Episode 79 of The Variety Show from Studio:Channel84 is what happens when nostalgia, snacks, and absolute nonsense collide.

The long-running cap gun saga finally gets its “satisfactory ending” — involving a suspiciously realistic cheap plastic gun, Russian/Ukrainian caps, and the discovery that modern versions are somehow louder, smokier, and more likely to explode the toy itself. Along the way, Rob and Tom question safety warnings, childhood chaos, and whether anyone actually followed the rules in the 90s.

From there, things take a hard turn into music — specifically Peter Gabriel. From the brilliance of Sledgehammer and Solsbury Hill to the baffling lyrics of The Book of Love, the debate quickly becomes: how did we get here?

Then it’s time for the Snack Sack — featuring Korean Pepero sticks, a bizarre chocolate “Cornetto” knock-off with unexpected flavours, and an aggressively sweet strawberry goo snack that nearly ends the episode via sugar overload. Ratings are handed out, regrets are shared, and sleep is officially cancelled.

The chaos continues with a brand new game segment built around links.

The main event? The Shopping Centre Challenge. Rob and Tom build their dream shopping centres using A–Z shops — from Blockbuster, Woolworths and Toys R Us to Greggs, Nando’s and Safeway. It quickly spirals into nostalgia, arguments, and the harsh reality that one of these fictional shopping centres would absolutely go bankrupt.

Finally, in Was It Best Left in the 90s?, two 1997 charity songs go head-to-head — and only one survives. Spoiler: Bono never stood a chance.

It’s rude, chaotic, nostalgic, and exactly what you expect.

#nostalgia #90s #snacks #shopping #music