Summer's quickly approaching and as the kids are waiting for school to let out and parents are getting ready to send them off to camp, I thought it might be a good time to reflect on the summer camps we all went to. And no, I'm not talking about the basketball program you went to when you were 12 or the outdoor church thing your parents forced you to go to.
This week, let's reflect on pop culture's campiest camps:
10. "Camp Nowhere," 1994: This is what happens when a group of tweens blackmail a teacher (Christopher Lloyd) into creating a fake summer camp. Bonus points: This film introduced the world to Jessica Alba and "Smallville's" Allison Mack.
9. "Indian Summer," 1993: This one's for the grown-ups. A stellar cast featuring names like Alan Arkin, Diane Lane, Bill Paxton and Elizabeth Perkins, head back to their childhood summer camp for a reunion. This film, set at Camp Tamakwa, is the epitome of camp nostalgia. Bonus points: Check out horror icon and director Sam Raimi as the weirdo handyman, Stick Coder.
8. "Camp Candy," 1989-1990: While the animated NBC Saturday morning series only ran for two seasons and 19 episodes, the John Candy creation was a hit among critics and viewers. Bonus points: The theme song, though sung by Candy, was written by Harry Nilsson.
7. "Camp Cucamonga," 1990: This may be the most obscure camp on the list but this made-for-TV film is a who's who of '90s television. Bonus points: Cast includes John Ratzenberger ("Cheers"), Danica McKellar and Josh Saviano ("The Wonder Years") and ... G. Gordon Liddy?
6. "Space Camp," 1986: I can't think of a single kid who didn't want to go to outer space after seeing this film. As an 8-year-old, I dreamt of launching into orbit with the cast and snuggling up next to Lea Thompson on the way. Bonus points: The film not only starred a 12-year-old Joaquin Phoenix, it featured "Lost's" Terry O'Quinn as the launch director.
5. "Salute Your Shorts," 1991-1992: Why were these shows that were such a big deal to so many kids extremely short-lived? This Nickelodeon series ran for two seasons. Bonus points: Try to spot the hidden rubber chicken in each episode at Camp Anawanna.
4. "Heavy Weights," 1995: Ben Stiller has one of his finest moments as a psycho ex-fitness instructor who heads Camp Hope. The film also features brilliant turns by Tim Blake Nelson and Jeffrey Tambor. Bonus points: The film was written by comedy guru Judd Apatow who also has a small roll in the film.
3. "Friday the 13th," 1980: If you thought camp was a fun, happy place where nothing ever went wrong, that all changed once Jason Voorhees starting slaughtering coeds with a giant knife at Camp Crystal Lake. Bonus points: A seemingly unknown actor even after 1978's "Animal House," this film marked the beginning of a stellar career for Kevin Bacon.
2. "Ernest Goes to Camp," 1987: How can you have a story about camp and not invite Ernest Powertools Worrell? In this installment, Ernest helps save Camp Kikakee from a group of land developers with the help of some reformed juvenile delinquents. Bonus points: Jim Henson appears uncredited as a member of the land development team.
1. "Meatballs," 1979: Bill Murray's career took off after playing Tripper in this comedy directed by Ivan Reitman about a less-than-average summer camp named Camp North Star. Bonus points: The "Meatballs" films produced three sequels, none of which starred Murray. He turned down "Meatballs 2" in 1984 to reteam with Reitman in a little film called "Ghostbusters."
This week, let's reflect on pop culture's campiest camps:
10. "Camp Nowhere," 1994: This is what happens when a group of tweens blackmail a teacher (Christopher Lloyd) into creating a fake summer camp. Bonus points: This film introduced the world to Jessica Alba and "Smallville's" Allison Mack. 9. "Indian Summer," 1993: This one's for the grown-ups. A stellar cast featuring names like Alan Arkin, Diane Lane, Bill Paxton and Elizabeth Perkins, head back to their childhood summer camp for a reunion. This film, set at Camp Tamakwa, is the epitome of camp nostalgia. Bonus points: Check out horror icon and director Sam Raimi as the weirdo handyman, Stick Coder.
8. "Camp Candy," 1989-1990: While the animated NBC Saturday morning series only ran for two seasons and 19 episodes, the John Candy creation was a hit among critics and viewers. Bonus points: The theme song, though sung by Candy, was written by Harry Nilsson.
7. "Camp Cucamonga," 1990: This may be the most obscure camp on the list but this made-for-TV film is a who's who of '90s television. Bonus points: Cast includes John Ratzenberger ("Cheers"), Danica McKellar and Josh Saviano ("The Wonder Years") and ... G. Gordon Liddy?
6. "Space Camp," 1986: I can't think of a single kid who didn't want to go to outer space after seeing this film. As an 8-year-old, I dreamt of launching into orbit with the cast and snuggling up next to Lea Thompson on the way. Bonus points: The film not only starred a 12-year-old Joaquin Phoenix, it featured "Lost's" Terry O'Quinn as the launch director.
5. "Salute Your Shorts," 1991-1992: Why were these shows that were such a big deal to so many kids extremely short-lived? This Nickelodeon series ran for two seasons. Bonus points: Try to spot the hidden rubber chicken in each episode at Camp Anawanna.
4. "Heavy Weights," 1995: Ben Stiller has one of his finest moments as a psycho ex-fitness instructor who heads Camp Hope. The film also features brilliant turns by Tim Blake Nelson and Jeffrey Tambor. Bonus points: The film was written by comedy guru Judd Apatow who also has a small roll in the film.
3. "Friday the 13th," 1980: If you thought camp was a fun, happy place where nothing ever went wrong, that all changed once Jason Voorhees starting slaughtering coeds with a giant knife at Camp Crystal Lake. Bonus points: A seemingly unknown actor even after 1978's "Animal House," this film marked the beginning of a stellar career for Kevin Bacon.2. "Ernest Goes to Camp," 1987: How can you have a story about camp and not invite Ernest Powertools Worrell? In this installment, Ernest helps save Camp Kikakee from a group of land developers with the help of some reformed juvenile delinquents. Bonus points: Jim Henson appears uncredited as a member of the land development team.
1. "Meatballs," 1979: Bill Murray's career took off after playing Tripper in this comedy directed by Ivan Reitman about a less-than-average summer camp named Camp North Star. Bonus points: The "Meatballs" films produced three sequels, none of which starred Murray. He turned down "Meatballs 2" in 1984 to reteam with Reitman in a little film called "Ghostbusters."
