Dave and Cheryl and the 90s

Bravo was cable’s artsy elder sibling—tv’s first channel dedicated to the performing arts; opera, ballet, jazz and indie film. Listen as Dave pines for lost afternoons of subtitled melodrama, Inside the Actors Studio, and Queer Eye makeovers, all while chronicling the slow, inevitable coup by reality TV: one table flip at a time.Sometimes things were just better in the 90’s

People have been standing in front of others telling jokes since the beginning of time, but not as much as they did in the 90s. Stand-up comedians were all over our tvs and on the big screen. In this week’s episode of Dave and Cheryl and the 90s we talk about who they were and the various places we found them.

Barbara Walters was the first female national evening news anchor in America and for decades after she was the preeminent interviewer of the rich, famous and influential. She inspired generations of female journalists that came up behind her but she wasn’t without her own controversies and missteps. On Dave and Cheryl and the 90s we talk about her breaking the glass ceiling while also holding her female interviewees more accountable than the men. 

On our first year two episode, we’re joined by Chicago writer Andy Frye who talks to us about alternative music in the 90s and his book 90 Days in the 90s.

We made it through our first year of being podcasters and what better way to celebrate than by reexamining all of our subjects via clips from The Simpsons! The Simpsons were in their heyday during the 90s and referenced nearly every culturally significant person, place or thing. As a bonus: we also talk about the Epstein Files!

In this episode, we spotlight Steven Spielberg’s extraordinary 1990s run. From the technological achievements of Jurassic Park to the harrowing historical power of Schindler's List, Spielberg proved he could dominate both the box office and the Oscars in the very same year. We also examine his rise as a prolific producer and co-founder of DreamWorks Pictures, a move that reshaped Hollywood’s power structure. Dave also shares his mom’s penchant for theater hopping and admiration of Spielberg’s theme park ride acting ability.

They were on the runways and in magazines but also became household names. Supermodels in the 90s were more than models, they were personalities, influencers and entrepreneurs. “I won’t get out of bed for less than $10000” gave them notoriety. From iconic music videos to tv and movies, the supermodels of the 1990s were more than a pretty face.

He is America’s dad and our generation’s Jimmy Stewart. Tom Hanks has had a distinguished career filled with both artistic and financial successes, all without any notable controversies. On Dave and Cheryl and the 90s podcast we talk about how he went from cross dressing tv star to double Oscar winner.

Do you hate Mondays? Love lasagne? Enjoy kicking dogs off tables and sleeping in?  Then you’ll love Garfield, the orange ornery cat. From newspaper funny pages to book treasuries to his own tv show, Garfield was everyone’s favorite disgruntled cartoon cat.

Julia Roberts used her talent and megawatt smile to become the biggest multi–million-dollar actress of her generation. In this episode, we trace her journey from early breakout roles to rom-com royalty, where her on-screen love stories often mirrored a personal life splashed across headlines. From her literal Runaway Bride era to the performance that earned her Oscar gold, we explore how Roberts proved her power went far beyond charm.It’s a podcast about a girl—waiting in your playlist—with a story worth pressing play on.

Why were 90s brand mascots obsessed with “attitude”? We explore why brands embraced bold, exaggerated characters with “youth appeal”and how figures like Sonic the Hedgehog, the Taco Bell Chihuahua, and Chester Cheetah shaped the decade’s marketing style. Join us as we break down their cultural impact both in America and abroad. It’ll be totally radical dude!

Heisman trophy winner, Naked Gun actor and the center of the universe for 11 months in 1995, OJ Simpson’s trial for murdering his wife and her friend was the trial of the century. Dave and Cheryl talk about his run from football player to brand spokesperson to man who couldn’t put on gloves.

There was a time in America when all we had was NBC, ABC and CBS… and then came FOX. The new, irreverent station that started up slowly but then gave us television classics like The Simpsons, Beverly Hills 90210 and The X-Files. Find out which now established stars started off in poorly rated, short lived shows on the television network nobody took seriously on Dave and Cheryl and the 90s.

From the Terminator to the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the unlikeliest of movie stars… or politicians. But through sheer perseverance and his inherent charm and likability he became the biggest action (and sometimes comedy) star of the 1990s. In Dave and Cheryl and the 90s we talk about how he used his seeming weaknesses, like his thick Austrian accent, to his advantage to create a virtual prototype of big screen action hero.

Back when everyone carried a lighter and you could catch a smoke between classes with your English teacher, cigarettes were a normal part of life. There were smoking and non smoking sections in restaurants and ashtrays in every car and airplane. We’ve learned a lot about the health consequences of smoking but back in the 90s it was everywhere. Learn more on Dave and Cheryl and the 90s, streaming everywhere you get podcasts.

The 1990s were a defining decade for Bette Midler. She earned an Oscar nomination, dazzled as Mama Rose in Gypsy on television, and brought America to tears with her Emmy-winning farewell to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. We also revisit the unexpected success of The First Wives Club, and how Hocus Pocus went from a summer flop to a Halloween institution complete with “yabos.”.This is the Divine Miss M in the 90s.

Whether you're a royal watcher or just here for the tea, this episode peels back the palace curtain on a decade that redefined the British monarchy forever.It was a time of scandal, messy divorces, and royal faux pas. From "Camillagate" to "Annus Horribilis", the House of Windsor found itself in the crosshairs of public scrutiny like never before.Plus, we remember the global heartbreak of Princess Diana’s tragic death — and somehow still find time to laugh at some truly awkward royal moments.

Before we held the world’s information in our back pockets, we had telephones that were stuck to a wall and you shared it with all your family members. Telephones and how we use them are one of the biggest changes we’ve seen since the 1990s. Join Dave and Cheryl and their Canadian friends Tania and Tom as they discuss those changes and what it was like to leave the house and not have your parents know where you went until you got home.

In this episode, we dive into Robin Williams’ unforgettable run through the 1990s—a decade that saw him balance his wild comedic energy with deeply moving performances. From voicing a wisecracking blue Genie to cross-dressing as the world’s most lovable nanny, Williams was everywhere—making us laugh, cry, and sometimes both in the same scene. Join us as we revisit the decade where Robin ruled the box office and our hearts.

Undetectable = untransmissable is the reality of HIV/AIDS these days but back in the 90s it was a death sentence. Ribbons, quilts and a little boy named Ryan White educated us while effective treatment was being researched. Learn more about how AIDS dominated political discourse and popular culture in this episode of Dave and Cheryl and the 90s podcast.

Whether vogueing or nearly getting arrested for indecency in Toronto, Madonna has been provocative her whole life. Find out why she dominated pop culture in the 90s by pushing boundaries of sexuality and female empowerment.

Spray on hair! Dehydrate food! Stop the insanity! Late at night tv shopping sprees were what we did before online shopping. Learn about the people who sold us our unnecessary gadgets in the 90s. Which ones were good and which ones are lost to the ages.

You remember her as the cute little girl in the movie ET and now as the close talking show host but did you know she had her own movie production company in her early twenties? Find out more about her deep Hollywood connections and what she did to make her way on her own. EMAIL US: [email protected]

Join Dave and Cheryl as they index the 1990’s nerdiest nostalgia: reference books! This week, we crack open the era when knowledge came with dust jackets, atlases thought the USSR was forever, and science books swore Pluto was still a planet (RIP, lil guy). So dust off your almanac and sharpen that Number 2 pencil, because things are bound to get interesting.

Do you remember when the United States had a budget surplus and a saxophone playing president? Bill Clinton does. There's also a little something about an impeachment. 

In this episode, we rewind to the late 1990s, when a cultural tidal wave hit American shores, Pokémon. What began as a niche video game and trading card phenomenon in Japan quickly became a full-blown obsession in the U.S., captivating kids, confusing parents, and forever changing pop culture. We explore how Pokémon made its way across the Pacific, the marketing genius behind its U.S. launch, and the perfect storm of success and controversy that turned Pikachu and friends into household names.CONNECT with Dave and Cheryl and the 90'sEMAIL: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠instagram.com/andthe90spod/⁠

In this episode, we jump, jive, and wail back to the blink and you missed it swing dancing craze of the 1990s. Fueled by bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, and movies like Swingers, the neo-swing revival briefly took over clubs, fashion, and pop culture. We explore how swing made its unexpected comeback, why it faded just as fast, and the legacy it left behind. It was so money baby!CONNECT with Dave and Cheryl and the 90'sEMAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠INSTAGRAM: ⁠instagram.com/andthe90spod/⁠

You get a podcast, and you get a podcast!In this episode, we explore Oprah Winfrey’s incredible impact in the 1990s—a decade that cemented her as a media powerhouse. From transforming The Oprah Winfrey Show into a cultural phenomenon to launching O, The Oprah Magazine and even meeting the Simpsons. We discuss how Oprah shaped conversations on self-improvement, book culture, and social issues. Join us as we revisit the moments that made the ’90s the decade of Oprah.CONNECT with Dave and Cheryl and the 90'sEMAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠INSTAGRAM: ⁠instagram.com/andthe90spod/⁠

Be kind and rewind to the golden age of Friday night movie rentals, exorbitant late fees, and the thrill of browsing endless walls of VHS tapes and video games. We explore how Blockbuster rocketed to pop culture supremacy, then disappeared just as quickly, and reminisce with Cheryl about her college years working at Blockbuster in Toronto. Strangely, it involved wrapping paper.CONNECT with Dave and Cheryl and the 90'sEMAIL: ⁠[email protected]⁠INSTAGRAM: ⁠instagram.com/andthe90spod/⁠

You better werk! In this episode, we take a deep dive into RuPaul’s rise to superstardom in the 1990s. From music to tv and even make-up, we explore how RuPaul influenced pop culture, fashion, and LGBTQ+ visibility. Tune in as we revisit the era that made RuPaul a household name and set the stage for a global drag empire.CONNECT with Dave and Cheryl and the 90'sEMAIL: [email protected]: instagram.com/andthe90spod/