The Late-Night Talk Show scene of the 1980s was a smaller space than today, but it was even more powerful. It was an era filled with drama, ratings wars, and legendary hosts. From Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show to the rise of David Letterman, it was a defining era in 1980s television history.

Today, we look at the origins of the late-night talk show, the creation of the format that is still followed to this day, then the rise of the Tonight Show.

Then, we'll look at the Johnny Carson era, which spanned three decades, that quickly made him one of the most powerful people on television. Could anyone give Johnny a run for his money? Many would try and fail, but a former weatherman from Indiana was about to give it his best shot.

The late-night talk show battles of the 80s would continue, which included Johnny's battle and falling out with a legendary comedian, the battle to take over the Tonight Show, and the actor and comedian from Cleveland, who would also change late-night forever...

• Predator movie review: Patreon.com/80s

Let's go back 40 years and revisit 10 of the best albums of 1985, a year that was a landmark one in the history of music. From synthpop, hip-hop, metal, and classic rock, 1985 quickly became a standout year for 1980s music.

From the chart-topping success of 'Brothers in Arms' by Dire Straits, to the radio dominating 'Songs From the Big Chair' by Tears For Fears, today, we look back on the albums and songs that defined a generation, became a huge part of 1980s pop culture, and also helped to drive MTV.

These albums also include a new 17-year-old future hip hop icon, the debut album by one of the biggest artists of all time, and the standout album that, 37 years later, was brought back into the mainstream by Stranger Things...

• Spotify Playlist: The Best of 1985

1985 was quickly becoming one of the most competitive years in the history of animation, setting the stage for future 80s nostalgia. There were so many classic 80s cartoons released in 1985-- including a unique new series called ThunderCats--that it was going to be difficult to stand out.

But fortunately, the production company behind the new show knew a thing or two about capturing the attention of kids, as they had been doing it during the holidays for decades. But now, they were moving to after-school and Saturday morning cartoons. 

From the studio that brought us beloved Christmas classics like Rudolph and Frosty came the story of a race of humanoid feline superheroes. With characters like Lion-O and Snarf, and a very popular line of toys from LJN, the ThunderCats quickly became a new breed in children's entertainment, a standout 1980s cartoon, and a pop culture phenomenon. 

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There are only a handful of broadcasts in the history of television that became must-see, cultural events. The ABC movie, 'The Day After', from 1983, is one of them.

In the early 80s, as fear of Nuclear War ramped up, ABC planned to air a Sunday night movie that dealt with what nuclear war would really look like.

In November 1983, this kicked off a firestorm of attention--both good and bad--that resulted in one of the biggest viewing audiences in TV history.

This is a look back on the movie that not only terrified the public, but became a watershed moment in the history of the Cold War...

• Check out new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

Are you ready to head back to the greatest decade ever and the ultimate nostalgia hit?

The Everything 80s Podcast is your weekly time machine to revisit 1980s movies, 80s TV shows, 80s music, toys, sports, tech, and everything else that defined 1980s pop culture.

From the Cola Wars to Cabbage Patch Kids and Tetris to Teddy Ruxpin, you'll get a deep dive into all the stories that represent an entire generation. 

Whether you lived it or just missed it, The Everything 80s Podcast is ready to take you back in time to rediscover the decade of big trends, big dreams, and even bigger hair. 

Subscribe and follow along because remember: where we're going, we don't need roads...

It was a time of high tension, fierce back-and-forth, and a relentless pursuit to dominate the world--and that was just between Coke and Pepsi.

When you throw the Cold War into the mix, not only do you get a tumultuous time period, but the Cola Wars ramped up to another level.

For Pepsi, a way to compete against Coke was to gain a foothold in the Soviet Union. And that's exactly what they did--but little did anyone know just how big they would become in the USSR. 

This is a look back at Pepsi's remarkable growth in the Soviet Union in the 80s, the continuous battle against Coca-Cola, and then one of the most remarkable business deals in history.

Had Pepsi, for a short while, actually become a military power...

• War Games movie Review: Patreon.com/80s

What may seem like a novelty video game accessory from the 1980s actually has a much deeper backstory.

The Nintendo Power Glove, a game controller you wore on your arm, came out in 1989, but its roots go back to the 1970s.

Before it was the "baddest" accessory around, the Power Glove started out as the Data Glove, a high-end instrument used by scientists, MIT, and even NASA.

What began as a $10,000 instrument for a new world called "Virtual Reality" eventually entered the consumer market. Did the data glove have more novel applications? Could this unique device even become a toy...?

But to make it a toy, a redesign and a MUCH lower price point were both critical, and that meant a lot of compromises in both materials and functionality. Even though the Power Glove was launched with a huge boom, did the at-home gaming experience live up to the hype...? 

• War Games movie review: Patreon.com/80s 

From the beaches of California in the 1960s to the empty swimming pools of the 70s, the two board-based niche hobbies had really grown in popularity.

But the 1980s took it to a whole new level--literally and figuratively. 

Not only were surfing and skateboarding growing in popularity during the 80s, but they were beginning to have a major impact on music, fashion, movies, TV shows, and a lot of youth culture.

The two activities--specifically skateboarding--were becoming an identity as much as an activity. 

Today, we revisit the origins, growth, and impact of surfing and skateboarding, some of the groundbreaking figures, and how the two sports quickly influenced all aspects of pop culture in the 80s.

• War Games movie Review: Patreon.com/80s

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.

• Get access to new shows early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

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