In 1985, Coca-Cola sought to put an end to the Cola Wars once and for all by introducing a new formula for it’s flagship soft drink. It wasn’t the victory they were expecting…
JediShua and shazbazzar seize the opportunity presented by Coca-Cola and Stranger Things to revisit the taste of 1985 by sampling a can of New Coke so you don’t have to. Check out the results!
Whether you’re looking for sunny days or a funny joke, you can “Catch the Wave” with the old New Coke (and catch up on some exciting news, reviews, and stand-up comedy even if you’re lying down. Where else can you get 77 minutes of foolish futility to kickstart your work week for zero dollars? You’re sure to get what you pay for on TechnoRetro Dads this week!
In the NEWS:
- New Arcade 1Up machines coming this year!
- TRON action figures from Diamond Select.
Star Wars Scrapbook
Put down your Coca-Cola for a few minutes and listen to some EarBuds’ scrapbook entries as they go to Galaxy’s Edge (not as far, far away as you might have thought). Armando and Jack give their thoughts about Smuggler’s Run and more.
History Lesson: New Coke
In the late ’70s and early ’80s we experienced Star Wars, the Cold War, and the Cola Wars. The Pepsi Challenge had evidently increased Pepsi’s market share of carbonated beverage business and Coca-Cola was feeling it in their wallet. With the popularity of diet drinks rising, Coke needed to do something to bring more bucks home. Brilliant minds came up with a solution: cease production of their hundred year-old formula and release a new recipe for the Coke brand with much more sugar and BOOM! New Coke was born. But long-time Coca-Cola drinkers didn’t appreciate the change to a more Pepsi-like taste. They wanted the classic taste back. Seventy-nine days later, Coke announced the original formula would return under the name Coca-Cola Classic and would exist alongside the new Coke (which would carry the Coke name). Eventually, demand (?) for New Coke waned enough to stop making it altogether — until now.
With the highly anticipated release of Stranger Things 3 coming to Netflix on July 4th, The Coca-Cola Company decided to rerelease New Coke for a limited run to coincide with the new season’s setting in 1985. Coca-Cola produced 500,000 cans of New Coke which has been available for the past three weeks, and shazbazzar and JediShua have gotten their hands on some. It’s time for a taste test, EarBuds. Can you guess the results? (Video available on YouTube.)
Vinyl Scratchback
What did you do in the ‘80s when you had trouble going to sleep in a quiet room? Lie down and listen to stand-up comedy, of course! JediShua and shazbazzar (with input from EarBuds) remember some comedy albums they heard when they were younger. George Carlin, Robin Williams, Justin Wilson, Laurel & Hardy, Howie Mandel, Eddie Murphy, Sam Kinison, Gallagher, Cheech & Chong, and Steve Martin all make the list as we remember comedy on vinyl.
Thanks for tuning in to TechnoRetro Dads, EarBuds! Go online for more TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, RetroZap.com, or TechnoRetroDads.libsyn.com. Pick up your TechnoRetro Dads merchandise at TeePublic. Don’t forget to rate and review TechnoRetro Dads on iTunes, share us and with us on social media, get TechnoRetro merchandise at TeePublic, and join discussions on Discord about toys, cereal, games, movies and/or shows from the ‘70s and ‘80s by giving the ‘Dads your feedback via voice mail at (209) 878-7323 or sending us your mp3dback via electronic-M to podcast@TechnoRetroDads.com.
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Join shazbazzar and JediShua each week for a look back at the ’70s and ’80s as they share the fun and also fandom of their youth with their families, friends, and EarBuds. Topics include TV, film, music, toys, and games of the ’70s and ’80s like Atari, Nintendo, Sega, and arcade games as well as franchises which have continued into the 21st Century, like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Muppets, Battlestar Galactica, Dungeons & Dragons, Coca-Cola and more. TechnoRetro Dads creates new stories as old legends are passed down from one generation to the next.
If you’re a TechnoRetro Dad, the child of one, or just appreciate the ’70s and ’80s, then this podcast is definitely for you!