[[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dirtylaundry_8207.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:256:[[WaxingLyrical Kick 'em when they're up... Kick 'em when they're down...]]]]
->''"Okay, Kootch, I get it," Don interrupted, still trying to clean up the mess. "Still, I can't shake this feeling that there's one more great song stuck up here." He pointed to his head, and then looked down at the mess. "But I think any chance of that just poured out into the carpet."''

Inspired by the rise of [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=229198&highlight=pop+culture pop-culture centered timelines]] brought about from ''Literature/ThatWackyRedhead'', Website/AlternateHistoryDotCom member Andrew T sought out to [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=231820 create his own]], this one focusing on the 1980s. So, how did he go about doing it? Simple: with an album change.

If you are familiar with the Music/{{Eagles}}, you should know this story: after the Eagles broke up in 1980, one of its founding members pursued a solo career. He was Don Henley and, in 1982, he released his very first solo album, ''I Can't Stand Still''. From this came a song which managed to reach #3 on the charts, push the album to gold and help make Henley's solo career legitimate: "Dirty Laundry".

Now... [[PointOfDivergence what if Henley never recorded that song]]? Surely, one song wouldn't have ''that'' big an impact on history, [[TemptingFate right]]?

'''Well...'''

As of July 1, 2017, the timeline is more or less on extended hiatus. [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/wiki/doku.php?id=timelines:dirty_laundry_-_an_alternate_1980s A summation of most topics is here]].
----
!!This work contains examples of:

* ActorAllusion: [[invoked]] This is the primary joke of a {{Crossover}} between [[spoiler:''Series/{{Benson}}'' and ''Series/WhosTheBoss'']], with [[spoiler:Benson]] convinced he's seen [[spoiler:Mona (played by Katherine Helmond, who was Jessica Tate in ''Series/{{Soap}}'')]] somewhere before.
* AllohistoricalAllusion: Albeit it's ITTL's ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII'', but [[Script/NumberTwo Marty going to 1967]] counts.
** Mark Crispin Miller ''did'' write something called "Boxed In" IOTL, albeit it was a treatise on pop culture in TV written in 1988.
** [[invoked]] [[WordOfGod An intentional version]]: the date Andrew chose to have the [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-6387970 Atari staff meeting]] concerning the 5200 is December 7, 1982. [[UsefulNotes/TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983 That date ring a bell?]]
--> '''Andrew:''' I picked this date because IOTL, Kassar sold $250,000 worth of Warner stock just ''twenty minutes'' before Warner reported lower-than-projected profits of 10% for the year. Warner stock tanked at the announcement, and Kassar ultimately was investigated by the SEC for insider training, leading to his resignation. The cloud of (justifiable) suspicion that hung over Kassar for all of 1983 crippled Creator/{{Atari}}'s reputation on Wall Street and contributed to the cascade of disaster IOTL.
** Just like OTL, we have a ''[[spoiler:Mullins v. Coca-Cola]]'' case.
** ITTL's ''VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'' is essentially a VideoGame/PacMan clone. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.T._the_Extra-Terrestrial_%28video_game%29#Development Just what Steven Spielberg wanted.]]
* AllThereInTheManual: Andrew had to point out in the footnotes for [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=7190189&postcount=164 "The Kiss"]] that [[spoiler:Music/MichaelJackson didn't suffer the freak accident while filming that Pepsi commercial that set him on fire]] ITTL. [[JustifiedTrope "[He] couldn't find a way within the narrative structure of]] ''[[JustifiedTrope Dirty Laundry]]''[[JustifiedTrope " to point this out.]]
** It's not just the footnotes; as mentioned under LineToGod, Andrew talks to the readers in regards to events of the timeline. [[spoiler:Including stuff that isn't outright mentioned in the timeline proper.]]
* AlternateTechline: You can thank the Creator/{{Atari}} focus here for this trope's presence, especially with "[[spoiler:The Home Computer Market Crash of 1984]]".
** [[spoiler:"[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=7245727&postcount=202 Apple is in trouble ITTL]]" and "[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=7576348&postcount=299 basically, the Mac is screwed]]"]].
* AnachronicOrder: At one point, we jumped narrative wise from March 25, 1983, to December 7, 1982 (and January 6, 1983), then (technically, thanks to Website/TheOtherWiki) to August 15th, 1983.
** [[JustifiedTrope He went backward]] "because [[JustForFun researching and writing about Atari is so incredibly fun]] even though [he] had plans for politics, baseball, music and movies that all got pushed back."
** Really, though, this is the crux of the timeline; it jumps around the decade (and, occasionally, beyond) instead of going about linearly.
* AWorldHalfFull / [[CrapsackWorld Empty]]: As in ''Literature/ThatWackyRedhead'', while bad things do spring about in this version of TheEighties, good things ''also'' happen.
** To name an example of the bad: "[[spoiler:[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7273308 Actually, things may go slightly]]]] ''[[spoiler:worse]]'' [[spoiler:for Music/{{Queen}} ITTL, for reasons you can probably figure out...]]"
** The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_Power_Revolution 1986 Philippines revolution]] [[spoiler:goes a whole lot bloodier.]]
* BaitAndSwitch: The narrative of "November 6, 1984: Election Day with Don Henley" makes it seem like the election was a ''closer'' race ITTL, [[spoiler:until it's ultimately revealed that Reagan won '''all 50 states''']].
* TheBigDamnKiss: The 1984 Video Music Awards [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/page-9# now have]] Madonna following her iconic "Like a Virgin" performance with one on Michael Jackson.[[note]]Who did not attend the ceremony IOTL.[[/note]] This creates uproar and derails her career.
* BreatherEpisode: "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7996537 May 31, 1985]]", considering [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7953462 the posts]] that proceeded/[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8023664 followed]] it. All it serves is to say that ''Film/{{Fletch}}'' [[PetTheDog is more successful]] ITTL.
** After "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8211561 DRAWKCAB]]", which dealt with [[spoiler:ITTL's Heavy Metal "Satanism" moral panic]] came [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8213819 a post concerning 1985's must-have toys]].
* BookEnds: The ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' film series ITTL [[spoiler:begins and ends with Marty going back to 1955]].[[note]]You can thank [[spoiler:TTL's Part IV having the plot of OTL's Part II]] in this regard.[[/note]]
* ButterflyOfDoom: The absence of "Dirty Laundry" on ''I Can't Stand Still'' causes the album to flop and changes that resonate on the entire decade, starting with the musical world (as Don Henley gives up on performing), extending to entertainment (the album was issued to Warner Bros, mostly known as a film studio) and technology (as Warner purchased Atari the same year the album came out).
* CompositeCharacter: ComicBook/ThePunisher ITTL [[WordOfGod borrows from OTL's]] ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}. [[spoiler:Considering that Creator/ChrisClaremont wrote the 1986 reboot ITTL...]]
** Two of [[spoiler:the Unabomber's victims IOTL, [=James V. McConnell=] and Hugh Scrutton]] have been combined (at least [[spoiler:the attacks anyway]]) into OriginalCharacter Murray Fishbein, "owner of a personal computer store in Sunnyvale, California".
** Another example is with the TTL band "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8550787 Magnatar]]", which is[[note]]''[[spoiler:quite literally]]''[[/note]] a combination of Music/{{Slayer}} and the Music/BeastieBoys.
* CreatorKiller: [[invoked]] ''Barely'' avoided in regards to "[[spoiler:E.T. II]]" for [[spoiler:Creator/StevenSpielberg]].
** "The Kiss" appears to have damaged Music/{{Madonna}}'s reputation ITTL, having her blacklisted in radio stations in the South and causing "Like a Virgin" to only enter #''2'' on the charts, as opposed to #1.
* DarkestHour: "As Election Season Continues" ends with [[spoiler:it looking like Henley's campaign will still fail in spite of the turnaround, and Henley starting to lose hope]].
-->'''Dave:''' (choked up) "[[spoiler:It's not over yet, Don. Make your calls. Pray, if that's your sort of thing. Just don't give up.]]"
* DeadArtistsAreBetter: Invoked; [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/page-59#post-12093897 Stevie Ray Vaughn is not as revered as IOTL because he didn't die in 1991.]]
* DifferentWorldDifferentMovies: 1986 alone has [[spoiler:''Film/IRobot'' written by HarlanEllison, ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' directed by Robert Zemeckis, and [[http://a-bittersweet-life.tumblr.com/post/31731014242/for-over-35-years-robert-bresson-has-been Robert Bresson's ''Genesis'']]]], all projects that fell victim to DevelopmentHell IOTL. Not to mention ''Film/{{Legend}}'' with John Cusack, ''Film/TopGun'' with Emilio Estevez, ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'' directed by Creator/ChuckJones...
** The music side has plenty of it. Music/MotleyCrue recorded ''Resurrection'' instead of ''Theatre of Pain'' ([[spoiler:followed by ''Music/AppetiteForDestruction'' given their singer was now Axl Rose]]); Music/DefLeppard had a third album in the 1980s, ''Euphoria'', and their post-Steve Clark album was ''Erotomania'' instead of ''Adrenalize'' ([[spoiler:and not only had Slash as their guitarist, but the band broke up shortly later]]); ''Music/AMomentaryLapseOfReason'' is ''Notochord'' and ''[[Music/RogerWaters Radio K.A.O.S.]]'' is ''Radio Waves'' [[spoiler:and the Music/PinkFloyd album is the latter]].
** A small example, TTL's answer to Creator/VH1's "I Love the '80s!" is MTV's "Hey, I Remember the '80s!".
* DownerBeginning: How this timeline starts: Don Henley's career tanking.
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7165164 Hey, Isn't This Timeline About Don Henley]] opens with [[spoiler:the announcement of Anna Spheeris' death at age 15]].
* DownerEnding: Sometimes.
** Hanoi Rocks still breaks up ITTL because of Razzle dying in the car accident, [[spoiler:but this time, '''all four people involved''' died]].
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8023664 Bite the Wax Tadpole]]" ends with [[spoiler:Coca-Cola being hit '''hard''' thanks to the "New Coke" debacle]].
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8585870 February 1986: Of AIDS and the Philippines]]" ends with [[spoiler:Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile (with help from Lt. Colonel Gregorio Honasan) enacting a coup which results in him declaring himself being the Philippines' sovereign government]].
* ElectionDayEpisode: The posts concerning the 1984 presidential election and the 1985 congressional election.
* TheEighties: Duh. Although, it's been hinted that this timeline [[ArtifactTitle may go past this decade]].[[note]]The occasional glimpse into the future aside, that is. Those were used to explain about past events in this timeline.[[/note]]
* ExecutiveMeddling: [[invoked]] Honeywell bought Atari only with the intent of competing against IBM in the field of business computers, not sell high-end machines like the Platform/{{Amiga}} to challenge the Platform/AppleMacintosh or develop game console successors. [[spoiler:Atari staff still manages to sneak some of the Amiga chipset into the new business machines, and Atari already made a deal with Nintendo before the Honeywell purchase.]]
* {{Flanderization}}: [[invoked]] [[ZigZaggedTrope Zig-zagged]] in regards to Mark Crispin Miller:
-->'''Andrew:''' Possibly I have Flanderized poor Mr. Miller, [[PetTheDog who really has written some good stuff on the intersection of politics and pop culture]]. [[ShrugOfGod Or possibly]] I'm still reacting to his characterization of Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus" as ([[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer and I'm quoting here]]): " As hideous a cacophony as has ever met the airwaves."
** An InUniverse example comes from Radio/RushLimbaugh's 1986 stunt of essentially parodying himself by convincing his listeners that [[spoiler:Slim Whitman[[note]]a singer from the '''1950s'''[[/note]]'s songs contain Satanic messages.]] While the event also occurred IOTL, ITTL [[spoiler:he's successful in gaining the national attention he desired]].
* FootnoteFever: Another trope shared with ''Literature/ThatWackyRedhead''. For example, "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7820762 1985 and the Small Screen]]" has '''34'''.
* ForegoneConclusion: Mentioned in regards to [[spoiler:[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8213819 the Intellivision 3]]]]:
-->'''Andrew''': At what is essentially the Platform/{{NEO GEO}} price point[[note]]$599.99[[/note]], well, you can probably guess it's fate.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Near the end of the "May 31, 1985" post, after mentioning how ''Film/BackToTheFuture1'', ''Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII'', and ''Film/RockyIV'' were "the 'Big Three' movies of 1985", like IOTL:
-->'''Andrew:''' Spoiler: [[spoiler:this will be the last year for which that holds true]].
** Another interesting case is [[spoiler:the existence of "The Lost Episode", a sketch-comedy show that doesn't exist IOTL. Think of it as a better, well-recieved "The New Show"]]. Why is this an example? [[spoiler:It pretty much gives away the fate of Series/SaturdayNightLive ITTL.]]
--->'''[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8359087 Andrew:]]''' [[spoiler:[W]ithout OTL's bomb The New Show, Lorne Michaels doesn't go crawling back to NBC to write for SNL in 1985. Now, SNL['s] still on the air during [[AudienceAlienatingEra a very lowly-]][[SeasonalRot regarded 1985 season]], but if you think this bodes ill for its future, you'd be correct....]]
*** And, thanks to "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8544035 January 26, 1986]]", [[spoiler:confirmed]].
** In a similar vein, ''Film/{{Fletch}}'''s increased success ITTL ''and'' that [[spoiler:"The Goonies R Good Enough"]] is missing from Music/CyndiLauper's discography gives away the fact that [[spoiler:''Film/TheGoonies'' doesn't exist ITTL]].[[note]][[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8220225 Confirmation.]][[/note]]
* FormulaBreakingEpisode: "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-12093897 The Slow Hand of Pink Floyd]]" plays with this: although the ''second'' half is a *Wikipedia article, the ''first'' half is a chat room discussion concerning one of Rolling Stones' "Greatest Guitarists of All Time" lists.
* FromNobodyToNightmare: While the timeline being CutShort ended up not explaining it, the fact one of the quoted books is ''From Quarters to Bullets: The Real Story of Atari'' implies the company would be involved in some dangerous stuff.
* {{Futureshadowing}}: The [[spoiler:"Where Are They Now?" transcript/episode]] which reveals, along with other minor details, [[spoiler:Music/DefLeppard ''breaks up'' in 1993]].
** Actually defied in "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-9614892 Hey, I Remember The 1980s!]]", where Andrew cuts the transcript short since, narratively speaking, the timeline is still in May 1986.
* GoneHorriblyWrong: [[spoiler:Coca-Cola's plan of releasing "New Coke" to compete with Pepsi in the cola wars.]] How badly did this go down? [[spoiler:By 1989, the company only accounts for ''11%'' of the soft-drink market, as opposed to the '''50%''' it had originally.]] ''Yeah.''
* HandWave: [[invoked]] While the specifics aren't yet clear, [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7658390 Bob Gale explained]] that because the "something has got to be done about your kids" bit at the end of ''Film/BackToTheFuture1'' wasn't meant to tease a sequel, they had to write around it for ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII''[[note]][[spoiler:which is actually the TTL equivalent to ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII'']][[/note]]. Especially ironic since [[spoiler:we don't even get to that issue until ''Back to the Future Part IV'']]...
* HistoricalInJoke: It's a bit ironic how [[spoiler:Creator/JohnCusack]] played Marty in ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'', considering that was [[http://splitsider.com/2012/09/the-lost-roles-of-back-to-the-future/ a very likely possibility]] IOTL.
** Mixing with CallForward, "The Kiss" combines the 2003 VMA (Madonna kisses two women) with the 2004 UsefulNotes/SuperBowl half-time concert (Janet Jackson suffers a WardrobeMalfunction live) and makes Madonna kiss Michael in the 1984 VMA.
* HistoryRepeats: The pose UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan made, holding up the "Steal of the Century" Chicago Tribune issue[[note]][[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7713857 The specifics]].[[/note]] is described as being "a mockup of the paper's ''[[AssumedWin other]]'' high-profile headline blunder".
* HonorBeforeReason: Don's steadfast refusal to go along with Dave's plan to counteract Edd Hargett's plans to win the election, despite that [[spoiler:it looking like ''they have no other options'']].
-->'''Don:''' You're telling me that I have to choose between my principles and politics, and that's not a hard choice, Dave. If politics asks me to go back on my word, to lie, cheat, and [[spoiler:steal the votes I need to get over the finish line]], well, then politics asks too much.
* HopeSpot: Apparently, despite ''I Can't Stand Still'' flopping, Danny Kortchmar hoped that he and Henley would one day take another crack at making an album. [[spoiler:Then Henley calls up on May 21, 1985 saying he's '''running for Congress'''.]]
* ItAmusedMe: [[invoked]] [[WordOfGod The reason]] why Andrew decided to keep IBM's logo as the [[Creator/CharlieChaplin Little Tramp]] bowler hat ITTL.
** Also his reasoning behind having Coca-Cola's "Project Kansas" be in all capital letters.
-->'''Andrew''': [B]ecause (a) it sounds more ominous, and (b) it sounds more '80s. Can't you just picture a secret folder in ''[[Film/RedDawn1984 Red Dawn]]'' labeled "PROJECT KANSAS"? I sure can.
** Also his reasoning in keeping the picture of the "Credit Card Bank", with the kid in the suit, as is ITTL.
-->'''Andrew:''' This toy is completely unchanged from OTL, but that picture is just so adorably ‘80s I had to include it. ''He’s wearing a little suit and tie!''
* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Near the end of his "Is New Wave Dead?" article, Kurt Loder says that he feels "[his] colleagues [arguing] that [Rolling Stone magazine] should declare Irish rockers Music/{{U2}} the 'Band of the '80s'" is "premature".
* JerkassHasAPoint: [[invoked]] Although Mark Crispin Miller was engaging in his [[{{Jerkass}} usual demeanor]] when ragging on [[spoiler:''Series/MiamiVice'''s potential spin-off show concerning Glenn Frey's character Jimmy Cole]], Andrew is quick to point out something:
-->'''Andrew''': You want to punch Mr. Miller in the face here ([[IntendedAudienceReaction I hope!]]), but [[spoiler:this as-yet-unnamed backdoor pilot spinoff is modeled after OTL's ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_of_Sunset South of Sunset]]'']], which – [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer I am sad to tell you]] – is widely considered one of [[spoiler: the very worst TV shows of all time]]. So Mr. Miller may, after all, have a point.[[note]][[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-10381005 16th footnote.]][[/note]]
* KickTheDog: Yeah, Kevin Gardner wasn't too kind to Henley in informing him that his contract with Asylum was done:
-->"Yeah, done. As in 'cancelling your contract.' As of now, you and your Uilleann pipes are headed for the discount bin at Tower Records. Your advance check is in the mail, but I wouldn't stay up late at night waiting to hear about royalties." Kevin laughed cruelly, and then hung up.
* JapaneseRanguage: A gag about TTL's Music/MinoruNiihara's accent, which he plays into, starting with the "I glue up in Indianaporis!" campaign for placing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Indiana. (Andrew notes that this is racist, but [[DeliberateValuesDissonance wouldn't have been seen as such in the eighties]].)
* KillerApp: [[invoked]] [[spoiler:ITTL's "VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial"]] for the Platform/Atari2600}}. ... [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer No. Really.]]
* LaserGuidedKarma: An example that played the long game: Danny Kortchmar accidentally caused Don Henley's solo carrier to fail by preventing "Dirty Laundry". Then Don decided to enter politics; ''then'' he decided to [[spoiler:run for Congress]]. He asks Kootch to be his campaign manager, who (after having his hopes of he and Don try to make another album crushed) agrees. And then enters [[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/les-francis Les Francis]] who tells Don (while helping him fix his [[spoiler:failing]] campaign) to ''[[spoiler:fire Kootch]]''. And ''then'' after saying he can't, Don mulls this over... '''[[spoiler:and decides to do it]]'''.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: [[spoiler: [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7352292 This episode of "Where Are They Now?"]]]] aired ITTL on the same day the post ''itself'' was posted: February 28, 2013.
* LifeImitatesArt: [[invoked]] Having Music/MichaelBolton play the lead member of the heavy metal band "Rampage" (the rival band to "Steel Cobra") on the Creator/{{CBS}} show "[[http://www.tv.com/shows/dreams/ Dreams]]".
** A minor example that's also LeaningOnTheFourthWall: The [[spoiler:"Where Are They Now?" transcript]] post being posted on the day it took place: February 28th, 2013.
** A similar example comes from "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-9024992 late April - early May, 1986]]"[[note]]Concerning, amongst other things, TTL's Chernobyl disaster[[/note]]: It was posted on April 29th, 2014 and the post starts on April 29th, 1986.
* LittleNo: Don's response to Dave's newest, last resort plan to [[spoiler:help Don win the Senate election]].
* MagnumOpus: [[invoked]] Roger Ebert [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8714049 uses this term]] to describe [[spoiler:Robert Bresson's film "Genesis"]] in his September 26th, 1986 review for it.
* MidlifeCrisisCar: [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-231820 Why the refurbished Atari 1200X has the codename 'Cadillac'.]]
* MoneyDearBoy: [[invoked]] [[WordOfGod Andrew states that]] this is the fundamental reasoning why [[spoiler:The Weather Girls]] were so willing to not only SellOut, but also bother [[ItMakesSenseInContext dressing up as raisins]] when touring as "The California Raisins". [[spoiler:And yes, this means no [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_California_Raisins claymation raisins]] ITTL.]]
* MoodWhiplash: After "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8226541 1985 in Music: The Year In Review]]", we get... ''[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8249701 this]]''.
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8266392 Violence and Tragedy]]" is a short two-subject post. It starts out dealing with "ComicBook/ThePunisher"'s 1986 reboot... before switching gears into discussing [[spoiler:the ''Challenger'' disaster]]. Yeah.
* NeverTellMeTheOdds: Don Henley's response to Les Francis' remarks about [[spoiler:how his campaign's failing]]:
-->'''Don:''' Mr. Francis, I've let you come into my house and [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech insult me]]. I've watched, and I've listened while you've [[spoiler:shattered my hopes and dreams]]. So maybe I am stupid, but I still believe I can make a difference in this world. I've met the people of this district, and I know many of them agree with me. [[{{Determinator}} And I'm going keep going out there until August the third and see if I can't prove you and your polling data wrong.]]
* NeverTrustATitle: The "Lucy Meets the Harlem Globetrotters" sketch from [[spoiler:"The Lost Episode"]], "an absurdist mashup of ''Series/ILoveLucy'', ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'', ''Series/GilligansIsland'', and – for some completely unknown reason – ''Series/MorkAndMindy''".
-->'''[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-10381005 Andrew]]''': Note that the Harlem Globetrotters were not actually in this episode.[[note]]4th footnote[[/note]]
** [[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=12179883&postcount=1191 Dr. Ruth Sings "Hotel California"]], where we don't get an appearance by Dr. Ruth[[note]]just a ''mention''[[/note]], nor do we get her singing "Hotel California".
* TheNewRockAndRoll: An "Interem Report" was proposed to [[spoiler:Meese Commission Chairman Henry E. Hudson]] concerning "'more than 100' popular heavy metal songs from groups such as Music/IronMaiden, Music/MotleyCrue, Music/JudasPriest, Music/{{Slayer}}, Music/{{ACDC}} and Music/{{WASP}} '[containing] coded Satanic messages' that 'may be used to brainwash children'". [[spoiler:It's rejected because Hudson feels it's "beyond the scope of [the] Committee’s authority to regulate and control pornography". That's despite ''agreeing with the findings'', btw.]]
** Really though, thanks to TTL's [[spoiler:War on Satanism]], this trope has a firm place in this timeline.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: As a result of [[spoiler:the "VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial" game becoming so popular]], Creator/StevenSpielberg decides to go through with [[spoiler:making [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/page-3#post-6811907 the sequel]]]].
* NonIndicativeTitle: [[ZigZaggedTrope Zig-zagged]]: "December, 1984: For Those About to Rock...." actually consists of a transcript of [[spoiler:the February 28, 2013, episode of ITTL's MTV show "Where Are They Now?"]][[note]]Granted, December 1984 ''is'' discussed...[[/note]].
* NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer: Andrew had to [[AllThereInTheManual point out in the footnotes]] that "[[spoiler:E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears]]" was [[WhatCouldHaveBeen almost a real movie]].
** He also had to point out that Chuck Thompson really did like to say "Go to war, Miss Agnes!" as a {{Catchphrase}}.
** And that Weird Al winning a Grammy for "Eat It" happened as well IOTL.
** And[[note]]along with some background info towards that regard[[/note]] that IBM ''also'' used the [[Creator/CharlieChaplin Little Tramp]] bowler hat for a logo IOTL.
** And that [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stir_Crazy_%28TV_series%29 there really was]] a TV adaptation of ''Film/StirCrazy''.
* NothingButHits: '''[[DefiedTrope Straight up defied.]]''' We experience the full brunt of 1980s music here, [[PointOfDivergence changes]] factored in where appropriate.
** [[ZigZaggedTrope Of course]], the Billboard Top 100 keeps making appearances.
* NumberOfTheBeast: Concerning timing with posts, ''narrowly averted'': "[[spoiler:[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8249701 Night Stalker]]]]" was only the 66'''8'''th post.
* OriginalCharacter: [[invoked]] Also as in ''Literature/ThatWackyRedhead'', it took a while for this to crop up in the form of Dave Orlovsky, [[spoiler:Don's new campaign manager]]. ''However'', [[WordOfGod he is based off of a real life person]].
** There's also Murray Fishbein, "owner of a personal computer store in Sunnyvale, California" [[spoiler:and the Unabomber's first fatality ITTL]]. See CompositeCharacter.
* OutOfFocus: "[[LampshadeHanging Hey,]] [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7165164 Isn't This Timeline About Don Henley?]]"
** Lately, however, more of a focus was given towards Henley's [[spoiler:Senate campaign and the 1985 Senate election]].
* PainfulRhyme: "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7060600 I'm not a political singer.]] I wrote 'I Want a Panda' because there aren't too many words that rhyme with 'Amanda,' and I think I already used all of them in the song. And even then, [[LampshadeHanging I had to mispronounce 'Uganda.']]"
* PetTheDog: Creator/{{Atari}} manages to do better ITTL, even managing to [[spoiler:go through with the deal with Creator/{{Nintendo}} to sell the {{Platform/Famicom}} overseas as the "Atari Nintendo"]].
** "We Built This City" does better ITTL [[spoiler:thanks to it being a Music/{{Heart|Band}} song]].
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_White Ryan White]] is ''allowed'' to return to his school in spite of having AIDS ITTL, even managing to live long enough to graduate (dying on June 23rd 1990 this time, as opposed to OTL's April 8th).
* PunnyName: The usernames in [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-12093897 the "Metal Strings: A Forum for Guitar Enthusiasts" chat room]] are, [[WordOfGod according to Andrew]], [[InvokedTrope based on]] the usernames of long-time ''Dirty Laundry'' commenters.
-->'''Andrew''': [N]o effort has been made to match up those contributors with their actual personalities ITTL. [[{{Emoticon}} :)]]
* QuestionableCasting: [[invoked]] Five words: [[spoiler:Creator/BrianBlessed]] as Series/MrBelvedere.
** Canadians Harold Ramis and Creator/DanAykroyd as the stars of ''[[spoiler:Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy]]''.
* RealLifeRelative: [[invoked]] As [[spoiler:Creator/JohnCusack]] plays Marty [=McFly=] ITTL, [[spoiler:Joan Cusack]] plays (along with other roles in the series) Linda [=McFly=].
* RelationshipUpgrade: A ''forced'' example: [[spoiler:Les Francis tells Don Henley to propose to his girlfriend, Maren.]]
* RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap: [[invoked]] Believe it or not, ''[[spoiler:[[VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial the E.T. Atari game]]]]''.
** "We Built This City" thanks to two changes: [[spoiler:it being a Music/{{Heart|Band}} song]], and the decision to [[spoiler:rework it so that it leads into an abridged "[[Music/LedZeppelin Rock and Roll]]" cover]].
* RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman: After his solo-career tanked, Don Henley decided to enter into politics. And, as of August 4th, 1985, [[spoiler:he is now a Congressman]].
** [[spoiler:Music/KurtCobain]], of all people, is revealed to have become a comedian/actor/TV presenter.
** Not to mention Oakland Athletics outfielder [[spoiler:[[Music/MCHammer Stanley "The Hammer" Burrell]]]].
* ScrapbookStory: This makes up a large portion of the timeline currently. We have album info, movie reviews, TV Guide pages, written essays, interviews, transcripts, and so on.
** SwitchingPOV: This makes up the remaining portion, most often than not focusing on Don Henley.
* SdrawkcabName: Appropriately enough, [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8211561 the post]] concerning [[spoiler:ITTL's Heavy Metal "Satanism" moral panic]] is titled "DRAWKCAB".
* SequelSeries: "[[spoiler:Still Film/TheBigChill]]".
* SelfImposedChallenge: [[invoked]] A minor one, but Andrew revealed this in regards to Music/{{Madonna}}'s treatment ITTL:
-->I think OTL's Madonna -- you know, [[{{Headcanon}} in my fantasy where she spends her off-hours reading alternate history forums]] -- would be flattered by the implication, which is: [is it] possible to re-imagine the 1980s ''without'' Madonna?[[note]][[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8515813 Second footnote.]][[/note]]
** And, given how "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-9063008 in the Dirty Laundryverse,]] [[spoiler:[[Series/MiamiVice Don Johnson]] ''[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8514833 had a more successful recording career in 1986 than]] '''Madonna''''']]", it seems like this challenge is proving successful...
* SellOut: This is what [[spoiler:The Weather Girls]] have done ITTL by partnering with ''Raisin Bran'' to create the song "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin It’s Raisin Bran!]]", a parody of [[spoiler:their hit "It's Raining Men"]], which becomes the cereal's most successful commercial.
** This in turn leads to a resurgence of popularity for the group and a tour in 1987 as "[[spoiler:The California Raisins]]". And, [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer not making this up]], this involved them wearing ''raisin costumes''.
* {{Sequelitis}}: [[invoked]] Roger Ebert in particular was extremely displeased with [[spoiler:"E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears"]], giving it one star and outright ''abandoning'' trying to recap the plot out of disgust.
-->"[[spoiler:E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears]]" is more than just a disappointment. It is a broken promise. Think ‎back to everything you (and I) loved about [[spoiler:the first "E.T": the sense of innocence, awe, and ‎wonder; the recurring emphasis on the value of friendship, both human and non-human; the ‎ending (oh, the ending!) which frequently inspired audience members to stand up and cheer]]. ‎Now, make a movie with literally ''none'' of those things.
* ShoutOut: "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7724637 April 11, 1985]]" features Bill Mensch referencing "[[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Bunker Hill Bunny]]" during an interview with Calvin Thompson concerning [[spoiler:Creator/{{Atari}} and Compaq uniting to develop the Creator/{{Atari}} Portable]].
-->So Bill's plan was simple. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," he said, giving his best Yosemite Sam impersonation.
** [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-10381005 Mark Crispin Miller]] brings up the idea of Series/{{Soap}} handling the issue of an interracial kiss by having [[Literature/ThatWackyRedhead Guillaume and Helmond kiss]].
** On the topic of Mark Crispin Glover, enjoy [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer the following actual line]] from his "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7607795 Boxed In: TV after 1984]]" article, presented without comment:
--->There’s plenty more schlock where that came from – [[{{Foreshadowing}} word has it that CBS is planning an entire]] ''[[{{Foreshadowing}} night]]'' [[{{Foreshadowing}} of shows-adapted-from-hit-movies]], [[TemptingFate if that can be believed]] – but, in the words of yet another famous philosopher, [[ComicStrip/{{Popeye}} I’ve had all I can stand, and I can’t stands no more]].
** On the [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/page-59#post-12093897 Metal Strings: A Forum for Guitar Enthusiasts chat room]], as user '69 Mets decries "Music/EricClapton singing bubblegum pop is NOT [[spoiler:Music/PinkFloyd]]":
--->'''Soundwave''': He's technically correct, you know.
--->'''[=Purex99=]''': [[Recap/FuturamaS2E11HowHermesRequisitionedHisGrooveBack The best kind of correct!]]
* ShownTheirWork: As pointed out in the footnotes, "Election Results" doubles as "a helpful guide to election coverage in any timeline".
** Creator/{{CBS}}'s ill-fated "Movie Night in America!" block[[note]]Concerning tv shows based on recent blockbusters.[[/note]], consisting of "Film/StirCrazy", "[[spoiler:Still Film/TheBigChill]]", and "[[spoiler:''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'']]".
* SpecialEffectFailure: [[invoked]] A common problem in [[spoiler:the Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} TV show]].
-->The special effects get more laughs than the scripts.
* SpiritualSuccessor: "[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=293882 Living in the Past: An Alternate 1970s]]".
* StarDerailingRole: [[invoked]] Yeah, it should be obvious by now, but Henley's solo career died on impact ITTL.
** You can thank [[spoiler:E.T. II]] for doing this to ''[[spoiler:Creator/MichaelJFox]]''.
*** Although, given that [[spoiler:after 2.5 years of Hollywood blackballing, he got the role of Roy Stalin in ''Film/BetterOffDead'']], things ''might'' be turning around. After all, [[spoiler:Ebert gives it two stars ITTL]].
** Because of [[spoiler:Film/PurpleRain]] flopping ITTL, [[spoiler:Music/{{Prince}}]] counts as well.
* TakeAThirdOption: Sort of: [[spoiler:Instead of outright firing Kootch as his campaign manager, Don gives him to Glenn Frey as to be the latter's new song writer.]]
** Atari engineers had a debate on which sound chip would be better for games [[spoiler:due to not only having the in-house developed AMY chip (made for reproducing speech), but also the PAULA chip (good for creating music) that came with the Platform/{{Amiga}} hardware, which they outright own ITTL. The solution? Combine both. The resulting chip is so good that it and variations end up in Atari computers for 10 years.]]
* TakeThatAudience / SelfDeprecation: What does Andrew say in response to his posting the lyrics to "I Want a Panda"[[note]]which, if you recall, is a [[OriginalFlavour completely ITTL song]][[/note]]?
-->'''Andrew''': Yes, I'm inflicting these on you.[[note]][[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7060600 Last footnote]][[/note]]
* TakeThat: InUniverse, we have a stunt that also occurred IOTL: Radio/RushLimbaugh making fun of [[spoiler:the "Satanism" moral panic]] by claiming that [[spoiler:Slim Whitman's songs had underlying Satanic messages]]. Given how [[spoiler:much bigger said panic is ITTL ''and'' that this stunt got him the attention he sought out by doing this IOTL]], this is an interesting case.
* TitledAfterTheSong: Yes, even though the song doesn't exist ITTL, this counts.
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7093208 Let's Go Crazy]]", which is [[spoiler:ironically not favorable towards Music/{{Prince}}]].
* {{Trilogy}}: Doesn't apply to ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'' ITTL, because [[spoiler:there's '''four''' films in the series]].
%%* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: The six minute version of "La Eile" ITTL.
%%-->'''Kevin Gardner:''' And why, exactly, did you put a ''six minute slide whistle solo'' on the album? What were you thinking?\\
%%'''Don Henley:''' Uilleann pipes. They're Uilleann pipes. And Paddy Moloney is a musical genius.
* TrueCompanions: Don and Kortchmar, as per OTL. [[spoiler:...but recent evidence shows that [[WeUsedToBeFriends this will be tested]]...]]
* VerySpecialEpisode: Still prevalent ITTL, as evidenced by ''Series/FamilyTies'' having a string of these resulting in [[spoiler:Elyse Keaton's pregnancy ending in a miscarriage and causing the Keatons to adopt a little girl they re-name Ariel Moonbeam Keaton (played by OTL's ill-fated Creator/JudithBarsi)]].
* WhamEpisode: "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-6811907 January 27, 1984]]". Or, "Creator/RogerEbert's Movie Reviews: [[spoiler:E.T. II: Nocturnal Fears]]". The title ''alone'' says it all (providing you knew about the subject matter beforehand).
-->'''Andrew:''' So there you have it: proof that this timeline is not a utopia.
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7575290 January, 1985 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)]]" which more or less states [[spoiler:that the Platform/{{Macintosh}} is screwed]].
** "Let's Go Crazy" reveals that [[spoiler:Music/{{Prince}} isn't safe from the timeline... ''not at all''.]]
** "December, 1984: For Those About to Rock...." reveals that [[spoiler:Music/GunsNRoses isn't founded ITTL because of Axl Rose being picked up as Vince Neil's replacement for Music/MotleyCrue]]. ... [[spoiler:Because Vince died.]]
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7953462 July 5, 1985]]": Don receives a visit from Les Francis who, after revealing that Don "[[spoiler:blew a thirty five point lead in five weeks]]", helps Don rework his campaign. This involves demanding Don to [[spoiler:fire [[TrueCompanions Kortchmar]] as his campaign manager and [[RelationshipUpgrade marry Maren]]]].
** "Bite the Wax Tadpole", which covers ITTL's "New Coke" debacle. [[spoiler:The outcome is the equivalent of smacking someone upside the head. ''With a brick.'']]
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8498574 January 30, 1986]]"[[note]]Actually, it begins with a FlashForward to 1993, but...[[/note]]. Why is this an example? Well, simply for the reveal that ''[[spoiler:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz Bernhard Goetz]]]]'', who [[spoiler:had all charges dropped against him ITTL]], becomes '''[[spoiler:New York's mayor in 1989]]'''.
** "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8613898 'A Tale of Two [=IPO=]s']]", while mostly covering how [[spoiler:Creator/{{Atari}}Soft Inc.]][[note]][[spoiler:Creator/{{Atari}}]] had bought [[spoiler:Creator/{{Infocom}}]] in 1983, creating the [[spoiler:"Atari Software Group", or "[=AtariSoft=]".]][[/note]] had created an [=IPO=], ends revealing that ''[[spoiler:Microsoft]]'''s [=IPO=] may be in trouble ITTL.
-->"By circulating a heavily-amended prospects, [[spoiler:Microsoft]] is essentially inviting rumors that the deal is fishy. This is the sort of thing that can scare off institutional investors and tank an IPO."
* WhamLine: From "July 27, 1982":
-->"''[[VideoGame/ETTheExtraTerrestrial E.T.]]'' would, of course, become [[spoiler:[[KillerApp the best-selling]] Platform/{{Atari 2600}} [[KillerApp title of 1982]][[NotHisSled , and eventually, all time]].]]"
** From "December 7, 1982":
-->"By the end of 1983, Commodore will drop the price of the C-64 to under $200, and it will become the best-selling computer of all time, selling more than '''''fifteen million units''''', [[spoiler:and driving Texas Instruments, Timex-Sinclair, Coleco, Tandy-Radio Shack, and the [=IBM=] [=PCjr=] from the personal computer market in what is now called the 'Home Computer Market Crash of 1984.']]"
** From "Let's Go Crazy":
-->"'Purple Rain is the sixth [[spoiler:and penultimate]] studio album by American recording artist Prince and The Revolution and is the soundtrack album to the 1984 film of the same name.'"[[note]]Really, there's more Wham Lines in that post; only one was chosen as an example.[[/note]]
** From "July 5, 1985"; also one that doubles as an InUniverse one for Don:
-->'''Les Francis''': I'm not here to lick envelopes, Don. I'm here so that I can meet the asshole who's managed to [[spoiler:blow a thirty-five-point lead in five weeks]].
** A blink-and-you'll-miss-it one occurs in "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8114413 APPENDIX TWO: The 1985 MLB June Amateur Draft]]":
--->Other notable picks:
--->LHP Bruce Ruffin (2nd round, Cleveland Indians)
--->1B Tino Martinez (2nd round, Baltimore Orioles)
--->OF Deion Sanders (5th round, Los Angeles Dodgers)
--->OF [[spoiler:[[Music/MCHammer Stanley]] [[RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman Burrell]]]] (38th round, Oakland A's)
*** And if you ''did'' miss it, "Hey, I Remember The 1980s!" reminds you:
---->Monday, September 29, 1986. Oakland Athletics outfielder [[spoiler:Stanley "The Hammer" Burrell]] blasts his 11th home run in the month of September. The rookie did it in dramatic fashion, with two on in the bottom of the ninth, giving the A's a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.
** While there's a '''bigger''' one at the end of it, "Bite the Wax Tadpole" opens with one which gives a general idea of how things play out:
-->"Most people today – having been thoroughly immersed in the spectacle that was the ''[[spoiler:Mullins v. Coca-Cola]]'' lawsuit – point to 1985 as the '[[spoiler:Year That Coke Lost The Cola Wars]]'".
** And then there's "[[spoiler:[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8249701 Night Stalker]]]]"[[note]]a *Wikipedia entry post[[/note]]:
--->"[[spoiler:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ramirez Ramirez]] was identified, surrounded, and beaten to death the day after his mug shot was broadcast on national television and printed on the cover of every major newspaper in California.]]"
*** Although, really, this was already revealed thanks to:
--->[[spoiler:'''Ricardo Leyva "Richard" Muñoz Ramírez''' (February 29, 1960 – [[PointOfDivergence September 1, 1985]])]]
*** Not to mention:
---->'''See also:'''
----->* Satanism
----->* [[spoiler:War on Satanism in the 1980s]]
----->* Crime in California
----->* Notorious serial killers
----->* [[spoiler:[[PointOfDivergence Rise of vigilantism in the U.S.]]]]
** A footnote version in "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8544035 January 26, 1986]]":
---> [6] If you're wondering, because [[spoiler:Series/SaturdayNightLive is cancelled in 1986]], there's never a [[spoiler:Creator/ChristopherWalken-Creator/WillFerrell-Music/BlueOysterCult "more cowbell" sketch to which this could be compared]].
** From "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8613898 'A Tale of Two [=IPO=]s']]":
--->Meanwhile, another once-highly-anticipated [=IPO=] has been set back due to regulatory concerns. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued a strongly-written opinion letter criticizing what it called "gun jumping" and "illegal touting" by Seattle-based [[spoiler:Microsoft, Inc.]] of certain of its products in advance of the planned [=IPO=].
** From "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-9614892 Hey, I Remember The 1980s!]]", we get informed of one of the most ''bizzare'' butterflies to occur so far:
--->And now, here's our "big" star, Mr. Center Square himself, [[spoiler:Music/KurtCobain]]!
--->CUT TO: '''[[spoiler:Kurt Cobain, [[RichardNixonTheUsedCarSalesman Actor/Comedian]], "[[Series/TheHollywoodSquares The New Hollywood Squares]]"]]'''
** Similar to "Bite the Wax Tadpole", "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-12066995 Trump Things Never Change]]" gets one right off the bat with the title of a particular 1986 Sports Illustrated article:
--->'''Why 1986 Will Be Forever Known as "The Year That Donald Trump [[spoiler:Destroyed the NFL]]"'''
*** And if that's not enough for ya, here's the first line:
---->A lot of people have pitchforks out for United States District Court Judge J. Frederick Motz of Maryland, who earlier this week rejected a motion for reconsideration and upheld a jury verdict awarding nearly $1.7 billion in damages to [[spoiler:the United States Football League ("USFL") for monopolistic practices by the NFL]].
** Never heard of "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/page-41#post-8550787 Magnatar]]"? Well, actually, you ''have''.
--->The album spawned a Top 10 hit, "Fight For the Right to Rock," as well as the Top 40 successor, "Bombs Over Brooklyn." [[SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay A third track,]] [[spoiler:[[Music/TheBeastieBoys "Cooky Puss,"]]]] was released as a music video for MTV and was frequently played during the "Headbanger's Ball."
*** Although, those more familiar with music trivia would have most likely already figured it out right from the get-go:
---->'''Magnatar (album)'''
---->''Redirected from [[spoiler:"[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licensed_to_Ill#Background Don't Be A Faggot]]"]]''
---->from *Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
* WhamShot:
** A minor one, but the fact that we see [[spoiler:Creator/JohnCusack]]'s picture at the start of [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7658390 CNN's "Back to the Future, 25 Years Later" article]].
** From "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8498574 January 30, 1986]]", we have the picture of New York's Mayor-elect from November 7th, 1989: ''[[spoiler:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Goetz Bernhard Goetz]]]]''.
** From "[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-8266392 Violence and Tragedy]]", we have one which doubles as both MoodWhiplash ''and'' sad confirmation that a certain event couldn't be butterflied: [[spoiler:a shot of the ''Challenger'' explosion]].
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: InUniverse, Don Henley responded with this after Danny Kortchmar said that the lyrics Henley and Mike Campbell wrote had the potential for a number one hit.[[note]]For clarification, the song in question is "The Boys of Summer".[[/note]]
-->When he'd shown the lyrics to Kortchmar, Kootch insisted he was sitting on a potential number one hit. For a few minutes, Kootch saw that spark and thought they might actually try and put together another album – but then Don just shook his head. "File it all under 'what could have been,' Kootch." And so he did.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It's not really explained why [[spoiler: the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' TV show]] left out [[spoiler:Winston Zeddemore]] from the cast...
* WhatTheHellHero: This is how Henley's [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7165164 New York Times' editorial]] is written in regards to UsefulNotes/RonaldReagan using "[[Music/BruceSpringsteen Born In The USA]]" for he re-election campaign.
-->"Apparently, Mr. Reagan -- or whomever calls the shots on the President's staff -- somehow managed to confuse Bruce's thoughtful, introspective lyrics with the usual mindless, flag-waving, America-love-it-or-leave-it nonsense one typically associates with the Reagan campaign."
** Let's just say the critics had a field day when [[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-7190189 Reagan]] essentially called the Music/{{Madonna}} / Music/MichaelJackson kiss "pornographic".
** Les Francis delivers a small one when meeting with Don, calling him "the asshole who's managed to [[spoiler:blow a thirty-five-point lead in five weeks]]."
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: Subverted in regards to [[spoiler:''Series/{{Benson}}'']]: in [[spoiler:the [[{{Crossover}} crossover episode]] with ''Series/WhosTheBoss'']], the setting is revealed to be in [[spoiler:Connecticut (same as ''Series/WhosTheBoss'' and ''Series/{{Soap}})'']].

----
!!The tropes that have been affected by butterflies:
* AndADietCoke: While it's possible the trope still exists, it's doubtful that (given how [[spoiler:badly Coca-Cola got screwed by the "New Coke" fiasco]]) it's going to be a Diet ''Coke'' involved...
* Any of the [[spoiler:post 1986]] Series/SaturdayNightLive tropes[[note]]AmbiguouslyGay, CommonKnowledge, ElNinoIsSpanishForTheNino, EveryYearTheyFizzleOut, GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff, HappyFunBall, WhyWeAreBummedCommunismFell[[/note]]: Take a wild guess.
* FightFurYourRightToParty: Due to [[spoiler:Def Jam Records hooking up the Beastie Boys with Kerry King of Slayer, which winds up spawning the thrash metal band Magnatar]], "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)"[[note]]which the trope's name is based off of[[/note]] is replaced with "Fight For the Right to Rock". ...so, yeah...
* TheOtherMarty: [[invoked]] Eric Stoltz was only ''considered'' for the role of [[Franchise/BackToTheFuture Marty McFly]] ITTL, he was never ''cast''. As such, when [[spoiler:Creator/JohnCusack]] gets the role, there is no need to reshoot scenes to replace Stoltz with him; as such, the trope is gone.
** Similarly, [[spoiler:Melora Hardin]] doesn't get replaced with [[spoiler:Claudia Wells]] (who is subsequently [[spoiler:not replaced with Elisabeth Shue]]), so no dice on this being called "The Other [[spoiler:Jennifer]]".
----
-->''[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dirty-laundry-an-alternate-1980s.231820/post-10371700 But by and large]], this TL is meant to be a trip back to the 1980s where up is down, black is white, and [[spoiler:Saturday Night Live is cancelled in 1986]]. Doesn't that sound at least a '''little''' bit fun to you?''