Everything 80s

Latest Episodes:

The Rise of McDonald's Pizza Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

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

Mr. T: From Bouncer to Prime Time Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

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

A Look Back at 1989 Mar 12, 2025

Show notes

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

He-Man & the Masters of the Universe Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

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

How Black Sitcoms Shaped the 1980s Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

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

The History & Controversy of Joe Camel Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

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

10 Forgotten Video Games From the 1980s Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

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

Chernobyl: A Disaster in the Making Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

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

Ewoks & Droids: Star Wars on Saturday Mornings Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

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

The 1980s Cola Wars Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

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.