March 8

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, 1985

Welcome back to another enthralling edition of Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers! J. Blake and Dion Baia stay up late this week to chat about an iconic character and movie from their youth, Pee-Wee Herman and his cult classic 1985 film helmed by Tim Burton, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.

The boys talk about bike riding, theater-movie going, and the arcade game playing of their youth, as they reminisce about being kids in another era. They unpack the history of Paul Reubens‘ Pee-Wee Herman character and inception, the 1981 HBO Special, and what led to a Warner Brothers movie deal. They go over Tim Burton‘s early work at Disney and how he and composer Danny Elfman were serendipitously paired with Reubens to collaborate on the 1985 movie. Dion and Blake also delve into Pee-Wee‘s late 80’s career–the groundbreaking and Emmy Award winning CBS Saturday Morning show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, and what led up to his notorious arrest and fall out; and his ultimate transition beyond and back to Pee-Wee Herman. It’s a very fun, sentimental and exciting, all new episode of Saturday Night Movie Sleepover!

Extras!

Check out Blake’s 2016 pictures of Pee-Wee‘s suit and bike, as well as the house used in the 1985 film!

Have a listen to Blake’s interview with composer John Massari on the latest episode of Scored to Death: The Podcast.

As discussed in the cast, take a look at the amazing mountain climbing TV movie from 1980, High Ice, starring David Janssen and Tony Musante, courtesy of YouTube.

Also discussed on this week’s episode, check out the forgotten gem The Wizard of Speed and Time, also courtesy of YouTube.

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Category: Comedy, Fantasy | LEAVE A COMMENT
July 3

Flight of the Navigator, 1986

Happy Birthday America! To ring in the July 4th holiday, J. Blake and Dion Baia are pulling out a real old-school classic, the forgotten Disney gem, Flight of the Navigator, from 1986.

Flight of the Navigator

The boys bring a slew of knowledge and personal experience to this edition of Saturday Night Movie Sleepovers, relaying the history of Walt Disney‘s company, especially in the context of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, be it in animated and live-action films. Dion and Blake relay their story of the private tour of the Disney Studios in Burbank CA that they took part in, and Dion’s fortunate (or unfortunate) meeting of Michael Eisner, ex-CEO of Disney Studios from 1984-2005 and how it panned out. How does Flight still hold up today? How about the Special Effects? Was this Disney’s answer to E.T.? And wow, Disney can be dark when they want to be, can’t they?! We’re traveling the cosmos in this 4th of July extravaganza, so come on down and have a listen!

(Here’s a great 1986 featurette for Flight of the Navigator)

(Check out the trailer to the must-see documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty, about the near-scuttling of Disney‘s Animation department.)

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Category: Action, Adventure, Childrens, Disney | LEAVE A COMMENT