Alf

Over the years, many stars have used just one name to identify themselves. The greatest one named megastar of the 1980's was not Cher or Madonna, it was Alf. Alf's real name was Gordon Shumway and he was from the planet Melmac. Alf stood for Alien Life Form, and he invaded the Riverside, California home of the Tanners. He was messy, sarcastic, and loved to eat cats.

Born on October 28th, 1756, Alf was invited into living rooms all over the world. The show was a hit in 43 countries and was broadcasted into many languages. Every show usually followed the same premise, Alf makes a big mess out of a situation and someone almost finds out about him, but in the end Alf does a good deed that makes everyone love him and want to keep him around.

Alf was special for me not only because he was hilarious, but because he sent the right message. If you make a mess, clean it up (I am not just talking about flushing the toliet either). If everyone cleaned up after themselves, whether its doing the dishes or talking to that special someone whom you've had a falling out, the world would be much better off.

Alf was cancelled in 1990 after four seasons , I believe over a contract dispute. However, his show spun off into a Saturday cartoon, a talk show, and a TV movie. Alf was so big in some countries, that the TV movie was released in theaters. You can still watch the first three seasons on the internet at www.hulu.com/alf. There is also a very active fansite at http://www.alftv.net/.

Hopefully, Gordon Shumway and his message will continue to spread through those of us who never forgot that beautiful alien.

Alf Cast, Where are they now? http://www.tvshows.de/alf/e-people.htm

Always Wake Up Early On Saturdays

My kids use Saturdays to sleep in, and I don't blame them because school has more pressure now than ever. But when I was a kid, Saturday was the day you woke up early to watch cartoons. My sister and I loved to watch the Little's followed by The Smurfs. It was a tradition, but there were so many cartoons to choose from. I loved the ones based on real life characters too. MC Hammer had a show as did the Ewoks, Hulk Hogan, Ghostbusters, and even Alf. My cousin was definitely a care bears girl. My favorite was Scooby Doo of course. Scooby Doo was also on in the afternoon following Duck Tales. In the later years scrappy doo made his appearance. To this day I can still sing the theme song to Fraggle Rock. Brenda's ring tone on her phone for the longest time was Inspector Gadget. She gave that phone away and felt violated when she heard the new owner using the Inspector Gadget ring tone. How dare she? Jem WAS truly outrageous and Pac-Man was kinda corny. My kids are huge fans of Super Mario Brothers and I even purchased DVD's of the old Saturday morning show.

Saturday's are special for my kids because I let them play the Wii on the weekends. But for me, it was all about waking up early and starting my weekend with a cartoon. My parents couldn't stop us from watching either. Why? Because it was educational. Between each half hour show were little skits called School House Rock. "I'm just a Bill" is by far my favorite. I have always wanted to find the man they call Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla.

There are several theories on what killed Saturday Morning Cartoons. Some say it was the invasion of Japanese animation and shows like Transformers, He-Man, and GI Joe. Others claim that the cable television explosion and channels like the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network made cartoons so readily available that Saturday mornings became obsolete. Maybe Nintendo killed the ratings. In any case, the cartoons got replaced by shows like Saved by the Bell and now they're a distant memory.

My sister and I are almost two years apart just like my two boys. As I look at my boys fight all day long it reminds me of my sister and I doing the same. However, when the Little's came on, a truce, a partnership, a bond if you will was formed. For a couple of hours on Saturday morning, we were the best of friends. My sister and I live far apart these days, but we will always have the memories of Saturday mornings to remind us to call each other.

Life Moves Pretty Fast

If you don't stop to look around once in a while, you might miss it.

Ferris Bueller was a sensitive young man, yet he had an Eddie Haskell way about him. He bent the rules, but his heart was huge as he comforted his best friend Cameron and promised his girlfriend Sloan that he would one day marry her.

He'll keep calling me. He'll keep calling me until I come over. He'll make me feel guilty... This is- this is ridiculous, ok. I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go.

The movie made everyone want to take a day off. I don't live in Chicago, but Ferris found so much to do on an ordinary day. He took in a baseball game, went to the top of the Sears Tower, and even sang Twist and Shout in a local parade.

They bought it. Incredible! One of the worst performances of my career and they never doubted it for a second.

Matthew Broderick was charming, cool, calm, and collected. When others panicked, he found a way. How many people can pose as the Sausage King of Chicago and get way with it? This is a movie that all of us could identify with, because after watching Ferris in action, we all got a sense of what life really should be like.

Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight that if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks you'd have a diamond.

Ferris Bueller is a classic. A movie about a young man who deserves to get a huge spanking, but you root for the guy because he has it all figured out. Every now and then we all need a day off to look around.

So, next time life has the best of you, take a Ferris Bueller's Day Off. You deserve it.

Hey, Cameron. You realize if we played by the rules right now we'd be in gym?

and now a word from our sponsors

Word up.

Word up everybody. Now we all knew that "word up" would not last. It caught on but did not have the staying power. "My bad" for some unknown reason has stood the test of time. "My bad" was not a meant as a complete replacement for "my fault," but I think nowadays its used a lot more than "my fault." Even professionals use "my bad" these days.

Words that meant "cool" have come and gone. That's "fresh", its "dope", its "fat", that's bad, have been replaced by the kids of today with, "that's sick" or "bad ass." I think words describing something "awesome" or "Gnarly" will always find a suitable replacement.

But there is one word; one word that we used that has gone away but never replaced.

Sike: {sahyk} - adjective American

1. To take back something previously said or performed.

Sentence - 'That is a really nice dress, Sike.'

Sike was the greatest word ever. Put your hand out for a handshake, pull it back, "Sike!" What word has replaced Sike? "Not," I don't think it packs same punch. I admit that "Sike" could be viewed as a word a little on the mean-spirited side. However, in those days people weren't as offended as they are today. They weren't as sensitive to a little razzing. You could be a little edgy with your vocabulary because most people weren't so politically correct. Loosen up America, and the next time you see that co-worker coming down the hall and you can't think of a greeting, say, "You look like you've lost some weight, Sike!"

Blame It On The Rain

I knew it from the start you would break my heart

I was an 8th grader living in Germany at the height of the Milli Vanilli craze. They were big worldwide, but the German duo was godlike in Wurzburg. Their music was everywhere, their posters canvased city walls, and every German Frau had a notebook with their shirtless bodies on the cover.

It's a tragedy for me to see, the dream is over

Of course, Milli Vanilli is infamous for being phonies. They lyp synced their songs and the world turned against them. My young German friend was in disbelief, but I told her, "Girl, you know its true." After their fame came crashing down, record stores began to have promotions where you could burn Milli Vanilli cassettes in the parking lot. (Did I just say cassettes?) However, I could not bring myself to destroying my Milli Vanilli cassette, because I liked the music.

And I never will forget the day we met, Girl I'm gonna miss you

Who cares if Rob and Fab were not the real singers if you liked the music? Blame it on the Rain, Baby, Don't Forget my Number, Girl You Know its True, and Girl I'm Gonna Miss you, are defining songs of the 80's. The music of the 80's was amazing. Sandwiched in between the hippie politically driven music of the 70's and the deep thinking, depressing grunge music of the 90's, the 80's music meant nothing. It was just good, fun music to chill too. From Cyndy Lauper, to Huey Lewis, to Milli Vanilli, it was music that pretty much sucked, but it was a breath of fresh air that the world needed.

Like a Honey bee you took the best of me, Now I can't erase those memories

Parachute Pants

Yeah, I had them and I loved them. Why? Because they were AWESOME!! Not only were they practical, they were versatile. All of those zippers and pockets; if I had a pair today, I would be able to carry my IPOD, my cell, my keys, my wallet, and my change all in different pockets. Parachute pants came in all different colors, not just black and grey, but the neon line was like no other. If I had parachute pants today, I would wear them with a shirt and tie, then come home, change into a T-Shirt and go to the movies in my parachute pants. I would take my kids to the playground and be the fastest down the slide. Then the next day, I would zip off the bottom half and wear my parachute shorts.

Oh, and I would start break dancing again too. My cousin and I finished second in a break dancing contest when I was 10 at a local roller skating rink. Why was I good at break dancing? Parachute Pants. If I were to start break dancing again I would have to watch the greatest break dancing movie of all time. That's right, Breakin. Breakin was sick. The second best break dancing movie of all time was Breakin 2-Electric Boogaloo.