80 Minutes of '80s and '90s TV Commercials

If you're of a certain age, you'll recall "TV commercials." These were short, un-skippable advertisements that would appear between programs, shown on a boxy device called a television. Younger readers may be somewhat familiar with a similar notion via YouTube, although there's often a "skip" button. In my day, we skipped commercials by zoning out, getting a drink, or hurrying to the bathroom.

In the '80s and early '90s, TV commercials explored a level of cheesy weirdness that may not be matched by any other period. It was the heyday of music collections (tape, LP, and maybe even CD) paid for by mail, corny truck commercials, Doublemint gum spots featuring twins, ads for newspaper delivery (how quaint!), and lots of Radio Shack promotions.

To celebrate the magic of YouTube, here are 80 minutes of commercials from the '80s and early '90s. These appear to be taped from TV broadcasts in Florida, so the local ads are Florida-tastic. If this isn't enough for you, there are hours more.