Monsters and Aliens of the 1980s

We’re in the home stretch of the year, a time that pumps more nostalgia through our work-addled minds than ever.  Sure, Thanksgiving and Christmas play a big part in those memories, thick as eggnog, but in this changing season, the flip from October to November, memories really start to pile up like leaves on a frosty lawn.

I think a big part of this nostalgia has to do with Halloween.  Let’s face it, you’re likely to remember dressing up as a superhero or monster or princess only to slither around in the dark receiving freebies from strangers.  You see yourself behind those masks as the years pass, each pillowcase wielding visitor another spark for stagnant brain files.  Autumn is filled with powerful imagery–the death of nature which is strangely attractive, leaves to be piles and jumped on, and festivals that draw us from the gut over our inborn need to harvest.

Maybe I’m over thinking this.  Maybe it’s just about monster cereals.

You can make a lot of money selling people their childhood back.  If you don’t believe me, drop by eBay later and search vintage toys.  I may know when I’m being had, but sometimes it just tastes too good.  So the other day I was stopped undead in my tracks by brilliant marketing at the grocery store.  Piled in neat pyramids adorned with WOW-shaped sale signs were three of my old friends–Count Chocula and Franken and Boo, the Berry brothers.  I bet you forgot about Yummy Mummy.

I spent many mornings with those three, especially Boo who I must confess was my favorite.  They’d play games and quiz me and even slip me a few surprise gifts buried deep beneath their bounty when mom’s back was turned.  You could always position their faces just so, diagonal at a forty-five degree, so no one could see you ducked below their faces in an imaginative discussion.  I guess Casper was okay, but I much preferred friendly monsters to friendly ghosts.

It’s a great way to stay young, you see.  While most people are fretting over the problems of the universe, I wax nostalgic about breakfast.  Careful though, nostalgia comes with risks.  Feelings of loss will try to seep into fond moments of memories, so you must keep moving and opening drawer after drawer in the dusty file cabinets of your mind.

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Now in the midst of this time machine of a season, network television is dropping a massive memory bomb on me again.  Tonight, a new pilot for an old show is airing on ABC.  The show is V.  That’s V for Visitors, not a Roman numeral for five.  That’s also a big one to cross of the list of the Old Stuff That Somebody Better Bring Back For Movies Or Television list.

If you’re not familiar with V, you’re missing out.  The original version aired in 1983.  The cast included more familiar faces than names, but you might know Robert Englund just before he became Freddy Kreuger, Michael Ironside, and The Beastmaster himself, Marc Singer.  It’s your typical aliens are here, end of the world unless humanity sticks together tale. 

I don’t know if the original series was even close to being any good.  Of course the effects were cheesy.  None of that matters though when your in grade school and the visitors turn out to be, well, I don’t want to spoil it for you newbies.  Let’s just say if the produces stick to the basic framework, this show will be interesting.  Of course, I also can’t forget my favorite character, a supporting guy named Quentin, biting the dust in one episode.  As if the show wasn’t traumatic enough, then I had to see my guy die.  He did it for the good of the other at least.  So brave, that Quentin.

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Scarier Than You Might Think

I recently saw the original theme posted on Facebook along with something about it being the song that gave him nightmares.  The opening theme attempted to cheer up the grim, synthesized notes of doom.  That was back when shows had opening themes.  We’ve got way too much ADD for that nonsense these days.

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I guess we can learn a lot about ourselves by where our fondest memories take us.  For some, it’s a warm glass of cider with cinnamon sticks while mom makes a pumpkin pie.  That’s great.  For me, it’s talking to monsters who make tasty cereal before watching a show with aliens that scare my breakfast back out of me.  Hey, don’t judge.

So, today I get to go back in time 25 years.  I’ve already polished off two bowls of Boo Berry.  Sure, I have to be an adult and go be a productive member of society today, but later I’m gonna plop down on my couch to watch what may possibly be the worst show ever made.  The original Visitors came during the Cold War, wore red like scary communists and had a flag with a symbol that looked a lot like a swastika.  Times have changed and so will the plot, but good writers can always use aliens to show us how bizarre we are to outsiders.

I hope it’s good, but if not I can always focus on the childhood version in my mind.  The 80s aren’t such a terrible place to visit if you were a kid then.

I’d love to hear your memories too. You can also Subscribe to my feed or follow me on Twitter @eduClaytion.