Get Me Another

This week we look at two attempts to bring that E.T. magic to the small screen. 

The first was a pilot that didn't get picked up to series but aired as a Disney movie-of-the-week. FUZZBUCKET (1986) is the story of boy and his imaginary friend who is actually real... and is absolutely terrifying!

The second, also from 1986 and certainly more well-known, took the E.T. concept and reimagined it as an '80s family sitcom.

His real name is Gordon Shumway, but you probably remember him as ALF.

This week we shift away from aliens to look at two E.T.-inspired films that explore the concept of artificial intelligence.

First up is 1985’s D.A.R.Y.L. in which a replicant boy who is being pursed by the government finds himself cared for by an average American family.

Then Number 5 is alive in SHORT CIRCUIT, a 1986 film starring Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg that sees a military robot struck by lightning and gaining sentience.

Special Guest Carmelita Valdez McKoy returns to the show for a fun, free-ranging conversation about a movie that could be described as "E.T. for adults": John Carpenter's critically acclaimed STARMAN (1984) featuring Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen. 

Find Carmelita:

https://letterboxd.com/CarmelitaSays

https://x.com/CarmelitaSays

https://bsky.app/profile/carmelitasays.bsky.social

On this week's episode we take a look at two E.T.-inspired films from outside the United States.

First is the Spanish-French co-production EXTRA TERRESTRIAL VISITORS (1983), which was originally intended to be a horror film and features a large-nosed alien called "Trumpy."

Then we endure the 1987 South African-German film NUKIE which might have the two most irritating aliens in the history of cinema.

This week we look at two films where kids not only encounter aliens, they actually journey into outer space. 

First we discuss Joe Dante's love letter to '50s sci-fi, EXPLORERS (1985) starring Ethan Hawke, River Phoenix and Jason Presson. 

Then we'll take a ride on a spaceship with a very familiar voice in Walt Disney Picture's FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR (1986). 

If you want to check out the podcast Justin mentions on the show, The Purple Stuff Podcast, they can be found here: https://purplestuff.podbean.com