5 Things From the 90s That Might (As Well) Come Back
2010 has seen the return of two things from the 90's that no one expected: Soundgarden and Faith No More. And while these were two of my all time favorite bands, the news of their reunions has left me less than enthused. Maybe its because theyre not releasing any new material so watching them now promises to be only marginally more exciting than checking in with Kurt Cobain. Or maybe its because their return was so unexpected, it's left me reeling with uncertainty. I mean, what else from the 90's will return? Here are five fearless predictions:
Back in the mid 90s a bunch of ladies saw the success of Lollapalooza and decided to show the world that sisters could do it for themselves. Soon a group of somewhat talented artists banded together united only by their one hit wonder status and lack of a penis. Shawn Colvin, Meredith Brooks, Paula Cole, and others. (Id include Sarah McLachlan, but shes had more than one hit and that would ruin my wild generalization. Also, she never replied after I wrote that letter about kissing her so hard, so Im just going to assume she actually does have a penis.)
Well in 2010, Lillith Fair will return with a vengeance. And not with Lady Gaga and Ke$ha flying the grrl-power banner. No, instead, our old friends will take to the stage with new anthems like Brookss Im a Bitch (Just Like This Menopause); Colvins Sonny Never Visits Anymore; and Paula Coles Piss Off Gladstone, I Had Two Hits. The feisty music-loving college girls of the 90s will now be able to purchase tickets at Starbucks, Talbots, and, of course, Gymboree.
I hesitate to go here because after the Lillith Fair cracks Id hate to be misunderstood as a misogynist. But being misunderstood is what writing for the internet is all about. Its like a big game of Telephone that you play only with your deaf friends. Who are also neurologically impaired. So here goes. I know it may come as a surprise to you 21st century boys and girls, but women were different in the 90s. This was before Sex and the City feminism took hold. Today, women hold onto the false delusion that they can empower themselves by tweeting frankly about how much they enjoy oral sex. Where a frattish mentality of getting drunk and laid is somehow akin to saying, Im a woman and I will not be denied ! Now, of course thats wrong-headed and false, but men dont typically try to dispel that notion because, well why would we dissuade you from talking about oral sex? Its much easier for dudes to say, Yes, youre an independent woman. Now finish your beer and do that thing I like with the thing.
But back in the 90s, it was a different scene. Intelligent, sexual women across the land (or at least at my University) wanted to run with the wolves while reading Naomi WolfesBeauty Myth. They couldnt put on make up or shave their legs without asking, Why am I doing this; are these the tools of my oppression; and how does Gladstone get so dreamy? I dont have the stats to prove this, but in the 90s fewer asses got spanked during sex then any decade in modern history. The 69 rose in prominence as the only accepted egalitarian form of oral sex. And for the first time in history, a frank dialogue about the magic and glory of the menses was considered foreplay.
Well, get ready, because in 2010, its all coming back. Sex and the City 2 will hit theaters and suddenly women will react in horror at the lifeless shell Carrie Bradshaw has become. Soon Ani DiFranco records will start to sell again and French maid outfits will be returned in record numbers. Your free ride is over fellas. Time to grow a pony tail and get some Indigo Girls records.
Historians tell us that for a brief six week period in the fall of 1991, it was actually considered somewhat witty and/or clever to say thanks for sharing or too much information when confronted with unwanted details from anothers personal life. We may never know why humor was ascribed to these phrases, but all our best data tells us its true. Indeed, even today, there are still clusters of humorless conversation trolls who feel empowered by using these phrases as if they were magical incantations, instantly transforming the speaker into a person more important than the addressee. They have no idea that every self-respecting human stopped saying this shortly before the start of the Clinton administration.
Well theyre in luck. In 2010, a void will form in our language and welcome the unfortunate return of these phrases. Why? Because in 2010 Fail will finally leave the vernacular. (Incidentally, meh will hold tight for another five years.) Soon, millions of the worst people in the world will be unsure what to say when being exposed to unexpected, unwanted information. And thats when the TMI jargon returns. Some of you may be doubting this prediction. How does it make sense to reply thanks for sharing to a youtube video you dont approve of? Well , in truth, it makes no sense. But then again, it was never really logical to say too much information to your co-worker when he was trying to open up to you about the death of his mother either.
Did you misread that? Not Goatse. Thats a 21st century creation. No, I said goatee that tiny beard circling ones mouth that --much like Goatse-- actually does conjure thoughts of a-holes. But in the 90s it was part of the standard uniform. Its hard to believe, but just over a decade ago, this incomplete facial hair formation, could actually increase a guys chances of having sex especially when coupled with long hair. It was a look that said, Hey world, I dont have a beard. Im not clean-shaven either. You cant define me with your boring rules. And seriously whats sexier than that?
In 2010, the goatee comes back stronger than ever. Why? Because of this column. The power of the internet, baby. Tomorrow morning, every guy whos read this will stare in his bathroom mirror overcome by a certain sensation. Good lord, Gladstones onto something! What if the ladies couldnt see the skin immediately around my mouth? What if it appeared from the proper distance that I had a cinnamon donut stuck to my face? Good lord, how much tail would that get me? You may doubt it now, but it's already in play. Youre already on your way. Congratulations, sexy!
In fact, I just started a facebook group called Goatees for 2010 to get this baby going. If the group gets, over 100 members with pics posted, I promise to post too.
(I understand it will take a few days to get the facial hair in place). I will also do my best to get the other Cracked columnists to do so understanding, of course that Daniel OBrien and Michael Swaim may lack the testerone-based fortitude to achieve such things.
Hey remember one of the worst sitcoms ever? No? Why? Because you were 5? Oh. Well what about syndication? Yes, Im talking about Full House. That show about a Jewish guy who was somehow named Tanner and not actually Jewish who had to raise two baby troll dolls after his wife died. Thinking fast, he recruits John Stamos and Dave Coulier to help out. The show ran from 1987 to 1995 and I imagine it sucked the entire length of that time, but truth be told, Im not sure I ever saw a full episode.
In any event, in 2010, Full House returns. Not a remake. All the same actors return in modern day. The make-shift family will reunite to help the Olson twins deal with their eating disorders. Bob Saget, once known for being funny and one of the dirtiest stand ups prior to Full House, will now drop F bombs non stop. And Dave Couliers catch phrase will be Hey, yknow Alanis Morrissette was totally talking about going down on me in that theater. Dont believe me? Doesnt sound right for TV? What if I told you the cast did the whole show in black face and it was called Tyler Perrys Full House of Payne? Yep. Believe it. Enjoy your 2010, guys.
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Um. I'm overly annoyed by little things: I could not get through the front page due to errors. I hope the lack of apostrophes is due to the new layout.
ReplyGoatees come back... I never got rid of mine. Why?
ReplyDamn, what's with the hate for Gladstone? I have never picked up on any "whining" or him being a hipster. Illiteracy is a huge problem, apparantly. It's one thing to just not like the kind of humor he uses, but he is actually a damn good writer.
ReplyTMI and goatees definitely never left, idk what kinda crack u smoked, but it definitely made you see the past incorrectly. altho, i really really hope FULL HOUSE stays f**king dead.
ReplyGoatees stopped being cool a long time ago, hate to break it to you. And if you didn't make this comment from a phone, you should be ashamed of yourself for not spelling out simple words like "you" and "although". I agree about Full House though.
Top Ways to Write an Article While Drunk
ReplyMy thoughts exactly, just seems like a drunken rant. C'mon Gladstone, I loved Hate by Numbers, but your article suck...
did anyone else notice the obnoxious lack of apostrophes?
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesI've noticed that in several articles. I'm starting to think it's a thing.
It's the way the old site converted to the new site. Messed up a bunch of s**t like that. Tru fax.
I believe Tangle to be correct. I've noticed that all the older articles lack apostrophes.
Many of these never left, some predate the 90s by a LOOOOOOONG shot, and most of them have absolutely nothing wrong with them. Judging from the comments, the problem is that Gladstone's just an angry hipster wannabe...
ReplyWhat's got you so angry and defensive? Does apologizing to your girlfriend for wanting sex make you feel like a good person? Or has your crush on the pre-teen versions of the Olsen twins "never left"?
It's always a little bit of a thrill to start an article without meaning to glance at the author's name only to find out yourself that it's a Gladstone creation after fighting your way though all the misguided anger and sarcastic pissy remarks about today's youth. To be fair, it could also have been a Swaim abortion, so... there's that, I guess.
ReplySince you're obviously also a well known internet comedy writer, why don't you take it to your blog, princess?
I think Clay has a jealousy boner. Gladstone is awesome. And he isn't really all *that* old. He's actually still pretty hot.
Gladstone looked really cute with the goatee, long hair, and hat.
ReplySex in the 90's was actually pretty awesome. You must not have been doing it correctly. Back in the 90's girls decided that bikini cut panties were for prudes and championed the thong and g-string. As a bonus, they enjoyed showing off their new discovery. This did not suck. The massive proliferation of and availability of porn found it's way into sorority houses and the girls re-evaluated their sexual skill sets. This was also a good trend. Mid to late 80s sex was terrible, 90s sex ruled and paved the way for whats happening now.
Reply Hide All See All 5 RepliesYuck.
The way I see it, it must have been at least tolerable. I was born in 1991 and am enjoying what's happening now a lot ;)
Yeah and now every hambeast wears them and we are all so jaded we would struggle to get it up if we found ourselves in bed with twins who dont have gag reflexes.
If you think 90's sex was better than 2010's sex, your an idiot. Of course, I was a child in the 90's, and if you were having a lot of sex in the 90's, you're probably not getting much now. Hell. Maybe we're both right. Sex in the 90's was great if you're old now, but was probably not so great if you were a kid.
Syn, what? I've never had a guy that had trouble getting it up. And I don't even have a twin. But yeah, I was born in 85 and did not start having sex until 2001. So I have no idea if 90's sex sucked or not.
lol... I totally say "TMI" all the time.
Replyohemgee no way! i can like, totally tell!
Thanks for sharing. >_>
How about TV reunion shows? We sort of got one with Serenity for Firefly.
ReplyYou know something? That was a better show than like a third of the s**tty reality TV shows on Fox, and they canceled it halfway through the season. Believe me, I'm not a fanboy (I was making fun of it to piss off my roommate every time we watched it), but it wasn't too bad.
I'm not a fanboy, but I compulsively post in every thread I see referencing Firefly.
God, I miss the nineties! The music was better, the tv was better, the fashions were better, the economy was better, and the sex was waaayyy f**king better. Thanks for the reminisce! I do hope these things come back.
Reply Hide All See All 3 Repliesno the fashion totally blew cept mabey the flannel shirts
Haha really? No seriously really? Aside from goddamn auto tune and people with no talent being the most famous (this has been a trend for decades if not centuries) music is much better now. Everything pioneered in the nineties either got better or was exposed as a monster and put out of it's misery.
Fashion in the nineties was atrocious (gayest sentence i've ever written). Don't believe me just look at new jersey. All the "Jersey things" are like a meld between bad modern pseudo suave/sexy clothing and the nineties.
T.V. generally sucks but at least it's gotten less preachy about life lessons. Sadly it's gotten more preachy about political views that the writers have little to no grasp on and irony has become something people only think they understand.
The other two I can't argue with. The economy was clearly better and I was too young to be having sex in the nineties.
every decade had its pros and cons. the music was definately a pro, and so was the fashion, but the tv was mediocre (from what i remember) and i, too, was too young for sex back then.
My brother has a goatee. I wake up every morning and weep for the shame he inflicted on my family, and more importantly, ME, because everyone claims we look so alike.
ReplyAlso, I love Full House. So there :P
Your an idiot. So there :P
You do realize that, after posting #5, there was actually some inspired madman out there who decided to seriously pitch that Fullhouse idea and who will also probably sell it? Doubt me? Turn on your t.v. right now. You see that?
ReplyThe world is a sad place place and you of all people must know that God has a sick sense of humor.
So I just wanted to thank you, in advance, for delivering the final blow to television as we know it. And yes, I DID mean that kind of "blow", you sick SICK man.
I must confess: 1.) I too first read it as Goatsee. 2.) I have a goatee...because my 29yo wife likes it. I fully support your full house concept, anything to simultaneously crap out the cultural cancer of the sitcom and the reality show.
Reply Hide All See All 3 RepliesThe fact that you felt it necessary to mention the age of your wife leads me to believe that you are the type of person for whom the goatee was invented.
I also have a Goatee because his 29 year old wife likes it.
I have a goatee. But before this nonsense of an article.
My favorite part: Gladstone wrote this and David Coulier's character in Full House is Joey Gladstone.. eerie.
ReplyI know! Because it's like, IMPOSSIBLE for someone to have the same, relatively common, last name as a TV character!
Full House has been back for about two years now. Not much of a "prediction".
Replyi grew up in the 80's and 90's, and for a longtime, was sure the 80's sucked, but reading this article i realize the 90's sucked harder, and no matter what decade it is, sex will always suck in one way or another. The way i see it, the 90s, is ten yrs of my life i'll never get back, and even if i could, i spent much of the 90's as intoxicated as a 70's rock star, and am not sure id want "my" 90's back even if it were possible.
ReplyNo joke, I went to a concert in May in Kansas City, and saw Lilith Fair is coming back! Are you a prophet, Gladstone?
Reply