The Latchkey Kids

We latchkey kids have SO MANY QUESTIONS about the hit 1960s TV show "Gilligan's Island," which we watched religiously all through the 80s thanks to the miracle of reruns. For instance, if the castaways could make coconut cream pies and build elaborate huts, why on earth could they not just patch the hole in the SS Minnow?! And, it's a three-hour tour, right? So why do the Howells have a foot locker full of cash, and why is Ginger wearing a sequin-studded evening gown? Let's get to the bottom of "Gilligan's Island," shall we? And maybe we'll find out if the seven castaways ever made it off the island.

Dearly beloved, where were you when you first heard the eternal, genre-bending music of Prince? Aaron remembers where he was: sitting in the bleachers at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, watching a semi-pro Arizona Wranglers football game. In that hazy, sun-parched environment, where the air hung heavy with the aroma of hot dogs, young Aaron first asked himself the question, "In 1999, are we REALLY gonna party like it's 1999?" Shortly thereafter, little Aaron, along with the rest of the world, was hit with the phenomenon that was "Purple Rain," a classic film and album that both shot to #1 on the charts. Join us this week as we take a look back at the incredible career of the one and only Prince.

From the brilliant mind of the legendary Jim Henson, our childhood was filled with the zany and hilarious antics of the Muppet gang, who graced many a TV and movie screen in the 1970s and 80s. Did you have a favorite Muppet? Which member of the house band was the coolest? And how healthy was Kermit's relationship with Miss Piggy, really?

Are you concerned about Satan worshippers corrupting the nation's youth? How about communists who have infiltrated the government? Or suit-wearing, scooter-riding "mods" who are starting violent brawls with the ne'er-do-well "rockers?" If these scary scenarios get your blood pumping, you would've LOVED all the moral panics of the 1980s! Learn all about it on this episode of The Latchkey Kids.

The 1980s was truly the golden age of the serial killer. With no DNA evidence, interconnected police databases, or multitudes of cameras everywhere, deranged psychopaths like Joseph DeAngelo, Dennis Rader, and Jeffrey Dahmer were free to roam about the country, committing their heinous crimes while the rest of us worried about the Russians (see our recent episode about the Cold War). Join Aaron and Dr. Amy this week as they put on their true crime hats (for one more episode only, we promise!) and take a look at this most terrible of 1980s trends.

Who is the most 1980s criminal you can think of? Is it John Gotti of the Gambino crime family? Perhaps John DeLorean, with his penchant for flux capacitors and cocaine? Or are you more of a serial killer kind of person? Whatever your flavor of crime, McGruff the crime dog says you should listen to TLK's three-part Crime Spectacular, which kicks off this week with totally 80s crimes!

OMG the anticipation of the school book fair ... counting the days until they opened the makeshift little bookstore in the cafeteria, begging mom to load you up with dollar bills like you were headed to a strip club, and THAT AMAZING ORDER FORM! Dive into the past and present of school book fairs this week with The Latchkey Kids!

Dr. Amy had her doubts about this episode. "The Cold War is not FUN!" she said over and over. But you know what? This is unequivocally the MOST FUN podcast episode about the Cold War you are ever likely to hear! It has everything: sporting event drama, hit songs in the gorgeous German language, and the existential threat of nuclear annihilation! Relive the Cold War in all its glory with the Latchkey Kids.

Do you remember what you were doing 40 years ago, in January 1985? While much of the country shivered under a historic cold snap that derailed plans for President Reagan's second inauguration, Madonna climbed to the top of the pop music charts. Jump into the Latchkey Kids time machine this week as we take an in-depth look at a frozen moment in time.

There's a couple of days left before Christmas so you still have time to pick up a few last-minute gifts for your treasured loved ones. You know, something they'll love ... like the Thighmaster, or The Clapper, or the miraculous Flowbee vacuum-powered haircutting machine. These are products you can trust! And you know that's true because the TV is telling you it's true! But wait, there's more ...

Did your city have a quirky, wacky local kids TV show that ALL the kids watched before school every morning? Did it feature a clown or a sheriff or a salty sea captain as its host? Growing up in metro Phoenix in the 1980s, Aaron and Dr. Amy had "Wallace & Ladmo," one of the longest-running regional kids shows in America and the source of the oft-envied but ne'er-possessed "Ladmo Bag," whose ingredients have remained a mystery until this episode!

This episode, which showcases a few classic 1980s comedy films that parody life in the military, is an official VERY SPECIAL EPISODE in several ways. First, it was recorded live in front of a studio audience, just like "The Facts of Life." Second, Aaron and Dr. Amy were in the same room together during the recording of this very special episode. And lastly, at the end of this very special episode (SPOILER ALERT!), Dr. Amy finds herself trapped inside an old refrigerator in a vacant lot.

The 1980s was a golden era for war movies. As veterans of the Vietnam War grew older and processed their experiences overseas, Hollywood tapped superstar directors like Oliver Stone and Stanley Kubrick to tell their amazing, harrowing stories. Join The Latchkey Kids as we salute our military with this two-parter about some of the greatest movies ever made.

Have you ever truly done anything SCANDALOUS? Did you lose your job/end up in the news/go to prison because you made a sex tape/committed fraud/insulted the Catholic Church? Well, if you haven't lived a scandalous life, tune in to this episode of The Latchkey Kids to hear about those brave trailblazers of the 1980s who put scandal before themselves!

It's not often Aaron and Dr. Amy agree on such things but they are united in their undying love for the Beastie Boys, the raw, petulant, and uncompromising New York City rappers who took the world by storm in 1986 with their debut album, "Licensed to Ill." After the Beasties got our attention, they took us along for a musical ride that spanned 30 years and eight albums. Learn all there is to know about The Beastie Boys on this episode of The Latchkey Kids.

Tom Cruise truly has it all: devilish good looks, charisma out the wazoo, a trail of gorgeous ex-wives, and an unprecedented five-decade run as one of the hottest movie stars in Hollywood. But you know what People magazine's 1990 "Sexiest Man Alive" DOESN'T have? An Oscar. And why might that be? Could it be the couch-jumping or the Scientology? Dive deep into the mysterious world of Tom Cruise on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.

What did your home look like in the 1980s? Did you have wall-to-wall shag carpeting? Avocado-colored appliances? Were there subtle signs of wealth like cable TV, a refrigerator that made ice, or rooms used exclusively for opening Christmas presents once a year? Settle in and get cozy as Aaron and Dr. Amy reminisce about the styles of the 1980s.

Did you go anywhere fun over Labor Day weekend? Take the kids to Wally World? Chase your love interest to Paris? Parade your boss's corpse around on a boat while ... wait, what?! Get in the car, Latchkey Kids, we're going on a road trip this week as we take a look at a few classic travel movies of the 1980s.

OK, so who REALLY did shoot J.R.? Was it Jo Ellen or Mary Ellen or whatever her name was? And did J.R. deserve to be shot? With a name like J.R. Ewing, he probably did, right? Learn the answer to the biggest whodunit cliffhanger of the 1980s, as Aaron and Dr. Amy delve into glitzy, glamorous world of primetime soap operas!

In the 1980s, if you were a social miscreant, how would you set yourself apart from mainstream society? Easy! Become a skateboarder! A burgeoning sport at the time, skateboarding - and skate culture - spread across the globe from its home in southern California, bringing with it the Vans, black T-shirts, and punk rock attitude that made skaters famous everywhere. And although "Skateboarding Is Not a Crime," it's maybe something best left to the young folks (lookin at you, Aaron).

With the lighting of the torch in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Aaron and Dr. Amy travel back to the memorable 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California. With stars like Mary Lou Retton and Carl Lewis leading the way for Team USA - and mastermind Peter Ueberroth at the controls - the 1984 Games shattered expectations, breaking attendance records and making millions for its host city.

Who the heck is in the Brat Pack anyway? And how to you get in? Is there a hazing period? A secret handshake? According to Dr. Amy's careful research, Brat Pack membership hinged on appearing in one of two hit movies of 1985 ... can you name them? (HINT: neither of them are "Howard the Duck," as that classic film came out in 1986).

When you were growing up, did you ever find yourself on the receiving end of a school bully? What did you do about it? Did you turn the other cheek? Tell the teacher? Follow Aaron and Dr. Amy's dad's advice and punch the bully in the face? Tune in to The Latchkey Kids this week to hear how Aaron successfully defused a bullying situation, and how Dr. Amy has finally forgiven the Mormons. Also, a Top Ten list of famous movie bullies form the 80s!

In the rec room of 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in The Bronx, New York City ... that's where hip hop began in the 1970s with pioneers like DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash. But it was in the 1980s when hip hop music and culture really started to permeate the mainstream, even reaching the suburbs of Mesa, Arizona, where young Aaron was spinning around on a piece of cardboard in the driveway. Join the Latchkey Kids this week as we dive into the early history of hip hop.

Luck favors the bold! Or at least that's what a bunch of CEOs convinced themselves when they launched big new products that would ultimately fail. Of course everyone remembers the "Classic" product fail of the 1980s (unless that whole controversy was just an ingenious marketing campaign) but do you remember Harley-Davidson cologne? Colgate frozen dinners (gross)? How about the Smith and Wesson bicycle?

Do you remember the OG sex tape? It wasn't Pamela Anderson or Kim Kardashian ... it was none other than 80s "Brat Pack" superstar Rob Lowe! And the resulting humiliation caused his career to disappear for a while, until his big comeback as the villainous TV producer in "Wayne's World" in 1991. It's Celebrity Comebacks on this episode of The Latchkey Kids!

GNARLY! Quick, what's the first thing you think of when we mention the 1982 teen raunch-fest movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High?" Is it the EXTREMELY uncomfortable sex scenes involving very young high schoolers? Or maybe Phoebe Cates and the famous pool scene? Nah, we all know the real hero - and comedic genius - of Ridgemont High was surfer burnout Jeff Spicoli! I'M SO WASTED!

How much was your mom like Aaron and Dr. Amy's mom? Did she have shoulder pads and velour track suits? Did she balance her career with sewing buttons on Girl Scout uniforms? Did she LOVE LOVE LOVE Bruce Willis in "Moonlighting" in the 1980s? Listen to this week's episode to learn about the life and career of Detective John McClane (aka Bruce Willis) and learn who our mother's REAL boyfriend was on "Moonlighting."

Are you familiar with the Care Bear Stare? Not to be confused with the "thousand yard stare" that haunts soldiers returning from the horrors of war, the Care Bear Stare - according to Dr. Amy who researches these things - involves getting together with your shirtless buddies and shooting love out of your tummies in order to defeat your enemies. Sounds fun, right?

Following its bold and memorable origins in the 1970s, NBC's sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" found its footing in the 80s with stars like Dana Carvey, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman and EDDIE FREAKIN MURPHY COME ON! We all loved the Church Lady and Mr. Robinson and Wayne and Garth back then ... and we still do!

It's hard to believe there was ever a time when the plot of "Porky's" was a totally acceptable thing to portray in a mainstream movie, but in the 1980s, things were ... different. Even some of our favorite films of the decade - like "Sixteen Candles" - are filled with moments that, upon rewatch today, seem WILDLY inappropriate! Let's dive into a few cringey movie moments, this week on The Latchkey Kids!

It's finally time, latchkey kids! Time for a VERY SPECIAL episode about very special episodes! Remember when Mr. Drummond would occasionally open "Diff'rent Strokes" by looking straight into the camera and warning you that you were in for a VERY SERIOUS TOPIC that would not include any of Arnold's typical antics at all, and may very well leave you traumatized? Well THIS is exactly that kind of episode! Join Dr. Amy and Punky Brewster as they mourn the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger astronauts, completely oblivious that Aaron has locked himself inside an abandoned refrigerator.

People, do you remember how excited we all were back in 1985 when the gloriously star-studded song and video for "We Are the World" came out? Dr. Amy was so inspired to fight famine in Ethiopia that she convinced mom to drive her to Milano's Music to purchase the sheet music so she could play it ENDLESSLY on the piano for several weeks! But now, nearly 40 years later, we have questions ... like where are Madonna and Prince? And is Bob Dylan even singing? And most importantly, what the heck is Dan Ackroyd doing there?!

Perhaps in celebration that 1984 didn't turn out quite as bleak as the book, the music industry gave us dozens of memorable hits that wonderful year. From Tina Turner's big comeback, to EVERY SINGLE SONG on the "Footloose" soundtrack, to Metallica's thunderous "Ride the Lightning" album, music in 1984 had a little something for everyone. Sing along with Aaron and Dr. Amy!

With the platinum hairdo, the dazzling rhinestones, and the million-watt smile, Dolly Parton has truly been America's sweetheart for the last 60 years or so. She's an amazing songwriter/musician, a hilarious jokester, an actress, philanthropist, businesswoman, and one of Dr. Amy's personal heroes ever since she used to sing along with "Islands In the Stream" on the way to Mary Moppet's Preschool in dad's 1967 Chevy pickup truck. Join us this week in celebrating all things Dolly!

Back when Aaron and Dr. Amy were growing up, it was all fine and good to have "real" friends but what we REALLY wanted was to be friends with the hilarious, beautiful people we saw on TV! And who wouldn't want to hang out in that fabulous South Florida kitchen, sharing quirky anecdotes and witty one-liners with the Golden Girls?! It's part three of our very special podcast extravaganza on TV sitcom friendships, this week on The Latchkey Kids.

You know who should've won ALL the Emmy awards? Whomever was in charge of casting for the classic, hilarious, and bawdy sitcom Three's Company! The show featured such memorable characters and actors such as Mr. Furley (Don Knotts), Mrs. Roper (Audra Lindley), Chrissy Snow (Suzanne Somers), and of course Jack Tripper, played by the great John Ritter (RIP). Come and knock on our door this week as we drop in on Janet, Jack, and Chrissy!

Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated! How excited did you get for Laverne & Shirley when that absolute banger of a theme song come on your TV? And if you thought Lenny and Squiggy were hilarious as the oddball neighbors, how about Cousin Larry and Balki Bartokomous from the tiny island nation of Mepos, as featured in Perfect Strangers?! It's all about TV sitcom friendships, this week on The Latchkey Kids ...

Did you spend your Sunday nights like Aaron ... huddled under your blankets with an ear pressed to your radio, waiting to hear the silly, nutty, goofy, and extraordinarily wacky music on the Dr. Demento show? If you did, you're in for a treat with this in-depth look at the man who brought Weird Al to the world, and continues to entertain audiences to this day. If you've never heard of Dr. Demento, get ready to hear Aaron positively geek out for 43 minutes!

When you showed up to homecoming or prom or Sadie Hawkins or the annual Hello Dance at Kino Junior High School, did you roll up in a limo? Did you automatically jump out onto the dance floor to strut your stuff and get the party started like Dr. Amy? Or were you more like Aaron, standing awkwardly over by the bleachers with all the other nerds, watching the fun from a safe distance?

Happy Halloween, all you hellraisers! Do you have a favorite horror film from the 1980s? Do you prefer slasher films like Friday the 13th? Or are you more of a monster movie kind of person? Listen to this Halloween extravaganza episode of The Latchkey Kids to find out which classic 80s horror movies still haunt Aaron and Dr. Amy to this day.

You can't reminisce about the fabulous boy bands of the 1980s without recognizing the many successful girl groups that decade brought us. From the Go-Gos to the Bangles to the Queen of Rock Joan Jett, the 80s were full of chart-topping female rockers who were unafraid to be themselves. Sing along with Dr. Amy as we remember their hits!

Though the "Boy Band" phenomenon may have kicked off in the 1960s with the British Invasion Beatles, no decade defines boy bands quite like the 1980s - a glorious time when there was a boy band behind every tree! Relive the magic of the cutest, best choreographed, most outfit-coordinated boy bands of the 80s on this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids.

At the dawn of the 1980s, actor and comedian Paul Reubens finally got his big shot: an audition for the upcoming season of Saturday Night Live, a career-making gig that would've thust the then-obscure Reubens into the national spotlight. And ... he was rejected. But rather than retreat into obscurity, Reubens doubled down; he KNEW this new character he was working on would one day take the world by storm. On this episode of The Latchkey Kids, we revel in the silly, weird, fun world of Pee-Wee Herman, and we celebrate the life of his creator.

The ubiquitous Hot Wheels car: it's flashy, fun, and affordable! The popular little model cars were an overnight sensation when they first came out in 1968 and they're still making grocery store toy aisles more fun for kids today. But what about Matchbox cars, you say? Learn all about the bloody, decades-long war between Matchbox and Hot Wheels on this episode of The Latchkey Kids!

Do you remember Rainbow Brite (or Regina Regenbogen, as she was known in Germany)? She was the yarn-headed, moon bootin' Punky Brewster of dolls and she was Dr. Amy's absolute FAVORITE! Why? We're not exactly sure. Perhaps it was the rainbow-themed wardrobe. Perhaps it was the awesome responsibility of controlling the world's supply of colors. Perhaps this week's episode of The Latchkey Kids will shed some light on the irresistible draw of Rainbow Brite.

Your favorite 80s nostalgia podcast has big plans for the future! Tune in to this week's Very Special Announcement to learn what's in store for our hardcore Latchkey Kids listeners ...

Aaron and Dr. Amy are here to pump you up with muscular icons of the 1980s! From Sly Stallone to Mike Tyson to a certain Austrian bodybuilder-turned-action hero-turned-governor, the 1980s was a glorious time of pumping iron, being sweaty, and taking copious amounts of steroids! Let's get physical, everyone!

What better way to celebrate the 100th episode of The Latchkey Kids than with a long-promised deep dive into our parents' divorce? Tune into this episode to hear how it all unfolded, the different ways we reacted, and how the events of that fateful day in 1987 shaped the rest of our lives. It's a divorce-themed "Very Special" episode!

Of course, the Wonderful World of Disney has been around for 100 years (even longer then The Latchkey Kids!) and is going stronger today than ever before. But did you know that during the 1980s, The Mouse actually went through a bit of a "dark" period, when experimental Disney films, often with darker themes, failed to excite audiences? Listen to this week's Happiest Podcast Episode On Earth!

Grab your junk food, Ouija board, and Strawberry Shortcake sleeping bag, latchkey kids, because it's time to head over to your bestie's house for an all-night binge of MTV and Domino's Pizza! It's sleepover time on this week's episode. Or is it called a slumber party?