How Did This Get Made? – “Rad LIVE! (HDTGM Matinee)” in Chicago

Hosts: Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas
Date: March 17, 2026
Film Discussed: Rad (1986)

Main Theme

In this riotously funny live episode, the HDTGM crew dives deep into the BMX cult classic Rad, dissecting everything from 80s bike culture and inexplicable fashion choices to the film's logistical and narrative absurdities. Performing in front of an enthusiastic Chicago crowd, Paul, June, and Jason untangle why Rad endures as both an object of nostalgia and confusion, asking the eternal question: How did this get made?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Elusive Nature and Cult Status of Rad

• Rad has never received a wide, official release, contributing to its near-mythic status among VHS collectors and 80s enthusiasts.
• Jason: “This movie has been... I’ve been sent gift packages. I’ve been sent T-shirts to do this movie.” (05:16)
• Audience interaction reveals Rad’s passionate fanbase includes cosplayers and collectors of rare memorabilia.

2. BMX: Culture and Personal Connections

• The trio tries to define BMX (“Bicycle Motocross”) and reminisces about their own childhood bike obsessions.
• Paul confesses idolizing BMX gear: “It was quite possibly the most important thing I wanted to own.” (11:46)
• June, less familiar, probes into whether BMX was truly a “thing” or merely Hollywood invention.

3. The (Tragi)comedy of the Film’s Plot and Staging

• Much discussion centers on the “bike dancing” sequences, especially the Town Wide Dance, with both awe and horror expressed at the film’s earnestness.
  • Paul: “I found it very romantic.” (13:53)
  • Jason: “Come for the stunts, leave for the romance… It shows all the stages: falling in love, throwing them in water, getting dry, and then throwing them in water again.” (14:05)
• Junedislikes how adult characters and teens mix in the town’s events, especially the bizarre “ass sliding”—a sewage runoff, not a fun water slide.

4. 80s Fashion & The Twins

• Extended, loving analysis of the villainous BMX twins and their inexplicable jumpsuits.
  • June: “I feel like the 80s was obsessed with twins… there was a cultural obsession and a fetishization of double twins.” (26:37)

5. Race Logic & Character Motivation

• Breakdown of Rad’s racing structure—qualifying heats, “Hell Track,” and the town’s investment in BMX as economic salvation.
  • June: “There were no differences in types of racers. So Crew—was he a good BMX racer?” (36:44)
  • Jason: “I’d argue that he didn’t even show me anything that exciting besides bike dancing.” (37:07)

6. Female Representation and Stunt-Wigging

• June scrutinizes Lori Loughlin’s character being sidelined, with all heroic moments delegated to a male stunt double in a wig during bike scenes.
  • June: “They made no attempt to find a woman who could ride a bicycle.” (41:20)

7. Iconic Scenes Analyzed with Audience

• The legendary bicycle prom dance—“Send Me An Angel”—gets a play-by-play, highlighting its surreal athleticism and overwhelming 80s erotic energy.
  • Paul: “There’s nothing more erotic than this.” (69:20)
  • June: “The bicycle dance was my favorite scene—it still holds up!” (91:03)

8. Plot Holes, Town Politics & The “Cop Turn”

• The hosts debate the cop’s motivations—villain or secret supporter? A heated audience poll ensues.
  • Paul: “These are teenagers on BMX bikes. Their natural enemy is the police.” (46:53)
  • June: “He lays down all the rules… but he sees what’s going on. For the first time, he stands up for what he knows is right.” (47:08)
• The town’s economic logic, fundraising efforts (selling $10k of t-shirts!), and the presence of Talia Shire (thanks to Coppola/Schwartzman family ties) confounds everyone.

9. Budget, Box Office, and 80s Production Weirdness

• The hosts are gobsmacked that Rad had an $11 million budget in 1986, questioning where the money went.
  • Paul: “That’s like $46 million right now!” (64:01)

10. Crowd Q&A & Cosplay

• Audience members ask about character ages, plot discrepancies (e.g., redacted ending credits, why the BMX twins drive the prize Corvette), and dress up as characters.

11. Celebrating the Cult: Second Opinions

• Multiple audience members perform musical “second opinions,” passionately defending Rad and praising its dance scenes and earnestness—many noting they “just love rad.”
  • Jason: “My eyes, too, were opened to the balls out nature of this film, which I also say is rad.” (87:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jason on hometown pride: “The two twins are from my hometown, New York… I was like, yeah, we got twin bad guys.” (32:44)
• June on Lori Loughlin’s stunts: “There was not one woman in all the land that could have done some of her stunts?” (41:20)
• Paul on plot logic: “No, it’s over for us. Take your Illuminatis and get the fuck out of here.” (57:32) (reacting to the crowd’s lack of response)
• Paul pitching a new finale: “If he’s gonna get the girl, he has to win her with his moves. You know, his moves on the bike, on the dance floor.” (37:29)
• Jason on the prize: “Did anyone else find it troubling that the prize was not a bicycle—but a car?” (68:27)

Important Timestamps

• 03:54 – Jason’s intro; live Chicago audience energy
• 06:41 – June’s viewing experience; film’s scarcity
• 09:17 – Audience vs. critic Rotten Tomatoes discrepancy
• 13:25 – 17:41 – Analysis of “bike dancing” & romance at Town Dance
• 24:56 – Discussion of protagonist Crew’s daily paperboy routine
• 26:00 – Fashion/fetishization of 80s twins; jumpsuits and GI Joe comparisons
• 30:00 – 33:08 – Lengthy reading of racers’ names; awkward intros
• 36:44 – Conversation about stunts, racing, and Crew’s supposed skills
• 41:20 – Critique of Lori Loughlin’s character, stunt-doubling, and lack of female agency
• 52:05 – T-shirt dyeing, 80s nerd tropes, school “merch” subplot
• 69:15 – 70:42 – “Send Me An Angel” bike dance scene breakdown
• 81:32 – Amazon reviews and cult enthusiasm
• 85:54 – Would you recommend? Final verdicts from each host

Final Verdicts: Would You Recommend Rad?

• Paul: “One million percent. The colors were popping, the dancing was both erotic and romantic… T2B, top to bottom, was fucking rad.” (85:54)
• June: “This movie’s not for me. I had a really difficult time watching it. I hope to never watch it again.” (86:51)
• Jason: “My eyes, too, were open to the balls out nature of this film, which I also say is rad.” (87:16)

Flow and Tone

• Vivid, hilarious, affectionate skewering of 80s movie logic and Rad’s uniquely oddball place in cinematic history.
• Hosts’ tone switches between nostalgia, bewilderment, sarcasm, and genuine enthusiasm.
• The audience is deeply involved—with call-and-response, Q&A, cosplay, and musical performances.
• Old-school HDTGM dynamic: Paul adores it; June is befuddled; Jason is delighted by the weirdness.

Conclusion

Rad emerges as a case study in the power of cult fandom, accidental camp, and the lasting appeal of bizarre cinematic relics. Whether you view it as a formative childhood inspiration, or as a lemon better left in the 80s, HDTGM’s dissection—part love letter, part roast, all comedy—makes a strong case for seeking out this “erotic” bike dance odyssey and deciding for yourself if it’s “fucking rad.”

Best for: Fans of cult films, 80s pop culture, and anyone who prefers their underdog stories with a heavy dose of bike stunts, jumpsuits, and unexplained plot holes.