THE '80S

'Malcom in the Middle' star Frankie Muniz accepts the award for Favorite Television Show at Nickelodeon's 2001 Kids' Choice Awards.

25 Fun Facts About Nickelodeon's TV Heyday

Here's what went on behind the scenes, as uncovered by Matthew Klickstein in his oral history of Nickelodeon's golden age.

Using Your New Commodore 64 (in 1982)

In past weeks, I've brought you lots of retro videos about computers, but this one is a little different. Here we have a full two-hour video explaining in near-excruciating depth the inner workings of the Commodore 64.

The Man Who Pressed His Luck ... and Won

In 1984, ice cream truck driver Michael Larson won a record $110,237 on the game show—and he did it by gaming the system.

What Portable Computers Were Like in 1987

Our definition of portability has changed over the years, from 1975's IBM 5100 (what we used to call a "luggable" computer) all the way to today's ultrabooks, which are finally actually "notebook" sized -- and still have halfway decent battery life.

12 Very Special 'Very Special Episodes'

From the creepy bicycle man to Alex Keaton's alcoholic uncle, here are some of TV's most memorable teachable moments.

The Alternate Ending of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining

The version of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining that most of us have seen ends with two iconic images: Jack Torrance frozen in the snow, and a long shot through the lobby of the Overlook Hotel to a photo dated July 4, 1921, in which the doomed caretaker some

12 Nutty Dungeons & Dragons Media Mentions From the 1980s

In the 1980s, U.S. and Canadian media were up in arms over Dungeons & Dragons and the problem of teen suicide.

The Monsanto House of the Future was an attraction at Disneyland's Tomorrowland 1957 to 1967.

What People In the '50s and '60s Thought Houses Would Look Like in 1986

In 1957, Monsanto demonstrated its vision for future housing, emphasizing one word: plastics. Its House of the Future was displayed at Disneyland from 1957 through 1967, and it envisioned a future home from the then-distant future of 1986.

How Did Nickelodeon Make Green Slime?

Don't say, "I don't know." Since making its debut on 'You Can't Do That on Television,' Nickelodeon’s green slime has become an icon of pop culture.

Scab Story: The 1987 NFL Strike

The specter of an extended work stoppage means we don’t know exactly when we’ll get to watch pro football again. We’re not experts on the lockout, but we thought this might be a good time to fill you in on the details of the NFL’s last major labor crisis

White House Celebrity Santas of the 1980s

When it gets this close to Christmas, you can barely turn around without spying someone in a Santa suit. Although most of these Saint Nicks are just old guys who happen to have the man in red’s robust physique, every year some famous Kris Kringles don th

The face that launched a thousand angry letters.

7 Controversial Candies From Around the World

Chewing bubblegum, eating a chocolate bar, and sucking on a lollipop are among the many innocent joys of childhood. But if you found one of these controversial sweets in your kid's trick-or-treat bag, it might leave a sour taste in your mouth.

10 Smurfy Facts About The Smurfs

Though most people tend to think of the 1980s Saturday morning cartoon series or the later live action films when they hear "The Smurfs," those little blue characters were first introduced in 1958, in a Belgian comic book series created by the famed artis