1990s

May 31, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Lisa Fuller

Johnny Caps 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Chiller Theatre, convention, Conventions, Earth Girls Are Easy, Freshman Dorm, General Hospital, IMPS*, Lisa Fuller, Night Life, Teach Me Tonight, Teaching, Teen Witch, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, The Monster Squad 5

I had sent my latest interview subject, Lisa Fuller, an interview request last year. I didn’t initially hear back from her, so when I saw that she would be attending the April 2023 Chiller Theatre convention, I knew I had to not only meet her because I loved her work in movies like Teen Witch and Earth Girls Are Easy, but because I wanted to confirm the e-mail address I sent the interview request to was accurate. She checked it out a few weeks after we met at Chiller, and she agreed to an interview. Lisa Fuller is an accomplished actress with credits going back to the 1980s. She’s also a noted singer, and she currently teaches acting alongside her husband and fellow actor Dan Gauthier. There’s a lot of ground to cover with Ms. Fuller, so I hope you all enjoy getting the chance to know this versatile talent much better. Say hello to Lisa Fuller! Johnny: Before anything, I do thank you for taking the time out of

May 10, 2023

Chiller Theatre April 2023: Johnny Caps Recaps

Johnny Caps "Blue" Lou Marini, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Barbara Hershey, Bebe Buell, Bob Bergen, Brinke Stevens, Carnie Wilson, Chiller, Chiller Theatre, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, Frank Verderosa, Geri Reischl, Jason Hervey, Julie McCullough, Lisa Fuller, Lynn Lowry, Mark Holton, Michael Oliver, Michelle Bauer, Murphy Dunne, Olivia d'Abo, Scott Schwartz, Tom "Bones" Malone, Tom Scott 4

I once again paid a visit to the Chiller Theatre convention last month, and the April 2023 installment was the best April Chiller I’ve attended so far. I know I said that about the April 2022 Chiller, but I’ve come to find that every Chiller Theatre is better than the last one, and the last one is always fantastic to begin with. Join me as I recap the stars I met at the April 2023 Chiller. I started the show on Friday night by meeting Julie McCullough again. We’d previously met at the October 2021 Chiller Theatre, and before that, several times during the period when the defunct-at-the-moment Hoboken International Film Festival was in my hometown of Greenwood Lake, NY. As she was Playboy’s Miss February 1986, I paid to get her centerfold signed, and we got a few pictures together. I also inquired about her accepting my Facebook friend request, and I paid a little extra for that. How did that turn out? Wait until I recap Saturday. The

May 3, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Gail Ryan

Johnny Caps ...About Last Night, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Academy Awards, Bob Hope, Che, Dancing With The Stars, Dolly Parton, Doris Day, Gail Ryan, Grease Live, How the Grinch Stole Christmas., I'll Do Anything, Looney Tunes: Back In Action, McDonalds, Once Upon A Brothers Grimm, Oscars, Paper Dolls, Perfect Strangers, The Carpenters, The Dean Martin Show, The Golddiggers, The Naked Gun: From The Files Of Police Squad, The Osmonds, The Rat Pack 10

In the cover photo for this article, you’ll recognize Marie Osmond and Barbara Eden, but you may be wondering who is accompanying them. The third party in this picture is my newest interview subject, Gail Ryan. Ms. Ryan is an accomplished hairstylist with credits going back to the 1960s. She’s worked with talents ranging from Dean Martin and Bob Hope to Demi Moore and Jim Carrey to Benicio Del Toro and many of the professionals on Dancing With The Stars. Along the way, Gail has won many awards for her work as a hairstylist, including a Best Makeup Academy Award for How The Grinch Stole Christmas. With the depth and diversity of Ms. Ryan’s work, I knew she would be a fascinating interview subject, and with the assistance of her fellow Oscar winner, and a former interview subject of mine, Ve Neill, we had the conversation that you’ll be reading today. Say hello to Gail Ryan! ——- Gail: Hello? Johnny: Hi, Gail. Johnny Caps here. Gail: Hi, Johnny. Johnny: First

April 30, 2023

Couch Command Podcast – SUPER MARIO BROS 1993 VS. SUPER MARIO BROS 2023

Keith Justice 1990s, Animation, couch command, Couch Command Podcast, Illumination Studio, Luigi, mario, Minions, nintendo, super mario bros movie, Super Mario Bros., video games 9

Hey Paisanos! Welcome back for another mission with your fellow Couch Commandos! This one has been a fun one. We pit the now infamous 1993 Super Mario Bros live-action movie against ILLUMNATION’s now BILLION DOLLAR BLOCKBUSTER Super Mario Bros. Click on in to see what we think and PLEASE let us know what you think. It was an interesting discussion because both movies have their merits and shortcomings. I definitely think ILLUMNATION was the way to go, but there’s a lot to be said for the interesting creativity that comes from wild creations like what happened in 1993. Click in and enjoy! PLUMBERS OF CINEMA: Keith Justice Hayward (Twitch, Instagram, Facebook) Isaac Shapiro (YouTube, Twitter) EmJay (Twitter) Intro and Outro comes from the one and only, Starcadian! You can download Interspace and Freak Night here and here respectively. Logo by DMario Designs Podcast Audio Mixed and Produced by Brian “Sonic Clang” Kline

April 4, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Russell Williams II

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Academy Awards, Boomerang, Dances With Wolves, Disco Godfather, Eyes On The Prize, Field Of Dreams, Glory, In The Mood, Invaders From Mars, Making The Grade, Oscars, Penitentiary II, Rules Of Engagement, Russell Williams II, Sound, Spirits Known And Unknown, TAPS, Teaching, Television Parts, The Distinguished Gentleman, Training Day, Valley Girl, Waiting To Exhale 9

I was first exposed to the work of today’s interview subject, sound designer Russell Williams II, when I saw the 1986 Cannon version of Invaders From Mars on WPIX, New York’s Movie Station, in the 1990s. Upon revisiting that movie as an adult, I could better appreciate what Russell was able to do considering Cannon’s stinginess. Looking at Russell’s IMDB page many years later, I was amazed by the depth and diversity of his sound work, work that led him to become the first of only five, as of 2023, African-American artists to win multiple Academy Awards. I reached out to Mr. Williams about an interview last year, and he agreed to it. We spoke late last year about his work as a sound designer and as a teacher, and now I can share this interview with all of you. I hope you all enjoy getting to know this amazing man. Say hello to Russell Williams II! Russell: Is this Johnny? Johnny: Yes, it is, Mr. Williams. Russell: How are

March 17, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Deborah Jenssen

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Dance, dancing, Deborah Jenssen, Lionel Richie, Loverboy, MDA Telethon, OXO, pepsi, Queen Of The Broken Hearts, Rod Stewart, Solid Gold, Staying Alive, Tonight I'm Yours, Walk The Dinosaur, Was (Not Was), Whirly Girl, Xanadu 12

Deborah Jenssen discusses her transition from dancer to singer, sharing stories from “Solid Gold,” music videos, and her advice for aspiring artists. Before I even knew the name of Deborah Jenssen, my next interview subject, I saw her dancing in music videos like Was (Not Was)’ Walk The Dinosaur and on episodes of Solid Gold I had acquired from a fan-to-fan DVD seller. Years later, I would discover Ms. Jenssen on Facebook, and I would find that she had transitioned from dancing to singing. With her many diverse talents, I knew she would have some fantastic stories to tell. We spoke last year, but today, you’ll all get to know her as I have. Say hello to Deborah Jenssen! Johnny: Who were your biggest influences as a dancer growing up? Deborah Jenssen: I started dancing when I was three, so I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about famous dancers at that age, but I knew Baryshnikov, Nureyev, Margot Fontaine and The New York City Ballet.

March 14, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Stacey Q

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Bob Hope, Boomerang, Buddhism, Cavegirl, convention, Conventions, dancing, disney, Don't Make A Fool Of Yourself, Hard Machine, I Love You, Jet Town Je T'aime, Land Of Snow, My Sweet Lord, One Man Force, Playback, Screaming In My Pillow, SSQ, Stacey Q, Synthicide, The Facts Of Life, The Hollywood Squares, The Return Of The Living Dead, Tonight We'll Make Love 'Til We Die, Two Of Hearts, We Connect 8

My newest Pop Geeks interview subject, Stacey Q, is actually one of the very first talents I ever had the pleasure of interviewing. We were connected to each other by our mutual friend Shawn Winstian on MySpace in the late 00s, and I did an e-mail interview with her that was published on a short-lived website called Old School 4 Life. I was with that site during a brief period of time where I’d left my writing base, RetroJunk. I would later republish the interview on RetroJunk when Old Schoool 4 Life went down, and it got a decent response. I actually had the good fortune to talk briefly to Stacey Q on the phone in 2007. I only got her call because I’d left work early that day due to hurting myself on the job. Me and Stacey got along very well, but as MySpace faded and I lost her number, I had the feeling that I would never have the chance to talk to her again, a

March 7, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Byron Thames

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, 70s On Sunday, 84 Charlie MoPic, A Brand New Life, Byron Thames, Father Murphy, Fisher-Thames, Johnny Dangerously, Rio, Seven Minutes In Heaven, Vietnam War Story 4

I was first introduced to Byron Thames, my newest interview subject, through the movie Johnny Dangerously, where he played the young version of Michael Keaton’s title character. I would later see his work in movies like Seven Minutes In Heaven and 84 Charlie MoPic, and from there, I would become familiar with his musical output with his wife Tricia Leigh Fisher, seeing them cover a diverse array of 70s songs. Tricia and Byron both struck me as very interesting people I would be interested in interviewing, and I eventually did so. Tricia’s interview will be published soon, but today, I invite you all to get to know about Byron’s work as an actor, a musician and more. Say hello to Byron Thames! ———— Johnny: How are you? Byron: Good. How are you? Johnny: I’m doing well. First of all, thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to speak to me. Byron: Sure. Yeah, no problem. Johnny: Alright. I have my questions ready to go.

February 1, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Monique Marvez

Johnny Caps 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Built For Comfort, Comedy, Monique Marvez, Sound Advice For Unsound Minds, The Reality Chick 5

I was in a very dark place in the 00s. Trying to figure out life as a twentysomething on the autism spectrum, I was frustrated and angry in many ways. Those ways often made their way into my sleep, so I needed a way to find a peaceful rest every night. Comedy CDs became the way I found that peaceful rest, or something close to it. That’s how I became familiar with comedienne Monique Marvez. Monique’s style of comedy is risque, yet very comforting and supportive. Her tales of growing up in Miami and discovering all about life and love accompanied me during many stressful nights, serving as a way for me to express feelings that I couldn’t otherwise because of my mother, who loved me as a son, but didn’t like me as a person. Many years later, I reached out to Monique Marvez about an interview, and she agreed to it. We spoke in Fall of last year, and I invite you today to get to know this

January 3, 2023

The Flashback Interview: Debbie D

Johnny Caps 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Bondage, Burglar From Hell, Chiller, Chiller Theatre, Clownsploitation, convention, Conventions, Debbie D, Debbie D: The Witch And The Vampire, Destiny: Vampire Mermaid, Jesus Christ: Serial Rapist, Kill The Scream Queen, Play Dead, The Great American Serial Killer, The Hollywood Warrioress 8

My latest interview subject, Debbie D, was first mentioned to me by our mutual friend Deborah Dutch when I interviewed her in 2020. Two years or so later, I would meet Debbie D at the Chiller Theatre convention, and I said I would reach out to her about an interview. When I saw her IMDB page, though, I was taken aback by her many credits, and I knew that I would need time to formulate the right questions. When I saw Debbie D again at the October 2022 Chiller, as shown in the cover photo, she playfully chided me about not reaching out to her about an interview after the April 2022 Chiller. A day or two after that Chiller, I sent Debbie an e-mail with an apology for not reaching out sooner. We set up an interview for December, and that interview is being published today. I hope you all enjoy getting to know this independent film legend and scream queen as I have. Say hello to Debbie D!

December 6, 2022

The Flashback Interviews: Wally Wharton

Johnny Caps "cartoon", 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, art, Artwork, cartooning, Cartoons, Cheerleaders' Wild Weekend, dancing, drawing, drawings, Heartbeeps, illustrating, illustration, illustrations, Jewelry, Johnny Carson, Last Resort, mud wrestling, The Great American Girl Robbery, The Tonight Show, Thunder And Mud, Up In Smoke, Wally Wharton 4

Years before I knew her name, I first saw Wally Wharton as the character of Debbie in the Cheech and Chong movie Up In Smoke. Many years later, I saw her leave a comment on a mutual Facebook friend’s page, and I was so fascinated by her comment that I reached out to her with a friend request. She accepted it, and we hit it off so much that I knew I wanted to do an interview with her. Wally is more than just an actress. She’s also a writer, a craftswoman, and a tremendously gifted artist whose artwork you’ll find throughout this interview. We spoke twice, once in October and once in November, and this article contains those two interviews. By the time you’re done reading this, you’ll really know who Wally Wharton is, and I know you’ll find her to be fascinating in all the best ways. Say hello to Wally Wharton for the first time… Johnny: I have my questions ready to go. Wally: Great, great! Wonderful.

October 7, 2022

Remembering Judy Tenuta

Johnny Caps 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Attention Butt Pirates And Lesbetarians, Headline News, Judy Tenuta, R.I.P, Women Of The Night 5

Over the course of my time writing for Pop Geeks, I’ve interviewed many talents who have ended up becoming friends of mine. I’ve saved their numbers to my contacts, and I always reach out a few times a year to say hello to them. It always hurts to lose one of them and, sadly, I now bid farewell to one of those friends, the Love Goddess, better known to all of us pigs as Judy Tenuta. It’s difficult to recount how I first heard of Ms. Tenuta, but if I had to hazard a guess, it would probably be through “Weird” Al Yankovic’s work as the two of them were regular collaborators. Before I even knew Judy’s name, I could recall seeing her playing Lorena Bobbitt in the video for Yankovic’s song Headline News. Al had some funny lines about that story, and Judy, though her appearance was brief, embodied the comedy perfectly. Many years later, I would see Judy Tenuta’s performance on the 1987 HBO comedy special Women Of

The Flashback Interview: Lisa Fuller

Chiller Theatre April 2023: Johnny Caps Recaps

The Flashback Interview: Gail Ryan

Couch Command Podcast – SUPER MARIO BROS 1993 VS. SUPER MARIO BROS 2023

The Flashback Interview: Russell Williams II

The Flashback Interview: Deborah Jenssen

The Flashback Interview: Stacey Q

The Flashback Interview: Byron Thames

The Flashback Interview: Monique Marvez

The Flashback Interview: Debbie D

The Flashback Interviews: Wally Wharton

Remembering Judy Tenuta

Comic Book Solicitations

DC Comics Solicitations June 2024

Oni Press Solicitations May 2024

DC Comics Solicitations May 2024

Podcasts

ONE PIECE: The Netflix Live Version is… GOOD?!!?

Couch Command Podcast – STAR WARS: AHSOKA

STAR TREK PICARD – SEASON 3 – The FINALE

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