The '80s

According to John Goodman, 'Die Hard' star Bruce Willis was once one of New York City's hottest bartenders.

Tubby Baxter and Gary Gnu in The Great Space Coaster.

The popular kid's show 'The Great Space Coaster' ran from 1981 to 1986, won awards, and employed some of the minds behind 'Sesame Street.' So why is it so hard to find?

When the first Costco location opened in Seattle in 1983, a membership only cost $20 for the whole year.

As familiar—even iconic—as many 1980s movies have become in audiences’ minds, there are always a handful that get overlooked, or thankfully rediscovered, thanks to re-releases and anniversaries.

Richard Simmons, now in motivational toy form.

The 8-inch figure made by NECA sports the fitness guru's trademark tank top, shorts, and white sneakers. Deal-a-Meal cards not included.

Nick Feldman (L) and Jack Hues (R) of Wang Chung in May 1987.

The music video for Wang Chung's hit song was banned by the BBC because an advising physician thought it might induce seizures in some viewers.

These chalky discs are headed back to your Necco' the woods soon.

Two years after Necco shut its doors for good, Necco Wafers are headed back to your necco’ the woods.

Ozzie Canseco, the identical twin brother of baseball legend Jose Canseco, had all of the tools—but not nearly enough of the practice.

Care Bears were one of the great merchandising success stories of the 1980s.

The Care Bears were the result of Kenner wanting a unique teddy bear and American Greetings looking for a greeting card you could hug.

Jean-Claude Van Damme—a.k.a. The "Muscles from Brussels"—has had a long and storied career full of highs and lows, including the time he threw a papaya at a producer's head.

Sorry, everyone, an ‘Office’ reboot doesn’t look likely right now—but we have good news about that ‘Friends’ reunion.

Bo Jackson and the "Bo Knows" campaign helped Nike finally overtake Reebook in the early 1990s.

The two-sport athlete slammed home runs in baseball and rushed for 950 yards in football, but it was an endorsement deal with Nike that made Bo Jackson a household name.

Back to the Future was the summer of 1985's big box office winner.

Four John Candy movies, one massive Disney bomb, and a New Coke with which to wash it all down. The summer of 1985 was one to remember.

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Game night became fright night for players sitting around some of these forgotten board games, including one that "bit" players on the finger.

The Flowbee revolutionized the highly suspect idea of cutting one's own hair.

The Flowbee vacuum cleaner attachment became an infomercial sensation for promising to trim hair with the help of the household Hoover.

In the first edition of "Throwback," our all-new YouTube series, we take a deep dive into the bizarre history of Sea-Monkeys and Harold von Braunhut, the man who created them—then funneled the millions he made into illegal activities.

In February 1978, writer Leigh Brackett delivered the first draft of 'The Empire Strikes Back.' It ended up being far from the classic we all know today.

Lea Thompson and Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future (1985).

The fact that Marty's parents don't recognize him at the end of the 'Back to the Future' has been bugging fans for years. But according to the screenwriter, this isn't a plot hole.

Lee Norris and Ciara Moriarty in Zodiac (2007).

From 'Blade Runner' to 'Alien,' streaming services have alternate or expanded cuts to make your favorite movies seem new again.

Stephen McHattie as Grant Mazzy in Bruce McDonald's Pontypool (2008).

Movies don't have to take a James Bond-esque trip around the globe to entertain. Some barely leave the room.

Soloflex ads were must-see television in the 1980s.

The all-in-one exercise machine used revolutionary marketing to convince consumers they could achieve physical perfection. Most people wound up using it as a clothes rack.