Just One of The Guys and Ralph Macchio

1985 produced an abundance of awesome teen flicks from Back to the Future to The Goonies. Still on my Karate Kid kick from the previous year, I was madly obsessed with Ralph Macchio. Side note, Ralph and I were both Italian Americans from Long Island born on November 4 - top that ladies! Sure he was much older than me, but we had mad sh*t in common. 

In the Spring of 1985, my BFF and I (her folks banned her from hanging out with me once we graduated 8th grade, more on that another day) ventured over to Sunrise Cinemas on Sunrise Highway to catch the latest teen flick, Just One of The Guys. This movie was typical '80s cheese. I loved it. Filled with great styles, fun music, silly dirty jokes, innuendos and attractive young actors with names I've since forgotten, other than Billy Jane aka Billy Jacoby. 

Two things I loved about this film -- in addition to the romantic twist ...  The lead character was a writer, I've always loved writing and wanted to have my own magazine and at the time was a kid reporter for Long Island / New York Newsday. I also thought it was very odd that the lead actress (Joyce Hyser) who played Terri Griffith was made to look very similar to my Ralph Macchio. Anyone else catch this? 

Joyce Hyser as Terri Griffith 

Ralph Macchio in shades.

Ralph Macchio in Karate Kid.

View the trailer for Just  One Of The Guys

The NeverEnding Story | Barret Oliver & Noah Hathaway

Noah Hathaway and Barret Oliver, NeverEnding Story cuties

Ahhh ... 1984 was an awesome year. Okay, maybe not as great as 1982, but still a very awesome year.

Today a friend slapped an image of Falkor the luckdragon on my Facebook page. For those of you too young or old to remember -- Falkor was the dog-like creature from the 1984 classic children's movie, The NeverEnding Story. The film is based on a German epic fantasy tale. Sadly, the only thing I can remember about seeing it back in July of 1984, are the two main characters, Bastian (Barret Oliver) and Atreyu (Noah Hathaway). Why? Because they were smokin' hot to an 11-year-old me.

That summer, I was all about these two cuties and Ralph Macchio from Karate Kid, of course. I think it was somewhat comforting knowing Barret and Noah were closer to my own age, though Ralph ruled the walls of my bedroom. Put it this way ..  if a Tiger Beat pin-up featured Ralph Macchio on one-side and Noah Hathaway on the other, I'm quite sure Macchio would win. 

Watch The NeverEnding Story Trailer

Barret Oliver & Noah Hathaway Today

Barret Oliver in the late '80s

Today Barret Oliver (D.A.R.Y.L. and Cocoon) teaches photography in LA and wrote a book, A History of Woodburytype, about a special 19th Century photo mechanical process or something. Unfortunately, I'm unable to Google image a recent photo of him other than from the late 1980s.  

Noah Hathaway today

Noah Hathaway (Battlestar Galactica) still acts and has done several indie films. Here's what he looks like today. For a while, I was convinced he was actually Noah Wyle from ER. I figured maybe he changed his name. I was wrong, of course, though they are about the same age and do look a bit alike.

Anyone else remember The NeverEnding Story?

Ralph Macchio The Karate Kid Stars in Wax On, F*ck Off!

It was the weekend of June 30th, 26 years ago, that my mom took my little brother and me to see The Karate Kid. I loved The Karate Kid. I had an entire scrapbook filled with Ralph Macchio articles. I loved that we both celebrate our birthdays on November 4. I love that like me, Ralph Macchio was born and raised (well, when not acting) on Long Island. I showed you my old diary entry about the day we first saw The Karate Kid. I've blogged about The Karate Kid soundtrack.Yes, next to ET and The Goonies, The Karate Kid was one of my favorite childhood movies.

With all of the excitement surrounding the remake, I'm kinda bummed to be honest. I have vented my anger regarding The Karate Kid remake with Will Smith's son on both Twitter and Facebook. I am so anti-remakes, especially when they mess with my childhood memories. Can't we just keep things the way they were?

You must check out this Funny or Die video with Ralph Macchio, trust me, you'll be glad you did!

Wax On, F*ck Off with Ralph Macchio from Ralph Macchio

Weekend Retro Rewind Featuring Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield "Jessie's Girl"

Unlike most girls in 1981, I loved Australian-born Rick Springfield for his music and not his hotness. At the tender age of 9, I think Rick was too much of a man for me back then. This was the same deal with Duran Duran. In the early 80s, my classmates were so in love with Simon Le Bon and John Taylor. I wasn't into "men" I always preferred "boys" closer to my age. In fact, I remember feeling uneasy learning Ralph Macchio was actually much older than he appeared in films.


Yes, Rick was on General Hospital, I wasn't into soap operas. Ever. He had some great love rock ballads back in the days such as the shirtless video for "Affair of the Heart", "Don't Talk To Strangers" and "Love Somebody" however "Jessie's Girl" was his lone #1 hit and my personal favorite. It's been on my iPod since 2006.


Trivia tidbit: At age 25, he lived with 15-year-old Exorcist star Linda Blair. He considered it his first real "adult" relationship according to Wiki. Wow.

I'd like to give a shout out to my BFF blogger, Jesse/Copyboy. The only "Jessie/Jesse" I've ever "met."

Weekend Retro Rewind Featuring Bananarama

Welcome to the third installment of Weekend Retro Rewind.

One of my favorite movies of 1984 was Karate Kid and no I'm not happy to hear there is a remake happening soon. I like the originator, not the imitator. (Like that? It's the tag line from an old Long Island radio station.)

Anyway, the song is by Bananarama and it's "Cruel Summer" -- anyone remember it? I was really bummed when I bought the Karate Kid soundtrack tape (yes tape, it was 1984!) and this song was mysteriously missing from the soundtrack album. Not cool Bananarama, not cool.


Stressful Karate Kid School Scenes (my favorite because Liz Shue says, "Ali with an "I"' and I was always, "Ally with a Y." Blogged about that before.)
*note the dialog is in Spanish because the US version had the audio removed due to copyright issues.






Real Bananarama Video