The Houlywood Reporter

Make it big
So big!

You can make it big
You can make it bigger than life
See your name spelled right
Up on the bright lights
Bright lights

For any kid who’s ever dreamed of moving to Hollywood and making it big, he or she can remember the song or movie that first lit the fire inside.  Whether it was fantasizing about surfin’ safaris and California girls or getting swept off the streets by Richard Gere, there’s no denying it: we all wished we could be California girls, or boys.  And I couldn’t be any prouder all these years later as I cruise around in my Malibu Barbie Jeep, even if I’m not engaged to Zack Morris…yet. 

That was especially true for girls my age, who grew up listening to watered-down Beach Boys hits, as above, most notably during their countless Full House appearances in the late 80s and early 90s, and also in the opening sequence of one of my favorite movies of all-time: Troop Beverly Hills. 

But no film spoke to us more so than Troop Beverly Hills.  And it wasn’t because of the flashy clothes, the big houses or the fast cars.  Or even because we wanted to befriend a tween Jenny Lewis.  Even though I had a stylish mom with Peg Bundy-red hair like Shelly Long, I, or shall I say, we (because I know I’m not alone on this one), didn’t want to volunteer at the old folks’ home, learn about nature or even go roughin’ it.  We wanted to earn our badges by appreciating fine jewelry, modeling in fashion shows on Rodeo Drive and camping out in The Beverly Hills Hotel.  But could you blame us?  I know what you’re thinking, Velda.  “You call this roughin’ it?”

One bathroom for nine people? Yes. 

Before you go all Red Feather on me, I’ll get to my point, and I do have one.  For a girl who grew up chanting We’re the girls from Beverly Hills, shopping is our greatest thrill! (and who now works, gyms and basically lives in the 90210), I was ever so pleased to find out a fun group of girls I’d just met rented out Cinespace ONE WEEK FROM TODAY (October 5th) to create TROOP BEVERLY HILLS: THE EXPERIENCE, a late night interactive movie-going extravaganza.  Kumbaya, my Lord, I have arrived!

To learn more about the event, I interviewed Troop Leader Emeritus, Erika Brooks Adickman, the hilarious and fabulous talent behind Pop Waffle and My Parents Joined Facebook, to learn more about the phenomenon, the special guests(!) and even a charity tie-in (quit yer moaning)!  Now gather ‘round you-hoo friends of mine, grab a cigar, cigarette or cookie, and find out more!

Why Troop Beverly Hills?

You know, it wasn’t like I had been sitting around wondering which movie I should pick to do an “Experience” with.  I was away for a weekend in a cabin snowed in with a bunch of friends.  My only DVD contribution for the weekend was one of 5 that I owned: Troop Beverly Hills.  As I watched with a friend who grew up thousands of miles from me I noticed that we quoted the movie with the same fervor, laughed with the same intensity at scenes we’d seen hundreds of times.  And it hit me, we probably weren’t alone in our love for this movie.  I picked up the DVD case and saw it was made in 1989 and literally like a bolt of lightning I said “This movie is 20 years old we have to do SOMETHING!”  Then I went to figure out what that SOMETHING was.  I’ve jokingly said during the planning of this whole thing that this is what I was put on this Earth this year to do.

Why do you think so many girls our age can relate to this movie?

That’s a tough one.  I mean, I know why I liked it as a kid, but to dissect it as an adult is tricky.  As a girl I remember watching at a slumber party when I was about 7 or 8 and thinking the movie was hysterical.  I realize now I didn’t know what half of the jokes meant, but it didn’t matter.  It worked on multiple levels.  It was the kind of movie that while it had some foul language your parents could leave the room while you watched because there was no nudity and nothing risque so it was a safe thing to have lying around the house to watch on rainy days.

Looking back at the other movies that came out in 1989 there’s not one that has young girls as it’s center.  Not one.  I think there were very few movies coming out then that skewed to just girls.  And rewatching now it’s so clear that the style in this movie and the feel paved the way for other classics for our generation like Clueless and Legally Blonde.  All starring women who are punished for being privileged, thought to be stupid and vapid, and feel they prove their worth to others only to realize that they don’t have to be anything in life but themselves.



Were you ever in Girl Scouts, and how long did you belong?

I was a Daisy and like Hannah Nefler my mom was our troop leader.  I quit the next year cause Brownies conflicted with dance classes.  Don’t get me wrong I liked Girl Scouts, but I loved dancing.  Plus the uniforms were cooler.

Do you expect any special guests?

I sure do. We will be having a special introduction of the film by director Jeff Kanew as well as a few other surprise guests I don’t want to give away just yet.

What can the audience expect?

A sing-a-long, quote-a-long, dance-a-long. The feeling that you’re watching Troop Beverly Hills at the biggest slumber party ever. Basically, an absurdly fun time.



Do you have any skits planned and can I be involved?!

There are no skits involved. Maybe at the next TBH: TE.

Tell me more about the charity component of the event.

Now that many of the first generation to love this film are not girls but young women, I loved the idea of passing the torch and opening up the message of this film to a whole new generation of girls. Sort of the concept of becoming Phyllis Nefler’s in our own community. WriteGirl captured that idea perfectly. They are a non-profit in Los Angeles that (and I am cutting and pasting from their website because they say it best) is centered on the craft of creative writing and empowerment through self-expression. Through one-on-one mentoring and monthly workshops, girls are given techniques, insights and hot tips for great writing in all genres from professional women writers.

To buy tickets, visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/78418

To learn more about my new super-cool girl scout, Erika, visit:

Pop Waffle http://www.youtube.com/eja217

My Parents Joined Facebook http://myparentsjoinedfacebook.com/

And remember, girls, make new friends but keep the old.  One is silver and the other’s gold.  That’s about all I can remember from Girl Scouts, but I know I’ll never forget Troop Beverly Hills: The Experience.

BEVERLY HILLS, WHAT A THRILL!