Everything Action Theater: Short Circuit

It’s been a while but Hulu brings us another 80’s classic, which you can watch in full below.  Short Circuit is the story of Number Five, a military robot who gets struck by lightning and gains awareness.  Escaping the testing base, he meets up with Steve Guttenberg and Ally Sheedy and wacky hi-jinks ensue.  What was it in the 80’s that had people so obsessed with crappy robots? (I’m looking at you Rocky IV)