Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
TOP GUN hit 1986 with all the “rah-rah” fixings of a testosterone festival. And while this chem-trail of bravado buzzed his home, it wasn’t some need for speed the rattled Jason Dugre’s bones. Rather, it was an entanglement in the mortal coil of a far more humane moment. Spoiler warning, things don’t turn out too well for that guy on ER as we focus on a wise-cracking, volley-balling best bud fighter pilot named Goose.
You can watch today’s guest JASON DUGRE in GILMORE GIRLS (season 4 episode 12: “A Family Matter), GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE (episode 3: “Summer”) and the independent feature film SAINT BERNARD available for rent and purchase on AMAZON PRIME.
POP NOTES
TOP GUN was officially released on Friday May 16th, 1986. It was the top grossing domestic film of the year, followed by CROCODILE DUNDEE, PLATOON and THE KARATE KID PART 2.
Director Tony Scott had a tumultuous relationship with Paramount Pictures, resulting in his being fired (and rehired) a total of three times.
Other directors considered before the hiring of Tony Scott included David Cronenberg (VIDEODROME) and John Carpenter (MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN).
The producers initially hoped to use Bryan Adam’s “Only The Strong Survive” as the film’s main theme. Feeling the film glorified the military, Bryan Adams turned them down. As a result, Giorgio Moroder (“Together In Electric Dreams”) and Tom Whitlock (“Meet Me Half Way”) penned “Danger Zone.”
Prior to vocalist Kenny Loggins, producers had approached both TOTO and REO SPEEDWAGON to perform the film’s theme “Danger Zone.”
The film’s success produced a massive upsurge in both Air Force recruitment and ray ban sunglasses sales.
While referred to as Goose through the entire film, the character’s name of Nick Bradshaw can be found in early drafts and promotional material for the film.
Before his role as Goose, ANTHONY EDWARDS had appeared as a stoner in FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH (1982), one of the lead nerds in REVENGE OF THE NERDS (1984) and a paint-ball savant in GOTCHA (1985). He would later portray Dr. Mark Greene for eight seasons on the NBC ratings powerhouse ER (1994).
Out of all the lead actors in the film, Anthony Edwards was the only one to never vomit during the fighter jet sequences.
Tune back on Monday when Creative Consultant and host of the Vibrant Visionaries podcast HEIDI BENNETT talks about more than the one scene you are thinking of in PINK FLAMINGOS (1972).
This episode of MÉNAGE Á POP was recorded by CAST, an online audio platform that lets you create and record a multi-guest podcast straight from your web-browser. It was then mastered by AUPHONIC, a web-based post-production service. Check out both sights for trial and subscription information.
MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior. All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.
Subscribe to MÉNAGE Á POP on APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY, STITCHER and ANDROID or stream it at www.nahpods.com.
Follow Tim Blevins on TWITTER @subcultist and on INSTAGRAM @subcultist.
Try to understand the present while living in the past with Tim’s weekly podcast 20TH CENTURY POP! at www.nahpods.com/20popcast
For questions, queries or, by random chance, press contact Tim Blevins at subcultist@gmail.com.