What are the odds of pieces about John Hughes (still beloved, still a recluse) and his Sixteen Candles character Long Duk Dong (still funny, still Read the full post.
Mar 25
2008
09:06 PM ET
John Hughes lost, Long Duk Dong found
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Sixteen Candles, although Pretty in Pink left me wanting a pink Karmann Ghia to this day…
In the NPR story, which I heard over the weekend, they note that John Hughes does not grant interviews to anyone – hence the reference in this article to him being a recluse. So, outside of interviewing the actor, there was not a way to get Hughes’ comments on the story.
Additionally, I watched Sixteen Candles almost every day in the summer between 10th and 11th grade. I still love Jake Ryan!
LOOOOVE Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles. I like Pretty in Pink because I can identify with the “outsider” girl. But I mostly love it for Ducky and his wonderful lip synching skills. And who DOESN’T love Long Duck Dong? My sister and I used to go around quoting his lines and laughing hysterically over it. Genius! I’d say Weird Science is my “guilty pleasure” of the John Hughes movies. It’s so over-the-top, and ridiculous, that I can’t help but love it.
NeeNee asked, “And who DOESN’T love Long Duck Dong?”
The answer: any Asian American male who grew up in the 80s and had to deal with the consequences of Watanabe’s character.
Adrian Tomine’s comic strip “The Donger and Me” pretty much sums up how every 80s-era Asian American teenager felt:
http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2008/mar/in_character/donger_1.html
Love them all! And have bought them all on DVD, but my favorite’s got to be Ferris Bueller!!! For part of my childhood I was in looove with Ferris and then he became sort of a role model!! And I did miss a few days of school because of him!!
It’s too bad John Hughes has apparently shut himself off from those who would like to ask him about his films. I can understand leaving the movie business behind, but what’s the point of refusing to grant interviews? It always bugs me when a successful, well-known personality simply turns his (or her) back on the very people who appreciate their work the most.
Having said that, I was in my 20s when the slew of John Hughes films came out, and I enjoyed them all immensely. Hard to believe it’s been almost 25 years since “Sixteen Candles” first came out!
John Hughes, get your head out from between your buttocks and at least answer a question or two and say “thank you” to the people who made you so successful!
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off… I wanted to fake a cold, skip school, drive a Ferrari and then get away with all of it when I was young…… I love that movie!
hands down ferris bueller’s day off. it’s the most fun.
I knew I had become “old” when I turned on The Breakfast Club and thought they were all a bunch of whiners. Later that same day I saw a pack of teenagers and got scared, so my oldness was confirmed. But other JH films have stood up much better and have a lot of heart. Anyone know why he’s dropped out of sight?
The Breakfast Club is still one of my all time favorite movies anytim eit comes on cable I drop what I am doing to watch
also love 16 Candles and I too watch Home Alone every holiday season.
why is everyone focusing on one movie having a stereotype?? I mean, the 80s had TONS of films with stereotypes. It was just a less-PC time and that’s unfortunate. I just watched Short Circuit last night- why hasn’t anyone ever flipped out as much over Fisher Stevens for appearing in brown-face? Just wondering…
Of course “Ferris” is the one film that actually changed my life. I skipped 19 days my senior year, and it was totally worth it. I also loved “She’s Having a Baby” so much. Can quote every line. Cry every time. I actually got my college beau a porcelain udder buddy for Xmas. Kate Bush kills me…
Jane, that’s so funny that you mention that happening in a psych class. I had a psych professor who gave us an assignment in which we had to dissect a piece of pop culture, and he blatantly told us, “Do not do “The Breakfast Club.” It is not as good as you think it is!” For me, I love TBC and Pretty in Pink, but Sixteen Candles was my favorite. I was Samantha (in my mind).
I LOVE John Hughes’ movies…I grew up with them all in the 80′s. 16 candles is still my fave of all time! My hubby and I still quote the Donger and it makes us chuckle all these years later. I also love Pretty in Pink, TBC, and we watch xmas vacation at least once every year. JH is a genius and I for one would love for him to come out of hiding and make another movie. I know a lot of us teens from the 80′s would be first in line to buy a ticket!
16 Candles was funny, but The Breakfast Club, and Pretty In Pink hit at the heart of high school socialization issues.