If Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, then Labor Day weekend marks the summer's end. It's been one crazy summer, and I hate to see it go. Speaking of "One Crazy Summer," there was a movie by that name that starred John Cusack. It was directed by Savage Steve Holland, and it followed Holland's other feature with John Cusack, a movie called "Better Off Dead." "One Crazy Summer" isn't remembered with quite the same fondness as "Better Off Dead," but the lead actress in the film went on to become one of Hollywood's highest paid actresses in the 90's. Who played the role of John Cusack's love interest in "One Crazy Summer?"

Bonus Question: What is John Cusack's occupation in the film "One Crazy Summer?"

Although most of us are familiar with the term "Valley Girl", most of us are not familiar with the motion picture of the same name. "Valley Girl" is a term coined for girls in the 1970s, originally referring to affluent young women living in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California. The term was popularized in the 1980's and its meaning shifted to represent a more cartoonish stereotype of young women. Typically, a valley girl was characterized by a "ditzy" or "airheaded" personality, and unapologetically "spoiled" behavior that showed more interest in shopping, personal appearance, and popular social status, rather than in any self-enriching pursuits.

The use of "valley girl" died out sometime in the 1990's but its mark on history can be seen in many ways - one of which is in the 1983 teen movie: "Valley Girl" starring Nicolas Cage. So, todays trivia question is: What was the name of the actress who played the Valley Girl in the movie?

Bonus Question: A 1995 movie told the tale of yet another Valley girl. This movie's story was based on the novel "Emma" written by Jane Austen. What was the name of this film?

"Get the lead out!" It's an old expression that basically means "pick up the pace, step lively, get things moving." It's very helpful when applied to soldiers and athletes, and, on occassion, is also appropriate to Rock Musicians. It seems that every so often in the cycle of pop music, rock stars get overly focused on sounding loud, hard, macho, and intimidating. Trouble is, they end up with a sound that plods along like a ten ton dinosaur. Fortunately, something comes along that puts a little swing back in the dance floor -Completely appropriate, as rock and roll did start out swingin' back in the '50's. When late 60's rock started to suffer under its own weight, the early 70's proto punk sound of The Ramones and the Stooges came to the rescue. By the late 70's, bands like Led Zepplin had once again buried rock and roll's energy under a morass of excess. Punk rock to the rescue. Even during the 90's, when a frantic lust for hard rock legitimacy clung to the feet of rock and roll like a tar pit, there was an all too brief swing revival. So as I sit here hoping that someone will rescue us from the slow plodding beats of the crunk millennium, I remind myself that you don't have to rock like a sloth to be a rebel. Back in the 80's, Adam Ant chided listeners who "Don't drink, don't smoke, what do ya do?" What was the name of the song?

Bonus Question: Hip cats in search of new wave tunes that swing, should grab a copy of Tones On Tail's album "Night Music," which includes one of the best 'B-sides-that-later-became-a-club-hit' ever. "Ya ya ya ya ya ya ya-ya yo," the tune advises that "Living it up is a big kick, it's good for you." What was the name of the song?

Tom Cruise and Kevin Bacon: both popular stars that emerged in the 1980's. And although you may not think that they have alot in common, they have a few interesting connections. So, today's 80's trivia challenge will highlight some of the things these two 80's stars have in common. Both were up and coming young stars back in the 80's, both starred in hit movies geared towards teen audiences, and both had memorable dance scenes in their big hit teen films. The two didn't actually show up in the same major motion picture cast until "A Few Good Men," but that came out in '92. So what else might connect the two? Reportedly Tom Cruise was considered for the lead role in Footloose, but there's a more tangible connection: hit songs from hit soundtracks. The same singer who sang the chart topping title song for Kevin Bacon's "Footloose" would later sing two hit songs for Tom Cruise's "Top Gun." In fact, this singer had more chart success with songs recorded for movie soundtracks than he had with songs recorded for his own albums. What is the name of this 80's musician?

Bonus Question: Kevin Bacon's character in one of his films has a best friend who is played by an actor who also plays the best friend of Tom Cruise's character in another film, AND this supporting actor is in real life the brother of another famous actor from the 80's who was himself a teen sensation way back then. What is the name of the supporting actor who played the 'best buddy' role alongside both Kevin Bacon and Tom Cruise back in the 80's?

Gary Numan's is performing here in DC at the 9:30 Club next week, so it seems appropriate to mention him in today's 80's Trivia Challenge. Also, Mel Gibson has been in the news as of late (under circumstances that are quite displeasing). So, can we rope in both celebrities in one 80's Trivia Question? But of course we can.

One of Mel Gibson's films from the early 80's made quite an impression on Gary Numan. So much of an impression that he used the film as the basis for the theme and title of his 1983 album release. Gary Numan even went so far as to dress the part on the cover, wearing an intimidating leather and chains get-up that made him look like a character from the movie. What was the name of this 1981 film?

Bonus Question: Although he's largely considered a one hit wonder in the U.S., Gary Numan hit number one on the U.K. singles and album charts several times during his career. With his success came the wealth that would allow Gary Numan to pursue a rather expensive hobby. His pursuit of this hobby has gotten him additional publicity around the world, and it also got him arrested in India. What is Gary Numan's hobby?