THE LAST STARFIGHTER (1984): With childhood hero Lance Guest!

We had such a good time recording this episode - both the interview with Lance (who was lovely) and myself and AJ chatting about a movie he'd never seen before!

This didn't go the way I thought it would.

In July 1984, arcades were basically cathedrals, Apple had just launched the Mac, and one teen in a trailer park was about to save the entire galaxy… because he was too good at a video game.

This week GB and AJ revisit The Last Starfighter (1984), the cult sci-fi adventure that helped pioneer early CGI space battles and delivered one of the most relatable heroes of the decade.

And yes, we’re joined by Alex Rogan himself: Lance Guest.

Lance takes us behind the scenes of Centauri’s Recruit, how he landed the role, what it was like leading a fast-paced shoot with limited takes, and playing both Alex and Beta Alex (including reshoots, sickness, makeup, and a wig that absolutely did the job).

We also dig into what makes the movie feel like a warm nostalgic comfort-watch: the trailer park community, the slow-burn first act, the Star Wars / WarGames vibes, and why this film still hits if you’ve ever dreamed of escaping small-town life for something bigger.

In this episode:

• Why The Last Starfighter was a risky early CGI leap
• Lance Guest on being “bored and terrified” while starring in every scene
• The charm of Alex Rogan as the ultimate “ordinary guy” hero
• Beta Alex, reshoots, and that creepy under-the-bed version you maybe didn’t see on VHS
• Why people either love this film… or they’ve never seen it

If you grew up with arcades, VHS sci-fi, and big dreams of space adventure… this one’s for you.

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