«« This Week’s Mini-Rewind ««

1980 | Devo released their 3^rd studio album Freedom of Choice. The album featured their biggest hit “Whip It”.

1984 | "When Doves Cry" by Prince was released today in 1984 as the lead single from his album "Purple Rain". It was a worldwide hit, and his first American #1 single, topping the charts for five weeks.

1985 | Michael Jordan was named the NBA Rookie of the Year as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

1977 | The first Chuck E. Cheese opened in San Jose, CA.

1987 | The tv show "Fame" aired its series finale today in 1987. The series based on the hit movie of the same name ran from January 7, 1982 and produced a total of 136 episodes.

1997 | Bob Saget made his final appearance as host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”

1989 | "Road House" starring Patrick Swayze debuted in theatres today in 1989.

1988 | The Ron Howard directed fantasy movie "Willow" debuted in theatres.

1982 | The tv series Barney Miller aired its series finale. The series began in 1975 and aired a total of 170 episodes over 8 seasons

1996 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ aired its series finale.

1989 | “Miami Vice” aired its final episode. Over the course of 5 seasons the hit series starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas produced 111 episodes.  

1980 | "The Empire Strikes Back" is released in theatres. The film becomes the highest-grossing movie of the year (just as its predecessor, Star Wars, was three years prior).

In May 1986, director Tony Scott unleashed Top Gun, a high-octane action drama that would define a decade of blockbuster filmmaking and skyrocket Tom Cruise into global superstardom. Cruise stars as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a brilliant but dangerously reckless F-14 Tomcat pilot sent to the Navy's elite Fighter Weapons School. There, Maverick clashes with his equally talented rival, Iceman (Val Kilmer), and strikes up a romance with civilian astrophysics instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis), all while trying to escape the shadow of his father’s mysterious military past.

The film’s groundbreaking aerial photography—achieved using actual U.S. Navy fighter jets—and a pulsating synth-pop soundtrack featuring Berlin’s Oscar-winning ballad "Take My Breath Away" made it an instant cultural phenomenon. However, the true heart of the story lies in the tragic loss of Maverick's best friend and Radar Intercept Officer, Goose (Anthony Edwards). This devastating accident forces the hotshot pilot to confront his own vulnerabilities, learn the true value of teamwork, and discover what it genuinely means to never leave your wingman. Armed with unrivaled machismo, iconic aviator sunglasses, and pure adrenaline, Top Gun cemented its place as the ultimate popcorn movie.

In 1955, a university freshman named Jim Henson stepped onto a local Washington, D.C. television set with a handful of fabric and a radical idea. Back then, TV puppetry was filmed like a traditional stage play, but Jim saw a different canvas. He tossed aside the rigid wooden boxes, replaced them with flexible foam rubber, and used the four edges of the camera lens as his new proscenium. To track their movements in real-time, performers looked at monitors hidden below the frame—a technical breakthrough that breathed unprecedented life into his creations.

Among those early experiments was a creature stitched from his mother’s old green coat and a split ping-pong ball: Kermit. By the time Sesame Street debuted in 1969, Jim’s revolutionary "Muppets" had captured the world's heart, teaching millions of children to count and read through pure joy. In 1976, he expanded his empire with The Muppet Show, proving that his colorful world of felt, imagination, and gentle subversion was entertainment meant for absolutely everyone. He spent his life continuously pushing the boundaries of fantasy, forever changing how the world views the art of storytelling.

The 1980s marked the golden era of Garfield’s transition from newspaper comic strip to television megastar. The orange, lasagna-loving cat first leaped onto the screen through a series of highly successful CBS primetime animated specials, beginning with Here Comes Garfield in 1982. These specials perfectly captured Jim Davis's sharp, cynical humor, largely thanks to actor Lorenzo Music, whose iconic, deadpan voice performance defined Garfield’s lazy yet sarcastic personality for a generation.

The character's television popularity exploded to new heights in 1988 with the debut of the Saturday morning cartoon Garfield and Friends. This beloved series paired Garfield's domestic antics alongside his clueless owner Jon and optimistic dog Odie with U.S. Acres, a segment featuring a quirky cast of barnyard animals.

The show became an instant ratings juggernaut, praised by both kids and adults for its clever meta-humor, breaking of the fourth wall, and witty writing. Running well into the 1990s, the 1980s cartoon adaptation cemented Garfield not just as a fleeting comic strip character, but as an enduring pop culture phenomenon and a staple of Saturday morning rituals.

🎧 Retro Picks of the Week

💎Long Lost Musical Gem: Be Good Johnny, 1982 | This quirky, high-energy track from Men at Work captures the relatable frustration of a young boy constantly being told how to behave by the adults around him. Driven by a catchy, upbeat new wave sound, it perfectly showcases the band's signature blend of humor and Australian pop-rock charm.

📼 Movie: Summer Rental, 1985 | This hilarious comedy stars John Candy as an overworked air traffic controller who takes his family on a chaotic beach vacation that quickly goes off the rails. Filled with slapstick humor and heartwarming moments, it perfectly captures the relatable, stressful disasters of a family holiday gone wrong.

🎵 Song: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, 1987 | This soaring power ballad by Starship serves as the anthemic theme for the movie Mannequin, celebrating unstoppable love and determination. With its driving synth-pop production and unforgettable duet vocals, it instantly became a defining, chart-topping hit of the late 1980s.

🕹️ Video Game: Pac-Man, 1980 | This legendary arcade phenomenon revolutionized the gaming industry by introducing a colorful, maze-chasing concept that appealed to a massive, diverse audience. As players guided the iconic yellow character to chomp dots while dodging colorful ghosts, it cemented its place as an enduring pop culture milestone.

👾 Cartoon: The Littles, 1983 | This beloved animated series follows a family of tiny, human-like creatures with tails who live hidden inside the walls of the Bigg family home. Balancing fun and adventure, the show blends wholesome family lessons with exciting escapades as the small heroes navigate the challenges of the big world.