The Eighties Online

What song was playing when you had your first kiss? What about your first slow dance?

How about during your first time?

Chances are, it was a power ballad – you know, those songs that double as the soundtrack to your life?

Those anthems that make you want to throw a lighter in the air and start singing along at the top of your lungs.

Now at the brand new arena rock cabaret in the center of Times Square, Power Balladz, you can do just that - celebrate the best music of the 70s, 80s, and 90s and unleash your inner rock star.

POWER BALLADZ is the arena rock experience you’ve been waiting for - part hilarious comedy, part interactive game show, and 90 minutes of wicked rock featuring some of the greatest anthems ever written by man, woman, or beast.

The formula is simple – take some awesome rock singers, give them a full band, tons of lights, a killer fog machine, a video projection screen, and lots of leather and long hair.

Michael Jackson costumes will be hot this Halloween. And I think that's great! It's totally acceptable to dress up as Michael. That's a fine tribute to his memory.

This is especially true if you consider "Thriller". Isn't this the ultimate Halloween song?

It's been 3 months since The King of Pop's untimely death and in another month "This Is It! The Movie" will be released in theaters across the country at the end of October.

I am saddened by all the sensational news coverage of Michael and his family over the last three months and glad it has started to die down.

Throughout history great men, and women have been vilified and attacked by the media, by those who did not understand. Many great people have been misunderstood!

So just remember you media people, you radio talk show hosts, you rag "entertainment magazine" publishers, you "so-called" reporters, TMZ, the Enquirer and others, these our our beloved icons. We are a powerful force! You attach them, you attack us.

So, save your sensational journalism for the reality TV stars and leave Kirstie Alley alone. Leave Michael Jackson alone. Leave Elizabeth Taylor alone. Leave Madonna alone. Leave the late Patrick Swayze alone. Leave Michael J. Fox alone.

I just heard the news about the death of Patrick Swayze today, September 14th, 2009. It's very sad news indeed.

My impressions of Mr. Swayze are of a man who was always a fighter, fighting the deadly cancer that finally claimed his life.

I have heard that he was always very gracious and friendly with he fans.

Patrick Swayze is recognized as an accomplished actor, dancer and singer. His talents will be truly missed.

We are blessed with some absolutely awesome movies, though. Two of my favorites are Red Dawn and The Outsiders.

Our sympathies are with Mr. Swayze's family and friends.

Please take some time, sit down and watch one of his movies. Maybe Point Break or Dirty Dancing.

And, please do not waste your money on garbage like The National Enquirer, The Star, The Globe or any of those other rags that can't leave our 80s Icons alone!

Michael Jackson died yesterday afternoon and the reality of this unexpected event is still sinking in around the world.

I watched the Jackson 5 on the Mike Douglas show in the 1970's. I watched, glued to the screen, Michael bloom into the King of Pop on the Motown 25th Anniversary special in 1982 and, like millions of others across the globe, I was blown away!

I listened to Thriller repeatedly in the coming years. I watched Michael's pioneering videos in the early days of MTV.

While the passing of Farrah Fawcett was expected, and we have already mourned for her and her family, with Michael, this has come as such as surprise to everyone.

The first single from The Jackson Five was "I Want you Back", released in 1969 soon after signing with Motown Records. The Jackson family never looked back.

As early as 1972, singing and dancing out in front of the group, Michael was clearly destined to become the cornerstone of the Jackson family dynasty.

By the early 1980s, Michael Jackson was ready to break away from his brothers, releasing Thriller in 1982. Thriller still holds the record for the most top 10 singles from one record.

Another star of one of our favorite 80s sitcoms died earlier today. Estelle Getty passed away last year. Both were loved stars of the 80s comedy, The Golden Girls.

We will miss them both very much, but thankfully both women left us a wonderful show to watch over and over again.

Sorry, but we could not find any full episodes of The Golden Girls, Maude, or even All in the Family. That just goes to what classic TV shows they are.

Meet the Golden Girls in Lifetime's Golden Girls Special (June 2003).

A video clip of what happened at the I Love the 80s 3D Screening Party in Hollywood, courtesy of VH1.Com

As graduation approached in the spring of 1983, I began to plan, well hope is more like it, that I could attend the US Festival in Southern California.

This was four days of live music and entertainment from all those acts we saw on MTV (back when they used to play music videos).

There were very few artists who did not play at The US Festival.

From Van Halen to the Scorpions, to The Clash and Missing Persons, there were more than 100 bands and musicians at The US Festival.

Well, I did not get to go, and would love to hear some stories for anyone who did.

Is this available on DVD? If it is I would sure buy it for my collection.

Here are a few highlights from 1983's US Festival in San Bernadino, California.

Maybe there will be a resurgence of the kind of music festivals of the past, like LiveAid and The US Festival. One can only hope!

Thank You Seth McFarland!

In 21st Century Speak, Peter Griffin lingo

This is Frickin' Sweet!

Just about every episode of Family Guy makes fun of the 80s.

This one is not only no exception, but from the Bryan Adams Rip-Off, and the Men Without Hats dance at the party, to the appearance by Megatron from The Transformers, this one is fully funny and an excellent example of what makes the 80s such good material for comedy!

Video made available courtesy of Fox Television (another product of the 80s) and Hulu.