I Love the '80s (2002)

Ahhh, 1980. On the cusp between the 70's and the 80's, the year 1980 sometimes feels like the odd man out. Not a disco queen, not yet a yuppie. But don't be fooled - 1980 has a lot to offer. What other year gave birth to Post-It Notes, CNN and today's diva in training Christina Aguilera? Not 1984, I can tell you that. 1980, do that to me one more time. Once is never enough. With a... oh, you get the picture.

While 1980 kicked off a brand new decade, 1981 was truly the year of birth. Everything from a new presidency to music television took shape within the twelve months that made 1981 a year featuring romance, transition, and a White House full of jellybeans.

No year epitomized the 80's more than 1982, and yes, you did dress like that. Fast, plugged in, and embarrassing, this is a year you can't forget; no matter how hard you try. As the third episode of the series, I Love The 80's 1982 will saturate the audience with vivid flashbacks of colorful people, defining moments, and mortifying fads that make people fondly remember their youth, and sometimes even blush.

The "like, totally gnarly". I mean "tubular" year that let us know that Michael Jackson was "not like other guys" introduced us to Tony Montana's (Al Pacino) "little friend" finally let us know that it was ok to be black and Miss America but not ok to get naked for Bob Guccione at the same time. There were those who just had to "adopt" the latest dolly.those who begged us to "Just Say No" and those who simply wanted to be "gagged with a spoon". 1983 also helped us to finally bury the disco, I mean Travolta's Stayin' Alive was the coffin's final nail.No? Disco R.I.P. We made fun of the preppie, gave up the 3D movie, cross-dressed on TV, started falling for Madonna.and her publicity stunts, and all the while we had the pleasure of looking down the road to what some thought might be the future according to George Orwell, 1984.

So..."Where's the beef?" In 1984. Arguably the greatest pop culture year of the decade, and maybe ever! From Film, to TV, to Music, 1984 delivered. Not only did it introduce us to some of music's most enduring artists (Madonna & Prince), but a few endearing one hit wonders (Corey Hart ring a bell?) as well as some surprise classics (Footloose, Miami Vice, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun").

You really can't even begin to discuss the year 1985 without the Brat Pack. Demi, Andrew, Rob, Emilio, Judd, Anthony Michael, Molly, Ally. I could go on all day. Oh wait, there's one more brat packer, the chick from St Elmo's Fire who ate the PB&J with Rob Lowe. Don't you remember?

1986 was a year of breaking out, and breaking the rules. From a triumvirate of rebellious teens taking a day off to a hairy cat-eating alien taking over a family's garage, there were plenty of rules that were broken in `86. And as far as break-outs go, there was a wheel-spinning game show hottie, an Australian with a rather large knife, and - of course - a teddy bear with a tape deck for a stomach. How futuristic!

You remember 1987. Glenn Close refused to be ignored, the Stock Market bubble burst, and the Beastie Boys fought to keep the party going. It was the year we realized what the 80's were all about - and we reveled in the excess, extravagance and bigness of it all!

Don't Worry, Be Happy. In 1988, everyone was whistling that tune. It's no wonder it was the year of dancing raisins and the debut of Prozac. 1988 was the feel good year of the decade. Whether you saw Rainman and Die Hard at the box office, gathered around your TV to catch Who's the Boss and The Wonder Years, or played Pictionary in your living room, you were looking for a good time.

Bad boys, bad boys what you gonna do, what you gonna do when they come for you? Here she is 1989 and the theme song to one of her babies COPS. CHIPS had become like a distant cousin and Adam 12 a weird uncle, or something. No more Jon and Ponch for us. 1989 is like the clever baby sister. The last of ten and she came of age with Reality TV and big fake boobs. And like a kid cleaning out her CD collection, she Bust A Move, gave the bands all haircuts, and cleared out some shelf space for the grunge to come no matter how hard Cher tried to Turn Back Time. She witnessed San Francisco shake, the Chinese stand up, the Berlin Wall fall down, and Zsa Zsa slap a Beverly Hills Cop. She carried us to the summit of Mount 1980's with all of it's new found silicone, TV cheese, movie fluff, and musical dirty laundry.