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«« Mini-Rewind ««

• October 25, 1986, Bill Buckner allowed a ball hit by Mookie Wilson to go through his legs causing the @RedSox to lose Game 6 of the World Series to the New York Mets.

• The NBC drama "St. Elsewhere" debuted on tv October 26, 1982. The series ran for six seasons and aired a total of 137 episodes. The hit series won a total of 13 Emmy Awards.

• "Freeze-Frame", the 10th studio album by The J. Geils Band (and the last one to feature original vocalist Peter Wolf) was released October 26, 1981. The album features their hit singles "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame".

• October 27, 1981 the British Phonographic Industry takes out newspaper ads unveiling its new slogan: "Home Taping Is Killing Music". The ads advocate a levy on blank cassette tapes. If they only knew what was to come in the future!

• The movie Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey was amazing. The t.v. show - well, not so much. the t.v. show of the same name debuted on CBS October 29, 1988. The series was based on the film but had none of the original cast or crew. It ran for a total of 11 episodes before being put in a corner for good.

• October 29, 1988 the Sega Genesis video game console was released in Japan. It wouldn’t hit North American shelves until August 1989.

• October 30, 1987 George Michael releases his first solo studio album, Faith, which would win the Grammy Award for album of the year and sell 11 million copies in the USA alone.

• Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album was certified 20x platinum October 30, 1984.

• October 31, 1983 principal photography began in Los Angeles for the Karate Kid.

• October 31, 1986 Bon Jovi released their hit single “Livin’ on a Prayer” as the second single from their album Slippery When Wet.

Prince’s 1999 album, released in 1982, was the moment he truly broke into the mainstream — and redefined what pop, funk, and rock could sound like. It’s a vibrant, rebellious celebration of music, sex, and the end of the world — all wrapped in that unmistakable Minneapolis sound. The title track, “1999,” became an instant anthem, mixing a party vibe with an apocalyptic edge. “Little Red Corvette” fused rock and R&B in a way no one else could, while “Delirious” and “Let’s Pretend We’re Married” showed off Prince’s playful, provocative side. Across its sprawling double album, Prince played nearly every instrument himself, proving he was as much a studio genius as he was a performer. 1999 wasn’t just a hit — it was a declaration of independence, creativity, and pure musical joy that paved the way for the superstardom that followed with Purple Rain.

Bob Ross, the iconic host of PBS's The Joy of Painting (1983–1994), was the world’s most soothing art instructor. With his gentle voice, signature permed Afro, and unshakeable optimism, he invited millions into his world of "happy little trees" and "almighty mountains." His easy-to-follow, wet-on-wet oil painting technique made art feel accessible, assuring viewers, "We don't make mistakes, just happy accidents."

In the 1980s and '90s, he was a beloved, wholesome public television personality—a quiet icon famous for his therapeutic calm and encouraging demeanor. He wasn't high art, he was art for the common person.

Today, his cultural footprint is bigger than ever! Thanks to streaming services, Twitch marathons, and YouTube compilations, Ross has found a massive new audience. His soft voice and scraping palette knife are now cited as early examples of ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response), providing a calming balm against modern anxiety. He’s a wholesome meme, a figure of nostalgia, and a perpetual reminder that a little bit of positivity—and a two-inch brush—can make the world a happier place.

"I love the Power Glove. It's so bad." That line from the movie The Wizard cemented the NES Power Glove as an icon of '80s gaming. Released in 1989, this accessory—developed by Mattel, not Nintendo—was pitched as the future: a wearable, motion-sensing controller that let you be "the action."

The idea was revolutionary! Using ultrasonic sensors and fiber optics, it tracked your hand position and finger movements. However, the reality was a frustrating mess. The tracking was imprecise and finicky, making it almost impossible to play most NES games, which demanded tight, precise control. Despite its cool, futuristic look and massive marketing push, the Power Glove was a commercial failure that quickly disappeared. Today, it lives on as a beloved piece of gaming history and a shining example of an accessory that promised the world but delivered a glorified, albeit awesome-looking, paperweight.

🎧 Retro Picks of the Week

📺 T.V. Show: Author Dick Loudon and his wife Joanna leave the big city to buy and run a quaint inn in rural Vermont, only to find themselves constantly surrounded by a bizarre cast of small-town eccentrics. The show's most famous moment is its legendary finale, where the entire eight-season series is revealed to be a dream experienced by Bob Newhart's character from his previous sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show.

📼 Movie: The Terminator, one of my ‘80s favorites! From a post-apocalyptic future, a relentless cyborg assassin called the Terminator is sent back to 1984 Los Angeles to kill Sarah Connor, whose unborn son will become the leader of the human resistance against the machines. A lone human soldier is also sent back to protect Sarah, leading to a tense, violent chase and a shocking revelation that creates a causal time-loop.

🎵 Song: "Relax" is an iconic 80s dance-pop anthem by Frankie Goes to Hollywood, instantly recognizable by its pulsing synth beat and aggressive production by Trevor Horn. Due to its overtly suggestive lyrics celebrating sexual liberation, the song became a massive hit only after being banned by the BBC, fueling its reputation as a controversial, boundary-pushing record.

🕹️ Video Game: I logged many hours playing Sonic the Hedgehog back in the day. As you recall, the supersonic hedgehog Sonic must race through the six zones of South Island to stop the evil Dr. Ivo Robotnik from collecting the powerful Chaos Emeralds. Robotnik is transforming the innocent animal inhabitants into his robotic servants, which Sonic must destroy to free his friends and foil the mad scientist's plans for world domination.

👾 Cartoon: Garfield’s Halloween special has been a favorite of mine - it’s still a must watch every year! Eager to maximize his haul of treats, Garfield cons Odie into joining him for a night of trick-or-treating dressed as pirates. Their quest for more candy leads them across a river to a spooky mansion where they become stranded and must escape from the vengeful ghosts of real pirates.