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.
262 On This Day Articles
On This Day February 5 1989 – Six Members of The Brady Bunch Reunited on Day by Day
On this day February 5 1989, six members of The Brady Bunch reunited on the sitcom Day by Day , creating a nostalgic television moment that connected two different TV eras. The appearance brought together familiar faces from one of the most beloved family shows
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On This Day February 4 1989 – When Im With You by Sheriff Became the Number One Song in America
On this day February 4 1989, When Im With You by the Canadian arena rock band Sheriff reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, completing one of the most unexpected chart success stories of the 1980s. Originally released earlier in the decade, the power
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On This Day February 3 1989 – Her Alibi Premiered in Theaters
On this day February 3 1989, Her Alibi premiered in theaters, blending mystery romance and comedy into a lighthearted crime story. The film centered on a writer who becomes entangled in a murder case after offering an alibi to a woman he barely knows, leading
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On This Day February 3 1989 – Who’s Harry Crumb? Premiered in Theaters
On this day February 3 1989, Who’s Harry Crumb? premiered in theaters, delivering a slapstick detective comedy built around disguise mishaps and exaggerated humor. The film followed an incompetent private investigator whose chaotic methods somehow keep him one step ahead, leaning heavily into physical comedy
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On This Day February 3 1989 – Kinjite Forbidden Subjects Premiered in Theaters
On this day February 3 1989, Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects premiered in theaters, delivering a gritty crime thriller that focused on controversial subject matter and hard edged law enforcement themes. The film leaned into shock value and intense storytelling, reflecting a late decade trend toward darker
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On This Day February 3 1989 – Wicked Stepmother Premiered in Theaters
On this day February 3 1989, Wicked Stepmother premiered in theaters, delivering a dark comedy fantasy that blended fairy tale elements with late decade camp and satire. The film leaned into exaggerated characters and supernatural twists, offering a stylized take on the classic evil stepmother
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On This Day February 1 1989 – The Great Radio Controversy by Tesla Was Released
On this day February 1 1989, The Great Radio Controversy by Tesla was released, marking a breakthrough moment for the band as they blended hard rock power with classic rock influence. The album emphasized strong songwriting and musicianship over flashy image, helping Tesla stand out
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On This Day February 26 1989 – Hairspray Premiered in Theaters
On this day February 26 1989 Hairspray premiered in theaters bringing director John Waters’ unique vision to a wider audience. Unlike his earlier underground cult films Hairspray was more accessible but still retained his signature offbeat humor and social commentary. The film starred Ricki Lake
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On This Day February 20 1989 – Paula Abdul Released Forever Your Girl
On February 20, 1989, Paula Abdul released Forever Your Girl, a song that would become one of her biggest hits and solidify her status as a pop sensation. Originally released as the fourth single from her debut album of the same name, the track slowly
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On This Day February 27 1988 – Father Figure by George Michael Became the Number One Song in America
On this day February 27 1988 Father Figure by George Michael reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, staying at the top from February 27 to March 11. The song also hit number one in Canada, further cementing Michael’s status as one of the
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On This Day February 23 1988 – A 13 Year Old Lauryn Hill Made Her Television Debut on Showtime at the Apollo
On this day February 23 1988 a 13 year old Lauryn Hill made her television debut on Showtime at the Apollo during Amateur Night. Before becoming a Grammy winning artist with The Fugees and a successful solo career Hill took the stage at the legendary
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On This Day February 23 1988 – Goin Off by Biz Markie Was Released
On this day February 23 1988 Goin' Off the debut album by Biz Markie was released. Known for his humorous rhymes and beatboxing skills Biz Markie brought a playful and unique style to hip hop that set him apart from his peers. The album reached
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On This Day February 22 1988 – Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart Confessed His Sins to the Congregation
On this day February 22 1988, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart publicly confessed his sins to his congregation after being caught paying for prostitutes. The emotional televised admission became one of the most widely covered religious and media moments of the late 1980s. The confession reflected the
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On This Day February 20 1988 – Seasons Change by Exposé Became the Number 1 Song in America
On February 20, 1988, Seasons Change by Exposé topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the number one song in America. The hit ballad held the top spot from February 20 to February 26 and also climbed to number one in Canada. Featured on their debut
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On This Day February 20 1988 – The Final Episode of Women in Prison Aired
On February 20, 1988, the short lived sitcom Women in Prison aired its final episode on Fox, bringing an end to the quirky, offbeat comedy after just one season and 13 episodes. Set in a fictional women’s correctional facility, the show followed a mix of
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On This Day February 16 1988 – Tattooed Beat Messiah by Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction Released
On this day, February 16, 1988, Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction released their debut album, Tattooed Beat Messiah. The album brought a sleazy, over the top mix of hard rock, glam, and heavy metal, embodying a rebellious and exaggerated rock and roll lifestyle. Fueled
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On This Day February 16 1988 – Nada Como el Sol EP by Sting Released
On this day, February 16, 1988, Sting released Nada Como el Sol, a Spanish and Portuguese language EP featuring re-recorded tracks from his 1987 album ...Nothing Like the Sun. The EP showcased Sting’s interest in global music and culture, as he translated and performed select
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On This Day February 15 1988 – All About Eve Released Their Debut Album
On this day, February 15, 1988, British alternative rock band All About Eve released their self-titled debut album All About Eve . Blending elements of folk, gothic rock, and ethereal melodies, the album showcased the band's unique sound and quickly gained them a dedicated following.
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On This Day February 13 1988 – Final Episode of Mr. President
On this day, February 13, 1988, the final episode of Mr. President aired, marking the end of the political sitcom’s two season run. Starring George C. Scott as President Samuel Arthur Tresch, the series followed the comedic struggles of a U.S. president trying to balance
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On This Day February 12, 1988 – Shoot to Kill Hit Theaters
On this day, February 12, 1988, Shoot to Kill hit theaters. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode, this intense action thriller starred Sidney Poitier, Tom Berenger, Kirstie Alley, Andrew Robinson, and Clancy Brown. The film marked Poitier’s return to the big screen after more than a decade
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On This Day February 10 1988 – Final Episode of The Law & Harry McGraw Aired
On this day, February 10, 1988, the final episode of The Law & Harry McGraw aired on CBS, marking the end of the short lived detective drama after one season and 16 episodes. A spin off of Murder, She Wrote, the show starred Jerry Orbach
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On This Day February 8 1988 – Who Killed the JAMs? by The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu Was Released
On this day February 8 1988, Who Killed the JAMs? by The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu was released, arriving as one of the most unconventional and provocative albums of the late 1980s. The record challenged traditional ideas of songwriting and album structure, blending sampling,
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On This Day February 7 1988 – America’s Most Wanted Premiered on Fox
On this day February 7 1988, America’s Most Wanted premiered on Fox, introducing a new kind of crime focused television that blended real cases with public participation. The show invited viewers to help identify and locate fugitives, turning television into an active tool for law
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On This Day February 6 1988 – Count Duckula Animation Premiered on Nickelodeon
On this day February 6 1988, Count Duckula premiered on Nickelodeon, introducing American audiences to a quirky animated series that blended comedy, adventure, and supernatural parody. Featuring a vegetarian vampire duck with a gentle personality, the show stood out for flipping classic horror tropes into
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