The 80s Most Famous Feline – Garfield
Think of 80s icons that were so famous, so totally popular, that you know them by just one name. For instance: Madonna, Sting, and Bono. Now think of cartoon cats of the 80s who were so famous they went by just one name – I bet only one comes to mind: this guy here. Garfield was so insanely popular in the 1980s that it was rare to attend a sleepover party where one or all attendees were not accompanied by the fat, orange, big eyed...
Bosom Buddies
Friendship Can Be a Real Drag Whenever My Life by Billy Joel comes on the radio, rather than replaying the images of a music video in my head, I can’t help but think of the opening credits of Bosom Buddies. The television show Bosom Buddies ran from 1980 to 1982 on ABC. Who knew back then that co-star Tom Hanks would become the award winning actor he is today? In case you’ve forgotten pre-Oscar Tom Hanks (winning for both Forrest Gump...
Then and Now: Judd Nelson
When you think of classic movie endings, what comes to mind? Citizen Kane? The Wizard of Oz? The Empire Strikes Back? Or, maybe this? Yup. There he is at the end of The Breakfast Club: fist in the air, screen frozen on my favorite “criminal,” John Bender. He’s just finished serving the most epic day of detention ever, followed by a sweet make out session/diamond stud earring exchange with Molly Ringwald. The Simple Minds anthem “Don’t...
Back to School, 1986
Yes, it’s that time of year again. When I think of back to school, I think of the following things: 1) Big yellow school busses, the sound of the bell ringing, and autumn leaves crunching underneath my feet, 2) My own childhood and how excited I got about back to school shopping and planning my first day of school outfit, and 3) A totally realistic 1986 comedy starring Rodney Dangerfield. This movie came on AMC the other night...
Saturday Morning Cartoons
In the ‘80s, we lived for the weekend – we could listen to our boom boxes, go roller skating, go to the video store to rent movies, and hang out at the food court at the mall to pick up boys. But think further back – way back to when you were younger. What did you spend your weekend doing? Riding your bike? Trading baseball cards? Sure. But, I bet I know how your weekend started on Saturday. I bet you were doing the same thing I was....
Mork & Mindy
By Lori Ferraro Honestly . . . it’s a little hard to write this post considering just last week we lost one of the world’s greatest comedians and the star of one of my favorite shows from childhood. My first memory of Robin Williams was seeing him on the television sitcom Mork & Mindy. He left behind an incredible body of work – his start was onstage doing stand up comedy and his first sitcom was about an alien who comes to Earth...
80s Cartoons – 25 Totally Rad Intros
Saturday mornings in the 80s meant one thing: cartoons. Millions of American kids got up, fixed a bowl of cereal, and plopped down in front of the TV for a morning of animated bliss. By the power of Grayskull, I declare this montage of 25 80s cartoon intros totally rad. (Speaking of He-Man, he may have been the most powerful man in the universe, but that is still no excuse for the little-lord-fauntleroy hair cut he sported...
My Love of Little House
By Lori Ferraro Do you have certain television theme songs that you never tire of? That you truly love? That fill you with a uniquely nostalgic warm fuzzy that’s hard to come by? This TV theme song doesn’t even have words . . . but if I’m flipping around and hear it, you bet I’m stopping on it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKVvZhTQl0k That wagon pulling up. The shot of Ma and Pa. The running down the hill. The falling of Carrie. I...
That’s Incredible!
By Lori Ferraro Before The Bachelor, Survivor, The Real World and the ba-zillion other reality shows that now exist and have taken over our television sets, there was one reality show back in the early 1980s that was . . . well . . . incredible. That’s Incredible! was a half-hour show that ran from 1980 – 1984 with hosts Fran Tarkenton, John Davidson and Cathy Lee Crosby. I loved the opening of the program, how the audience would yell...
Summer School – The Movie (1987)
By Lori Ferraro There were several movies that I saw in the movie theatre more than once in the 80s because I loved them (Pretty in Pink) because it had cute boys (Top Gun) or because it was funny . . . Summer School was one of the funny ones. This totally underrated, silly, teenage comedy gem from 1987 stars a foxy Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley and Courtney Thorne-Smith waaay before she grew up and moved to Melrose Place. Mark Harmon...
Netflix Sends Some 80s Love
May 5, 2014 May 1st saw the addition of some great 80s cinema to the streaming catalog on Netflix, including 1987’s “Adventures in Babysitting” (don’t bother denying how much you loved that movie) and 1983’s “The Big Chill.” I wasn’t old enough to appreciate “The Big Chill” in 1983, but now that I am middle-aged myself, it may be time for a re-watch. What’s even more exciting is the addition of not one, not two, but three...
ABC Afterschool Specials
By Lori Ferraro My must see TV back in the 80s occurred around 4:30 in the afternoon, immediately following a hard day of junior high school. Once the bell rang few things could tear me away from my gang of girlfriends, but when there was an Afterschool Special on, that trip to the mall/beach/frozen yogurt joint were just going to have to wait. ABC Afterschool Specials started airing way back in 1972 but I remember them from their...
It’s Time to Get Things Started – The Muppet Show
By Lori Ferraro As typical kids my brother and I couldn’t always agree on television shows that we both wanted to watch – but there was one show that we always could both agree on; in fact my Mom and Dad loved watching it with us as well. This show had everything…musical acts, big time guest stars, and a romance between a pig and a frog. Of course I’m talking about The Muppet Show. The Muppet Show ran from 1976 – 1981. It was a...
Solid Gold
By Lori Ferraro There are several television shows of my youth that, when mentioned, I can’t help but go flying back in time, plopped on the couch in front of our big, boxy, wood-grained TV set. Like I will replay a scene from The Love Boat (with guest star Charro) in my head, or silently sing The Facts of Life theme song. And you can’t even bring up The Cosby Show without me dancing like a fool a la the opening credits. Speaking of...
The Video Store
Oh, please . . . say it ain’t so . . . yet another thing from my childhood doomed to the 80s graveyard? Not my awesome, big, boxy VHS tapes! I’m not ready for VHS to RIP just yet. Beta, sure, I’m fine with Beta . . . but not my tapes. My first two jobs ever were at video stores so I feel a real affinity toward VHS tapes. From the giant cardboard boxes displayed on the shelves, to the clear plastic boxes I would snap the tapes into for...
