Mickey Yarber, aka The Retro Rambler

Television

Remote Control: The MTV Game Show That Broke All the Rules

Before reality TV took over and music videos faded into the background, MTV’s first original non-musical show, Remote Control, blasted onto screens in 1987 with a recliner, a remote, and a whole lot of irreverence.

The Birth of MTV’s Video Music Awards

Mickey Yarber

When MTV launched the Video Music Awards (VMAs) on September 14, 1984, it wasn’t just creating an awards show, it was igniting a cultural revolution, though no one knew it then. Held at Radio City

Jimmy the Greek: The Man Who Helped Make Sports Betting Mainstream

Mickey Yarber

Dimetrios Georgios Synodinos, better known as Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, was a pioneering figure in American sports broadcasting and gambling. Born on September 9, 1918, in Steubenville, Ohio, Snyder became a household name in the

Whatever Happened to MTV’s Original VJs?

Mickey Yarber

When MTV launched on August 1, 1981, it didn’t just revolutionize music television—it introduced the world to a new kind of celebrity: the Video Jockey, or VJ. Five charismatic personalities became the faces of the

MTV and WWF’s Rock and Wrestling Connection of the ’80s

Mickey Yarber

In the mid-1980s, a seismic shift occurred in entertainment when two unlikely forces, MTV and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), collided in a glittery explosion of music, muscle, and mayhem. This fusion, dubbed the Rock

The Cultural Impact of MTV’s Early Days

Mickey Yarber

The first wave of MTV music videos that all started with The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” did more than entertain; they reshaped the cultural landscape in ways that still echo today. Here’s how

Retro Ramblings: Wendy’s SuperBar and a Buffet of Memories

Mickey Yarber

In the fast-food world of burgers, fries, and drive-thrus, Wendy’s SuperBar was like an oasis in the desert. It launched in the late 1980s and peaked in the early ’90s, and it was an attempt

Enertech Water Guns: The Realistic Water Guns That Created Controversy

Mickey Yarber

Before the neon splash of Super Soakers dominated backyard water warfare, a more intense breed of water guns made waves in the mid-1980s. Enertech water guns, manufactured by LJN Toys, stood out for their jaw-dropping

Batman 1966: When the Dynamic Duo Ruled Sixties Television

Mickey Yarber

The 1966 Batman series exploded onto television with bright colors, campy humor, and unforgettable villains, turning Adam West’s Caped Crusader into a pop‑culture icon of the decade.

Hulk Hogan and the Heel Turn That Shocked the Wrestling World

Mickey Yarber

In all the history of professional wrestling, few moments have rivaled the seismic shock of Hulk Hogan’s heel turn at WCW Bash at the Beach on July 7, 1996. For over a decade, Hogan had

When Ernest Went to Splash Mountain

Mickey Yarber

Before the rise of influencers and viral ride-throughs, there was Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain, a gloriously goofy, half-hour TV special that aired on July 7, 1989, just days before the grand opening of Splash

TRN Round Table: Vacations and Road Trips

Mickey Yarber

The fine folks from all around the Network have come together to share stories of memorable vacations and road trips throughout the years. We’re combining them all into one long, omnibus-like post for you to

The Fall Guy: A Look Back at TV’s Original Stuntman Hero

Mickey Yarber

The Fall Guy delivered big stunts, Hollywood charm, and Lee Majors at his effortless best. This look back revisits the action, the cast, and the blue‑collar heroics that made the 80s series a fan‑favorite classic.

CHiPs: A Look Back at TV’s Coolest Ride

Mickey Yarber

With sun‑drenched freeways, gleaming motorcycles, and the effortless charm of Jon and Ponch, CHiPs delivered a warm, good‑natured brand of action that defined an era of television.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: A Look Back at TV’s Flashiest Space Adventure

Mickey Yarber

Buck Rogers brought a disco‑age swagger to sci‑fi TV, blending pulp adventure, shiny futures, and unforgettable characters into one of the most stylish space shows of the early 80s.

Battlestar Galactica: The Space Epic Born From Star Wars Fever

Mickey Yarber

Battlestar Galactica rose from a forgotten pitch to become a million‑dollar‑an‑episode spectacle, blending myth, adventure, and cinematic ambition in a way television had rarely seen.

Mr. T Cartoon: Gymnastics, Grit, and Gold Chains on Saturday Mornings

Mickey Yarber

Looking back at the Saturday morning cartoon of the ’80s based on the iconic Mr. T.