The Retro Network
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Box Office 30
    • Greatest Lists
    • The House Show
    • Remember That Show
    • Rental Return
    • Retro Resurgence
    • The Saturday Moring Podcast
    • SequelQuest Podcast
    • The 2 Goofs Podcast
    • TRN Drive-In
    • TRN Time Machine
    • Wide World of Toys
    • Wizards Podcast Guide to Comics
  • Videos
    • All Videos
    • Thrift Store Horde
  • Do You Remember?
    • Arcade All-Stars
    • Saturday Morning Memories
    • Toy Stories
    • TV Treasures
    • Unforgettable Fashion
  • Topics
    • 80s
    • 90s
    • Cartoons
    • Christmas
    • Comic Books
    • Halloween
    • Junk Food
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Retro Advertising
    • Summer
    • Television
    • Thanksgiving
    • Trading Cards
    • Toys
    • Video Games
    • Wrestling
  • Privacy
  • Collaborate With Us
  • Contact Us
  • This Nostalgic Life
  • Shop Fun.com and Save 15%

Articles by Karen Flieger

About Karen Flieger
I was born in the late 1970’s, spent my childhood in the 1980’s, and my pre-teen and teen years in the 1990’s. I graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2001 with a B.A. in English. I collect various forms of media (books, music, movies, and television shows) as well as plush toys, dolls, and Funko figures.
News

Fun.com Is Your Best Option For Holiday Shopping

Karen Flieger

There’s nothing like online retail therapy. Just ask my bookcase full of dolls. The only thing more fun than shopping for yourself is shopping for the special people in your life and fun.com has something CONTINUE READING…

Article

Halloween Nostalgia: Costumes and One “Ugly” Sweater

Karen Flieger

Here’s a look at some of my Halloween costumes through the years and a particular “ugly” sweater that I associate with Halloween. Bugs Bunny (1979) This was my costume for my first time trick or CONTINUE READING…

Article

History of The Satanic Panic

Karen Flieger

Before I get into the chronology of what got us from the 1960’s counter culture to the book, toy, and music bans of the 1980’s and 1990’s. I wanted to put into context why I CONTINUE READING…

Article

History of Nickelodeon Part 2: June 1984

Karen Flieger

In June of 1984, Nickelodeon saw its first major transition. Cy Schneider, the network’s original president retired. His successor would change Nickelodeon’s direction from parent approved to “kid” focused. Not “young people”-focused, not “child-focused” KID-focused. CONTINUE READING…

Article

History of Nickelodeon Part 1: Pinwheel 1983

Karen Flieger

Before Nickelodeon became the Nickelodeon 80’s kids know and love, it was called C3 or “The Pinwheel Channel”. It was part of an experiment from Warner Amex called Qube and was first tested in Columbus, CONTINUE READING…

Article

Toy Spotlight: Raspberry Tart and Rhubarb Monkey

Karen Flieger

One day when I got off the bus in kindergarten, my mom was waiting for me in the car with my brother strapped into his car seat. It was March of 1983 and we had CONTINUE READING…

Article

Event Spotlight: IBM Christmas Party

Karen Flieger

Sometime in December, my parents would get us dressed up and into the car and my dad would drive us all downtown to a big office building or hotel or banquet hall. I don’t remember CONTINUE READING…

Article

Media Spotlight: Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth (David Bowie & Bing Crosby)

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose to cover this recording?  It’s now officially Christmastime, for starters. For another, this now classic version of the song is celebrating its forty-fifth anniversary this year.  My mom told me CONTINUE READING…

Aladdin
Article

Toy Spotlight: Aladdin Toys

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose this toy/these toys?  This isn’t just one toy, it’s a whole bunch of toys in two formats: Barbie style fashion doll and (mostly) plush animals. Aladdin was my favorite of CONTINUE READING…

White Ranger
Article

Toy Spotlight: Search for The White Ranger

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose this toy?  I chose the White Ranger for two reasons: 1. It’s a story about looking for a popular toy for a child at Christmastime. 2. The recent tragic passing CONTINUE READING…

California Ken
Article

Toy of the Week: California Ken

Karen Flieger

                     Over the summer, I wrote an article about the first Ken(s) I received, Roller Skating Ken. I also wrote about how those first Ken dolls CONTINUE READING…

Article

Toy of the Week: Mr. Sketch Scented Markers

Karen Flieger

If the 1980s had to be summed up with one specific sense, it would be scent. From Strawberry Shortcake dolls to Scratch and Sniff stickers and anything from Yankee Candle or Bath and Body Works, CONTINUE READING…

Article

Review of the Horror-Themed 90s Sitcom ‘Stark Raving Mad’

Karen Flieger

Stark Raving Mad was a modern “Odd Couple” sitcom from the end of the 1990s starring Neil Patrick Harris as a book editor named Henry McNeeley. Henry’s boss assigns him to horror novelist Ian Stark, CONTINUE READING…

Cody the Coca Cola Plush Critter
Article

Toy of The Week: Cody the Coca Cola Plush Critter

Karen Flieger

The selection for this article is inspired by my one of the prizes from my entry in the TRN Summer Camp program earlier this summer: a metal lunch box filled with penny candy. The winners CONTINUE READING…

Article

Summer Reading Program: A season full of books

Karen Flieger

When Eric announced his idea for this series, I was very excited. Books have always been a big part of my life. My mom always read and the library was a frequent errand for us.  CONTINUE READING…

Posts pagination

1 2 … 6 »

More From TRN

  • Arthur Treachers
    Remembering Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips
  • Axis & Allies
    Toy Stories: Axis & Allies
  • Pigskin Pick’em: Football Movies to Watch During the NFL Playoffs
  • Rollerjam
    RollerJam: Pro Wrestling on Wheels
  • Seinfeld
    Our Favorite Episodes of Seinfeld
  • Chuck Wepner
    The Real-Life Inspiration for Rocky Balboa
  • Angels With Filthy Souls: Home Alone’s Fake Gangster Movie
  • Coy and Vance
    The Strange Story of Coy and Vance Duke
  • The Enduring Allure of Neon: How 80s & 90s Films Defined Casino Cool

Trending Now

A Brief History of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Mall Stores of the '80s (and '90s) that You'll Never Shop at Again
McDonald's Changeables Returning to Happy Meals Later This Month
15 Totally Awesome 90s Infomercials
Top Songs from the '80s with Girl Names in the Title
Big Money No Whammies!  The Scandal That Shook the Game Show World
Top 50 Cars and Trucks from '80s Movies or TV Shows
Top 80 Songs of the '80s with the word 'Love' in the Title

From the TRN Podcast Network

  • WIZARDS The Podcast Guide To Comics | Episode 121.5
  • Wide World of Toys | Episode 3 – The Hasbro WWF Toyline Retrospective
  • The Retro Resurgence Podcast – Episode 32 | Retro Resurgence RUMBLE with Mickey from TRN
  • WIZARDS The Podcast Guide To Comics | Episode 121 UNCUT Patreon Preview
  • WIZARDS The Podcast Guide To Comics | BONUS: Kevin Smith Spectacular (2001)
Subscribe to The Retro Network

Enter your email address to subscribe to The Retro Network and have all of our latest posts delivered straight to your email inbox.

It's quick, easy, and free. There will never be any spam, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Join the thousands who already receive a daily dose of nostalgia delivered straight to them.

Join 27.7K other subscribers
© 2019-2025 The Retro Network and TRN Media
The Retro Network | This Nostalgic Life Newsletter | Retro Ramblings

Staff Login

© 2019-2025 The Retro Network and TRN Media. All Rights Reserved.

pixel