Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper

In the 90s, the first day of school was the prime moment to show off your new back-to-school swag. If you liked bright colors and cute animals, chances are that swag included products by Lisa Frank Inc., the artist/design company behind the instantly recognizable neon rainbows, unicorns, pink leopards, alien beauty queens, cute puppies, and more. Today, as various 90s aesthetics show up to the current culture in waves, the Lisa Frank vibe has simply never left. And we’re NOT mad about it.

Join me and my fabulous designer/screenprinter friend Jackie (@stayunratedpressco) from Stay Unrated Press Co. as we do a colorful swan dive back to the 90s to explore this vibrant world and its legacy today. And if you have a Lisa Frank-themed bachelorette, please invite us. Thanks!

Stay Unrated Press Co. IG: @stayunratedpressco, website: stayunratedpressco.com 

Sources

https://www.moms.com/lisa-frank-notebook-mother-daughter-bond/

Be Kind, Rewind

Did you know that Blockbuster had the chance to buy Netflix in 2000 – and turned it down? Did you know there is one last Blockbuster remaining in Oregon, and it’s now an AirBnb that hosts unlimited movie nights? Did you know that you actually had until 3pm – not noon – to get that VHS tape back into the Blockbuster Quik (no c) Drop?

Whether you knew those trivia facts or not – if you loved going to Blockbuster in the 90s, this episode is for you.

This week I am by myself discussing one of the most comforting and nostalgic topics I could muster after last week’s heavy events – Blockbuster Video, and the ecstatic experience of going to the Blue and Yellow on Friday nights for your weekend video haul. So pop some popcorn and travel back to the 90s with me as we browse the aisles, imagine a Blockbuster amusement park (yes, that was almost a thing), and recall the golden rule of the decade: be kind, rewind.

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Her Majesty of Country Pop, Shania Twain

Shania Twain was the leopard-printed, crop-topped, empowered, talented, sophisticated, and sassy older sister we always wanted. She paved the way for a new generation of empowered young women to be themselves and not accept the status quo – or any of the limitations that society puts on them. And she had some amazing country chart-toppers that we can recall at the drop of a sequined cowgirl hat with only three simple words: let’s go, girls.

This week, my cousin Candace (a super 90s girl herself) and I are discussing the Canadian-American Queen of Country Pop, Shania Twain. So grab a sparkly rosé, don that double denim, and let’s go back to the 90s for some true country girl power.

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Happy Nu (Metal) Year

LINKIN 4 HR

In the late 90s, a new genre of music rose from the ashes of grunge. Labeled nu-metal, it was different from anything anyone had heard – it had loud, aggressive guitars, funky/jazzy beats and samples, electronic backgrounds, and hip hop vocals that evoked similar angst to punk and grunge. To the chagrin of many metal purists, it was often lumped within their diverse genre – but we know the MTV-fueled fanbase went wider than that. And thus – the basis of our nostalgia as we close out a year that felt oddly reminiscent of that chaotic, “I don’t know what to call it” energy.

This week, I’m joined by Eric and his lifelong best friend Josh to discuss what we remember, love, and maybe are ready to forget about this controversial genre. So slip on that Adidas tracksuit and let’s get rollin’.

Music video referenced in the episode: Mudvayne, “Dig, 1997 (youtube.com/watch?v=YIqbdnaPcT8)

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It’s Turbo Time!

Arnold Schwarzenegger: to some he was governor, to many he was the Terminator, and to us he was Howard – 90s suburban workaholic dad chasing down the elusive Turbo Man action figure for his son on Christmas Eve.

This week, Eric, Sam (travel vlogger and veteran TTTH guest from the McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy episode!) and I take you ba

ck to 1996 when Jingle All the Way first hit theaters and Tickle-Me-Elmo was the real-life Christmas toy craze. So spike your eggnog and get cozy as Team Turbo Man saves the day with a much-deserved gift of 90s holiday season nostalgia (accessories sold separately, batteries not included).

Follow Sam at @simpsonthego on Instagram – and don’t forget to like and subscribe to her Youtube channel at youtube.com/simpsonthego!

Sources

Rita Wilson says ‘Jingle All the Way’ haunts her because her character was ‘just a little too stupid’”, Insider, December 2020: https://www.insider.com/rita-wilson-jingle-all-the-way-2020-12

19 Wild Behind-the-Scenes Christmas Movie Facts Most People Don’t Know, December 2020: https://www.buzzfeed.com/spenceralthouse/cool-christmas-movie-facts

The Best Funny Christmas Movies & Holiday Comedies to Make Your Season Bright, December 2020: https://collider.com/best-funny-christmas-movies-holiday-comedies-to-watch/

20 Wild Details Behind the Making of Jingle All the Way, Screenrant, December 2018: https://screenrant.com/jingle-all-the-way-movie-behind-scenes-trivia-christmas/

Ricki, Maury, Rosie, Jerry: 90s Talk Shows

Chant it with us: “JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY!”

Tabloid talk shows were one of the most quintessential 90s transmissions to travel the airwaves. During the talk show decade, thousands of people from all walks of life claimed their time in the spotlight and aired their dirty laundry on TV for millions to see. From paternity reveals to chair-throwing to “my parents think I’m a freak but I look cool” goths, these shows were nothing short of spectacular.

Join me and my dear friend and fellow podcaster Derric as we explore the shows that defined our stay-home-sick-from-school days: Montel, Ricki, Rosie, Sally, Jenny, Maury, and of course – Jerry. And don’t forget that one time that Maury compared his “you are not the father” shows to Shakespeare. Really.

“A paternity [reveal] show has the classic Shakespearean themes. There is love. There is lust. There is betrayal. There is conflict.” – Maury Povich

Follow Derric and his NEW podcast, the 3AM Mystery Club, at @derricdalton and @3amclubpod!

CW/TW: Very brief mentions of discrimination and violence toward LGBTQI+.

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The Lego-cy of 90s Legos

Pirates! Outer space! Wild West! Castles! McDonalds Drive-Thrus! The 90s is often considered the Lego heyday by enthusiasts, collectors, and 90s kids themselves and the nostalgia for them has never been more acute. Considering millennials who grew up playing with Legos are now the most clinically burnt-out generation in history, these tiny blocks and plastic figurines are somehow even more comforting today – and the Lego Group knows that. But don’t worry, they’re here to help.

In this episode, travel vlogger Nick and I recount what it was like to grow up playing with Legos in the 90s – the notable collections, Legoland, how it fostered strategic thinking, where all those tiny blocks from our past have ended up, and the surprising corporate consciousness of the Lego Group itself. So get ready to join us as we shrink down to figurine size to travel to Lego Castle and explore the lego-cy of this beloved 90s toy.

Follow Nick at @simpsonthego on Instagram and his YouTube channel at youtube.com/simpsonthego!

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Take Chances, Make Mistakes: The Magic School Bus

Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy.

Those were the brilliant words of Ms. Frizzle, the eccentric, enthusiastic, bewitching 4th grade teacher who graced our TV sets and led her students on adventures that combined a TON OF REAL SCIENCE with all the fun of being a kid in the 90s.

This week, Eric and I are discussing the Magic School Bus – its book-to-TV background, notable episodes and themes, the legacy, and we even go in depth about Ms. Frizzle herself. So grab some chocolate milk and settle in with us as we travel in time all the way back to 1994 to learn about the field trips we wish we had with a teacher we all admired.

The Magic School Bus Made the World Safe for Weird Teachers, Slate.com, July 2020 https://slate.com/culture/2020/07/magic-school-bus-ms-frizzle-joanna-cole-weird-teachers.html

Space Camp

There was band camp, there was cheer camp, there was summer camp, and there was SPACE CAMP. If you were one of the lucky kids to graduate from Space Camp during its prime in the 90s, you got to try on a space suit, eat dippin’ dots, pretend to be on the moon, and launch and land a simulated rocket to Mars.

This week, my dad and I take you on a space mission to Huntsville, Alabama, home to the US Space Camp that churned out famous astronauts, hobbyist astronomers, woo-woo astrologers (like myself), and nearly 1 million “cool geeks” who were interested in everything from space exploration to robotics to aviation. So put away all your earthly matters and get ready to blast off right back into the 90s!

To make a donation for Space Camp scholarships, visit gospaceeducation.org.

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Season(ing) of Love: RENT

Courtesy of Madame Cheret (madamecheret.com)

The “musical for the MTV generation.” The “rock opera of the 90s.” The “hope for the American musical.” Get ready to belt some tunes this week with me and the fabulous Broadway and baking blogger, Madame Cheret, as we travel back in time to 1996 in East Village for the world-famous RENT. This week, Madame Cheret is baking some gorgeous beer and maple donuts as her culinary interpretation of RENT – flavored with, you guessed it, plenty of season(ing) of love.

Follow Madame Cheret on Instagram at @madamecheret or visit her blog at madamecheret.com!

Trigger warning: This episode touches on subjects such as substance abuse, violence toward LGBTQI+, and HIV/AIDs in the context of the show and the 80s/90s.

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