The Shermer High Alumni Association

Never heard of it? That's ok.  To catch you up, this is the story of Cru Jones, a young man who can overcome all obstacles that prevent him from participating in the BMX race Hill Track as he works towards his dream proof falls in love with Christian, who's a girl, an amateur racer with the help of Christian who's a girl, and her friends can cruise Rad Racing team defeat the top BMX factory rider Bart Taylor.

Suspenseful.

Where will this rate on the cringe scale?

#rad #radbmx #80srewatch #80spod

 St. Elmo's Fire is about a group of recent college graduates who embark on a series of misadventures in the real world. There's Kirby, a waiter who's a law student and a questionable sociopath. Kevin, a melancholy writer for the Washington Post, yearns for Alex's girlfriend, Leslie. Alec, whose political aspirations alienate his girlfriend, Leslie, and Wendy, a quiet girl in love with Billy, who juggles roles as husband, dad, and drunk. And then there's Jules, who fails miserably at international banking and managing what went into her body. Together, they grapple with adulthood.

#stelmosfire #br...

Join us this week as we rewatch the 1984 Tom Hanks classic, Splash. And boy, do we go down some pretty disturbing rabbit holes on this one. Mermaid s*x, mermaid babies, mer-men, you name it. Did it age well? Will we watch it again?

#splash #tomhanks #darrellhannah #johncandy #eugenelevy

In this episode, hosts Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole from the Schirmer High Alumni Association rewatch the iconic 1982 film, ET the Extra-Terrestrial. They discuss memorable scenes, the talented cast including Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore, and the film's impact on their childhoods. The hosts delve into behind-the-scenes details, such as the movie's original use of Reese's Pieces instead of M&Ms, and the filming locations in California. They also talk about the film's critical acclaim, including reviews from Roger Ebert and screenings at places like the United Nations and the White House. Finally, they share their thoughts on whether the...

 This week's movie is the 1985 Sarah Jessica Parker classic, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Jump on your motorcycle, practice your dance moves, and put a grasshopper on your head.

 Though she's a talented gymnast, Janie has always followed her strict Army Colonel father's orders and stayed out of the spotlight. However, when she moves to Chicago and meets the carefree Lynne Stone, she disobeys her father for the first time in her life.

With Lynne's encouragement, Janie enters a TV dance competition she's dreamed about her whole life and soon finds herself with both a cute...

Lane Meyer, played by John Cusack is a teen with a peculiar family and a bizarre fixation with his girlfriend, Beth, played by Amanda Wyss. When Beth dumps Lane, he decides to unalive himself, making several bumbling attempts at taking his own life. Outside of his morbid endeavors, Lane spends time with his oddball buddy, Charles, played by Curtis Armstrong, and befriends Monique, played by Diane Franklin, a visiting French exchange student. Eventually, Lane resolves to race Beth’s obnoxious new beau on the ski slopes, with unexpected results.

Class is in session....

#be...

This week, we rewatch Popeye, the 1980 cocaine-fest from Malta. Arguably Robin Williams' best role ever. We love everything about it - Sweethaven, Sweet Pea, Dennis Franz(?). We talk about our forever friend Adams recent trip to Popeye Village and Jeannine sings for us.

The question now is... is it Hall of Fame-worthy?

#popeye #robinwilliams #shelleyduvall #80smovies #adamthewoo #popeyevillage

This week's movie is Some Kind of Wonderful. John Hughes' 1987 remake of his 1986 romance/comedy, Pretty in Pink.

Blue-collar teen Keith Nelson (Eric Stoltz) goes out with the popular Amanda (Lea Thompson), a girl he has always dreamed of dating. Her ex-boyfriend plots revenge on him, while Keith's tomboy best friend Watts realizes she has feelings for Keith.

Did it age well? Did it age better than Pretty in Pink? Tune in and join us as we dive into this '87 classic.

In this episode:

Cozy Earth - use...

 Today, we're rewinding to 1986 to revisit a movie that defined teen relationships and gave us a soundtrack that slaps.

From thrift store prom dresses to love triangles that still spark debate decades later, this John Hughes classic asked the big questions: Is Ducky actually the best guy? Was Andy's dress iconic or just aggressively pink? And how did Blaine manage to look confused for the entire film?

So grab your cassettes, don your best Jessica McClintock, and get ready as we break down the style, the soundtrack, and the swoon-worthy and sometimes cringey moments of Pr...

We can't believe it is the end of 2025 already! In this episode we wrap up the year while we discuss the best and cringiest movies we've reviewed so far. We also give only-real-to-us awards like "Least Offensive 80s Teen Boy Behavior" and "Most Unnecessary Musical Montage".

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Show outro:

As we wrap up this episode and the end of the year, we just want to say thank you. You’ve spent the past seven months rewatching these movies with us, laughing with us, and remembering the strange and wonderful world of 80s cinema right al...

What do you get when you mix Greek mythology, a disco roller rink, Gene Kelly, and Olivia Newton-John glowing like a cosmic fairy? Well, apparently... Xanadu.

This week, we try to make sense of the gloriously chaotic cult classic that sparkles, spins, and confuses in equal measure. With a plot that feels like it was sketched out on a coke mirror and music that somehow still slaps, Xanadu might be the most “so bad it’s great” movie we've rewatched yet.

Roll with us. It’s weird, it’s glittery, it’s Xanadu.

Today, we’re tackling the cinematic masterpiece that taught an entire generation two very important lessons: never lick frozen metal… and beware of gifts that could, allegedly, ‘shoot your eye out.’

This week, we’re diving into A Christmas Story! Join us as we revisit Ralphie Parker’s relentless campaign for the Red Ryder BB gun, a lamp that is somehow both a major award and a fire hazard, and a family who really just wants to eat one normal meal without catastrophe.

So slip into your pink bunny pajamas, dodge incoming snowballs, and let’s get started...

Today, we’re stringing up the lights, overloading the power grid, and bracing for impact, because we’re diving into National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!

It’s the holiday comedy that gave us Cousin Eddie, exploding turkeys, and the most relatable Christmas meltdown ever put on screen.

So grab some eggnog, stay away from any squirrels hiding in your tree, and let’s celebrate the madness of the Griswold family Christmas!” This is The Shermer High Alumni Association.

#ChevyChase #JulietteLewis #JohnnyGalecki #BeverlyDAnge...

This week's holiday movie is Scrooged, Bill Murray’s 1988 take on A Christmas Carol. None of us watched it growing up (or at least we don't remember), so this rewatch became a first-time watch for all three of us.

We dig into the movie’s chaotic production history, including the tension between Bill Murray and director Richard Donner, and how that friction shows up on screen. The shifting script and uneven tone create a movie that swings between sharp comedy and full-on chaos, but somehow those shifts end up being part of its charm.

We agre...

This week's movie is 💥 Die Hard💥. We address hard-hitting questions like: Is this a 🎄 Christmas 🎄movie? Do you need to deer-kick a person when they are already dead? Did Die Hard define the future for the action genre of movies? Is Arglye the Neville Longbottom of Die Hard?

Other hot takes:

Join us as we rewind, rewatch, and remember the decade that shaped us.

For more movie madness, check out ou...

In this week's episode, we are discussing Gremlins, Chris Columbus's 1984 "black comedy horror film". We talk about its PG rating and if this was the straw that broke the camel's back, leading to PG-13 ratings a month later. Is it a Christmas movie? Horror? Comedy? All of the above? Do you leave cooked chicken uncovered in your fridge? Would you care if your kid fed all of it to his pet? We answer ALL of the questions and more.

Join the discussion and check out the show notes on our website: shaapodcast.com.

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This week we rewatch Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the 1987 classic from John Hughes starring Steve Martin and John Candy. This movie takes us on the misadventures of Neal and Del, two unlikely cohorts on a crusade to make it back to Chicago for Thanksgiving.

We pay homage to John Candy who died way too soon and revel in Steve Martin being 80, but doesn't look a day over 70.

Join us as we kick off the Thanksgiving holiday season!

Say Anything (1989) feels less like an 80s teen movie and more like a snapshot of what it means to be young, uncertain, and hopeful. This week, the Schirmer High crew revisits Cameron Crowe’s beloved coming-of-age film that made us all fall for Lloyd Dobler — the guy with the trench coat, the boombox, and a heart too big for his own good.

Kristin, Jeannine, and Carole talk about what makes this movie so timeless, from its honesty about love to its messy family dynamics and unforgettable soundtrack.

In this episode of The Shermer High Alumni Association, the team rewinds A Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven’s 1984 horror hit that launched Freddy Krueger into slasher legend. None of us had seen it before, and it shows. We unpack why the film was both groundbreaking and baffling, how it defined 80s horror aesthetics, and why it made us so thankful our parents banned scary movies.

This week, we’re rewinding Teen Wolf, the 1985 movie that proves puberty was bad enough without suddenly growing fur and dunking on your classmates.

We talk about Michael J. Fox’s surprisingly chaotic production schedule, the most '80s basketball scenes ever filmed, and why Boof remains the unsung hero of the movie. There’s also a heated debate about whether this is secretly a metaphor for body hair, hormones, or Hollywood just running out of ideas.

From awkward transformations to questionable sound effects and one truly baffling high school dance, we break down how Teen Wo...

We’re kicking off spooky season with Friday the 13th (1980), the movie that convinced a generation of kids they never wanted to go to summer camp. It convinced us, that's for sure.

Join us as we dive into:

Kevin Bacon’s Speedo.

Mrs. Voorhees' sweater/turtleneck fit.

Tom Savini’s practical effects magic

And whether this cult classic still holds up, or just feels completely ridiculous in 2025

From strip Monopoly to tarp sex (yes, really), this is peak early-80s horror. Rewatch it with us and decide if Frida...

This week we’re firing up the flux capacitor and heading back to 1985 with Back to the Future.

We talk Marty McFly, Doc Brown, and whether the time travel rules in this movie make any sense at all. Plus: Lorraine’s crush on her own son (yikes), Crispin Glover’s wonderfully weird George McFly, and why the Enchantment Under the Sea dance might be one of the best teen movie set pieces ever.

Along the way, we dig into the casting drama (sorry, Eric Stoltz), Michael J. Fox’s grueling schedule, and how a movie that almo...

We’re back with the second half of Sixteen Candles, picking up as the evening at Jake's comes to a close..

In this episode, we dive into:

The wreckage of Jake’s house and what we would do to our own kids if this happened

Long Duk Dong and the parts of this movie that really don’t sit right anymore

Whether Jake is actually boyfriend material—or just a glamour shot daydream

That big romantic finale, and how it plays through a 2025 lens

Teenage us thought this was...

We’re kicking off a two-part rewatch of Sixteen Candles, the movie that made Molly Ringwald an icon and taught us that apparently, everyone in your family can forget your birthday.

In Part 1, we walk through the first half of the film: school bus rides, Farmer Ted’s antics, and the start of Jake Ryan’s “dreamboat” status (which… maybe doesn’t hold up quite the way we remembered). It all leads up to the infamous party at Jake’s house.

This was the start of John Hughes’ teen-movie empire, but watching it now? Let’s just say some of it...

Personal ads, mistaken identities, and one seriously iconic jacket — welcome to Desperately Seeking Susan (1985).

This week, we rewind the cult classic that launched Madonna as a movie star and turned downtown New York style into a fashion revolution. We’re talking Rosanna Arquette’s suburban boredom, Aidan Quinn’s sensitive projectionist vibes, Laurie Metcalf stealing every scene, and why this movie is both a screwball comedy and a feminist time capsule.

With amnesia, sequins, and critics split between “cult classic” and “yuppie fever dream,” this film is pure 80s chaos. Did it age well, or should...

In this episode of The Shermer High Alumni Association, we fire up our computers, channel some questionable 80s movie logic, and revisit Weird Science (1985). We talk about Anthony Michael Hall at the height of his teen comedy powers, Ilan Mitchell-Smith’s short-lived Hollywood career, and Kelly LeBrock as the ultimate 80s fantasy creation.

We unpack the movie’s wild mix of teen hormones, computer magic, and John Hughes charm, while also calling out the plot holes, cringeworthy gender politics, and moments that still make us laugh. From Chet’s comeuppance to the insanity of creating a woman in your b...

In this episode of The Shermer High Alumni Association, we’re pouring ourselves into the neon-soaked, flair-bartending mess that is Cocktail (1988). From Tom Cruise’s Bryan Flanagan chasing big dreams in New York, to Bryan Brown as the charmingly cynical mentor, to Elisabeth Shue as the grounded love interest, this movie delivers high drama, questionable career choices, and enough Blue Hawaiians to make your liver nervous.

We talk about its rollercoaster of ambition, romance, and beach bar antics, the infamous bar-top poetry scenes, and whether this glossy 80s cocktail still goes down smooth. Where will it score on the...

The journey continues as Pee-Wee’s wild cross-country search for his beloved bike reaches peak campiness. We break down the Alamo tour (spoiler: no basement), the biker gang showdown, and the gloriously meta movie-within-a-movie ending. Along the way, we celebrate Paul Reubens’ comedic genius, explore the film’s lasting cult appeal, and revel in the strange, wonderful world Tim Burton built. Whether you first saw it on VHS or just discovered it, this is one road trip worth rewinding.

Grab your bowtie and hop on your bike: this week, we dive into Tim Burton’s delightfully bizarre 1985 classic, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. From Pee-Wee’s legendary breakfast contraption to his epic quest for a stolen bike, we revisit the film’s offbeat humor, surreal set pieces, and the iconic characters that made it unforgettable. We’ll gush over Paul Reubens’ pure commitment to the role, Dottie’s loyal charm, and of course, Large Marge’s nightmare fuel. It’s absurd, it’s brilliant, and yes, we are still obsessed with it.

We locked ourselves in the attic to rewatch the 1987 adaptation of Flowers in the Attic, and honestly? We’re still recovering.

This week, we take on V.C. Andrews’ gothic cult classic, where a grieving mother hides her children in a mansion attic, a villainous grandmother weaponizes religion, and a bridal veil becomes a murder weapon. From powdered donuts to plot holes, we’re unpacking all the trauma, tropes, and twisted family dynamics this '80s movie has to offer.

Spoiler: this one gets dark. But don't worry, we're bringing our usual sarcasm, side-eye, and Gen X su...

What do you get when you mix Greek mythology, a disco roller rink, Gene Kelly, and Olivia Newton-John glowing like a cosmic fairy? Well, apparently... Xanadu.

This week, we try to make sense of the gloriously chaotic cult classic that sparkles, spins, and confuses in equal measure. With a plot that feels like it was sketched out on a coke mirror and music that somehow still slaps, Xanadu might be the most “so bad it’s great” movie we've rewatched yet.

Roll with us. It’s weird, it’s glittery, it’s Xanadu.

In 1982, Tootsie earned 10 Oscar nominations, making Dustin Hoffman a household name (again).

This week, we rewind to the chaotic charm of Tootsie—a film where one man’s desperation turns into daytime TV stardom, unintentional social commentary, and a baby named Amy.

We break down:

Hoffman's method acting… as a woman

And whether Tootsie is still progressive, problematic, or just plain entertaining

It’s time.... to talk wigs, male egos, and soap operas.

A flat tire, a Playboy magazine, a stolen car, and an impromptu blues performance—just another normal night of babysitting in 1987… right?

This week, we’re revisiting Adventures in Babysitting, the chaotic cult favorite that gave us Elisabeth Shue, Thor worship, and a truly absurd tour of late-80s Chicago. But between the nostalgia and the neon, this movie also serves up some major cringe—especially in the racial stereotyping department.

We talk:

Babysitting as a high school senior

Each character's questionable decision-making

The moments that still made us laugh

Five teens walk into detention... and somehow walk out with emotional trauma, a makeover scene we’re still annoyed about, and one of the most quoted movies of all time.

This week, we’re revisiting The Breakfast Club—John Hughes' iconic coming-of-age film that shaped a generation and launched a thousand think pieces. But how well does it really hold up?

We break down:

Whether Bender is charming, damaged… or just a walking red flag

That infamous lipstick trick (WHY)

The moments that still hit—and the ones that aged like s...

Some movies age like fine wine.
And some age like a humanoid duck with a questionable libido.

In this episode, we dive headfirst into Howard the Duck (1986)—a high-budget, high-concept, low-explanation film that somehow features space travel, duck boobs, demon possession, and Lea Thompson in full 80s rockstar mode.

We break down:

The truly bizarre plot that nobody signed up for

The animatronic phenomenon that was Howard

Why Lea Thompson remains an absolute queen despite everything

And the parts that made us laugh, cringe, and stare at th...

The questionable choices continue as we return to Rydell High for Part 2 of our Grease 2 rewatch—and trust us, things go completely off the rails (and we’re so here for it).

This episode picks up right before the deeply confusing, mildly horrifying “Do It for Our Country” number. From there, we dig into the second half of the movie: more musical chaos, a motorcycle makeover that defies physics, and a pep rally that somehow turns into a over the top romantic reckoning.

We're kicking off The Shermer High Alumni Associate podcast with the movie that taught us how "Reproduction” works... whether we wanted to or not.

In Part 1 of our deep dive into Grease 2, the Zabriskie sisters (Carole, Jeannine, and Kristin) strap on their leather jackets and take a joy ride back to Rydell High to revisit one of the most gloriously bizarre sequels of the 1980s. Michelle Pfeiffer wants a cool rider, Maxwell Caulfield is having an identity crisis, and the plot? Questionable at best.

We break down the first ha...

Welcome, Shermer High Alum!

Shermer High Alumni is a nostalgic rewatch podcast where Gen-X sisters Carole, Jeannine, and Kristin revisit the movies that defined their childhoods. From iconic blockbusters to forgotten video store gems, they break down what still works, what definitely doesn’t, and what made the ‘80s a weird, wonderful mess of fashion, feelings, and film.

It’s smart, irreverent, and packed with sisterly side-eye, personal stories, and brutally honest hot takes.