Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Now That's Embarrassing: The 80s

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Now That's Embarrassing: The 80s is another in the long line of Friday night list shows broadcast at 9pm on Five. The show follows on from other shows in the 'strand' such as The Most Shameful TV Moments Ever (which featured Triangle, Naked Jungle and Carnal Knowledge).

True to its name, Now That's Embarrassing: The 80s features the most embarrassing or "cheesy" aspects from 1980s culture including the Minipops (at number 12), MC Miker G & DJ Sven, Australian soap operas, the Sinclair C5 and Kajagoogoo amongst its targets.

As with other shows of this type such as Channel 4's rival strand of the 2000s: the 100 Greatest shows, this strand features a rundown of popular clips with a number of vox pops from cultural historians and celebrities from the era in question.

Trivia

The Top 40 items were:

  • 1. Failure of Michael Fish to predict the Great Storm of 1987
  • 2. Shellsuits
  • 3. EastEnders stars launching singing careers - includes Anyone Can Fall in Love by Anita Dobson, Something Outa Nothing by Letitia Dean and Paul J. Medford, Every Loser Wins by Nick Berry
  • 4. Mark Thatcher going missing during the 1982 Paris–Dakar Rally
  • 5. It's a Royal Knockout
  • 6. The post-modelling career of Samantha Fox - includes her music career and presenting the 1989 Brit Awards with Mick Fleetwood
  • 7. The Krankies
  • 8. Novelty Songs - includes Shaddap You Face, The Birdie Song, Agadoo, There's No One Quite Like Grandma, Orville's Song
  • 9. Timmy Mallett / Wacaday
  • 10. James Harries (child antiques expert who appeared on Wogan)
  • 11. 1980s mobile phone handsets
  • 12. Minipops
  • 13. Prince Charles saying "Whatever in love means" during interview following his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer
  • 14. Sinclair C5
  • 15. Men wearing make up - includes Limahl from Kajagoogoo, Duran Duran, Philip Oakey from The Human League, Boy George, Steve Strange from Visage
  • 16. Rapping - includes George Michael, Roland Rat, MC Miker G & DJ Sven, Anfield Rap
  • 17. Lycra fashions / Leg warmers
  • 18. Yuppies
  • 19. Ronald Reagan
  • 20. Nouvelle cuisine
  • 21. US Soap Opera plotlines - includes Who shot J. R.? from Dallas, Dynasty, Alien abduction finale from The Colbys
  • 22. Big hair - includes Pat Sharp's mullet / Mike Score from A Flock of Seagulls / Limahl from Kajagoogoo
  • 23. Break Dancing - includes clip of Prince Charles attempting to break dance.
  • 24. Bros fans "Brosettes"
  • 25. Shoulder pads
  • 26. Five Star
  • 27. Australian Soap Operas - Neighbours, The Young Doctors, A Country Practice, Prisoner Cell Block H, Sons and Daughters, Return to Eden
  • 28. Breakfast TV exercise presenters - Diana Moran "The Green Goddess" and Lizzie Webb
  • 29. Ricky Gervais' musical career
  • 30. Home computers
  • 31. BBC Radio 1 DJs - includes Mike Read, Peter Powell, David Jensen, Simon Bates, Gary Davies
  • 32. The Miami Vice look
  • 33. Mr. T
  • 34. Puppets - includes Keith Harris with Orville / Cuddles, Roger De Courcey with Nookie Bear, Bob Carolgees with Spit the Dog, Roland Rat
  • 35. Stock Aitken Waterman
  • 36. David Hasselhoff's musical career - includes his appearance at celebrations following the Fall of the Berlin Wall
  • 37. Elton John's marriage to Renate Blauel
  • 38. Torvill and Dean / Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards / Ski wear
  • 39. Bucks Fizz
  • 40. The snood

    • References

    Now That's Embarrassing: The 80s Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA