This Week in the 80s: September 15–21

Welcome back to the 1980s. Every week we travel through all ten years of the decade at once — same calendar dates, ten different years. This week covers September 15-21 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from September 15 to 24. We aim to list things as close to the date they happened, and each week may have overlaps with adjacent weeks due to this calendar nuance.

📰 The News That Shaped the Decade

1980

• September 15, 1980: Terry Fox, Canadian cancer research activist, was forced to end his Marathon of Hope after his cancer returned and spread to his lungs.
• September 15, 1980: Francisco Villagrán Kramer resigned as Vice President of Guatemala in protest against human rights repression.
• September 21, 1980: John McEnroe defeated Björn Borg in the finals of the U.S. Open of tennis.

1981

• September 15, 1981: General Frederick J. Kroesen, commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, was slightly injured in an assassination attempt in West Germany.
• September 15, 1981: The John Bull became the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world, at 150 years old, when it operated under its own power outside Washington, DC.

1982

• September 15, 1982: USA Today newspaper was founded.
• September 14, 1982: Lebanon's President-elect Bashir Gemayel was assassinated in a bomb attack.
• September 15, 1982: Israeli forces entered West Beirut following the assassination of President-elect Bashir Gemayel.
• September 16, 1982: Beginning of a two-day massacre in Palestinian refugee camps (Sabra and Shatila) in West Beirut by Christian militiamen.

1983

• September 15, 1983: Israeli Premier Menachem Begin resigns.
• September 15, 1983: The first Costco store opens in Seattle, Washington.
• September 21, 1983: Significant anti-Marcos demonstrations occurred in Manila, marking the 11th anniversary of martial law.
• September 21, 1983: Two American warships bombarded anti-Government artillery and missile batteries southeast of Beirut.

1984

• September 15, 1984: A Palestinian mayor was slain by gunmen in a passing car.
• September 15, 1984: The 9th Toronto International Film Festival awarded 'Places in the Heart' the People's Choice Award.
• September 21, 1984: President Reagan proclaimed National Sewing Month.

1985

• September 15, 1985: In the Swedish general election, Prime Minister Olof Palme's Social Democratic Party secured 159 seats.
• September 19-20, 1985: Devastating earthquakes struck Mexico City, killing an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people.
• September 21, 1985: Diana Ross debuted at No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her single, 'Eaten Alive'.

1986

• September 15, 1986: A bomb attack in Paris kills one person.
• September 15, 1986: An explosion at Seoul's airport killed five people and wounded 19 others.
• September 21, 1986: The All-Ireland Football Final was held in Dublin.

1987

• September 15, 1987: The United States and the Soviet Union signed the Nuclear Risk Reduction Treaty in Washington, D.C.
• September 15, 1987: Pope John Paul II arrived in Los Angeles for a two-day papal visit.
• September 17, 1987: The nation celebrated the 200th anniversary of the ratification of the US Constitution.

1988

• September 15, 1988: Lillehammer, Norway, was chosen over Anchorage to host the 1994 Winter Olympics.
• September 15, 1988: The Museum of Moving Image opened in London.
• September 14, 1988: Bobby Bonilla ended his home run drought with an extra-inning hit for a Pirates victory.

1989

• September 15, 1989: U.S. Congress officially acknowledged the captivity of journalist Terry Anderson in Beirut.
• September 21, 1989: MAC and SAC aircraft provided relief to Hurricane Hugo's victims in the Lesser Antilles and South Carolina.
• September 28, 1989: Former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos died in Hawaii.

🎵 Soundtrack of the Week

Here's a taste of what was climbing the charts this week across the decade. Paid members get the full Top 10 for every year — all 100 songs, every one linked so you can listen and watch right now.

1980 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Emotional Rescue — The Rolling Stones
7. One In A Million You — Larry Graham
8. Drivin' My Life Away — Eddie Rabbitt
9. Late In The Evening — Paul Simon
10. Give Me The Night — George Benson

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Slow Hand — Pointer Sisters
7. Step By Step — Eddie Rabbitt
8. Lady (You Bring Me Up) — Commodores
9. Arthur"s Theme — Christopher Cross
10. Who"s Crying Now — Journey

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Think I"m In Love — Eddie Money
7. Love Is In Control — Donna Summer
8. Somebody"s Baby — Jackson Browne
9. Even The Nights Are Better — Air Supply
10. Hold Me — Fleetwood Mac

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. (She"s) Sexy + 17 — Stray Cats
7. Don"t You Want Me — Human League
8. I"ll Tumble 4 Ya — Culture Club
9. Total Eclipse Of The Heart — Bonnie Tyler
10. Puttin" On The Ritz — Taco

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Ghostbusters — Ray Parker Jr.
7. Stuck On You — Lionel Richie
8. I"m So Excited — Pointer Sisters
9. If Ever You"re In My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
10. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Oh Sheila — Ready For The World
7. Invincible — Pat Benatar
8. Pop Life — Prince & The Revolution
9. Freedom — Wham!
10. The Power Of Love — Huey Lewis & The News

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Dreamtime — Daryl Hall
7. Don"t Forget Me (When I"m Gone) — Glass Tiger
8. Words Get In The Way — Miami Sound Machine
9. Walk This Way — Run-DMC ft. Aerosmith
10. Venus — Bananarama

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Lost In Emotion — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
7. U Got The Look — Prince
8. Carrie — Europe
9. I Heard A Rumour — Bananarama
10. Only In My Dreams — Debbie Gibson

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Another Part Of Me — Michael Jackson
7. Nobody"s Fool — Kenny Loggins
8. When It"s Love — Van Halen
9. Please Don"t Go Girl — New Kids On The Block
10. Don"t Be Cruel — Bobby Brown

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Once Bitten, Twice Shy — Great White
7. Keep On Movin" — Soul II Soul
8. Angel Eyes — The Jeff Healey Band
9. 18 And Life — Skid Row
10. Hangin" Tough — New Kids On The Block

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

Every song. Every year. Click to listen and watch.

1980

1. 🏆 Upside Down — Diana Ross
2. All Out Of Love — Air Supply
3. Another One Bites The Dust — Queen
4. Fame — Irene Cara
5. Lookin' For Love — Johnny Lee
6. Give Me The Night — George Benson
7. Late In The Evening — Paul Simon
8. Drivin' My Life Away — Eddie Rabbitt
9. One In A Million You — Larry Graham
10. Emotional Rescue — The Rolling Stones

1981

1. 🏆 Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
2. Queen Of Hearts — Juice Newton
3. Stop Draggin" My Heart Around — Stevie Nicks w/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
4. Urgent — Foreigner
5. No Gettin" Over Me — Ronnie Milsap
6. Who"s Crying Now — Journey
7. Arthur"s Theme — Christopher Cross
8. Lady (You Bring Me Up) — Commodores
9. Step By Step — Eddie Rabbitt
10. Slow Hand — Pointer Sisters

1982

1. 🏆 Hard To Say I"m Sorry — Chicago
2. Abracadabra — Steve Miller Band
3. Eye Of The Tiger — Survivor
4. Jack & Diane — John Cougar
5. You Should Hear How She Talks About You — Melissa Manchester
6. Hold Me — Fleetwood Mac
7. Even The Nights Are Better — Air Supply
8. Somebody"s Baby — Jackson Browne
9. Love Is In Control — Donna Summer
10. Think I"m In Love — Eddie Money

1983

1. 🏆 Tell Her About It — Billy Joel
2. Maniac — Michael Sembello
3. The Safety Dance — Men Without Hats
4. Every Breath You Take — The Police
5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) — Eurythmics
6. Puttin" On The Ritz — Taco
7. Total Eclipse Of The Heart — Bonnie Tyler
8. I"ll Tumble 4 Ya — Culture Club
9. Don"t You Want Me — Human League
10. (She"s) Sexy + 17 — Stray Cats

1984

1. 🏆 What"s Love Got To Do With It — Tina Turner
2. Missing You — John Waite
3. She Bop — Cyndi Lauper
4. Let"s Go Crazy — Prince & The Revolution
5. Drive — The Cars
6. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.
7. If Ever You"re In My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
8. I"m So Excited — Pointer Sisters
9. Stuck On You — Lionel Richie
10. Ghostbusters — Ray Parker Jr.

1985

1. 🏆 Money For Nothing — Dire Straits
2. Cherish — Kool & The Gang
3. St. Elmo"s Fire (Man In Motion) — John Parr
4. We Don"t Need Another Hero — Tina Turner
5. Don"t Lose My Number — Phil Collins
6. The Power Of Love — Huey Lewis & The News
7. Freedom — Wham!
8. Pop Life — Prince & The Revolution
9. Invincible — Pat Benatar
10. Oh Sheila — Ready For The World

1986

1. 🏆 Stuck With You — Huey Lewis & The News
2. Take My Breath Away — Berlin
3. Dancing On The Ceiling — Lionel Richie
4. Friends And Lovers — Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson
5. Higher Love — Steve Winwood
6. Venus — Bananarama
7. Walk This Way — Run-DMC ft. Aerosmith
8. Words Get In The Way — Miami Sound Machine
9. Don"t Forget Me (When I"m Gone) — Glass Tiger
10. Dreamtime — Daryl Hall

1987

1. 🏆 I Just Can"t Stop Loving You — Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett
2. Didn"t We Almost Have It All — Whitney Houston
3. Here I Go Again — Whitesnake
4. La Bamba — Los Lobos
5. When Smokey Sings — ABC
6. Only In My Dreams — Debbie Gibson
7. I Heard A Rumour — Bananarama
8. Carrie — Europe
9. U Got The Look — Prince
10. Lost In Emotion — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

1988

1. 🏆 Sweet Child O" Mine — Guns N" Roses
2. Simply Irresistible — Robert Palmer
3. Perfect World — Huey Lewis & The News
4. If It Isn"t Love — New Edition
5. I"ll Always Love You — Taylor Dayne
6. Don"t Be Cruel — Bobby Brown
7. Please Don"t Go Girl — New Kids On The Block
8. When It"s Love — Van Halen
9. Nobody"s Fool — Kenny Loggins
10. Another Part Of Me — Michael Jackson

1989

1. 🏆 Don"t Wanna Lose You — Gloria Estefan
2. Girl I"m Gonna Miss You — Milli Vanilli
3. If I Could Turn Back Time — Cher
4. Heaven — Warrant
5. Cold Hearted — Paula Abdul
6. Hangin" Tough — New Kids On The Block
7. 18 And Life — Skid Row
8. Angel Eyes — The Jeff Healey Band
9. Keep On Movin" — Soul II Soul
10. Once Bitten, Twice Shy — Great White

🎬 Box Office #1 This Week

The biggest movie in America during this week, for each year of the decade.

📺 Primetime TV Spotlight

What America was watching in primetime this week across the decade.

1980 — The Jeffersons (CBS)

Season 7 began with George and Louise, along with Tom and Helen, taking a trip to Hawaii. George's high blood pressure and his attempts to hide it from Louise became a central plot point. The season also featured various comedic situations arising from their interactions with other characters and their affluent lifestyle.

📺 Where to Watch The Jeffersons →

1981 — 60 Minutes (CBS)

In its 14th season, 60 Minutes continued its strong performance as a top-rated newsmagazine, delivering in-depth investigative reports and interviews on various current events and social issues. It was consistently among the highest-rated programs on television.

📺 Where to Watch 60 Minutes →

1982 — 60 Minutes (CBS)

Continuing its reign as a highly-rated newsmagazine, 60 Minutes was in its 15th season, providing investigative journalism and interviews on current events. It remained a consistent top performer for CBS.

📺 Where to Watch 60 Minutes →

1983 — Hardcastle and McCormick (ABC)

The series premiered on September 18, 1983. It followed the adventures of a retired judge, Milton 'Hardcase' Hardcastle, who teams up with a young ex-convict and race car driver, Mark 'Skid' McCormick, to track down criminals who escaped justice due to legal technicalities.

📺 Where to Watch Hardcastle and McCormick →

1984 — Miami Vice (NBC)

The iconic crime drama premiered in September 1984, introducing undercover detectives Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs. The first season established the show's distinctive visual style, fashion, and use of contemporary pop music as they battled drug trafficking and other crimes in Miami.

📺 Where to Watch Miami Vice →

1985 — The Golden Girls (NBC)

The beloved sitcom premiered on September 14, 1985. The first season introduced audiences to Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, four older women living together in Miami. The show quickly became a hit for its witty humor, strong female characters, and groundbreaking portrayal of aging.

📺 Where to Watch The Golden Girls →

1986 — Murder, She Wrote (CBS)

In its third season, Murder, She Wrote continued to follow Jessica Fletcher, a mystery writer and amateur detective, as she solved crimes in her hometown of Cabot Cove and during her travels. The season featured a variety of intriguing cases and guest stars.

📺 Where to Watch Murder, She Wrote →

1987 — Family Ties (NBC)

The sixth season of Family Ties premiered in September 1987. This season continued to explore the generational and ideological differences within the Keaton family, with Alex P. Keaton navigating his conservative ambitions and his parents, Steven and Elyse, holding onto their liberal values. Significant storylines included Alex's relationships and career aspirations.

📺 Where to Watch Family Ties →

1988 — 1988 Summer Olympics (NBC)

The 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, began on September 17, 1988, and ran through October 2. NBC provided extensive coverage of the games, which featured numerous memorable athletic performances and global events, dominating primetime television during this period.

📺 Where to Watch 1988 Summer Olympics →

1989 — Life Goes On (ABC)

The family drama series Life Goes On premiered on September 12, 1989. The first season introduced the Thatcher family, particularly focusing on Corky, a teenager with Down syndrome, and his integration into mainstream high school. The show was groundbreaking for its portrayal of a character with a developmental disability.

📺 Where to Watch Life Goes On →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial for Wendy's first aired in 1984. It featured three elderly women examining a competitor's hamburger with a large bun and a tiny patty. One of the women, Clara Peller, famously exclaims, 'Where's the beef?', questioning the lack of meat. The catchphrase became a cultural phenomenon, boosting Wendy's sales and becoming a staple of 80s pop culture.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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