It's time for a very 80s Christmas as we travel back to revisit the holiday season during the 1980s.

In this episode, we look back at the holiday movie that was a surprise hit and then the story of a beloved TV special that didn't come from the 80s--but was adopted as our own.

Next, we look back at the creation of a modern classic Christmas song and finish with the unlikely story of a group of children that managed to dethrone John Lennon...

So warm up the cider and toss another Yule log on the fire; it's time to travel back to Christmas in the 80s.

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

Some of the all-time great TV Christmas specials go all the way back to the 1960s. But it's easy to forget how many memorable ones came from the 80s.

Today we look back at ten of the best specials the 80s had to offer. Some of those shows include:

• Two separate specials based on a few of the hottest fads of the decade
• A sadsack comic strip character (not the one you're thinking of...)
• A powerful brother/sister duo teaming up for a holiday special
• The return of a beloved icon after 30 years
• A Christmas special with one of the most bizarre collection of guest stars you'll ever see

Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

If you grew up in the 80s, you grew up in the era of physical media. Our videotape collections allowed us to watch our favorite movies and TV shows over and over, allowing us to develop a deep appreciation for the things we loved.

But how did we get here, and how did it all end up changing so drastically? Today we not only revisit the origins of the VCR itself but look at the VHS/Betamax format wars of the 80s and the worthy third competitor: Laserdisc.

We also look at the growth of home video, the time when the VCR was under attack by Hollywood, and the progression of the VCR to DVD, Blu-Ray, and then streaming.

This episode is also a look at how physical media has become a bit of an endangered species, but why it still has an important place in our modern world.

• Planes, Trains & Automobiles movie review: Patreon.com/80s