1980s Now

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TV & Film
**1980s Now**

1980s Now is a weekly examination of the importance of 80s pop culture and its continued influence today. We demonstrate that nostalgia alone doesn’t account for the contemporary fascination with our favorite decade. Instead, we share personal experiences and interview experts–including icons from 80s music, movies and TV–to demonstrate the “era of greed” bore the greatest moments in movies, music, television and sports. The show is equally entertaining and informative. (80s is aka ’80s.)

Latest Episodes:

Blockbuster Video: The Nightclub? Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss current 1980s news.

0:00 - Introduction

2:55 - Blockbuster Video: The Restaurant?

16:30 - The Lost Boys: The Musical

28:00 - Dolly Parton: The Musical

33:25 - How Steven Spielberg stopped an ET Sequel

38:50 - The new Paul Reubens documentary

54:25 - Wrap Up and Thank You

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Where'd the Working Songs Go? Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss why there are no longer songs about working. Before that, the trio reviews current 1980s news.

0:00 - Introduction

3:20 - Trump appoints 80s icons to made-up ambassadorships

16:35 - MOTU x ThunderCats Crossover Figures Coming

25:15 - Kelly Clarkson Covered Depeche Mode As Country Song

34:30 - ‘The Toxic Avenger’ Reboot Is Finally Coming to Theaters

40:12 - Why isn't anyone singing about working anymore?

56:35 - Wrap Up and Thank You

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Interview: Cait McKinney on Pee-wee Herman Jan 25, 2025

Show notes

Will chats with professor and author Cait McKinney about their book, I Know You Are, but What Am I?In it, Cait explores the cultural legacy of Pee-wee Herman and his beloved cult television show. They show how the “children’s show” perhaps prepares us for some of our current societal challenges, and how queer people relate to Pee-wee now.

0:00 - Introduction

8:10 - Interview Start

50:10 - Wrap-Up

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Get your copy of I Know You Are, but What Am I? here.

Yacht Rock, Ke Huy, and Moore Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss current 1980s news.

0:00 - Introduction

4:00 - Ke Huy Quan is an action hero thanks to Steven Spielberg

12:20 - No, Rob Lowe didn’t record with Toto

19:18 - Donald Fagen has strong words for "Yacht Rock"

31:25 - Romulus director has fixed the cringey special FX (or so he says)

42:30 - Police Academy actor Steve Guttenberg fights LA fires

48:19 - Demi Moore was a popcorn actor

1:00:51 - Wrap Up and Thank You

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Hulk Booed, Star Trek Plates, and The Monkey Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat are joined by Meg from Desperately Seeking the 80s. Together, the trio discusses current 1980s news.

0:00 - Introduction

6:37 - Star Trek license plates cause tribble

13:24 - Unwrapped Christmas present from 1978

22:55 - Mike Myers was scared shitless

33:43 - MPA has notes for the creators of The Monkey

46:55 - Hulk Hogan was booed

55:55 - Wrap Up and Thank You

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Check out Desperately Seeking the 80s.

Interview: Author Douglas Burton Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

Will chats with author Douglas Burton about his newest book, The Heroine’s Labyrinth: Archetypal Designs in Heroine-Led Fiction. It boldly presents a paradigm shift for story structure that is exciting for writers and audiences alike.

Sourced entirely from heroine-centric stories. the heroine’s labyrinth model offers a completely original and groundbreaking alternative to the hero’s journey. The book has been endorsed by Hollywood and storytelling gurus such as Christopher Vogler and Matt Bird.

0:00 - Introduction

5:40 - Interview Start

43:50 - 80s Movies Examples

1:03:20 - Wrap-Up

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Learn more about author Douglas A. Burton.

Get your copy of The Heroine's Labyrinth.

Top 80s Reboots in 2024 and More Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss current 1980s news.

0:00 - Introduction

6:10 - The top 80s reboots and sequels released in 2024

12:48 - A search for Bigfoot turned deadly

23:57 - Hollywood has found its Skeletor

31:28 - A new, dark Pac-Man game is chomping this way

42:59 - Did animated 80s movie spinoffs pave way for Disney+ shows?

51:23 - The rumored Labyrinth reboot from Nosferatu director

1:03:47 - Wrap Up and Thank You

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Rewind: Strangest 80s News Stories of 2024 Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

Will, Kat and Jon take a look back at the most unusual current 1980s news from 2024.

0:00 - Introduction

7:48 - Best place to be abducted by aliens

14:40 - Rock You Like a Hurricane was X-rated

21:25 - New comic book store smell policy

33:00 - New cut of Caligula was released

42:55 - Glass privacy blocks are back

54:54 - Jessica Rabbit is too sexy

1:06:00 - Tremors reboot is on the way

1:18:15 - Wrap Up and Thank You

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

GenXGrownUp Takeover Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

For the holiday, the 1980s Now crew gifts the joy of the GenXGrownUp podcast. After a brief introduction from Will, Kat and Jon, listen to our co-host Jon as he leads his own trio of retro enthusiasts, as they discuss a terrifying phenomenon that haunted our favorite decade.

In the 1980s, a wave of fear swept across America, fueled by rumors of satanic cults, ritualistic murders, and child abductions. This wave, known as the Satanic Panic, led to mass hysteria, witch hunts, and even false convictions. In this Backtrack, we delve into the origins, impact, and enduring legacy of this dark chapter in American history.

Popeye, Pac-Man and Silent Night, Deadly Night Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon first discuss current 1980s news. Then, why do we like Christmas + horror?

0:00 - Introduction

2:40 - The best episode of Secret Level is Pac-Man

11:45 - Stephen King shutters his radio stations

17:20 - Popeye is out for blood

29:00 - Milli Vanilli wanted to give their Grammy back

41:00 - Silent Night, Deadly Night turns 40 years old

1:03:45 - Wrap Up and Thank You

Become a patron at www.patreon.com/1980snow

Email us at will@1980snow.com or kat@1980snow.com.