Cultural Futures Exchange

Prepare for battle because this week CFX is waging another album war episode. And, this time, the stakes are high because we are covering one of the great geniuses of popular music, Joni Mitchell. Joni was already one of the most talented and innovative musicians ever, with her multilayered chords, unprecedented use of alternate tunings, her insane vocal range and brilliant lyricism when, in 1971, she cranked things up a notch and released Blue, which blew (get it!?) everyone away. This album was not only the most personal and raw confessional singer songwriter albums of the time, but it still holds that position today. And, she continued to innovate to the point where in 1974, she released another watershed album, Court and Spark. This album featured a full band, jazz virtuosos, the LA Express, and more elaborate orchestral accompaniment and even more sophisticated arrangements. Lyrically, it was still confessional but expanded on this and continued Joni’s story. Jeff thinks that Blue will never be surpassed and he argues that in this episode, starting with the tumultuous relationships and Joni’s many travels that led to its striking (and now legendary) songs. Slip prefers Court and Spark and he argues that it surpasses Blue in some ways and showcases more of Joni’s talents for composition and arrangement. Slip also tries to fit an extra tribute to The Hissing of Summer Lawns (his favorite Joni album). You can decide who wins after the smoke clears (and because it’s Joni Mitchell, a new inductee into the CFX Super Smoker Hall of Fame, there’s a LOT of smoke!) Of course, we also can’t help but get a bit gossipy since all of these songs are about the various famous relationships that inspired these songs. We go into the history and try to piece together the stories of the songs and, as usual, along the way, we learn… Why Joni should have titled her third album Dudes of the Canyon What’s Slip’s beef with Jackson Browne (calm down, man… ) What John Lennon thought of Court and Spark What future famous artist and Joni fan was branded a stalker by Joni’s management What is the massive flaw of Court and Spark How Jeff managed to get a Steely Dan Easter egg into this episode Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX takes on one of Jeff’s favorite movies, the 1985 comedy Real Genius. Featuring a very young Val Kilmer, Real Genius does some of the same classic tropes as other teen comedies of the day, and it may break the record for the “most montages in a single film”, but it really is a cut above other similar movies of its time. Not only does it stand out for the way it depicts college life at a very exclusive scientific institution, but also excels in its satirization of the 1980s military industrial complex and its exploitation of science for nefarious ends. The movie is also is full of quotable dialog and memorable scenes and has a twist ending that has to be seen to be believed. We both have a bit of history with the film, which we discuss, and we talk about the whole zeitgeist of 1980s films that deal with science and technology (such as War Games - which we discussed at length in episode 41 - check it out!). We also do a complete walk-through of the film and we might have even got a little too detailed since this is our longest episode ever! And, as usual, along the way we learn… Who is the real-life Laszlo Hollyfield What scene has haunted Slip for all these years What does it mean for a screenplay to get BABALOOED How does a little known, crackpot philosophy called aesthetic realism lead to one of the most insane moments in CFX history Why Michelle Meyrink is probably happy she left Hollywood before digital cameras became mainstream Why it sucked to be a guy at CalTech in the 1980’s How getting the technical details right really matters Why math on tape is hard to follow Why number 2 is one thing we’re not taking And, finally, we continue the “who else dated Cher” game Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

To celebrate the holidays and ring in the new year CFX is rolling it all out: Songs! Elaborate Dance Routines! Corny Banter! Skits! Sketches! Disco! Ice Skating! Washed up old celebrities! Sid and Marty Kroft! Fred Silverman! Uncle Milty’s schlong! The 70s! That’s right, the CFX Holiday 2025 70s Variety Show Spectacular is here. In this episode, we wipe away the cobwebs on what essentially is an extinct TV show phenomenon, focusing on four shows in particular: two that were very successful and two that were generally recognized as fiascos. We find out why this type of show was at once so popular but then seemed to die at the end of the decade. Where other once popular phenomena such as the Western and the Musical, have come back over the years, the Variety Show, despite some valiant attempts, seems pretty much dead in the dirt. Why the fuck is that? Well, we’ll tell you and, along the way, we’ll learn… What was the recurring Variety Show sketch that a young Eddie Vedder sang along with every night Which ‘70s celebrity didn’t date Cher (we still don’t know) Which ‘80s rock guitarist was too ashamed to admit he played on a Donnie Osmond album Who made up the cast of the lost, all gay ‘70s Wizard of Oz remake What 70’s variety show was widely considered to be one of the worst things ever to air on TV Why Jerry Lewis was even less funny than you remember The depths of hell Jeff is willing to endure in order to entertain our “fan” in revisiting a reviled and horrific musical duo And, finally, we have a visit from a wizened special guest who brings some holiday cheer and advice both romantic and hygienic Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

Q: Are we not men? A: We are DEVO! With that simple question, the world was introduced to one of the strangest, most unique, innovative and irreverent music/art projects of all time.. DEVO! So, put on your hazmat suit, monkey mask and don that energy dome, because this week your resident CFX spud boys, Sloppy Slip Tomato and Booji Boy Jeff, immerse themselves into the world of DEVO, covering the band from their humble, suburban beginnings in Akron, Ohio to the shootings at Kent State that first inspired the concept of “De-evolution” and their early experimental electronic years terrifying audiences with sights and sounds no one had ever heard before. We cover the influence that punk had on the band on their first, high energy albums to the streamlining and mainstreaming of their sound that resulted in some commercial success and then their gradual fall from grace. We also cover, in a twist ending that would make M. Night Shyamalan jealous, a very peculiar deviation (DEVO-iation?) late in the band’s career that the recent authorized documentary completely skips (and we’ll tell you why we think that is). We evaluate and rank all the albums and some of our opinions may not be what you expect. In the end, we decide, if all of this evolution and de-evolution will stand the test of time, and, as usual, along the way, we learn… How many different ways you can pronounce “Casale” and “Mothersbaugh” What song has Devo made the most money from over the years (it’s not what you think) Which host had long ago misheard the lyrics to “It’s Not Right” turning an average Devo deep cut into a CFX moment. What Neil Young, Pee Wee Herman, David Bowie, and movie director PT Anderson all had in common What is the source of one of the most epic, butthurt rants in CFX history And, finally if Devo was indeed the sound of sexual frustration set to synth music Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

This week CFX goes on the lam riding shotgun with that ragtag squad of noble ex-Special Forces mercenaries, The A-Team. One of the most popular shows of the 1980s, The A-Team combined ridiculously over the top action,broad comedy and larger than life characters into a “must see” TV formula that couldn’t fail…until it did. We go into the backstory of each of the characters and the actors who played them. We talk about the phenomenon that was Mr. T aka B.A. Baracus-–the cartoons, the breakfast cereals, the rapping!  We go into what can only be described as the dark background and questionable character of George Peppard aka Hannibal (aka “Handibal”). We talk about Murdoch and actor Dwight Schultz’s many, often suspiciously mysterious, impersonations. We talk about Dirk Benedict aka Face and how many things the actor and character had in common.  We even take a massive detour down the rabbit hole of creator Steven J. Cannell’s oeuvre - the Cannellverse…B.A. Baracus would say we were really “on the jazz” with this episode. But most importantly, does the A-Team’s plan come together when it comes to standing the test of time or is it just a whole lot of “Jibba Jabba”. We find out and also learn… Which cast member and his creepy black gloves struck terror into female cast members and guest stars Which cast member really had something against trees yet was amazingly generous and gentle with seriously ill children What amazing episode of the series features the most interesting man in the world Who CJ Mack was, and his list of crimes that were committed while “not on drugs!” Which 80’s pop icon showed some rowdy hillbillies how to soft rock Which racist Hannibal Smith disguises amazed Slip the most, and how they rank in the recent cultural history About Jeff’s best (low bar!) impression since Tattoo in Episode 23: Fantasy Island And, finally, we hear about how Slip hung out with one of the most ubiquitous, “that guy!” actors in TV and movie history (ok, he just met him at a pizza joint…) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

We know what you’re thinking… PLATE OF SHRIMP! Are we right? That’s crazy, but since the fabric of the universe is just a lattice of coincidences, it’s only right that just when you were thinking that, CFX decided to cover Alex Cox’s 1984 film Repo Man, a satirical, punk rock, sci fi cult classic that would influence a whole generation of independent film. We talk about how this all came to be, the real life repo story, the casting, the cars, the aliens, the punk rock criminals, and, lest we forget, the REPO CODE. In fact, we do a walkthrough of the entire film including everything from the toppling Ralph’s plain wrap peaches of the Pick ‘n’ Pack to televangelist worshipping hippie burnouts to deadly scooter riding ska gangs to that extraterrestrial Chevy Malibu. We finally decide if the whole thing holds up, and along the way, we learn… Which CFX co-star’s wife effectively hacked this episode Who was never called an asshole How little Alex Cox knows about typical Mexican men’s names Which cast member insisted on using a real baseball bat during a fight scene If a lot of straight guys like to watch their buddies fuck The differences between Repo Men and regular people Why Slip was so surprised we did this episode If somebody peed on the floor…AGAIN! And, finally....what's the perfect thing to say when someone turns down one's romantic overtures Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

This week CFX switches gears to evaluate the pop culture impact of the world’s most innovative maker of toilets, the Japanese company, Toto LTD.  Just kidding! We are of course talking about the band Toto. Started in the late ‘70s by a bunch of San Fernando Valley high school friends who also happened to be some of the most accomplished studio musicians in the world, Toto would peak in 1982, creating one of the biggest selling albums of that year in Toto IV, and, arguably, one of the most popular songs of all time in “Africa”. They won every Grammy in sight and then played a huge part in the recording of THE biggest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The members of Toto would split their time between the band and continued session work for just about every major artist in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s and beyond. That said, we’re not going to focus on the session work other than in passing. No, this week CFX puts the entire discography of Toto under the Evaluato-scope and we decide whether it has and will continue to “rise like Olympus above the Serengeti” or “become frightened by this thing” they’ve become. We decide that, and along the way we also learn… Which member of the band is most likely to sell you cocaine or a bag of Taco flavored Doritos How Toto once crossed the Alan Parsons Project with Dokken to create a song that nobody listened to Why listening to Toto made Slip realize he was really too hard on Billy Joel (in Episode 3: Glass Houses) Which musicians Steve Lukather thinks are really “great cats” and who he is “still really good friends with to this day” (i.e everybody except Rivers Cuomo) Why a band with faces made for radio, and who hated making music videos, wound up making so many of them Which member of the band turned a geographic exotica-inspired fantasy wank in a public library into one of the most popular songs/videos in history How Toto’s not-so-great looks led to an all-time funny burn from Jeff’s wife Why it's not only Toto's fault that dance fighting got "fucked out" Why Cynthia Rhodes still has PTSD from the making of the Rosanna music video (Hint: It’s related to Bobby Kimball’s offensive mustache)  Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

This week CFX covers one of the most popular OLD movies ever, Grease. This classic 1970s/1950s musical about a bunch of high school SENIORS, with its mix of fun musical frivolity and MATURE subject matter, seems to have AGED well....or has it? We do the usual..going into the whole 1970s/1950s nostalgia that birthed the original stage show and eventually, thanks to the growing popularity of actor John Travolta, led to the blockbuster film and soundtrack, a worldwide phenomenon. We also do a walkthrough of the entire film, adding in bits of trivia along the way, and, as you might imagine a few jokes at the expense of the cast, who, let’s face it, are the OLDEST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EVER. We also talk about the social issues that Grease so obviously does and does not address and whether any of that matters. And, as usual, along the way, we learn… What the word, the time, the place and the notion are How the main premise of the movie make no logical sense whatsoever Who Olivia Newton John’s grandfather was (Hint: One of the most important scientists of the 20th century) What the term “false alarm” meant in the 1950s Why a muscular, handsome football star is more pitiful than the school’s quintessential nerd How not to be a high school guidance counselor Which character is so fat it’s hard to believe What saran wrap was actually used for back in the day Why Rizzo was actually cool and Sandy….well, maybe not How this supposedly kid-friendly movie was secretly pretty dirty…   Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

This week CFX takes you back to a simpler time, a time when bionically enhanced astronauts and former tennis pros saved the world from Bigfoot, aliens, Russian death probes and evil "robuts"—all while wearing fashion tracksuits and the finest fashions that the Sears Roebuck catalog had to offer. And doing it all in beautiful slow motion! That’s right, this week we are covering the very popular and successful mid-1970s show The Six Million Dollar Man and also a bit of its just as successful spinoff, The Bionic Woman.  Not only were these shows at the top of the Nielsen charts, but they were also the first shows to really get merchandising right. Partnering with Kenner toys they released a series of action figures that were not only the best selling toys of their day but also influenced all of the merchandising that came after, most notably Star Wars (though whether that’s a good thing is debatable). But as popular and influential as the show was at the time, how does it hold up now? Will the show’s reputation continue to grow bigger, stronger, faster or is it just barely alive? We find out and, as usual, along the way, we learn: Why you can name drop real life people in a fictional TV show, but naming geographical formations is a no go What show that featured a “gorgeous” Six Million Dollar Man guest star had even more legendary opening credits Which not-so-famous and not-so-talented “singer” guest stars in the second worse episode of the series How Mr. Hand makes TV history The ideal double feature at your local gay porn theater What Washington DC and Southern California have in common landscape-wise…(hint: NOTHING) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

Well, we know where we’re going and we know where we have been. It may seem like we were on a road to nowhere with Talking Heads Part 1 since it’s been a while, but the future is certain because here we are with Part 2. We start things off with a bang, with 1980’s Remain in Light and then cover the Talking Heads’ most commercially successful years including their landmark concert film, Stop Making Sense. Then we cover their detour into commercial, American-influenced pop on albums such as LIttle Creatures and True Stories and end with their adventurous final album, Naked. We continue our evaluation from part 1 and things get a little contentious as we disagree (slightly) on what truly was the band’s artistic peak and, as usual, along the way, we learn… Who was more sophisticated musically, Bach or The Talking Heads (ok, it’s Bach) How much of a prima donna Brian Eno was during this time Why we are changing the name of the podcast to the Cultural Funk Exchange Which member of the band thinks he came up with every idea Finally we take a look at these hands and figure out who's a tumbler Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

This ain’t no party. This ain’t no disco. This ain’t no foolin’ around. This is CFX. Episode 56: Talking Heads and we get so “lovey dovey” that “we ain’t got time for that now”. That’s right,  we had to split this into two parts. In this first part, we go into our personal histories, the zeitgeist that created Talking Heads and a detailed history of the band. We also cover the bands’ 1970s albums, Talking Heads ‘77, More Songs about Buildings and Food, and Fear of Music. We take you on a journey from the galleries of the Rhode Island School of Design to the rat-infested industrial lofts of the boweries and the early days of CBGBs to the exotic Compass Point Studios in Nassau where the band started their collaboration with Brian Eno that would culminate in…well, that’s in Part 2. But as usual, we decide if this music and the band as a whole stand the test of time or whether “they are talking a lot” “but not saying anything”, and, along the way, we learn… Why the drummer is always smiling What utensil Lou Reed used to eat a pint of Haagen Dazs ice cream. Which member of the band did a performance art piece that involved shaving off his beard using beer foam as shaving cream Which member of the band has “science hair” Why the Ramones had a sudden need for Carbona Spot Remover Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

Alright, internet! How y’all doing out there? You wanted the best and you got the best…stage banter that is. That’s right, this week we take a look at the best and worst stage banter in history for the first (and maybe only… we’ll see…) time. There’s no Grammy award for best stage banter and we attempt to rectify this grave oversight as a quasi-awards show that I guess you can call THE BANTIES! We start way back in the past and cover all the way to the present day. We cover the most skilled practitioners, the true giants of this often overlooked art form. And we cover those who might want to skip the talk and just get on with the damned song. And, as usual, along the way, we learn… How to properly introduce your band after 5 hits of acid Why the laser pointer is probably the most important technical innovation in the history of stage banter Why too much Newcastle Brown Ale may be the best way to defeat Satan  Why political stage banter is always such a bummer How to get around having your stash taken from you by your wife/manager How (not) to organically incorporate the city your band is playing into your banter Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

Are you there Judy? It’s us, CFX, and this week we are here to ask you, when will we grow? Haha, all kidding aside. That’s right, we are covering the great Judy Blume, an author who has influenced several generations with her frank, honest and realistic books for kids and young adults. We go into her history, highlighting a few of the books that are both her most notable and also most controversial. Of course, we talk about Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret, Blume’s breakthrough and most famous book and we also touch on the recent film adaptation. We cover the followup to that book, Then Again, Maybe I Won’t, Blume’s one stab at dealing with teenage boys. We talk about Blubber, probably one of the darkest books not only on childhood but on human nature. And, how could we do an episode on Blume without covering her most banned book, Forever…, possibly the first book to depict first time sex from a female perspective? We also talk about how Blume is not only a writer but an anti-censorship champion and how she went above and beyond to correspond with thousands of kids who looked up to her for guidance. In this episode, we really go out of our way to tackle Blume’s work with a mature and academic approach or… then again, MAYBE WE DON’T. As you’ve come to expect, while we respect these books, we also have a lot of fun with them, and along the way, we learn… What male body part should not be covered in aftershave Which of our podcast hosts didn’t actually learn anything from Blubber What a nymphomaniac is and how it nearly got a 19 year old B. Dalton bookstore employee fired Why Slip never had a wet dream What medical condition led to Jeff’s biggest sound FX fail yet How Slip, momentarily, became cool via literature and liberal parenting Note: Apologies for the shitty sound as we had a microphone technical failure at the CFX studios :(  Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.  

Dearly beloved CFX fans, we are gathered here today to evaluate this thing called Purple Rain. Will it stand the test of time forever or just a mighty long time…well, we’re here to tell U. That’s right, we evaluate the film, the music and the artist (thankfully known as Prince which is good because I don’t know how to print that damned symbol…). What about the movie? Should U “dig” the picture or “smash” it? Is the music “sheer perfection” or is there “something wrong with the machinery”? Is Prince a genius, a “Messiah”, something “that we’ll never comprehend”? We go all the way back to the beginning, from Prince’s troubled childhood in Minneapolis, to his slow rise in crossover popularity that eventually led to his commercial (and probably artistic peak) in the 1984 film and album Purple Rain. We also discuss the aftermath of his career and discuss whether Prince was a musical genius or just really talented. Let us guide U and, hopefully, along the way, U will also learn… Who “Darling Nikki” is and what inspired Prince to name his lead actress Apollonia How to commandeer an official university vehicle so you and your friends can go see the Prince concert How Slip’s concert dance moves inspired deep admiration (ok…more like laughter) Who was the unlikely inspiration for Purple Rain’s iconic theme song Which Jim Henson creation film critic Vincent Canby compared Prince to in his less than favorable review of the film Who the real star of Purple Rain was…and it wasn’t Prince…. And, finally, how Siskel and Ebert covered their boners with....humanity… Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

When we first came up with the concept of the show, namely leveraging our pop cultural expertise to put cultural artifacts under the CFX microscope to see if they will stand the test of time, the short lived early ‘80s sitcom, Bosom Buddies, was one of the first shows we both thought of covering. Well, in episode 52, we do just that. We dig into not only the production history of the show, the before and after careers of all cast members, including the conspicuously successful Tom Hanks, but also the rich tradition of cross dressing as a plot point both in comedy and drama, going all the way back to Shakespeare and beyond. See, it's all perfectly normal.... Is this show an underappreciated classic full of edgy satire or just another hackneyed sitcom full of tired plots and well-worn comedy tropes? We answer this question by analyzing every single episode of the show and then “speak our minds” to decide if this short lived show deserved “a second chance” or if we should tell the show’s creators and actors to “keep it yourself”! And, as usual, along the way, we learn… Who is the one major cast member who didn’t appear on The Love Boat How a very stoned Martin Scorcese may have stolen the plot of one of the episodes for one of this best films How Billy Joel and Stephanie Mills taught Slip a very painful lesson about karma How Buffy and Hildy, Kip and Henry’s brothers, are from Saskatchewan, Canada while Kip and Henry are from Shaker Heights, OH… How the coffee shop at the Susan B Anthony Hotel for Women is the hippest, most happening place in all of NYC…maybe even all of the USA What it means to be a sitcom art critic What "horrible" CFX legend and poo bomb victim was wearing Donna Dixon's pink chiffon outfits before she ran off with Dan Aykroyd And, finally, the lengths one will go through to avoid being sued by Gary Gygax  Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX covers Warren Zevon, an artist that the general public, if they’ve heard of him at all, usually think of as a one hit wonder and associate him with one that song, “Werewolves of London”. As great as that song may be, CFX, as you’ve come to expect, digs deeper to discover the real Warren Zevon, the oftentimes frustratingly brilliant and brilliantly frustrating songwriter and musician’s musician who went from childhood classical prodigy to ‘60s flame out to the peak of popularity and critical acclaim in the late ‘70s, all to have it go up in flames in one of the most alcohol soaked, debauched and drugged out careers the world has ever seen (and the world has seen a lot of them)! In the end, he “stood in the fire” (to quote him) only to be defeated by cancer. But he didn’t even let that stop him, keeping his sardonic sense of humor and incomparable wit and insight intact until the end. But what can CFX say about the prospects of an artist who most people haven’t heard of? Will his work stand the test of time? We go into his unbelievable story and evaluate the highs and lows of his long career, and, as usual, we learn… How many times it’s possible to fail rehab Where are the best and worst places to hide your empty vodka bottles What is the best opening line of a song ever Why you should be careful of those Hawaiian hotel employees What is JEFFCORE? How not to treat Jackson Browne And, finally, lyrical ruminations describing chronic incontinence problems of the elderly Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Part 2 picks up right where we left off on Part 1, by tackling the post-Moving Pictures journey of our Canuck music heroes. They’ve just experienced their greatest commercial success (artistic as well, at least according to CFX) to date and ready to fire the up the synths for some emotion transmission on 1982’s Signals. How do the next 11 albums over 30 years of the band’s studio recording history go down? Are they cool with their rapidly growing, hard-won, post-Moving Pictures fan base? Or will they be cast out? We cover it all, have major disagreements agreements along the way, and learn: How not to make music videos What famous drummer (ok, look-alike) starred in the Subdivisions video How disco might have been Rush’s secret weapon What happens when Neil Peart and Jeff go head-to-head in a lyric writing contest How everyone is entitled to Geddy’s opinion Why Big Money has no soul And, finally, how exactly, abnormal shapes and forms contribute to life in two dimensions becoming a mass production scheme Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

ATTENTION PLANETS OF THE SOLAR FEDERATION! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL! WE HAVE ASSUMED CONTROL! That's right, eh! This is the big one, episode 50, and so, it's time to grab a Molson Golden, don that kimono, and tuck into some poutine, because CFX are covering one of the all time greats, Canadian rock gods, RUSH. This is an episode so huge and magnificent, that we couldn't do it in one go, but had to split it in two. That's right, for a total of 5+ hours, we dive into the history, zeitgeist and take on the whole discography of these virtuosic prog wizards from the Great White North. In part 1, we chart the rise of the band, from their humble beginnings as heavy riff rockers to hash oil imbibing prog rockers to multi-platinum FM radio rulers. RUSH are great, we all know that, but how well do they stack up really? In the first part, we cover everything from the early days of the band with drummer John Rutsey before Neil "The Professor" Peart would blow everyone away with his Objectivist philosophical beliefs and superhuman drumming all the way to the band's megablockbuster Moving Pictures album (in part 2, we'll cover the rest). We decide if the band really does mold a new reality or if their music is just a silly whim (that doesn't fit the plan). And, along the way, as you've come to expect, we also learn... What rush song nerds listen to to get "in the mood" How to pronounce Alex's real last name (actually, we could never figure that out) What band wouldn't allow Rush to have a soundcheck and, let's face it, were total hoseheads What cartoon character did critics say Geddy Lee sang like What was the most difficult album to record? The easiest? And the most hash-influenced? How your esteemed hosts rank the albums of this era And, finally, will we be dining on honeydew or will this episode end in Tears… Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Teen archetypes! Melodramatic method-inspired soliloquies! Stepford Wives teen makeovers! Flaring nostrils! Hairy butt loving sportos! Quarterflash sound-alikes! And, who could forget… Neo-Nazi Zoom DWEEBIES?! If you’re wondering what we’re talking about, you’ve obviously never seen the 1985 classic John Hughes film, The Breakfast Club! We were bound to get to this one sooner or later and this week we do, diving into the history and zeitgeist of this film and deciding whether it is indeed one of the great and enduring teen-centered films ever made or if we should just ignore the advice of Simple Minds and just FORGET ABOUT IT. We also have some fun talking about which of the teen archetypes we most resembled (it’s not hard to guess… we’re looking at you, Brian Johnson) and go through a meticulous walk-through of just about every detail and event of the film, and, as you’ve come to expect, we also learn… What the Brat Pack was and what a Rat Pack version of this film might be like Who originally was cast as rebel John Bender and what physical characteristic led to Judd Nelson getting the part Which of your CFX hosts also took shop and how he messed up his project worse than Brian About Jeff’s foreign film movie career starring alongside of Molly Ringwald and Patrick Dempsey Which character was probably most interested in what, besides Bender’s weed, was in Johnson’s underwear How to not fake being stoned What happens when you mess with the bull… Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX takes on the short-lived cult sci-fi show, Firefly. We dive into the history of the show, explore its eleven TV episodes and the 2005 fan-driven film Serenity to decide whether this oddball mix of western and space opera is “shiny” or just a whole lot of “Fei-oo”. What about this show made fans dress in space cowboy outfits, speak bad Chinese to each other, serenade Renaissance Faire crowds with Firefly-inspired ballads, and finally wage an internet battle against the evil Hollywood “alliance” to save their show? Will CFX join in the rebellion by proclaiming Firefly as the greatest show that never was or try to “take the sky” from all of these dedicated fans by pointing out that maybe this is just Star Wars meets Battlestar Galactica meets The A-Team and Have Gun WIll Travel? You may be surprised, and, as usual, along the way, you’ll learn… What Simon and Simon and Simon LeBon have to do with this saga How NOT to speak Chinese Who didn’t cry when Wash died What it means to be a "good" smuggler How to conduct business as a space prostitute What it takes to be lured away from Klingon fandom And finally, the fan favorite liaison that had us headed to our bunks with Jayne Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX tackles one of the most popular and controversial books of all time, J.D. Salinger’s 1951 coming of age novel The Catcher in the Rye. This is a book that nearly everyone has read and we talk about how the book affected us when we read it as teenagers and how we view it now. We got into Salinger’s incredible life story, including his harrowing experiences in World War 2 and how his experiences influenced his writing and his difficult relationship with success  eventually led him to live life as a recluse and to stop publishing altogether. And, more importantly, we decide if this novel really knocks us out, really kills us, if you know what we mean, or is just phony and corny.  And, as usual, along the way, we also learn… Why Jeff’s favorite character in the novel is (good ol’) Edgar Marsala   Why Salinger might have identified with the more perverted residents at the Edmont Hotel What famous actor wanted to adapt the book and play Holden himself even though he was a 40 year old man (actually, we forget to include this fact but it’s JERRY LEWIS!)  What a butt-twitcher is and why we care How Paul Stanley’s hairy chest plays into the story And finally, will we be able to get past all that David Copperfield shit and channel our inner Stradlater to give Jane Gallagher the time or will we regress to our outer Ackley kid and get punched in the gut by Maurice the pimp?   Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX celebrates St. Patrick’s Day by covering the greatest Irish band in history, Thin Lizzy! And if you consider that to be a controversial statement, we understand because as great as Thin Lizzy were, they weren’t nearly as popular as they should have been. Why weren’t they absolutely huge? Why wasn’t Phil Lynott, their charismatic leader and brilliant songwriter and bassist, a household name? Why did American FM radio barely play them? We dig into the band’s troubled history and do an analysis of their very interesting discography. We talk about the innovative twin guitar attack that spawned a thousand bands, Lynott’s poetic lyrics and brilliant storytelling, and what’s got to be the most under-appreciated drumming of all time. We talk about all the sex and we talk about all the drugs. This is a tragic story, but is there a happy CFX evaluation in the end? We decide that, and, as usual, along the way, we also learn… How tough does a town have to be to have more than one jail? What the deal is with ‘70s rock stars and their obsession with buffaloes? Why Dean Martin may be the new Steely Dan of CFX How does one get chocolate stains on one’s pants? Why Phil Lynott missed his chance to write 70’s sitcom theme songs Finally, are there any “gurls” who want a little more Irish in them? (Asking for a friend) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week, the power of CFX compels you to listen to our second Satanic episode in a row! That’s right, for Episode 45, we take on 1973 horror classic, The Exorcist! Is this the greatest, most shocking horror film ever made or just a pile of pea soup colored puke? We answer this by digging into every detail of the incredible story of how this film was made, its impact at then and whether it still stands the test of time. And, as always, along the way, we also learn…. Which CFX host has something creepy in common with Rick Springfield, Rick James and CFX alumnus Neil Giraldo. What William Friedkin would do on set to get the best performances from his cast How Mercedes McCambridge prepared for her role as Pazuzu What words Jeff used to make the Ouija board spell out back in the day (and no it wasn’t Steely Dan Rules!) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX takes on the whole idea of Satanic music and the phenomenon of backmasking. Are rock artists intentionally hiding secret Satanic messages that are only revealed when the record is played backwards? And can our subconscious minds pick up on these messages somehow when the records are played forwards? We do a deep dive into the whole history of backmasking, the origins of Satan and God and all that and, of course, we got all the facts right because “we did our own research”! At any rate, join us for a fun, stupid episode where we make fun of some seriously stupid shit and, as usual, along the way, we learn… How batshit crazy legendary heavy metal musician Dave Mustaine is now Why you should never go near your fundamentalist Christian neighbor’s tool shed What Satan has in common with Perry Mason How the Satanic metal band Venom once outdid Weird Al Yankovic at musical comedy How Iron Maiden contributed to fun with a Rasta spoof about Idi Amin...   Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

We’re back! And, this week, we take on the short-lived landmark cult comedy show, Strangers With Candy. This is an episode that really demonstrates, perhaps more than any other we have done, how the prospects of a CFX artifact can change so quickly. This show is only just a little over 20 years old and yet times have changed so dramatically, we can’t imagine it being made today. This is dark satire that crosses more than a few lines, but it also was ahead of its time in a way that makes it relevant today. It’s gross, edgy, provocative, controversial, full of memorable performances and at times, extremely funny. But does it stand the test of time? We find out and along the way, we also learn… About the true story of a reformed junkie and hooker that inspired this show Why you wouldn’t want to be stranded in the desert with Amy Sedaris Who Roberto Gari is and why he might be the best silent comedian since Charlie Chaplin How Arnold Schwarzenegger welcomed Chris Pratt to the family. How it must be nice to hope for the thing you wish to want Why you’ll never think of the “liberty bell” in the same way after listening to this episode Why does your finger smell like his ass? What poetry should really be about About what could have been one of the best "presidential" video games ever…

  Proud Mary! Lodi! Bayous! Prince Valiant Hairdos! Flannel! Lawsuits! Self-plagiarism! That’s right, this week, there’s a whole lotta chooglin’ goin’ on as CFX takes on Creedence Clearwater Revival, the short-lived, but critically and popularly acclaimed rock band helmed by American icon, John Fogerty. Is this band really all that great and does their music stand the test of time? Can we even call CCR a band? We get to the bottom of all that, diving into the history, the myth, the zeitgeist and our personal CCR stories. And, as always, along the way, we also learn… What was that noise coming from Doug Clifford’s hotel room How John Fogerty financed three best picture winners and the most successful film trilogy of all time and yet has nothing to show for it Why Ike Turner was even scarier than you might think How CCR inspired Jeff's first Dr Demento parody submission What John Fogerty thought of hippie bands like the Grateful Dead What poignant advice Jeff has for Stephen Stills How John Fogerty showed his a-hole bandmates what’s up at the HOF Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Do you want to play a game? Let’s play… Global… Thermonuclear… War. That’s right, this week CFX takes on the classic 1983 technological thriller, WarGames, the film that introduced most of the world to a new kind of hero/villain, the “hacker”. But we put kind of a different spin on things as we also include quite a bit of discussion of a real life case of hacking as described in Cliff Stoll’s 1989 best seller, The Cuckoo’s Egg. We talk about our favorite and least favorite aspects of the film, how well it not only mirrors reality but how well it has stood the test of time, and also our personal histories with not only the film but with computers in the time period in which the film takes place. And, along the way, we also learn… How to tell the difference between a “super” nerd, a “weird” nerd and a standard nerd. How to properly butter a raw ear of corn. What real life computer guru appeared in the nude in is his own biopic. About another extremely dumb password cracking trope Why it’s a poor idea to bring an alleged spy into the command center for the US nuclear arsenal What pissing on a spark plug actually did to one shocked farm boy And of course…who first suggested the idea of asexual reproduction…. Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX takes on Out of the Cellar, the 1984 debut of hair metal icons Ratt. We do our usual dive into band history, influences, our personal histories, but then we take on this would be classic track by track and decide whether you should come “back for more” or flee the “scene of the crime”. Does the album stand the test of time or the band as a whole or neither or both? And, of course, as usual, along the way, we learn… Why… well, we’ll tell you why… DIG. How Stephen Pearcy went from Prince-like “new wave pirate” to washed up piece of beef jerky Whether Warren DeMartini is a underappreciated guitar god or a faceless Eddie Van Halen clone How many adverbs you can shove into a single line of a song What sort of trees Ratt spent a lot of time shaking Why Robin Crosby should not give lessons on making PSAs What the Bobby Blotzer’s Ratt Experience is about, and how it’s one of the worst things ever Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

He is known by many names: Don, Slip’s dad, Uncle Donnie, Brother, Papa Don, HB Ol’ Dude and Mr. Bitchin’ to name a few, but to all who knew him he was known as one of the smartest, funniest and friendliest guys ever. He passed away this year and instantly the world became a less awesome place. We couldn’t NOT do a show on Don, so this week CFX pays tribute to this great man by going over his life, specifically highlighting the pop cultural artifacts that meant a lot to him but also his son, who wouldn’t be co-hosting this show if not for his father’s influence and guidance. If you want to skip this one, that’s up to you. If you knew him, then you should know this isn’t some stolid, reverent kind of obituary, but we get lewd and as “not safe for work” as Don’s legacy merits. I think you’ll agree, he stands the test of time and is the best dad a kid could ever hope to have… but you’ll also learn… Who was Don’s childhood idol  How Don, the ‘70s wild man, celebrated his 30th birthday by engaging in a popular fad What Saturday Night Live character Don impersonated at parties How little Slip knows about sports (oh it’s sad…) Why this episode was almost called “Fart Side of the Moon” How when the family played a popular board game and Don was so good, no one else even got a turn Which OC punk rock icon was Don’s neighbor and friend Why Don was the best dad ever… Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Imagine if you would, a podcast—one of style and taste, and intellectual insight…Instead, however, you’re here with us! On this episode of CFX we’re going into a dimension not of sight or sound, but of mind to examine one of the most iconic TV shows in history: The Twilight Zone. We go over the history of the show, the one-of-a-kind, iconic TV genius who created it, and we pick some of our favorite (and not so favorite) episodes. As usual, we assess whether we think it stands the test of time, and while you make think you know what to expect, stay tuned because you never know where things are going to end up in the “CFX Zone” as we learn… How Rod Serling served and survived some of the deadliest situations in World War II only to work and smoke himself to death by age 50 What iconic episodes were remade into horrible sequels in various reboots What dangerous side gig Serling undertook to support his family in his early career How some of the most profound historical events of the 20th century were direct influences on the show Why one of our evaluations is kind of a crazy twist ending How some previous stars in the CFX universe might fare in their own Twilight Zone episodes   Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

E-O 11!!!! For this episode we head back in time to 1960, to a Technicolor Las Vegas where we catch up with the Rat Pack who are trying to pull off an amazing (and yes, far-fetched) casino heist. We tag along with Danny Ocean (Frank Sinatra), Sam Harmon (Dean Martin), Josh Howard (Sammy Davis Jr), and the other 11 former members of the 82nd airborne doing crimes (and rocking charming yet casual misogyny & racism) while the Joker (Caesar Romero) tries to figure out their scheme. Let’s get to it as we: Learn what “The Big Casino” is, and why you probably don’t want to vacation there Conduct the first ever CFX seance, and bring back a very “presidential” guest who was a behind-the-scenes playa during parts of the filming of this epic adventure Explore why modern seat belts are a good idea, and how the Butthole Surfers got the name of one of their iconic albums Learn what a "Harv", a "Clyde", and a "Chester" are, not to mention what's wrong with a little “hey hey” Why Normal Fell was the real star of this movie (ok, maybe he wasn’t, but SHOULD have been) See how Frank’s orange mohair sweater wasn’t even the most interesting thing about him… Hear Slip’s amazing Dean Martin impression, and learn why Dean has Jeff’s eternal esteem and admiration. Count how many times we can hear the same song from a fake drunk, while not hearing a single note from the one of the most celebrated singers of the 20th century Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX presents our second album war. This time we try to decide between Joe Jackson’s classic 1979 debut album, Look Sharp!, and his 1982 blend of Latin jazz and pop, Night and Day. Jeff presents the case for Look Sharp!, while Slip backs Night and Day. As with our AC/DC album war, this was another tough one as both of these albums are great. But the real question is do either or both of these albums still stand the test of time. As you’ve come to expect, we go into depth on Jackson’s history, his influences, the music itself and the zeitgeist when these albums were released to come to some conclusion and, along the way, we also learn… Why critic Robert Christgau’s description of Jackson as “The Billy Joel of New Wave” may be right (or may just be crazy) How Joe is sort of angry about being an angry young man What English people call cigarette butts and how they were weaponized against a fledgling Joe How if you’ve been playing the “CFX Steely Dan callout drinking game”, this episode may get you really drunk Where a hungry man can go to get some soul food, good food, whole food What insane concept album Joe needs to make and the true love of Joe Jackson’s life UPDATE: There was a technical glitch which caused an audio syncing issue starting at around the 1:23:00 mark. A fix was uploaded at ~7:50am PT (USA) on 7/30/2023. Sorry for the annoyance. Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week on CFX, we put the super popular, landmark TV show, Beverly Hills 90210, under the CFX-o-scope and let’s just say it gets ugly. We talk about the hackneyed, repetitive plots, the often terrible acting, the dubious social commentary, the futile attempts at hipster credibility and just how sleazy this show and really everything got during the ‘90s. We might get too mean, but we don’t care! As the great Dylan McKay once said: “May the bridges I burn light the way!” That said, whether we like the show or not doesn’t mean we don’t think it stands the test of time. You’ll have to listen to the episode to find that out and, along the way, you’ll also learn… Which cast member broke Stockard Channing’s record for the oldest actor to play a high school student Why Saddam Hussein deserves credit (or blame) for the show’s popularity How much pot we must have been smoking when we watched this show back in the ‘90s  Why “____ cheating on ____ with ____ and is addicted to ____” is the template for 90% of the plots of the last 5 seasons. What very “BADD” boy band once serenaded Donna Martin How working on this episode almost ended Slip’s marriage We should also mention that for all of our satire, we genuinely do wish the best for Shannon Doherty in her battle with cancer. Also, we need to give a huge thanks to authors Tara Ariano and Sarah Bunting for their hilarious and thoroughly researched “A Very Special 90210” Book. We couldn’t have done this episode without it. Read it. It’s fantastic. Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

We’ve done a lot of good episodes, but this might be “A #1”! That’s right, this week takes on John Carpenter’s (not Ritchie Blackmore’s!) post apocalyptic 1981 film Escape From New York.  We dive into the details on the making of and do a complete walk-through of the film, extolling the virtues of practical effects, “economical” storytelling, first-rate film-making and a brilliant cast. Does this film stand the test of time? Spoiler alert: Of course it does! At any rate, we evaluate it anyway and along the way we learn… How this film is great preparation for the real life upcoming apocalypse we all know is imminent  Why you might have experienced frequent power outages if you were a resident of East St. Louis in 1981 What were the last two words that Walt Disney ever wrote down Why cardboard and black light make better special effects than 50 million dollars with of CGI How a character called Brain can make incredible leaps in logic, gasoline from steam, but somehow can’t read a map About the two twin bust-out stars of the film… What not to say to Snake Plisken if you want to live And finally, an unwanted and unnecessary lesson about fusion from Dr. Science Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

On what may be the best episode we have ever recorded, we try to do the impossible by trying to decide which of these two classic AC/DC albums is better. Jeff thinks Highway to Hell is better and Slip thinks Back in Black wins. But talk about a “Sophie’s Choice”! Really we both still go back and forth on this. In fact, we even tried to use artificial intelligence to solve this conundrum, but the technology just isn’t there yet. At any rate, it’s still a great episode because not only are these albums amazing but they tell a compelling story full of tragedy and redemption. We go pretty deep here and along the way, we learn…. Why a Wikipedia section tells you all you need to know about the character of Bon Scott Why Brian Johnson started wearing that goofy cap What Angus Young really used to fuel his frenetic stage antics What broccoli and a dog’s sack have to do with the band What famous new wave band jammed with AC/DC during the recording of Back in Black The impact of the Young family on a swinging sultan…. Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

“What would you pay?...while supplies last…four easy payments…but wait there’s more! Has this ever happened to you? There’s got to be a better way”. That’s right, this week, on Episode 33: As Seen on TV, CFX delves into the world where television entertainment and marketing meet. It’s a world of infomercials, ridiculous inventions, scammers, 900 numbers, get rich quick schemes and televangelists. We take you through the history of this often dubious art form, with a focus mainly on samples from our childhood and young adulthood, but with a few more recent ones thrown in for good measure. We evaluate whether any of this stands the test of time and along the way, we learn… How in Japan the hand can be used as a knife… How preacher Robert Tilton is full of hot air, in more ways than one... What happened if you listened to Miss Cleo… What was Ronco and how its founder made the world safe for lots of absolute crap you don’t need What an early infomercial pioneer did with goat balls. Why dreams make human beings great and how you shouldn’t listen to losers  What happened on Sunday mornings at the Burbank airport Hilton ballroom How to use your theatrical training to make a hot piece of white bread stuffed with crappy apple jam sound like the food of the gods Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This episode of CFX is action packed (literally!) since we discuss the 1985 Arnold Schwarzenegger action film, Commando.  While the film is not one of the mega Schwarzenegger box office blockbusters, Commando, with its explosion filled action sequences, overt homo-eroticism and clever one-liners, has had an outsized influence on the genre. But does it still hold up? We not only evaluate the film, but do a full plot point by plot point walkthrough and also play a shelved and rarely heard Access Hollywood on-set interview with the star. And, as usual, along the way, we find out… What strange book was like the Schwarzenegger “family Bible” Why the film is really the love story between two men What the f@&$ was going on with those opening credits About the economic tourist miracle of a small Latin American former military dictatorship How a makeshift, fake mall bar and grill is no longer a good place for bad guys to “hunt slash” (Note: This scene inspires one of Slip’s finest character impressions of all time) How Arnold uses his superhuman strength to defy the laws of physics (though it’s Jeff can’t keep track of Newton’s laws…) Who delivers the worst “brown face” performance in history (clue: it ain’t Charlton Heston) The origin of the famous “Eating is not cheating” Schwarzenegger infidelity excuse  How many rounds of automatic weapons can be fired without hitting any targets (most notably: Arnold of course) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week on CFX we explore the career of singer, guitarist, songwriter and “fancy dancer” Billy Squier. Most importantly, we try to find out whether what seemed destined to be a successful career was prematurely ended by what many claim is the most notoriously bad music video of all time, or if his style of keyboard heavy album oriented rock had just run its course. We decide if Squier’s music will stand the time and, along the way we learn… Why Prince and Paul Stanley could get away with things Billy Squier couldn’t  What fire will do to a 45 RPM single Why the Billboard AOR chart should of been called the B.S. chart for more than one reason If Billy was trying to tell the world something about himself Why Nagel sucks How fragile being a "good looking and sexy guy" actually is... How Billy keeps Central Park clean Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Well, if you’ve ever had any doubt that we’re a couple of old chaps, then I think this episode will put that to rest. We are! That’s right, this week, on CFX, we are talking about the favorite television show of not only the late Queen Elizabeth II but every British pensioner, Midsomer Murders! Unlike most of what we have covered in the past, this show is still on the air and shows no sign of slowing down even though, like us, the majority of its audience and cast, has gotten on in years. This week we get into detective mode to answer the question of whether this ludicrously over the top and lascivious mystery show will stand the test of time and along the way we learn.. How to survive in Midsomer even though your odds of getting killed are quite high Why sometimes the best replacement for a retiring police inspector is his/her own first cousin What is the difference between craft beer and “real ale” (actually we still don’t know) Why you should never underestimate the strength of an elderly person if you’re in the greater Causton area What being “rat-assed” means and the best remedy for the condition How many hobby clubs and groups a small town in England can support Why you should probably keep it in your pants around Midsomer way…. Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Hello podcast listeners, our old friends, it’s time for CFX again! This week we take on that dynamic duo, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. We know what you’re thinking… How boring! Well, nothing could be further from the truth. We take you through the ups and downs of what has been a sometimes tense and rancorous musical marriage in a way that has seldom been done before. We decide if this music stands the test of time like a “fortress deep and mighty” or is it just a “pocketful of mumbles”. Along the way we learn… Why Art Garfunkel should be named Art Grudge-funkel  How Paul Simon liked to watch girls sleep when he wasn’t busy robbing liquor stores Why Art should have donned a cape and joined a progressive rock band Why that Nicaraguan lobster dinner may not leave you “feelin’ groovy” How pettiness and jealousy were basically 3rd and 4th members of the band Why a line about toast is one of Beavis and Butthead’s favorite lyrics How Paul Simon *should* have reunited with Garfunkel Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX heads back into the world of ‘70s AM radio, heading up and down the dial, to tackle one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time: WKRP in Cincinnati. We go into the backstory, cast, and characters of this groundbreaking show and then we try to decide if its ability to stand the test of time is really meant to be or if we’ll only think of it once in a while. Along the way we learn… Which of the cast members once had a “thing” with Janis Joplin What a Leprechaun is and why you’ll need to know that in order to graduate from DJ school What famous actor could have played Andy Travis in a WKRP movie Why you might want to be careful about using a prop poster with “Welcome Scum” written on it Why you should ONLY watch this show on DVD (do not stream) What the lyrics are to that end title theme How Richard Nixon played a prominent role in the plot of a famous episode What having a monkey on your foot actually means And we almost forgot, fellow babies….BOOGER!!! Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Thank God it’s our 27th Episode and this week we talk about the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer. We decide if she’s an under-appreciated diva who broke new musical ground or if, well, Disco sucks! We take you through not only through the very interesting and unexpected twists and turns of her career, but also delve into the origins, downfall and rebirth of the disco genre itself and, along the way, we learn… What disco cover version of a cornball classic contains what may be the gayest musical moment of all time How Donna sold more albums than you might even fathom… Why Georgio Moroder wasn’t paying very close attention when he watched Star Wars What three videos should have been merged into one giant MTV classic Who Harold Faltermeyer is and why this week was not Jeff’s favorite How long Donna Summer can hold a note (it’s a long time!) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX heads back to Camp Northstar to evaluate Bill Murray’s 1979 big screen debut, Meatballs. While this film was very influential on teen movies of the ‘80s and made Murray a star, does its story of a camp full of loser underdogs pitted against the snobby rich kids of Camp Mohawk, stand the test of time? We attempt to find out and along the way, we learn… How the real kids of Camp White Pine nearly sabotaged the entire production How a porn actress played one of the major roles in this family, PG rated films How two 30 year old teens and a former casting director wearing a pair of taped glasses created one of the most influential scenes of the decade Why Bill Murray should probably hang up his amateur wrestling career What Camp Mohawk kids get for $1000 a week… Exactly how many counselors in training (CITs) a camp probably needs Why IT JUST DOESN’T MATTER! Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Being that this is our 25th Episode, we decided to cover a major blockbuster album, Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 album Rumours. Now, while it might seem a little pointless to ask whether this album will stand the test of time given that it’s more popular now, nearly fifty years after the fact, than it has ever been, we figured what the hell, let’s do it anyway. Besides, this drops pretty close to Valentine’s Day and what could be more appropriate? The emotional turmoil, the devastated relationships, and the marathon drug abuse that fueled this landmark album are legendary. In this episode: Find out how the history of Fleetwood Mac is even crazier than you think We world premiere a never heard before “making of” documentary where we: Learn why Stevie sounds like she has a cold on “Dreams”  Hear the original version of “Never Going Back Again” Learn what the song “The Chain” is actually about Learn the true motivation behind Gold Dust Woman (hint, it was blow) Why drugs made rock and roll great Learn about the inspiration behind “You Make Lovin’ Fun” Find out how to put the finishing touch on a Stevie Nicks Halloween costume Who in the band was most likely to choke the shit out of someone Exactly how many of Mick Fleetwood’s friends had an affair with his wife Jenny *Special Note*: This episode was recorded before the death of Christine McVie. She will be missed. We have even more respect for her amazing career and legacy after researching this episode, which is dedicated to her memory. RIP Songbird. Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week CFX examines one of the strangest children’s films of all time, renowned filmmaker Alan Parker’s debut, Bugsy Malone. Does this eccentric and artful alternate universe gangster film, with its whip cream-powered “splurge” guns, sarsaparilla-serving speakeasies and Flintstone-like pedal cars, stand the test of time? We attempt to find out and along the way, we learn… How the actor who played an arch criminal in the film grew up to become one in real life (well, sort of…) Why the singing voices of the child actors sound strangely mature What universally acclaimed classic gangster film was improbably influenced by this film Who Paul Williams is and why he is and will always be a diminutive ‘70s music god How the art direction of this film remains one of the best of all time Why Jodie Foster’s performance was preternaturally mature and maybe a bit sad Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

“De Plane! De Plane”, “Smiles, everyone smiles”… welcome to Fantasy Island, episode 23 of the CFX podcast. This week we take on one of the bat-shit craziest shows ever made. A show that featured everything from ESP-powered sasquatches to psychedelic ventriloquist dummies while churning through a seemingly endless supply of D and E rate Hollywood “celebrities”, putting them through the most bizarre and unbelievable (and yes, comical!) scenarios. It’s a show that got unbelievably dark and twisted at times and at other times was crushingly repetitive and mundane. We answer the question, once and for all, of whether Mr. Roarke and Tattoo stand the test of time and along the way we learn… How Roarke faced off with the devil himself Why Ricardo Montalban needed a bigger trailer in order to take a dump Of the extremely limited vocal talents of your hosts as we explore another edition of Reenactment Theater What is Corinthian leather anyway? Why amusement park rides, air balloons and even llamas were used to expand the shows audience How much cocaine was snorted in the writers’ room (actually, we don’t learn that but isn’t it obvious??)  What the “most dangerous game” is and how many times you can milk that same trope And how many times Mrs Brady can be leveraged to play in a sexually suggestive plot (answer…a lot!) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

On this special holiday episode of CFX (Ok, it just happens to come out on Xmas Day…) we take on ‘70s AM hit radio, also known as ‘70s AM Gold. Like we did on our Game Show episode (Episode 18: https://apple.co/3WebSzL), we explore the hits and misses, the long and short of this classic era. We celebrate the one-hit wonders that have stood the test of time and bemoan the songs we hated (and still hate) that we can’t get out of our heads. In doing so, we also learn… How a street gang attack helped to create the happiest song ever written Which “disco action” star was the victim of identity theft What England Dan is actually singing in that song (you know the one) and why we wish John Ford Coley would retire already Why the Slip-child liked his 70’s songs as filthy and gross as possible What awful song from the ‘70s spawned a million YouTube parodies during the lockdown Why you can’t stop staring into Darryl Dragon’s eyes Why Jeff owes the Glen Campbell estate a huge apology (but will never deliver it) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

In this episode we face evil, magic, wizards, witches, kings, TIGERS and even Ritchie Blackmore to cover one of the most seminal albums of the heavy metal genre: Holy Diver by Dio. Even though we aren’t even close to being worthy to judge such an obvious hard rock deity, we do our best to answer the question of whether this album is still hard as steel or is it all just velvet lies? Along the way we learn.. How Dio’s career followed an amazing Spinal Tap trajectory from the big band era to the big hair era How Dio Invented the universal symbol of metal, the devil horns hand symbol, and why Gene Simmons is full of shit (as per usual) Why the band Dio could have been called Richie Blackmore’s Dio Who Murray is and the bizarre story concepts behind some of the songs Why you might think twice about writing in star light (hint: the words might come out REAL!) Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This week we take on what may be the ultimate high school film ever made, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. This 1982 film is a comedy-drama that addresses such serious topics as abortion and masturbation and still somehow manages to be funny. We do a deep dive on this film to see whether it stands the test of time and along the way we learn… Why the tracking on every VHS tape of this film is really bad during one famous scene  Why Jeff actually sort of likes the terrible soundtrack from the movie (hint: Quarterflash) Why people on ‘ludes should not drive Why one of the funniest scenes of the movie actually gave Slip nightmares How the mall was the center of the universe for early 80s teenagers Why Cameron Crowe should have actually attended Mr. Hand’s US History class, and why Slip thinks he’s completely full of shit How a movie about Southern California teenagers spawned one of the greatest method acting performances of all time Why “the book is better than the movie” does not always apply And, finally, where Stu Nahan actually did get that jacket... Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

On Episode 19 we talk about the great Pat Benatar (aka Pat Andrzejewski Giraldo), who not only was a groundbreaking female rock star but who also has one of the greatest rock and roll voices in history. We review her entire career with a particular focus on her early albums to decide whether she stands the test of time. Is her fiery brand of ‘80s album oriented rock invincible or is it all just broken promises in the dark?  We also talk about how much her guitarist, musical partner and husband Neil “Spyder” Giraldo may or may not have contributed to these works. Along the way, we find out… Why Dick Clark was one of the biggest douches in television history How a sexy poster of David Lee Roth somehow led Slip into the Benatar-verse How Jeff “met” Pat Benatar during the peak of her success Who Keith Olsen is and how important he nor may not have been to the Benatar legacy Why “Love is a Battlefield” is one of the greatest videos of all time Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at [email protected] All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.