The Gen X Factor - by Just Jeff... and the Dazzlingly Uncool

Jeff and Rocky welcome special guest Taylor (Nefcy) Seale, the star of a viral "April Fools" YouTube video from 2014.  Jeff muses on what it must be like to have so many views!  Check out the video here:

https://youtu.be/R9rymEWJX38

A post interview with Taylor here:

https://youtu.be/rvyMLeSQEVs

And, an interview with her professor here:

https://youtu.be/2McP-I23WEo

Today is MLB opening day, and what better way to get in the baseball mood than to discuss two of Gen X's greatest baseball movies?  The Natural and Field of Dreams are two of our all time favorites! If you can watch either of these cinematic gems without getting chills, we're here to help you find a soul!!

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Jeff clues Rocky in to the events surrounding the Oscars earlier this week, of which he was blissfully unaware.  We don't care too much for the Oscars anymore, but this was fun to talk about.  Did you watch?

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The guys discuss the "Hunks" of 70's and 80's television.  Who would they be willing to fight?  Who would they run away from in fear.  Who would they like to see more of?  And who would they like to see much, much less of?  Tell us your favorites!

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The guys discuss the "Cop Show" genre, so popular in the 70's and 80's, and still popular today.  From the buddy cops, to the gritty cops, to the fashionable cops, they cover them all.  And, Rocky recounts a disturbing dream he had involving one of the most lovable TV cops of them all!

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The guys discuss one of their favorite sitcoms from their childhoods, Happy Days!  Using the 50's nostalgia brought on by the movie American Graffiti, this show quickly became a Tuesday night juggernaut, launching many spin-offs and careers!  Did you love it as much as we did? Or did we jump the shark on this one?  We'd love to hear your memories.

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The guys discuss the current atmosphere of cancel culture, and how it has impacted som many things that were once so enjoyable.  While Bill Cosby deserves all that has come to him if the allegations against him are true, it does not change the fact that we laughed and laughed while listening to our parent's early Cosby comedy albums, watching Fat Albert, or enjoying The Cosby Show.  This is sensitive territory, with "cancellation" being doled out these days for "infractions" far from felony!  

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The guys discuss the origins or and the stories behind their names.  Jeff realizes some startling revelations!  

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The guys discuss the death knell of so many 70's and 80's era sitcoms... the introduction of "the cute kid."  From the gold standard of Cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch, to the introduction of Raven Simone on The Cosby Show, when this happened, the end of the series soon followed.  Can you think of other examples? You'd better believe that Jeff can! 

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The guys reflect on another popular sitcom from the 70's and 80's that was also the absolute favorite of their younger brother Toby.  This seemed like an appropriate date to honor his favorite.  Who can forget the antics of Janet, Chrissy, Jack, Larry, Mr. and Mrs Roper, Mr Furley, Lana, Cindy, Terri... man, that's a crowd!  Did you know that the show was based on a British sitcom called "Man About the House."  If so, I'll bet you didn't know just how closely it was based on it!  Tune in to find out.

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We do!  They guys discuss their memories of their first kisses... their first real kisses! Who doesn't remember that.  Hope you enjoy taking this walk down memory lane with us.  Spoiler alert... Jeff was a ladies man!

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The guys remember their first car, which like the first car of so many in our generation was a certified "beater."  But, despite their car's unquestionably valid qualifications for that title, they would both pay a large sum of money to just sit in it/drive it/smell it(?) one more time!  Can you relate?

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The guys reflect on the current popularity of Hard Seltzers... which are delicious.  In their day, you could get away with enjoying an occasional Bartles and Jaymes, or California Cooler, without suffering relentless ribbing from your friends.  But, the same was not true with the next generation of non-beer, bottled, beverages... Zima. Between the two of them, they decide that it is OK to drink hard seltzers in 2022, without fear of "bro" criticism.

www.rockysealemusic.com 

The guys discuss the groundbreaking sitcom, Diff'rent Strokes, which introduced the world to the wisecracks of Gary Coleman, the wisdom of Conrad Bain, and the dead sexiness of Charlotte Rae!  What was your favorite episode?

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Jeff and Rocky recall the days before Amazon and online shopping, when the arrival of the massive Sears Christmas Catalog at your doorstep heralded the onset of the holiday season!  Do you remember pouring through those pages and circling the things you wished for?  Enjoy this trip down memory lane with us, and tell us your stories!

Jeff and Rocky return for Season 5! Discussing memories of Thanksgivings past.  Ready for some turkey?  Pumpkin pie?  What's your favorite? 

Jeff and Jim talk about their 44 year old friendship, and the value of such a rare thing.

Jeff and Jim discuss their early ventures in video and movie making in the 80's!

Jeff and his lifelong buddy, Jim, discuss the seminal air guitar group of the 80's. Necessary Condition.  Don't miss this engaging tale of slacks, dogs and rock n roll!

Gen X, compared to other generations, was raised comparatively feral.  We were the latch key kids, who played outside until the street lights came on, frolicked on dangerous playground equipment, rode bikes without helmets, and were sort of left to our own devices a lot of the time.  We think it helped to shape us into pretty cool people... at least the ones of us who survived!  Part II of our observations of the above.

Gen X, compared to other generations, was raised comparatively feral.  We were the latch key kids, who played outside until the street lights came on, frolicked on dangerous playground equipment, rode bikes without helmets, and were sort of left to our own devices a lot of the time.  We think it helped to shape us into pretty cool people... at least the ones of us who survived!

The guys finish up their reflections on what may be ultimate 80's show... set a course for adventure, and join us!

No one makes us laugh like Norm MacDonald, and the shocking news of his passing has left us numb.  We take a bit of time to talk about Norm and thank him for the joy he has brought us through the years.  Rest in Peace, funny man.

This week we talk about that show that perfectly encapsulated the vibe of the 80's, The Love Boat! Come aboard! We're Expecting You!

We spend one more episode discussing our love and appreciation of Schoolhouse Rock!  Including input from participants from our Tik Tok Live session, and a call with my son, for a Millennial perspective!

We continue our dive into our favorite educational programming of our childhoods.

We all remember Schoolhouse Rock!  And I'll bet many of us can still recite the preamble of the Constitution because of it!  Right?!  This week we start a discussion about this landmark educational series and the impact that it had on Gen X.

The guys continue recounting their memories of going back to school after summer break.  Hop on the bus with them, and let's get to learning!

The guys are back, after a summer hiatus, with a fresh new season just in time for the kids to go back to school!  They recall their own emotions surrounding this time of year, from the pit in their stomachs that would arise when the commercials for back-to-school sales started airing in late July, to the joy of seeing friends who you had not seen since May.  Plus, knowing that you were looking good in your new school duds!  Join us, won't you?

Birds do it.  Bees do it.  Even educated fleas do it.  Do you remember when your parents sat you down to fill you in on the facts of life?  Or, do you remember doing the same for your own kids?  Which was more uncomfortable?  We discuss our memories, including the novel vocabulary that Jeff developed in order to avoid having to say the most embarrassing words out loud!  

While we are not experts, we grew up during the rise of Rap music, so we couldn't miss the cultural importance of it!  Jeff and I liked it, but our little brother Toby LOVED it!!  He was no wannabe, though. You'd have never known it by the way he dressed, but he knew his 80's rap!! 

The guys recall the ultimate temptation for youngsters accompanying their parents to the grocery store... the Brach's pick-a-mix cart.  Was it theft?  Yes, by definition, it was.  But, I'll bet that not many Gen X'ers can claim to have never helped themselves to one or two!  What was your favorite? 

This week we welcome International Tik Tok sensation, the Cereal Guy (you know him as @cerealguy11 on the popular social media platform).  He discussed his humble beginnings, his approach to life, and his plans for the future in the episode that Look magazine has called "an interview for the ages."  Sit the children down in front of the old wireless for this one, folks.  The font of wisdom truly overflows!

Take one part Howard Cosell, sprinkle on a dash of Bruce Jenner, and fold in the top celebrity talent that the major television networks had to offer.  Then bake slowly over an Olympic flame of genuine athletic competition,  and what do you get?  Only the greatest television spectacle of the mid-70's, the Battle of the Network Stars!  We looked forward to watching these every time they came on, but they are even more entertaining viewing 40+ years later. Talk about a time capsule!  Join us as we talk about this unique cultural phenomenon, which will never be duplicated!

As a generation, we were late to Facebook, behind the times on Instagram, and never really cared about Snapchat.  Why should Tik Tok be any different?  Because it's awesome!  Jeff and Rocky discuss this utterly delightful "time-suck," and how they both decided to start creating content on the platform!  Then they talk to Julie Anderson, a Gen-X Tik Tok creator from the Great White North, who shares some of her hilariously positive outlook on life as  a Gen X'er with us! Follow her @julieanderson426, and follow us @thegenxfactor and @cerealguy11!! 

Part two of our series on Houston's juggernaut of an amusement park, Astroworld!  This week our cousins Kathy and Dave Muras, Laura Ebersole, John Pizzitola and Jim Pizzitola join us with stories from their days working at the park in the 70's and 80's!  Kathy and Dave met at the park, and the rest is history.  Dave, who virtually ran the place, helped get jobs for his future brothers and sister in-law, and hilarity ensued! Join us for this behind-the-scenes look at what was once "the happiest place in Houston!" 

Everyone had an amusement park when they were growing up that was in closer striking range than were the meccas of Disney World or Disney Land.  Ours was Astroworld, located in Houston, TX!  This childhood wonderland only existed for 37 short years, from 1968-2005, but oh, the memories!  We loved that place, just as I'm sure everyone loved their own version of it.  This week, we remember this beloved park, along with special guest Deanna Creech-Cornwall... a high school classmate, and Astroworld aficionado!!

What begins as a recollection of a time when two young brothers drew up plans for how they would protect their home and family, if they were ever called upon to do so, quickly devolves into a discussion about just what they may be willing to do for $10 million dollars.  Sound random?  It is.  It is also just a bit of reassuring proof that the same enjoyable banter that kept these two awake and laughing every night as kids, is alive and well into their 50's! 

This week the guys discuss the impact that the Fab Four has had on their lives (especially Rocky's).  Like all Gen X'ers, they experienced the Beatles phenomenon second hand, as they were still very young when the band broke up.  In spite of that, they discovered the music through their parents, grew to love it as youngsters, and blossomed into full-fledged fanatics with the release of the albums on CD during their college years.  Join us on this Magical Mystery Tour! 

Part III in our series of that bastion of entertainment for our generation... Saturday Night Live.  This episode takes us to the late 80's, when Lorne Michaels was back, and the show had (in our opinion) the greatest cast in its history.  Some may argue with us, and that's OK, but c'mon!  Dana Carvey?!  Dennis Miller?! Kevin Nealon?! Phil Hartman?! Jon Lovitz?! Jan Hooks?! Nora Dunn?! Victoria Jackson?! Then sprinkle in Mike Meyers, David Spade, Tim Meadows, Rob Schneider, Julia Sweeny... that's quality!  Join us for some of our memories of the show during this era!

https://www.rockysealemusic.com/podcast

#SaturdayNightLive #DanaCarvey #DennisMiller #KevinNealon #PhilHartman #JonLovitz #JanHooks #NoraDunn #VictoriaJackson #MikeMeyers, #DavidSpade, #TimMeadows, #RobSchneider #JuliaSweeny

Part two in our SNL series!  After the departure of the entire first cast, and producer Lorne Michaels, the show fell on down times.  But, largely thanks to one young cast member, the show was saved from the brink of extinction and began a climb that lead to (in our opinions) one of the best casts/eras in the show's history!  But that's a story for next week...  For now, let's pay a visit to Mister Robinson's Neighborhood!

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#saturdaynightlive #SNL #eddiemurphy #joepiscopo #saturdaynightliveinthe80s

The guys start a three part series on Saturday Night Live!  This show has spanned decades, and covers all generations from Boomers to Gen Z.  The first cast, which took the show from 1975-80 was absolutely groundbreaking.  While the hosts were too young to remember the first season or two, the definitely started watching in the late 70's.  Much of the humor went right over their heads at the time, but that only makes it that much more fun to go back and revisit some of those old skits from an adult's perspective.  Come along with us... it's going to be a great ride!

Season 3 is upon us, and it brings a name change with it.  Since our podcast is all about Gen X and memories from the 70's, 80's and 90's, we thought the Podcast name should reflect that!  The guys reflect on what it means to be "Generation X" and lay out some of their hopes for the future of the podcast.  

Methods of communication are sure different today than they were back in our day! Now, you have cell phones, texting, instant messaging, and notifications to see if someone has read your message!! We relied on landlines, and carefully crafted notes passed stealthily from one party to another. These often determined our relationship status, and we relied on highly scientific methods for determining our mutual futures… would you live in a mansion? Drive a BMW? Who remembers this? Fondly? Yeah, us too!

As children of the 80’s, we LOVED The Karate Kid! And, we waited with bated breath when word of a new streaming series based on the original movie series was coming! How could that possibly go wrong?! Well, you could start with… oh, there I go again being a negative Nellie! I’ll stop. It’s OK if we have different opinions about things, right. Let’s just sit down over a couple of cold Coors Banquets, and discuss!