A Match Made In Space
by The Bickersons Family of Podcasts
Ali Goodman and Jon Wolter each spent ages 3 to 13 in the 1980s, about 1,000 miles apart. While there was a lot of cultural overlap, each still has very specific gaps that the other is trying to fill. And you can listen in as two fast talking people who want to be the center of attention decide whether or not their spouse’s childhood memories are even close to accurate. Warning: each episode contains lots of interruptions, lots of verbal tics, a ton of spoilers, the occasional unexplained in-joke, and maybe even a little love.
Episodes
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Episode 69 - The Terminator
In a quasi-triumphant return to the podcasting world, Jon shows Ali 1984’s The Terminator, directed by James Cameron and starring…oh, come on, you know who it stars. Ali is annoyed by the Bootstrap Paradox. Jon is okay with it, but ironically is unduly cranky about telling the story in the right...
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Episode 68 - Fast Times At Ridgemont High
My times at Ridgemont Hight? Fast. Ugh. What even are we doing here? Anyway, Ali shows Jon Fast Times At Ridgemont High, a movie that seems almost impossible for him to have missed, but life is strange that way. Will Jon be able to make room in his heart for a non-Johnny Dangerously Amy…
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Episode 67 - Dune
(1984), that is. Jon shows Ali why the spice must flow in this cult classic directed by the late, great David Lynch. Ali learns how to ride a Maker. Jon learns his name is a killing word. Both learn they must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total...
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Episode 66 - The Heavenly Kid
Hey! We’re back! Keeping the streak sort of alive! This time, it’s Ali showing Jon a movie he mainly knew from comic book ads, 1985’s The Heavenly Kid, starring a bunch of people no one knows and also Jane Kaczmarek and Richard Mulligan! Jon wants to know why everyone in the “late” sixties looks...
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Episode 65 - Batman
This week Ali and Jon look back at Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), the movie that made Robert Wuhl a star(li$$)! It also stars Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, William December Williams, Pat Hingle, Michael Gough, Tracey Walter, Jack Palance, and a little surprise actor returning to MMIS after a long...
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Episode 64 - Night Shift
Jon shows Ali Ron Howard’s kind of de facto debut as a director, if you don’t count some movie from the 70s that I sure don’t because I’m capricious! That’s right, it’s 1982’s Night Shift, which is the de facto debut of Michael Keaton in a starring role, a rare movie lead for Henry WInkler, and...
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A Quasi-Urgent Announcement From the Bickersons Family Of Podcasts
This isn't urgent at all. Just scheduling crap.
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Episode 63 - Mr. Mom
This week’s Michael Keaton movie is 1983’s Mr. Mom, a movie that dares to ask the question “What if a man had to do literally anything to take care of the house and the children?” Jon gets hung up on the almost forgotten phenomenon of Ann Jillian. Ali gets subtly irritated by how much credit Jon...
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Episode 62 - Johnny Dangerously
Jon takes Ali on a trip to gangland in Amy Heckerling’s send up of 30s Gangster movies, Johnny Dangerously! Ali declares fargin’ war for this. Both agree that Michael Keaton looks fetching in his eyeliner. Also: this cast is STACKED.
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Episode 61 - The Sure Thing
Oh lord. We’re back. We miss anything in the last two years? That’s rhetorical. These are show notes. Anyway, Ali shows Jon Rob Reiner’s follow up to This Is Spinal Tap and dry run for When Harry Met Sally, 1985’s The Sure Thing. Ali doesn’t believe Tim Robbins’ character is queer coded. Jon...
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Episode 60 - The Squeeze
Looks like another hiatus is over for at least a week, because the Bickersons are back again and if not better than ever, at least not appreciably worse! This one focuses on a movie from 1987 starring Michael Keaton and Rae Dawn Chong! And also Joey Pants and Meat Loaf! And probably more but I...
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Episode 59 - Evil Dead II
Just in time for Halloween (because we procrastinated like a week) it’s 1987’s Evil Dead 2, directed by Sam Raimi! Will Jon need a hand convincing Ali that this is groovy? Or will it swallow their souls? No, I will not apologize for writing that and yes, this was the first draft. THIS INTERVIEW…
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Episode 58 - Poltergeist II: The Other Side
They’re baaack! And by “they",’ we mean Ali and Jon, watching 1986’s Poltergeist II: The Other Side! Ali just wants The Angel. Jon cahoots with no one. Can both become warriors in time? Who knows? Who cares? Hopefully you, or we’re wasting your time! P2: Judgement Day was directed by Brian Gibson...
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Episode 57 - The Dark Crystal
Apparently it’s International Podcasting Day, which is what Jon is going to pretend is the reason we’re launching a few days late this week and not general bad scheduling. Anyway, we’re celebrating it with a dive into the cool waters of 1982’s The Dark Crystal, co-directed by Frank Oz and Jim...
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Episode 56 - Big Business
This week, Ali shows Jon the greatest 80s French farce. And after they get done watching Noises Off, they watch 1988’s Big Business, directed by Jim Abrahams and starring Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, Lily Tomlin, and Bette Midler! Ali’s a city mouse! Jon’s a country mouse! Both are trapped in a…
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Episode 55 - Lifeforce
OH MY GOD Y’ALL. I DON’T THINK I CAN EVEN WRITE UP ANYTHING. Just listen.
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Episode 54 - Willow
Jon introduces Ali to a world of epic whimsy with 1988’s Willow, a movie that could best be described as “Asylum Pictures Presents: Lord of the Rings.” Ali just wants to get out of her crow cage. Jon stole the baby. Both are a raging Eborsisk of nostalgia. Willow was directed by Ron Howard and...
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Episode 53 - Working Girl
Ok, look: it turns out it’s very hard to get your stuff together during a pandemic, even if you’re both in the same house. Anyway, we finally recorded an episode! And it’s Working Girl, from 1988, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, and a bunch...
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Episode 52 - Robocop
Can you, fly Ali? This episode, Jon shows Ali the classic 1987 action movie/social satire Robocop, directed by Paul Verhoeven. Ali enjoys a rousing game of NUKEM! Jon buys that for a dollar. But will they be able to overcome Directive Four? Either way, dead or alive, you’re coming with them....
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Episode 51 - St. Elmo's Fire
In a fitting tribute to the largely plotless ambling of 1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire, Ali and Jon spend a tremendous amount of time not really talking about anything at all, but they look good doing it. Ali walks right into a terrible joke at the beginning, Jon walks a fine line by making it. Both play...
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Episode 50 - Zero Hour!/Airplane!
Surely this can’t be our 50th Episode? Insert Dadjoke here, while we take the liberty of monkeying with our format mildly to talk about the relationship between the 1957 Canada-centric thriller Zero Hour! and 1980’s disaster spoof Airplane! Will Ali make it 10 minutes without starting to quote…
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Episode 49 - Ghostbusters 2
BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’ BUSTIN’...
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BONUS EPISODE - DRUNK! (With Q&A)
So…this happened. Ali and Jon do an impromptu episode about nothing at all, including some Q’s that they A’d from Twitter. It’s…well, it is what it is. And yes, they drank a lot that night. Everyone’s ok now, though.
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Episode 48 - The Legend Of Billie Jean
We’re finally ringing in the New Year on the verge of February! We recorded this almost a month ago, but Jon took a million years to mix it for no reason! Anyway, we’re back to the pivotal year of 1985 for an almost ur-MMIS experience, The Legend Of Billie Jean! Jon wants a Furiosa Glow-Up. Ali...
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Episode 47 - Return of the Living Dead
Happy SCARE-IDAYS from the SICKERSONS! Ugh, sorry. We had a bad case of Cryptkeeperitis and are just getting over the puns. Anyway, this week Jon exposes Ali to the Trioxin that is Return of the Living Dead from 1985. Jon needs brains. Ali needs more motivation if she’s going to dance naked on a...
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Episode 46 - April Fool's Day
It’s some sort of SPOOKTOBERFEST OF SCARES as Ali shows Jon April Fool’s Day, the first official “horror” movie in MMIS history (assuming we aren’t counting Return To Oz or Girls Just Want To Have Fun). But is it horror? Is it comedy? Is it a soft reboot of Just One Of the Guys? Jon wants to…
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Episode 45 - National Lampoon's VACATION!
The Bickersons found out long ago it’s a long way down nostalgia podcast road. Jon is nimble. Ali is quick. Both take a ride down the West Coast Kick. Okay, that got old fast. Anyway, we didn’t focus on how much of a colossal asshole Chevy Chase is in every waking moment of his life, but assume...
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Episode 44 - The Transformers: The Movie
Who had "Animated Cash-In Licensed Toy Movie" in the "When Is Jon Going To Get Embarrassingly Emotional" pool? You won an extra long episode about 1986's The Transformers: The Movie! Jon has the touch. Ali has the power. When all hell's breaking loose? Where do you think they'll be? TTF:TM stars...
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Episode 43 - Ruthless People
Is it really true that now the Bickersons have done two Bette Midler movies where she plays a character named Barbara? Or for that matter, two Bette Midler movies? Well, here they are, doing Ruthless People! Jon loses 20 pounds chained in a basement. Ali gets in a found object fight in Judge...
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Episode 42 - Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
The Bickersons are back! And you know they can never be wack! And much like that reference, the movie is something no one has thought of since 1985! It's Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (And Also, We Guess, Ends), a failed franchise started by Goldfinger director Guy Hamilton! Jon is the...
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A Brief Announcement and a Song
No Ali this week! No podcast this week! But our son Jackson joins MMIS for a cameo while Jon explains why. Also, from the MMIS vaults, an unreleased song, "The Ballad of MMIS" by friend of the podcast James Murphy of Pex Lives and The Last Exit Show (in which, by the way, Ali's introduction…
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Episode 41 - Down and Out In Beverly Hills
The Bickersons are back and so excited to do this incredibly long episode about 1986's Down and Out In Beverly Hills that they managed to forget the Elevator Pitch! Jon is excited to do an absolutely terrible Nolte impression. Ali is sad about Chicago Theatre news. Both are dismayed at minor...
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Episode 40 - Trading Places
Ali and Jon revisit another classic 80s comedy, 1983's Trading Places. Is it going to be problematic?* Jon attempts to understand how the final plan works. Ali attempts to understand why the 80s still hadn't figured out not to do blackface under any circumstances. Both want eggnog from Denholm...
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Episode 39 - Caveman
Ali nya alunda Jon. Caveman (1981) caca. Ali pooka. Jon macha. Both nya zug-zug. MMIS nya bobo Ringo Starr! Nya bobo Dennis Quaid! Nya bobo Diane Chambers! Nya bobo Dr. Jellif! Nya bobo Sloth!
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Episode 38 - Running On Empty
In what might be a first at MMIS, Ali shows Jon a movie (1988's Running On Empty) that is just legitimately good, with no caveats about cult themes or nostalgia attached, which means they can barely stay on topic throughout. Jon is amazed he sat through a movie without explosions without...
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Episode 37 - They Live
Ali and Jon put on the sunglasses and take a long look at John Carpenter's made-in-1988-but-depressingly-still-applicable anti-Reagan agitprop film, They Live. Jon is here to podcast and chew bubblegum. Ali is all out of bubblegum. Both spend at least 5-1/2 minutes fighting about whether that…
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Episode 36 - Lucas
Ali and Jon are back an on schedule with 1986's tragicomic/dramedic/sadlarious coming of age film, Lucas. Jon is disappointed that it isn't a biopic about the early days of Star Wars. Ali is disappointed that Jon spent the entire move unaware that it starred Corey Haim. Both spend several minutes...
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Episode 35 - Volunteers
2017 was a rotten year, and it gets in a parting shot on Ali and Jon with 1985's Volunteers. Jon can't believe how insane Tom Hanks' lockjaw accent is. Ali can't believe how terrible Jon's New York accent is. No one can believe this is how Hollywood tried to capitalize on Hanks and Candy's...
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Episode 34 - Scrooged
It's a Holiday Miracle: Ali and Jon are back! It's 1988's Scrooged, a Murray Family Extravaganza directed by Richard Donner. Jon may be an undigested bit of beef. Ali? A blot of mustard. At any rate, there's more of gravy than the grave about this podcast. Scrooged stars a metric ton of Murrays,...
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Episode 33 - Just One Of the Guys
The Bickersons barely bicker a bit, son, while watching this 1985 gender-swap teen farce. Ali questions whether this was really a Shakespeare adaptation. Jon questions whether this wasn't really a USA UP ALL NITE movie. Both question whether this film's depiction of gender is or isn't…
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Episode 32 - The 'Burbs
Halloween comes early, as Jon has no concept of timing when he shows Ali 1989's The 'Burbs, from the tail end of the Tom Hanks Is Just a Comedic Actor era. Jon learns mid-show that Henry Gibson already beat him to the Henrik Ibsen joke. Ali learns all about Jon's probably misguided obsession with...
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Episode 31 - The Beniker Gang
The Bickersons are back with the Not At All Fictional Movie, The Beniker Gang! Jon still refuses to believe this is an actual movie, even though Ali insists he saw it. Ali refuses to believe Jon is not a jackass. This movie is actually available on Amazon, despite being a figment of our…
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Episode 30 - Moving Violations
Ali and Jon take a trip down memory lane with the Police Academy's less successful sister film, Moving Violations, starring Bill Murray's brother, Meg Tilly's sister, and Stacey Keach's Brother! Ali's having trouble getting moving in the morning. Jon can't find the beef. Will either of them…
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Episode 29 - Road House
The Bickersons may never be your new regular Saturday night thing, but they are back with 1989's Road House, a movie with more mullets per capita than a hockey camp in 1992. Ali realizes it's the same shit in a different location. Jon knows that pain don't hurt. But can they get out from under…
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Bonus Episode - Postcards From the Edge
Ali and Jon decided to ring out 2016 by discussing a movie written by the incomparable, much missed Carrie FIsher. It's not from the 80s, technically, but this is our podcast, and we can do what we want. As mentioned at the end of the podcast, if you're in a giving mood, feel free to check out…
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Episode 28 - Baby Boom
Once again Ali and Jon fail to capitalize on any sort of momentum and/or holiday synergy by just doing a random 80s movie after another month off! In this case, it's the very Baby-Boomeresque Baby Boom, from 1987, a movie that Wikipedia claims "debuted strongly on VHS" [citation needed]. Jon…
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Episode 27 - Major League
Just in time for Thanksgiving, but far too late for a baseball-themed episode to be relevant, Ali and Jon have decided to return with a surprisingly long discussion about 1989's Major League! Jon is penitent about his failed original movie choice. Ali is defiant in her aversion to Tom Berenger's...
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Episode 26 - Troop Beverly Hills
Sorry for the lateness - this was recorded 2 weeks ago, but Jon totally screwed up and never prepared it to post. But maybe it will be worth the wait? We may never know. At any rate, Ali and Jon are down and out enough to watch Troop Beverly Hills, more or less the final nail in the coffin of...
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Episode 25 - Revenge of the Nerds
TRIGGER WARNING: EVERYTHING. Ali and Jon celebrate their 25th episode by nearly breaking themselves with 1984's smash hit Revenge of the Nerds, a slobs-vs.-slobs "comedy" that forgets to do things like "be funny," "make people laugh," or "have basic human decency." Jon faces the nameless dread of...
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Episode 24 - Blade Runner
In an episode destined to be considered either a visionary masterpiece or a long, boring, self-important wank, Ali and Jon take on Ridley Scott's 1982's seminal sci-fi noir classic, Blade Runner. Jon attempts to build a better life on the Offworld Colonies. Ali just wants him to vanish like tears...
About this show
Ali Goodman and Jon Wolter each spent ages 3 to 13 in the 1980s, about 1,000 miles apart. While there was a lot of cultural overlap, each still has very specific gaps that the other is trying to fill. And you can listen in as two fast talking people who want to be the center of attention decide whether or not their spouse’s childhood memories are even close to accurate. Warning: each episode contains lots of interruptions, lots of verbal tics, a ton of spoilers, the occasional unexplained in-joke, and maybe even a little love.
Hosted by
The Bickersons Family of Podcasts