A few of the guys at work got to talkin’ the other day about movies that we really liked as kids. One of these movies was the critically acclaimed (or not) masterpiece - Revenge of the Nerds. I remember watching this on PRISM as a youngster (if you don’t know PRISM, you obviously aren’t from Philly – it was like the local version of HBO).
There were many reasons I was always excited when this movie was on. Sure, it was witty, funny, and the underdogs won despite great odds against them (see Victory, Rocky, Bad News Bears, and just about any other movie out there now). But, as raging adolescents, we loved the movie because of the gratuitous nude shots - probably around five minutes worth – which was like an eternity for our horny little minds (weird how no movies with that kind of nudity are really produced anymore – at least not ones from major studios).
We got to talkin’ more about the characters in Revenge of the Nerds, and something dawned on me. Why was Booger considered a Nerd? It’s not like he dressed like a Nerd – he dressed more like a slob (slob does not equal nerd). In fact, he was very slob-like altogether – and most Nerds are obsessed with keeping things clean.
Booger also drank a ton of beer and burped (and farted) about as much as I do (a lot). Again, Nerds may enjoy the occasional Gallo, but they certainly don’t indulge in binge drinking. Since drinking kills brain cells (see Michael Jackson), this would be like Kryptonite to Superman, wouldn’t it?
Booger also enjoys daily toke from a doobie. Again, very un-nerd-like. Some nerds may at least experiment with the Gonj’ to see if it can help them solve problems, but they end up doing uncharacteristic things like paint picture and other artsy stuff – so they immediately stop.
Finally, Booger never really displayed any intelligence at all as a “nerd.” The most he did was show his other nerds how to roll joints and play cards – more of a negative influence, if you ask me.
Booger reminded me more of Belushi’s character in Animal House. Why wasn’t Booger part of a better fraternity, anyway? Wouldn’t fraternities kill for a guy that can drink, belch, fart, and roll joints with extreme precision? Wouldn’t this be a good mascot? I never really figured this one out.
Oh, speaking of thinking outside the box, I really do think that Booger would’ve been a great character in the Police Academy movies. How cool would that have been, if his character did do a crossover? Just think how great this would’ve been if this was somehow done – it would’ve predated that whole Jason vs. Freddie thing.
Hopefully, the Last Bonds Piece I Do
One more thing totally unrelated to this post, and hopefully the last Barry Bonds issue I post (I’ve typed far too many words already). After speaking with numerous people on this Barry Bonds/Steroid cluster-f*ck, I have a question for you (both of you). What is worse – gambling on baseball, or taking steroids (basically, what I’m asking is this – is what Pete Rose did worse than what Barry Bonds is doing?)?
Writer’s Workshop: Passing The Baton
3 months ago
4 comments:
I think it is funny that we both mentioned Booger in our posts today. I consider it a good thing. Yours was much more deep into the character though.
Booger suffered from the outcast tag that many of the nerds suffered from at that school because they didn't fit in the status quo for whatever reason. I mean, was Lamar, the gay one, really a nerd too? No, he was just a flamer which makes him an outcast at Adams.
But the nerds needed a cool influence like Booger to get them over the hump and doing cool things at college. Booger needed to be with the nerds. When Booger made his presence felt, the jocks got threatened. He took the Omega Mu party to a whole new level with drinking and weed, which caused the jocks to have to bust it up because the nerds were having too much fun. He beat Ogre in the belching contest which helped in the quest for the Greek Council. He was the loudest voice who was pushing the Pi's for Charity which also helped in that quest. And most importantly, he added that needed guitar sound which truly put their skit over the top. Booger was the most necessary character for the nerds. He was their catalyst.
And about Barry Bonds... there is one thing that separates him from Pete Rose. What Barry Bonds did in 1998 was not illegal under baseball's rules. Pete Rose did something that everyone knew was illegal under the rules. Barry Bonds took advantage of a system that was in place. That needs to be said before any future discussion of his Hall of Fame credentials takes place.
But he did something THAT WAS ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED STATES, EVEN IF IT WASN'T CONSIDERED ILLEGAL IN BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP DEFENDING THAT SCHMUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That wasn't necessarily a defense. It is just the truth.
And the illegal in the US argument is not good. Baseball is currently banning several substances now that are still legal to purchase over the counter in the US. So legality in the US is not the same as baseball's rules in general.
And I don't believe people get arrested for simply using steroids. Dealing is different.
I'm not defending him outright. But there is another side to this story that needs to also be said. Baseball, and the San Francisco Giants, both allowed this to happen which makes this very hypocritical on their part. This story is not entirely about Barry Bonds.
Pete Rose did something illegal to baseball, and when baseball caught him and knew what he was doing, they punished him. That is clear.
The Barry Bonds issue is still so unclear right now, it can't be compared to Pete Rose.
What's the matter? Honest discussion on the topic bother you? BOO FREAKIN HOO!
Booger may not be a nerd in ROTNs, but he picked up the personal in every other movie that followed...
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