a friendly Dinosaur made of artificial cheese? Or a cute, pink-haired spy who was “fired” for appearing in too many sexual situations in Google Image Searches? These are the ones that needed to be discussed, and we did just that! In the comments, let us know some of your favorite mascots of pop culture.

If you haven’t checked out the Purple Stuff yet, what are you waiting for? The episodes are all available via iTunes, Podbean, and Stitcher!

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 17: Killer Christmas Tunes!

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp17Web

LISTEN HERE

and Subscribe at iTunes, Podbean, and Stitcher!

Has it been as much of a challenge for you to get into the Christmas spirit this year as it has been for me? Personally, I hadn’t been feeling very festive this season, but I did have a few surges of Christmas cheer so far this month. You may have already read about our trip to Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Great Adventure, but the other night my heart may have grew three sizes when Matt and I recorded our latest Christmas episode of The Purple Stuff Podcast! We couldn’t go the whole month of December without doing a Christmas special. If you’ve already been immersed in multiple viewings of Christmas Vacation, submerged in spiked egg nog, and dragging ass to stores shopping for gifts, then it’s obvious you don’t need a lot of coercion getting into the Christmas spirit, but you’ll enjoy this nonetheless!

Episode 17 features us discussing some of our favorite Christmas tunes. Since music is one of the big things that conjures up memories and helps to create the ambiance in everyday life during the holidays, we’re hoping this podcast can be a companion to your lead up to the big day. Holiday music in general is a very divisive genre, but it’s something that, as many of you know, Matt and I are heavily into. We had fun with the Halloween music episodes we recorded this year, and the same goes for this one. In fact, we’re going to send the podcast file to the North Pole so Santa can listen to it through his earbuds while dropping off gifts around the Tri-State Area.

If you’ve already seen The Force Awakens and you’re at home this evening looking to relax, let us invade your speakers for a short exploration of old Christmas songs. You’re all set if you’re home smells like a Christmas tree and you have a plate full of sugar cookies on your coffee table. The only thing better would be if you broke out your red footed pajamas. Come to think of it, I may have to run out to the store right now and get some egg nog of my own to enjoy.

Some of our picks may not be crowd pleasers, but these are the ones that are some highlights from our personal playlists. We can probably do 7 more episodes just on this subject, but we had to rein it in to keep within a reasonable time frame. It’s not a surprise that we concentrated on the late ’70s and ’80s era, but there were so many good Christmas songs to come out then! If you happen to have some favorite Christmas songs of your own, let us know in the comments! I am always adding to my playlist, so the more obscure the suggestion, the better!

Thank you for listening and reading and Happy Holidays!

Purple Stuff Podcast Episode 15: Board Game Memories

Posted on by Jay

PSPEp15WEB2

Subscribe at iTunes, Podbean, and Stitcher!

Growing up in the ’80s, board games were in a huge boom period. A game like Life or Pictionary was required to be available in your home in case any guests wanted to take part in some wacky, competitive diversions. Although Travel Boggle and Tiddly Winks are NOT mentioned in the latest episode of The Purple Stuff Podcast, Matt and I do go back in time digging into our memory banks to discuss some of our own board game memories!

While I love Monopoly and Scrabble as much as the next person, I was more into games like Candy Land and Memory. I was a simple kid and anything to intricate or in-depth was an immediate turn off for me. I liked not being too committed to games that made you read intense directions comprised of IKEA-like diagrams with fonts the size of The Atom. Some games took forever to complete, while others were nonchalantly breezed through, providing just the right amount of mild, temporary entertainment. I prefer the latter.

In the episode, Matt brings up some of his favorite games, including the cult-favorite, Fireball Island. You’ll notice a pattern in Matt’s picks since most of them can double as action figure playsets! My choices weren’t nearly as cohesive with each other, aside from the fact that they all helped to uncover some deep seeded revelations for me, as suppressed animosity from a couple of games rose to the surface. It sounds way more serious than it really is, because I actually just wound up ragging on a few games that used to annoy me. Listen to the show to hear all of our selections!

Thanks for stopping by! I know you have some favorite board games from when you were a kid, so tell us some of them in the comments!