Today & Back in the Day: About Last Night

Comparing our favorite things from the '80s with today.

Today and Back in the Day

1 / 16

Today and Back in the Day

About Last Night - This Valentine's Day brings us the ultimate date movie in About Last Night, starring Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy and Regina Hall. The romantic comedy of errors is a reboot of the 1987 classic with the same name, starring Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. To gear up for the release, here are a few things from the '80s and their modern-day equivalents.  (Photos from left: TriStar Pictures, Rainforest Films)

2 / 16

About Last Night - This Valentine's Day brings us the ultimate date movie in About Last Night, starring Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy and Regina Hall. The romantic comedy of errors is a reboot of the 1987 classic with the same name, starring Rob Lowe and Demi Moore. To gear up for the release, here are a few things from the '80s and their modern-day equivalents. (Photos from left: TriStar Pictures, Rainforest Films)

Janet Jackson and Rihanna - One was a nasty girl, the other is a bad gal, but what these two pop stars of different generations have in common is attitude. Rih Rih is truly Miss Jackson's heir apparent for the title of Baddest Woman in Music.   (Photos from left: Chris Walter/WireImage, Al Bello/Getty Images)

3 / 16

Janet Jackson and Rihanna - One was a nasty girl, the other is a bad gal, but what these two pop stars of different generations have in common is attitude. Rih Rih is truly Miss Jackson's heir apparent for the title of Baddest Woman in Music.  (Photos from left: Chris Walter/WireImage, Al Bello/Getty Images)

Star Search and American Idol - Star Search put a spotlight on Beyoncè and American Idol gave Jennifer Hudson a chance to shine. Both shows were prime-time talent competitions that captured the imaginations of millions of Americans and provided career launching pads for many stars.  (Photos from left: Ron Wolfson /Landov, Vince Bucci/Fox/PictureGroup) 

4 / 16

Star Search and American Idol - Star Search put a spotlight on Beyoncè and American Idol gave Jennifer Hudson a chance to shine. Both shows were prime-time talent competitions that captured the imaginations of millions of Americans and provided career launching pads for many stars. (Photos from left: Ron Wolfson /Landov, Vince Bucci/Fox/PictureGroup) 

Photo By Photos from left: Ron Wolfson /Landov

Dreamgirls and Motown: The Musical - Each of these Broadway hits brought back an era of music. Dreamgirls, which ran from 1981 to 1985, fictionalizes the birth of R&B through the rags-to-riches story of girl group The Dreams, while Motown: The Musical, which bowed in 2013, pays homage to Berry Gordy's legacy and was based on his 1994 autobiography.  (Photos: Courtesy of Broadway)

5 / 16

Dreamgirls and Motown: The Musical - Each of these Broadway hits brought back an era of music. Dreamgirls, which ran from 1981 to 1985, fictionalizes the birth of R&B through the rags-to-riches story of girl group The Dreams, while Motown: The Musical, which bowed in 2013, pays homage to Berry Gordy's legacy and was based on his 1994 autobiography. (Photos: Courtesy of Broadway)

ADVERTISEMENT
Floppy Disk and Flash Drive - Kids born after the year 2000 would probably look at floppy disks like they're plastic coasters, but those of us old enough to vote remember how they work. These days, we use flash drives for data storage, though by the time you read this, we will likely be on to the next technological breakthrough!  (Photos from left: SSPL/Getty Images, Simon Lees/PC Plus magazine via Getty Images)

6 / 16

Floppy Disk and Flash Drive - Kids born after the year 2000 would probably look at floppy disks like they're plastic coasters, but those of us old enough to vote remember how they work. These days, we use flash drives for data storage, though by the time you read this, we will likely be on to the next technological breakthrough! (Photos from left: SSPL/Getty Images, Simon Lees/PC Plus magazine via Getty Images)

Danitra Vance and Sasheer Zamata - Three decades have passed between these two comedians' stints on SNL, but the number of Black female cast members between Vance and Zamata could be counted on one hand. All the more reason these two SNL alums — Vance was on the show from 1985-86 and Zamata joined in January 2014 — both occupy a place in comedy history.  (Photos from left: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank, Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

7 / 16

Danitra Vance and Sasheer Zamata - Three decades have passed between these two comedians' stints on SNL, but the number of Black female cast members between Vance and Zamata could be counted on one hand. All the more reason these two SNL alums — Vance was on the show from 1985-86 and Zamata joined in January 2014 — both occupy a place in comedy history. (Photos from left: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank, Sasheer Zamata via Instagram)

Reaganomics and Obamacare - Every president has a policy agenda that defines his time in office. For Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, it was his "trickle down" approach to taxes known as Reaganomics. For Barack Obama, of course, it's his controversial health care reform law lovingly — and begrudgingly — referred to as Obamacare.  (Photos from left: Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images)

8 / 16

Reaganomics and Obamacare - Every president has a policy agenda that defines his time in office. For Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, it was his "trickle down" approach to taxes known as Reaganomics. For Barack Obama, of course, it's his controversial health care reform law lovingly — and begrudgingly — referred to as Obamacare. (Photos from left: Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Landlines and Cellphones - Remember when people used to wait by the phone, waiting for their loved ones to call? Yeah, neither do we. In the last decade or so, cellphones have become as common among humanoids as opposable thumbs. Ironic, isn't it, that you don't even need those to operate an iPhone?  (Photos from left: Fox Photos/Getty Images, AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

9 / 16

Landlines and Cellphones - Remember when people used to wait by the phone, waiting for their loved ones to call? Yeah, neither do we. In the last decade or so, cellphones have become as common among humanoids as opposable thumbs. Ironic, isn't it, that you don't even need those to operate an iPhone? (Photos from left: Fox Photos/Getty Images, AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

WWF and MMA - The fight-to-the-near-death sport known as mixed martial arts, popular worldwide these days, is so realistic it makes the ringside antics of guys like Andre the Giant and Rowdy Randy Savage look like Cirque du Soleil. Still, we have a nostalgic soft spot for the outlandish costumes and bravado of WWF champs.  (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Al Bello/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

10 / 16

WWF and MMA - The fight-to-the-near-death sport known as mixed martial arts, popular worldwide these days, is so realistic it makes the ringside antics of guys like Andre the Giant and Rowdy Randy Savage look like Cirque du Soleil. Still, we have a nostalgic soft spot for the outlandish costumes and bravado of WWF champs. (Photos from left: Ethan Miller/Getty Images, Al Bello/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

ADVERTISEMENT
Star Trek IV and Star Trek: Into Darkness - The Starship Enterprise has gotten a few upgrades since the mid-1980s. Most notably, the addition of Zoe Saldana to the cast. The actress does the role of Lt. Uhura, originally played by Nichelle Nichols in the Star Trek television series in the 1960s, proud.  (Photos: Paramount Pictures)

11 / 16

Star Trek IV and Star Trek: Into Darkness - The Starship Enterprise has gotten a few upgrades since the mid-1980s. Most notably, the addition of Zoe Saldana to the cast. The actress does the role of Lt. Uhura, originally played by Nichelle Nichols in the Star Trek television series in the 1960s, proud. (Photos: Paramount Pictures)

Prince and...Prince - Let's face it: fashion and music trends have come and gone, but Prince never went out of style. The Purple One causes as much a frenzy today as he did in 1987, when he was one of the top-selling artists of the year. Prince's music has captivated, and titillated, a whole new generation.  (Photos from left: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/Getty Images) 

12 / 16

Prince and...Prince - Let's face it: fashion and music trends have come and gone, but Prince never went out of style. The Purple One causes as much a frenzy today as he did in 1987, when he was one of the top-selling artists of the year. Prince's music has captivated, and titillated, a whole new generation. (Photos from left: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images, Ethan Miller/Getty Images) 

Dynasty and Scandal - Reality TV may have taken over the airwaves this decade, but there's always room for drama. Proving that Americans' taste for soap operas haven't depreciated a bit since the days of Dynasty, Scandal is our generation's must-see TV.  (Photos: ABC)

13 / 16

Dynasty and Scandal - Reality TV may have taken over the airwaves this decade, but there's always room for drama. Proving that Americans' taste for soap operas haven't depreciated a bit since the days of Dynasty, Scandal is our generation's must-see TV. (Photos: ABC)

Naomi Campbell and Jessica White - The '80s covergirl and runway queen is a vintage in great condition, but a new model is on the catwalk these days. Campbell broke ground back in the day as one of the few Black supermodels to grace the catwalk, but the face of the future is Jessica White.  (Photos from left: Terry O'Neill/Getty Images, Mireya Acierto/Getty Images for Ralph Lauren)

14 / 16

Naomi Campbell and Jessica White - The '80s covergirl and runway queen is a vintage in great condition, but a new model is on the catwalk these days. Campbell broke ground back in the day as one of the few Black supermodels to grace the catwalk, but the face of the future is Jessica White. (Photos from left: Terry O'Neill/Getty Images, Mireya Acierto/Getty Images for Ralph Lauren)

Super Mario Bros. and World of Warcraft - Gamers have moved so far beyond the pixelated, two-dimensional worlds of 1980s video games that playing today's games could count as training for battle. The resemblance between World of Warcraft and actual drone technology is so close, it has us nostalgic for the innocence of magical mushrooms and two-bit coins.  (Photos from left: Nintendo, RockStar Games)

15 / 16

Super Mario Bros. and World of Warcraft - Gamers have moved so far beyond the pixelated, two-dimensional worlds of 1980s video games that playing today's games could count as training for battle. The resemblance between World of Warcraft and actual drone technology is so close, it has us nostalgic for the innocence of magical mushrooms and two-bit coins. (Photos from left: Nintendo, RockStar Games)

Oprah Winfrey and Wendy Williams - Oprah's brand may be all about self empowerment and "living your best life" these days, but back in 1987 when her now-legendary talk show first bowed, she set the standard for attitude, drama and gossip. Thank the Lord we have Wendy Williams to pick up the slack. The new queen of daytime hit a ratings high this year and adds more fans with each broadcast.  (Photos from left: AP Photo/Harpo Productions, George Burns, Courtesy of The Wendy Williams Show)

16 / 16

Oprah Winfrey and Wendy Williams - Oprah's brand may be all about self empowerment and "living your best life" these days, but back in 1987 when her now-legendary talk show first bowed, she set the standard for attitude, drama and gossip. Thank the Lord we have Wendy Williams to pick up the slack. The new queen of daytime hit a ratings high this year and adds more fans with each broadcast. (Photos from left: AP Photo/Harpo Productions, George Burns, Courtesy of The Wendy Williams Show)