Cultural Futures Exchange

Ep 37: Joe Jackson-Look Sharp! vs Night & Day

This week CFX presents our second album war. This time we try to decide between Joe Jackson’s classic 1979 debut album, Look Sharp!, and his 1982 blend of Latin jazz and pop, Night and Day. Jeff presents the case for Look Sharp!, while Slip backs Night and Day. As with our AC/DC album war, this was another tough one as both of these albums are great. But the real question is do either or both of these albums still stand the test of time. As you’ve come to expect, we go into depth on Jackson’s history, his influences, the music itself and the zeitgeist when these albums were released to come to some conclusion and, along the way, we also learn…
Why critic Robert Christgau’s description of Jackson as “The Billy Joel of New Wave” may be right (or may just be crazy)
How Joe is sort of angry about being an angry young man
What English people call cigarette butts and how they were weaponized against a fledgling Joe
How if you’ve been playing the “CFX Steely Dan callout drinking game”, this episode may get you really drunk
Where a hungry man can go to get some soul food, good food, whole food
What insane concept album Joe needs to make and the true love of Joe Jackson’s life
UPDATE: There was a technical glitch which caused an audio syncing issue starting at around the 1:23:00 mark. A fix was uploaded at ~7:50am PT (USA) on 7/30/2023. Sorry for the annoyance.
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 36: Beverly Hills 90210

This week on CFX, we put the super popular, landmark TV show, Beverly Hills 90210, under the CFX-o-scope and let’s just say it gets ugly. We talk about the hackneyed, repetitive plots, the often terrible acting, the dubious social commentary, the futile attempts at hipster credibility and just how sleazy this show and really everything got during the ‘90s. We might get too mean, but we don’t care! As the great Dylan McKay once said: “May the bridges I burn light the way!” That said, whether we like the show or not doesn’t mean we don’t think it stands the test of time. You’ll have to listen to the episode to find that out and, along the way, you’ll also learn…
Which cast member broke Stockard Channing’s record for the oldest actor to play a high school student
Why Saddam Hussein deserves credit (or blame) for the show’s popularity
How much pot we must have been smoking when we watched this show back in the ‘90s 
Why “____ cheating on ____ with ____ and is addicted to ____” is the template for 90% of the plots of the last 5 seasons.
What very “BADD” boy band once serenaded Donna Martin
How working on this episode almost ended Slip’s marriage
We should also mention that for all of our satire, we genuinely do wish the best for Shannon Doherty in her battle with cancer. Also, we need to give a huge thanks to authors Tara Ariano and Sarah Bunting for their hilarious and thoroughly researched “A Very Special 90210” Book. We couldn’t have done this episode without it. Read it. It’s fantastic.
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 35: Escape From New York

We’ve done a lot of good episodes, but this might be “A #1”! That’s right, this week takes on John Carpenter’s (not Ritchie Blackmore’s!) post apocalyptic 1981 film Escape From New York.  We dive into the details on the making of and do a complete walk-through of the film, extolling the virtues of practical effects, “economical” storytelling, first-rate film-making and a brilliant cast. Does this film stand the test of time? Spoiler alert: Of course it does! At any rate, we evaluate it anyway and along the way we learn…
How this film is great preparation for the real life upcoming apocalypse we all know is imminent 
Why you might have experienced frequent power outages if you were a resident of East St. Louis in 1981
What were the last two words that Walt Disney ever wrote down
Why cardboard and black light make better special effects than 50 million dollars with of CGI
How a character called Brain can make incredible leaps in logic, gasoline from steam, but somehow can’t read a map
About the two twin bust-out stars of the film…
What not to say to Snake Plisken if you want to live
And finally, an unwanted and unnecessary lesson about fusion from Dr. Science
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 34: AC/DC-Highway to Hell vs Back in Black

On what may be the best episode we have ever recorded, we try to do the impossible by trying to decide which of these two classic AC/DC albums is better. Jeff thinks Highway to Hell is better and Slip thinks Back in Black wins. But talk about a “Sophie’s Choice”! Really we both still go back and forth on this. In fact, we even tried to use artificial intelligence to solve this conundrum, but the technology just isn’t there yet. At any rate, it’s still a great episode because not only are these albums amazing but they tell a compelling story full of tragedy and redemption. We go pretty deep here and along the way, we learn….
Why a Wikipedia section tells you all you need to know about the character of Bon Scott
Why Brian Johnson started wearing that goofy cap
What Angus Young really used to fuel his frenetic stage antics
What broccoli and a dog’s sack have to do with the band
What famous new wave band jammed with AC/DC during the recording of Back in Black
The impact of the Young family on a swinging sultan….
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 33: As Seen on TV

“What would you pay?...while supplies last…four easy payments…but wait there’s more! Has this ever happened to you? There’s got to be a better way”. That’s right, this week, on Episode 33: As Seen on TV, CFX delves into the world where television entertainment and marketing meet. It’s a world of infomercials, ridiculous inventions, scammers, 900 numbers, get rich quick schemes and televangelists. We take you through the history of this often dubious art form, with a focus mainly on samples from our childhood and young adulthood, but with a few more recent ones thrown in for good measure. We evaluate whether any of this stands the test of time and along the way, we learn…
How in Japan the hand can be used as a knife…
How preacher Robert Tilton is full of hot air, in more ways than one...
What happened if you listened to Miss Cleo…
What was Ronco and how its founder made the world safe for lots of absolute crap you don’t need
What an early infomercial pioneer did with goat balls.
Why dreams make human beings great and how you shouldn’t listen to losers 
What happened on Sunday mornings at the Burbank airport Hilton ballroom
How to use your theatrical training to make a hot piece of white bread stuffed with crappy apple jam sound like the food of the gods
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 32: Commando

This episode of CFX is action packed (literally!) since we discuss the 1985 Arnold Schwarzenegger action film, Commando.  While the film is not one of the mega Schwarzenegger box office blockbusters, Commando, with its explosion filled action sequences, overt homo-eroticism and clever one-liners, has had an outsized influence on the genre. But does it still hold up? We not only evaluate the film, but do a full plot point by plot point walkthrough and also play a shelved and rarely heard Access Hollywood on-set interview with the star. And, as usual, along the way, we find out…
What strange book was like the Schwarzenegger “family Bible”
Why the film is really the love story between two men
What the f@&$ was going on with those opening credits
About the economic tourist miracle of a small Latin American former military dictatorship
How a makeshift, fake mall bar and grill is no longer a good place for bad guys to “hunt slash” (Note: This scene inspires one of Slip’s finest character impressions of all time)
How Arnold uses his superhuman strength to defy the laws of physics (though it’s Jeff can’t keep track of Newton’s laws…)
Who delivers the worst “brown face” performance in history (clue: it ain’t Charlton Heston)
The origin of the famous “Eating is not cheating” Schwarzenegger infidelity excuse 
How many rounds of automatic weapons can be fired without hitting any targets (most notably: Arnold of course)
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 31: Whatever Happened to Billy Squier?

This week on CFX we explore the career of singer, guitarist, songwriter and “fancy dancer” Billy Squier. Most importantly, we try to find out whether what seemed destined to be a successful career was prematurely ended by what many claim is the most notoriously bad music video of all time, or if his style of keyboard heavy album oriented rock had just run its course. We decide if Squier’s music will stand the time and, along the way we learn…
Why Prince and Paul Stanley could get away with things Billy Squier couldn’t 
What fire will do to a 45 RPM single
Why the Billboard AOR chart should of been called the B.S. chart for more than one reason
If Billy was trying to tell the world something about himself
Why Nagel sucks
How fragile being a "good looking and sexy guy" actually is...
How Billy keeps Central Park clean
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 30: Midsomer Murders

Well, if you’ve ever had any doubt that we’re a couple of old chaps, then I think this episode will put that to rest. We are! That’s right, this week, on CFX, we are talking about the favorite television show of not only the late Queen Elizabeth II but every British pensioner, Midsomer Murders! Unlike most of what we have covered in the past, this show is still on the air and shows no sign of slowing down even though, like us, the majority of its audience and cast, has gotten on in years. This week we get into detective mode to answer the question of whether this ludicrously over the top and lascivious mystery show will stand the test of time and along the way we learn..
How to survive in Midsomer even though your odds of getting killed are quite high
Why sometimes the best replacement for a retiring police inspector is his/her own first cousin
What is the difference between craft beer and “real ale” (actually we still don’t know)
Why you should never underestimate the strength of an elderly person if you’re in the greater Causton area
What being “rat-assed” means and the best remedy for the condition
How many hobby clubs and groups a small town in England can support
Why you should probably keep it in your pants around Midsomer way….
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 29: SIMON & garfunkel

Hello podcast listeners, our old friends, it’s time for CFX again! This week we take on that dynamic duo, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. We know what you’re thinking… How boring! Well, nothing could be further from the truth. We take you through the ups and downs of what has been a sometimes tense and rancorous musical marriage in a way that has seldom been done before. We decide if this music stands the test of time like a “fortress deep and mighty” or is it just a “pocketful of mumbles”. Along the way we learn…
Why Art Garfunkel should be named Art Grudge-funkel 
How Paul Simon liked to watch girls sleep when he wasn’t busy robbing liquor stores
Why Art should have donned a cape and joined a progressive rock band
Why that Nicaraguan lobster dinner may not leave you “feelin’ groovy”
How pettiness and jealousy were basically 3rd and 4th members of the band
Why a line about toast is one of Beavis and Butthead’s favorite lyrics
How Paul Simon *should* have reunited with Garfunkel
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Ep 28: WKRP in Cincinnati

This week CFX heads back into the world of ‘70s AM radio, heading up and down the dial, to tackle one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time: WKRP in Cincinnati. We go into the backstory, cast, and characters of this groundbreaking show and then we try to decide if its ability to stand the test of time is really meant to be or if we’ll only think of it once in a while. Along the way we learn…
Which of the cast members once had a “thing” with Janis Joplin
What a Leprechaun is and why you’ll need to know that in order to graduate from DJ school
What famous actor could have played Andy Travis in a WKRP movie
Why you might want to be careful about using a prop poster with “Welcome Scum” written on it
Why you should ONLY watch this show on DVD (do not stream)
What the lyrics are to that end title theme
How Richard Nixon played a prominent role in the plot of a famous episode
What having a monkey on your foot actually means
And we almost forgot, fellow babies….BOOGER!!!
Check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/culturalfutures/) for links and additional content related to this and other episodes as well as clues to upcoming shows or write to us at culutralfuturesexchange@gmail.com
All audio clips are used under the "Fair Use" Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act in 1976; Allowance is made for "Fair Use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
All rights and credit go directly to its rightful owners. No copyright infringement intended.