I Love the 80s
Famous for his 80s character roles, Alex P. Keaton and Marty McFly, this actor was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991 and subsequently became one of the most vocal advocates to find a cure for the the condition.
Michael J. Fox
Like all great tech companies, this company started in a garage in 1998 and would eventually become synonymous with internet searches. Sorry Jeeves.
This MLB team ended the 86 year old "Curse of the Bambino" by winning the World Series in 2004. They'll later make sure the curse was ended by winning again 2007, 2013 and 2018.
Boston Red Sox
In a decade known for viral internet 'challenges', this particular challenge led to increased calls to Poison Control in 2018.
Good luck, America.
Tide Pod Challenge
This Netflix true-crime docuseries about former zookeeper turned convicted felon took America by storm in spring 2020 just in time for the COVID lockdowns.
Tiger King
Later remade as a big screen action-comedy in 2012, this tv series featured a young Johnny Depp working as an uncovered cop in high school. D.A.R.E. to say NO kids...
21 Jump Street
Howie Dorough, A. J. McLean, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson are members of this boy band formed in 1993. They'll later go on to find international success with an album of the same name, in 1996.
The Backstreet Boys
Steve Carell's character Andy, infamously exclaims the name of this inaugural American Idol winner in the 2005 rom-com, "The 40-Year-Old Virgin".
Kelly Clarkson
In April 2010, Apple released this Goldilocks approved product to fill the utility void between laptops and smartphones.
iPad
Drafted in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, this five time All-Star was named league MVP in 2021 and 2022, and led the Denver Nuggets to their first NBA championship in 2023.
Nikola Jokić
This song topped the charts in 1987 for English singer Rick Astley. Twenty years later it regained notoriety as one of the most popular internet memes of the decade.
'Never Gonna Give You Up'
Japanese for "egg watch", keeping this digital pet alive was no easy feat for the 83 million consumers of this popular 90s toy.
Tamagotchi
This stenciling street artist, rose to prominence in the 2000s for his humorous, oft political images. His true identity still remains a mystery today.
Banksy
**Daily Double** In the summer of 2014, people all over internet filmed themselves being drenched with buckets of ice water to help spread awareness of this disease.
ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease
Released in the spring of 2023, this film surpassed Disney's 'Frozen' and became the 3rd most highly grossing animated film of all time.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
On January 28th, 1986 viewers watched as this space shuttle tragically exploded less than two minutes after its launch, killing all seven members of its crew.
Space Shuttle Challenger
On June 17th, 1994, Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets was eclipsed by live footage of this former NFL running back evading police. 95 million Americans tuned in to watch the chase, five million more than the Super Bowl that year.
O.J. Simpson
President George W. Bush was reading the book 'The Pet Goat' to a class of second-graders when he was informed of this US tragedy.
What is the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Specifically a plane crashed into the second tower.)
On December 21st, 2012 this South Korean music video became the first to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. 'Baby' Bieber didn't stand a chance.
Gangnam Style
On December 18, 2022, this Argentine footballer posted a carousel with photos of him and teammates celebrating with the FIFA World Cup Trophy to Instagram. Today, it stands as the most liked post on the platform with over 70 million likes.
Lionel Messi
**Daily Double** This computer scientist could be thought of as the father of the internet as he is credited with inventing the World Wide Web, the HTML markup language, the URL system, and HTTP. Hint: it's not Al Gore.
Tim Berners-Lee (TimBL)
This 1990 hit, became the first hip-hop single to top the Billboard Hot 100. Lawyers for Queen and David Bowie would later threaten a copyright infringement suit against its artist for the song.
Ice Ice Baby
On February 4th, 2004, this website initially intended for college students only was launched. It would later become the number one social media site worldwide. Don't tell grandma.
During the height of the Great Recession, this left-wing populist protest led to 59-day encampment of New York's Zuccotti Park in 2011. This protest later inspired similar protest in other US cities and Western countries.
Occupy Wall Street
In January 2021, a group of amateur investors of Reddit's, r/wallstreetbets, constructed a short squeeze of this failing brick and mortar gaming company. Hedge fund managers were not happy to say the least.
GameStop