Everything 80s

When it was released in the summer of 2016, not only did Stranger Things become a pop culture phenomenon, but it was also a true love letter to the 1980s.

Today, we look back at the creation, success, and impact of an era-defining show that introduced 1980s culture to a whole new generation. In this episode, we'll look at:

• The struggles the Duffer brothers went through to get the show made
• The specific premise they used that c...

It's time to head back to Bayside as we look at the creation, launch, and success of an era-defining show: Saved by the Bell.

But the true origins of Saved by the Bell not only go back to 1986; it started as a completely different show. 

From there, the show went through many changes, including a new cast, bouncing from NBC to the Disney Channel, and then from prime time to its eventual home on Saturday mornings.

However, back at t...

Where do you even start when compiling a list of the greatest TV shows of the 1980s? Well, today, this won't come from my opinion but a combination of rankings by Variety, Rolling Stone, and the Writers Guild of America.

By combining the expertise of staff, television actors, creators, showrunners, writers, directors,  producers, and critics, these outlets have compiled their own lists of the 100 best TV shows of all time. 

I've go...

The big day has finally arrived; it's Halloween in the 1980s. Your costume is set, your pillowcase is ready, and you've strategically planned your trick-or-treating route. But before you get to the big night, you still have to get through the day.

Welcome to The Everything 80s Halloween Special. Today, we walk through a typical Halloween day during the 1980s. We start the day at school before catching a quick dinner at the fast foo...

In 1986, Clifford Stoll -- originally a Berkley Lab astronomer -- had become the manager of their computer department. One day, he noticed something, a small accounting glitch that seemed insignificant, but would become the first great Cold War hacking story.

One tiny clue led Clifford Stoll on a real-life digital spy chase that included West Germany, the KGB, and the most top-secret, classified information on earth.

In an era of d...

The 1989 World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics ended up being a historic one when it came to stats and records on the field. But this series would be famous for a much more serious reason: The Loma Prieta earthquake.

On October 14th, 1989, the highly anticipated cross-town series had created a buzz throughout the Bay Area. This was the first cross-town series in more than 3 decades. But on October ...

The summer of 1985 will forever be known for Live Aid, the charity benefit concert that defined 1980s pop culture. But a few months later came Farm Aid '85, another massive musical event with a very different mission.  

This time, the spotlight turned to America's farmers as some of the biggest names in Rock and Country -- Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young -- came together to raise awareness for a growing rural crisis....

Before the 1980s, Disney kept its animated classics in the mythical "vault." The only way to see them was through theatrical re-releases, but it could take years for your favorites to hit the big screen. But when home video began to take off in the 1980s, Disney had to reinvent this strategy for a new era.

Today, we look at how the Disney Vault revolutionized home video, and how, if Disney had had their way, home video would have n...

Growing up in the 1980s, commercial breaks weren't just interruptions--they were cultural events we all experienced together. In this episode, we look back on the golden age of 1980s TV commercials while also exploring the broader history of advertising. 

We'll trace how advertising evolved from radio jingles to early television spots, and how those traditions carried into the big-budget, pop culture-driven campaigns of the 1980s. 

In 1983, Coleco launched the Adam--a bold attempt to turn its hit ColecoVision video game console into a full-fledged home computer.

By this point in the 80s, Coleco had made a huge dent in the video game market, and, at the same time, was behind one of the biggest toy crazes in history.

With all their success--and deep pockets--was Coleco ready to take on the big PC players like Apple, IBM, and Commodore? What Coleco released ende...

If you grew up watching Wheel of Fortune, you probably read the title of this episode the same way the audience would call it out during the show's opening. 

That's the cultural impact Wheel of Fortune had; it's the game show that goes back to the mid-70s but really rose to prominence in the 1980s.

Not only did the format change in the 80s, but the show made the big move from daytime to the evening. The 1980s are also when the worl...

The Care Bears weren't just colorful, stuffed animals--they were one of the biggest cultural and business success stories of the 1980s. 

From a simple sketch to the eureka moment of their final creation, the story of the Care Bears is a testament to how to launch a child's brand with surgical precision. 

When they finally hit shelves in 1983, it didn't take long for the Care Bears to become a pop culture phenomenon. With their very...

When it came out in the summer of 1983, War Games was seen as a fun, summertime popcorn movie. But was the premise of this film starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy more realistic than we realized?

Welcome to a free preview of the Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast, which you can find at Patreon.com/80s. In this episode, we look back on the movie that was a bit of a surprise hit and went on to become a 1980s classic.

But, at...

Even though part of it was considered the Bronze Age, the comic books of the 1980s were like a golden age for kids who grew up during that time. It was the decade that saw massive changes to how comics were distributed, but also a time that saw a significant shift in how comic book stories were told. 

The big two--Marvel and DC--were still on top, but something was changing... an independent boom was taking place, and underground a...

It could not have come out at a better time...When the Happy Meal was first launched at the end of the 1970s, it entered the 1980s as the perfect merchandising vehicle.

Not only did the Happy Meal give us some of the most beloved toys and promotions of the decade, but it also ushered in a whole new era for McDonald's.

This is a look back at one of the most famous fast food items in history, an item with humble origins that quickly ...

It was a Sunday night like any other. But for those living in Chicago, it would be a night they would not soon forget. For those tuning in to WGN-TV, their broadcast was interrupted by the most unlikely of people, one of the most popular characters of the 1980s: Max Headroom.

Why did Max Headroom, or what appeared to be Max Headroom, now appear on their screens? Just as soon as this TV hijacking had begun, the screen went blank and...

Today, we delve into the fascinating--and somewhat controversial--creation of the movie rating that changed Hollywood forever: PG-13. 

Born out of the wave of 1980s blockbuster movies that pushed the boundaries of family entertainment, PG-13 was the solution to a rapidly growing problem: there was no middle ground between PG and R-rated movies. 

We'll look back at some of the 1980s movies that led to a call for change, and the two ...

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 complete flops... If you like retro tec...

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 performers could do.

In this episod...