The '80s

MTV launched at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981. Now you can relive the first two hours of the music network's existence.

Although “Careless Whisper” just might be George Michael's most enduring hit, the singer (who also wrote it) wasn’t a huge fan of the song.

Nickelodeon's animated doo-wop segments will look familiar to anyone who grew up on the channel in the 1980s and ‘90s.

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

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

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

With their fifth and final album, 1983’s 'Synchronicity,' The Police were on the verge of something big.

These 'bots really knew how to throw a party.

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

Hoverboard from 'Back to the Future: Part II' (1989).

Mattel hasn't invented real hoverboards yet, but soon you can bid on the next best thing.

Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran rocks a mull—er, bi-level haircut.

Whether you lived through the ‘80s or merely have absorbed some details via 'Stranger Things,' take a look at some of the myths surrounding the "me decade."

Tiffany, Michael, Heather, Josh, and Jessica (or something like that).

Are you a woman born in the 1980s? If so, there’s a pretty good chance your name is Jessica.

With 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' hitting theaters, it's easy to forget the game's controversial past.

Otto, Leslie Nielsen, and Robert Hays in 'Airplane!' (1980).

From Tom Hanks to Leslie Nielsen, you can find some of the most popular comedic stars of the ’80s on the streaming services of the 2020s.

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

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

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.

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

Original Garbage Pail Kids cards are more valuable than you might think.

The snot-covered Garbage Pail Kids trading cards were all the rage in the 1980s. Once just 25 cents a pack, rare cards can now command thousands of dollars.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this.

“Pizza Snotcorn” and “Poop Cookies” promise to taste delicious, even though they sound disgusting.

Spotting the elusive Waldo is an exercise in patience and frustration, even for the most eagle-eyed fans.

An older version of 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.'

'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,' may technically be middle-aged now—the frequently banned pre-teen tale by Judy Blume turned 50 in 2020—but its lessons are for the ages.

Footloose Warehouse Dance with Realistic Audio - (No Music)

The warehouse dance scene from ‘Footloose’ takes on a different tone with realistic audio.

Exploring Ghost Town Frozen in Time You Won't Believe Exists | Kitsault BC 【4K】

Unlike other ghost towns, Kitsault was not left to wither and crumble.

Kevin Bacon fought for our right to party, but he wasn’t the only one.

You'll want to know these bodacious slang terms.

The ‘80s were a time of superlatives: Hair was big; fashion was loud; even the slang was outrageous … or should we say, bodacious?

Robert Brian Wilson in 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' (1984).

'Silent Night, Deadly Night,' 1984's killer Santa slasher, led some psychologists to worry kids might develop panic disorders and even regress in their toilet training.

Relive MTV's First Two Hours on the Air in Real Time

"Careless Whisper": How George Michael's "Flippantly" Written Song Became a Career-Defining Hit That Still Endures

This Compilation of Nickelodeon Promos From the ‘80s and ‘90s Is Pure Nostalgia

When ‘Voltron’ Ruled the ’80s

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

10 Facts About The Police's 'Synchronicity'

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

Michael J. Fox's 'Back to the Future: Part II' Hoverboard Can Be Yours—for $80,000

7 Misconceptions About the ‘80s

The 100 Most Popular Baby Names from the ’80s

See How People Reacted to 'Dungeons & Dragons' in the 1980s

10 Great ’80s Comedies You Can Stream Right Now

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

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

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

11 of the Most Valuable Garbage Pail Kids Cards

Gross Out Your Dinner Guests With ‘The Garbage Pail Kids Cookbook’

15 Facts About 'Where's Waldo?'

11 Facts About Judy Blume’s 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret'

‘Footloose’ Without Music Is As Awkward As You’d Expect

This Canadian Ghost Town Is a Perfectly Preserved 1980s Time Capsule

This ’80s Movie Montage Features the Decade’s Best Dance Scenes

1980s Slang: 27 Totally Tubular Terms

Santa Slays: When 'Silent Night, Deadly Night' Caused a Public Panic