For this year's Easter episode, we have our friend Hannah as a guest to discuss The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a British children's television drama first broadcast by the BBC in 1988. Based on the 1950 novel by C.S. Lewis, Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan Pevensie travel to a magical land through a forgotten wardrobe. Narnia is the home of th…

We are starting our look into the 1980s! This week, Megan reviews Bosom Buddies. She was particularly surprised to learn that the show was not a TV rip-off of the Oscar-award winning film, Tootsie. Bosom Buddies was an American television sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari. It aired on Thursday nights for two seasons on ABC from 1980-1982 …

This week, we have Karen back on as a guest! Karen and Megan talk about the original Mickey Mouse Club, which debuted in 1955. Karen shares her memories of running home to watch all the fun, singing, and serial adventure stories like Spin and Marty and The Hardy Boys. Then, we talk about The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, which debuted in 1989. Megan s…

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is the classic Thanksgiving comedy directed by John Hughes, starring Steve Martin and John Candy. Control freak Neal Page (Steve Martin) is trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and kids. After missing a cab (stolen by Kevin Bacon,) his flight is rerouted to a distant city in Kansas becaus…

Happy Holidays everyone! It's Friendsgiving time, and that means we finally rewatch Friends! Friends was an NBC sitcom created by Marta Kauffman and David Crane, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994-2004. The show starred 6 actors who were relatively unknown at the time and launched them almost immediately into superstardom. Known for their extravaga…

Darkwing Duck was an animated superhero comedy show that ran on the Disney Channel and ABC from 1991-1992. Part of the "Disney Block" of afterschool shows, it followed Duck Tales and was often thought to be a spin-off of that beloved show. In his secret identity of Drake Mallard, Darkwing Duck lives in an unassuming suburban house with his adopted …

Don't expose them to the light. Don't get them wet. And no matter what, don't feed them after midnight! We are reviewing Gremlins this Halloween! And subbing in for Steve, we have Megan's brother Tim, who was also part of our 50th episode extravaganza. Gremlins is a comedy-horror film. It was written by Chris Columbus, directed by Joe Dante, and pr…

This year, our second throwback Halloween pick is The Lost Boys, a 1987 American comedy horror film directed by Joel Schumacher, produced by Harvey Bernhard with a screenplay written by Jeffrey Boam, Janice Fischer and James Jeremias. The film had a huge ensemble cast including: Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Jason Patric, Jami Gertz…

It's Halloween, and Steve was willing to watch Poltergeist! The highest grossing horror film of 1982, Poltergeist was written and produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper. It starred Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Heather O'Rourke, Dominique Dunn, and Oliver Robins as an all-American family plagued by spirits who steal away their…

This week, we continue our exploration of Superman lore with Lois and Clark, the New Adventures of Superman. Spanning four seasons and 87 episodes, the TV show starred Teri Hatcher as Lois Lane, Dean Cain as Clark Kent, and Lane Smith as Perry White. Before we get into our fun facts, history, and memories, we dig into the a bowl of Superman themed …

This week, we talk about Superman the Movie, starring Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, and Marlon Brando. Superman was a 1978 superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero Superman. The film was directed by Richard Donner based on a screenplay by Mario Puzo, David Newman, Leslie Newman, and Robert Benton. It is the firs…

Hello Everyone, We're trying to come back from obscurity with this "lost episode" of the 1980s cartoon version of Dungeons and Dragons. We talk about the history of the game, the show, and get into our full recap of two of the episodes of this short-run series. We also feature the museum favorite, freeze-dried astronaut ice cream for our non-sponso…

Starring Lou Ferigno and Bill Bixby, The Incredible Hulk aired from 1977-1982! Listen in as we discuss the history of the comic book character and the behind-the-scenes details of this classic adaptation. We watch two episodes and try the tart taffy candy Air Heads. Did we love the show as much as the Marvel movies? Does it hold up? Listen to find …

This week we explore the cult classic "Clue." Listen in as we discuss Tim Curry, Madeline Khan, the original board game, and our non-sponsored snack, Starburst! One film, three endings. Did we love them? Did we hate them? Listen to find out! Links to listen can be found at https://www.stopruiningmychildhood.com/ Visit our Patreon page for exclusive…

This week we explore the beloved detective show "Columbo." Listen in as we discuss Peter Faulk, Dobermanns, Leslie Nielson, and the country of Hungary. Oh, we also review chocolate cigars. Links to listen can be found at https://www.stopruiningmychildhood.com/ Visit our Patreon page for exclusive bonus episodes at www.patreon.com/stopruiningmychild…

This episode is our first Patreon Bonus Episode! We're sharing it with everyone for this month only! Join us on Patreon for ad-free bonus episodes every month! https://www.patreon.com/stopruiningmychildhood For Valentine's Day, we take a look at Some Kind of Wonderful! Our runner up for "Best Date Night Movie," this 1987 teen romance stars Eric Sto…

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers is an American animated adventure comedy television series produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.[1] Created by Tad Stones and Alan Zaslove, it featured chipmunks Chip and Dale, mice Gadget and Monterey Jack, and housefly Zipper as a team of mystery-solving detectives working on "small crimes." Before we revisit …

Welcome back to Season 2 of Stop Ruining My Childhood! The Princess Bride began as a satirical novel by William Goldman in the mid 1980s. In 1987, it was made into a film with a script written by Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner. The movie had a 16 million dollar budget and brought in about 30 million in revenue, but soon found a huge audience in…

This week, we revisit the Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah romantic comedy, Splash! Before diving in (pun intended) to the film, we try the classic childhood candy, Swedish Fish and answer the question, "Are these actually Swedish?" Then, we swim through some facts and explore the history of the movie. We uncover why this was a Disney film without the Di…

It's September, and that means it's back to school time! To celebrate, we're revisiting the show that got everyone to read in the summer... Reading Rainbow! Hosted by Levar Burton, Reading Rainbow is an American educational children's television series that originally aired on PBS from 1983 to 2006. After digging into the fascinating history of the…

This week, we go way back to revisit the original Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Where Are You debuted in 1969 to answer a call for Saturday morning cartoons with less violence and more humor. The Hanna-Barbera production spawned dozens of TV shows and movies. Before our full review of the original animated TV series, we have our non-sponsored snack, Sixle…

This week, we revisit the live-action Disney film, Flight of the Navigator! This 1986 movie starred Joey Cramer as David, a 12-year-old kidnapped by a spaceship he calls Max. The voice of Max was provided by Paul Reubens, best known for his Pee-Wee Herman character. Sarah Jessica Parker also appears in one of her first film roles. Before our review…

This week, we discuss all things Little House! We start with our snack review and dive into the history of maple sugar candy. Why was it popular during the Pioneer Days? When did we switch from maple sugar to white sugar? Then, in our "Fun Facts" section, we talk about the history of the Little House books and how these slower, gentler stories were…

On Rewind! This week, we revisit the original cartoon version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! What began as a comic book in 1984, TMNT quickly launched into a series in 1986, and an empire was born. The franchise spawned 5 animated television series, 5 live-action films, 4 animated films, 4 comic book series, toys, video games, table top games, pi…

For our 50th Episode Extravaganza, we created the Reminiscent Awards (Remis). Steve, Megan, and Megan's brother Tim nominate and select TV shows, movies, and cartoons from the 80s and 90s in the following categories: Best Date Night Movie Best Franchise Best Underrated Comedy Greatest Child Star Best Cartoon TV Show That Deserves a Reboot Most Over…

In this modern take on Charles Dickens' classic novella A Christmas Carol, Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, the youngest president of a TV network. His ambition and sarcasm caused him to alienate nearly everyone in his life including his lost love, Claire; his secretary, Grace; and his brother, James. Before revisiting this beloved 80's gem, we try o…

Silver Spoons was a sitcom that ran from 1982 to 1986 on NBC and 1986-1987 in first run syndication. The show focused on the family-friendly antics of wealthy playboy and toy factory owner Edward Stratton III and his young son Ricky, who comes to live with him in the pilot episode. For the holidays, we watched the Christmas episode, which also feat…

This week, we watched the Star Wars Holiday Special, which originally aired on November 17, 1978, on CBS. Featuring "Life Day," a holiday on Chewbacca's home planet, it was the first Star Wars spin-off film, set between the events of the original film and The Empire Strikes Back. We discuss behind-the-scenes history of the made-for-TV-move, includi…

Small Wonder was a science-fiction sitcom aimed at kids that ran for 96 episodes from 1985 to 1989. The show starred Tiffany Brissette as a robot named VICI, Jerry Supiran as her brother Jamie, and Emily Schulman as her annoying neighbor, Harriet. Before diving into the pilot and Thanksgiving episodes, we talk about the unusual syndication of the s…

Monster Squad was an amazing Halloween movie... that debuted in the summer of 1987. As a result of poor planning and marketing, the movie flopped at the box office, but became a cult hit with Gen X kids. The movie features a group of outcasts much like the Goonies who battle against Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, Frankenstein's Monster, and the C…

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a 1992 movie that... we did not rewatch. The TV show was way better! Moving away from the tone and campiness of the movie, the show defined "post camp" and ran for 7 seasons from 1997 to 2003. We explore the history of the TV show and its strange ties to the original film, and we also explore the history of Wax Lips, ou…

The Real Ghostbusters was an animaged spin-off/sequel of the 1984 comedy film Ghostbusters. The series ran from 1986 to 1991. The series continued the adventures of paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Dr. Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, their secretary Janine Melnitz and their mascot ghost Slimer as they battled ghosts, go…

Jarod is... The Pretender. Raised in a secret facility built for experimenting on children, Jarod is a genius who can master any profession and become anyone he has to be. When he realizes as an adult that he's actually a prisoner and his captors are not as benevolent as he's been told, he breaks out. While searching for the truth behind his identi…

Hocus Pocus flopped in theaters in July of 1993, but like the famed Sanderson Sisters, it returned with a vengeance, becoming a cult classic on TV, VHS, and DVD. The sequel just premiered on DisneyPlus, so we decided to revisit the original! Before the recap, we learn about the history of candy corn, discuss the making of Hocus Pocus, and talk all …

Scholastic's "The Magic School Bus" follows Ms. Frizzle and her class as they set off on field trips. Based on the best-selling book series of the same name and starring Lily Tomlin, the original cartoon version of "The Magic School Bus" ran for two seasons on PBS. It was created to encourage students to become more interested in science to promote…

ABC Afterschool Special was a television anthology series that aired on ABC from1972, to 1997. Younger Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, and even "Elder" Millennials might remember coming home to these very special programs created for teens. First, we revisit an afterschool drink, Capri Sun! We learn about the origins of the foil-pouched drink and then dive…

It's September, and that means it's back to school time! To celebrate, we're revisiting the show that got everyone to read in the summer... Reading Rainbow! Hosted by Levar Burton, Reading Rainbow is an American educational children's television series that originally aired on PBS from 1983 to 2006. After digging into the fascinating history of the…

This week, in honor of Labor Day, we revisit Office Space! Office Space was written and directed by Mike Judge, creator of Beavis and Butthead. The film debuted in 1999 and was a sleeper hit with low initial box office returns, but huge VHS sales after being shown almost daily on Comedy Central. The movie satirizes the worklife of a typical 1990s s…

This week, we go way back to revisit the original Scooby-Doo! Scooby-Doo Where Are You debuted in 1969 to answer a call for Saturday morning cartoons with less violence and more humor. The Hanna-Barbera production spawned dozens of TV shows and movies. Before our full review of the original animated TV series, we have our non-sponsored snack, Sixle…

The camping fun continues with our summer movie pick, Camp Nowhere! Starring Christopher Lloyd (of Back to the Future fame) and Jonathan Jackson, Morris "Mud" Himmel hates spending every summer at computer camp, When he realizes all of his friends are unhappy about their respective camp prospects, he devises a plan to create his own, kid-friendly c…

After receiving a listener suggestion, we decided to revisit another beloved Nickelodeon TV show, Double Dare! Double Dare began when Nickelodeon was looking for more programming to play after school, and a sponsor suggested a kid's game show instead of a cartoon! What resulted was a fun, exciting mixture of trivia, dares, physical challenges, and …

It isn't summer until you go to summer camp! So this week, we revisit the beloved Nickelodeon TV show Salute Your Shorts! Salute Your Shorts began as a collection of short stories before being developed as a pilot by Propaganda Films. It took a year for Nickelodeon to green-light the project, but once it was on the air, it was an instant hit with k…

This week, we revisit another classic franchise that started with a toy line... My Little Pony! Hasboro began with the failed "My Pretty Pony" doll and then ran a more successful line of smaller ponies from 1982 to 1992. The toys launched a global phenomenon, and a movie and TV series captured the hearts of kids everywhere. Before our full review o…

This week, the summer fun continues with the classic 1980s baseball movie, Field of Dreams! Starring Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, Amy Madigan, Gabby Hoffman, and Timothy Busfield, this award-winning film came into theaters in 1989. When Iowa farmer Ray (Kevin Costner) hears a mysterious voice one night in his cornfie…

"Oh Boy!" This week, we revisit the cult favorite, Quantum Leap. Quantum Leap ran for 5 seasons and 97 episodes from 1989 to 1993. Created by Don Bellisario, the show starred Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, a time traveling scientist, who leaps into people from 1953 to 1987 to help them and correct something that went wrong in the original timelin…

On April 21, 1990, all four major American television networks: ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS, most independent stations, as well as cable networks Nickelodeon and the USA Network ran the anti-crack PSA, Cartoon All Stars to the Rescue. Sponsored by McDonald's, the special featured nearly every famous cartoon at the time: Winnie the Pooh, Muppet Babies, A…

This week, we revisit the original cartoon version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! What began as a comic book in 1984, TMNT quickly launched into a series in 1986, and an empire was born. The franchise spawned 5 animated television series, 5 live-action films, 4 animated films, 4 comic book series, toys, video games, table top games, pinball machi…

To celebrate the Fourth of July this week, we revisit Top Gun! Starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Tom Skerritt, and Meg Ryan, this summer blockbuster burst into theaters in 1986. The movie helped to increase Navy recruitment, and was popular enough to spawn the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick earlier this year. Steve talks …

"The plane! The plane!" This week, we revisit Fantasy Island! Fantasy Island started out as a joke made by a frustrated Aaron Spelling as he was pitching ideas to network executives. The executives loved the idea, and so did the public! The show ran 152 episodes and two made-for-TV movies over seven years from 1977 to 1984. In the ratings, it never…

We have a special extravaganza, celebrating our 25th episode! We went back 25 years to the 25th highest box office film and rewatched The Fifth Element! Starring Mila Jovovich, Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Chris Tucker, this sci-fi adventure film is known for its stunning visuals... and Mila Jovovich's infamous orange and white costume. Some call…