THE BUMRUSH

There has never been a better intro to a TV show than this. Ok, maybe the A-Team was a little better.

Labels: 70's, 80's, bill bixby, hulk, television

You know the story - and sadly it's one we've seen before and will see again. The heyday of Haim was ever so slightly before my formative years, but man, how could you be swayed by the power of the Corey/Corey combo?

Labels: 80's, celebrities, movies, news

Seriously, words cannot begin to explain...

Labels: 80's, hulk, perverson

An interview with Bixby and Lou Ferrigno in 1988 on some local news show called Live Noonday. Worth a view just for Ferrigno ‘s mullet and some sweet daytime news special effects.

Labels: 80's, bill bixby, hulk

Bill Bixby acting silly and screwing up scenes. The Youtube title says it is from The Incredible Hulk, but it looks like the outakes are from various Bixby productions. It's still all Bixby and all good.

Labels: 70's, 80's, bill bixby, television

There are a number of good reasons why David Banner would turn into the Hulk – I remember a lot of the time it would be because he was shot or being beat up or something. But, not always. As the person who posted this video put it:

Usually when Dr David Banner changes into the Hulk, it is because of danger of death, extreme pain or fear. However, there have been some occasions when the transformation is triggered by something mundane we can all identify with, something I personally love...

...something like a traffic jam.

Labels: 80's, bill bixby, hulk, television

Widely Missing the Cut: Rocky V

5. Rocky IV – When I was 13 years old, I watched a scratchy VHS tape of Rocky IV every single day. Actually, I watched the part where James Brown sings Living in America and then fast forwarded to when Rocky gets to Russia to start training. And you know, the movie works that way. The plot is ridiculous, Paulie has turned into an annoying buffoon by this point in the series and Adrian is a complete succubus during every scene she’s in. But the training scenes were legitimately cool, if a little confusing (why did Rocky scale a 15,000 mountain as part of his boxing training?). And Dolph Lundgren makes a pretty kickass villain. “I win for me! FOR ME!”



4. Rocky II – This movie suffers from the same problem as Rocky 4: the middle half of the movie is excruciatingly boring to sit through. An hour about how much of a loser Rocky is? He can’t read? He doesn’t know what a savings account is? But, the training scenes are as good, if not better, than the first movie and this time we get to watch him run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art with 100,000 kids following him. Plus, seeing Rocky win the title from Apollo is probably THE MOMENT among all the Rocky movies.



3. Rocky III – I love everything about the third Rocky. Rocky is a paper champ, he’s lost the “Eye of the Tiger,” he’s all of a sudden a huge, ripped bodybuilder, Hulk Hogan makes an appearance as Thunderlips, Apollo is now on Rocky’s side, Mick dies halfway through the movie, and Mr. T is a tour-de-force of a villain. T has arguably my 5 favorite quotes in the series, including:

Interviewer: Do you hate Rocky?
Clubber Lang: No, I don't hate Balboa. I pity the fool, and I will destroy any man who tries to take what I got!

And...

Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?
Clubber Lang: My prediction?
Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.
Clubber Lang: Pain!

The training scenes are decent, although they dwell on Rocky’s lack of the “Eye” a little too long. The training montage does lead to a great climax where Rocky and Apollo, wearing the shortest of short-shorts, give each other a giant man-hug while frolicking around in slow motion in the water. Stick that scene in a time capsule and call it the 80’s. While not as good as the Creed/Rocky fights, the fight at the end of the movie is entertaining as somehow Rocky survives 1,000 blows to the head from Clubber Lang.



2. Rocky Balboa – There isn’t much wrong with this movie. Adrian is dead. Rocky at least owns his own restaurant, so he’s not a complete loser like in the second movie. Stallone is scary huge in this movie, which kind of works because he’s still a boxer, except that he looked like some kind of mutant Stallone. The training scenes were awesome, as usual, and the ending to the movie was perfect - encapsulating exactly why people like to root for Rocky whether he wins or loses. The movie deals with some legitimate issues about getting older, loss, and moving on with your life. But for the love of god, let this be the last Rocky movie ever.



1. Rocky – The original is still the best. The movie is really showing its age after 30 years, but it is still enjoyable watch. A no-time, down on his luck Philadelphia boxer who gets a shot at the world title? And he comes within a whisker of winning after no one gives him a chance? The movie also introduced us to what would become a Rocky staple – the training montage.

Labels: 70's, 80's, movies, top 5

Oh boy, is this clip a find or what. Watch the Incredible Hulk fight a grizzly bear, and make sure to pay close attention at the end to see if you can spot the clever special effect they used.



Technically, Bill Bixby is no where to be found in this clip, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to link to this incredible video.

Labels: 80's, bill bixby, hulk, television, video

One of the greatest achievements of the Youtube era is the fact that we can now watch full episodes of the Incredible Hulk from the comfort of our own bean bag chairs while digging our meaty paws into another bag of orangey-delicious Cheetos. God bless this world.

In this episode:

"...a mysterious gas cannister on a US army base causes some people, including Banner to go blind and rouge generals try to get it back to cover it up....Then Hulk mayhem ensues!!!"

Part 1:



Part 2:

Labels: 80's, bill bixby, hulk, television

This should bring back memories: The old introduction to the Incredible Hulk TV show.



Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

Labels: 80's, bill bixby, hulk, television

Just missing the list: Charlie O'Connell, Ben Savage.

6. Andrew Wilson


You know Luke and Owen, but do you know Andrew? Let’s see, he appeared with Owen in the movies Bottle Rocket, Zoolander, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Big Bounce. He has appeared with Luke in Rushmore, Charlie's Angels, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Mike Judge's Idiocracy. I will say that his role as gladiator Beef Supreme in Idiocracy was pretty sweet. And he got a huge 5 minutes of screen time in that role. I would assume that’s a record for him.




5. Omar Gooding


Unlike some of the people on this list, Omar has carved out a semi-respectable career for himself, mostly as a TV actor, making guest appearances on CSI: Miami, Deadwood, and one of the all time classics, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. He had a regular part of the short lived Playmakers on ESPN, was one of the hosts of my fourth favorite kids’ show of all time (Wild and Crazy Kids) and played Stuart in Ghost Dad. He also cleans up pretty well. That’s a career the rest of the guys on the list would kill for.

Bonus points for the fact that he shares a close resemblance with his brother. Plus, the way Cuba’s career is headed, we might see Cuba switch places with Omar in a few years.

4. Michael Bacon

Michael does hold a degree in music and is a musician and composer in his own right, but his “fame” comes from three little words: “The Bacon Brothers,” a musical group he formed with – surprise – his brother Kevin. I have never heard the Bacon Brothers play, but I can imagine the awesomeness of an event like that. According to pictures on their website, it appears that they both play the guitar and, sadly, they have an entire band that accompanies them. I was disappointed with that fact. One hopes that they forced the band to change all their last names to Bacon.


3. Don Swayze


Now the list gets down to business. The younger brother of Patrick Swayze also gets bonus points for his huge carny-esqe resemblance to his older brother. His IMDB page is a testament to the fact that, yes, a person can make a living off guest appearances on television shows. I would even know where to begin... Tremors (the TV version), Walker Texas Ranger, The New Dragnet, L.A. Law, Matlock, Murder, She Wrote, CSI, something called Street Hawk. Hell, he even played Jessie James in an episode of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (I can see the resemblance). I could go on for another 10 paragraphs, I really could. Just know that Don Swayze is what would have happened to Patrick Swayze if he wasn’t good looking (I’m talking about 20 years ago, not now).

2. Daniel Baldwin

Up until I was 18, I didn’t know Daniel Baldwin existed. I thought he was Alec Baldwin and I would say to myself, “man, that Alec Baldwin is everywhere.” Clearly, he’s had the least successful acting career of the Baldwin brothers, but he has been in some respectable stuff, like Mulholland Falls and one of my favorite movies of all time, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (seriously, watch this movie with friends. You won’t be disappointed). But Baldwin is #2 on this list thanks to his completely embarrassing 4-episode run on VH1’s reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2007. He was a complete train-wreck on that show, and it was impossible not to watch self-destruct.

1. Frank Stallone

A musician and actor, I don’t think Frank Stallone will ever be topped as a celebrity brother. He can pretty much thank Sly for everything he has professionally. For example, Frank wrote songs for the following movies: Rocky II, Rocky III, Staying Alive, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Over the Top, Rocky V, and Rocky Balboa. He also appeared in the following movies: Rocky, Paradise Alley, Rocky II, Rocky III, Staying Alive, Get Carter, and Rocky Balboa. Not to say the guy isn’t talented in his own right, but that list looks a little fishy. Frank is on tour now with his aptly named band, the Frank Stallone Band. Here’s his song from Staying Alive, Far From Over:




Still, there are perks to being Frank Stallone.

Labels: 80's, celebrities, movies

The decade of the 1980's is aging like a fine wine. Every year we get further away from the 80's, the more unbelievable and wonderful those 10 years become. What do I mean? This Hasselhoff music video can explain things better than I can. (Try to avoid starring directly at the Hoff's jeri-mullet, it can cause permanent damage to your eyes).



In case you like your Hasselhoff with a little more island maschismo, here's the Hoff's Limbo Dance. You can almost feel Jamaica oozing from his skin.



Finally, the Hoff is crazy for you. Actually, as he mentions about 85 times, he's CRAAAAA-zy for YOU! I'm not quite sure of the meaning of the dog at the end of the video, but it does worry me a lot.

Labels: 80's, hasselhoff, hoff, humor, music, video

Well, it's out (and the movie is finally, finally almost here). It’s the trailer for the new Indiana Jones movie: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It certainly gives me that nostalgic Indiana Jones feeling. What do you think?

Labels: 80's, movies, video

We've been surprisingly mum on the new Rambo movie, which is strange since Rambo pretty much was the 80's for us. The new Rambo trailer has been out a while, so you may have already seen it, but it is balls out insane for the amount of blood and decapitations in it. I think it's safe to say that Rambo is back.

Labels: 80's, movies, video