Okay for those of you that experience my post St. Elmo's Fire rant in college, you probably need to read no further. But I remember like it was yesterday... 1988. My bedroom in my parents house in Long Island, NY was gray with pink trim (Because my mother wouldn't let me paint my room black. I thought it would be both edgy and be a nice background for my posters.) It didn't matter though you couldn't see the walls. They were COVERED floor to ceiling with posters from Bop, Teen Beat, Tiger Beat, 16, Circus, Metal Edge... I'm sure there were more, I can't remember though. I had pictures of Axl Rose and Guns N Roses, Vince Neil (although I traded most of my Motley Crue posters with my friend Christie for posters of Guns N Roses),Poison, Skid Row, Warrant... actors, Sean Astin (pre- LOTR), Mario Lopez (with the Saved by the Bell Mullet), Johnny Depp (during 21 Jump Street), those accounted for about 1 wall, the other walls and my Ceiling and my door, all New Kids On The Block. The focus (because everyone had their favorite) was Donnie Wahlberg. Bad boy of NKOTB. I can still see the poster that hung over my bed. He was showing the tattoo on his arm flashing the peace sign... Anyway that was 18 years ago. Revel in that thought, 18 years. I know human beings that age. People born while I was thinking about what names would sound good with Wahlberg (you know, for when Donnie and I got married... don't judge me.) Well I was 13. Donnie was 19. Well, now 2006, I'm in Little Rock, Arkansas I'm packing- well, more like procrastinating packing. I turn on the TV and there he is 37 years old, playing a father of 3 on the run and there was a shot, towards the end, he was sad, he looked old. I'll be 31 in like 2 months... well, exactly 2 months from today as a matter of fact... I'm not 13. I have no posters. I can drive. I have no idea when the last time I listened to a New Kids song was, but I'll probably be searching for one on my drive home tomorrow. I'm no longer obsessed with Donnie Wahlberg, although ironically I do have a slight obsession with Mark Wahlberg these days. It wasn't a direct transition mind you, there were many others between then and now, I have also been known to have a picture of Marc Wahlberg as my desktop- I guess that is like posters for adults... Do teenagers still buy those mags and hang up posters? Who's in them? I mean, Patrick Dempsy? Does anyone remember "Can't Buy Me Love?" or "Loverboy?" He was the most famous studly nerd and now he's McDreamy... is he in the mags? Matthew Broderick, mostly known for his Broadway performances in The Producers or How to Succeed in Business... or for his famous wife-- Hey guys, it's just Ferris Buler.. Oh and speaking of his wife... Sarah Jessica Parker- along with Helen Hunt they were in every 80s movie post brat pack. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun... also starring a yong Shannon Dougherty. Oh and Footloose with Kevin Bacon. She was nerdy and dancing long before she was trendy wearing expensive shoes and sipping comos- And Helen- she jumped out of a window after snorting angel dust in an after school special and she was the Quarterback Princess long before there was an oscar... Long before she was Chad Michael Murray's mom Moira Kelly was Kate Mosley Ice Skater in The Cutting Edge, her father was Terry O'Quinn-Locke from Lost- Oh and she was also in With Honors with Patrick Dempsey. Speaking of One Tree Hill- Dan Scott, Paul Johanssen was John Sears on Beverley Hills 90210 - Frat boy but better known as the guy that was Kelly Taylor's first-well because he raped her, but still... 90210- Hillary Swank- Soccer Mom dated Steve Sanders. Anyone remember Chandlier (Matthew Perry) as a guy who couldn't get laid and a pal to River Phoenix in "A Night in The Life of Jimmy Reardon?" Or as Carol Seaver's boyfriend who got killed in a car ccident, was his name Sandy? Speaking of Growing Pains, Leonardo DiCaprio as the runaway that the seavers adopt, I can't remember the character name... The olsen twins were playing 1 baby on Full house, getting diapered by Dave "Out of Control" Coulier and John "I made the mullet cool" Stamos.. ER's Dr. Green was "Goose" in Top Gun. Buffy- Sarah Michelle Geller was playing Sidney a rich bitch on Swan's Crossing- a daily teen soap opera. Oh and how about Joey Lawrence, before he was all "Whoa" on Blossom, he was Nell Carter's adopted son on Gimme a Break, and Rosie O'Donell was her upstairs neighbor. Sean Astin- Samwise Gamgee- was Mikey in the Goonies... James Spader was the B-list version of Andrew McCarthy, Adam Sandler was "The Studboy" on my favorite game show remote control-- Mario Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Fergie were on Kids Incorporated (Who else remebers that theme song?) Johnny Depp-Officer Tommy Hanson 21 Jump Street- Kurt Cobain is Dead. River Phoenix is dead. Becky's boyfriend (Glenn Quinn) is Dead. I could go- but I think I've already gone on too long- I had a point when I started- I have no idea what it was. I remember these stars when they were cool-not as famous, as recognized- but they were cool because they were in my favorite shows and movies. I had to show my support by buying mags writting letters, buying their lunch boxes- maybe they weren't huge stars the, but I liked them all the same. And everything gets recycled so it makes sense that they are popular again--- In the next 5 years i bet someone will make a movie that will do for the 80s what Dirty Dancing did for the 60s or Grease for the 50s. The music will resurge- not like the wedding singer- It wil highlight what 1988 was like- pre computers and cell phones- When River was in his prime and Kurt was about to change music's focus to Seattle-- We are getting old. I have to go pack now..
