Everything 80s

Welcome to my look back at the best of the 80s in 2021! This episode is made up of three parts: The first is a look back at three 80s-related movies that came out during 2021. The next is a look back at some of the most interesting podcasts and topics of the year. And the last part is where I share stats of the podcast shared to me by Spotify. It's a look at where everybody is listening from, the top ten countries that listen to the show, most listened to episodes of the year (and the worst one), and a quick snapshot of who the average listener is.  I hope you enjoy this look back as much as I did! if you are interested in supporting the podcast, you can check out Patreon.com/80s. Supporting the show also gives you access to extra audio content including the Everything 80s Movie Club.     

I have watched every Rankin/Bass Christmas special and there are  A LOT more than you may realize. Today, I'm reviewing and ranking all of them. This list includes some obvious beloved favorites, a few misses, and some that will leave you scratching your head. Rankin/Bass has become an integral part of the holidays and their storytelling and creativity have entertained us for nearly 60 years. I hope you enjoy this look back on some favorites and some that may be brand new to you. Show notes: Rankin/Bass Christmas Specials If you're in a position to support the show, you can check out Patreon.com where for a few bucks a month you not only support independent podcasts like this but also get access to audio rewards such as the Everything 80s Movie Review Club.   

Welcome to my annual Christmas special! I'm wearing the ugliest Christmas sweater I could find, have the fireplace channel "roaring" in the background, and am drinking some type of nog. For the Christmas special, I wanted to look at the movies and TV shows that captured Christmas for us in the 1980s. First, we will look at 4 films that actually are Christmas movies (you know where this is going...) And then look at 5, forgotten—and underappreciated—TV Christmas specials that came out during the decade.  So put on your best Christmas PJs and curl up by the phone for a warm and toasty 1980s Christmas.  Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s  

This is something I'm hoping to make a yearly tradition, and it's a look back on my episode about the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. As bad as this thing is, it has somehow become a staple of my holiday viewing. And since I recorded it, there have been a few current references to the special—that I added to the episode—proving it's not going away anytime soon. I hope you enjoy this look back at this absolute train wreck that ended up being one of the worst things ever shown on TV when it aired during the holiday season of 1978. Happy Life Day! Show Notes: The Star Wars Holiday Special Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s  

Yes, I stand by that statement. If this special had run every year like Rudolph or Frosty, I believe it would be considered a holiday classic that everyone watches each year. The problem is, it only aired two times, then was relegated to home video never to be seen again. But this is a shame. In this episode, I want to share 6 reasons why this is the perfect Christmas special. It's also unique as it's the only time the Muppets, Sesame Street, The Muppet Babies, and Fraggle Rock all appear in the same show. And it's the last appearance Jim Henson would make with the Muppets.  Show Notes: A Muppet Family Christmas Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s  

In 1980, an upstart shoe company approached a hot-shot new basketball player about a possible endorsement deal. The problem was, they didn't have any money and could only offer him stock options. That company was Nike, and that player was Magic Johnson. Had he taken the deal, it would have been worth billions today. This is a look back on this remarkable story and a look at the early days of Nike and that beginning of celebrity shoe endorsements. Show Notes: Magic Johnson and Nike Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s Holiday Gift Guide: 1980s-Based Gifts  

When it comes to pop culture: 1982 was a doozy. In this look back, I recap the movies, TV shows, music, sports, video games, and technology that define this year. 1982 gave us some of the biggest movies of all time, arguably the biggest album in history, a groundbreaking technological advancement, and the debut of several gigantic TV shows.  Show Notes: 1982 Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s  

There have been a lot of terrible marketing promotions over the years, but does the American Airlines AAirpass from 1981 take the cake? The AAirpass was a membership plan that gave its users unlimited, first-class flights, anywhere in the world—for life. To say that people took advantage of this is an understatement, and the program was soon costing American millions of dollars a year. This is a look back on a promotion created by a company that had its backs against the wall. This interesting story also looks at how much air travel has changed since the 1980s. Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s  

In 1981, strange black arcade cabinets started showing up in a Portland Oregon arcade. Then there were reports of kids getting sick while playing games at this arcade. And what about the reports of Men in Black hanging around the same arcades? Thus begins one of the all-time great urban legends. Was the Polybius arcade game created by the U.S. Government for mind control and to recruit kids as soldiers? This is a look back into the myth that will never die and why there's some actual "truth" to some of the theories.  Show Notes: The Polybius Arcade Game Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s  

Welcome to the Halloween episode! in this special, we look at a few topics that came out of the 1970s but became more prominent in the 80s. The first has to do with the issue of poisoned Halloween candy. We were always on the lookout for razor blades in our candy, but did this ever even happen? Was it just a myth, and how did it become such a fear for us in the 80s? We'll also check out some classic 80s Halloween commercials, then look at a television Halloween special that rivals the Star Wars Holiday Special with how awful it was...  Support the Show: Patreon.com/80s