80sRetroBlast
@80sretroblast.bsky.social
Your daily hit of nostalgia, celebrating the movies, TV, music, and pop culture that defined a generation. 🕹️🎶📼
https://linktr.ee/80sRetroBlast
https://linktr.ee/80sRetroBlast
#OnThisDay 1980: Here’s Boomer debuted on NBC.
Peak late-70s/early-80s TV trend: the wandering miracle dog. 🐕
A stray shows up, helps people solve their problems, then trots off before the credits.
Benji did it. The Littlest Hobo did it. Boomer did it.
Did this ever happen to you? 😄
Peak late-70s/early-80s TV trend: the wandering miracle dog. 🐕
A stray shows up, helps people solve their problems, then trots off before the credits.
Benji did it. The Littlest Hobo did it. Boomer did it.
Did this ever happen to you? 😄
#OnThisDay 1980: Here’s Boomer debuted on NBC.
The family series followed a wandering stray dog who traveled the country helping people in need before moving on. The star was Johnny, a rescued shelter dog trained by Ray Berwick.
Full article & podcast at Forgotten TV.
The family series followed a wandering stray dog who traveled the country helping people in need before moving on. The star was Johnny, a rescued shelter dog trained by Ray Berwick.
Full article & podcast at Forgotten TV.
March 14, 2026 at 5:11 PM
#OnThisDay 1980: Here’s Boomer debuted on NBC.
Peak late-70s/early-80s TV trend: the wandering miracle dog. 🐕
A stray shows up, helps people solve their problems, then trots off before the credits.
Benji did it. The Littlest Hobo did it. Boomer did it.
Did this ever happen to you? 😄
Peak late-70s/early-80s TV trend: the wandering miracle dog. 🐕
A stray shows up, helps people solve their problems, then trots off before the credits.
Benji did it. The Littlest Hobo did it. Boomer did it.
Did this ever happen to you? 😄
#OnThisDay 1989: NBC aired “A Very Brady Episode” on Day By Day—a full-on Brady Bunch dream parody with original cast members, recreated credits, and tons of inside jokes. Peak late-’80s nostalgia and a preview of the Brady revival to come. 📺
#OnThisDay in 1989: Day By Day aired “A Very Brady Episode” on NBC.
Ross dreams himself as a “lost” Brady, with recreated credits and appearances by 6 OG cast members.
Packed with Brady in-jokes, it marked Maureen's final appearance as Marcia, and kind of funny what CD Barnes later starred in...
Ross dreams himself as a “lost” Brady, with recreated credits and appearances by 6 OG cast members.
Packed with Brady in-jokes, it marked Maureen's final appearance as Marcia, and kind of funny what CD Barnes later starred in...
February 5, 2026 at 6:22 PM
#OnThisDay 1989: NBC aired “A Very Brady Episode” on Day By Day—a full-on Brady Bunch dream parody with original cast members, recreated credits, and tons of inside jokes. Peak late-’80s nostalgia and a preview of the Brady revival to come. 📺
On this day in 1986, the Challenger disaster became one of the most sobering moments of the 1980s. A decade of optimism paused as millions watched live. It shattered the illusion that spaceflight was routine and left a lasting mark on culture, media, and a generation that never forgot.
January 29, 2026 at 2:08 AM
On this day in 1986, the Challenger disaster became one of the most sobering moments of the 1980s. A decade of optimism paused as millions watched live. It shattered the illusion that spaceflight was routine and left a lasting mark on culture, media, and a generation that never forgot.
Laverne & Shirley premiered 50 years ago today! Airing from January 27, 1976 – May 10, 1983. The show starred Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams in the title roles.
January 28, 2026 at 5:17 AM
Laverne & Shirley premiered 50 years ago today! Airing from January 27, 1976 – May 10, 1983. The show starred Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams in the title roles.
And then came The Master: Lee Van Cleef as an aging ninja roaming America in a van with his young student, tossing shuriken and Zen wisdom while hunted by Sho Kosugi. Totally ridiculous, totally ’80s, and undeniably cool—even if Dallas killed it.
January 20, 2026 at 7:10 PM
And then came The Master: Lee Van Cleef as an aging ninja roaming America in a van with his young student, tossing shuriken and Zen wisdom while hunted by Sho Kosugi. Totally ridiculous, totally ’80s, and undeniably cool—even if Dallas killed it.
NBC’s Friday nights kicked off with Legmen; college roommates paying rent by doing bail-bond legwork in sunny SoCal. Rock theme, stolen cars, and beautiful distractions. It only lasted 8 eps, but it set the tone: don’t take this night too seriously.
#OnThisDay in 1984: LEGMEN debuted on NBC.
College roommates Bruce Greenwood & John Terlesky paid the bills as bail bond “legmen” in this breezy Friday-night opener—proof NBC wasn’t taking things too seriously. Rock theme, roaming credits, lots of guest stars. Only 8 episodes.
College roommates Bruce Greenwood & John Terlesky paid the bills as bail bond “legmen” in this breezy Friday-night opener—proof NBC wasn’t taking things too seriously. Rock theme, roaming credits, lots of guest stars. Only 8 episodes.
January 20, 2026 at 7:10 PM
NBC’s Friday nights kicked off with Legmen; college roommates paying rent by doing bail-bond legwork in sunny SoCal. Rock theme, stolen cars, and beautiful distractions. It only lasted 8 eps, but it set the tone: don’t take this night too seriously.
#OnThisDay in 1987: OHARA debuted on ABC.
For a moment, it was Mr. Miyagi as a cop: Yes, Pat Morita playing a meditative, martial-arts-using LAPD detective. Then came the dreaded NETWORK RETOOLING, stripping away everything cool because reasons. Classic ’80s TV whiplash.
For a moment, it was Mr. Miyagi as a cop: Yes, Pat Morita playing a meditative, martial-arts-using LAPD detective. Then came the dreaded NETWORK RETOOLING, stripping away everything cool because reasons. Classic ’80s TV whiplash.
January 17, 2026 at 7:14 PM
#OnThisDay in 1987: OHARA debuted on ABC.
For a moment, it was Mr. Miyagi as a cop: Yes, Pat Morita playing a meditative, martial-arts-using LAPD detective. Then came the dreaded NETWORK RETOOLING, stripping away everything cool because reasons. Classic ’80s TV whiplash.
For a moment, it was Mr. Miyagi as a cop: Yes, Pat Morita playing a meditative, martial-arts-using LAPD detective. Then came the dreaded NETWORK RETOOLING, stripping away everything cool because reasons. Classic ’80s TV whiplash.
Pure late-’80s first-run syndication excess: T & T.
🎶 mmmmm I put my faith in himmmmmmmmm 🎵
Weekends glued to syndicated action hour after action hour...pure 80s energy!
🎶 mmmmm I put my faith in himmmmmmmmm 🎵
Weekends glued to syndicated action hour after action hour...pure 80s energy!
#OnThisDay in 1988, T & T hit U.S. syndication. Mr. T starred as T.S. Turner, a framed ex-boxer turned private eye, mixing street justice with courtroom drama. Loud theme, self-aware tone, peak late-’80s Saturday TV energy.
January 11, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Pure late-’80s first-run syndication excess: T & T.
🎶 mmmmm I put my faith in himmmmmmmmm 🎵
Weekends glued to syndicated action hour after action hour...pure 80s energy!
🎶 mmmmm I put my faith in himmmmmmmmm 🎵
Weekends glued to syndicated action hour after action hour...pure 80s energy!
Reposted by 80sRetroBlast
Rest in peace to T.K. Carter (69), who was found Friday at his home in Duarte, CA. An 80s screen icon, he is best remembered for his roles in The Thing, Punky Brewster, and Doctor Detroit. From Runaway Train to voicing The Transformers, he left an indelible mark on the decade.
January 10, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Rest in peace to T.K. Carter (69), who was found Friday at his home in Duarte, CA. An 80s screen icon, he is best remembered for his roles in The Thing, Punky Brewster, and Doctor Detroit. From Runaway Train to voicing The Transformers, he left an indelible mark on the decade.
The man...the machine...Street Hawwwwkkkkk.
A jet-powered motorcycle, neon visuals, and a Tangerine Dream theme that screamed 80s excess...
A jet-powered motorcycle, neon visuals, and a Tangerine Dream theme that screamed 80s excess...
#OnThisDay in 1985: Street Hawk debuted on ABC. Rex Smith was Jesse Mach, ex-cop turned vigilante riding a jet-powered motorcycle to fight crime. Tangerine Dream theme, wild tech, rough scheduling, and demise due to TGIF—only 13 eps, but pure ’80s style.
January 5, 2026 at 12:37 AM
The man...the machine...Street Hawwwwkkkkk.
A jet-powered motorcycle, neon visuals, and a Tangerine Dream theme that screamed 80s excess...
A jet-powered motorcycle, neon visuals, and a Tangerine Dream theme that screamed 80s excess...
B.A.D. Cats mashed together muscle cars, loose-cannon policing, and pure early-’80s excess...right down to a real production car accidentally pulling people over on LA streets.
#OnThisDay in 1980: B.A.D. Cats debuted on ABC-TV.
An Aaron Spelling, car-chase-heavy cop show about two former race car drivers turned LAPD officers who preferred running criminals off the road over questioning them.
An Aaron Spelling, car-chase-heavy cop show about two former race car drivers turned LAPD officers who preferred running criminals off the road over questioning them.
January 4, 2026 at 6:14 PM
B.A.D. Cats mashed together muscle cars, loose-cannon policing, and pure early-’80s excess...right down to a real production car accidentally pulling people over on LA streets.
A Stephen J. Cannell fever dream that mashed Magnum, P.I., Simon & Simon, and early hacker culture into one sun-drenched package! Riptide is a perfect time capsule of the decade’s optimism about tech, adventure, and living on a boat in SoCal. Also: Roboz!!!
#OnThisDay in 1984: Riptide debuted on NBC. Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo, this breezy action-adventure followed ex–Army buddies Cody Allen (Perry King), Nick Ryder (Joe Penny), and hacker Murray “Boz” Bozinsky (Thom Bray), running a PI agency off a boat.
January 4, 2026 at 4:41 PM
A Stephen J. Cannell fever dream that mashed Magnum, P.I., Simon & Simon, and early hacker culture into one sun-drenched package! Riptide is a perfect time capsule of the decade’s optimism about tech, adventure, and living on a boat in SoCal. Also: Roboz!!!
Backed by a Lee Greenwood theme that sounded more like a national anthem than a TV intro, this was peak 80s TV. Mountain rescues, call signs, and real-life Conrad family members on screen on location in the wild.
#OnThisDay in 1988: High Mountain Rangers debuted on CBS.
Starring Robert Conrad (with sons Christian & Shane), this Tahoe-set action drama followed elite wilderness search & rescue officers. After a 1987 TV-movie pilot, 12 eps aired, plus a brief 1989 spin-off, Jesse Hawkes.
Starring Robert Conrad (with sons Christian & Shane), this Tahoe-set action drama followed elite wilderness search & rescue officers. After a 1987 TV-movie pilot, 12 eps aired, plus a brief 1989 spin-off, Jesse Hawkes.
January 2, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Backed by a Lee Greenwood theme that sounded more like a national anthem than a TV intro, this was peak 80s TV. Mountain rescues, call signs, and real-life Conrad family members on screen on location in the wild.
#OnThisDay 1982: E.T. and Friends aired on CBS. Hosted by Robin Williams, it’s a clip-heavy sci-fi riff-fest—made by the SAME team as It Came From Hollywood and feels like proto-MST3K years before 1988. Pure 80s pop culture.
December 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
#OnThisDay 1982: E.T. and Friends aired on CBS. Hosted by Robin Williams, it’s a clip-heavy sci-fi riff-fest—made by the SAME team as It Came From Hollywood and feels like proto-MST3K years before 1988. Pure 80s pop culture.
Reposted by 80sRetroBlast
#OnThisDay 1981: 🎄🐿️ A Chipmunk Christmas debuted on NBC.
The holiday special that cemented the modern voices of Alvin, Simon, Theodore & Dave (Ross Bagdasarian Jr. & Janice Karman) and turned Alvin’s selfless gift into a Christmas classic.
The holiday special that cemented the modern voices of Alvin, Simon, Theodore & Dave (Ross Bagdasarian Jr. & Janice Karman) and turned Alvin’s selfless gift into a Christmas classic.
December 14, 2025 at 5:13 PM
#OnThisDay 1981: 🎄🐿️ A Chipmunk Christmas debuted on NBC.
The holiday special that cemented the modern voices of Alvin, Simon, Theodore & Dave (Ross Bagdasarian Jr. & Janice Karman) and turned Alvin’s selfless gift into a Christmas classic.
The holiday special that cemented the modern voices of Alvin, Simon, Theodore & Dave (Ross Bagdasarian Jr. & Janice Karman) and turned Alvin’s selfless gift into a Christmas classic.
#OnThisDay in 1984: The Cabbage Patch Kids’ First Christmas hit ABC! 🎄🧸 At the peak of Cabbage Patch mania, the Kids got their own animated holiday adventure. Voices by Peter Cullen & music by Joe Raposo. Peak 80s toy-craze energy. #Retroblast #80sKids #Nostalgia
December 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
#OnThisDay in 1984: The Cabbage Patch Kids’ First Christmas hit ABC! 🎄🧸 At the peak of Cabbage Patch mania, the Kids got their own animated holiday adventure. Voices by Peter Cullen & music by Joe Raposo. Peak 80s toy-craze energy. #Retroblast #80sKids #Nostalgia
#OnThisDay in 1981: You Can’t Do That on Television hit Nickelodeon & the 80s were never the same. 💚
Real kids, sketch comedy, Barth’s Burgers, locker jokes = early Nick in a nutshell.
And SLIME? This show INVENTED it.
Whatever you do… don’t say “I don’t know.” 😆💚
Real kids, sketch comedy, Barth’s Burgers, locker jokes = early Nick in a nutshell.
And SLIME? This show INVENTED it.
Whatever you do… don’t say “I don’t know.” 😆💚
December 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
#OnThisDay in 1981: You Can’t Do That on Television hit Nickelodeon & the 80s were never the same. 💚
Real kids, sketch comedy, Barth’s Burgers, locker jokes = early Nick in a nutshell.
And SLIME? This show INVENTED it.
Whatever you do… don’t say “I don’t know.” 😆💚
Real kids, sketch comedy, Barth’s Burgers, locker jokes = early Nick in a nutshell.
And SLIME? This show INVENTED it.
Whatever you do… don’t say “I don’t know.” 😆💚
December 4, 2025 at 6:53 AM
December 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
🎄 80s Retroblast: Remember Pinocchio’s Christmas (ABC, 1980)? Rankin/Bass gave us a non-Disney Pinocchio in full Animagic glory. AND it was Todd Porter’s national TV debut before he became Ham on Whiz Kids. A weird, wonderful holiday deep cut! 🪵✨🎁
#OnThisDay in 1980, Rankin/Bass’ Pinocchio’s Christmas premiered on ABC! A non-Disney take on Collodi’s tale featuring the national TV debut of Todd Porter (later “Ham” on Whiz Kids). 🎄
Pinocchio faces his first Christmas, the Fox & Cat, a puppet show, and a lesson about the real meaning of giving.
Pinocchio faces his first Christmas, the Fox & Cat, a puppet show, and a lesson about the real meaning of giving.
December 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
🎄 80s Retroblast: Remember Pinocchio’s Christmas (ABC, 1980)? Rankin/Bass gave us a non-Disney Pinocchio in full Animagic glory. AND it was Todd Porter’s national TV debut before he became Ham on Whiz Kids. A weird, wonderful holiday deep cut! 🪵✨🎁
#OnThisDay in 1980: 𝘽𝙊𝙎𝙊𝙈 𝘽𝙐𝘿𝘿𝙄𝙀𝙎 hits ABC! 👠📺
Tom Hanks & Peter Scolari disguise themselves as “Buffy & Hildegarde” to live in a women-only hotel.
Strike-delayed debut, messy S2 revamp, canceled ’82… then resurrected in reruns once Hanks blew up in Splash.
Pure, glorious, early-80s weirdness. 💄📺
Tom Hanks & Peter Scolari disguise themselves as “Buffy & Hildegarde” to live in a women-only hotel.
Strike-delayed debut, messy S2 revamp, canceled ’82… then resurrected in reruns once Hanks blew up in Splash.
Pure, glorious, early-80s weirdness. 💄📺
November 27, 2025 at 8:07 PM
#OnThisDay in 1980: 𝘽𝙊𝙎𝙊𝙈 𝘽𝙐𝘿𝘿𝙄𝙀𝙎 hits ABC! 👠📺
Tom Hanks & Peter Scolari disguise themselves as “Buffy & Hildegarde” to live in a women-only hotel.
Strike-delayed debut, messy S2 revamp, canceled ’82… then resurrected in reruns once Hanks blew up in Splash.
Pure, glorious, early-80s weirdness. 💄📺
Tom Hanks & Peter Scolari disguise themselves as “Buffy & Hildegarde” to live in a women-only hotel.
Strike-delayed debut, messy S2 revamp, canceled ’82… then resurrected in reruns once Hanks blew up in Splash.
Pure, glorious, early-80s weirdness. 💄📺
#OnThisDay in 1989, AFV debuted...arriving right as camcorders + VCRs took over American living rooms. 📼🔥
A blizzard boosted the “one-shot” special to 32.8M viewers, launching a phenomenon of dads being hit in the nads.
Bob Saget. Ernie Anderson. VHS chaos.
America, this was YOU.
A blizzard boosted the “one-shot” special to 32.8M viewers, launching a phenomenon of dads being hit in the nads.
Bob Saget. Ernie Anderson. VHS chaos.
America, this was YOU.
November 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
#OnThisDay in 1989, AFV debuted...arriving right as camcorders + VCRs took over American living rooms. 📼🔥
A blizzard boosted the “one-shot” special to 32.8M viewers, launching a phenomenon of dads being hit in the nads.
Bob Saget. Ernie Anderson. VHS chaos.
America, this was YOU.
A blizzard boosted the “one-shot” special to 32.8M viewers, launching a phenomenon of dads being hit in the nads.
Bob Saget. Ernie Anderson. VHS chaos.
America, this was YOU.
#OnThisDay in 1985, EWOKS: THE BATTLE FOR ENDOR dropped on ABC...and traumatized an entire generation of 80s kids.
Instead of just cute Ewoks, this sequel goes FULL DARK: Marauder raids, sorcery, monsters, Wilford Brimley grumping through Endor. Pure chaotic Lucasfilm energy.
Instead of just cute Ewoks, this sequel goes FULL DARK: Marauder raids, sorcery, monsters, Wilford Brimley grumping through Endor. Pure chaotic Lucasfilm energy.
November 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
#OnThisDay in 1985, EWOKS: THE BATTLE FOR ENDOR dropped on ABC...and traumatized an entire generation of 80s kids.
Instead of just cute Ewoks, this sequel goes FULL DARK: Marauder raids, sorcery, monsters, Wilford Brimley grumping through Endor. Pure chaotic Lucasfilm energy.
Instead of just cute Ewoks, this sequel goes FULL DARK: Marauder raids, sorcery, monsters, Wilford Brimley grumping through Endor. Pure chaotic Lucasfilm energy.
📺⚡ #OnThisDay in 1987, Chicago TV got hacked by a Max Headroom knockoff.
WGN’s signal cut out → creepy Max mask bobbing in front of spinning metal.
Later on PBS → he returned, ranting nonsense… then got swatted on the bare butt with a flyswatter.
FCC + FBI = NO clues.
Pure 80s chaos.
WGN’s signal cut out → creepy Max mask bobbing in front of spinning metal.
Later on PBS → he returned, ranting nonsense… then got swatted on the bare butt with a flyswatter.
FCC + FBI = NO clues.
Pure 80s chaos.
#OnThisDay in 1987, Chicago TV was hit by the infamous Max Headroom signal hijacking.
A masked figure cut into WGN’s news, then Doctor Who on WTTW—rambling, distorted, ending with a bizarre flyswatter gag.
FCC/FBI investigations went nowhere.
The hijackers were never found. 📡👀
A masked figure cut into WGN’s news, then Doctor Who on WTTW—rambling, distorted, ending with a bizarre flyswatter gag.
FCC/FBI investigations went nowhere.
The hijackers were never found. 📡👀
November 23, 2025 at 2:24 AM
📺⚡ #OnThisDay in 1987, Chicago TV got hacked by a Max Headroom knockoff.
WGN’s signal cut out → creepy Max mask bobbing in front of spinning metal.
Later on PBS → he returned, ranting nonsense… then got swatted on the bare butt with a flyswatter.
FCC + FBI = NO clues.
Pure 80s chaos.
WGN’s signal cut out → creepy Max mask bobbing in front of spinning metal.
Later on PBS → he returned, ranting nonsense… then got swatted on the bare butt with a flyswatter.
FCC + FBI = NO clues.
Pure 80s chaos.
🎶 80s Retroblast: On this week in 1985, Starship’s “We Built This City” hit #1 in America! 🏙️✨
Love it or love to poke fun at it, this glossy, high-energy anthem became one of the decade’s most iconic (and most debated!) hits. Pure 80s. 💥
#Starship #WeBuiltThisCity #80sMusic
Love it or love to poke fun at it, this glossy, high-energy anthem became one of the decade’s most iconic (and most debated!) hits. Pure 80s. 💥
#Starship #WeBuiltThisCity #80sMusic
November 17, 2025 at 1:22 AM
🎶 80s Retroblast: On this week in 1985, Starship’s “We Built This City” hit #1 in America! 🏙️✨
Love it or love to poke fun at it, this glossy, high-energy anthem became one of the decade’s most iconic (and most debated!) hits. Pure 80s. 💥
#Starship #WeBuiltThisCity #80sMusic
Love it or love to poke fun at it, this glossy, high-energy anthem became one of the decade’s most iconic (and most debated!) hits. Pure 80s. 💥
#Starship #WeBuiltThisCity #80sMusic