# 80s-Style Telethon Campaigns Doritos' Telethon for Hawkins Invites Stranger Things Fans to Call In By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2025-09-30 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/telethon-for-hawkins References: [adweek](https://www.adweek.com/creativity/doritos-hosts-80s-style-telethon-for-hawkins-residents-in-stranger-things/)  The Season 4 Stranger Things finale made it unmistakably clear that the residents of Hawkins are in dire need of help, as chaos deepens and their world teeters on the edge of collapse, and with Season 5 set to hit to [Netflix](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surfer-boy-pizzas) soon, [Doritos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stranger-things-season-4) created a Telethon for Hawkins. Inspired by the throwback series, Telethon for Hawkins revives a unique style of fundraising event for a new generation of viewers raised on streaming services and social media. Fans can now call into the 1987-style telethon and leave messages of support for Hawkins, and as part of digital spots for the campaign, listen to sentiments shared by 80s icons like David Hasselhoff, Paula Abdul and ALF. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 33% | Activity: 43% | Freshness: 49% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Interactive](https://www.trendhunter.com/interactive) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Nostalgic Marketing Campaigns:** Bringing back 80s-style telethons taps into the emotional connection and sense of nostalgia to engage modern audiences in innovative ways. - **Fan-driven Interactive Experiences:** Encouraging audience participation through call-in campaigns creates immersive experiences that blur the lines between entertainment and consumer engagement. - **Cross-platform Brand Collaborations:** Integrating iconic celebrities into digital content allows brands to leverage cross-generational appeal and expand their reach across diverse media landscapes. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Entertainment and Streaming:** Telethon-style campaigns offer novel content formats that can attract and retain audiences in the competitive streaming industry. - **Snack and Beverage Sector:** Leveraging themed marketing tied to popular series enables snack brands like Doritos to craft unique promotional strategies that resonate with consumers. - **Celebrity Endorsement and Marketing:** Utilizing nostalgic figures in branding efforts creates opportunities to merge classic appeal with modern marketing techniques. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Multidimensional Fan Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stranger-things-season-4.md) - [Sci-Fi Series Snack Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doritos-and-stranger-things.md) - [80s-Style Sci-Fi Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surfer-boy-pizzas.md) - [Sci-Fi Arcade Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chips-ahoy-cookie-x-stranger-things.md) - [Nostalgic Series-Inspired Cookies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chips-ahoy-x-stranger-things.md) - [Retro Sci-Fi Cereal Boxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stranger-things-cereals.md) - [Sci-Fi Fast Food Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kfc-x-stranger-things.md) - [Sci-Fi Show QSR Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-x-stranger-things.md) - [Themed Sci-Fi Frozen Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/palermo-villa-stranger-things-pizza.md)