TBT

Who knew drinking soda could be so lucrative?

When Pepsi Tried Giving Away $1 Billion With the Help of a Chimp

The soft drink company teased consumers with a giant contest offer. But could they really pay it out?

Dee Snider defends artistic freedom during the 1985 PMRC Senate hearing on the perils of rock music.

Parental Advisory: When Tipper Gore Took on ‘80s Rock Music

Suggestive lyrics from bands like Twisted Sister led to the 1985 Parents Music Resource Center Senate hearing on whether musicians should be allowed to rock without parental supervision.

Dolly the sheep created a media frenzy in 1997.

Dollymania: When Dolly the Sheep Created a ’90s Media Sensation

Dolly the sheep was the first animal cloned from a single adult cell—and raised a lot of questions about the future of human cloning.

When 'Woody Wagons' Ruled the Road

Cars with wood paneling used to be all the rage. And yes, it made perfect sense at the time.

Bar Fight: When ‘Cheers’ Robots Took Over for the Actors

Animatronic versions of bar patrons Norm and Cliff made two actors named George and John very unhappy.

Melanie Chartoff as Principal Grace Musso With Corin Nemec as "Parker Lewis Can't Lose"

The Brat Pack: When ‘Parker Lewis Can’t Lose’ Took on ‘Ferris Bueller’

In the fall of 1990, two shows about meta high-schoolers premiered. Only one would last through the holidays.

The Tragic Life of Clippy, the World's Most Hated Virtual Assistant

The happy little paper clip made Microsoft Office users absolutely miserable. Naturally, that didn't stop the internet from writing erotica about him.

Conair Trimline Phone model HAC SW205 Ringing

Loud and Clear: When See-Through Telephones Ruled the ‘90s

The transparent novelty phones were a fixture in many a teenager's bedroom.

‘Eat Lead!’: When Activists Hacked Talking Barbie

Thanks to the Barbie Liberation Organization, the congenial doll barked military orders and screamed "vengeance is mine!" during a very weird holiday 1993 toy season.

Think Pink: How Mattel Built Barbie’s Dreamhouse

The vivacious doll has held an expansive real estate portfolio since 1962, when her first (foldable) Dreamhouse was unveiled.

'It's a Wonderful Life' got an '80s makeover.

‘Colorizers’: When Ted Turner and Hollywood Clashed Over Colorizing Classic Movies

Media mogul Ted Turner didn’t hesitate to alter classic Hollywood movies, claiming: “The last time I checked, I owned the films.”

Murphy’s Flaw: When Eddie Murphy Fooled Moviegoers in ‘Best Defense’

In 1984, audiences were excited for a new Murphy movie. What they got was a glorified cameo.

Consumers could go through bags of Frito-Lay's fat-free chips. Then the bag would go right through them.

May Cause Anal Leakage: The Olestra Fat-Free Snack Controversy of the 1990s

After decades of development and $200 million spent, Procter & Gamble thought they had the perfect snack food additive with olestra. Too bad it caused “rectal urgency.”

Dye Hard: How Blue Man Group Took Performance Art Mainstream

The Smurf-colored trio came up in the counterculture. Then Intel came calling.

‘Uncomfortable’: Remembering the Quick Demise of ‘The Chevy Chase Show’

In 1993, Fox thought they could win the late-night wars with the premiere of "The Chevy Chase Show." Unfortunately, that was until Chevy Chase walked on stage.

Voltron Defender of The Universe | Final victory | Kids Cartoon | Videos for Kids

When ‘Voltron’ Ruled the ’80s

The cartoon from Japan was perfect for an American audience--so long as producers edited out all the beheadings.

Richard Pryor | Pryor's Place | Episode 1 | High Noon at 5:30 P.M. | 1984

When R-Rated Comedian Richard Pryor Debuted His Children’s Show, ‘Pryor’s Place’

In 1984, the explicit comic turned his attention to Saturday morning kid’s television.

Money for Nothing: The 20th Anniversary of Fox’s Unsettling ‘Joe Millionaire’

In 2003, Fox invited viewers to watch a construction worker lie through his teeth about being rich.

These 'bots really knew how to throw a party.

Remembering the Chuck E. Cheese and ShowBiz Pizza Robot Wars of the 1980s

Before Chuck E. Cheese was officially a mouse, he was a rat. And the backstabbing around him was epic.

Remembering Dorf, Tim Conway’s Straight-to-Video Comic Phenomenon

The short-statured athlete was, in the words of one reporter, the hottest (and shortest) star since Yoda.

Christian Bale vs. Adam West | Celebrity Deathmatch

When MTV's ‘Celebrity Deathmatch’ Ruled the Ring

The stop-motion hit pitted celebrities in gory battles to the death.

Morton Downey Jr. in a typically subtle attempt at publicity.

A Mouthful: When 'The Morton Downey Jr. Show' Ruled the Airwaves

In the 1980s, provocative talk show host Morton Downey Jr. traded barbs (and fists) with guests. Then he took it a step too far.

‘Clap On ... Clap Off!’ The Clapper Sensation of the ’80s

The device that could turn TVs and lights on with a couple of claps became a pop culture sensation, even though its makers worried people would associate it with venereal disease.

Downsizing: The Shrinky Dinks Phenomenon of the ’70s and ’80s

In 1973 Wisconsin, two Cub Scout leaders discovered a neat trick involving heated plastic. A classic toy was born.

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