TBT

In 1989, Cher was back with a new album and a new look—one that prompted viewers, and even the U.S. Navy, to worry she was displaying too much of her cheeky side.

Kids thought they were buying an adorable little pet when they ordered a monkey from their favorite comic book. What they got was a wild animal that pooped everywhere and attacked their mothers' bridge clubs.

'Mousercise' encouraged kids to get off the couch and get moving, even though Mickey Mouse sometimes had trouble keeping up.

Pop Rocks—General Foods' famously carbonated candy—flew off shelves in the 1970s, but rumors of exploding children brought the food fad to an untimely end.

Radio personality Dr. Demento spent four decades curating weird novelty songs for an enraptured audience—including a young "Weird" Al Yankovic.

In 2001, Sony was accused of enlisting a fake movie critic to rave about films like Rob Schneider's 'The Animal.' But was Manning really a figment of someone's imagination?

Fonzie accepting a dare from a beach bum launched the fifth season of 'Happy Days' in 1977. Years later, it launched a phrase that swept the country.

After 'Star Wars,' toy company Kenner thought they had another sci-fi hit with 'Alien.' No one seemed to consider the problem of selling toys for a film that could have gotten an X rating.

In 1985, consumers couldn't get enough of a two-calorie carbonated soda that tasted like chocolate—so grocery stores had to ration it.

In the 1980s, 83-year-old Clara Peller became a star after uttering her famous "Where's the beef?" line for Wendy's. But her decision to peddle spaghetti sauce ground that relationship to a halt.

The Bedazzler—a rhinestone-stamping arts and crafts tool—promised to turn plain pairs of jeans into designer duds. If you squinted.

In 1976, red M&Ms were pulled from shelves. In 1987, they staged a comeback thanks to an enterprising college student.