The 1980s teen experience in one filmography. In this episode of Original Geek, Steve Scarfo and Jeff Shaw dive into the John Hughes universe—The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck—and ask the big question: do these classics still hold up in 2025?
Expect fast nostalgia, real stories (including a very Cameron-energy motorcycle disaster), and a no-gatekeeping breakdown of what worked then, what aged badly, and why Hughes still gets quoted every day. We hit the music cues that branded a generation (“Don’t You (Forget About Me),” chicka-chicka), the underdog formula that crowned Anthony Michael Hall the geek icon of the ’80s, and a spicy Geek Court on problematic scenes vs. historical context. Plus: a killer sequel pitch—The Breakfast Club… but it’s their kids.
You’ll get:
- The 7 Hughes films that shaped Gen X (in one rapid-fire roll call)
- Ferris vs. Cameron IRL (and a Kawasaki Ninja that didn’t make it)
- “Holds up or not?” hot takes: Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Planes/Trains
- The soundtrack secret sauce that welded scenes to our memories
- Why Hughes’ tight 24–48 hour timelines made everything quotable
If you rolled a d20 on shag carpet, taped Saturday morning cartoons, or waited all night for a JPEG to load—this one’s for you.
Subscribe, drop your hottest Hughes take in the comments, and tell a fellow OG.
▶️ New here? Start with our John Hughes clip roll-up on socials: @OriginalGeekPodcast
🛒 O.G. merch & show notes: OriginalGeekPodcast.com
#JohnHughes #TheBreakfastClub #FerrisBueller #SixteenCandles #WeirdScience #PlanesTrainsAndAutomobiles #UncleBuck #80sMovies #GenX #Nostalgia #MoviePodcast #PopCulturePodcast #GeekCulture #OriginalGeek #AnthonyMichaelHall #MollyRingwald #BratPack #80sCinema #RetroMovies #FilmDiscussion
Welcome to Original Geek—the podcast for anyone who rolled their first d20 on shag carpet, waited hours for a comic book JPEG to load on dial-up, and wore the label “geek” back when it got you mocked, not monetized.
Hosted by stand-up comic Steve Scarfo and Forever DM Jeff Shaw, we dive deep into what it meant to be a geek in the '70s and '80s—and how that underground culture became the mainstream multiverse we live in today.
🎙️ Subscribe for weekly episodes on Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars, comic book chaos, geek court debates, and critical hits from your childhood basement.
👾 Follow us @OriginalGeekPodcast on socials and visit OriginalGeekPodcast.com for merch, extras, and to send us your own geeky tales.
If you ever hid a Monster Manual like it was porn, you’re not alone. You’re an Original Geek. Welcome home.
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