Updated 8/12/2009

John Hughes, a synonym for Teenage Movies—not just from the 80s, but the entire genre itself—died suddenly Thursday at the age of 59. Uniquely American, he added so much to our collective lexicon: Long Duk Dong ("Donger need food!"), Jake Ryan and Farmer Ted; "Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?" and Ben Stein; Molly Ringwald and Duckie; Kelly LeBrock and Bill Paxton; the Jock, the Geek, the Wastoid, the Prom Queen, and the Psycho, Clark Griswold, Macaulay Culkin's version of The Scream... we could go on and on.

Even though he stopped directing movies in 1991 (the forgettable Curly Sue was the last film he actually helmed), Hughes' body of work in the 80s—and remember, he wrote even more than he directed—was all-encompassing: he had a hand in so many of the films that serve as a nostalgic base for an entire generation of filmgoers.



His death has hit us hard. Understandably, tributes are pouring in around the blogosphere, and we've rounded up both the informative and the heartfelt.

As a teenager, Alison Byrne Fields was John Hughes' pen pal. It's a very sweet story.

Alec Baldwin calls working with Hughes one of his three best filmmaking experiences: "I have worked on some comedy films where the director was the least funny person on the set. Hughes was funny."

Hughes' primary muse Molly Ringwald calls him "my Truffaut," and reflects on Hughes-as-Peter-Pan in the New York Times.



James Spader also took some time out to remember his Pretty In Pink director. The Daily News rounded up comments from other Brat Packers (and Ben Stein).

In a career obit in Variety, Pat Sapirstein notes that Home Alone (which Hughes wrote and produced) was "one of the top-grossing live-action comedies of all time."

At UGO.com, Jordan Hoffman provides a loving, exhaustive examination of John Hughes' Totally Awesome Losers, from Uncle Buck to Cousin Eddie Johnson.



Michael Cieply at The New York Times takes a wistful look at Hughes' career and his knack for discovering so much emerging talent.

Earlier this summer, Beth Cone Kramer blogged about her Julie & Julia-esque take on introducing John Hughes to her 12-year-old daughter. From her now-adult perspective, Duckie looks way more appealing than Blane.

Have a retro dance party with this suggested mixed tape collection from Joe Gross.



On Salon, Stephanie Zacharek analyzes the (sometimes cliché) parent/teenager divide so inherent in Hughes' movies, while paying respect to his choice/ability to leave Hollywood behind.

Writer/editor John Blumenthal recalls giving Hughes his start as a writer... for Playboy.



Ferris Bueller's Day Off is currently leading the Best Hughes Movie poll served up by Liz Kelly at the Washington Post. What's your vote?

If you are in LA, Pretty in Pink is coincidentally screening Saturday night at the old Circuit City Parking Lot in East Hollywood. (Is this a place all Angelenos know about?) If you attend this event, BrandX wants you to post your comments here.



And if you're ordering DVDs (or filling your Netflix queue), Entertainment Weekly has compiled John Hughes: 20 Key Movies. First up? An oldie but goodie, Mr. Mom.
 

Which Hughes classic is on your weekend agenda? Log in to My Tribeca and post your answer in the comments below.