Everything 80s

We're three years into a new decade and the 80s as we know it is starting to take shape. From the movies to TV shows, and music to video games, things are changing quickly--and pop culture would never be the same. Welcome to Rewind and an all-new version of my review of 1983. We look back on all the big pop culture moments along with sports and the tech that made up a remarkable year. And speaking...

Armed with a pocket full of change, you walk through those sliding doors and are greeted by a wonderland of amazing options as far as the eye can see. The biggest issue you face is what do you choose; candy, chocolate, chips, or a drink? This is a look back on the best snacks and junk food from the 80s, a decade that gave us some of the greatest products of all time. Products that are still with u...

There's a good chance you're reading this on your phone right now. And that phone of yours has some humble origins that go all the way back to 1983... This is the history of the Motorola Dynatac 8000x: the world's very first commercial cell phone. It's a story that begins in the 1970s and is followed by a massive uphill battle that lasted a decade and cost more than $100 million. But in 1983, the...

Titanic was called the 'Ship of Dreams,' and for oceanographer Robert Ballard, his dream had always been to find the most famous shipwreck of them all. Today, we travel back to September 1985 and revisit an event many thought would never happen. The discovery of The Titanic made headlines around the world, but was there more going on beneath the surface than we realized? Was the search for the leg...

It all came from a dream... In the summer of 1986, a new movie hit theatres. It mixed science-fiction and adventure and when it came to computer-generated imagery; it was quite ahead of its time. This is a look back at Flight of the Navigator, a movie that many see as an underrated sci-fi gem, but had a big influence on the future of movie-making. It combined cutting-edge tech with practical effec...

What if there was a show so significant it could put an end to war? This was the approach taken by Jim Henson when he laid the foundation for Fraggle Rock. Henson didn't want to create some ordinary show, but a program that showed us the importance of taking care of ourselves, our environment, and each other. Besides being colorful, musical, and fun--the new show might just change the world... Wha...

If you grew up during the 80s, you probably had a collection of VHS tapes. From new movie releases to your tapes with all your favorite TV shows or music videos, home video was a cornerstone of our entertainment. And all of that almost never happened... If things had gone differently, home recording would have been illegal and the VCR as we know it may have been banned for good. This is the story...

It may seem hard to believe, but as of the year of this recording, the album releases from 1984 are now forty years old. But these are no ordinary albums, as this is a year that gave us some of the most iconic--and important--albums ever made. Today we look back at 10 significant releases that not only changed the course of music but led to astonishing sales numbers worldwide. The Everything 80s M...

Where were you the night of November 21st, 1980? If you were like the majority of the public, you were huddled around your TV waiting to find out the answer to one of the biggest questions in television history: Who Shot J.R.? The 'Who Shot J.R.' episode of Dallas was so big that it spread well beyond North America, becoming part of the public discourse for countries around the world. This is a lo...

How can one decade have so many different aesthetics associated with it? Well, this is the 1980s; an era when big, bright, and bold choices dominated our fashion. Today, we look back on the styles, clothing items, and individuals that helped create the look of the 80s. Support the show and get access to bonus audio content: Patreon.com/80s  

If you know what follows the words, "I don't know..." it means you grew up with one of the most creative, bizarre, and beloved kids' shows of all time. You Can't Do That on Television started as a low-budget program in Ottawa, Canada, before being picked up by a newer, kids-only cable channel in the US: Nickelodeon. The show was different than anything they had previously aired, and not only was i...

We're three years into a new decade, and here comes the year that--when it comes to pop culture--is about to turn everything on its head... It's the year that gave us the biggest movie of the decade, the debut of some of the best TV shows ever, and some of the greatest albums and singles of the 80s. But if that wasn't enough, 1982 is also about to give us what may be the biggest album of all time....

For years, a computer was something only used by governments, corporations, or hobbyists. They didn't have any practical appeal to the average person. But that all changed going into the 1980s. Computers like the Apple 2 and the TRS-80 made some strong headway, but it was in 1981 when IBM helped to fully launch the personal computer revolution. This is the story of the IBM PC 5150: a machine for t...

"Two turntables and a microphone. That's all it took to change the world..." These were the words spoken in 2009 by Eminem as he inducted Run-DMC into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. It was a fitting tribute to the group from Hollis, Queens, that not only took hip-hop to new heights but changed the music industry--and pop culture--in the process. This is the story of Run-DMC, the group that crashed...

It's Valentine's Day, and what better way to celebrate than to look back on a beloved 1980s romantic drama: Dirty Dancing. Despite being a timeless hit, it's a miracle that Dirty Dancing ever reached theatres. Between shooting difficulties and real-life tension between its stars, this was the movie very few people believed in--and it was projected to go straight to video bins. But what happened ne...

They couldn't all be hits... During an era that gave us some of the biggest shows in television history, there were others less fortunate. Because of all the big established shows, limited networks, and limited timeslots, there just wasn't room for everyone. This is a look back at 10 forgotten TV shows from the 80s; some of which were quite good, but for various reasons, just couldn't last. A half...

What began as a brief segment during the third Muppet movie soon became one of the most beloved children's shows of the entire 1980s. The Muppet Babies was not only a uniquely creative show but one that took a different path than many of the other cartoons dominating the networks. With an assist from some Hollywood heavyweights, the Muppet Babies quickly became a hit--both critically, and ratings-...

What do you get when you combine Star Wars, rock music, Disneyland, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Wookies? You get Halyx, a real-life, science-fiction rock band created by Disney for the summer of 1981. This is a look back on the unique, somewhat bizarre, but incredibly creative project that brought together some tremendous talent. The band was short-lived but remains a perfect snapshot of pop cult...

A hamburger is a pretty simple thing, and it's always been a huge part of fast food culture. But in the 80s, the humble burger found itself at the center of a multi, multi-billion dollar battle. This is a look back on the 1980s Burger Wars that pitted McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and A&W in an all-out battle for our tastebuds, our loyalty, and our wallets. Little did these companies know how...

With its humble beginnings in the Bronx, Breaking quickly spread through the five boroughs of New York, across the country, and eventually, worldwide. This is the history of breaking and how it, and hip-hop, grew side-by-side to become global phenomenons. From beats to battles, it's a look at the unique art form, and the early performers, that took breaking from underground to the mainstream. -Sup...

My Pet Monster came out of an interesting era. It was a time when there was a move away from video games and a return to more traditional toys like dolls and stuffed animals. Combine this with a focus on gross-out products and it set the stage for a pretty unique, but beloved toy and cartoon series. This is a look back on My Pet Monster, the brand that didn't take the traditional route as other 19...

Well, that sure was a doozy... By the time 1981 came to a close, it seemed like we had experienced a bit of everything; astounding technological achievements, two near tragedies, and an event that captured the interest of the entire world. And when it came to young people, there was something new. Something that changed how we consumed media--and it also changed pop culture forever... This is an a...

Turn on the fireplace channel, grab a cup of 'nog, and settle in for a nice winter's podcast as we travel back to the holiday season during the 1980s. We'll look back on things like the Sears Wishbook, holiday movies, forgotten TV specials, and even the experience of heading to the mall to find that perfect gift. Then I turn the show over to you to hear from a few listeners about their favorite ho...

Narrowing down the very best movies of the 1980s seems like a tall task--and why just nine of them? Well, these aren't my rambling musings but are the movies from the 80s that made the American Film Institute's Top 100 List. So which 1980s movies made the cut and appear on this prestigious list? Some may seem obvious, some may surprise you, and some end up in the conversation for the greatest of a...

Is there a more definitive 1980s TV show than Miami Vice? The drama starring Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas is not only one of the most notable shows of the entire 1980s--but one of the most influential. Today we look back on the show that not only had a massive impact on pop culture but forever changed the way that TV was made. Bonus 1980s Content: Patreon.com/80s