Look who’s bringing home the Bacon

Actually, today is Saturday, the 14th, but tonight, on MeTV – The Sven Squad – Gwengoolie, Nostalgiaferatoo and IMP aka Ignatius Malvolio Prankenstein – are premiering 1980’s OG “Friday The 13th” on House of Svengoolie. So pack a bag for Camp Crystal Lake with the granddaddy of all the teen killer sleepaway camp movies. Hope our SVENBLOG members bring their bug spray, sunscreen and murder-victim-repellent for tonight’s feature because you’re going to need it.

Camp Crystal Lake has been shut down since 1958 when 2 camp counselors were brutally murdered following the mysterious drowning death of a young boy the year before. Flash forward to 1979 when new Crystal Lake owner Steve Christy decides it’s a great time to reopen the Camp. In order to do that, he needs a staff of fresh-faced and good-looking teenagers including the take charge Annie (Robbi Morgan), goofy Ned (Mark Nelson), the lovely Marcie (Jeannie Taylor), fun-loving Brenda (Laurie Bartram), and the wary Alice (Adrienne King). But fans today perhaps most remember the lady charmer Jack (Kevin Bacon). This was post-“Animal House” and pre-“Footloose” Kevin Bacon but still 100% Kevin Bacon. And fans might not recognize counselor Bill (Harry Crosby) but they definitely know his father, legendary singer and actor Bing Crosby. The young folks work hard on renovations at the camp, flirt with each other playing strip Monopoly (hello racy 1980) and take entirely too many opportunities to unnecessarily go to various spots at Camp Crystal Lake by themselves as a mysterious cloaked figure follows them.

In what was dynamite suspense building at the time, the counselors start disappearing 1 or 2 at a time. Mrs. Voorhees (Betsy Palmer) a friend of the owners arrives at the camp and shares with the group that it’s her son’s birthday today. Just happens to be the same son who drowned on this day in 1957. Potential red flag for most folks, but not our counselors … or what’s left of them. We don’t want to spoil it, but hijinks ensues and the authorities finally show up in the morning, which is a lot too late for many, although not all our counselors.

This 1980 film was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film’s Director and Producer Sean Cunningham was probably best known for producing “The Last House On The Left” in 1972 and would go on to work on the “House” film franchise along with many of the “Friday the 13th” sequels that followed. We’ll give you background on the film introduce you to even more of the beloved cast than we’ve listed here. The Sven Squad hosts a campfire of their own and sing a few songs. Gwengoolie and Imp enjoy a few rounds of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” in honor of the actor portraying Jack in tonight’s film. They teach the game to Nostalgiaferatoo who learns to play. Kind of. Sort of. Well … you know Nosti interprets game rules a little loosely sometimes.

“Friday The 13th” starts at 8 pm Eastern/Pacific time, 7 pm Central on MeTV. You can join in the live chat during the show on Bluesky, or the live Tweeting on Twitter/X – just be sure to include the hashtag #svengoolie and #houseofsvengoolie on your posts on either one.

Also nothing says Happy St. Patrick’s Day like the green Sven “Kiss Me I’m Ghoolish” T-shirt, the green “Shamrock and Svenaningans” T-shirt or the green Gwengoolie Gaze T-shirt, all available in the Svengoolie store right now. Erin Go Braugh!

Please remember that next week, Svengoolie is back in the driver’s seat at 8 pm Eastern/Pacific time, 7 pm Central with 1940’s Universal classic “The Mummy’s Hand.” You want to shake The Mummy’s hand? We advise against it because he might just shake you back! House of Svengoolie will see you on April 18 for 1989’s quirky “Parents” with Randy Quaid and Mary Beth Hurt. They just don’t understand.

But for now wear your life vest when you take the rowboat out on the lake. And please use the buddy system when walking because we’re all staying at Camp Crystal Lake for 2 and half hours of “Friday The 13th” on House of Svengoolie right here on MeTV, and not all of us are coming home!