On This Day During the 80s
Travel back through the 1980s and discover what happened on this day in music, movies, television, pop culture and more.
631 On This Day Articles
On This Day September 25, 1985 – The Insiders Premiered on ABC
On this day September 25, 1985 the crime drama The Insiders premiered on ABC. The series followed a pair of investigative reporters who went undercover to expose corruption, criminal organizations, and dangerous secrets hidden beneath the surface of society. The show centered on Nick Fox,
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On This Day September 24, 1985 – Growing Pains Premiered on ABC
On this day September 24, 1985 the sitcom Growing Pains premiered. The series followed the Seaver family, led by psychiatrist Jason Seaver, who worked from home while his wife Maggie pursued her career as a journalist. The show quickly became a staple of 80s television
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On This Day September 24, 1985 – Diana Ross Released Eaten Alive
On this day September 24, 1985 Diana Ross released her sixteenth studio album, Eaten Alive . The record brought together an impressive lineup of collaborators, including Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and pop legend Michael Jackson, who co wrote and sang on the title
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On This Day September 23, 1985 – The Fall Released This Nation’s Saving Grace
On this day September 23, 1985 The Fall released their eighth studio album, This Nation's Saving Grace . Widely regarded as one of the band’s finest works, the album captured their signature post punk sound while introducing a sharper, more polished production that expanded their
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On This Day September 23, 1985 – 10,000 Maniacs Released The Wishing Chair
On this day September 23, 1985 10,000 Maniacs released their second studio album, The Wishing Chair . Produced by Joe Boyd, the album showcased the band’s unique blend of folk rock, alternative sounds, and socially conscious lyrics that would become their signature style throughout the
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On This Day September 21 1985 – Lime Street Premiered on ABC
On this day September 21 1985, Lime Street premiered on ABC. The drama starred Robert Wagner as James Gray, a wealthy insurance investigator who solved high stakes cases with his partner, played by John Standing. The series gained additional attention for featuring Samantha Smith, the
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On This Day September 21 1985 – Hollywood Beat Premiered on ABC
On this day September 21 1985, Hollywood Beat premiered on ABC. The police drama starred Jack Scalia and Jay Acovone as two undercover detectives working the vibrant and often dangerous streets of Hollywood. The series combined action, crime, and a touch of glamour, using the
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On This Day September 21 1985 – Dire Straits Money for Nothing Hit Number 1 on the US Billboard Charts
On this day September 21 1985, Money for Nothing by Dire Straits reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. The track, from their blockbuster album Brothers in Arms , became the band’s biggest hit in America and one of the most recognizable rock
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On This Day September 21 1985 – George Clooney Made His Debut on The Facts of Life
On this day September 21 1985, The Facts of Life introduced audiences to a young George Clooney, who joined the cast as George Burnett. His character was a handyman who became part of the girls’ world at Eastland, bringing charm and humor to the beloved
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On This Day September 20 1985 – Here’s to Future Days Album by Thompson Twins Released
On this day September 20 1985, Thompson Twins released their fifth studio album Here’s to Future Days . The record continued the band’s success in the mid 80s, blending synthpop, new wave, and dance oriented sounds with socially conscious lyrics. The album included notable singles
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On This Day September 20 1985 – Plenty Premiered in Theaters
On this day September 20 1985, Plenty premiered in theaters. Based on the play by David Hare, the drama starred Meryl Streep as Susan Traherne, a former World War II courier struggling to adjust to postwar life and personal disillusionment. The film explored themes of
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On This Day September 20 1985 – Invasion USA Premiered in Theaters
On this day September 20 1985, Invasion USA premiered in theaters. The action film starred Chuck Norris as Matt Hunter, a retired CIA agent drawn back into battle when mercenaries launch a violent attack on American soil. Packed with explosive action sequences, the movie became
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On This Day September 20 1985 – The Journey of Natty Gann Premiered in Theaters
On this day September 20 1985, The Journey of Natty Gann premiered in theaters. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, the adventure drama told the story of Natty, a teenage girl in Depression era America who embarks on a cross country journey to reunite with her
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On This Day September 20 1985 – Maxie Premiered in Theaters
On this day September 20 1985, Maxie premiered in theaters. The romantic comedy fantasy starred Glenn Close as Jan, a reserved librarian whose life changes when she becomes possessed by the spirit of Maxie Malone, a glamorous but long deceased 1920s actress. The film also
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On This Day September 20 1985 – Spenser For Hire Premiered on ABC
On this day September 20 1985, Spenser For Hire premiered on ABC. Based on Robert B. Parker’s popular detective novels, the series starred Robert Urich as private investigator Spenser, bringing a tough yet principled character to television audiences. The show combined crime drama with character
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On This Day September 20 1985 – Pictionary Went On Sale
On this day September 20 1985, the board game Pictionary went on sale. Created by Robert Angel and first published by Angel Games, the game challenged players to draw clues for their teammates to guess, blending quick sketches with fast paced competition. The game quickly
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On This Day September 18 1985 – George Burns Comedy Week Premiered on CBS
On this day September 18 1985, George Burns Comedy Week premiered on CBS. The anthology comedy series was hosted by the legendary George Burns, who introduced a new comedic story and cast of characters each week. The show featured a variety of humorous situations and
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On This Day September 18 1985 – Tim Album by The Replacements Released
On this day September 18 1985, The Replacements released their fourth studio album Tim . The record marked the band’s major label debut on Sire Records and showcased their blend of punk energy with melodic, introspective songwriting. Featuring tracks like Bastards of Young, Kiss Me
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On This Day September 18 1985 – The Equalizer Premiered on CBS
On this day September 18 1985, The Equalizer premiered on CBS. The crime drama starred Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a former intelligence operative who used his skills to help people in desperate need, offering protection and justice when they had nowhere else to turn.
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On This Day September 18 1985 – Charlie & Co. Premiered on CBS
On this day September 18 1985, Charlie and Co. premiered on CBS. The sitcom starred Flip Wilson as Charlie Richmond, a hardworking father, and Gladys Knight as his wife Diana, raising their family in Chicago while balancing everyday challenges with humor and heart. The series
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On This Day September 18 1985 – Stir Crazy Premiered on CBS
On this day September 18 1985, Stir Crazy premiered on CBS. The sitcom was a television adaptation of the 1980 film of the same name, which originally starred Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. The series followed the misadventures of two friends who found themselves wrongly
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On This Day September 17 1985 – Ready for the World Album Released
On this day September 17 1985, R&B group Ready for the World released their self titled debut album Ready for the World . Blending smooth ballads with funk driven grooves, the album established the group as one of the standout acts in mid 80s R&B.
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On This Day September 16 1985 – This Is the Sea Album by The Waterboys Released
On this day September 16 1985, The Waterboys released their third studio album This Is the Sea . Often regarded as the pinnacle of their “Big Music” era, the record delivered sweeping arrangements, poetic lyrics, and a grand sense of scale that set it apart
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On This Day September 16 1985 – America Talk Show Premiered in Syndication
On this day September 16 1985, the daytime talk show America premiered in syndication. Hosted by Stuart Damon and Sarah Purcell, the program aimed to capture the spirit of American life with a mix of interviews, human interest stories, and lifestyle segments. Despite its ambitious
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