The '80s Ruled

Featuring the best 80s music videos, TV shows, 80s celebrities and more!

You are here: Home / Archives for 2021

Archives for 2021

The Challenge Scene from ‘Tap’ Featuring Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. from 1989

By Leave a Comment

Tap was released on February 10, 1989 and starred Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. In the movie, Max Washington (Hines) who was just released from prison must decide whether he wants to return to a life of crime, or pursue his passion of tap-dancing.

In this famous scene, Little Mo played by Sammy Davis Jr. announces that Max has issued a challenge saying that all the old timers have lost their legs. What ensues is an impressive display of tap-dancing from both the old-timers and Max. Enjoy this look back at the challenge scene from 1989’s Tap.

Please follow and like us:

Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson – ‘Pancho and Lefty’ Music Video from 1983

By Leave a Comment

In 1983, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard scored a number one single on the Country charts with Pancho and Lefty, the second single from their duet album of the same name. The first single, Reasons to Quit, was also a top ten single on the country charts, peaking at number six in ’83.

Enjoy this look back at Willie and Merle’s music video for Pancho and Lefty from 1983 as well as a live version from years later of Reasons to Quit.

Please follow and like us:

Janet Jackson – ‘Nasty’ Music Video from 1986

By Leave a Comment

In 1986, Janet Jackson released Nasty, her second single from her album Control. Nasty peaked at number three on the Hot 100 charts, but topped the R&B charts in ’86. It was her second number one R&B single in a row. What Have You Done For Me Lately was the first single from the album, and it became her first number one single on the R&B charts.

Enjoy this look back at Janet Jackson’s music video for Nasty from 1986 as well as her music video for What Have You Done For Me Lately as well!

Please follow and like us:

Mork & Mindy Blooper Gag Reels

By Leave a Comment

If you grew up in the ’80s, then you were probably a fan of Mork & Mindy like us. Mork & Mindy aired on ABC from September 14, 1978 to May 27, 1982. The show was a spinoff of a highly successful episode of Happy Days. It starred a then-unknown actor named Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrestrial who comes to Earth from the planet Ork, and Pam Dawbar as Mindy McConnell, his human roommate, friend, and eventually love interest.

Enjoy this look back at the hilarious blooper gag reels from Mork & Mindy!

Please follow and like us:

Electric Light Orchestra – ‘Hold On Tight’ Music Video from 1981

By Leave a Comment

In 1981, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) scored a top ten hit with their single Hold On Tight, the first single from their 1981 album Time – ELO. Hold On Tight was their seventh and final top ten hit on the Hot 100 charts, although they did score a couple more hits around the world with 1983’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King and 1986’s Calling America.

Enjoy this look back at ELO’s music video for Hold On Tight as well as for Rock ‘n’ Roll Is King and Calling America!

Please follow and like us:

The Eagles – ‘I Can’t Tell You Why’ Music Video

By Leave a Comment

I Can’t Tell You Why was the third and final single released from The Eagles’ 1979 album The Long Run. It was released as a single on February 8, 1980 and peaked at number eight on the Hot 100 charts and number three on the AC charts. The first two singles from the album were Heartache Tonight, a number one hit on the Hot 100 charts, and The Long Run, a number eight single on the Hot 100 charts as well.

Enjoy this look back at The Eagles music video for I Can’t Tell You Why as well as the music video for The Long Run!

Please follow and like us:

The 1987 New Year’s Eve Dog Singing Contest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

By Leave a Comment

In 1987, Johnny Carson held his 14th annual New Year’s Eve Singing Dog Contest on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. There are six dogs in the contest, and the winner is determined by an applause meter.

Enjoy this look back at the annual Singing Dog Contest on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1987!

Please follow and like us:

The Cast of Red Dawn Then and Now (1984 – 2021)

By Leave a Comment

Photo via Hollywood Celebrity on YouTube

Red Dawn was released to theaters on August 10, 1984, and was a success at the box office, and has since become a cult favorite among ’80s adventure film enthusiasts. The movie followed a group of teenagers calling themselves Wolverines who take on the Soviet Union who had invaded the United States with their Cuban and Nicaraguan allies.

The Red Dawn cast consisted of:

Patrick Swayze as Jed Eckert
C. Thomas Howell as Robert Morris
Lea Thompson as Erica Mason
Charlie Sheen as Matt Eckert
Darren Dalton as Daryl Bates
Jennifer Grey as Toni Mason
Brad Savage as Danny
Doug Toby as Arturo ‘Aardvark’ Mondragon
Powers Boothe as Lieutenant Colonel Andrew ‘Andy’ Tanner, USAF
Ben Johnson as Mr. Jack Mason
Lois Kimbrell as Mrs. Mason
Harry Dean Stanton as Mr. Tom Eckert
Ron O’Neal as Colonel Ernesto Bella
William Smith as Colonel Strelnikov
Vladek Sheybal as General Bratchenko
Frank McRae as Mr. Teasdale
Roy Jenson as Mr. Samuel Morris
Pepe Serna as Mr. Mondragon
Lane Smith as Mayor Bates
Judd Omen as Nicaraguan Captain Rada

Enjoy this look back at the cast of Red Dawn then and now!

Please follow and like us:

Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray Talk About Ghostbusters on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1984

By Leave a Comment

In 1984, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray made their first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to talk about their new movie, Ghostbusters. Aykroyd came out first, and he was quite nervous to be on the show. As usual, Murray came out second and was as calm as ever. Neither of them had any idea how popular Ghostbusters would become.

Enjoy this look back at Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson back in 1984!

Please follow and like us:

Watch the Final Scene in An Officer and a Gentleman One More Time

By Leave a Comment

An Officer and a Gentleman was released in 1982 and starred Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and Louis Gosseett, Jr. The movie told the story of Zack, played by Richard Gere, who is a Navy Aviation Officer Candidate who is beginning his training at Aviation Candidate School. While in school, Zack meets and falls in love with Paula, played by Debra Winger. In the final scene of the movie, Zack literally sweeps Paula off her feet!

Enjoy this look back at the final scene in 1982’s An Officer and a Gentleman!

Please follow and like us:

Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – ‘It Takes Two’ Music Video from 1988

By Leave a Comment

It Takes Two by hip hop duo Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock is one of the greatest hip-hop singles of all time. It was the first single released from their 1988 album of the same name. It peaked at number 36 on the Hot 100 charts and number three on the Dance charts. The song has since been covered and sampled by several artists, and it was used in the films Iron Man 2, Bumblebee, The Proposal, Sisters, The Disaster Artist, Love & Basketball, and Spies in Disguise.

Enjoy this look back at the 1988 music video for It Takes Two from Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock!

Please follow and like us:

Poncho the Singing Parrot Amazes Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1981

By 1 Comment

Back in 1981, Poncho the singing parrot and his trainer David Frank appeared on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and Poncho’s singing truly impressed Johnny and the audience. Johnny remarked that most birds that appeared on the show were duds and weren’t in the mood to perform when they came on the show, but not Poncho!

Enjoy this look back at Poncho the singing parrot on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1981!

Please follow and like us:

The Cast of The Thorn Birds Then and Now (1983 – 2021)

By Leave a Comment

Photo via Hollywood Celebrity on YouTube

The Thorn Birds was an ABC miniseries that ran from March 27 to 30, 1983. It became the second-highest rated miniseries of all time in the United States behind Roots. The series focused on the Cleary family and spans the years 1915 – 1969.

The main cast of The Thorn Birds consisted of:

  • Richard Chamberlain as Ralph de Bricassert
  • Ken Howard as Rainer Hartheim
  • Christopher Plummer as Archbiship Vittorio Contini-Verchese
  • Bryan Brown as Luke O’Neill
  • Brett Cullen as Bob Cleary
  • Stephanie Faracy as Judy
  • Barry Corbin as Pete
  • John de Lancie as Alastair MacQueen
  • Barbara Stanwyck as Mary Carson
  • Jean Simmons as Fiona ‘Fee’ Cleary
  • Piper Laurie as Anne Mueller
  • Earl Holliman as Luddie Mueller
  • Rachal Ward as Maggie Cleary

Enjoy this look back at the cast of The Thorn Birds then in 1983 and now in 2021!

Please follow and like us:

The Cast of Aliens Then and Now (1986-2021)

By Leave a Comment

Photo via Hollywood Celebrity on YouTube

Aliens was released in 1986 and starred Sigourney Weaver as Lieutenant Ellen Ripley, the sole survivor of an alien attack on her ship. The movie was a hit with both audiences and critics, and it is now considered by to be one of the greatest science fiction movies from the ’80s.

In addition to Weaver, the cast of Aliens consisted of:

  • Bill Paxton as Private Hudson
  • Carrie Henn as Newt
  • Michael Biehn as Corporal Hicks
  • Paul Reiser as Burke
  • Lance Henriksen as Bishop
  • Daniel Kash as Private Spunkmeyer
  • William Hope as Lieutenant Gorman
  • Jenette Goldstein as Private Vasquez
  • Al Matthews as Sergeant Apone
  • Mark Rolston as Private Drake
  • Ricco Ross as Private Frost

Enjoy this look back at the cast of Aliens in 1986 and now in 2021!

Please follow and like us:

The Turkey Dinner Scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

By Leave a Comment

When it comes to great Christmas movies from the ’80s, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is definitely in our top five! There are so many great scenes in the movie, and one of our favorites is the turkey dinner scene. This scene has so many great individual moments from Clark, Aunt Bethany, Cousin Eddie, and of course the climax of the scene when Clark cuts into the Christmas turkey.

Enjoy this look back at the turkey dinner scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation from 1989!

Please follow and like us:

Flash Gordon – Crashing the Wedding of Emperor Ming Scene

By Leave a Comment

Flash Gordon is a 1980 space opera that starred Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon, and Max von Sydow as Emperor Ming the Merciless. Flash ultimately saves the Earth from annihilation, and one of our favorite scenes from the movie is when Flash crashed the wedding of Ming and Dale Arden, Flash’s love interest. During the process of Flash’s crash landing, the bow of his rocket ship impales Ming. All of this takes place to the sound of Queen’s song Flash that was recorded specifically for the movie. The scene is cheesy, flashy, dorky, and immensely entertaining all at the same time!

Enjoy this look back at Flash Gordon crashing the wedding of Ming and Dale on a rocket ship!

Please follow and like us:

Star Trek II Wrath of Khan – The First Faceoff Between Captain Kirk and Khan

By 1 Comment

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was released to theaters on June 4, 1982 and grossed over $97 million at the box office. According to Moviefone.com, it set a world record for its first-day box office gross. It is highly regarded as the greatest “Star Trek” film of all time, which is saying something considering how many Star Trek films have been produced in the last 40 years.

It’s refreshing to see a movie like this without fancy CGI, but rather good ole fashioned acting with jumping and rolling around every time lasers hit the ships!

Enjoy this look back at the first faceoff between Captain Kirk and Khan played by William Shatner and Ricardo Montalban!

Please follow and like us:

Bloodsport – The Final Fight Between Frank Dux and Chong Li

By Leave a Comment

Image via Parliament Cinema Club 4k on YouTube

Bloodsport was released in 1988 and starred Jean Claude Van Damme as U.S. Army Captain Frank Dux who travels to Hong Kong to participate in an illegal martial arts tournament in Hong Kong called the Kumite. The film made over $50 million at the box office on a budget of less that $2.3 million and has since become a cult favorite with followers from around the world. The climax of the movie features Dux (Van Damme) fighting Chong Li played by Bolo Yeung in an epic battle!

Enjoy this look back at the final fight scene from 1988’s Bloodsport!

Please follow and like us:

Sam Kinison Screaming, Laughing, and Entertaining on British TV in the Mid ’80s

By Leave a Comment

In the mid ’80s, the late Sam Kinison appeared on British TV, and the small studio audience was definitely in for a shock, not to mention the thousands watching at home. One of the comments from the video was spot on, ” Possibly one of the greatest and most toxic comedians of all time. He can make you feel his pain and turn it into humor. RIP Kinison”. Amen to that!

Enjoy this look back at Sam Kinison on British TV in the mid ’80s!

Please follow and like us:

The Cast of Police Academy – Then and Now (1984 – 2021)

By Leave a Comment

Photo via Hollywood Celebrity on YouTube

Police Academy was released to theaters in 1984. The film had a budget of $4.5 million, and brought in over $149 million worldwide. It spawned six sequels in the Police Academy franchise, and the first is by far our favorite movie in the series! The cast for the original Police Academy were:

Steve Guttenberg as Cadet Carey Mahoney
Kim Cattrall as Cadet Karen Thompson
Bubba Smith as Cadet Moses Hightower
Donovan Scott as Cadet Leslie Barbara
Michael Winslow as Cadet Larvell Jones
Andrew Rubin as Cadet George Martin
David Graf as Cadet Eugene Tackleberry
Bruce Mahler as Cadet Douglas Fackler
Marion Ramsey as Cadet Laverne Hooks
Brant Von Hoffman as Cadet Kyle Blankes
Scott Thomson as Cadet Chad Copeland
G. W. Bailey as Lieutenant Thaddeus Harris
George Gaynes as Commandant Eric Lassard
Leslie Easterbrook as Sergeant Debbie Callahan
George R. Robertson as Chief Henry J. Hurst
Debralee Scott as Violet Fackler
Ted Ross as Captain Reed
Doug Lennox as Main Bad Guy
Georgina Spelvin as Hooker
Don Lake as Mr. Wig
Michael J. Reynolds as Office Executive
Gary Farmer as Sidewalk Store Owner
John Hawkes as Tesky Truck Driver
Kay Hawtrey as Surprise Party Lady
Dar Robinson as Plaid Thug
TJ Scott as Tough
Hugh Wilson as Angry Driver

Enjoy this look back at the cast of 1984’s Police Academy then and now!

Please follow and like us:

Footloose – Ren Teaches Willard How To Dance

By Leave a Comment

Footloose is one of our favorite movies from the ’80s! There were so many great scenes in the movie, but one of our favorite scenes is when Ren (Kevin Bacon) teaches Willard (Chris Penn) how to dance to Deniece Williams’ Let’s Hear it for the Boy.

Enjoy this look back at Ren teaching Willard how to dance from Footloose!

Please follow and like us:

The Cast of Raiders of the Lost Ark Then and Now (1981 – 2021)

By Leave a Comment

Photo via the Hollywood Celebrity YouTube channel

Raiders of the Lost Ark was released on June 12, 1981, and has become one of the most popular action-adventure movies of all time. The film portrays Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) as a globe-trotting archaeologist in search of an ancient relic, the Lost Ark that is said to make an army invincible.

The main cast of the film are:

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood
Paul Freeman as René Belloq
Ronald Lacey as Major Arnold Toht
John Rhys-Davies as Sallah
Denholm Elliott as Marcus Brody

Enjoy this look back at the main and supporting cast of Raiders of the Lost Ark then and now!

Please follow and like us:

The Cast of Platoon – Then and Now (1986 – 2021)

By Leave a Comment

Photo via the Hollywood Celebrity YouTube channel

Platoon was released in 1986. The film was based on director Oliver Stone’s experience during the Vietnam War, and it follows a U.S. Army volunteer (Charlie Sheen) serving in Vietnam while his Platoon Sergeant and his Squad Leader (Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe) argue over the morality in the platoon and the conduct of the war. The movie starred:

Charlie Sheen as Chris
Tom Berenger as Sgt. Barnes
Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias
Keith David as King
Forest Whitaker as Big Harold
Francesco Quinn as Rhah
Kevin Dillon as Bunny
John C. McGinley as Sgt. O’Neill
Reggie Johnson as Junior
Mark Moses as Lt. Wolfe
Corey Glover as Francis
Johnny Depp as Lerner
Chris Pedersen as Crawford
Bob Orwig as Gardner
Corkey Ford as Manny
David Neidorf as Tex
Richard Edson as Sal
Tony Todd as Warren
Dale Dye as Captain Harris
Paul Sanchez as Doc

Enjoy this look back at the cast of Platoon in 1986 and now in 2021!

Please follow and like us:

The ‘Fletch’ Airplane Scene

By Leave a Comment

Chevy Chase made so many hilarious movies in the ’80s. National Lampoon’s Vacation, European Vacation, and Christmas Vacation were just a few, but one of our favorite movies from Chase was 1985’s Fletch. In this memorable scene from the movie, Fletch visits the airport disguised as an airplane mechanic named Gordon Liddy in order to check out Alan Stanwyk’s plane. This scene has so many great one-liners!!!

Enjoy this look back at the airplane scene from Fletch!

Please follow and like us:

Arnold Schwarzenegger Promoting ‘The Terminator’ on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1984

By Leave a Comment

In 1984, Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to promote the first Terminator movie. It’s fascinating to watch how confident and relaxed Arnold was on the set with Johnny. I almost lost it when he told Johnny why he got into bodybuilding!

Enjoy this look back at Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1984!

Please follow and like us:

Ray Parker Jr. -‘Ghostbusters’ Music Video from 1984

By Leave a Comment

Ghostbusters the movie was released in theaters during the summer of 1984, and it became one of the most successful and most remembered movies of not only the ’80s, but of all time! The film made over $295 million at the box office making it one of the most successful comedy films of the ’80s.

The title track on the movie soundtrack by Ray Parker Jr. is also one of the most successful and most remembered songs from the ’80s. It spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the summer of ’84, and it was Parker Jr.’s most successful song of his career. He had previously scored a number four hit on the Hot 100 charts in 1982 with The Other Woman.

Enjoy this look back at Ray Parker Jr.’s music video for Ghostbusters as well as a look at our favorite scene from the movie, the “he slimed me” scene featuring Bill Murray. Also, in case you didn’t know, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the sequel to Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II premiered in theaters on November 19, 2021. We’ve got a look at the movie trailer for it as well!

Please follow and like us:

Andy Taylor – ‘Take It Easy’ From the ‘American Anthem’ Soundtrack

By Leave a Comment

In 1986, Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor released his first solo single called Take It Easy for the American Anthem movie soundtrack. The song was a moderate hit peaking at number 24 on the Hot 100 charts, but the song is most remembered for its music video featuring scenes from the movie starring Mitch Gaylord and Janet Jones.

Enjoy this look back at Andy Taylor’s music video for Take It Easy as well as Taylor’s live performance on MTV in 1987!

Please follow and like us:

A Salute to a Bygone Era of Awesomeness – The Bar Fight Scene in ‘Any Which Way You Can’

By Leave a Comment

I owe the title of this post to Himmel on YouTube. His comment on this post was, “Eastwood and Smith are bookends to a bygone ear of awesomeness.” We could not agree more. They just don’t make movies or men like they used to. Clint Eastwood and William Smith were two of the toughest guys in Hollywood back in the late ’70s and early ’80s. In this scene from Any Which Way You Can, Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) and Jack Wilson (William Smith) meet in a bar and get into a fight… just not with each other. At the time, this was one of the longest two-man fight scenes on screen.

Enjoy this look back at the bar fight scene from Any Which Way You Can from 1980 and RIP to William Smith who passed away in July 2021.

Please follow and like us:

“Oh Great! Real Bullets” Scene from The ‘Three Amigos’ Starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase

By Leave a Comment

Three Amigos was a 1986 comedy that starred Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Chevy Chase as three silent film stars who are mistaken for real heroes by the suffering people of a small Mexican village. In this hilarious scene, the Amigos realize that El Guapo and his gang of villains are using real bullets, and it’s not a show, it’s real.

Enjoy this look back at one of our favorite scenes from Three Amigos from 1986!

Please follow and like us:

Olivia Newton-John – ‘Make A Move On Me’ Music Video from 1982

By Leave a Comment

Make A Move On Me was the second single released from Olivia Newton-John’s 1981 Physical album. Make A Move On Me peaked at number five on the Hot 100 charts and number six on the A/C charts in 1982. The first single, Physical hit number one on the Hot 100 charts in 1981.

Enjoy this look back at Olivia Newton-John’s music video for Make A Move On Me!

Please follow and like us: