Listen To Sassy: Life In The 90s

Episode: July 1991 Pop Culture: Chapterhouse, Jamie Walters & Summer Recommendations

Released: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Listen To Sassy" reunites hosts Tara Ariano, Pamela Ribon, and David T. Cole for a deep dive into the July 1991 issue of Sassy magazine, focusing on its pop culture features: the British band Chapterhouse, actor/musician Jamie Walters, and the editorial team's personal summer recommendations. The hosts mix nostalgia, sharp commentary, and playful banter as they revisit Gen-X touchpoints, dissect the magazine's content, and riff on 90s culture, music, and TV.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: July 1991 in Pop Culture (02:00)

• The hosts open with a tongue-in-cheek "morality play" skit referencing 90s PSA tropes.
• Quick hits on the era:
  • "Designing Women" tops the TV ratings.
  • "Point Break" and "Terminator 2" are summer blockbusters.
  • Paula Abdul’s "Rush Rush" leads the Billboard charts.
  • Michael Landon's death sparks generational nostalgia.
• "I know that this is the month that I am fighting with my parents to go to Lollapalooza next month. The most important thing that's ever happened.” (03:32, Host 3)

Lollapalooza and Lilith Fair: Music Fest Memories (04:01)

• The hosts exchange memories (and regrets) about not attending the first Lollapalooza tour.
• Tara reveals she attended Lilith Fair instead, thanks to free tickets from an ad broker at Chick Click.
• “Who wants free money? That was that business for two months.” (05:02, Dave)
• Brief nostalgia for the ephemeral digital startup Chick Click.

"What Now": Magazine Highlights & Political Commentary (07:04)

• The section covers Sassy’s mix of pop culture updates, activism, and irreverent style.
• A pointed critique of Governor Mario Cuomo’s CUNY budget cuts, tying into current knowledge about the Cuomo family:
  • “And also, at least one of his children is a huge piece of shit. We now know in 2025, fuck that guy forever.” (08:10, Tara)

Glossary of Gen X Slang (09:00)

• The term "chomp" is scrutinized:
  • “You can’t really be cool and say the word chomp.” (09:20, Dave)

The Perils of ‘Overpopulation’ Rhetoric (10:56)

• Sassy’s call to contact the Population Institute is met with the hosts’ critique of population control narratives.
• “The issue is consumption, not population, and concern trolling over overpopulation is racist. And we will link you to an explanation of why in the show notes.” (10:55, Tara)

DIY Music: Spotlight on Simple Machines (12:17)

• The story of two young women, Jennifer Toomey and Kristen Thompson, running the Simple Machines record label.
• “It’s easy to start your own record label. If you love to lose money and work two full time jobs.” (12:51, Tara)
• Retrospective notes on its 1998 closure and their lasting influence.

"One To Watch": Jamie Walters Deep Dive (16:10)

• Jamie Walters profiled as the rising star:
  • Levi’s commercial led to his first big break.
  • “A year after this he would start dating and eventually became engaged to Drew Barrymore. More troublesome ages when they met, she was 17 and he was 22.” (17:04, Tara)
  • On his infamous 90210 role as Ray (“the Felicity’s hair of people”): after pushing Donna down the stairs, his acting career tanked and he became a firefighter and paramedic.
  • “I wouldn’t know who he was...I couldn’t ID him by sight...So the fact that I couldn’t ID him by sight...I'm going to say he was not one to watch. But, you know, good on him for fighting those fires.” (18:24, Dave)
  • Running joke about his distractingly red lips in 1991.

Summer Recommendations: Sassy Staff’s Plans (19:18)

Editorial Insert: "How To Spend Your Summer Vacation (Copy Us)" (19:18)

• Hosts break down Sassy editors' summer plans with affectionate ribbing.

Highlights:

• Karen: Excited for Jodie Foster's directorial debut, "Little Man Tate":
  • “It's delightful. She plays the single mother of a genius child.” (20:21, Tara)
• Christina: International Pop Underground Convention, PBS' "Words In Your Face," writing songs with her boyfriend (possibly Ian Spinonius), and boating with her mom.
  • “Just more sentences I've never said. ‘Yeah, do you want to come over and go out on my mother's boat?’” (24:05, Tara)
• Kim: Froze Fruits (“the truth”), “Terminator 2,” “Slacker,” “Hangin With The Homeboys.”
  • “Never heard of them before. She’s going to watch violent, action packed movies like Terminator 2 Judgment Day and hip independent releases like Slacker...” (25:04, Host 3)
• Janet: Plans to try once more to finish "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand, rent "Grease," and “fall in love."
  • “Okay, one of these things is not like the others. I’m really looking forward to the letters they get about this one.” (26:03, Tara)
• Running thread about the surprising amount of reggae in Sassy's music recs.

Keanu Watch

• Noting a pattern of Keanu Reeves’ boldfacing in Sassy:
  • "Everything else...no, no, no. Only Keanu gets the bold treatment." (27:39, Tara)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I did not get to go to the inaugural Lollapalooza tour...It bothers me." (04:25, Host 3)
• “It’s easy to start your own record label. If you love to lose money and work two full time jobs.” (12:51, Tara)
• “You can’t really be cool and say the word chomp.” (09:20, Dave)
• "The issue is consumption, not population, and concern trolling over overpopulation is racist." (10:55, Tara)
• “I couldn’t ID him by sight...I’m going to say he was not one to watch. But, you know, good on him for fighting those fires.” (18:24, Dave)
• “No, I went to a Lilith Fair.” (04:45, Tara)
• “Soap Dish. A movie for the ages, a movie forever. Love Soap Dish.” (24:05, Tara)
• "If you're in the D.C. area...Estonian clown Julia Masle has a beautiful production...for the holidays, she's doing Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha. It's absolutely beautiful..." (28:26, Host 3)
• “The world is hard this year. 2025 is a shit show. I can’t believe we’re still showing up.” (29:19, Host 3)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:00 — Setting the July 1991 pop culture scene
• 04:01 — Lollapalooza/Lilith Fair discussion
• 07:04 — Sassy’s “What Now” highlights and activism
• 08:10 — Cuomo cuts/CUNY commentary
• 09:00 — Gen X slang: “chomp”
• 10:56 — Population Institute critique
• 12:17 — DIY music: Simple Machines label
• 16:10 — "One to Watch": Jamie Walters profile & 90210 fallout
• 19:18 — Summer recommendations editorial feature
• 20:21 — Karen’s pick: “Little Man Tate”
• 24:05 — Christina’s summer plans (and boating w/ mom)
• 25:04 — Kim’s picks: Froze Fruits, "T2," “Slacker”
• 27:39 — Keanu in bold: ongoing Sassy motif
• 28:26 — DC theatre plug: Julia Masle’s "Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha"
• 29:19 — Closing thoughts: “We’re doing our best...2025 is a shit show...”

Additional Notes

• Running jokes: "WA pow" soundboard references, callbacks to past magazine glossary terms and previous podcast episodes.
• Listeners are encouraged to check out show notes for linked articles and vintage content referenced in the episode.
• Next time: Fashion and beauty features from the July 1991 issue.

Overall Tone

Affectionately snarky, self-aware, and expertly nostalgic. The hosts balance deep knowledge of Gen-X culture with irreverent wit, keeping the recap lively and accessible for both Sassy superfans and newcomers.

Visual aids, links, and contact info available at ListenToSassy.com