December 1988 Pop Culture: Tom Waits, Jason Bateman & R.E.M.’s Green

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Time to unwrap another holiday-season podcast, this time about the pop culture topics of the December 1988 issue! What Now serves up smog, some Sassy superfan sisters, a book giveaway, what the stars want for the holidays, and “grotty”! Reviews include R.E.M.’s Green (featuring a legendary gaffe by our fearless leader Jane), Mystic PizzaClara’s Heart, Bon Jovi’s New Jersey, and Tom Waits’s Big Time, which we talk about…a lot. One To Watch is certified A-lister — well, okay, B — Christian Slater! And the feature profiles go deep on R.E.M. — more Green content — and a truck-racing Jason Bateman seconds before he gave up the sport forever. Take off your fuzzy earmuffs and listen!

Visual Aids

Episode Rundown

It Is December 1988

What Now

Watch It: Clara's Heart

Watch It: The Beast

Watch It: Mystic Pizza

Listen Up: R.E.M.

Listen Up: Tom Waits

Listen Up: Bon Jovi

Listen Up: Anthrax

One To Watch: Christian Slater

Feature: How To Make An R.E.M. Record

Feature: A Boy And His Truck

Goodbye For Now

Episode Notes

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"Ozone In Air Found Damaging To Condoms" at APNews
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Wicomico County Health Department's HIV/AIDS program, current owner of 1-800-234-TEEN (8336)
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Mystic Pizza on Netflix
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Big Time on Paramount Plus
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The December 1988 mixtape on Spotify
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Athens, GA - Inside/Out on FlixFling
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Jason Bateman's bad racing crash on YouTube
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"How We Started a Racing Series That Almost Killed Jason Bateman" at Road And Track
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Bateman himself discussing the crash on his podcast, Smartless (starting 01:07:30)
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The Again With This podcast on Patreon