TBT

When People Thought the ‘Back to the Future II’ Hoverboard Was Real

The Mattel hovercraft was a figment of imagination, but that didn't stop kids (and their parents) from demanding where to buy one.

Juggalos often claim to be misunderstood.

Down to Clown: When Juggalos Were Declared a Criminal Gang by the Department of Justice

Fans of the horrorcore group Insane Clown Posse find themselves on the outskirts of society. They like it that way.

Uncrustables shook the sandwich and patent worlds.

How Uncrustables Reinvented the Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

A sealed, crustless sandwich shook the patent world to its core.

‘Ooga Chaka’: How Dancing ‘Baby Cha’ (Briefly) Took Over the ’90s

The boogying baby animation from ‘Ally McBeal’ was one of the internet's first viral memes, and was alternately charming and horrifying.

How ‘James at 15’ Helped Teen TV Dramas Come of Age

Airing in 1977, the show was an honest depiction of teen troubles—so honest that some adults couldn’t handle it.

Not a Speed Streak car. Also not a licensed hamster.

When Speed Streak Tried to Turn Hamsters into Toys

Tiny race cars running on hamster power angered animal advocates.

1994 - LA Gear Tech Light Up Sneakers - Banned By The NBA Commercial

Kid Lit: When LA Gear’s LA Lights Sneakers Created a Frenzy

The light-up sneakers were coveted by ’90s kids, but some adults considered them a public health hazard.

‘Finish Him!’: When ‘Mortal Kombat’ Caused a Moral Panic

The hyper-violent arcade smash of 1992 was too bloody even for Congress.

10,000 Questions: How ‘Trivial Pursuit’ Saved Board Games

The ’80s trivia game was turned down by board game giants. It wound up outselling Monopoly.

Perhaps Herb should have never entered the limelight.

Bad Beef: Remembering Burger King’s Infamous “Where’s Herb?” Commercial

In 1986, Burger King customers could win $5000 for spotting ad pitchman Herb in restaurants. It still wasn't enough to make them like him.

Do you know where your copy is these days?

When American Girl’s ‘The Care & Keeping of You’ Taught a Generation How to Grow Up

‘The Care & Keeping of You’ paved the way for countless puberty books to come.

‘Very Bad Lies’: When Kids Believed Bubble Yum’s Secret Ingredient Was Spider Eggs

Did Bubble Yum gum really contain spider eggs? Learn about the schoolyard urban legend that threatened the success of this popular chewing gum back in the 1970s.

When the Miniseries Ruled Television in the ‘70s and ‘80s

Discover the groundbreaking history of miniseries in television. From "Roots" to "Rich Man, Poor Man," these limited-run shows transformed the medium, and here‘s how.

The USS 'Flagg' was the grail of '80s toys.

When Hasbro Drove ‘80s Kids Wild With G.I. Joe’s USS ‘Flagg’ Play Set

Did you know that the USS Flagg was one of the biggest play sets of the 1980s? Dive into the world of G.I. Joe and learn about its massive size, intricate design, and the challenges it posed for parents.

First MUZZY Commercial - Je Suis La Jeune Fille!

Remembering Muzzy, the Clock-Eating Alien Who Haunted ’90s Kids

If you watched television in the 1990s, you probably saw an ad for a green blob that could teach you French.

OK Soda: The '90s Soft Drink for Gen X That Fell Flat

In 1994, Coca-Cola introduced a soda for the grunge era. It left a bitter taste.

Bob Geldof (L) and Midge Ure (R) outside a London recording studio while working on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" on November 25, 1984.

Band Aid: The Charitable—and Controversial—History of “Do They Know It's Christmas?”

Band Aid's charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" enlisted everyone from Sting to Bananarama, but its efforts to help the Ethiopian famine didn't go exactly as planned.

Lindsey Whitney Barry and Larry Drake have themselves a scary little Christmas in 'Tales from the Crypt' (1989).

“And All Through the House”: When ‘Tales From the Crypt’ Gifted Viewers With a Killer Santa

In 1989, the HBO anthology series 'Tales From the Crypt' resurrected a killer idea: a homicidal Kris Kringle.

'Scared Straight' tried teaching kids some tough lessons.

When ‘Scared Straight’ Shocked 1970s Television Viewers

The profanity-laden documentary managed to win both Emmys and an Oscar. But it didn't reduce juvenile delinquency.

When Crispin Glover Was Replaced by a Lookalike in ‘Back to the Future II’

Audiences thought the actor reprised his role as George McFly in the ‘Back to the Future’ sequels. But Glover had never stepped foot on set.

Furry Road: Remembering the Krushed Kitty Novelty Toy Scandal

In the late 1980s, thousands of cars were adorned with a seemingly crushed stuffed cat. Not everyone found it funny.

When Dr. Ruth Doled Out ‘80s-Era Sex Advice

The therapist gave advice about masturbation and contraception at a time those subjects were still taboo.

One Minute of Music: Remembering the HitClips Fad of the Early 2000s

The tiny chips held just 60 seconds of pop music, but kids still couldn’t get enough.

Big Bird and Cookie Monster once ventured into the big house.

Jail Bird: When ‘Sesame Street’ Developed a Prison Daycare Program

In the 1970s, Big Bird went to the big house (literally) when "Sesame Street" launched a prison daycare program.