Everything 80s

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 entire generation.  Whether you lived it or just missed it, The Everything 80s Podcast is ready to take you back in time to rediscover the decade of big trends, big dreams, and even bigger hair.  Subscribe and follow along because remember: where we're going, we don't need roads...

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 little did anyone know just how big they would become in the USSR.  This is a look back at Pepsi's remarkable growth in the Soviet Union in the 80s, the continuous battle against Coca-Cola, and then one of the most remarkable business deals in history. Had Pepsi, for a short while, actually become a military power... War Games movie Review: Patreon.com/80s  

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 $10,000 instrument for a new world called "Virtual Reality" eventually entered the consumer market. Did the data glove have more novel applications? Could this unique device even become a toy...? But to make it a toy, a redesign and a MUCH lower price point were both critical, and that meant a lot of compromises in both materials and functionality. Even though the Power Glove was launched with a huge boom, did the at-home gaming experience live up to the hype...?  War Games movie review: Patreon.com/80s     

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 youth culture. The two activities--specifically skateboarding--were becoming an identity as much as an activity.  Today, we revisit the origins, growth, and impact of surfing and skateboarding, some of the groundbreaking figures, and how the two sports quickly influenced all aspects of pop culture in the 80s. War Games movie Review: Patreon.com/80s  

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 performances of actors who later became major stars,  the ABC After-School Special left a lasting impact on television history. Get access to new shows early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

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: Patreon.com/80s  

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 the easiest to work for. As 1984 came to a close, something big was about to happen at Apple Computers... This is a look back at not just the creation and growth of Apple Computers, but the remarkable moment in the mid-80s, when its founder was forced out of the company he helped create... Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

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 several movies that have gone on to become some of the greatest in film history.  The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s  

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 needed something to get back on track, improve their night-time dining, and maybe divert some of that traffic away from the Big Three and back to the Golden Arches. Maybe they could beat Big Pizza at their own game. This set the stage for McDonald's pizza; a huge swing in the late 80s that has origins going back to 1986. But "McPizza" wasn't the success McDonald's had hoped for. This is the story of the rise and fall of McDonald's pizza. Short Circuit Movie Review: Patreon.com/80s

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 the most recognizable people of the time.  He was born Laurence Tureaud, but the world would soon get to know him as Mr. T, a man who became a true Icon in every sense of the word.  Mr. T (Extended Edition): Patreon.com/80s

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 decade was definitely going out with a bang. This is 1989: the year that changed pop culture forever... The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s  

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 series would also help skyrocket this character to popularity and sales figures never thought possible... So let's go back to the early 1980s to witness the creation, launch, and success of one of the most popular toy brands of all time. It was 30 months that changed the 80s... The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast:Patreon.com/80s

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 history. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

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 1980s. The story of Joe Camel goes all the way back to 1913, and we'll take a trip through the entire 20th century to look at the rocky history of cigarette advertising, taking us into the 80s, and one of the most memorable brand mascots of all time... Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s  

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'll look at ones that are relatively well-known but didn't necessarily achieve breakout status. Some of these games include a creation by George Lucas, the video game version of a very notable product spokesperson, and Sega's answer to Mario. And we'll even throw in a few duds just for good measure... Tron Movie Review: Patreon.com/80s    

It was just supposed to be a regular safety test... but in the early morning hours of April 26th, 1986, something went terribly wrong... For those opposed to nuclear energy, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident was the nightmare scenario. But it took a while for the rest of the world to even find out. By the time they did, the effects of the explosion had spread shockingly far--and fast. Today we look back on the accident that was a disaster in the making, all the fallout, and how the Soviets downplayed it.  And as bad as Chernobly was--could it have been even worse...? Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

I've got a bad feeling about this... that was the thought that crept into people's minds back in November 1978. They were about ten minutes into the Star Wars Holiday Special--and it wasn't exactly what they had hoped for... Despite how bizarre the special was, one segment was universally praised; an animated feature called 'The Story of the Faithful Wookie.' Seven years later, Star Wars would once again return to the small screen in animated form for The Ewoks cartoon, and Star Wars: Droids. But this time, Star Wars was on Saturday morning cartoons.  This is a look back at everything that went into the two short-lived series, the live-action Ewoks movies, the influence that came from The Faithful Wookie, and the state of the Star Wars franchise in the mid-80s.  The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s  

It's a battle that's been going on for well over a century featuring two of the biggest brands of all time. But in the 1980s--the war really heated up... Today we look back on the battle between Coke and Pepsi during a transformative time for not just the two colas, but for society in general. It's the story that involves some of the most iconic commercials of all time, a nationwide taste test challenge (that may have been unfair), a whole new generation, and the King of Pop. The Cola Wars of the 80s also include a war within a war, as the diet cola market (thanks to the shady approval of one of the most controversial food additives in history) grew bigger than ever.  It's the story of cocaine, brand identity, buying a feeling, the incredible importance of being "cool," and one of the biggest corporate blunders in history... and it all played out during the 1980s. Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

No matter how many times you've seen it--you've probably never seen the whole thing... This is a deep dive into the original Back to the Future to cover specific moments, Easter eggs, and many hidden things that may not be obvious.  This episode is also an experimental one as it's a hybrid watch-along. If you're able to put the movie on,  I'll be sharing the specific time stamps of the moments and scenes we're covering. So when I share the specific time, you can pause me, jump to that point in the movie, and then unpause me to check out what I'm discussing.  If you are only able to listen, no problem as I'll still describe the exact moments and scenes we're covering here today. There may be a few hidden Easter eggs that are obvious, but also many brand-new moments you'll see for the very first time... The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

It's the toy and cartoon that may best define the entire 1980s, a toy that goes back to the 1960s but re-created for a new era. This is the complete history of G.I. Joe, and in this episode we look at: The two fashion dolls from the 1950s that helped inspire it Why two simple words were so important in its initial success The impact of the Vietnam War and oil embargoes How Star Wars walked so G.I. Joe could run The changing era of government regulations and advertising to children How the cartoon series became must-see TV for kids of the 80s How G.I. Joe became the perfect brand during one the most explosive periods in the history of toys and cartoons Get early access to new episodes, ad-free: Patreon.com/80s