Revisiting '80s Nerds

One of the things I remember most fondly about the '80s were the trend of nerd films: films like Revenge of the Nerds, Weird Science, and my fave, Real Genius where oddball, brainy outsiders were the heroes.  This set the stage for the growth of Nerd and Geek culture, and the changes which made being intelligent and quirky a cool thing.

As noted in this 1998 article in the online magazine Slate:

                  But the popular understanding of nerdiness--that a nerd 

                  is an uncool person--doesn't stand the test of time. In particular, 

                  it doesn't survive the 1980s, an era the New York Times 

                  deemed was characterized by "nerd chic." By the middle of 

                  the go-go decade, fashion magazines touted the popularity 

                  of nerd couture--plaid plants, horn rims, and oxford shirts 

                  buttoned all the way to the top. Further, witness the 

                  proliferation of '80s teen movies valorizing nerds: Revenge of 

                  the Nerds, Weird Science, and Real Genius, to name a few.
                 Underlying this transformation of the nerd's image was a                                transformation of the nerd's economic status. With their 

                  entry into new high-tech industries, many nerds suddenly 

                  became millionerds.

The end sequence of Revenge of the Nerds, culminating in an inspiring speech, is a classic. Its really about misfits and oddballs and people who just don't fit in finding their place in society and standing up for who they are.  Its a message which should resonate with anyone who has ever felt different, regardless  of whether one considers oneself a "nerd" or "geek" or "freak" or any other category.

Another memorable scene was the very '80s-esque performance of the nerds during the college talent show competition. This performance is very, very '80s. Its got new wavish syth music, Devo-ish hair styles, and Michael Jackson imitators doing the Moonwalk. Admittedly, the Lamar character (in the Michael Jackson jacket doing the "rap") is a bit much, but check out the computer toting nerd dudes sporting the '80s styles!!  


This post includes revised portions of two prior posts, along with new material.

Weird Al in the '80s

This past week, Weird Al Yankovic has been blitzing the internet with a comic video per day, together with the release of his new album, Mandatory Fun.  

Here is his new tribute to aluminum foil played to the tune of "Royal." In conjunction with this week of Weird Al-ish goodness, I thought it would be an opportune time to give another look at Weird Al's 80s work

Although Al first became a comic celebrity with his version of The Knack's "My Sherona," (titled "My Bologna"), I first became aware of his quirky act in the midst of 1983's Michael Jackson mania, with Al's spin on Jackson's "Beat It." (That's "Eat It.")

He followed it up with his skewering of another '80s classic, Madonna's "Like A Virgin."

Here's another, the very '80s take on both the game show Jeopardy and the J. Geils Band song of the same name.

Here's a real flashback, Weird Al's very first TV appearance on the Tomorrow show in 1981.  This is so early '80s, note the reference to the first space shuttle mission at the very end of the clip.

Real Genius

I've been wanting to do a post about one of my fave '80s movies... one that has all the great things about that decade rolled into one: quirky characters,  zany fun, lots of color and humor, and an ever present ability to make you smile, no matter how often you've watched it.

The movie is a 1985 cult-favorite directed by Martha Coolidge, called Real Genius. Its a great treat for lovers of oddball nerdy types.

Mitch Taylor (played by Gabe Jarret), a teen prodigy science genius, is accepted into Pacific Tech University at the early age of 15. He's there to work under the scheming Professor Hathaway (William Atherton) on a project to create a powerful new laser. Mitch is a bit uptight and nervous, and looks like he requires a bit of loosening up.

As he is getting used to his new surroundings at Pacific Tech, he meets his new roommate, fellow genius Chris Knight (a young Val Kilmer). Knight is in his senior year, and every bit as brilliant as Mitch, but unlike Mitch is more of a free-wheeling, fun-loving, nonconformist type. He makes an effort at loosening up Mitch, and making him comfortable with his high IQ.

Mitch is introduced to some of the other quirky, brainy, high IQ characters which populate the dorms at Pacific Tech. Included is the hyperkinetic, always thinking, highly technical girl nerd Jordan (Michelle Meyrink).

And the reclusive, '70s burnout genius, Laslo Hollyfeld (Jon Gries), who lives in the steam tunnels underneath the college. (By the way, its from this character that I've taken my online nickname, Lazlo!!)

And lastly, the annoying, brown-nosing, antagonistic Kent (Robert Prescott). 

For most of the first part of the movie, we get acquainted with the hard-studying habits of the students at Pacific Tech.

And also the hard partying, fun side of being brainy... as shown by this scene above, which features some of the aforementioned characters.

And, of course, our resident geniuses, Mitch and Chris, continue their research into that big laser project they were assigned to.

But soon things become interesting. Our young geniuses become aware that the laser project is really a terrible weapon that they were conned into creating by the scheming Professor Hathaway. This, of course, results in further hi-jinks, and a daring plan by our brilliant crew to prevent use of the weapon, and redeem their integrity.

The plan involves sneaking onto a military base, re-targeting the laser . . . 

And making a whole lot of popcorn. 

I'm obviously not going to give away the whole plot of the movie, so you'll have to check it out on your own.

Really, the movie is a blast... worth your time.

When Computers Became Cool

With the advent of the first personal computers during the late '70s and early '80s, there dawned a new era of coolness for computers and those who used them. Suddenly, those quirky, savvy "computer geeks" were the epitome of chic. There was even a certain shadowy sense of power that was perceived to derive from being hip to all the secrets and esoteric knowledge of computers. 

One of the best examples of this was the sci-fi flick Wargames (1983).

 Wargames was the story of a young computer hacker, played by Matthew Broderick, who succeeded in hacking into a powerful defense department computer which was enabled with the ability to launch nuclear missiles. Although the character played by Broderick originally thought that his interaction with the defense computer (dubbed the "WOPR") was just a game, things quickly escalated to the point of nearly causing a nuclear war.  The movie's portrayal of the race to prevent nuclear catastrophe, and the climactic ending, served as a moral lesson in the midst of the Cold War.

 Wargames became a popular and well remembered '80s movie classic, and also an example of the emergence of the computer geek. 

 A less easily remembered TV show that came along around the same time was Whiz Kids. Whiz Kids aired on CBS during 1983-84, a featured a story line about a group of computer savvy young teens who use their computer skills to fight crime.

Here is the opening credits to the short-lived Whiz Kids.

Afterward, computers, and those who kept the knowledge of computers, began to appear in many of the movies of the '80s. This included many of the nerd oriented flicks that appeared during the mid '80s, such as Revenge of the Nerds (1984) and Weird Science (1985).

More '80s Nerds

Thinking about the recent post on Revenge of the Nerds, I got to thinking about other cool scenes from that cool movie.

One that came to mind was the very '80s-esque performance of the nerds during the college talent show competition. This performance is very, very '80s. Its got new wavish syth music, Devo-ish hair styles, and Michael Jackson imitators doing the Moonwalk. Admittedly, the Lamar character (in the Michael Jackson jacket doing the "rap") is a bit much, but check out the computer toting nerd dudes sporting the '80s styles!!  

And theres also the very '80s opening song, by the Rubinoos.

Okay nerds.. Let's go!


Mom packs us a lunch and we're off to the school,
They call us nerds 'cause we're so uncool.
They laugh at our clothes, they laugh at our hair
The girls walk by with the nose in the air.


So go ahead, put us down
One of these days we will turn it around
Won't be long, mark my words
Time has come for Revenge of the nerds!


Revenge of the nerds
Revenge of the nerds


We wear horn-rimmed glasses with a heavy duty lens
Button down shirts and a pocket full of pens
Straight A students, teachers' pets
They call us nerds but with no regrets


So go ahead, put us down
One of these days we will turn it around
Won't be long, mark my words
Time has come for Revenge of the nerds!


Revenge of the nerds (Nerds)
Revenge of the nerds (Hahaha)
Revenge of the nerds (Baah)
Revenge of the nerds


(Nerds)While the jocks work out (Nerds) with the football team (Nerds)
We're trying to score with the girl of our dream
You know we ain't good looking but here's a surprise:
Nerds are great lovers in disguise


So go ahead, put us down
One of these days we will turn it around
Won't be long, mark my words
Time has come for Revenge of the nerds!


Revenge of the nerds
Revenge of the nerds (Nerds!)
Revenge of the nerds (Neerds)
Revenge of the nerds (Hahaha)


So if they call you a dork, a spazz or a geek
Stand up and be proud, don't be meak
(Hey!)Beautiful people, haven't you heard?
The joke's on you, it's revenge of the nerds


So go ahead, put us down
One of these days we will turn it around
Won't be long, mark my words
Time has come for Revenge of the nerds!


Revenge of the nerds (Nerds!)
Revenge of the nerds
Revenge of the nerds (Who, me?)
Revenge of the nerds
Revenge of the nerds (Hahaha)
Revenge of the nerds (Neerds)
Revenge of the nerds (Baah)
Revenge of the nerds 

Revenge of the Nerds

One of the things I remember most fondly about the '80s were the trend of nerd films: films like Revenge of the Nerds, Weird Science, and my fave, Real Genius where oddball, brainy outsiders were the heroes. 


The end sequence of Revenge of the Nerds, culminating in an inspiring speech, is a classic. Its really about misfits and oddballs and people who just don't fit in finding their place in society and standing up for who they are.  Its a message which should resonate with anyone who has ever felt different, regardless  of whether one considers oneself a "nerd" or "geek" or "freak" or any other category.