This Week in the 80s: October 27–November 2

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 October 27 - November 2 across 1980 through 1989. Buckle up.

During the Decade of Decadence, this week ran from October 27 to November 5. 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

• October 28, 1980: Carter and Reagan debate one week before the US presidential election.
• November 1, 1980: Contraceptives could be sold legally in Ireland for the first time.
• November 2, 1980: Iran"s parliament voted to free 52 U.S. Embassy hostages if four demands were met.

1981

• November 1, 1981: Antigua and Barbuda gained independence from the United Kingdom.
• November 1, 1981: Paid maternity leave was introduced in the Soviet Union.
• November 2, 1981: A Poseidon missile slipped from a crane at the U.S. Polaris nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch in Scotland.

1982

• October 27, 1982: China announces that its population has reached over 1 billion people.
• November 2, 1982: Over a thousand Russians die after a fire breaks out in the Salung tunnel in Afghanistan.

1983

• October 25, 1983: United States invades Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury).
• October 27, 1983: Ronald Reagan delivers a speech to the nation on Lebanon and Grenada, addressing the Beirut barracks bombing and the Grenada invasion.
• October 29, 1983: Largest non-violent protest against nuclear cruise missiles takes place in The Hague, Netherlands.

1984

• October 27, 1984: France performs nuclear test at Mururoa Atoll.
• October 27, 1984: USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan.
• October 31, 1984: Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikh bodyguards.

1985

• October 27, 1985: Kansas City Royals win their first World Series title.
• October 27, 1985: Hurricane Juan ravages US Gulf states & east coast, 49 die.
• October 27, 1985: U.S. officials investigate after a Ukrainian sailor jumped from his Soviet ship in American waters.

1986

• October 27, 1986: US official charged Russians with an "unprecedented violation" of diplomatic practice.
• October 27, 1986: President Reagan announces a "major victory" after signing an anti-drug bill.
• October 27, 1986: New York Mets won the World Series.

1987

• October 27, 1987: South Korean voters approved a new constitution overwhelmingly.
• November 2, 1987: George Harrison released his album "Cloud Nine".
• November 2, 1987: Paul McCartney released his album "All the Best!".

1988

• October 27, 1988: Ronald Reagan decides to tear down the new U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
• October 27, 1988: Walsh Street police shootings: Two Victoria Police officers are gunned down in Australia.
• November 2, 1988: The Morris worm, the first computer worm distributed via the internet, was released.
• November 2, 1988: The first computer virus, the Morris Worm, is released.
• November 2, 1988: The first ever computer virus, the Morris Worm, is released.

1989

• October 27, 1989: Police in Prague round up major dissidents, including Vaclav Havel.
• October 27, 1989: First NFL game coached by an African American (Art Shell).
• November 2, 1989: North Dakota and South Dakota celebrate their 100th birthdays.

🎵 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. Master Blaster (Jammin") — Stevie Wonder
7. I"m Coming Out — Diana Ross
8. Never Knew Love Like This Before — Stephanie Mills
9. Upside Down — Diana Ross
10. The Wanderer — Donna Summer

1981 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Waiting for a Girl Like You — Foreigner
7. Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) — Air Supply
8. I"ve Done Everything for You — Rick Springfield
9. Hard to Say — Dan Fogelberg
10. The Night Owls — The Little River Band

1982 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Heartlight — Neil Diamond
7. I Ran (So Far Away) — A Flock Of Seagulls
8. You Can Do Magic — America
9. Somebody"s Baby — Jackson Browne
10. Heart Attack — Olivia Newton-John

1983 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Delirious — Prince
7. King of Pain — The Police
8. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All — Air Supply
9. One Thing Leads To Another — The Fixx
10. True — Spandau Ballet

1984 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Some Guys Have All the Luck — Rod Stewart
7. I"m So Excited — The Pointer Sisters
8. Let"s Go Crazy — Prince & The Revolution
9. On the Dark Side — John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
10. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go — Wham!

1985 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Be Near Me — ABC
7. Lovin" Every Minute of It — Loverboy
8. Fortress Around Your Heart — Sting
9. We Built This City — Starship
10. You Belong to the City — Glenn Frey

1986 — Songs #10 to #6

6. All Cried Out — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force
7. Take Me Home Tonight — Eddie Money
8. Sweet Love — Anita Baker
9. When I Think of You — Janet Jackson
10. True Blue — Madonna

1987 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Brilliant Disguise — Bruce Springsteen
7. Breakout — Swing Out Sister
8. U Got The Look — Prince
9. Let Me Be The One — Expose
10. Little Lies — Fleetwood Mac

1988 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Bad Medicine — Bon Jovi
7. One Moment In Time — Whitney Houston
8. Never Tear Us Apart — INXS
9. The Loco-Motion — Kylie Minogue
10. Don"t You Know What The Night Can Do? — Steve Winwood

1989 — Songs #10 to #6

6. Rock Wit"cha — Bobby Brown
7. When I See You Smile — Bad English
8. Bust A Move — Young M.C.
9. It"s No Crime — Babyface
10. Dr. Feelgood — Motley Crue

🎵 Full Top 10 — All 100 Songs with Links

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

1980

1. 🏆 Woman In Love — Barbra Streisand
2. Another One Bites The Dust — Queen
3. He"s So Shy — The Pointer Sisters
4. Lady — Kenny Rogers
5. Real Love — The Doobie Brothers
6. The Wanderer — Donna Summer
7. Upside Down — Diana Ross
8. Never Knew Love Like This Before — Stephanie Mills
9. I"m Coming Out — Diana Ross
10. Master Blaster (Jammin") — Stevie Wonder

1981

1. 🏆 Private Eyes — Daryl Hall and John Oates
2. Start Me Up — The Rolling Stones
3. Arthur"s Theme (Best That You Can Do) — Christopher Cross
4. For Your Eyes Only — Sheena Easton
5. Tryin" to Live My Life Without You — Bob Seger
6. The Night Owls — The Little River Band
7. Hard to Say — Dan Fogelberg
8. I"ve Done Everything for You — Rick Springfield
9. Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You) — Air Supply
10. Waiting for a Girl Like You — Foreigner

1982

1. 🏆 Who Can It Be Now? — Men At Work
2. Jack & Diane — John Cougar
3. Eye in the Sky — The Alan Parsons Project
4. I Keep Forgettin" (Every Time You"re Near) — Michael McDonald
5. Up Where We Belong — Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes
6. Heart Attack — Olivia Newton-John
7. Somebody"s Baby — Jackson Browne
8. You Can Do Magic — America
9. I Ran (So Far Away) — A Flock Of Seagulls
10. Heartlight — Neil Diamond

1983

1. 🏆 Islands In The Stream — Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
2. All Night Long (All Night) — Lionel Richie
3. Total Eclipse of the Heart — Bonnie Tyler
4. Say Say Say — Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
5. Uptown Girl — Billy Joel
6. True — Spandau Ballet
7. One Thing Leads To Another — The Fixx
8. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All — Air Supply
9. King of Pain — The Police
10. Delirious — Prince

1984

1. 🏆 I Just Called to Say I Love You — Stevie Wonder
2. Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) — Billy Ocean
3. Hard Habit to Break — Chicago
4. Purple Rain — Prince
5. Lucky Star — Madonna
6. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go — Wham!
7. On the Dark Side — John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band
8. Let"s Go Crazy — Prince & The Revolution
9. I"m So Excited — The Pointer Sisters
10. Some Guys Have All the Luck — Rod Stewart

1985

1. 🏆 Part-Time Lover — Stevie Wonder
2. Miami Vice Theme — Jan Hammer
3. Saving All My Love for You — Whitney Houston
4. Head Over Heels — Tears For Fears
5. Take On Me — A-Ha
6. You Belong to the City — Glenn Frey
7. We Built This City — Starship
8. Fortress Around Your Heart — Sting
9. Lovin" Every Minute of It — Loverboy
10. Be Near Me — ABC

1986

1. 🏆 True Colors — Cyndi Lauper
2. Typical Male — Tina Turner
3. I Didn"t Mean to Turn You On — Robert Palmer
4. Amanda — Boston
5. Human — Human League
6. True Blue — Madonna
7. When I Think of You — Janet Jackson
8. Sweet Love — Anita Baker
9. Take Me Home Tonight — Eddie Money
10. All Cried Out — Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam With Full Force

1987

1. 🏆 Bad — Michael Jackson
2. Causing a Commotion — Madonna
3. I Think We"re Alone Now — Tiffany
4. Mony Mony — Billy Idol
5. Casanova — Levert
6. Little Lies — Fleetwood Mac
7. Let Me Be The One — Expose
8. U Got The Look — Prince
9. Breakout — Swing Out Sister
10. Brilliant Disguise — Bruce Springsteen

1988

1. 🏆 Groovy Kind of Love — Phil Collins
2. Kokomo — The Beach Boys
3. Wild, Wild West — The Escape Club
4. Red Red Wine — UB40
5. What"s On Your Mind (Pure Energy) — Information Society
6. Don"t You Know What The Night Can Do? — Steve Winwood
7. The Loco-Motion — Kylie Minogue
8. Never Tear Us Apart — INXS
9. One Moment In Time — Whitney Houston
10. Bad Medicine — Bon Jovi

1989

1. 🏆 Miss You Much — Janet Jackson
2. Sowing The Seeds Of Love — Tears For Fears
3. Listen To Your Heart — Roxette
4. Cover Girl — New Kids On The Block
5. Love In An Elevator — Aerosmith
6. Dr. Feelgood — Motley Crue
7. It"s No Crime — Babyface
8. Bust A Move — Young M.C.
9. When I See You Smile — Bad English
10. Rock Wit"cha — Bobby Brown

🎬 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 — Dallas (CBS)

The season begins with the resolution of the "Who Shot J.R.?" storyline, where J.R. recovers from an assassination attempt, and Bobby takes over Ewing Oil. The season also reveals Ray Krebbs" biological father is Jock Ewing.

📺 Where to Watch Dallas →

1981 — Magnum, P.I. (CBS)

In its second season, Magnum, P.I. continues with Thomas Magnum as a private investigator in Hawaii. The season features various cases, including Kumu being kidnapped, a marine biologist seeking help for her missing father, and Magnum searching for a spy.

📺 Where to Watch Magnum, P.I. →

1982 — Cheers (NBC)

The first season of Cheers introduces the ensemble cast and the dynamics of the bar. The main story arc revolves around the will-they-or-won"t-they relationship between the womanizing, ex-baseball player bar owner, Sam Malone, and the intellectual, sophisticated waitress, Diane Chambers.

📺 Where to Watch Cheers →

1983 — Magnum, P.I. (CBS)

The fourth season of Magnum, P.I. continues to follow Thomas Magnum"s adventures as a private investigator in Hawaii. The season features various cases, including Magnum investigating a murder connected to a rock star, and Higgins" past coming back to haunt him.

📺 Where to Watch Magnum, P.I. →

1984 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The first season of The Cosby Show introduces the Huxtable family, an affluent African-American family living in Brooklyn, New York. The series focuses on the daily lives of obstetrician Cliff Huxtable, his lawyer wife Clair, and their five children, addressing relatable family situations with humor and warmth.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1985 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The second season of The Cosby Show continues to focus on the Huxtable family"s daily lives, with Cliff and Clair navigating the challenges of parenthood and their children"s evolving personalities. The season features storylines such as Vanessa"s Halloween party and Sondra and Elvin"s relationship.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1986 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The third season of The Cosby Show continues to explore the Huxtable family"s life, with storylines focusing on the children"s growth and challenges, such as Rudy getting hurt during Theo"s games and Denise leaving for college. Cliff and Clair also celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1987 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The fourth season of The Cosby Show sees the Huxtable family dealing with new developments, including Sondra and Elvin"s decision to forgo graduate school for other plans, and Denise"s departure for college. The season continues to explore family dynamics with humor and warmth.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

1988 — Roseanne (ABC)

The first season of Roseanne introduces the Conner family, a working-class family living in Illinois. The series focuses on the daily struggles and triumphs of Roseanne and Dan Conner as they raise their three children, Becky, Darlene, and D.J., with humor and realism.

📺 Where to Watch Roseanne →

1989 — The Cosby Show (NBC)

The sixth season of The Cosby Show continues to follow the Huxtable family. This season sees Denise return from Africa with a husband and a new daughter, Olivia. The family adjusts to the new additions while dealing with Theo"s college life and Vanessa"s high school experiences.

📺 Where to Watch The Cosby Show →

📺 Commercial Spotlight: McDonald"s Halloween Happy Meal (Pumpkin Pails) (1986)

This highly nostalgic commercial features kids in costumes showing off what they keep in their McDonald"s Halloween pumpkins. It showcases the three iconic, collectible plastic pails—McPunk"n, McBoo, and McGoblin—which came with a Happy Meal purchase and became a beloved staple for trick-or-treaters throughout the decade.

▶ Watch the commercial on YouTube

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