Everything 80s

The 1980s were a time of tremendous innovation and creation. It's the decade that gave us the Walkman, the PC, the Space Shuttle, the Compact Disc, and a wave of groundbreaking inventions that helped shape the world we live in today. But not everything from the 1980s could be a hit. In this episode, we'll take a look at several inventions from the 1980s that were ambitious, revolutionary--but comp...

Today, we look back at the unforgettable life and legacy of the great John Candy, one of the most beloved comedians of all time. And it was during the 1980s when he really rose to global fame.  From his early days on SCTV to iconic movie roles like Little Shop of Horrors, Spaceballs, Planes, Trains, & Automobiles, Home Alone, and Uncle Buck, John Candy delivered humor and heart in a way few other...

By the summer of 1985, we had reached the halfway point of the decade. And when it came to all things pop culture, the summer of '85 may have been the decade's peak. Today, we look back on the movies, music, and innovations that made this summer one to remember. It's the summer that also included one of the biggest events of our time and a gigantic blunder that was 100 years in the making. Whether...

On July 3rd, 1985, came the movie that would not only be the standout film of the year, but also one of the standouts for the entire decade: Back to the Future. It's the 1980s movie that blew many people's minds, quickly becoming an iconic film during an era of many legendary movies.  Today, we look back on 40 years of Back to the Future. We'll cover the creation, release, the impact, and the lega...

From the underground clubs to sold-out arenas worldwide, the 1980s marked the explosive growth of Heavy Metal. But it was much more than loud music, as the Heavy Metal of the 80s caused a cultural shift--especially with the youth. It's the decade that also brought us a wide range of metal styles; from Thrash to Glam, the genre was now bursting into the mainstream. Today, we look at not just the ri...

In the mid-1980s, a Soviet engineer created a simple puzzle game he called Tetris. What was made for fun quickly spread throughout the USSR, and little did he know, but he had created something that would ignite a global frenzy that would include major companies like Nintendo and Atari.  But that was just part of the story, as the battle for the rights to Tetris would spread beyond the Iron Curtai...

The Late-Night Talk Show scene of the 1980s was a smaller space than today, but it was even more powerful. It was an era filled with drama, ratings wars, and legendary hosts. From Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show to the rise of David Letterman, it was a defining era in 1980s television history. Today, we look at the origins of the late-night talk show, the creation of the format that is still fo...

Let's go back 40 years and revisit 10 of the best albums of 1985, a year that was a landmark one in the history of music. From synthpop, hip-hop, metal, and classic rock, 1985 quickly became a standout year for 1980s music. From the chart-topping success of 'Brothers in Arms' by Dire Straits, to the radio dominating 'Songs From the Big Chair' by Tears For Fears, today, we look back on the albums a...

1985 was quickly becoming one of the most competitive years in the history of animation, setting the stage for future 80s nostalgia. There were so many classic 80s cartoons released in 1985-- including a unique new series called ThunderCats--that it was going to be difficult to stand out. But fortunately, the production company behind the new show knew a thing or two about capturing the attention...

There are only a handful of broadcasts in the history of television that became must-see, cultural events. The ABC movie, 'The Day After', from 1983, is one of them. In the early 80s, as fear of Nuclear War ramped up, ABC planned to air a Sunday night movie that dealt with what nuclear war would really look like. In November 1983, this kicked off a firestorm of attention--both good and bad--that r...

Are you ready to head back to the greatest decade ever and the ultimate nostalgia hit? The Everything 80s Podcast is your weekly time machine to revisit 1980s movies, 80s TV shows, 80s music, toys, sports, tech, and everything else that defined 1980s pop culture. From the Cola Wars to Cabbage Patch Kids and Tetris to Teddy Ruxpin, you'll get a deep dive into all the stories that represent an entir...

It was a time of high tension, fierce back-and-forth, and a relentless pursuit to dominate the world--and that was just between Coke and Pepsi. When you throw the Cold War into the mix, not only do you get a tumultuous time period, but the Cola Wars ramped up to another level. For Pepsi, a way to compete against Coke was to gain a foothold in the Soviet Union. And that's exactly what they did--but...

What may seem like a novelty video game accessory from the 1980s actually has a much deeper backstory. The Nintendo Power Glove, a game controller you wore on your arm, came out in 1989, but its roots go back to the 1970s. Before it was the "baddest" accessory around, the Power Glove started out as the Data Glove, a high-end instrument used by scientists, MIT, and even NASA. What began as a $10,00...

From the beaches of California in the 1960s to the empty swimming pools of the 70s, the two board-based niche hobbies had really grown in popularity. But the 1980s took it to a whole new level--literally and figuratively.  Not only were surfing and skateboarding growing in popularity during the 80s, but they were beginning to have a major impact on music, fashion, movies, TV shows, and a lot of yo...

Hard-hitting, intense, and sometimes difficult to watch--but it was can't-miss TV. This was the world of After-School specials in the 1980s.  After being created by ABC in the 1970s, the after-school special continued to rise to prominence in the 1980s, where it became a television institution for an entire generation of kids. From its unique origins and the numerous awards to the breakout perform...

It may seem like you were just watching some of these shows yesterday, but they are now, somehow, forty years old. Today, we look back on the TV shows of 1985, a year that gave us some of the very best of the decade. They include several beloved animated classics, a few era-defining sitcoms, and one of the biggest action-adventure shows of the decade.  Extended episode covering 8 additional shows:...

It's 1984, and Apple Computers and its founder are on top of the world. Not only has Steve Jobs created one of the most remarkable machines of the 20th century, but he's also launched it in a way that will cause a ripple effect through society to be felt for years to come. And less than a year later, it would all come crashing down. Steve Jobs was a groundbreaking visionary, but he wasn't always t...

It was a decade of prolific creation, an era when the Master of Horror delivered some of his greatest works ever. Today, we look back at all the iconic and groundbreaking novels Stephen King released in the 1980s. We then switch over to the world of movies and TV shows associated with many of his famous books. It was a decade that gave us some of his most frightening stories ever, along with sever...

The 1980s was a changing time not only for McDonald's but for the entire fast food industry. Competition had become cutthroat--and that was just for burgers. But now, the Pizza industry, led by the big three; Pizza Hut, Dominoes, and Little Cesasers, has grown at an astonishing rate.  McDonald's had found success with a few new items, but one new burger turned out to be a pretty big flop. They nee...

The story of Mr. T is as much the story of the 1980s as during a rapidly changing time of pop culture, he touched all aspects of entertainment. The big screen, the small screen, radio, home video, and even our toy shelves; in the 1980s, he was everywhere.  From his early days as a bouncer, to protecting some of the most famous people in the world, this larger-than-life figure soon became one of th...

As the clock counted down on December 31st, 1989, it brought one of the most remarkable decades of the 20th Century to a close. A decade that--when it came to pop culture--may have been one of the most significant in history. Today, we look back on all the movies, TV shows, music, sports, tech, and video games that made up an extraordinary year. The 1980s were about to come to an end--but the deca...

It was a gigantic risk... a brand-new character and product line set to launch alongside some of the most popular toy brands in history. How would this new character--that no one knew anything about--be able to stand out in an increasingly crowded toy market? One way it would stand out was physically as a new era in toys was about to begin. But it was more than just the toy line, as a new animated...

As we close out Black History Month, today we look back at 10 of the most groundbreaking Black sitcoms of the 80s.  These shows not only helped define the decade but also had a huge impact on pop culture and changed television forever.  These ten shows (plus a few forgotten ones) include some spin-offs of other popular sitcoms, a few break-out stars, and some of the highest-rated TV shows in histo...

If you were around in the late 80s, he seemed impossible to miss... An anthropomorphic cartoon camel that quickly became one of the defining spokes characters of the decade--but one that came with endless controversy. This is a look back on the creation, popularity, and backlash of Joe Camel. It's also the story of the state of the tobacco industry coming out of the 1970s and heading into the 1980...

Not everything could be a hit... Even though the 1980s gave us some of the best video games of all time, there were others that just slipped by the wayside--and some of them deserve better than that. Today we will look back at ten forgotten video games covering the big three systems: The Atari 2600, The NES, and the Sega Master System. Since there are so many games that didn't even make a dent, we...