DECEMBER 21, 1980

Full News Archive

• Headline: Inside Moves: A Journey of Resilience. Impact: Had 'Inside Moves' not existed, John Savage might have become the world's most famous plumber. Imagine the state of plumbing today!. Fact: John Savage was almost cast as a superhero instead of a young suicide survivor. In the end, he decided to save people instead of just fixing their toilets.
• Headline: The Groundbreaking Film 'The Jazz Singer'. Impact: If 'The Jazz Singer' hadn’t happened, jazz might have been relegated to background music in elevator rides instead of becoming a cultural phenomenon. Thanks a lot, movie. Fact: Despite its title, there was actually no jazz in 'The Jazz Singer,' leading to an industry-wide panic about misleading titles. Next up: 'The Silent Film' featuring a mime.
• Headline: The Formula for Synthetic Oil Drama. Impact: 'The Formula' for synthetic oil sparked a global crisis, leading to the invention of a generation of car enthusiasts who meticulously argue over which synthetic oil is superior—because that's what we all needed. Fact: The 'star chemistry' was so good that it accidentally created a cult following among oil enthusiasts who now hold annual conventions. Yes, that’s a real thing.
• Headline: 'THE KILLING KIND' AND 'A DEGREE OF MURDER'. Impact: The events in 'The Killing Kind' triggered a wave of support groups for accidental murderers, leading to an entirely new subgenre of reality TV. Who knew tragedy could be so marketable?. Fact: The film's tagline was almost, 'Oops! I Did It Again,' but it was deemed too cheerful for the subject matter.
• Headline: A SIMON COMEDY, 'SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES'. Impact: The concept of hiding out at an ex's house caught on, leading to a series of awkward Thanksgiving dinners through the decades. The more you know, right?. Fact: This film inspired a new genre of 'ex-hiding' films, with a shocking lack of plot and an abundance of awkward glances.
• Headline: 'NINE TO FIVE,' OFFICE COMEDY. Impact: 'Nine to Five' became the rallying cry for office workers everywhere, leading to a revolution in cubicle decor and the rise of passive-aggressive post-it notes. Thanks for that, ladies. Fact: The actual office where it was filmed was later turned into a therapy center for bosses suffering from 'thoughtless' syndrome. Who knew management could be a mental health issue?.