Glitter Boom Girls Podcast

A wander through 70s & 80s nostalgia hosted by Gen X-aged authors Amy Asbury and Robbie-Ann McPherson. TV shows, fashion, music, toys, candy, food, clothes, newsworthy events - nothing is off limits, as long as it happened a long time ago.

A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE: Robbie-Ann on BBC2 Radio Midnight Mastermind! Feb 21 02/22/2023

EP 45 - LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY 08/07/2022

EP 45 - LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY The Girls (as Amy DeFazio and Robbie-Ann Feeney) do a Deep Dive into 70s sitcom classic Laverne and Shirley. The iconic shabby basement apartment, which Amy reports was also the former set of another classic sitcom. The show's frequent 'winter' settings. Landlady Mrs. Babish. Lenny Kosnowski and Andrew 'Squiggy' Squiggman - David Lander and Michael McKean...and the surprising origins of their characters. Did Shirley and Laverne date Lenny and Squiggy, or what? Robbie-Ann wonders about a Steinbeck influence on their characters. Carmine - Shirley's 'sweetheart.' Character analysis: Shirley Feeney. Were you Shirley or Laverne? Boo-Boo Kitty - Cindy Williams' ad lib. The origins of the famous nonsense hop-scotch intro "5, 6, 7 8..." Some ocean-floor level deeeep-dive trivia on the iconic theme song sung by Cyndi Greco, and its connections to the Happy Days theme song. How producers discovered Cyndi Greco singing at an amusement park. Sidebar: go find the documentary The Wrecking Crew about the famous musicians who played on pretty much EVERYTHING between 1960 and 1980. The Ron Hicklin Singers: the surprising "Making Our Dreams Come True" theme connection with The Partridge Family, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Kawasaki and McDonald's jingles, and a long list of 60s and 70s hits. Robbie-Ann reports the 'WHAAAT?!" connection with the "Making Our Dreams Come True" song and...."We Are the World?!" Character breakdown: Laverne DeFazio. The iconic 'L' monogram on her sweaters, which Penny Marshall contributed to Laverne's costume. The abomination of 'milk and Pepsi.' Amy reports on Laverne's backstory. The incredible physical comedy from the two leads. Shirley's disappearance from the last season of the show - the 'marriage' excuse. Michael McKean's exit to shoot "Spinal Tap" - and Amy reports a stunning announcement that Spinal Tap actually appeared on an episode in the last season. The final episode of Season 8 - a Carmine spin-off? The show's move to Burbank that jumped the shark. Laverne and Shirley in Burbank: gift wrappers? "Big Rosie" as their nemesis in early episodes. When Mrs. Babish married Laverne's father Frank, but leaves him in the lurch in later episodes. Robbie-Ann's issue with sitcoms that got serious: just be funny please. Sidebar: Seinfeld's wise 'no hugs' policy on the sitcom. Amy liked those episodes though, because it was unexpected. The 80s hair and wardrobe of the later seasons, even though it was supposed to be late 60s. The lost season 5 when Laverne and Shirley joined the Army Reserves. The show's great use of the street-level window as a comedy device. How Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall initially got on the show, and their connection to...Francis Ford Coppola? Penny Marshall's marriage to Rob Reiner, and Cindy Williams' marriage to Bill Hudson of the Hudson Brothers. The infamous terms 'Vo-di-oh-do-do' and 'hot to trot.' The 're-virginization' of Laverne and Shirley. Rumors of off-camera antics: partying? Diva behavior? Drugs? The effects of the show's success on egos and the work environment. The cozy first seasons and the focus on the characters' friendship. Didn't every little girl think she would grow up to live with her best friend? /episode/index/show/glitterboomgirls/id/23982084

EP 44 - THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF GROWN-UPS 06/12/2022

EP 43 - GILLIGANS ISLAND 02/05/2022

EP 43 - GILLIGANS ISLAND The Girls do a deep dive off Gilligan's Island, with special guest and Gilligan Expert, Robbie-Ann's childhood bestie Karen. Karen talks about her all-things Tiki obsession, which evolved into a Gilligan's Island obsession. Robbie-Ann asks, and Karen answers, the tough questions: how did they get years out of that radio battery? Why didn't they build a boat? Where did they get all those wardrobe changes from just a three-hour tour (a threeee hour tour...)? Amy talks about her after-school joy watching Gilligan's Island, and her love for the vibrant colors on the show. Karen and Robbie-Ann reminisce about getting off the kindergarten bus at Karen's house and spending the afternoon on the Island. Amy reveals the shocking world tragedy event that occurred on the day the cast were filming the pilot episode, and how you can see a reference to it in the original opening sequence. Amy goes on to describe Sherwood Schwartz' origins of the show, as something of a political statement. Shocker: when Schwartz first conceived the series, the seven characters originally represented the Seven Deadly Sins. Can you identify who was which? The Girls discuss. Karen reveals her favorite episode, featuring the fictional Beatle-esque band the Mosquitos. The Girls dissect the Honey Bees' (Ginger, Mary Ann and Mrs. Howell) song "You Need Us." Naturally this leads to discussing the iconic tv Gilligan's Island theme song, and Karen reveals a crazy fact about the Wellingtons, who sang it. Amy reveals that the original pilot's Calypso theme song was co-written by none other than Star Wars, Jaws, Indiana Jones and E.T. composer John Williams. BUT - then Amy also reveals what Christmas classic was written by George Wyle, who co-wrote the historic "Just sit right back..." theme song that ended up in the show. Amy reports the five basic plot lines that covered almost all of the episodes. Gilligan's opera-radio reception in his teeth. The Dream Sequence episodes. Trivia: The Skipper's real name. The Professor's real name. Mrs. Howell's maiden name. Which cast member was the only one allowed by Sherwood Schwartz to improvise? The 1978 "Rescue from Gilligan's Island" tv movie. Casting Could-have-beens: could Jane Mansfield have been Ginger? Tina Louise, "method actor." The old Ginger vs. Mary Ann debate. Gilligan's first name: a controversy. Raquel Welch or Pat Priest as Mary Ann? Carol O'Connor as the Skipper? Dabney Coleman as The Professor? Dawn Wells, Natalie Schafer and their "Ice Cream Diet." Which Gilligan's Island stars ended up on Sherwood Schwartz' next sitcom, The Brady Bunch? Jim Backus' stellar acting pedigree. The show's enduring effect on its cast: typecasting. Which cast members embraced their roles after the show, and who didn't. Which cast member ended up being the only one still earning residuals decades later? The Gilligan's Island tie-in to the "Very Brady Sequel" movie. Sidebar: the 1990's Brady movies. "Gilligan's Planet?!!" "Aloha Paradise" - who remembers this show? The Gilligan's Island "warm fuzzy." Mary Ann's navel: snuck by the network standards and practices. The various island inventions: the car, the washing machine. Sidebar: Robbie-Ann and Karen talk about their kindergarten friendship, and the outfits they wore. Gilligan's Island shooting locations - where Seinfeld and Roseanne were also filmed. Who was the only Gilligan's Island star who did not guest star on The Love Boat? Sidebar: a discussion of their Gen X Childhood friendship. Robbie-Ann describes going to see Shaun Cassidy with Karen in 1978, and Amy wants to know what Karen and Robbie-Ann wore to the show. Who had better toys, Karen or Robbie-Ann? Robbie-Ann coveted Karen's Bionic Woman Dome House, her I Dream of Jeannie doll and bottle-house playset, and her Pet Ghost. Robbie-Ann describes the first day of kindergarten 40+ years ago, when she and Karen met. Karen and Robbie-Ann talk about kindergarten life in the 70s, and Robbie-Ann's bravery in the face of being told she couldn't play with the boy's better toys at recess. Final thoughts on the "warm fuzzy" of Gilligan's Island: there was no villain, no romance on the island, and Karen celebrates the real life friendship between Mary Ann, and Natalie Schafer. /episode/index/show/glitterboomgirls/id/22030319

EP 42 - DAVID YONTEF INTERVIEW 02/05/2022

EP 41 - GENX CHRISTMAS 12/26/2021

EP 41 - GENX CHRISTMAS The Girls discuss a few of their favorite things from Christmases of yore... which Wrapping Type was your house? Random Slapdash, Artform Wrapping, or Gift Wrapped at The Store? The Giant Barbie Head. String tinsel. Robbie-Ann's magical mid-70s favorite cozy Christmas, when the power went out: a fire in the fireplace, her family intact. The Traditions: Amy reveals her family's Christmas Eves spent at her grandmother's house in Los Angeles. 60s ornaments, and all the vintage decorations. Groovy wrapping paper. The Nut Bowl. Christmas carols and the Christmas ham. Robbie-Ann describes the vast difference between her father's parents' (Oma and Opa) perfect formal Christmas Eve dinners, and her mother's parents' (Bill and Helen) chaotic but fun Christmas Day meals at their restaurant tavern. Oyster stew. Sticking a Cheeto inside a Bugle. Tiny vintage Coke bottles. Robbie-Ann's Oma: Wrapping Artist. Gramma Helen and Grampa Bill's cast of thousands at Christmas Day dinner. "Hasty" present wrapping. Total chaos when the kids tore the gifts open. Gramma Helen's maximalist decorating style - every inch covered with garland and holiday tchotchkes. Robbie-Ann and her cousin Michelle's almost-matching gifts. Pre-divorce Christmas vs. Post-Divorce Christmas. Amy describes the magic of dressing up with ribbons and tights and patent leather shoes. The end of the formal holidays. Amy and Robbie-Ann talk about restoring the formality. Inviting the TV for dinner: killer of family interaction or much-needed friend to the latchkey kid? Sidebar: Robbie-Ann recommends the movie Avalon for a stunning movie about how TV destroyed the "family." Amy disagrees, offering the value of TV to a lonely latchkey kid. Amy discusses the awkward phase when you are no longer the adorable center of attention, and when you grow up and have to actually work on Christmas. Blanking out unhappy Christmases. The Psyche Wounds of GenX Kids after divorce. The Girls talk about an infamous Christmas they spent together years ago after a miserable 7am-3pm shift at The Famous Deli: drinking their sorrows away in a ratchet strip mall Old Man Bar. Amy recalls several lonely Christmases, staring at her apartment wall. Sidebar: TV is a friend and companion for the lonely and sad. Amy's window on the world, through the TV. The Rankin-Bass specials: celebrating Misfits. Look up behind the scenes of the Rankin-Bass videos on YouTube! Robbie-Ann's staunch belief in the Magic of Christmas, fed by movies and television. Amy reveals she was never told about Santa Clause. Robbie-Ann recalls believing at four years old, when Santa wrote her a nice note explaining why she couldn't get a camera for Christmas. The Proxy Santa. The Food! Baked goods, ribbon candy, the Lifesaver story book gift sets. The Bonne Bell Lipsmacker gift set. Robbie-Ann's memory of receiving grown-up Blue Jean perfume. Amy recalls Tinkerbell bath products. The ritual trip to Hickory Farms. Christmas cookies. Peppermint bark. Peanut butter cookies with Hershey's kisses mushed in the top. The cornflake green wreath cookies. Gingerbread houses. The music. The smells. Real vs. Fake Trees. Is there a loss of "specialness" of Christmas rituals and traditions because we can get anything we want any time we want? The right Christmas "vibe," the right Hallmark Christmas movie. Stocking gifts: batteries and Lipsmacker. Wonky bossa nova "modern" Christmas Carols from the late 60s. Robbie-Ann describes working during Christmas season at the record store: little grammas trying to buy modern music for their grandkids. Christmas shopping back in the day: decorations wall-to-wall, big crowds. PSA: be KIND to your local retail clerk during Christmas Season. They are in hell. Robbie-Ann shares her magic, never-fail secret for surviving busy Christmas shopping, handed down to her by a fellow cocktail waitress when she lived in New York City. Sidebar: yes, Robbie-Ann was once a cocktail waitress in a big Times Square nightclub. Hello to our listeners all around the world, and Merry Christmas! /episode/index/show/glitterboomgirls/id/21599075