TBT

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Overall Charm: Remembering Hasbro's My Buddy Doll

The soft and inanimate companion was Hasbro's attempt to create a "macho" doll market for boys. It was not a success.

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A Tasty History of Edible Underwear

The adult novelty item has a surprisingly rich history involving organized crime, food science, and the difficulties in patenting the name "Candypants."

A Quick History of Hidden Camera TV Commercials

The popular '80s spots depicted people who couldn't believe they were drinking Folgers instant coffee. Should we?

The Great Bart Simpson T-Shirt School Ban of 1990

School districts around the country were unhappy with the messages of 'The Simpsons' shirts, which advised people not to have a cow and to consider eating their shorts.

Hard Sell: A History of the Pet Rock

The Pet Rock was the brainchild of copywriter Gary Dahl, who thought America needed a laugh during the largely humorless post-Vietnam and Watergate era.

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A Hazardous History of the Slip 'N Slide

The popular backyard toy has been a hit with kids since 1961. Unfortunately, it had catastrophic consequences for adults.

The Long Stride of Tony Little, Infomercial Titan

The infomercial icon has sold billions in products, including his legendary Gazelle elliptical trainer. But an errant school bus almost derailed him for good.

A Timeless History of the Swatch Watch

The colorful plastic watches did more than start a fashion trend in the 1980s. They helped rescue the Swiss watch industry from collapse.

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The Rise, Fall, and Resurgence of the Fanny Pack

Despite being the butt of jokes, the fanny pack has been around for thousands of years, and will likely be around for thousands more.

A Fad to Dye For: The Brief Life of Hypercolor Clothing

The novelty shirts, shorts, and pants were one of the hottest clothing items of 1991, with a special dye that changed color in response to temperature changes. Before long, Hypercolor proved to be too popular for its own good.

Spit Take: The Story of Big League Chew

The faux-tobacco shredded gum has been going strong since 1980, when two ballplayers decided the real thing was too disgusting to chew.

BCI / Sunset Home Visual Entertainment via Amazon

Traumatic Episodes: A History of the ABC Afterschool Special

For nearly a quarter-century, the 'ABC Afterschool Special' taught kids about the harsh realities of life. Producers had only one rule: No fairy tale endings.

Batmania: When Batman Ruled the Summer of 1989

In the summer of 1989, there was no escaping Tim Burton's 'Batman.' The Caped Crusader was on everything from T-shirts to bed sheets—but the studio still claimed the film lost money.

Up in the Air: When 'Balloon Boy' Took Flight

Ten years ago, the world was captivated by a little boy thought to be trapped in a runaway aircraft. The truth was a lot stranger.

Hollywood's Brief Love Affair With Young Einstein Star Yahoo Serious

Australian actor Yahoo Serious came out of nowhere to conquer Hollywood with the 1989 hit 'Young Einstein.' Then, just as quickly as he appeared, he vanished.

Good Fortune: The Story of Miss Cleo's $1 Billion Psychic Empire

The self-professed medium drew millions of callers—and millions of dollars in government fines for deceptive advertising.

When 'Courage' Caused Controversy for Dan Rather

In 1986, the famed news anchor spent a week defending the puzzling new way he ended his broadcasts.

When Y2K Sent Us Into a Digital Depression

Sometime during the late 1990s, consumers noticed that their credit cards with expiration dates in the year 2000 were being declined by merchants.

When Mr. Rogers Taught Kids About Mutually Assured Nuclear Destruction

The celebrated chldren's host aired segments in 1983 that demonstrated the perils of nuclear war in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

QVC's Strangest Gift Item: The Poopin' Moose

"What better way to dispense your candy than through the butt of a moose?"

Udder Success: A Brief History of the ‘Got Milk?’ Campaign

The “Got Milk?” tagline became as popular as “Just Do It.” But did it really convince people back in the 1990s to drink more milk? Uncover the history of this iconic marketing campaign here.

When David Bowie Launched His Own Internet Service Provider

BowieNet allowed users to download music clips, participate in live chats, and get their own @davidbowie.com email address.

NBC Network, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Weird Science: The Mr. Wizard Story

'Watch Mr. Wizard,' which aired on NBC from 1951 to 1965, featured host Don Herbert performing a series of science experiments using everyday objects—glass bottles, cans, aquariums, matches—to illustrate the amazing world of physics.

The Time Freddy Krueger Became a Nightmare for Will Smith

The rapper's 1988 song, "Nightmare on My Street," made reference to a killer named Fred who was "burnt like a weenie." New Line Cinema didn't find it funny, but it has just been rediscovered online.

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