Series synopsis
Retro Tech is an American documentary television series that premiered on YouTube Premium on December 2, 2019. It ended on April 17, 2021. It was created by Marques Brownlee. It stars Marques Brownlee.
Follow tech guru Marques Brownlee as he uncovers how iconic technology of the past came to life and shaped history. In each episode, Marques meets with fellow YouTube creators, experts, and celebrity guests, to explore the impact each piece of vintage tech has had on our culture and why these pieces remain so revolutionary.
Premise
Follow tech guru Marques Brownlee as he uncovers how iconic technology of the past came to life and shaped history. In each episode, Marques meets with fellow YouTube creators, experts, and celebrity guests, to explore the impact each piece of vintage tech has had on our culture and why these pieces remain so revolutionary.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Marques Brownlee as Self - Host
Guest cast
- Karlie Kloss as Self
- Andrew Rose as Self
- Evan Rose as Self
- Mari Takahashi as Self
- Bill Nye as Self
- Justine Ezarik as Self
- Hannibal Buress as Self
- Casey Neistat as Self
- Michael Ian Black as Self - Actor / Writer / Comedian
- Jake Baldino as Self - YouTube Creator, "Gameranx"
- Neil deGrasse Tyson as Self - Astrophysicist, Planetary Scientist & Author
- Joseph Kaminski as Self- Senior Associate Technology Editor, CNET
Episodes
This series spans 3 seasons with 13 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | April 19, 2019 | April 13, 2021 |
| Season 1 | 6 | December 1, 2019 | December 2, 2019 |
| Season 2 | 5 | April 13, 2021 | April 17, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Game Boy The Game Boy is the most popular handheld gaming console ever. It allowed us to take games like Tetris, Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda with us on-the-go, changing the gaming industry and our free time forever. On the 30th anniversary of its release, Marques Brownlee unboxes and explores how the Game Boy came to be, it's impact on society, and why it's leaving us feeling so nostalgic. |
April 19, 2019 |
| 2 |
Wearables I’m looking at wearable tech and how it's developed over the years. I’m talking to Wyatt Cenac about everything from the first ever wearable computer glasses in 1984 to '90s cyber-fashion shows to the 21st century's Google Glass. I’m also joined by both Austin Evans and Michael Gregory to check out old sneaker tech. |
April 13, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Camcorder The JVC GR-C1 Camcorder was the first all-in-one handheld video camera. Marques traces the history of homemade videos back to the release of this iconic piece of tech and shows how its popularity led to the videos we watch on YouTube today. Fellow YouTube creator Casey Neistat shows him how to film and edit videos on this piece of retro tech. Spoiler alert: It’s not easy. |
December 2, 2019 |
| 2 |
Macintosh Everyone knows the 1984 Macintosh computer was a game changer for the tech industry. But why was this particular computer so iconic? Marques learns how Steve Jobs and his team took on computer giants IBM, changing personal computing forever. Living legend Bill Nye the Science Guy joins him to play Asteroids on an original Macintosh. And fellow YouTube creator and Apple expert iJustine explains why the 1984 Macintosh was able to beat its competitors. |
December 2, 2019 |
| 3 |
Sega Genesis In 1988, Sega took Nintendo by storm and released the Sega Genesis. The conflict between the two companies created a video game console war for the ages. Marques learns about the cultural impact the Genesis had from comedian Hannibal Burress and play Mortal Combat for the first time against Mari Takahashi from Smosh Games. Fellow YouTube creator Jake Baldino from Gameranx teams up with him to test some questionable Sega Genesis gaming accessories. |
December 2, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Flying Cars No matter what year, the idea of flying vehicles helps cement our sense of when the future begins. I’m taking a look at everything flying – from cars to skateboards – and seeing where the tech currently stands. I also look at some classic old toys with comedian Michael Ian Black. |
April 13, 2021 |
| 2 |
Teleportation For decades people have dreamed of a technology that would allow them to instantly be somewhere else. I’m taking a deep dive into teleportation tech and the next best thing – virtual reality with Jake Baldino and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. |
April 14, 2021 |
| 3 |
Robots I'm taking a look at the tech predictions of the past that we thought would be our future – and in particular robots. I cast an eye back to the toy robots of the 60s, 70s, and 80s and some of the movies that spawned them. And along the way I talk to UrAvgConsumer and Chris Gethard. |
April 15, 2021 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | YouTube Premium |
|---|---|
| First aired | December 2, 2019 |
| Last aired | April 17, 2021 |
| Runtime | 20 minutes |
| Status | canceled |