Nostalgia

Blockbuster Summer! | The Kids Are In Bed Ep 65

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Welcome to summer blockbuster season! This week, on The Kids Are In Bed, we’re going all-in on movie nostalgia—digging into the wild, wonderful history of blockbuster movies and why summer at the theater just hits different.

In This Episode:

  • We break down what makes a movie a “blockbuster” (spoiler: it involves bombs, beaches, and Steven Spielberg)
  • Relive the golden age of 80s and 90s movies: Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Independence Day, Twister, Armageddon vs. Deep Impact, Volcano vs. Dante’s Peak, and more
  • Real-life stories: Tim’s $4.50 movie tickets (with that coveted 50-cent piece), disastrous Reese’s Pieces spills, and why Dan Aykroyd was always smoking in every scene
  • Parenting confessions: How summer movies bring out the best and worst in us, and why trying to keep kids calm at the theater is its own adventure
  • Debates: Who’s the best blockbuster president—Bill Pullman or Morgan Freeman? Is Armageddon more rewatchable than Deep Impact? Who’s your favorite Chris (Evans, Pine, Pratt, Hemsworth)?
  • Popcorn & Snacks: Our love letter to the old-school movie theater experience (RIP to the big bags of Reese’s Pieces—you’ll always have our hearts)
  • Blockbusters of Summer 2025: From the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, Pixar’s latest, and the new Jurassic World, to Mission Impossible and Final Destination—this summer’s lineup is stacked.

Restaurants & Snacks Shoutouts:
While this episode is all about movie memories, we always make time for the important things: snacks! Tim relives the days when Reese’s Pieces were the best theater value, and we debate which movie snacks are worthy of blockbuster status. (If your summer doesn’t include popcorn, candy, and a blockbuster on the big screen, are you even doing it right?)

Why Summer Blockbusters Matter
From the original Jaws scaring a whole generation off the beach, to the excitement of seeing Independence Day on the Fourth of July, summer blockbusters aren’t just movies—they’re a vibe. We share why these films stick with us, why our kids will never understand $4.50 tickets (shout out to Movies 10 in Brainerd, MN), and how every summer movie is an excuse to make a memory.

Your Turn!
Which blockbuster defined your childhood? Team Armageddon or Deep Impact? Leave a comment below, share your most embarrassing movie snack moment, or let us know which summer 2025 movie you’re most excited to see!

Listen to Episode 65 now—and don’t forget to subscribe for more pop culture, parenting, and a lot of late-night laughs.

🎧 Listen now!

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2014 – Travel & Animal Sightings | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 28

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Read Drinking Is For The Birds to get Tim’s full bird story.

In this episode of The Kids Are In Bed, Tim and Jenni discuss their weekend activities, including filming golf and selling a rocking horse. They also talk about tie-dyeing shirts and their daughter’s upcoming start of kindergarten. They then travel back to 2014 and discuss various events, movies, and songs from that year. In 2014, the hosts went on multiple trips, including to Breckenridge, Texas, Austin, Winnipeg, and New York. They reminisce about their adventures, including singing songs in the car, putting bread in the microwave, and playing a game to see who could accurately count to a minute. They also discuss hosting dinner parties, attending a bachelorette party in Chicago, and the host’s encounter with a bird. Overall, 2014 was a year filled with fun and memorable experiences.

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2012, Alcohol Infused Adventures | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 26

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In episode 26 of The Kids Are In Bed, Tim and Jenni discuss 2012, which was filled with Tim’s alcohol-infused adventures. They talk about their love for the Olympics, their confusion about how athletes choose which country to play for, and their favorite movies and music from that year. They share personal stories, including a wild night at an LMFAO concert and their claw machine conquest at a local bar. Then, they reminisce about their adventures and (Tim’s) misadventures in 2012. They recall throwing stuffed animals off their balcony, their trip to Kansas City, attending a Twins game, exploring the Gaslight (Power & Light) District, and their wild experiences at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. They also mention attending weddings, visiting Madison, Wisconsin, and participating in a breathalyzer challenge. Despite their reckless behavior, they express gratitude for the year and the fun they had.

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2010 – Fist Pumping & Good Times | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 24

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Where ever you watch, remember to subscribe!

Get the full Niagra Falls story – Niagra Falls Diplomat

In this episode of The Kids Are In Bed, Tim and Jenni discuss their weekend activities, the golf tournament, and the new Twister movie. They then dive into a discussion about 2010, including the Best Picture winner at the Oscars, notable films, popular songs, and significant events of the year. Tim and Jenni cover various trips, weddings, and fun experiences in 2010. They reminisce about a trip to Niagara Falls, staying in a heart-shaped jacuzzi suite and carving their initials into a tree. They also talk about whitewater rafting in Duluth and attending weddings and bachelor parties. The conversation includes stories about drinking Buschlight and hiding pizza in the woods. Overall, 2010 was a year filled with fun and memorable moments.

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2005 – “Fraturday” & Closet Kitchens | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 19

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Want more college stories? Here are a couple Tim has written previously:

Rollerblading in College
Chemistry Lab Embarrassment
Minor Consumption
Baby Boy

This week on The Kids Are In Bed, Tim and Jenni discuss Taco Tuesday, boating on Lake Minnetonka, and attending Chalk Fest in Maple Grove, MN. They reminisce about 2005, including working at Gadzooks, watching movies like Wedding Crashers and Star Wars, and their love for the Oscars. The conversation is filled with humor and personal anecdotes. In this conversation, the hosts discuss various topics, including JC Penney’s jingle, Christmas cards, TV shows like The Office and Lost, and their experiences in 2005. They reminisce about their favorite moments and share funny anecdotes.

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2003, the best year yet? | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 17

/ Tim Severson / Leave a comment

Tim’s stories from 2003:
Ice Cold
College Move In Day

Is 2003 the best year yet? Join Tim and Jenni for a trip back to 2003 as they talk about some of their favorite movies of the year: How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Old School, Elf, Love Actually, and more!

They briefly review some of the hit songs of 2003 before talking about their memories of the year, growing up, and the beginning of a year separated while Tim went off to college.

Then, it’s time to decide where the year ranks. Will 2003 take over the top spot? The only way to find out is to watch. Have a laugh and take a stroll down memory lane to the year 2003.

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2002 – Low-Rise Jeans & Cargo Pants | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 16

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2002 – Low-Rise Jeans & Cargo Pants | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 16

On this week’s episode of The Kids Are In Bed, Tim and Jenni discuss their memories from 2002.

2002 brought great movies: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Spider-Man, Signs, Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, and more. Tim and Jenni give their reviews of some of these greats.

2002 music brought Eminem’s The Eminem Show, Nelly’s Nellyville, Justin Timberlake’s debut solo album Justified, and Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Tim and Jenni show off how little they remember about the big news events that took place in 2002 before talking about the fashion trends of the year despite not knowing how to define fashion.

Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol in 2002, The Wire debuted on HBO, and The Osbournes first season aired on MTV, helping usher in the new era of reality TV.

Throw on your graphic tees and low-rise jeans to travel back to the early otts and laugh. Thanks for watching!

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1999, The Count Down Begins | The Kids Are In Bed Ep. 13

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The Kids Are In Bed countdown to 25 years of Tim and Jenni has begun. They started dating on October 8 (Tim’s birthday), 1999, and from now until then, they will be recapping every year and talking about their memories from 1999 to 2024. 1999 brought the end of a century and it ended with a bang. It’s the beginning of the golden age of TV with The Sopranos first season. Teen movies made a comeback with the likes of: Election, Varsity Blues, 10 Things I Hate About You, Cruel Intentions, American Pie, and She’s All That. Napster allowed kids to illegally download all the hits from ‘NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, TLC, and, of course, Smash Mouth. It all ended with unfounded Y2K hysteria.

Tim and Jenni talk about getting to know each other via ICQ and share some stories from the first months of their relationship while Jenni tries to conjure a single memory from the year 1999.

Join Tim and Jenni this week (and every week) as they stroll down memory lane. Well, Tim will anyway, and Jenni will do her best to bring a memory or two. Thanks for being here, thanks for listening, and thanks for being awesome. Cheers!

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