Today (July 28, 2010) is the 46^th birthday of beautiful actress Lori Loughlin. Most people remember her best as "Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis" married to "Uncle Jesse" on the ABC sitcom Full House for 153 episodes from 1988 to 1995. Many people do not remember her role as "Christian Hollings" in a BMX movie from 1986 called Rad, but I do.

The popularity of BMX racing and freestyle was quickly growing back in the 80s. This movie attempted to capitalize on the trend, but had very little box office success doing so. Since then however, the film has achieved a bit of a cult following especially from BMX fans. The story is a bit predictable with a small town kid trying to achieve greatness while avoiding all of the obstacles thrown at him by crooked villains with a little love story thrown in for good measure. The main character is "Cru Jones" (great character name!) played by Bill Allen. "Cru" wants to win the big "Helltrack" race which would get him sponsorship and fame, but he has to beat hot shot "Bart Taylor" (played by gold medal Olympic gymnast Bart Connor). This won't be easy because of attempts to prevent "Cru" from even participating. Just when "Cru" is ready to give up on his dream, Lori Loughlin's character "Christian" comes up with an idea which allows him to enter the race. Here's the original trailer for Rad...

Rad was directed by Hal Needham who had previously directed Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and The Cannonball Run (1981). The character of "Cru Jones" is loosely based on GT rider Eddie "The King" Fiola who also actually does all of the real stunt work for Bill Allen's character in the movie. Other GT riders Martin Aparijo and Pat Romano do the stunt work for Loughlin's character. There is a particularly corny scene that takes place at the dance between Loughlin's "Christian" and Allen's "Cru" dancing on bikes. It is set to the song "Send Me an Angel" by Real Life and has plenty of the cheese you would expect out of an 80s dance scene...

My younger brother was big into BMX freestyle, so we were one of the few to see this film in the theaters right when it came out. Like I said earlier, it did become a cult classic and was reportedly in the top 10 VHS rentals for the 2 years after it was released. Surprisingly, it has yet to be officially released on DVD. Though she would later be better known for roles on Full House, Summerland and now on The CW's 90210, I will never forget the gorgeous Lori Loughlin as "Christian" back in 1986's Rad.

That'll do it for another issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. If you want to see the past issues of Preview Review, just type that into the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column and it should give you a list of all of them. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on the "Like" button. Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Tiffany is best known for gaining her fame through a shopping mall tour back in 1987 when she was just 16 years old. That same year, her self-titled debut album would reach #1 on the album charts with two singles reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first hit was a cover of the Tommy James & The Shondells song "I Think We're Alone Now" and the second was an original ballad titled "Could've Been." Though she has continued to make music all along, her run on the pop charts ended when the 80s did.

Debbie Gibson's career also took off at the age of 16 back in 1987. Gibson's debut album Out of the Blue would include four singles reaching the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. Those singles include "Only In My Dreams," "Shake Your Love," "Out of the Blue" and "Foolish Beat." The last single, "Foolish Beat" hit #1 making Gibson the youngest artist ever to write, produce and perform a #1 single. Debbie Gibson would have more success than Tiffany releasing a second album in 1989, Electric Youth, which would hit #1 on the album chart and include another #1 single "Lost in Your Eyes." Like Tiffany though, Gibson would continue to make music but not see success again like she did in the late 80s.

Now the two former teen rivals will share the screen together in Mega Python vs. Gatoroid. These films are far from cinematic or special effects excellence. Gibson has already starred in 2009's Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (alongside Lorenzo Lamas) while Tiffany starred in 2010's Mega Piranha (alongside Barry Williams). It was only natural that they would come together for this new project. What could be better than that?

I have to say that I am satisfied just watching the promo the two made which was just released at San Diego Comi-Con. The two 80s pop culture icons battle it out including rubbing cake all over each other. Enjoy it for yourself...

I don't even need to see the movie, that was enough for me. A special thank you to Syfy, Tiffany and Debbie Gibson for fulfilling an 80s fantasy for many.

That's all I have for this short issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on the "Like" button. Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

There is a little known rule that is rarely enforced regarding the use of pine tar on the bat. The rule states "The bat handle, for not more than 18 inches from the end, may be covered or treated with any material (including pine tar) to improve the grip. Any such material, including pine tar, which extends past the 18 inch limitation, shall cause the bat to be removed from the game." In the game in 1983, the Royals were losing by one run to the Yankees with two outs and a runner on first in ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. George Brett stepped to the plate and hit a home run to give the Royals a 5-4 lead.

Brett was a clutch player, but hitting a home run off of Yankees dominant closer Goose Gossage was an unusual event in itself. That was not nearly as odd as what would happen next. Yankees manager Billy Martin would approach home plate umpire (Tim McClelland) and appealed Brett's home run because of how much pine tar was on his bat. The umpire measured the bat against the 17-inch width of home plate and discovered pine tar up to 23 inches from the knob (5 inches further than the rule allowed). He then ruled the home run illegal and the batter out, thus ending the game with the Yankees winning, 4-3.

As the umpire made his ruling, Brett seemingly lost his mind and temper. In a surreal moment with his eyes bugging out and his face red, he charged the field looking to take out his anger on umpire McClelland. Luckily another umpire intercepted Brett and he was prevented from doing something he might later regret. Here is the video footage of the entire event...

The Royals protested the game, and American League president Lee MacPhail upheld the protest, reasoning that Brett's bat should have been excluded from future use but the home run should not have been nullified. Amid much controversy, the game was resumed on August 18 from the point of Brett's home run (with two outs in the 9th inning and the Royals now leading 5-4) Justly, it ended with a Royals win. The bat should have been ejected from the game, not the player. The umpires should have known better and this whole "incident" should've never happened.

I guee that all's well, that ends well. Either way, the footage of the "Pine Tar Incident" is very entertaining and 27 years later is still one of the most unforgettable baseball moments from my lifetime. And yep, you guessed it, it happened back in the 80s.

That'll wrap up this short issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on the "Like" button. Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: Hopefully you follow me @OldSchool80s on Twitter already. I love to see new followers each day. In this cartoon, Pac Man is not so happy to see who he has following him now. He better find a power pellet fast to allow him to turn the tables on these ghosts...

Quote of the day: "Stress is caused by being ‘here' but wanting to be ‘there'." -Eckhart Tolle

Today (July 20, 2010) is the 65^th birthday of singer/song-writer Kim Carnes. Her first album was released back in 1972, but she is best known for her trademark raspy voice and for her 1981 hit song about a certain facial part of a certain actress. The song "Bette Davis Eyes" was actually written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, then recorded by DeShannon back in 1974. It was not until Carnes released her version in 1981 that it became a commercial success. And what a success it was!

The song would spend nine weeks (during May-July of 1981) in the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100. It was the biggest hit of the entire year of 1981 and, according to Billboard, the second biggest hit of the entire 80s decade in the USA (only behind 1980's "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John). The song was even ranked impressively at #12 on Billboard's list of the top 100 songs in the first 50 years of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Not surprisingly, the song won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 1982 Grammys. This week's Flashback Video is "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes...

Bette Davis herself admitted to being a fan of the song and wrote to Carnes after the song was released thanking her and saying she loved the song. She wrote in her memoir, "It was a thrill to become a part of the rock generation." It is reported that Carnes and Davis struck up a special friendship, with the singer visiting Ms. Davis at her home several times until her death in 1989.

Previous to "Bette Davis Eyes," Carnes had a hit duet in 1980 with Kenny Rogers called "Don't Fall In Love With a Dreamer" which ranks on my Top 80s Duets list. In January of 1985, Carnes had the distinction of being on the Billboard Hot 100 with three singles simultaneously with "What About Me" with James Ingram & Kenny Rogers, "Make No Mistake, He's Mine" with Barbra Streisand and "Invitation to Dance" from the soundtrack to the film, That's Dancing! This meant she was on the chart as a solo artist in addition to being part of a duo and a trio all at the same time. Also in 1985, Carnes was invited to perform as part of USA For Africa on the "We Are the World" song. Here's a link to my special issue on that iconic song. She sang in the chorus and shared the last line of the bridge with Huey Lewis and Cyndi Lauper.

Even though the song "Bette Davis Eyes" served to cement Kim Carnes (and Bette Davis) into 80s pop culture history, she also had some other pretty impressive accomplishments during that decade. "And she'll tease you. She'll unease you. All the better just to please you."

That's all for another issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. If you want to see the past issues of Flashback Videos, just type that into the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column and it should give you a list of all of them. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use that Google Search Box to find any past issues or topics you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on the "Like" button. Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". Even though the blog only updates a couple times a week, I try to send out daily 80s tweets. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.