«« Mini-Rewind ««

• Pee-wee’s Playhouse, probably the zaniest kids show created hit the airwaves September 13, 1986. Captain Curtis, Miss Glenda, Jambi and the gang stayed with us for 5 seasons airing 45 episodes.

• The Real Ghostbusters cartoon joined the Saturday morning lineup (Sep. 13, 1984).

• One of my favorites for the NES, Super Mario Bros was released in Japan (Sep. 13, 1985). In North America we’d have to wait a few months to hit our toy stores.

• Good movie, bad movie, poor lighting, great lighting, you get the picture (no pun intended) - Siskel & Ebert at the Movies debuted in 1986.

• J. Geils Band had a hit on their hands when they released Centerfold September 13, 1981.

• The first MTV Music Video Awards were hosted September 14, 1984. Dan Aykroyd & Bette Midler served as hosts for the evening.

• Wrestling in the main stream continued to dominate pop culture, Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n Wrestling debuted on CBS Saturday mornings September 14, 1985.

• The popular legal drama L.A. Law hit the airwaves September 15, 1986. The show won 15 Emmy Awards during its 8 season run.

• No mall was safe on September 15, 1987 when Tiffany released her debut album. The album was a hit with catchy singles “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Could’ve Been”.

• Definitely a top album of the ‘80s “Sports”, the 3rd album by the great Huey Lewis and the News was released September 15, 1983. The album was so popular it was certified platinum 7x!

• Fast cars and pastel t-shirts with suits were all the rage, Miami Vice debuted on September 16, 1984. The show included a huge list of stars (before they were stars) including Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, and Liam Neeson.

• The Transformers were welcomed to my Saturday morning rotation of cartoons on September 17, 1984. The popular series ran for four seasons.

• Another classic, DuckTales first hit the airwaves September 18, 1987.

• We finally saw the guys behind the make-up, KISS released their 11th studio album “Lick It Up” on September 18, 1983. It marked the first appearance by the band without their famous makeup since the very early years of the band.

• September 19, 1983, Pat & Vanna taught us clever phrases by spinning letters on a backlit board. Who’d of thought all these years late they’d still be at it on Wheel of Fortune?

• Janet Jackson released he album “Rhythm Nation 1814” on September 19, 1989. The album was a huge success for Jackson featuring seven top 5 singles!

If you were a kid in the ’80s, chances are Muppet Babies was part of your Saturday morning lineup. Debuting in 1984, the animated series took Jim Henson’s famous Muppet characters and reimagined them as adorable toddlers living together in a nursery. Led by their caretaker, the kind and mostly unseen Nanny (remember those striped socks?), the babies used their big imaginations to turn everyday playtime into epic adventures.

What made Muppet Babies so fun was how it blended fantasy with pop culture. One moment Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the gang would be playing with blocks, and the next they’d be flying through space, diving under the sea, or acting out scenes from classic movies. The show often mixed in snippets of live-action footage, which was pretty innovative for a cartoon at the time. And of course, each character kept their iconic personality - Piggy’s sass, Fozzie’s bad jokes, Gonzo’s weirdness - just in pint-sized form.

At its heart, Muppet Babies was about creativity, friendship, and learning to solve problems together. It showed kids that with a little imagination, the possibilities were endless. That’s why, even decades later, so many people look back at it with a big dose of nostalgia and a smile.

When it comes to iconic ’80s TV, The Golden Girls is right at the top of the list. Premiering in 1985, the sitcom followed four older women - Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia - who shared a home in Miami. On paper, it was a simple setup, but what made it special was the chemistry between the cast and the way the show mixed laugh-out-loud comedy with real heart.

Each character brought something unique: Dorothy’s sharp wit, Rose’s sweet (and often hilariously naive) stories about St. Olaf, Blanche’s Southern charm and never-ending romances, and Sophia’s no-filter one-liners. Together, they created a perfect balance that made every episode a joy to watch. But beyond the humor, the show also tackled serious topics - everything from aging and friendship to illness and social issues - making it surprisingly ahead of its time.

What made The Golden Girls so memorable wasn’t just the writing or the jokes, but the way it celebrated female friendship at a stage of life that TV usually ignored. Week after week, viewers got to see that life didn’t stop at middle age - it could still be full of fun, drama, and love. Decades later, it’s still quoted, still loved, and still golden.

If you grew up in the ’80s, chances are you remember Solid Gold, the flashy TV series that brought the biggest hits of the week right into your living room. Premiering in 1980, the show was all about music, style, and a little bit of glitz. Each episode featured a countdown of the week’s top songs, performed either by the original artists or talented cover singers. But what really set Solid Gold apart was the dancing. The Solid Gold Dancers became just as famous as the music itself, dazzling audiences with high-energy routines that perfectly captured the over-the-top vibe of the decade.

The show wasn’t just about dance moves and chart-toppers, though. It had a rotating lineup of well-known hosts like Dionne Warwick, Marilyn McCoo, and Andy Gibb, which gave each season its own flavor. Guest stars dropped in regularly, making it feel like you were watching a mix of a concert, variety show, and music video marathon all rolled into one. Looking back, Solid Gold was a time capsule of 1980s pop culture - colorful costumes, big hair, and all the musical trends of the era. It was one of those shows that felt larger than life and made Saturday nights shine a little brighter.

🎧 Retro Picks of the Week

📺 T.V. Show: Webster was a heartwarming 1980s sitcom about a young orphan, played by Emmanuel Lewis, who is adopted by a newlywed couple. The show blended comedy with touching life lessons as Webster adjusted to his new family and adventures..

📼 Movie: Fatal Attraction (1987) is a psychological thriller about a married man whose brief affair spirals into a nightmare when his lover becomes dangerously obsessed. The film shocked audiences with its chilling portrayal of infidelity, obsession, and the terrifying consequences of a single mistake.

🎵 Song: Bon Jovi’s Bad Medicine (1988) is a high-energy rock anthem that compares love to an addictive cure that’s impossible to resist. With its driving guitars, big vocals, and arena-ready chorus, it became one of the band’s signature hits of the late ’80s..

🕹️ Video Game: Blades of Steel (1988) was a classic Konami hockey video game known for its fast-paced action, arcade-style gameplay, and unforgettable fight scenes. With simple controls and play-by-play commentary, it quickly became a fan favorite on the NES and in arcades.

👾 Cartoon: Pound Puppies (1986) followed a lovable group of shelter dogs who went on adventures while helping kids and finding forever homes for pups in need. Based on the hit toy line, the cartoon mixed heart, humor, and plenty of tail-wagging fun.