NBC's That's One To Grow On!

Kim Fields in a PSA for "One To Grow On"

While watching our favorite morning television programs between 1983 and 1989, NBC provided us kids with informative PSAs called "One To Grow On," which they later renamed, "The More You Know." These helpful public service announcements focused on everything from safety and hygiene to ethics and morals. What's more, they came from our favorite '80s celebrities such as Family Ties' Michael J. Fox, Silver Spoons star Ricky Schroder and  Facts of Life's Kim Fields. 

I have always hated going to the doctor and dentist. Apparently I missed this particular helpful PSA from Punky Brewster star Soleil  Moon Frye telling us not to worry when it's time to see the doctor. 

Here's "One To Grow On" from my personal favorite teen idol, Jason Bateman reminding us to be courteous and keep our music down. Too funny. Check it out!

Confessions of a Cougar

My husband is three years younger than me.
My college boyfriend is two years younger than me.
My high school boyfriend is one year younger than me.

I must confess, I love young boys, I mean guys. As a kid, my celebrity crushes were typically on guys my own age or a year or two older than me such as Corey Feldman, Jason Bateman and Kirk Cameron. As an adult,  I began to develop crushes on younger celebrity guys like Leonardo DiCaprio (he's kinda jerky, I know) and the one I felt most guilty about, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and my secret crush, Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys.

Now that he's in his 20s, I feel my crush is much more socially acceptable. However, as a 26-year-old editor at SuperTeen, writing about and crushing on a teenage Ten Things I Hate About You and Third Rock From The Sun star Joey Gordon-Levitt ... well, it felt wrong. Very wrong.

Hey, at least I didn't say "Angels in the Outfield Joey"...

Acceptable Joseph Gordon-Levitt adult crush.

I once dated a guy who was four years older than me, that felt very wrong as well. It was kept a secret. My family didn't really know. It didn't feel right. I didn't feel as in control, even though he wasn't exactly controlling. It was a fleeting fling and my one and only older guy affair.

What about you? Do you prefer dating younger guys/girls? Did you marry an older woman or man? Fess up!

Retro TV Sitcoms Starring Twins

Growing up watching shows about twins, made me wonder what life would be like as a twin. I'm not talking TV shows skirting child labor laws, which featured child actor twins whom are never actually taped together (Olsen twins on Full House or the Greenbush twins on Little House).

I'm referring to sitcoms which spotlight on the banter between young twin siblings. Stereotypically created as total opposites, (remember Patty Duke as Patty Lane and her it's-not-physically-possible twin cousin Cathy?) these twins made us chuckle with delight. Check it. Do you remember the following '80s twin TV shows? Please add shows I missed in the comment section!

DOUBLE TROUBLE

The 1984 show Double Trouble starred Liz and Jean Sagal as super cute and trendy twins with perfect comedic timing. These chicks were so cool, I wanted to grow up and be just like their characters on Double Trouble. Their big sister Katey was Peg Bundy on Married With Children.

VALERIE & THE HOGAN FAMILY

First airing in 1986, Valerie, later known as The Hogan Family after Valerie Harper jumped ship, starred Jason Bateman (my childhood fave!) and Danny Ponce and Jeremy Licht as fraternal twins Willie and Mark. Yes, the Miller/Boyett team paired a nice Jewish boy and cute Latino together as brothers, ah Hollywood. As an adult watching this clip, I now realize the theme song is sung by "Killing Me Softly" singer, Roberta Flack! Cool!

SISTER, SISTER

Not until the mid 1990s did we get to watch Sister, Sister starring Tia & Tamera Mowry as twin sisters separated and adopted at birth then reunited 14 years later. By this time, I was already working as a teen reporter. Thus I was actually writing about these actresses, so they don't count as retro twins. I'm, however, including them for my younger blog readers.

Kirk Cameron & Jason Bateman Golden Grahams Boys

A sucker for cute boys and anything graham cracker flavored--New Jersey's Applegate Farms Homemade Ice Cream serves up something they call Graham Central Station that's just out-of-this world delicious--I loved the following two TV commercials.

You know Mom didn't approve of sugar cereals, but as we got older, she lightened up. To this day, one of my favorites is Golden Grahams. Ironically, vintage Golden Grahams commercials are linked to many of my favorite teen idols. Here are two 1980s broadcast ads that stand out in my mind ... One features Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron and the other Jason Bateman.

During the Leonardo DiCaprio Titanic craze, I was working as an editor at SuperTeen magazine. Desperate for a new Leo-related angle, I contacted General Mills' public relations department attempting to get my hands on a Golden Grahams commercial featuring Leo DiCaprio's step-brother, Adam Farrar. Leo once stated that his brother Adam's role in that commercial inspired him to act.

To this day, I still can't identify his step-brother or that particular Golden Grahams commercial. Did I mention General Mills' PR had no idea what I was talking about.

Anyway, enjoy Kirk and Jason--my 1980s loves as they push sugary deliciousness to unsuspecting kids in the '80s. Can you tell I had a thing for boys with golden brown mop-top hairstyles? Funny check out this photo of my husband at age 10. I'd totally be into him if we were classmates.

Kirk Cameron Featured in 1980s Golden Grahams Commercial
 



Jason Bateman Featured in 1980s Golden Grahams Commercial

Weekend Retro Rewind Featuring Billy Joel

Say Goodbye To Hollywood - Long Island's Billy Joel 

Let me first tell you that I'm not a Billy Joel fan, but as a little kid I was! Growing up on Long Island, at some point in your life you have to like Billy Joel. Why? Because Billy is Long Island.

I know I've blogged about my roller skating rink days at Hot Skates in Lynbrook, Long Island several times... But seriously, in the early 1980s when this song came on, it was like everything was right with the world. Why? Three little words. Couples. Only. Skate.

I'd grab the hand of an unsuspecting fellow fifth grader and off we'd skate into the night for an entire 4 minutes and 37 seconds to this particular Billy Joel song you can hear below. Even if my skating partner wasn't particularly cute or stylish; the music, the lights, the glimmer of the disco ball, made him seem almost as cute as Jason Bateman on Little House. It was heavenly.

Child Stars Turned Stone Cold Foxes

Henry Thomas, Joey Gordon-Levitt, Leo Dicaprio, Jason Bateman & Tobey Maguire. Can You Feel The Hotness?

A good many of the young actors I fancied growing up, often lost their cuteness upon hitting that awkward stage, typically between 15-18.  Seriously. Think about your male friends and family members. How often have you seen a photo of a cousin, uncle or friend who was adorable at 12 then fuggers by 17? Sadly, it happens.

However, some lucky studs retained their looks and that list is actually quite long.  Here are a few of my personal favorites. Who's yours?

Stay tuned, tomorrow I will focus on one particular child star that didn't end up as yummy as these dudes.

Henry Thomas--from adorable kid in 1982's ET, to adult hottie in 2010.

 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt--from Angels in the Outfield sweetie, to super delicious indie boy!

Leonardo DiCaprio--Growing Pains save-the-show character, to smokin' hot blockbuster actor.

Jason Bateman--from '80s Silver Spoon preppy kid, to metrosexual daddy.

Tobey Maguire--from This Boy's Life actor, to certified DILF!

Check back tomorrow for one child star that sadly did not age well.

Postcards From Jason & Justine Bateman

If you've been following my blog for a bit, you'll know it's no secret that growing up I was head-over-heels in love with Jason Bateman. Jason, Corey Feldman, Sean Astin, Kirk Cameron and Ralph Macchio were my other top favorite teen stars - I had scrapbooks, posters, pin-ups, etc. I wrote them countless letters in hopes of some sort of acknowledgment.

Anyway, during the Silver Spoons/Family Ties era of 1983, my favorite actor and actress were Jason from Silver Spoons and his big sister Justine from Family Ties. I watched both shows religiously while sitting Indian style on the floor of our den, glued to the TV set.
 

I must have sent Jason at least five letters before turning to his sister to find out why I was getting the brushoff. I thought, WTF? I had to be the coolest 11-year-old fan he had. I wore preppy sweaters and liked cool music like Jason. I knew all of his favorite foods, colors and movies. I could see us hanging out at the arcade together sipping a Slurpee (well, Mom didn't allowed me to have Slurpees, too much sugar, but still).

I read so many articles in Tiger Beat and Bop about Jason. It was like I actually knew him. I loved how we were both from New York -- even though he was from Rye, a place I had never been to. The only thing I knew about Rye at age 11, was that it was home to Rye Playland, an awesome-looking amusement park often advertised on WPIX.

I knew Jason's mom was a flight attendant. I knew his middle name was Kent, after his dad. I knew his birthday was January 14. I knew his height and weight.  I knew every single TV show he had ever appeared on. Yes, I was his biggest fan. Let the loser girls have Ricky, "The Ricker" (super lame!) -- Jason was all mine!

So one fateful July summery day, I received a postcard from Justine. I had begged her to have her bro send me a note and an autographed photo. There it was, in green ink, the artsiest, coolest handwriting ever - a note written just to me! PERSONALLY! It said:

"HI ALLYSON - JASON HAS YOUR LETTER BUT HE IS GETTING NEW PHOTOS SO HE WILL ANSWER YOU NEXT WEEK. THERE IS A STORY & PICS IN 'TEEN BEAT' & NBC NEW YORK HAS A BIO AND 'PEOPLE' & 'TV GUIDE' HAVE INFO."

[click on images to view larger]

A few days later, I received a postcard in the exact same handwriting, confirming it wasn't really Jason or Justine who replied. My heart sank. Maybe it was their mom. Maybe it was their publicist. I was crushed, yet still excited to snag their autographs.

"THANKS FOR YOUR LETTER TO ME. I AM 14. JANUARY 14, 1984 I'LL BE 15. JUSTINE SAYS HI. SHE IS MY SISTER [NO SHIT DUDE!] I JUST DID A MOVIE WITH GARY COLEMAN CALLED 'DC COLLINS' [YES, I KNOW THIS ALREADY].

So that was the last I heard from the Bateman's. We weren't going to be friends. We weren't hittin' the mall any time soon. Jason and I wouldn't be playing an intense game of Pac-Man in the near future. He wasn't moving back to NY. He was probably living life in that magical place I had never been to called Woodland Hills. Home to Corey and all of the other cool kids, while I rotted in Nassau County, Long Island. Home to nobody cool at the time other than Billy Joel who was much too old for me.

I never really followed Jason into adulthood. I gave up on all of this teen idol nonsense by about 9th grade. I recently checked in on ole JB on Wiki. It turns out his parents were living off of his and Justine's paychecks. He married Paul Anka's daughter, which is pretty cool - my dad used to sing Paul Anka songs to me when I was little. Dad and I danced to his song "Time Of Your Life" at my wedding.

Jason today still working hard in movies and TV