Everything 80s

Gremlins is a dark comedy and an 80s classic. But is it actually a Christmas movie at its core? In this episode, I look at four specific reasons that makes Gremlins a holiday classic along with a lot of interesting insights into the movie's development.  show notes: Gremlins  

Grab your hot cocoa, put on your ugly Christmas sweater, and gather around the virtual fireplace for a very 80s Christmas! In this episode, we will look back on some of the best Christmas commercials of the 80s and then check out what was the best-selling toy each year through the decade! The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation has established itself as a new Christmas classic. The movie tells the story of the Griswold family and the quest for the perfect old-fashioned family Christmas. This episode will look at the making of the movie and why it's become a staple of holiday viewing. Sh*tter was full! The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

If you grew up in the 80s, you knew that the video store on a Friday night was the place to be. But home video as we know it almost didn't happen if it wasn't for the Top Gun VHS release in 1986. This episode looks at how movie studios wanted nothing to do with home video or rentals, and how Top Gun changed all of this forever. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

Duck Hunt is a video game that goes WAY back. It existed long before you remember it in arcades and early home box sets. It made use of a new technology and Nintendo thought that it, and not Super Mario Bros, would be the focal point of launching Nintendo in North America. Listen up to the story of Duck Hunt, the original first-person shooter.  The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/...

The Shining is one of the most iconic and influential movies ever made. So why did its author - Stephen King - hate it so much? In this episode, we look at the 5 main things Stephen King hated about The Shining along with some more insights into one of the greatest films ever made.  Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

This is the Everything 80s Halloween special and on this show, we are looking back at 80s Halloween TV specials. We will look at 5 forgotten specials and also, an iconic one.  The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

In every convenience store in the 80s, Big League Chew would be right there, front and center among all the other great options. The pouch with the shredded gum was the softest and chewiest you ever had and has an interesting story to go with it. Big League Chew has origins as a Tabaco substitute in the minor leagues and quickly became a massive seller and continues to this day. Listen up to the s...

My Buddy was a doll for boys released by Hasbro in 1985. This was actually a controversial move as putting out a doll for boys had never been done before. This may all have roots in the video game crash of 1983, but became a massive best-seller. My Buddy may also have been the influence of Chucky in the Child's Play movies, and this episode looks at everything behind this toy.  The Everything 80s...

Ready Player One is a book written by Ernest Cline, which is like a love-letter to the 80s and pop culture. Steven Spielberg put out the movie version and you may wonder what the key differences are. In this podcast, I break dow how Ready Player One the movie compares to the book.  The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance is a ten-part Netflix series that takes us back into Jim Henson's Dark Crystal. In this review, I look at the original movie, breakdown each new episode, and look at everything that went into this, and the original movie. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Pound Puppies were a popular 80s toy that came out in 1984. They were released by Irwin and then by Tonka. The Pound Puppies were plush stuffed dog dolls that had droopy eyes and floppy ears. They weren't invented by who you may think but led to a cartoon show in 1985 and the toys would make over $300 million throughout their run.  1980s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

Everyone has played Jenga, and it is one of the most popular games of all time. Contrary to popular belief, it never existed before the 80s and was actually an original creation first invented by an English woman. This is a look back on the simple - but addicting - game of Jenga; one of the best games of the 80s, and all time.  1980s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The G.I. Joe USS Flagg was put out by Hasbro in 1985. They considered it the biggest toy ever measuring in at over 7 feet long. This is the story of how the 'greatest toy of all time' came to be. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Popples were a brightly colored bear-like stuffed animals that could roll up into a pouch. Their inspiration may have come from a pair of socks and they were created by the same lady who brought us Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake. This is a look back on how the Popples came to be, the popular cartoon, and how Shelley Duvall is somehow involved in all this... The Everything 80s Movie Review...

This is the second part of my two-part review on Stranger Things season 3. In this second part, we'll break down the last four episodes, explore the themes and plot, look at the character arcs, and analyze the ending and the whole season. We'll also look at all the 80s references including music, movies, TV shows, and a lot of things you may have missed! Show notes:  Season 3 Review

This is the first of a two-part episode where I break down the entire third season of Stranger Things. We'll look at all eight episodes, discuss the plot, themes, characters and all the 80s music, movies, and references that make Stranger Things season 3 so great.  Show notes: Season 3 review  

The 80s are a pretty iconic time for music. You've got news styles and genres coming out like hip-hop and new wave and its setting the stage for a huge new music movement.  You've got the start of MTV, and also the Walkman - both of which are changing the way we consume music. This episode looks back on 20 of the very best bands of the 1980s.  1980s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

It's almost here... If you love Stranger Things as much as I do there's no doubt you're salivating waiting for the third season. I thought I would do a preview show that looks at why this show has been so successful, a recap of season's 1 and 2, and what to expect from season 3. We'll also look at some theories and maybe a few spoilers... Show notes: Season 3 preview  

Transformers and Gobots were huge in the early 80s but the Gobots may have beaten them to the punch while ending up as the second-class citizen. This episode shares the history of the Gobots, their origins in Japan, and how they may have set the standard for toys - and cartoons - that the Transformers, and many others, copied with better success. 1980s Movie Reviews: Patreon.com/80s

Honey, I Shrunk THe Kids was a live-action comedy/adventure released by Disney in 1989. It tells the story of an inventor who accidentally shrinks down his, and his neighbors' kids and they have to journey through their backyard to safety. The movie has a lot of horror elements and was making Disney nervous during production. This episode looks back on everything that went into making the movie an...

Inspector Gadget was a cartoon that came out in 1983 and was a beloved part of the 80s. It told the story of a dimwitted cyborg/man that was basically a dumbed down RoboCop. We'll look back on the development of the show, the characters, what the show was originally intended to be, and some bizarre fan theories! The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Micro Machines were a series of miniaturized toy cars and vehicles that were released in the 80s. They were meant as a unique alternative to other toy cars like Hot Wheels and became a massive hit most partly in thanks to their unique ads featuring worlds fastest talker, John Moschitta Jr.  The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Nintendo Power Glove was an accessory for the NES that came out in 1989. They developed it using high-end technology and showed a lot of promise. There was huge hype around the release of the Power Glove including its use in the movie "The Wizard". Initial sales were strong until frustration set in over the functionality and poor controls and was discontinued after only one year. This is the s...