Everything 80s

I've searched far and wide through Disney+ and found a bunch of great 80s content that I didn't even know was on there. Today, I'm sharing 16 epic shows and movies from the 80s that are currently streaming on the platform. Disney doesn't really promote their older content, and there's some amazing stuff that I had forgotten all about. If you have Disney+ and love the 80s, I think I've found the be...

This one was a real nostalgia trip for me. On today's show, I count down what I think are the top 9 toy playsets of the 80s. This is obviously from my perspective but I'm sure there are a few of your favorites here. There are some beloved entries on this list and I take a look at what made each so successful, how much they cost at the time (and converted for today), and some interesting facts abou...

Ernest P. Worrell is one of the most beloved characters in history. Jim Varney was also one of the most creative and entertaining performers of the 1980s. This is a look back on all his amazing work with a real focus on what I believe is one of the most underrated kids shows of all time: "Hey Vern, It's Ernest." Jim Varney was taken from us way too soon, and I wanted to take the time to remember a...

Saturday morning cartoons were a beloved institution--so why did they disappear? This is a look at the cherished time slot that has its roots in commercialism and marketing.  We'll look at why they first started on Saturday mornings, why they became a marketer's dream, and how the FCC--and a few other things--led to their demise. We'll also look at why there was an explosion of new cartoons in the...

Grab your whip and fedora and settle in, because we're looking at the real-life influences behind Indiana Jones. If you thought he was a fictional character, think no more! We're looking at who the real-life Indiana Jones may be, the legacy of character, the rise in interest in archeology, and a quick breakdown of the three movies.  Show Notes: Real-Life Indiana Jones Support the Show: Patreon.com...

This was a doozy to put together. Today, I'm counting down what I believe are the 10 best 80s TV theme songs--and it wasn't easy. Your order may be different, but I'm sure most of these would make your list.  We'll look at each theme song, how it came together, and how it was used to perfectly capture the essence of the show--and the decade.   Show Notes: The 10 Best 80s TV Themes Support the Show...

In Soviet Russia, podcast listen to you! Today, we are looking back on the career of the great Yakov Smirnoff. I was a huge fan of his and the story of his life is pretty astonishing. We'll look at how he was able to break free from the Soviet Union, dealing with a real-life Minister of Jokes, his rise to fame in America, and how it almost all disappeared at the collapse of the Soviet Union. We ma...

Pro wrestling was king in the 1980s, and the then WWF ruled the roost. They were able to partner with NBC to air a wrestling show on NBC in place of Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night's Main Event became a ratings smash and was instrumental in the success of the World Wrestling Federation. This is a look back on how this show came together, why it wound up on NBC on Saturday nights, and some of m...

Shoes, music, sports, and culture all go hand-in-hand today--but this was always the case. It took a small upstart shoe company from New York to set in motion what sneakers could actually become. This is a look back on the true game-changing shoe company: British Knights. We'll look at how they made athletic shoes a fashion accessory, how they captured the essence of a growing new art form called...

This week, we're looking back at the incredible, and groundbreaking Muppet Show. This thing went from a show that no one wanted to touch to the most-watched program on Earth. We'll look at the connection with Saturday Night Live, why it was filmed in England, how the show found its direction, and why it ended after just 5 years. Let's get things started... Show notes: The Muppet Show Support the S...

The 80s gave us some of the best movies of all time. But some of its sequels leave a lot to be desired. There are also a bunch you probably didn't know even existed. Today, I'm counting down the 10 worst 1980s movie sequels that you probably didn't know about. We'll look at why they were so bad, and what caused them to fail--when they should have been great. Show Notes: 10 Worst Movie Sequels Supp...

Yes, this is a very real story. In the 80s, A&W released a third-pound burger to compete with the quarter-pounder from McDonald's. It was bigger, fresher, and cheaper. But it would fail because of the public's inability to understand fractions. This is a look back on this baffling story, and what turned into a critical marketing lesson for future companies.  Show Notes: The A&W Third Pounder Suppo...

This is a big episode where we look at the world of cars in the 1980s. We'll look at the state of the automotive industry, the best-sellers, the duds, and the advancements. Then, I'll count down what I think are the 10 most iconic vehicles from movies and TV. So get out of my dreams, and into my car--and let's look at the best 80s cars. Show Notes: The Most Iconic Cars of the 80s Support the Show:...

*takes deep breath* OK, today on the show, I'm looking at several reasons why Spaceballs is as good—if not better—than Star Wars. If you haven't canceled me--and have stuck around--I also do a review of the movie and share some of the amazing behind-the-scenes facts that include who didn't want to be in this movie, and the person you probably didn't expect that was crucial in making it.  Show Note...

What do you get when you take one of the hottest toys of all time, low inventory, and the holiday season? You get the ticking time bomb that was the Cabbage Patch Kid riots. No toy in history has ever created a craze like the Cabbage Patch Kids did in the fall of 1983. The mayhem and violence surrounding these dolls seem to set the stage for future events like Black Friday. But this is a look back...

This is my yearly review show where I look at the best of 1980s content in 2020. In this episode, I'll cover the topics I found most interesting, including the REAL reason behind the creation of Apple computers, the story behind a certain McDonald's item, the original forbidden video game, and more. I'll also give my review of a book sequel that was ten years in the making and look back at the tel...

Welcome to the Everything 80s Christmas spectacular, spectacular! And in a genuine coincidence, this episode is being released on Festivus—making it a true Festivus MIRACLE! OK, here's the plan: we will start by looking at a beloved 1980s Christmas movie, and then the sequel to it—which you've probably never heard of. Next, we will take a deep look at an iconic TV special from the 1960s that becam...

The winner for worst Star Wars entry has sadly become a competitive category. But nothing can compare with what happened on the night of November 17, 1978.  This is a look back on the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. How did this thing come together, is it really as bad as people say, and why does George Lucas want to smash every copy with a hammer? Happy Life Day! Show notes: The Star Wars Hol...

Today, we're looking back on a beloved show for many: Perfect Strangers. It ran from 1986 to 1992, making cousins Larry and Balki household names. Perfect Strangers should never have made it to network television, but somehow survived the odds. It also led to another classic sitcom—Family Matters—and helped pave the way for another famous TV institution: TGIF. Show Notes: Perfect Strangers Support...

It should have been great. Everything was there to make the Garbage Pail Kids movie one of the absolute classic horror movies of the 1980s—but we got the complete opposite of that. What they released in 1987 is considered one of the worst movies in the history of film. This is a look back on the history of the Garbage Pail Kids, their wild success, and the inevitable movie. It could have been grea...

This is for all you Brits out there! Even if you're not from the U.K., you'll still find the story of Bananaman very interesting. Bananaman was a genuine comic book character that appeared in Dandy, Beano, and had his own cartoon show in the 1980s. This is a look back on the potassium-filled superhero and why he was England's answer to Superman and Batman. Support the show: Patreon.com/80s Show no...

The Far Side was a comic strip created by Gary Larson that ran from 1979 to 1995. May consider it the funniest comic strip ever created. This is a look back on the evolution of the Far Side, how it influenced science, why it went away—and why it's back after all these years. Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/80s TheFarSide.com Show notes: The Far Side  

This is a look back on a McDonald's commercial that masqueraded as a movie: MAC and Me. The movie was convinced with noble intentions, but that all took a back seat to corporate interests. Today, we'll look back on how this movie came to be, how McDonald's took over it, and what its lasting legacy is. Show notes: https://www.everything80spodcast.com/mac-and-me/ The Everything 80s Movie Review Podc...

Welcome to a 1980s Halloween Spooktacular! This is the day when we celebrate Halloween and the 80s all rolled into one. So here's what we're going to do: we will look back at the classic Monster cereals, then we'll remember the 1988 classic Beetlejuice, and finish with a deeper look at a Halloween musical staple and the greatest music video ever made (you can probably guess what that is).  The Eve...

We were pretty spoiled in the 80s. There were so many monumental toys that came out, that it was hard to keep up with it all. In this episode, I'm looking at what the stats say for the best-selling toy for each year from 1980 to 1989. A few of these will definitely surprise you! Check out: some 80s toys you can still buy The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s