Hard-hitting, intense, and sometimes difficult to watch--but it was can't-miss TV. This was the world of After-School specials in the 1980s. 

After being created by ABC in the 1970s, the after-school special continued to rise to prominence in the 1980s, where it became a television institution for an entire generation of kids.

From its unique origins and the numerous awards to the breakout performances of actors who later became major stars,  the ABC After-School Special left a lasting impact on television history.

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It may seem like you were just watching some of these shows yesterday, but they are now, somehow, forty years old.

Today, we look back on the TV shows of 1985, a year that gave us some of the very best of the decade.

They include several beloved animated classics, a few era-defining sitcoms, and one of the biggest action-adventure shows of the decade. 

• Extended episode covering 8 additional shows: Patreon.com/80s

It's 1984, and Apple Computers and its founder are on top of the world. Not only has Steve Jobs created one of the most remarkable machines of the 20th century, but he's also launched it in a way that will cause a ripple effect through society to be felt for years to come.

And less than a year later, it would all come crashing down. Steve Jobs was a groundbreaking visionary, but he wasn't always the easiest to work for. As 1984 came to a close, something big was about to happen at Apple Computers...

This is a look back at not just the creation and growth of Apple Computers, but the remarkable moment in the mid-80s, when its founder was forced out of the company he helped create...

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It was a decade of prolific creation, an era when the Master of Horror delivered some of his greatest works ever.

Today, we look back at all the iconic and groundbreaking novels Stephen King released in the 1980s. We then switch over to the world of movies and TV shows associated with many of his famous books.

It was a decade that gave us some of his most frightening stories ever, along with several movies that have gone on to become some of the greatest in film history. 

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

The 1980s was a changing time not only for McDonald's but for the entire fast food industry. Competition had become cutthroat--and that was just for burgers.

But now, the Pizza industry, led by the big three; Pizza Hut, Dominoes, and Little Cesasers, has grown at an astonishing rate. 

McDonald's had found success with a few new items, but one new burger turned out to be a pretty big flop. They needed something to get back on track, improve their night-time dining, and maybe divert some of that traffic away from the Big Three and back to the Golden Arches.

Maybe they could beat Big Pizza at their own game. This set the stage for McDonald's pizza; a huge swing in the late 80s that has origins going back to 1986. But "McPizza" wasn't the success McDonald's had hoped for. This is the story of the rise and fall of McDonald's pizza.

• Short Circuit Movie Review: Patreon.com/80s

The story of Mr. T is as much the story of the 1980s as during a rapidly changing time of pop culture, he touched all aspects of entertainment.

The big screen, the small screen, radio, home video, and even our toy shelves; in the 1980s, he was everywhere. 

From his early days as a bouncer, to protecting some of the most famous people in the world, this larger-than-life figure soon became one of the most recognizable people of the time. 

He was born Laurence Tureaud, but the world would soon get to know him as Mr. T, a man who became a true Icon in every sense of the word. 

• Mr. T (Extended Edition): Patreon.com/80s

As the clock counted down on December 31st, 1989, it brought one of the most remarkable decades of the 20th Century to a close. A decade that--when it came to pop culture--may have been one of the most significant in history.

Today, we look back on all the movies, TV shows, music, sports, tech, and video games that made up an extraordinary year.

The 1980s were about to come to an end--but the decade was definitely going out with a bang. This is 1989: the year that changed pop culture forever...

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

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