How had things got so boring...? This was the question NASA was trying to answer after interest in the space program had dwindled.

But they did find a solution: the 25th Space Shuttle launch would feature the first civilian in space, a teacher, set to board the Space Shuttle Challenger.

On January 28th, 1986, millions of people watched in shock as the Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after lift off. Today, we look back at the events leading up to the accident, the warnings that were there, and the impact this event had on a generation of kids.

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If you grew up in the 80s, you remember how big television events felt. You knew that everyone was watching the same thing as you, and at the same time. But which shows and events were the biggest of the 1980s?

Today, we look back at some of the highest-rated and most-watched TV shows of the decade. We take a quick look at some major sporting events before moving on to the sitcoms, dramas, miniseries, presidential debates, and the biggest TV movie of all time.

But it wasn't just the network shows that captured our attention--and ratings--but there were also two major events that the whole world tuned in for...

• Live Aid Runaways: get the book available on Amazon or wherever books are sold

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The end of 2025 saw the tragic passing of Rob Reiner. Today, we look back on his incredible contributions to the world of film and television, specifically in the 1980s.

From 1984 to the end of the decade, Rob Reiner went on a golden run that gave us some of the best movies of not just the 1980s--but ever.

And, at the same time, he changed film forever by reinventing some film genres, taking them to levels never seen before.

In the 1980s, Rob Reiner created some era-defining, generational films, and he still had time to help bring us one of the biggest sitcoms in television history...

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As the dust settled after the Great Video Game Crash of 1983, a new console emerged ready to take the world of video games to a whole new level. But the Nintendo Entertainment System wouldn't be the only console that made a mark on the 1980s...

The NES had gotten there first and had taken a stranglehold on the market, but another Japanese company was about to enter our homes. It began as the Mark 3, but in 1986, after some design changes and a new name, the Sega Master System was ready to hit North America.

Boasting better graphics, colors, and accessories, the high-tech Master System seemed like a step up from the NES -- but had Nintendo left room for anyone else...?

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Welcome to the Everything 80s, year-in-review special. This is the episode where we look back at everything 80-related over the last 12 months.

And, as usual, there was quite a bit. In this special, we look at several movies, songs, and people that turned 40 in 2025. We look at several 1980s movies that are getting reboots or sequels, some 1980s-based movies that hit the big screen, and the return--and final season--of the iconic show that's been like a love letter to the 80s.

We also look at some notable people with connections to the 80s that we lost over the last year. And then I turn the show over to you to take a look at who you all are, where you're listening from, and your favorite episodes and 1980s topics from the last year.

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It's Christmas Eve, so we're rewinding the VHS tape to revisit 10 iconic 1980s TV Christmas specials.

In this remastered edition of one of my previous shows, we dive back into the golden age of holiday programming, when we were all watching the same things at the same time.

Highlights of this episode include a few comic strips that came to the small screen, a few Christmas offerings from Jim Henson (including the one that appears to have influenced a future Pixar film), and a certain Saturday morning performer making his prime-time debut.

This list includes a few classics, some you may have forgotten about, and some that may be brand-new to you. But they were all a big part of the holiday season during the 1980s.

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Welcome to the annual Everything 80s Christmas special! There really was nothing like the holiday season during the 1980s, and today, we'll take a look back at:

• The knock-off versions of some of the big toys of the 80s that began to appear on toy shelves
• A unique new holiday catalog that combined several iconic 1980s brands and TV shows
• The holiday versions of some of our favorite breakfast cereals
• A lesser-known, but unique TV Christmas special that combined two of the biggest network stars of the decade

So, sit back, relax, and let's journey back to the holiday season during the 1980s

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What began as a simple doll sold at craft fairs in the 1970s soon became one of the biggest toy fads in history. After beggning their life as "doll babies," the soft and playable dolls went through some more changes before becoming the Cabbage Patch Kids.

And their release in 1983 couldn't have been timed out better, as, coming out of the Great Video Game Crash, there was a return to simple, more traditional toys. But then something happened...

The growing popularity, combined with a very short supply, led to one of the biggest toy crazes of all time. Heading into the holiday season of 1983, utter chaos emerged in retail, and toy stores everywhere...

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She-Ra: Princess of Power wasn't just a He-Man spinoff, but a standalone character with her own persona, legacy, and mythology.

She was a bold experiment by Mattel and Filmation to crack into multiple toy markets at the same time, while also growing the He-Man brand.

From breaking the "Smurfette principle" to its unique introduction, She-Ra quickly became a defining 1980s brand.

Today, we look back at the creation, launch, and success of what ended up being a relatively short-lived toy and 1980s cartoon that still managed to make a huge dent in 1980s pop culture.

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Over the years, there's been a steady return to traditional media. From vinyl albums to 4K Blu-ray, people want to hold--and own--the content they love. There's also been a return to traditional film.

Our digital, streaming age is incredible, but sometimes it can feel like something is missing. And if you're a fan of 1980s movies, that means seeing these films we love, the way they were meant to be seen.

Traditional film, such as 35mm and 70mm, is making a comeback as real film provides a richer, more organic movie-watching experience compared to digital projection.

To look deeper into this, I took a trip to an independent cinema to talk to a true film projectionist and learn about the movies we grew up watching, and the theatres we watched them in.

• The Hyland Cinema: hylandcinema.com
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