It has recently come to my attention that this week marks the 25th anniversary of the release of John Hughes’ film The Breakfast Club. I’d like to announce proudly that I was one of the first individuals to experience this monumental film when it came out, savoring the profound messages of teen angst and individuality throughout the story.
But announcing that wouldn’t quite be truthful.
Yet I do remember a winter evening at the beginning of February 1985. It was a Sunday evening. My parents were out together and my brother was working on the school newspaper elsewhere. I was at home procrastinating from the daunting task that was seventh grade homework. I was listening to what was then Q107 — a popular, Top 40 radio station in the Washington, DC area. Everyone listened to Q107. It was a tradition we knew would never end. (Ironically, the format suddenly changed to “Adult Contemporary Mix 107.3” the weekend I began college. But I digress…)
It was a promotional weekend based on, for some obscure reason, the number three. Three times as many songs in a row. Three times the fun. And three times the winners for their contests! I was listening as one came on — and a chance was given for THREE winners to call in and win! They would take a winner from Maryland, one from Virginia, and one from the District. All one would have to do is be the first from that jurisdiction to answer a trivia question.
The question in question: name two songs in the current Top 40 — one of which is by a band and one which is a solo act of a member of that current band. It sounds confusing when I write it out here, but hey — the suave DJ worded it in a way which could be understood for miles around.
It was a Sunday night. Most people had better things to do than to call 432-1073 with the correct answer. But not me. I called and didn’t give the obvious answer of a Phil Collins song and a Genesis song. No. Instead, I mentioned “Oh Sherrie” by Steve Perry along with “Only the Young” by Journey. That seemed to work. I was the best kind of winner — a radio contest winner. On the legendary Q107.
And my prize? That very next Thursday night, I was invited to a sneak preview of a hot new movie before it was officially released. It was called “The Breakfast Club.” I was excited. I called my friend Jeremy and gave him the good news. I waited for my parents to come home and mentioned it to them as well. “How nice,” I remember my Mom saying.
The next day, apparently, my Mom did some research on this new movie and discovered it was Rated-R. I was 12. I had already assumed that one of my parents would go with me to the screening. But I didn’t have an inkling that they would turn this opportunity down flat-out.
I was pissed. This was my prize! My glory! Something I had won! And my parents were going to take it away from me? Simply because of an R rating? True — there really wasn’t any barometer to figure out if this was going to be appropriate for someone my age or not. It could have been the next World According to Garp. Or it could have been the next Porkys. I was denied.
And I was instantly known at school as the kid whose parents wouldn’t even let him watch R-Rated movies.
I recall bringing up my grievance at a weekly family counseling session which was held the following Monday. I expected the therapist to take my side. Boy was I wrong. My Mom decided to come up with a peace offering of sorts — she got the station to send us a rockin’ Q107 t-shirt. I was amazed when I discovered that my Mom actually called the radio station to try to get another prize –and even complain that they would award sneak preview tickets to an R-Rated movie to a 12 year-old.
“But Mom!” I whined “How did you know the phone number of the radio station?” She was infringing on my territory. Q107 wasn’t a Mom thing. It was a me thing. There was no way that she could stomach the musical phenomenon that was Scritti Polliti.
She told me how she found out what the phone number was: “I listened. They say the phone number every three minutes.”
It was the first time I can remember where my Mom’s eyes spoke to me and undoubtedly said “Duh!”
Anyway, she called the request line and was transferred to the general manager’s office. He told her that if she had a problem with me winning contests on the station, the solution was to simply not have me listen to the station. Eventually she was able to get them to send me a t-shirt. In retrospect, it was a very generous gesture of my Mom. And, in retrospect, the t-shirt probably looked better after ten years than Judd Nelson.
But it wasn’t my sneak preview. I moped around for the next week. My Dad said that he would take me to the movies to see it — only after there was more information about what to expect in this R-Rated film. We didn’t end up going. I remember seeing it for the first time on VHS at a friend’s house.
But this movie to this day continues to remind me of my Mom. Who was doing the right thing at the time because she gave a damn about me — even though I felt the opposite was true. Letting a 12 year-old kid see an unknown R-Rated movie? Especially one with pot and Ally Sheedy’s nude scene? No chance.
Which is why I’ve decided not to let my seven year-old go to the movies to see “Hot Tub Time Machine” when it comes out. It may not be the most popular decision. But in 25 years? Maybe he’ll understand.
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I remember watching The Breakfast Club every day after school on betamax. Apparently, my Mom did not have an issue with her 13 year old watching the movie at all, heh.
.-= Hilly´s last blog ..That Ain’t Nothin’ But Drugstore Lovin’… =-.
Okay, in February 1985, I was all of 4 years old, so I can’t tell you that I gave two craps about this movie when it came out. BUT! Later in life, it became one of my favorite movies of all time. I own it; I still watch it every chance I get; and I still think John Hughes was a god.
Oh, and PS… did you ever watch, “Suddenly Susan”? Judd Nelson was pretty darn hot 10 years later…
This reminds me of my parents. Sort of. When I was a senior in high school, a group of us decided to skip French class because we absolutely despised the teacher. 25 kids skipped. 5 showed up. The 5 who showed up ratted us out. We all got 2 detentions for skipping class. And notes were sent home to our parents. I told my parents it was a mix-up and I’d take care of it at school the next day. My mom didn’t believe me and called school anyway, where she learned I was very well behaved in the two detentions. My punishment? For skipping French class, I had to stay in on two different weekend nights and watch two different French foreign films. My parents weren’t all that strict, but they certainly were clever with their punishments.
BTW, I hear they’re going to do a special tribute to John Hughes at the Oscars this year.
.-= Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks´s last blog ..Canine =-.
My parents were always pretty “strict” with what we watched….until the summer I went to stay with my sister.
Like Dessie, I didn’t care a thing about TBC when it came out because I wasn’t even a year old yet. But the summer I turned thirteen is the summer I experienced TBC while my sister was at work. I wound up watching that movie at least a hundred times that summer and know the every line by heart. It’s one of my favorite movies.
I am pretty strict about what I let my eight year old watch and I’d never heard of the Hot Tub Time Machine until your post. I googled it. Why would someone think this movie is appropriate for a child? Was this meant as a joke or no? I am confuzzled. lol
Perspective is kind of a bitch, isn’t it?
.-= Finn´s last blog ..Where I’m At: Olympic Edition =-.
I was 14 – and totally saw that movie in the theaters. Boys have it hard – we only had to get a cute, young guy to buy the ticket from…
Great story, though. 🙂
.-= Sybil Law´s last blog ..*Not* about masturbation… Unless you want to… =-.
Love “Breakfast Club.” And can’t wait to see “Hot Tub Time Machine.” Though both are not likely to be movies for little kids. Still, I have a warm spot for both John Hughes AND John Cusack.
.-= Karl´s last blog ..I’ve Asked Before, I Know… =-.
I am sooo not strict about what I let my kids watch… I should do better in that department, really I should. But if I want to watch it, no matter the rating, we all watch it. I have turned off a few things that went over the line…
My first R-Rated movie, “purple rain” My mom took me when I was in 3rd grade. She didn’t have a probably with ratings either apparently. When I went to school and told my teacher what I did over the weekend she told me that my mom had no business taking me to see that movie. That was the first time I can remember feeling really bad and ashamed about myself.
Werid how you can remember radom stuff like that.
And my Q107, Was Y-107 (http://djshawn.com/Y107_Nashville/) and if you got a Tookie Bird shirt, you were like the coolest thing EVER! They were almost as impressive as a spud mckenzie shirt!
I can remember watching all those forbidden “R” movies from the 80s at my friend’s house. She had HBO. Ah, yes. “Last American Virgin” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” I can remember watching these at Megan’s house and feeling so fabulously rebellious.
.-= Coal Miner’s Granddaughter´s last blog ..Discombobulated =-.
guess since you haven’t replied to comments yet i can still sneak in here an leave a comment. eh?
i’m sad that you got robbed of your winnings. boooo!
.-= hello haha narf´s last blog ..Drafts =-.
Hilly: Betamax FTW!
Dessie: Agreed about John Hughes. I remember when the headmaster of our school used the end monologue in her graduation address. Class.
And Judd Nelson? You’re right — he could have turned out worse. But he DID have a scary phase for a while. My favorite iteration is “New Jack City” Judd Nelson.
Nilsa: Sounds like some clever parenting. We’re trying to do similar things to teach Av lessons by having unique repercussions fit the offense. Chances are he won’t be impressed. Until he gets much older. And probably not even then. Oh well…
S_CSR That was a bit of hyperbole; “Hot Tub Time Machine” isn’t even on his radar. And even if it were — I think even if he were 14-15 we’d say no. But I suppose it depends on what kind of kid he turns out to be…
Kudos for being involved in the TV watching decisions, by the way…
Finn Perspective isn’t only kind of a bitch. I see it as a bitch, a brain, an athlete, a basket case and a criminal.
Sybil Law: I seriously need to grow better boobs.
Karl: Speaking of John Cusack — I’m a HUGE fan but he’s been a bit hit-or-miss over the past decade. Loved him in, for example, Grosse Pointe Blank. Wasn’t impressed with “Being John Malkovich.” And “Con-Air?” Yikes. I’m not totally sure what he’s doing in HTTM, but I suppose we’ll see…
Janelle: Dude — I’m 37 and I don’t even think I’m old enough to see Purple Rain! I do remember when it came out, though. It was the most taboo thing out there at the time.
CMGD: Yes! “Last American Virgin!” I remember seeing an edited version on mainstream TV! A hell of a lot was cut out of it. And since then — I haven’t been able to get “I Know What Boys Like” out of my head.
hello haha narf: Just got in under the wire! I was sad, too. But hey — a year later I won tickets to Star Trek IV. Which I was allowed to see. And it’s pretty much the same film as Breakfast Club anyway. But with less pot smoking and more whales.
I remember the AM station I used to listen to (I’m about a dozen years older than you… AM radio used to play popular music when I was younger) encouraged it’s listeners to “Tune in this coming Monday for a big surprise.” I eagerly waited for Monday to roll around… and when it did… the big surprise? They’d gone country.
And no longer would I be able to hear their mix of the Bay City Rollers’ song entwined with their call letters: S-A-T-U-R-WASI night.
My mom used to listened to 107.3, but you know, the contemporary adult station. And good for your mom for standing up for what she believed, even though I can’t think of why that movie is rated R!
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