I’m always amazed by the pop culture that survives from generation to generation. I have always thought I was close enough in age to the high school kids I oversee in Our Generation — I’m 27 and they’re around 15-17 years old —but every once in a while I’ll reference something and get blank stares. We’ve all had those moments that let us know we’ve entered a pop culture dead zone with another generation.

So hop in the time machine and come back to my generation growing up in the 80s and 90s. I administered a pop culture quiz to a few of my Our Generation staff just to test where some of these dead zones exist. The quiz is a 22 question snapshot of two decades. By no means could it be fully encompassing without turning into an SAT-sized test. Feel free to take the test yourself at meadvilletribune.com. Answers will be posted next week in Our Generation, but you’ll find a few answers if you read on.

I was excited to learn that one of my favorites growing up is still relevant — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They’ve made the new generation of turtles wider, but I feel good seeing even my nephews playing with these comic book heroes originally created around 1984. Even Transformers are making a come back! A live action movie is actually being filmed starring Shia LaBeouf and featuring comedian Dane Cook.

Speaking of toys that have survived the years — Lite-Bright is one of those legendary toys that seems to span generations since the 60s. Lesson in pop culture — we like glowing things. Maybe that’s why we still see glo-worms in cribs.

Besides all my excitement for what survived from my generation, there were low points.

Music for example. How can some people identify who sang “Hammer Time” and what Vanilla Ice is (and what is the right word), but can’t name the kings of grunge? That’s SMURFING wrong!

And another thing that SMURFS me off, besides this generation not knowing how to talk like a smurf, is the lack of respect for The Simpsons, while in the same breath they sing the praises of The Family Guy.

As Conneaut Lake High School Senior Liz Bey told me, “Family Guy is like the new Simpsons now.”

I do enjoy The Family Guy and I’ll admit The Simpsons isn’t what it once was. There are still great moments, but you kids need to watch seasons two-eight (preferably in one sitting, you know someday when you’re “sick” and need to miss school). I’m hoping The Simpsons full-length animated movie scheduled to be released next year will help return my favorite show to its former glory. They are bringing back many of the original writers so I’m cautiously optimistic.

Finally where are the reruns of GI Joe? I love that the toy is still kicking around. The characters are a bit different, but I still recognize the Cobra symbol. That’s more than I can say for my 40-year-old photographer. “None of these look like GI Joes,” he commented, referencing the 12-inch figures his generation played with. The GI Joe show needs to be brought back! Where else are kids today supposed to learn not play in empty refrigerators? I’d probably be dead today if a GI Joe didn’t give me that great advice. After all knowing is half the battle.

Eric Reinagel can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at ereinagel@meadvilletribune.com

Take the Pop Culture Quiz on the next page