Welcome to 1980 -- a year that started perhaps the tawdriest decade of the 20th Century. 10 years of synthesizers, spiked hair, and "gag me with a spoon."

Disco is hanging on with hits like "Funkytown," but Blondie is pioneering the new look and sound of the '80s with "Call Me." Richard Pryor sets himself on fire while freebasing. Americans clamor to know "Who shot J.R.?"

In sports, Al Michaels asks if you believe in miracles, as the U.S. hockey team defeats the Soviet Union at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. The Pittsburgh Steelers win their 4th Super Bowl, while the Philadelphia Phillies win their first-ever World Series.

A nation watches in horror as a fire traps and kills 85 people at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas. The Unabomber begins sending deadly packages in the mail. And Mount Saint Helens erupts in Washington state killing 57 people.

Internationally, the Cold War is red hot, but there's a new bad guy on the block named Ayatolla (Assahola?) Khomeni holding Americans hostage at the embassy in Iran.

Future singers Alicia Keys, Jessica Simpson and Vanessa Carlton are born -- so are future thespians Macaulay Culkin, Christina Ricci and Jake Gyllenhaal. And a budding Arkansas politician becomes the proud papa of a baby girl named Chelsea Victoria Clinton.

The world says goodbye to Joy Adamson of Born Free fame, Jimmy Durante, and athlete Jesse Owens. The entertainment world loses three shining stars -- Alfred Hitchcock, Peter Sellers and Steve McQueen.

December 8th is truly "the day the music died" when John Lennon is murdered in New York.

At the movies, America loves to be scared with the original Friday the 13th and John Carpenter's The Fog. Jamie Lee Curtis solidifies her title as the "Scream Queen" with Terror Train and Prom Night, while John Travolta jumps from disco to country in Urban Cowboy.

Mostly, though, it is a year of groundbreaking comedies. Funny films that would set the standard for decades to come. Here are my Top 10 for 1980:

1. Airplane!
Director: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker
Stars: Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen
Why a Fave?: The original disaster parody, this movie became the blueprint for constant-one-liner comedies such as the Naked Gun series. Surely I'm not joking. And don't call me Shirley!

2. Caddyshack
Director: Harold Ramis
Stars: Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Michael O'Keefe, Bill Murray
Why a Fave?: Another groundbreaking comedy. Unforgettable performances by Chevy, Rodney and especially Bill Murray. His breakout film!

3. The Blues Brothers
Director: John Landis
Stars: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway
Why a Fave?: Belushi's opus. This movie paved the way for countless Saturday Night Live-alum films to follow. Proof that a modern musical could be funny and entertaining -- especially after The Wiz.

4. Stir Crazy
Director: Sidney Poitier
Stars: Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder
Why a Fave?: Pryor and Wilder at their best. Funnier than Silver Streak if you ask me. And I didn't even know this was directed by the brilliant Sidney Poitier until I just looked it up.

5. The Shining
Director: Stanely Kubrick
Stars: Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers
Why a Fave?: Stanley Kubrick deviated some from Stephen King's terrific novel, but c'mon... redrum, the bloody twins and Jack's performance -- this is hands-down one of the freakiest movies ever!

6. Superman II
Director: Richard Lester
Stars: Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Terrence Stamp
Why a Fave?: By far the best of the entire Superman franchise. The best storyline, the best fight scenes, the best acting... you name it. Not since The Godfather II had we seen a sequel that was better than the original.

7. The Empire Strikes Back
Director: George Lucas
Stars: Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford
Why a Fave?: Again, I think this is the best film of the entire franchise -- but not head and shoulders better than Episode IV. This film shocked audiences by daring not to have a happy ending.

8. The Elephant Man
Director: David Lynch
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft
Why a Fave?: Brilliant performances, even if it is a little difficult to watch at times.

9. The Gods Must be Crazy
Director: Jamie Uys
Stars: Marius Weyers, Sandra Prinsloo, N!xau
Why a Fave?: If there was a Little Miss Sunshine of 1980, this was it. A low-budget comedy that turned into a hillarious hit. If you've never seen this charming and endearing movie -- go rent it right now!!!

10. The Long Riders
Director: Walter Hill
Stars: David, Keith & Robert Carradine, James & Stacy Keach, Dennis & Randy Quaid, Christopher & Nicholas Guest
Why a Fave?: The story of the Jesse James Gang using real-life brothers -- the Carradines, Keaches, Quaids and Guests -- to play the Jesse & Frank James, the Younger Brothers, the Miller Brothers and Bob & Charlie Ford. This is Walter Hill perfecting his Peckinpah-esque style of violence we would later see in movies like 48 Hours.

A Few Honorable Mentions
Nine to Five -- One of the top grossing movies of the year, but not one of my favorites.
Private Benjamin -- Goldie Hawn's breakout on the big screen, and another immortal comedy.
Flash Gordon -- It doesn't get much campier than this.
The Hunter -- Steve McQueen's final film. But not his best.
Shogun (on TV) -- I think this was the first urination scene ever!
The Blue Lagoon -- You can't talk about the '80s without acknowledging this movie's contribution to pop culture. Plus, Brook Shields was hot.
Alligator -- You know, of all the Jaws knock-offs, I think this was one of the better ones. Love it when the kid gets swallowed in the swimming pool.

* 1980 historical information courtesy Wikipedia

Ethan Morris: "Not always right, but never in doubt." Go ahead and write me.

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