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All Things Ladybugs! An Interview with Penny Pester (Jandi Swanson)

posted 6 years ago by TMC-4 (19460)
4 replies | jump to latest

http://prettyfunnygirl.com/2017/07/ladybugs-jandiswanson/

Do you ever wish there was a sports movie that combined the raunchiness of Rodney Dangerfield, the comedic brilliance of Jackeé, and 90’s heartthrob Jonathan Brandis…in a dress? Well, you’re in luck! It’s called Ladybugs (1992), and if you haven’t seen it – do yourself a huge favor.

I recently did a Pretty Funny Girl podcast interview Jandi Swanson, the actress who played dorky but darling Penny Pester. She’s amazing and spills ALL the behind the scenes tee! (FULL PODCAST EPISODE BELOW)

When I first asked Jandi to do the show, she was minutes from walking down the aisle in her wedding dress. She took the time to tell me that she’d get back to me after her honeymoon. Who does that?! An angel of a woman, that’s who.

Jandi was a very busy child star in the 80’s and 90’s. Ladybugs isn’t her only brush with cult classic fame. She also appeared on Full House, Designing Woman, and the freakin’ GOLDEN GIRLS as young Dorothy! (She shares a great story about hanging out with Betty White.)

But I’ll always think of her as our darling Penny Pester.

[–] TMC-4 (19460) 5 years ago

https://twitter.com/Odd_Podcast/status/1074014522187370496

NEW EPISODE: Ladybugs! We're exploring the 1992 classic with the help of Jandi Swanson who played Penny Pester!

LISTEN: https://t.co/8NpW6GixIa

[–] TommyJarvis82 (2488) 5 years ago

Cool, thanks.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Wasn't this quite a creepy film that over-sexualised teenage girls?

I mean, I wasn't particularly bothered about it at the time of its release because the girls were older than me, and, yes, I was approaching puberty, but in retrospect I can't help thinking that this film was dodgy and completely inappropriate for adult men to watch.

[–] TMC-4 (19460) 4 years ago

Come to think of it, I always think of the scene in which Penny Pester during the championship game, scores a goal. She rips off her goggles, unfastens her hair bow, pulls down the scrunchie from her ponytail, and then dramatically flips her hair over her shoulder.

Maybe because on a personal level, since I was really young and still not a teenager yet when this movie came out, I didn't feel entirely icky or guilty in finding that scene a turn on. But can kind of see where there's a grey-line in that sequence, especially how a grown man like Rodney Dangerfield pretty much encouraged her to do that in order to feel more "beautiful" and attractive towards boys.

And then there's the scene in which Jonathan Brandis' character is fantasizing about Vinessa Shaw running towards him in nothing more than a two piece, ladybug style bathing suit.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/30319-i-watched-1992s-ladybugs-as-an-adult-was-pretty-shocked-by-its-sexism