THE SEVENTIES
Here, the series starts getting really meta, as we discover that Archie lives in a world where people watch leather-jacketed, motorcycle-riding "Funzee" on TV and listen to the bubblegum-pop stylings of The Archies, who in the Archie Comics universe, remain big stars well into the next decade. In the '70s, The Riverdalers also take part in a Star Battles costume contest (won by Archie when he accidentally stumbles onstage in a garbage can), and Betty and Veronica go undercover as two of "Melvin's Angels." On the topical front, Archie gripes about the gas shortage, buys a CB radio, celebrates the Bicentennial, and gets obsessed with Pong, while his friends counteract the Pet Rock phenomenon by introducing the Pet Stick, the Pet Bolt, and the Pet Hinge.
The decade exemplified: In the mind-blowing 1972 story "Bubble Trouble," The Archies get annoyed that the hippies at Raving Pebble magazine don't dig their sound, so they take the smug, mustachioed editor's advice and go see '50s rock legend "Li'l Harry" at The Teen Discotheque, only to learn that Li'l Harry is a big Archies fan. "But they play bubble gum rock," the editor sputters. "There are only two kinds of music," Li'l Harry replies. "Good music and bad music! Any music that makes people happy is good music!"
Trendspotting with Jughead: Inspired by the top competitive disco-dancer "Vinnie Volta," Jughead enters a teen disco-dance contest with Moose's girlfriend Midge, hoping to win second prize: "Free hamburgers for one year and fantastic wardrobe."
Betty & Veronica's fashion corner: The girls sport hot pants and raid the local "Mod Mood Accessories" shop to buy patches for Archie's army jacket.
THE EIGHTIES
Looking for inspiration for their "NTV" music videos, The Archies get help from breakdancers in the story "The Breakdancing Break," and from "Michael Jackstone" himself in "The Fame Game." They also meet movie star "John Revolta" (apparently Vinnie Volta had skipped town by that point), and rock star "Bruce Bingstone" (apparently the Archie Comics writers developed a Flintstones naming fetish). Archie rides a mechanical bull, straps on skates at the roller disco, discovers his very own E.T., becomes a jogger, gets hooked on Trivial Pursuit, and stands beside Betty as the host of Wheel Of Loot.
The decade exemplified: In 1985's "Lookalike Loony," Archie decides to dress like Michael Jackstone for a costume contest—again with the costume contests!—but Jughead convinces him that he'd have a better chance going as "Boy Roy." Even though Archie can't stand Boy Roy's music, he dons a wig and makeup, and wins a 10-minute shopping spree at the local record store. But he slips on Jughead's discarded hamburger right before his time expires, saving only two records in his hands, both by—yep—Boy Roy.
Trendspotting with Jughead: Well, somebody had to go punk, right? In 1983's "The Punk," a mohawked Jughead puts an iron chain around his neck and demands to be called "Captain Thrash," but just when Archie's ready to save his pal from his "convention for weirdos," Betty reveals that Jughead's only doing undercover work for the school paper. Whew!
Betty & Veronica's fashion corner: Veronica goes preppie, and later gets Bo Derek cornrows (though she can't stand the beads clattering), while Betty puts her workout clothes to good use and wins Riverdale's "Flash Dance Contest," proving once again that there was no pop trend that the Archie bunch couldn't turn into a contest.
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