If you’re retired or about to retire, chances are you’re an 80s kid. There were a lot of great things that happened in the 80s. It was a decade of new kinds of music, huge political change, and parachute pants. If you’re looking for a hit of nostalgia, look no further. Here are some of the major events in pop culture in the 80s.
The Final Episode of MASH
Even if you didn’t watch this show all the time, chances are you watched the final episode of MASH. It was one of the most successful television episodes of all time, with 106 million viewers. No other scripted show has ever rivaled that amount of viewership. It was aired during a time when there were only 3 major networks and cable was in its infancy, and 3 out of every 4 televisions in the country were tuned to MASH during its final episode. It was shown in nearly 60% of all US homes that night. Given how fragmented and diverse the television offerings are now, we may never see this level of cultural touchstone again.[1]
Trying to Moonwalk
Michael Jackson’s legendary performance at the Motown 25th anniversary TV special is one of the most important moments in pop culture history. This was where the moonwalk was showcased for the first time. There was a reason that the crowd cheered when they saw it: it was like nothing anyone had seen before. The dance was developed by Jackson and Jeffrey Daniel, and it’s something that kids would try to replicate for years to come.[2]
Hearing Darth Vader Say, “I am your father.”
Another one of the most important moments in pop culture is this iconic scene from Star Wars. It starts with Luke fighting Vader with his lightsaber. Darth Vader wins. And finally, it’s revealed that Darth Vader was a Skywalker all along. The most interesting part about this moment is that it existed before Google and before social media. It’s something you had to either see or hear about through word of mouth–you couldn’t just Google: “Who are Luke Skywalker’s parents.
Where 80s Kids Are Now
Kids from the 80s are now starting to reach the age where retirement is on their minds. If you’re looking for help with your retirement planning, Click HERE to reach out to our professionals at Bulman Wealth Group for a complimentary review of your finances.
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/28/entertainment/mash-finale/index.html#:~:text=Broadcast%20during%20the%20period%20when,record%20for%20any%20episodic%20series
[2] https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1907409_1907413_1907560,00.html
