MTV’s Origins in the 80s
On August 1, 1981, something happened to cable television – something that would define pop culture, change generations, and shape an industry. That something had a name. The name was MTV. It launched at 12:01 in the morning, ushered in by John Lack (then the Executive Vice President of Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment) saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” And so it began. Prior to 1981, MTV didn’t...
Top 5 80s Summer Fashions
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here! Back again with the Top 5 Countdown. This time it is Top 5 80s Summer Fashions. As Buster Poindexter would say, it’s “Hot, Hot, Hot!” and so are these summertime fashion trends. 5. Members Only Jackets Yes, I know these aren’t too summer-ish. But hey, sometimes there are cool summer nights, and if the night chill gives you the need to be ill, you can slip on the M.O. You know how you...
LT80s Interviews Nicki Elson, Author of Three Daves
1. What led you to include the bible references at the end of each chapter? When I was in the midst of writing Three Daves, I read a psalm that made me think of one of the scenes, and it actually helped me flesh out some of the details. As I went along, I started thinking that it would be cool to find a fitting verse for each of the chapters. I already had the perfect tie-in with Jen and David’s discussion of King David and the Bible...
Top 5 Summer Movies of the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman With summer coming up, what better way to celebrate than to crank out a top 5 of 80s Summer Themed Movies? So oil up baby, this is gonna burn you up! 5. Dirty Dancing Okay, so I’m a dude, and am putting my manhood on the line here, but the “Double D” was an 80s staple, and the summer vacation that Baby took up to Kellerman’s was indeed memorable. It’s the same old story of “Boy Meets Girl,”...
Who’s That Actor?
Actors and Their 80s Beginnings Fortunately, the 80s were pre-internet and pre-digital, so little awkward proof remains (except for what gets dug up and posted on facebook). But if you were a budding celebrity, there’s plenty of celluloid documenting your rockin’ 80s look. In fact, some of today’s biggest names got their start in the 80s in some unlikely places: George Clooney: Before Dr. Ross, Clooney was learning The Facts of Life....
Top 5 Holiday Movies of the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here! Back again with my Top 5 Countdown. This time, I am counting down the Top 5 holiday movies of the 80s. So, hop on your sled, it’s time to go! 5. Gremlins Yeah, it’s a Christmas movie! Come on. . . . It’s snowing. . . . Billy gets the loveable Mogwai as a gift from his pops. . . . Phoebe Cates is smoking hot (which has nothing to do with Christmas, but still, come on, she is!). All Billy has to do is...
Top 5 “Oh I almost forgot about those” of the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here – back after a long hiatus and ready to rock and roll with my latest Top 5 countdown. This time around we have the Top 5 “Oh I almost forgot about those” of the 80s. Enjoy! 5. Choose Your Own Adventure Books It’s a book. No- it’s a game. No- it’s a Game Book! A vast array of titles in the series covered the scary, the funny and the always mysterious paths of perplexity, as...
Top 5 80s Movie Sidekicks
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here, and I am back with this week’s top 5. This week, Top 5 Movie Sidekicks. While they may not have been cast as the lead or receive top billing, without these guys, the movies they were in would have been far less than tubular. 5. Stiles The name says it all . . . “Stiles.” He was the wonderful wise-cracking pal of Scott Howard in Teen Wolf with a knack for wearing tee shirts with uncouth (and for this...
Top 5 80s Good Guys with Bad A$$ Attitudes
By Ryan Zimmerman Hi All! Back again with my weekly Top 5. This week I countdown the Good Guys that were truly Hardcore . . . kinda. It’s too easy (and if you are a frequent reader of mine then you’ll understand) that listing Rambo and Commando, Tony Montana and Indiana Jones is just too easy. So, I have dug down into the heart and soul of those memorable males of the movies for your enjoyment. Some may be laughable, but their place...
Top 5 “How were these movies PG?” movies of the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here. Back with my weekly top 5. This week’s top 5 is “Top 5 ‘How were these movies PG?’ movies of the 80s.” I watched a TON of movies as a kid. I learned quite a few 4 letter words from them as well. As I watch them nowadays, I am quite surprised by the rating given to them back in the day. For some, I think the MPAA might have been on C-R-A-C-K. Here are some of them and why they may have been a...
Top 5 Things that Never Should Have Existed in the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here. Back with my weekly top 5. This week’s top 5 is “Top 5 Things that Never Should Have Existed in the 80s.” 5. I Want Your Sex (sung by George Michael) Seemingly, in trying to sex up his image and forget the more delicate Wham days of “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” George Michael penned this crap-sterpiece, probably in about 4 minutes. George! You are so much better than this!...
Top 5 Mega-Music Babes of the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here. Back again with this week’s top 5: Top 5 Mega-Music Babes of the 80s. Now, I know Madonna, Janet, etc. were all truly overflowing with babe-itude. But, as usual, I’ve tried to stick with those that peaked or had their most successful runs in the 80s. You disagree with their 80s stardom status? Well, this is my column, and I’m picking who I want. So enjoy! 5. Stacey Q “Stacey Who?,” you might...
Top 5 80s Game Shows
By Ryan Zimmerman Hi all! Ryan here with my top 5. This week’s top 5 is Top 5 80s Game Shows. Now, I know that Wheel of Fortune, Price is Right, etc were big in the 80s, but in my countdown, I am trying to stick with those that aren’t still thriving and really took off back in the 80s. Enjoy! 5. Remote Control Back when MTV showed actual music Videos, Remote Control rocked the MTV world. Ken Ober hosted and Kari...
Top 5 Cartoons of the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here, and back with an all new Top 5 this week: 5. He-Man: Masters of the Universe He-Man was THE Man (say “THE” with the long “e” . . . sounds way cooler). He had the power of Grayskull and used his HE-roics to take on Skeletor and his evil empire. When he wasn’t roided up, he was just Adam–boring old Adam. At least Adam wore pants, and not a He-Mana Hammock, but I digress. He also had a twin...
80s Slang: It’s, like, totally bitchin’
Like, Ok. So, this is like a study in 80s slang. I mean, like, the way people talked in the 80s – like, the phrases they used. Ya know? It all started in Cali – I mean, doesn’t everything? In the Valley – the San Fernando Valley, where, like the girls talked a certain way, ya know? Valley Girls. Seriously, what defined 80s slang? What phrases mark the uniquely 80s way of speaking? This was an era long before emoticons and text-speak –...
