The 1980s gave us more than just crimped hair and legwarmers; it was a decade of amazing technological innovations. This is a look back on ten of those inventions that you may not realize come from this decade. It includes medical innovations, space exploration, beloved food items, and a change in how we would forever investigate crimes. Show Notes: 10 Inventions From the 80s Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s...
This is a look back at what was a very underrated year in the 80s: 1983. In this episode, we look at all the big pop culture moments that made up the year including the movies, cartoons, music, and TV shows. 1983 may actually be one of the biggest years ever when it comes to TV. We also look at the technology, sporting moments, and the Great Video Game Crash that defined what was a pretty amazing year. Show Notes: 1983 Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s...
Welcome to my look back at the best of the 80s in 2021! This episode is made up of three parts: The first is a look back at three 80s-related movies that came out during 2021. The next is a look back at some of the most interesting podcasts and topics of the year. And the last part is where I share stats of the podcast shared to me by Spotify. It's a look at where everybody is listening from, the top ten countries that listen to the show, most listened to episodes of the year (and the worst one)...
I have watched every Rankin/Bass Christmas special and there are A LOT more than you may realize. Today, I'm reviewing and ranking all of them. This list includes some obvious beloved favorites, a few misses, and some that will leave you scratching your head. Rankin/Bass has become an integral part of the holidays and their storytelling and creativity have entertained us for nearly 60 years. I hope you enjoy this look back on some favorites and some that may be brand new to you. Show notes: Rank...
Welcome to my annual Christmas special! I'm wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater I could find, have the fireplace channel "roaring" in the background, and am drinking some type of nog. For the Christmas special, I wanted to look at the movies and TV shows that captured Christmas for us in the 1980s. First, we will look at 4 films that actually are Christmas movies (you know where this is going...) And then look at 5, forgotten—and underappreciated—TV Christmas specials that came out during the ...
This is something I'm hoping to make a yearly tradition, and it's a look back on my episode about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. As bad as this thing is, it has somehow become a staple of my holiday viewing. And since I recorded it, there have been a few current references to the special—that I added to the episode—proving it's not going away anytime soon. I hope you enjoy this look back at this absolute train wreck that ended up being one of the worst things ever shown on TV when it ai...
Yes, I stand by that statement. If this special had run every year like Rudolph or Frosty, I believe it would be considered a holiday classic that everyone watches each year. The problem is, it only aired two times, then was relegated to home video never to be seen again. But this is a shame. In this episode, I want to share 6 reasons why this is the perfect Christmas special. It's also unique as it's the only time the Muppets, Sesame Street, The Muppet Babies, and Fraggle Rock all appear in the...
In 1980, an upstart shoe company approached a hot-shot new basketball player about a possible endorsement deal. The problem was, they didn't have any money and could only offer him stock options. That company was Nike, and that player was Magic Johnson. Had he taken the deal, it would have been worth billions today. This is a look back on this remarkable story and a look at the early days of Nike and that beginning of celebrity shoe endorsements. Show Notes: Magic Johnson and Nike Support the Sh...
When it comes to pop culture: 1982 was a doozy. In this look back, I recap the movies, TV shows, music, sports, video games, and technology that define this year. 1982 gave us some of the biggest movies of all time, arguably the biggest album in history, a groundbreaking technological advancement, and the debut of several gigantic TV shows. Show Notes: 1982 Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s...
There have been a lot of terrible marketing promotions over the years, but does the American Airlines AAirpass from 1981 take the cake? The AAirpass was a membership plan that gave its users unlimited, first-class flights, anywhere in the world—for life. To say that people took advantage of this is an understatement, and the program was soon costing American millions of dollars a year. This is a look back on a promotion created by a company that had its backs against the wall. This interesting s...
In 1981, strange black arcade cabinets started showing up in a Portland Oregon arcade. Then there were reports of kids getting sick while playing games at this arcade. And what about the reports of Men in Black hanging around the same arcades? Thus begins one of the all-time great urban legends. Was the Polybius arcade game created by the U.S. Government for mind control and to recruit kids as soldiers? This is a look back into the myth that will never die and why there's some actual "truth" to ...
Welcome to the Halloween episode! in this special, we look at a few topics that came out of the 1970s but became more prominent in the 80s. The first has to do with the issue of poisoned Halloween candy. We were always on the lookout for razor blades in our candy, but did this ever even happen? Was it just a myth, and how did it become such a fear for us in the 80s? We'll also check out some classic 80s Halloween commercials, then look at a television Halloween special that rivals the Star Wars ...
What a time to be alive. The 80s ushered in a brave new world of video games and consoles. The technology was advancing rapidly, and we as kids were reaping the rewards. But which system was the best? Today, I count down what I believe are the 5 best game consoles of the decade, along with a look at a few forgotten ones you may have never even heard of. We also look at the state of the video game industry, and I count down the 10 best-selling video games of the 1980s. Show notes: Best 80s Video ...
It's the question that has stumped philosophers and scientists for years: How do George and Lorraine McFly not realize that their son is the same Marty from 1955? In this essay—I mean episode—I look at several key points that show how it's impossible for them not to realize that their son is the same Calvin Klein/Marty from the past. We look at some of the obvious points (THEY NAMED THEIR SON MARTY!) but also issues involving George's book, clothing, first loves, and a specific moment that inclu...
1980 was the year that began the decade, but 1981 really brought us right into it. This is a year that had some notable pop-culture moments that changed the world forever. In this episode, we look back at the movies, music, TV shows, sports, and other big events that shaped this year. And 1981 can be defined by one gigantic, global event. This is also the year that a lot of big TV shows debuted, one of the biggest movies ever was released, and some big advancements started to happen in technolog...
This is a genuine lost episode. I recorded this show more than a year ago but never released it. It's all about the Tomy Omnibot 5402 and has been dug out of the far reaches of my hard drive to release to the world. In this episode, we look at why toy robots were such hot toys, why the Omnibot actually had some very advanced technology, and why it was ahead of its time. It's also a look back on the Tomy Company and how they brought you some of the most popular toys of all time, and why the Omnib...
Do you remember the first music video you ever saw? Even if you don't, you may be like me and still remember being in awe of these mini "music movies." Today, I countdown what I believe are the 10 best videos of the 1980s. There will be a bunch of similarities as my "best songs of the 80s" podcast, but that's just because they are such decade-defining hits. We will also look at the rise of MTV, how the Beatles helped pave the way for music videos, and a bunch of behind-the-scenes facts on some o...
Burger King and the Whopper were dominating things in the 1980s. McDonald's needed to create something to compete with it, but they also wanted to solve a problem at the same time: how do you keep the vegetables and lettuce of a burger fresh instead of a hot slimy mess? Enter the McDLT. This is a look back on the evolution of the burger that was meant to take down the Whopper, the state of fast food marketing in the 80s, and the environmental issues that faced the McDLT. We also look at one of t...
This is a look back on the device that changed the trajectory of modern video games: The Game and Watch. If it wasn't for the success of this simple hand-held device, video games as we know them may not exist. The success of the Game and Watch led Nintendo to create the NES and forever change the landscape of gaming. The controls of the Game and Watch would also be instrumental in the development of modern gaming and it's time to look back on how significant this device really was. Show Notes: T...
Putting a list like this together was not easy—but somebody had to do it. Instead of a top 10; I went with 15, so more options could be included. This list obviously comes from my perspective as a kid growing up in the 80s, but I took other factors into account; including the impact the song had, billboard charts, and how each song represents the decade to this day. Spotify Playlist: Best Songs of the 80s Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s...
A lot of significant things happened in the year 1980. Today, we're looking back on the movies, TV shows, video games, sporting moments, and music that happened in the first year of this brand new decade. From Pac-Man to the Empire Strikes Back, the year 1980 had a bit of everything. There was a lot of carryover from the 1970s, but the new decade showed some early signs of what was to come. Show Notes: A Look Back at the Year 1980 Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s...
What do you get when you take an eccentric genius, government involvement, intense passion, and drug trafficking? You get one of the most iconic cars ever made. This is a look back on not just the Delorean, but its creator: John Z. DeLorean. In case you didn't know that Delorean was a man—and not just a car—you're in for a pretty crazy story. This is a look at the rapid rise and fall of the Delorean, and if not for a certain time travel movie, how it would have been lost forever. Shoe Notes: The...
I think I need to lie down. Putting this list together was not easy, and I'm sure my order will not be to everyone's liking. But what I'm doing here today is ranking not just all the Star Wars movies—but also the live-action TV shows. There are 16 entries on this list, and I think I come at it from a good perspective. Have I done it justice? Am I full of crap? Which is first? What was worst? There's only one way to find out! Show Notes: Ranking Star Wars Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s...
Was Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure the poor man's Back to the Future? This week, I'm looking back on a movie that had the unfortunate task of being another 1980s time travel movie. We'll look at how this movie started out as a comedy sketch, how Keanu Reeves completely changed the direction of it, and some of the original plot intentions that were even weirder. We'll also look at why this movie sat on the shelf for two years before they released it, and why the movie was almost about a tri...
Oh, what could have been. It's not that the Popeye movie was terrible: it just wasn't close to what was expected. This movie was expected to be a gigantic hit, and it fell short. This is a look back on the Popeye movie, the origin of the Popeye character, how Annie set the stage for the movie, and how it introduced Robin Williams to the world. Show Notes: The Popeye Movie Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s...
It can be easy to dismiss Jaws. It may seem like a common movie today, but it really changed Hollywood forever. If it wasn't for Jaws; movies, as we know them, might not exist. Jaws was the first true blockbuster. It changed how movies were released and marketed, and it created the summer movie season. This is a look back on how important Jaws is in the history of film, and how it allowed Steven Spielberg to bring his artistic visions to the world. Show Notes: Jaws 1980s Movie Review Podcast: Pa...
How well do you really know your favorite 80s movie? You may think you know it inside out, but then a fan theory comes along that completely changes the way you see it. Today, I'm looking at 10 of the best fan theories from 1980s movies. Some of them you may know--and some are pretty out-there. But they all help to give the movies we love a fresh presentation. Some of the movies we'll look at include Indiana Jones, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Grease, The Karate Kid, and Back to the Future. Show Not...
Today, I'm ranking each year of summer movies during the 80s to see which is the best. How does the summer of 1986 compare against 1981? Is the summer of 1985 the best--or does it come up short? This is one of the toughest--and most fun--episodes I've ever put together. I'll look at the notable movies from each summer, the one specific theme that runs through each summer, and a summary of how I feel it ranks against the others. I'm sure I'll get canceled for my number 8 choice--but I'm ready to ...
This is the fourth and final part of my mini-series about the early days of the Internet. Today, we're looking at the origins of Netflix and how it changed the way we consume content. We'll look at the fake origin story of the company, how they were almost a part of Blockbuster Video, and how Napster may have been responsible for their success. Then, we look at how they created the binge-style of consuming content, and how this may be going away. We finish by looking at what the state of movies ...
Welcome to the third part of my podcast mini-series on the early days of the internet. In the first part, I looked at the creation of the World Wide Web and how Netscape made it accessible. Part 2 was all about how AOL brought the internet into every home in the country. In part 3, we look at how the internet was taken to the next level: web search. And more specifically: Google. This is a look back on the astounding history of the now trillion-dollar company. We'll look at how two college stude...
