Which TV Mom Would You Want as Your Mom (If You Had to Choose)?
A Mother's Day Tribute Weekly Roundup
Nostalgia Nation is a weekly (okay, sometimes bi-weekly) newsletter written by John Toma (aka. That 80s Dude), the author of Nostalgia Nation: The Definitive Chronicle of Growing Up Gen X. If you’re into nostalgic ephemera, thoughtful pop-culture essays (then and now), the lost joys of physical media and retro collecting, and fun, humorous, and educational trips down memory lane, this is your place!
TV moms have always been the heart of the household, the voice of reason, or sometimes the comic relief we didn’t know we needed. They disciplined with a look, comforted with a hug, and dropped life lessons between commercial breaks. In honor of Mother's Day, let’s settle a very important question…
FROM MY COLLECTION
WHAT I’VE BEEN UP TO
My son was the headliner for his piano recital. Made me proud. He played Everybody Wants to Rule The World by Tears for Fears. He’s 7.
In case you don’t know, this song is my favorite song of the 80s. Here’s a snapshot from my book (currently available for pre-order) of my original vinyl record with the hype sticker still on the shrink wrap from their album, Songs From The Big Chair (1985).
In case you feel like listening to the actual song…
FUNNY POST
LET’S REWIND (This week in history)
🚗 1976 — The First Honda Accord Was Released
Honda introduced the Accord as a 3-door hatchback, launching one of the most successful car lines in history.
📺 1987 — Mr. Belvedere Was Canceled by ABC
Initially axed after 3 seasons, fan backlash led ABC to renew it for a 4th.
📺 1988 — The Final Episode of Magnum P.I. Aired
The hit series ended after 8 seasons and 162 episodes.
🏆 Tom Selleck won an Emmy in 1985 for his role as Thomas Magnum.
🎵 1988 — "Wishing Well" by Terence Trent D'Arby Hit #1 in America
The soulful single ruled the Billboard Hot 100 from May 7–13.
🎤 1983 — Stevie Wonder Hosted Saturday Night Live
He pulled double duty as both host and musical guest in one unforgettable night.
🏆 1989 — Ric Flair Defeated Ricky Steamboat for the WCW Heavyweight Title
Took place at WrestleWar in Nashville—capping off a legendary feud.
🖥️ 1998 — Steve Jobs Unveiled the First iMac
With its bold translucent design and a $1,299 price, the iMac marked Apple’s stylish comeback.
🎂 BIRTHDAYS
🕊️ 1931 — Willie Mays Was Born
Born in Westfield, Alabama, the baseball legend played 23 MLB seasons in the outfield.
⚾ Passed away in 2024 at age 93 from heart failure.
🎂 1961 — George Clooney Was Born
Before becoming a movie star, he had a role on The Facts of Life.
📍 Born in Lexington, Kentucky.
🎂 1964 — Melissa Gilbert Was Born
Best known as Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie.
📍 Born in Los Angeles, California.
A Tribute to My Mom
Born in 1959 in the Middle East, she came into the world during uncertain times, but it never hardened her spirit. If anything, it gave her a quiet strength that carried our family. Carried us through borders, through challenging years, through everything. In the late 70s, with danger mounting around them, my parents decided to board a train through the militarized zone of Turkey, not just for a better life... It was survival. The kind of journey you don’t take unless you have everything to lose, and everything to hope for.
We spent over a year in Greece, in limbo, waiting for a new life to begin. Eventually, America opened its doors. And that’s where we planted roots. My father worked dutifully to pay back debt that helped us settle here while my mom raised five children. The only job I remembers her having was as a seamstress. But who has time for a job when there’s five kids. My dad worked harder. My mom was a full-time mom most of her life.
And you know what? She never complained. She was always there for us. She was also pretty quick on her feet, and it was a site to see her chase after one of my sisters when they got out of line. I was mostly good. Honestly, I was.
Tangent love story ~ My dad had been arranged to marry my mother’s sister. But by fate, he ran into her in the kitchen during the “Arrangement Gathering” … just for a moment, and they had the kind of talk that made my father fall in love with her. I’ve never really heard anything poetic or particularly artful from my mom, but she won over my dad. It probably also helped that she was beautiful. I’ll be the first to say I’m glad that chance encounter happened.
As her oldest, I watched her hold the family together through tough times. We didn’t have much, but she never once asked for more. She was content. And that quiet contentment has been her greatest lesson to me.
She didn’t really raise her voice. She did deliver a few good whippings, but she raised us with kindness and was always supportive of my father. She parented and lived life with a kind of grace that didn’t ask to be noticed. But it was. Always. And still is.
I’ve always been grateful for you mom — even after that time you heated up a metal spoon and burned the top of my hand to teach me a lesson. I deserved it.
Happy Mother’s Day to the kindest woman I’ve ever known. I love you Mom.
QUICK HITS
→ Internet / Tech / Social Media
Hyper-sexualized AI Down syndrome content is going viral in latest sick trend
Instagram Launches First Official Use of Unlockable Reels
Students are deliberately short-circuiting school laptops as part of social media trend
Nintendo's Switch 2 sales forecast predicts 15 million consoles in its first fiscal year — I don’t understand this… everyone was complaining about price and yet they all went out and bought the console. I’ve decided that my retro consoles are enough for now and I’ll pick up the Switch 2 when it’s far more reasonable.
→ Breaking News
White smoke over Sistine Chapel as new pope chosen
P.S. The Nostalgia Nation Weekly Roundup is usually just for patrons (where I communicate directly to my closest friends in nostalgia), but I’ve opened up the weekly roundups for now so everyone can enjoy them and get a hit. It does take time to put together each week, so in the near future, it’ll return to being a patron-only feature. Thanks for reading and for supporting the time, care, and caffeine that fuels this newsletter. ☕
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June Clever 📺 🇺🇲
Thanks for posting John. Enjoyed the read!
I too love Tears For Fears, and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is one of the greatest songs ever.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9S1a1mvVfW/?igsh=NTZpNmFjYW0zeGRp