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October 10, 2005
The Chronic Curmudgeon Pop Culture Top 50: #45-43
Following on to my incredibly popular (all of one follow-up comment) post about the top 50 pop culture influences/moments of the last 25 years, here's #s 45-43. (Because you know I love doing posts that no one wants to read...)
45. Wayne's World (1989-1994). No... way! Way! Of all the recurring characters from Saturday Night LIve in the 1985-2005 era, perhaps none was as forgettable as Wayne's World. Schyeah - and monkeys might fly out of my butt! This was the only Saturday Night LIve skit after the Blues Brothers that was made into a successful movie. And the juvenile interplay between Mike Myers and Dana Carvey -- not to mention the episode with Aerosmith -- quickly became SNL legend. The catchphrases got adopted by wannabe juveniles everywhere -- "Schuh-wing!" "NOT!" "We're not worthy!" and of course... Party on, Wayne. Party on, Garth.
44. Survivor (2000 - ) Reality television had been around for a while, but when Survivor premiered after the Super Bowl in 2000, it launched reality into the stratosphere. It introduced us the the now over-used cliche of being voted off the island, gave us Colleen, and set in motion the defining television trend of the decade. And while I might wish that reality TV had had its torch snuffed out at tribal council, there's no denying the influence -- not to mention the inexplicable continuing popularity -- of Survivor.
43. Valley Girl/Fast Times At RIdgemont High: Valley/Surfer lingo goes nationwide (1982-1983). How do you explain kids in the midwest who've never seen an ocean running around talking about gnarly waves and getting gagged with spoons? A pop culture phenomenon based on Sean Penn's performance as Jeff Spacoli, Deborah Foreman as Julie Richman, and Moon Unit Zappa's insipid but unforgettable song. For a few years in the early 80s, teenagers all across the US adopted the slow cadence and laid back surfer 'tude - and any movies and song that can get a whole country of kids to start acting like they're from somewhere they're not... well, they belong on a top pop culture influences list.
I know I promised up to #41, but it's late and I'm tired. Maybe I'll do three at a time instead of five. Anyway, tomorrow you get #42-#40.
Comments
The Shitty Beatles? Are they any good?
They suck.
So it's not just a clever name.
Posted by: eden at October 11, 2005 12:54 PM
Like oh my god... fer sure....
Posted by: Shari at October 11, 2005 09:17 PM
