Don't call it a comeback... Even though the sitcom had lost some steam at the start of the 1980s, in the second half of the decade, they were back--and better than ever. Join me as I take a quick look at the origin of the sitcom, and how--thanks to the 80s--they changed network television forever. And, today, I'm counting down ten of the best sitcoms the 80s had to offer. -Support the show and get bonus audio content: Patreon.com/80s...
At least they still had Barbie… But when the excitement for He-Man started to cool off, toy giant Mattel needed something to fill the void. They needed something modern, interactive, and able to take advantage of new toy technology. Enter Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future . Combined with a TV program of the same name, the innovative toys let you fire "lasers" at the show while getting hit in return. It was like Duck Hunt meets RoboCop; a futuristic dream come true. Sounds like the coo...
Bread, sauce, and cheese. That’s all pizza really is, but how did the simple food you love become the focus of a massive, multi-billion-dollar battle? Today, we journey back to the Pizza Wars of the 80s, when Pizza Hut, Little Ceasars, and Dominos took every measure possible to capture our taste buds (with a few others joining the pizza party…) Advertising budgets skyrocketed, media reach was more substantial than ever before, and competition was high. So let’s look back at a slice of history wh...
There are certain defining images that represent the entire 1980s--and right at the top of that list is ALF. With origins beginning in 1984, this is a look back on the beloved character, its creator, and the show that became a true pop culture phenomenon. The story of ALF has a bit of everything; connections to the Simpsons and Seinfeld; legal changes to network TV; some of the greatest merchandising the decade would ever see--and genuine nostalgia. The E80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s...
It seemed like any other ordinary presidential appearance, but when Ronald Reagan left the Washington Hilton on March 30th, 1981, the world almost drastically changed forever in just 1.7 seconds. This is a look back on a moment of genuine heroism, the bizarre motive behind the assassination attempt on the President, and how one inch could have made this an entirely different story... -The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s...
What do you get when you combine Transformers, Marvel, MTV, and a LOT of neon? You get Jem and the Holograms; a defining 1980s toy, cartoon, and franchise. When it debuted in 1985, the cartoon show caught on quickly, as did the subsequent toy line. And none of this was by accident. Built on the back of already successful properties like G.I. Joe, and Transformers, Jem and the Holograms followed the formula, but with its own unique twist. So journey back with me to a time of glitter, neon, rock m...
It felt like it happened overnight... we went from just a few TV channels to a seemingly endless amount. So, what exactly led to the rapid growth of cable television in the 1980s and a time when our TVs changed forever? HBO and Showtime set the stage and as we entered the 80s, new channels like Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel, ESPN, and CNN quickly became popular. The cable revolution of the 80s gave us many beloved children's shows, technological advancements, and some good ol' government dereg...
Do you remember where you were on the night of February 28th, 1983? If you had access to a TV, there’s a pretty good chance you had it tuned to CBS. This was the night of the series finale of M*A*S*H and a landmark moment in the history of television. What happened that night from a viewership standpoint had never been seen before–or since. This is a look back on the single episode that became a cultural touchpoint, a watershed moment in television, and achieved rating numbers never thought poss...
We've all grown up with stories and fairytales filled with heroes, dragons, and monsters. And then there are giants. Giants seem to be a thing of myth, but if you grew up in the 1980s, you saw one of these myths come to life: Andre the Giant. This is a look back on the remarkable life of the "8th Wonder of the World" and how he forever changed the landscape of professional wrestling. But this isn't just a wrestling story; it's also how Andre Roussimoff became a massive part of 1980s pop culture ...
It just wasn’t meant to be… LaserVision–or LaserDisc as we know it–was the third competitor in the home video format war during the 80s. But despite being a technological marvel with advanced picture and sound, LaserDisc just couldn't compete with VHS and Beta during the golden age of video. Today we look back on a pioneering form of video technology--with roots going all the way back to the 1950s--that is actually still with us to this day... -Join Patreon and get access to the Everything 80s M...
If you grew up in the 80s, the newspaper comics may have been a big part of your daily routine. And one of the most beloved ones ever debuted on November 18th, 1985: Calvin and Hobbes. But the story of Calvin and Hobbes was much more than just a comic strip; it was an insightful storytelling masterclass that seamlessly incorporated many philosophical ideas. It's also a lesson in never compromising, as its creator, Bill Watterson, refused to give in to corporate interests. -Support the show and g...
What do you get when you combine two of the greatest filmmakers in history, Disney, and the King of Pop? You get Captain EO; a unique short film and a remarkable collaboration in filmmaking and technology. Released in 1986, Captain EO was part film, part music video, part theme park attraction, and part commercial. This was a time when the media landscape was changing, and Disney was looking for a way to become more relevant and attract a New Generation... -Support the show and get access to The...
There are many TV shows and movies that perfectly embody the 1980s--and right at the top of that list is Knight Rider. Knight Rider is the story of Michael Knight and his crime-fighting automotive assistant: KITT. The premise was simple: What would a modern version of the Lone Ranger look like with a car instead of a horse? Combine that with some other sci-fi elements--and one of the coolest cars of all time--and you have a show that was a worldwide hit and a merchandising powerhouse. This is a ...
Close your eyes and picture what the 1980s looked like. What do you see? When you get past the giant perms and shoulder pads, what does the aesthetic look like? You may picture bright colors, geometric shapes, and a lot of bold designs. Just look at the logo for this podcast and you'll get an idea of what I'm referring to. This was a distinctive style known as the Memphis Design. It was created by the Memphis Group; an Italian art collective that may be the most important 1980s group you've neve...
If you grew up in the 80s, it was hard not to be aware of Max Headroom. From TV to magazines and billboards; he was everywhere. But this robotic, artificial intelligence character was much more than just New Coke commercials. Max Headroom began with a movie and TV show and had an entire backstory and mythology--a mythology that warned us about the very world we find ourselves in today... --Support the show and get access to the Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s...
We're deep into the 1980s, and our world seems to be changing by the minute. Besides the usual political strife, we continue to experience Cold War tension and a crazy economy. But while all this is going on, we get one of the best years of the entire decade--and 20th century--for pop culture. Not only is there an endless amount of timeless movies, but the release of some truly iconic music and the introduction of some TV shows that would change pop culture as we knew it. So gather round as I ta...
What do you get when you combine a fierce sporting rivalry between the East and West and set it during the height of the Cold War? You have a ticking time bomb ready to explode. And that's exactly what happened in 1987 at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Canada was playing the Soviet Union, and with six minutes left in the second period--all hell broke loose. But was this an intentional act by the Soviets to disqualify Canada and cost them the gold medal? This is a look back on the night th...
It's easy to look back at 1980s creations as old-fashioned and quaint, but this was a time of remarkable progress. Some of these innovations still seem advanced even by today's standards. Welcome to rewind and an all-new version of one of my favorite 1980s topics: the groundbreaking inventions and innovations. In this episode, I cover some inventions that you may not realize come from the 1980s including astounding new technology, advanced medical breakthroughs, and even changes to the way we co...
Welcome to the Everything 80s Holiday Special! (featuring less Life Day and Gormaanda... ) I'm here in my ugliest Christmas sweater with the fireplace channel roaring in the background as we travel back in time to the holiday season during the 80s. In this special, we look at a modern holiday movie that captures the essence of the 80s, a certain house from a beloved Christmas classic, then dive into some of the best-selling Christmas albums and singles from the decade--including one of the most ...
Yule logs, candy canes, and our favorite films; it's the holidays and that means movie-watching time. Regardless of how many new holiday movies come out each year, we always resort to our favourites--and Eighties options are some of the very best. Even if you've seen them a Ridiculous number of times, it Doesn't matter as these movies have become part of our holiday tradition. Relax, grab some form of nog, and Dive back into the 80s with me as I look at ten of the best holiday favourites of the ...
If you're listening to this episode the day it's released, it marks 50 years to the day when the world first met Atari. From there, the groundbreaking company forever changed what home video games could be. Today, I cover the history of the iconic company, how they made the home video game market a billion-dollar industry, and take a deep dive into some of the most beloved games. We also look at how classic Atari games are being preserved for future generations. This is a story that includes Sta...
On the hundredth anniversary of Coca-Cola, the iconic beverage company decided to shake things up. And boy did they ever. They shook things up by taking away their classic cola and introducing a whole new one: New Coke. This is a look back on a decision that enraged the public, caused severe backlash, and forced the company to bring back the original formula--in less than three months. But was this their plan all along? Did they want us to appreciate and miss what we once had with original Coke?...
There's a good chance you're reading this on your phone right now as our devices obviously provide us with portable entertainment. But before cell phones, iPods, and MP3 players, there was one device that forever changed the way we consumed music: The Walkman. For the first time ever, the Walkman allowed us to take our personal music anywhere we went. It became a symbolic image of the 80s, sold hundreds of millions of units, and today, we look back at one of the most iconic devices ever made. Su...
It's hard to imagine, but there was a time when video games were dying. It was 1983, and because of the Great Video Game crash, many companies wanted to distance themselves from video games. Enter a nearly 100-year-old company from Japan. Nintendo would not only rescue the video game industry but take it to heights never thought imaginable. So ready player one, press play and let's journey back to a brand new age of video games. Support the show and get access to bonus audio content: Patreon.com...
It was a classic battle between good and evil and it gave us one of the greatest toys of all time. Today, we journey back to revisit the history of the iconic Transformers. From their early days in Japan to dominating TVs and toy shelves in North America, this is another defining 1980s toys franchise that was also a masterclass in marketing. So hit play and let's roll out! Support the show and get bonus audio content at Patreon.com/80s...
If you were a kid in the 80s, you were probably blissfully unaware of what was happening with the tumultuous economy. But this crazy financial world created the 80s as we know it. This is really a story in three parts: It starts low, soars to dizzying heights, only to come crashing back down. It was the time of Reaganomics, recession, deficits, vast wealth, and one of the darkest days in the history of Wall Street. The economy of the 1980s gave us things like the Yuppie, Strawberry Shortcake, Li...
Where were you in '82? If you're old enough to remember October 1982, you may recall the widespread panic of the Tylenol Murders. In Chicago, seven people were now dead after consuming poisoned Tylenol. How did this happen? How much more was out there? How safe were any of our everyday products? This episode is part true crime story, but as much about how the news media could spread fear quicker than ever before. It's also about a public relations nightmare, navigating a crisis, the rapid safety...
Is your head hurting, too? I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that these 15 incredible albums are now over the hill. Today, we head back to the year 1982 which may be one of the most astounding years for music ever. 1982 gave us not only some of the best albums of the 80s--but in music history. It's a year that combined classic rock, pop, new wave, heavy metal, folk, and a new musical art form that would soon take the world by storm. 1982 was also unique as it was the only year ...
If you grew up in the 1980s, you know how sacred Saturday morning cartoons were. But as we got older, they faded away, and our interests changed. Would anything be able to fill the void of that beloved TV-watching ritual? Enter TGIF on the ABC network. Though it may feel more like a 90s institution, TGIF began in the late 80s with roots going all the way back to 1985. This episode looks back at the origins of the beloved Friday night lineup, the importance of following a formula, the real meanin...
No matter what our feelings are about the Royal Family, we've been living through historical times. And, for the Royals, there may be no era more significant than the 1980s. This was a decade where--thanks to the growth of media, cable, and networks--awareness of their every move was at an all-time high. The 1980s gave us two royal weddings, four royal births, multiple threats to the Queen, and a humorous public relations disaster. This is also a time when we began to see cracks in the facade of...
