Everything 80s

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