Whatever Happened To…?
by Arbie T. Baguios on September 7, 2010
You know how those random conversations with your friends go—you start out with something mundane, like say, cats. The hours pass and more things to talk about pop out of the corners of your banter until, god knows how, you’re in a dispute on which Power Ranger was the best.
This is the less-racy version of Godwin’s Law for real life conversations: as conversations grow longer, the probability of approaching to the topic of 90s pop culture approaches 1. It happens all the time. And when it does, everybody is instantly nostalgic.
This is the part where g reveals to you, “Whatever happened to…?”
People of the 90s
Arguably the most mystifying icon of our generation is Blue’s Clues’ Steve, otherwise known as Steven Burns. The show
has left its paw-prints all over our own childhood. Admit it, you’ve probably had your own ‘handy dandy notebook’, too. But in 2002, Steve was suddenly replaced by his “brother” Joe.
Word was that he died of drug use due to the nature of his, in his own words, “maddening” work. But he later resurfaced (alive, of course), with head shaven and sporting a grungier look, to debunk the speculation. Steve who used to belt out “Mail Time!” still sings for a living, but now with an indie-alternative band called “Steve and The Struggles”. And he’s even played a vampire in an independent film!
Also, if you didn’t already know, Blue is a girl.
Whatever happened to these people?
Macaulay Caulkin – The “Home Alone” star was linked to Michael Jackson’s “Ranch Neverland” case, was married and divorced, and arrested for drug possession.
Vanilla Ice– Unless you lived on then-planet Pluto, you’ve surely danced to “Ice Ice Baby”. Unfortunately, Vanilla Ice isn’t so cool anymore after multiple encounters with the cops and several failed attempts to launch an album. But he persists! He’s now taping a home-makeover reality show and just released an album appropriately titled “WTF”.
Backstreet Boys – The Backstreet Boys is the dictionary’s definition of boy bands! They announced a hiatus in 2002, lost a member, and opted for a comeback in 2005. They’ve released an album, “This Is Us”, just last year. Surprisingly, it peaked at number 9 in the U.S. Billboard charts!
Shows of the 90s
Recently, articles have been circulating around the Internet claiming that the Triceratops wasn’t a real dinosaur. The tiny part of my heart which still believed I was Blue Ranger silently broke. But after ending the evil that is Rita Repulsa, where are the Power Rangers now? Internet gossip-mongers tell that Austin St. John (Red Ranger) is now, well, into the adult film industry. This, however, is untrue as he’s in Canada as a paramedic.
David Yost (Blue Ranger) admits to being gay. Amy Jo Johnson still has her acting career going for her. Thuy Trang (Yellow Ranger), unfortunately, passed away from a car accident in 2001.
Kids of the new millennium surely won’t miss out the Power Rangers experience as it has continued ever since, and is now well on its way to its 18th season.
Whatever happened to these shows?
G-mik – Heart Evangelista, Angelica Panganiban and John Prats are still around. The others? Camille Prats posed for FHM, is now married and has a kid. Miko Samson graduated from the Ateneo Law School last school year, and Carlo Aquino has a band. And Stefano Mori, well, not even Google can find him. A new generation of G-Mik currently shows on ABS-CBN.
Kenan and Kel – Kenan Thompson landed a regular stint on SNL and has a few known movies under his belt (Fat Albert, Snakes on a Plane). Kel Mitchell’s career of guestings and TV movies is comparably less stellar.
Teletubbies – The show has entangled itself in some controversy: Tinky Winky was said to be a “gay role model” and a religious group says show promotes paganism. Seriously now?
Things of the 90s
In at least one point of our childhood, us 90s kids have asked from our parents for one of those pencil cases with push-buttons that reveal secret compartments. It’s always amazing to see seemingly ordinary pencil cases open up to fourlayers with compartments on all sides. But the best ones are those with built-in games like pinball and ring toss.
Now that we’re grown-ups, however, we have to up our style if we wish to astonish peers. And what better to accomplish such feat than the world’s most expensive pencil case, hand crafted and made of leather and aluminum, by Rolls-Royce! It comes free with the Rolls-Royce Phantom (which is about $443,000) and there only 25 of these in the world. Truly the toys for the big boys!
Whatever happened to these things:
Big Boy – “Small, big, and big big – Big Boy!” Our favorite bubble gum in the 90s has been discontinued by Wrigley.
Tex and Pogs – The intense tex and pog wagers have died out as the trend waned.
Fido Dido – The symbol for 7Up in the 90s which has made a comeback in 2000. After his TV show, comic strip and even his own video game, he’s still used for advertising worldwide.
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Hyperlinks:
Godwin’s Law
Triceratops article
World’s Most Expensive Pencil Case
