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This Week in the 80s: September 29–October 5

GenX Dude

GenX Dude

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This Week in the 80s: September 29–October 5

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 29 - October 5 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from September 29 to October 8. 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 29, 1980: Chun Doo Hwan inaugurated as new President of South Korea.
  • October 1, 1980: London's Evening News announced to merge with The Evening Standard.
  • October 4, 1980: All 520 people on ocean liner MS Prinsendam rescued after fire.

1981

  • September 29, 1981: President Reagan issued Executive Order 12324 to halt the flow of refugees from Haiti into the United States.
  • October 1, 1981: The first cellular telephone system was inaugurated by Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) in Sweden.
  • October 1, 1981: The first five percent of President Reagan's 25% cut of U.S. federal income taxes took effect.

1982

  • September 29, 1982: Seven people in the Chicago area died after taking cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules, leading to a nationwide scare and product recall.
  • September 30, 1982: The TV sitcom 'Cheers' premiered on NBC.

1983

  • September 29, 1983: Congress approves a compromise resolution under the War Powers Act regarding the deployment of U.S. Marines in Lebanon.
  • October 5, 1983: Lech Walesa, founder of Poland's outlawed Solidarity trade union, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

1984

  • September 29, 1984: Police in Sicily apprehend 366 people in the early morning.
  • October 2, 1984: John Schnatter founded Papa John's in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.
  • October 5, 1984: Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space, aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-41-G).

1985

  • September 29, 1985: The first of five cyanide-laced Tylenol victims died, reigniting fears from the 1982 poisonings.
  • October 2, 1985: Actor Rock Hudson, 59, became the first major U.S. celebrity to die of complications from AIDS, raising public awareness of the disease.

1986

  • September 29, 1986: Indians' Jay Bell becomes the 10th player to hit a home run on the first major league pitch he sees.
  • September 29, 1986: Mary Lou Retton retires from gymnastics.
  • October 2, 1986: British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher officially opens the M25 motorway.
  • October 5, 1986: Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev engaged in talks at a summit in Reykjavik, Iceland.

1987

  • September 29, 1987: A 5.9-magnitude earthquake, known as the Whittier Narrows earthquake, struck Southern California, killing eight people and damaging thousands of buildings.
  • September 29, 1987: The Rock-n-Roll Express were awarded the NWA World Tag Titles.
  • October 5, 1987: An aftershock related to the Whittier Narrows earthquake hit Southern California.

1988

  • September 29, 1988: Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-26) launched, marking America's return to manned space flight after the Challenger disaster.
  • September 29, 1988: China performed a nuclear test at Lop Nor.
  • October 5, 1988: A plebiscite was held in Chile to determine whether dictator Augusto Pinochet would remain in power.

1989

  • September 29, 1989: The Houston GLPC (Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus) endorsed Fred Hofheinz over incumbent Kathryn Whitmire for mayor, by a one-vote margin.
  • April 1989: The Tiananmen Square protests and massacre were initiated by the death of former pro-reform Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Hu Yaobang in April 1989.
  • October 1, 1989: The Tiananmen Square protests and massacre were initiated by the death of former pro-reform Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Hu Yaobang in April 1989.

🎵 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

  1. Xanadu — Olivia Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra
  2. Lookin' For Love — Johnny Lee
  3. I'm Alright — Kenny Loggins
  4. Woman In Love — Barbra Streisand
  5. Late In The Evening — Paul Simon

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. Hold On Tight — ELO
  2. Start Me Up — The Rolling Stones
  3. Urgent — Foreigner
  4. Step By Step — Eddie Rabbitt
  5. Queen Of Hearts — Juice Newton

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. Blue Eyes — Elton John
  2. I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) — Michael McDonald
  3. Who Can It Be Now? — Men At Work
  4. Somebody's Baby — Jackson Browne
  5. Eye in the Sky — The Alan Parsons Project

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. Don't You Want Me — The Human League
  2. Islands In The Stream — Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton
  3. Human Nature — Michael Jackson
  4. True — Spandau Ballet
  5. King Of Pain — The Police

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. Cruel Summer — Bananarama
  2. If Ever You're In My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
  3. Hard Habit To Break — Chicago
  4. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.
  5. What's Love Got To Do With It — Tina Turner

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. Take On Me — a-ha
  2. Dress You Up — Madonna
  3. Part-Time Lover — Stevie Wonder
  4. Saving All My Love For You — Whitney Houston
  5. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. Words Get In The Way — Miami Sound Machine
  2. Two Of Hearts — Stacey Q
  3. Throwing It All Away — Genesis
  4. Love Zone — Billy Ocean
  5. Dreamtime — Daryl Hall

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. Let Me Be The One — Expose
  2. Jump Start — Natalie Cole
  3. When Smokey Sings — ABC
  4. U Got The Look — Prince
  5. I Just Can't Stop Loving You — Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. One Good Woman — Peter Cetera
  2. Red, Red Wine — UB40
  3. If It Isn't Love — New Edition
  4. What You See Is What You Get — Brenda K. Starr
  5. Perfect World — Huey Lewis & The News

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

  1. It's No Crime — Babyface
  2. Bust A Move — Young M.C.
  3. 18 And Life — Skid Row
  4. Cherish — Madonna
  5. Walkin' Away — Clint Black

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

1980

  1. 🏆 Another One Bites The Dust — Queen
  2. All Out Of Love — Air Supply
  3. Upside Down — Diana Ross
  4. Give Me The Night — George Benson
  5. Drivin' My Life Away — Eddie Rabbitt
  6. Late In The Evening — Paul Simon
  7. Woman In Love — Barbra Streisand
  8. I'm Alright — Kenny Loggins
  9. Lookin' For Love — Johnny Lee
  10. Xanadu — Olivia Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra

1981

  1. 🏆 Endless Love — Diana Ross & Lionel Richie
  2. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) — Christopher Cross
  3. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around — Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
  4. Who's Crying Now — Journey
  5. (There's) No Gettin' Over Me — Ronnie Milsap
  6. Queen Of Hearts — Juice Newton
  7. Step By Step — Eddie Rabbitt
  8. Urgent — Foreigner
  9. Start Me Up — The Rolling Stones
  10. Hold On Tight — ELO

1982

  1. 🏆 Jack and Diane — John Cougar
  2. Abracadabra — Steve Miller Band
  3. Hard to Say I'm Sorry — Chicago
  4. Eye of the Tiger — Survivor
  5. You Should Hear How She Talks About You — Melissa Manchester
  6. Eye in the Sky — The Alan Parsons Project
  7. Somebody's Baby — Jackson Browne
  8. Who Can It Be Now? — Men At Work
  9. I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) — Michael McDonald
  10. Blue Eyes — Elton John

1983

  1. 🏆 Total Eclipse Of The Heart — Bonnie Tyler
  2. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All — Air Supply
  3. The Safety Dance — Men Without Hats
  4. Tell Her About It — Billy Joel
  5. (She's) Sexy + 17 — Stray Cats
  6. King Of Pain — The Police
  7. True — Spandau Ballet
  8. Human Nature — Michael Jackson
  9. Islands In The Stream — Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton
  10. Don't You Want Me — The Human League

1984

  1. 🏆 Let's Go Crazy — Prince and The Revolution
  2. I Just Called To Say I Love You — Stevie Wonder
  3. Missing You — John Waite
  4. Drive — The Cars
  5. She Bop — Cyndi Lauper
  6. What's Love Got To Do With It — Tina Turner
  7. The Glamorous Life — Sheila E.
  8. Hard Habit To Break — Chicago
  9. If Ever You're In My Arms Again — Peabo Bryson
  10. Cruel Summer — Bananarama

1985

  1. 🏆 Money For Nothing — Dire Straits
  2. Cherish — Kool & The Gang
  3. St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) — John Parr
  4. Oh Sheila — Ready For The World
  5. We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome) — Tina Turner
  6. Don't Lose My Number — Phil Collins
  7. Saving All My Love For You — Whitney Houston
  8. Part-Time Lover — Stevie Wonder
  9. Dress You Up — Madonna
  10. Take On Me — a-ha

1986

  1. 🏆 Stuck With You — Huey Lewis & The News
  2. When I Think Of You — Janet Jackson
  3. Friends And Lovers — Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson
  4. Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) — Glass Tiger
  5. Walk This Way — Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith
  6. Dreamtime — Daryl Hall
  7. Love Zone — Billy Ocean
  8. Throwing It All Away — Genesis
  9. Two Of Hearts — Stacey Q
  10. Words Get In The Way — Miami Sound Machine

1987

  1. 🏆 Didn't We Almost Have It All — Whitney Houston
  2. Here I Go Again — Whitesnake
  3. I Heard A Rumour — Bananarama
  4. Lost In Emotion — Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
  5. Carrie — Europe
  6. I Just Can't Stop Loving You — Michael Jackson with Siedah Garrett
  7. U Got The Look — Prince
  8. When Smokey Sings — ABC
  9. Jump Start — Natalie Cole
  10. Let Me Be The One — Expose

1988

  1. 🏆 Don't Worry, Be Happy — Bobby McFerrin
  2. Sweet Child O' Mine — Guns N' Roses
  3. Love Bites — Def Leppard
  4. Simply Irresistible — Robert Palmer
  5. I'll Always Love You — Taylor Dayne
  6. Perfect World — Huey Lewis & The News
  7. What You See Is What You Get — Brenda K. Starr
  8. If It Isn't Love — New Edition
  9. Red, Red Wine — UB40
  10. One Good Woman — Peter Cetera

1989

  1. 🏆 Girl I'm Gonna Miss You — Milli Vanilli
  2. If I Could Turn Back Time — Cher
  3. Don't Wanna Lose You — Gloria Estefan
  4. Heaven — Warrant
  5. Miss You Much — Janet Jackson
  6. Walkin' Away — Clint Black
  7. Cherish — Madonna
  8. 18 And Life — Skid Row
  9. Bust A Move — Young M.C.
  10. It's No Crime — Babyface

🎬 Box Office #1 This Week

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

YearFilmWeekend GrossWatch Now
1980Oh, God! Book II$3,439,846Stream →
1981Paternity$3,610,147Stream →
1982E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialN/AStream →
1983The Big Chill$3,662,152Stream →
1984TeachersN/AStream →
1985Commando$7,700,015Stream →
1986Crocodile Dundee$8,207,503Stream →
1987Fatal AttractionN/AStream →
1988Gorillas in the Mist$3,451,230Stream →
1989ParenthoodN/AStream →

📺 Primetime TV Spotlight

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

1980 — 60 Minutes (CBS)

A highly-rated news magazine show, 60 Minutes was in its 13th season, continuing to deliver investigative journalism and interviews.

📺 Where to Watch 60 Minutes →

1981 — Dallas (CBS)

The fifth season of Dallas began on October 9, 1981, just outside the requested week. However, it was a highly anticipated season following the 'Who Shot J.R.?' cliffhanger, and the show was a dominant force in primetime television.

📺 Where to Watch Dallas →

1982 — Family Ties (NBC)

The beloved sitcom Family Ties premiered in the fall of 1982, introducing the Keaton family and their generational clashes between ex-hippie parents and their conservative children.

📺 Where to Watch Family Ties →

1983 — Dallas (CBS)

The iconic drama Dallas continued its reign as a top-rated show, with its sixth season airing during this period. The season continued to follow the Ewing family's oil empire and personal dramas.

📺 Where to Watch Dallas →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The Cosby Show premiered in September 1984, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. It depicted the affluent, loving Huxtable family, challenging stereotypes and dominating Thursday night television.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — Amazing Stories (NBC)

Steven Spielberg's anthology series Amazing Stories premiered on September 29, 1985. Each episode presented a different tale, often with a fantasy or sci-fi twist, showcasing a variety of directors and actors.

📺 Where to Watch Amazing Stories →

1986 — Our House (NBC)

The family drama Our House premiered in the fall of 1986, starring Wilford Brimley and Deidre Hall. It focused on a multi-generational family living together after a loss, dealing with everyday challenges and life lessons.

📺 Where to Watch Our House →

1987 — Full House (ABC)

The beloved family sitcom Full House premiered on September 22, 1987, introducing the Tanner family and their unique living arrangement in San Francisco. The show quickly became a staple of ABC's TGIF lineup.

📺 Where to Watch Full House →

1988 — Monday Night Football (ABC)

Due to the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike, many new shows were delayed. ABC moved up the start time for Monday Night Football to fill programming gaps, making it a notable show airing during this period.

📺 Where to Watch Monday Night Football →

1989 — Full House (ABC)

The popular family sitcom Full House was airing new episodes as part of its third season, continuing the adventures of the Tanner family. The show was a key part of ABC's TGIF lineup.

📺 Where to Watch Full House →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: Wendy's (1984)

The iconic 'Where's the Beef?' commercial for Wendy's fast-food chain became a cultural phenomenon. It featured elderly women comically questioning the small patty size of competing fast-food burgers, leading to a popular catchphrase.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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