DAILY DIRT: Daily Dirt Retro Week delves into the Big 80s

Daily Dirt for Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022

It’s the first of two Retro Week stops in the ’80s, so get on board! … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 463 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Twas 35 years ago when we were all interested in the following.

Yep, it was 1987 and these were some of the most popular conversation topics of the day:

Gold medal: U.S. TV viewers had never been presented with a sitcom family quite like the Bundys — Al, Peg, Bud and Kelly. “Married … with Children” was a major hit for the fledgling Fox Network, thanks primarily to its everyman’s hero, Ed O’Neill, who portrayed shoe salesman Al Bundy. I am sure, in some way, I am related to Al Bundy.

Silver medal: The movie that sucked us all in was the psychological thriller “Fatal Attraction,” starring Glenn Close, Anne Archer and Michael Douglas. Nominated for six Academy Awards, the film was the No. 1 grossing movie worldwide.

Bronze medal: The nation received its first taste of “The Simpsons,” airing as a cartoon special on the old Tracey Ullman Show on Fox. All these years later, Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa are still with us. The same can’t be said for Tracey Ullman. (For the record, a total 48 “Simpsons” shorts were shown on the Tracey Ullman Show before the cartoon was turned into a full-fledged series in 1989.)

2. It’s hard to believe it was 35 years ago the following pop music headlines were being made.

The 1980s were arguably one of the greatest decades for pop music, and here’s three reasons why:

Gold medal: If I had to pick THE single of the 1980s it would be “Alone” by Heart from 1987. Ann and Nancy Wilson not only ruled the airwaves at that period, but were queens of the video world created by MTV.

Silver medal: Michael Jackson had firmly established himself as the King of Pop. He was, in a word, “Bad.”

Bronze medal: The soundtrack that captured the nation’s attention was from the movie “Dirty Dancing.” Monster hits like “Hungry Eyes” and “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” were heard everywhere. The album sold a remarkable 32 million copies.

3. You might want to drop the following celebrities a happy birthday card:

• Singer/goofball Britney Spears turns 41 on Friday. 
• Actress Darryl Hannah will be 62 on Saturday. Remember her in “Splash?”
• Former Indy 500 champ Rick Mears will be 71 on Saturday. He’s one of four drivers to have won four Indy 500s.
• Shocker rocker Ozzy Osbourne celebrates No. 74 on Saturday
• If alive today, the late, great Gen. George Armstrong Custer would turn 183 on Tuesday.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — For some strange reason, I’ve always been drawn to the career of Custer. He was a rather interesting fellow, to say the least. And although the film is not exactly known for its historical accuracy, I highly recommend 1941’s “They Died With Their Boots On,” starring Errol Flynn as Custer.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Today is a lunch with Steve day.