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

It's been more than 35 years since the 80s ended, but the decade continues to be with us as much as ever--especially when it comes to our entertainment.

In this year-in-review special, we look back at all the 1980s-related movies, TV shows, Netflix series, and documentaries that came out in 2024. And there was a lot...

Unfortunately, over these last 12 months, we also lost many people with connections to the 1980s, and we look back at some of those notable names. 

To finish, we look back on the podcast itself, including where you're all listening from and your favorite episodes over the last year. 

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

By 1987, Jim Henson had already provided us with so much great entertainment from all his remarkable creations--including some pretty wonderful Christmas specials.

But his best was yet to come... this is a look back on A Muppet Family Christmas that first aired on ABC on December 16th, 1987. 

We'll look back at one of the best holiday specials of the decade and why it came from a period when everything to do with the Muppets was firing on all cylinders.

This show was the ultimate crossover, but some legal issues did emerge and if you weren't watching on that night back in 1987, you probably never saw the true, original special...

• Check out the latest movie review at Patreon.com: Santa Claus: The Movie