Everything 80s

If they were people, they'd officially be over the hill... Today we look back on 12 classic albums that are somehow forty years old now. These are the albums of 1983, a genuinely astonishing time for music. And this list is the epitome of a mixed bag; classic rock, pop, new wave, and multiple forms of heavy metal. it's a year that will go down in music history. 1983 is also the year that featured...

Which path will you choose? That was the question that faced millions of kids during the 1980s. The Choose Your Own Adventure books felt like part story/part game, but every time you picked one up: it was always different. This is a look back on the unique books, their phenomenal success, and some brilliant marketing that led to the sale of hundreds of millions of copies. And it all began with a b...

No one was safe... If the greatest player the game had ever seen could be traded, it meant every athlete in every sport could also be moved. For many in Canada, this was also a 'where were you when' moment. This is a look back at the summer of 1988 and the shocking National Hockey League trade that took Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. It's the trade that shocked a...

It seemed like a 'whatever could go wrong, did go wrong' situation... as passengers in Montreal boarded their plane on July 23rd, 1983, little did they know they were about to become part of one of the most astonishing events in aviation history. This is a look back on Air Canada Flight 143, a remarkable flight that combined mathematical errors, heroic bravery, and many 'what if?' scenarios... Bon...

It was the sequel that was never meant to be... Coming off the phenomenal success of Back to the Future, there was no choice but to create a follow-up. This, however, presented a lot of problems but ultimately resulted in one of the greatest trilogies of all time. Welcome to a free sample of the Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast found over at Patreon.com/80s. Today we look back at the movie that...

As the 1970s finally came to a close, it was time for a brand new decade. Hopefully, this would be one full of hope, joy, prosperity, and technological advancements that would not only entertain us but make our lives easier. This is a look back on the year 1980 and all the big pop culture moments that took place; including the music, movies, TV shows, technology, and sports. But, there was still p...

When Return of the Jedi hit theatres in May 1983, there was a bittersweet feeling connected to it. Yes, there was enormous hype for the third and final installment in the Star Wars saga. But, as far as we knew it at the time, this was the very end of Star Wars. Let's look back on the movie that signified the end of one chapter but also marked the beginning of a whole new era... Special guest: Fred...

Entering the second half of the 80s, the PC was gaining prominence in our homes. But so too was an unwelcome guest... As homes and schools were being filled with IBMs and Commodore 64s, two brothers had created software that would take the world by storm--but in all the wrong ways. This is the story of the 'Brain' computer virus; a rude awakening to how vulnerable our technology really was. The Ev...

In part 1 of this two-part series, we met the Ninja Turtles, their creators, and witnessed the launch of the comic book. At the end of part 1, we left off with the Ninja Turtles about to hit it big with the cartoon series. Today, we travel back to witness Turtlemania running wild... This is a look back on one of the biggest toy booms of all time and the rapid growth of one of the most successful f...

It's the early 80s and two young artists are struggling to find their place in the world of comic books. But then, one night, everything would change forever... Welcome to part 1 of the history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the first episode of a two-part series, we'll travel back to revisit the origins of the comic book series, learn about the creators, and witness the rapid rise of TMN...

A brand new decade was underway--but it began with a truly catastrophic event. Today, we travel back to May 1980 and the devastating eruption of Mount St. Helens that took place in the Pacific Northwest. From a geological standpoint, it was a historic eruption that decimated the area and displayed the incredible power of nature. But, if not for some scientists, could have been much deadlier... Bon...

There are a handful of TV shows that perfectly represent the 1980s--and right at the top of the list is The A-Team. What began as a way to get NBC out of third place quickly became a ratings powerhouse, a merchandising juggernaut, and pop culture phenomenon. This is a look back on the show that no one believed in at first, but, based around a larger-than-life character, would go on to hold its own...

What do you get when you take Chuck E. Cheese, Atari, Disney, and Lord of the Rings? You get one of the defining--and best-selling--toys of the 1980s: Teddy Ruxpin. This is a look back on the iconic toy that was so much more than a talking bear. It's a tale of technological advancement; a pioneering company making a huge splash; and a retail and media impact that we hadn't really ever seen before....

Amazing movies? Check. Epic music? Check. Incredible TV shows, sports, and new technology? Check, check, and check. Today, we look back on what truly was a stand-out year for all things pop culture: 1988. Jump in the Deloreon and travel back with me 35 years to when a gallon of gas was under a dollar; we had TWO Olympic games; and our radios, TVs, and movie theatres were filled with some of the be...

While transforming robots and singing hologram cartoons were being created in the U.S., something interesting was happening in Canada. It was a new cartoon, based on some previous specials, but made in a more unique way than other cartoons at the time. The result was The Raccoons, a beloved 1980s series that stood out in an era of loud, flashing, and often violent cartoon shows. The Raccoons was a...

As kids rushed into movie theatres in the summer of 1986, they had no idea what they were walking into. Excited to see their favorite cartoon on the big screen, an entire generation was about to experience what's been called "the great toy massacre of 1986." This is a look back on The Transformers: The Movie , a film that shocked and horrified legions of kids. Created purely for commercial reasons...

There really was nothing like it... Walking into a video store in the 1980s was like entering a whole new world of entertainment possibilities. And during the 80s, we lived through a true golden age of video rental. This is a look back on a rapidly changing era of technology and pop culture; it's a look back at the machine and the stores that changed the way we consume entertainment to this day; a...

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...

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 h...

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 mor...

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 merchandis...

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 Everyth...

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 t...

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 g...

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 c...