Everything 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...

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: Patreo...

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 S...

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 incl...

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 fe...

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...

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 b...

Welcome to part Deux of my series on the early days of the internet. In this episode, we are looking at what may be the most important advancement in the history of the web: AOL. In episode one, I covered how Tim Berners-Lee was the one responsible for the internet's true creation. We also looked at Marc Andreessen who is responsible for making the internet accessible by creating Netscape. But it'...

The first part of my new podcast mini-series 'From Dial-Up to Satellites' looks back at the early days of the internet. We'll look at Tim Berners-Lee who is the real founder of the web. You'll also see how many didn't think the internet would lead to much. We then look back at the importance of Netscape in creating the first real web browser and how it brought the internet to the world.  We'll als...

On March 13, 1989, Tim Berners Lee implemented the first successful communication between a hypertext transfer protocol with a server. You know this better as the internet. In this new four-part series, we'll be looking back at what happened in the next few years following this groundbreaking creation. This podcast series will start next Wednesday and run for the next four weeks.  We'll look at wh...

You never thought hip hop would take it this far. We're going back in time to witness the birth of hip hop. We'll see how it was created in the Bronx, and how it evolved going into the 1980s. Then, we'll see how it grew into a dominant art form and became the most profitable music genre. I also look at three of the most successful rappers, how they took what they earned in something that started a...

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...