Rad LIVE! (Classic)

Tue Mar 17 2026

Go balls out with Paul, June, and Jason as they break down the cult classic 1986 BMX racing movie Rad. LIVE from Onion Fest in Chicago, they cover the ass sliding, bike dancing, the fashion of the twins, and so much more. Plus, stay tuned at the end for some extra amazing 2nd Opinions theme songs! (Ep. #191 Originally Released 06/21/2018)

Transcript

Paul Scheer (0:01)

Pay around the corner and around the globe Apple Pay is accepted at millions of places worldwide. Wherever you see the contactless symbol in stores or the Apple Pay button online and in apps. Whether you're checking out on iPhone or Apple Watch, just double click pay and be on your way. Add your debit or credit card to wallet and you're good to go. Pay the Apple way terms apply.

June Diane Raphael (0:30)

There's a difference between liking a house and actually getting it. Redfin is built to close that gap. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agents, so when you find a home you love, you're not a step behind when it's time to make an offer. That means less watching great homes disappear and more zeroing in on the one you'll actually end up calling home. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get started@redfin.com own the dream everyone deserves to be connected.

Paul Scheer (1:02)

That's why T Mobile and US Cellular are joining forces. Switch to T Mobile and save up

Jason Mantzoukas (1:07)

to 20% versus Verizon by getting built

Paul Scheer (1:10)

in benefits they leave out. Check the math@t mobile.com switch and now

Jason Mantzoukas (1:16)

T mobile is in US cellular stores. Savings versus Comparable Verizon plans plus the cost of optional benefits plan features and taxes and fees vary. Savings with three plus lines include third line free via monthly bill credits. Credits stop if you cancel any lines. Qualifying credit required. Ass sliding hell tracks and bike boogieing we saw rad so you know what that means.

Paul Scheer (1:44)

How did Schwarzenegger grow a baby in his belly Rock a rhinestone vest while

Jason Mantzoukas (1:49)

ripping Justin the Kelly or maybe see a burlesque show with Nick Crow and take a boat with speed to hitting

Paul Scheer (1:54)

cruise control J man Big Paul in

Jason Mantzoukas (1:57)

the beautiful June gonna take you from the goob all the way to the

Paul Scheer (2:00)

room Ran the games of street Fighter help to blow off steam just a

Jason Mantzoukas (2:03)

sucker punch the odd life of Timothy Green sharpnado the birdemic how we stay in the lock they call it in the badass and he's on the line cranking 88 minutes cause they cool as ice cause the bad Jim Bonnie looking kind and nice Paul and June gettin literal Jason is getting laid June is making sure all the monkey shots gettin paid they judge a bunch of movies in the grave Here's a real question for you how did this get made? Hello people of earth what's up Chicago. Amazing we are live in Chicago with a fucking electric audience. They only make one one noise and it's that so laughter it will just be if we say something offensive it will Just be get used to it. Ride the volume controls. If you're listening at home tonight we are talking about a crime. And the crime that we are talking about is the fact that this movie has never been released in a format that you can get to get into all this and more. But tonight we need to introduce my co host. Please welcome Jason Man Zoukas.

Summary

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.