Nobody's Perfect (1990)

Stephen Parker has transferred to the picturesque Bramson College on a scholarship and as the potential star of the men's tennis team.  After he becomes smitten with Shelley Andersen on the girl's tennis team, Stephen's grades suffer and he's cut from the courts.  With the help of his friends, they transform Stephen into Stephanie Brown, an American exchange student from Switzerland, who replaces an injured player on the girl's team and becomes Shelley's roommate.  Stephen is able to keep up the charade for a while and eventually asks Shelley out.  But things come to a head when Shelly spies Stephanie with her pants down.  Humiliated, she kicks Stephen out, who is later accused of plagiarizing Stephanie's paper.  Thanks to his friend, Stephen is exonerated and Stephanie helps the girl's team win the finals, with Shelly forgiving him and professing her love.

Nobody paid any attention to Nobody's Perfect when it hit theaters in February 1990.  It quickly disappeared into obscurity but I happened to catch it over Christmas break on HBO and found it to be a really fun watch.  The movie could never be made today, but captures campus life in the late 80s very well.  The picturesque Pepperdine University provides some beautiful sunny scenery.  Chad Lowe and Gail O'Grady lead a no star cast, but most of the characters are likable.  No movie is perfect, but this one is for a rainy Saturday afternoon viewing.

Location: Bramson College

Address: 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

This area has undergone major changes since filming, but the bookstore building, now hidden by trees looks the same...

The Payson Library

The Pendleton Learning Center

The stairs leading to the Stauffer Chapel

The Firestone Fieldhouse

Stephen and Shelley's date takes place on the golf course...

A couple of nice views...

Location Visited: May 2026

Locations Master List

Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson - Say Say Say (1983)

 

When a Beatle and the future King of Pop collaborate, you can expect the results will be astronomical.  In 1981, Paul McCartney was recording his second solo album, Tug of War, while Michael Jackson stayed with him.  The pair recorded Say Say Say during this time, but it would go on to appear on Paul's third album, Pipes of Peace.  This was not be the end of their collaborations as they would duet again on The Girl Is Mine, the lead single off Michael's 1982 Thriller album.  It would be another year before Say Say Say would be released, though the wait was worth it.  The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks.

For the music video, Paul and Michael play con artists peddling a miracle strength potion.  They then move on to play a vaudeville act at a bar.  When the police catch up to them, Paul sets a fire and they escape off into the sunset.  Paul's then-wife Linda and Michael's sister La Toya also appear in the video, which was filmed in Los Alamos.  Michael was quite fond of the area and would later purchase property that would become Neverland Ranch.

Location: Hitching A Ride

Address: 326 Bell Street, Los Alamos, CA

The Victorian Mansion at Los Alamos

Between the tree, the telephone pole and the street light, it's pretty difficult to get a matching shot, but Paul, Michael and Linda ride passed the mansion... 

Location: The Saloon

Address: 362 Bell Street, Los Alamos, CA

The 1880 Union Hotel is a historical landmark, originally serving as a telegraph station and hotel for traveling salesmen.  Today, it is used for private events...  

The gate to what used to be Neverland Ranch.  The property was purchased in 2020 by billionaire Ron Burkle...

Location Visited: April 2026

Related Locations: 

Michael Jackson - Beat It (1983), Michael Jackson - Thriller (1983), Michael Jackson - Bad (1987), Michael Jackson - Black Or White (1991)

Locations Master List

Short Circuit (1986)

After a NOVA Laboratory robot is struck by lightning, it starts to experience human emotions and intelligence.  Number 5 escapes to Astoria, Oregon and meets Stephanie Speck, who takes her discovery home to care for.  NOVA eventually tracks Number 5, but unsuccessfully capture him.  Stephanie and Number 5 go on the run in search of Newton Crosby, one of the creators of the rogue robot.  It appears Number 5 is destroyed after a military attack, but it turns out a decoy was assembled.  Crosby decides to take Number 5 to a ranch in Montana for some peace and quiet Stephanie joins them.

Short Circuit is a fun, goofy 80s comedy.   It was a box office success met with mixed reviews from critics.  Several versions of Number 5 were made for the film, eating up a good portion of the budget.  The film was criticized for having a Jewish actor portray an Indian character in brownface.  El DeBarge scored a hit with "Who's Johnny?" which plays at the end of the final scene.

 

Location: Stephanie Speck's House

Address: 197 Hume Avenue, Astoria, OR

Location: Ben & Newton Eat

Address: 40700 Historic Columbia River Highway, Corbett, OR

Location: The Gas Station

Address: Near 710 W Marine Drive, Astoria, OR

Location: The Bridge

Address: Astoria-Megler Bridge, US 101, Astoria, OR

Location: Number 5 Is Captured

Address: 299 SW Portrage Road, Cascade Locks, OR

Location: Nova Ambush

Address: 10700 Escondido Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, CA

Vasquez Rocks

Locations Visited: May 2025, November 2025

Locations Master List