Week of August 11, 1981

Two U.S. Navy F-14 planes shoot down two Libyan SU-22 fighters after they

fired on the American aircraft in an unprovoked attack over international waters.

The area was approx 60 nautical miles from the nearest land in the south central

Mediterranean Sea. Libya claims sovereignty over waters and air space over 200

miles from their coast. The United States recognizes the regular 3-mile limit.

Canadian air traffic controllers end their two-day boycott of flights to and from the

United States. The strike stranded thousands and delayed flights to and from

Europe. The boycott was in support of striking American air controllers.

Pan American World Airways says it will sell its chain of 83 Intercontinental

Hotels in order to cut losses. The subsidiary did make money for the company,

but the airline needs a cash infusion.

(32) has been “fabulous.” “I can

highly recommend it. It is a

marvelous life and Balmoral is one

of the best places in the world.” The

couple was married three weeks

ago. They’ll continue their

honeymoon in Scottish retreat at

Balmoral Castle for two more

weeks.

in one (or more) CHiPs episodes. He’ll replace Eric

Estrada who failed to show up for work on August 4 - the

first day of production for the next season. Estrada is

suing the producer - MGM because he says his contract

was violated this summer when MGM refused to push

back the production date of the series so the actor could

star in an NBC movie of the week.

The New York Daily News says it is folding its afternoon

edition. Dubbed “Tonight,” the afternoon paper had a

circulation of 100,000 - half of the 200,000 targeted. About 60 reporters and

editors will be laid off. The remaining editors are asked to take a 15% pay cut.

The afternoon edition was launched a year ago.

Week of August 11, 1981

The city of Boston awards its cable franchise to Cablevision Systems.

Cablevision says it will cost $93 million to wire the city. It says it will charge $2.00

for basic service (52 channels). Subs who want the next tier of service - 72

channels, will pay $8.00 a month. Cablevision beat out Warner-Amex. Boston is

one of the last of the bigger cities to be wired for cable service.

Westinghouse and ABC announce two news cable

channels to compete with Ted Turner’s Cable News

Channel. The news service is tentatively called the

Satellite News Channels. Channel 1 will would

basically be a headline news service - with updates

every 18 minutes or so. The second channel will be devoted exclusively to

commentary, longer news reports and in-depth and background news features.

An ABC official says, “These people are big time. The big big blow of course, is

to Turner. It’s a little like General Motors coming in after Studebaker announces a

new car.” The services will be launched in the Spring of next year.

nuns at Our Lady of the Angels

Convent in Birmingham, Alabama

launch a Catholic cable TV

network called Eternal Word

Network. They’ll broadcast 4

hours a day. Mother Angelica will

be featured in her own show, shot

in the network’s concrete block

studio. “We’re after the man in the

pew, the woman who is suffering

from heartache, the child who is

lonely.”

In Lubbock, TX - after just returning from a 30 minute flight as an observer,

ROTC cadet Carmen Rodriquez accidentally fires her ejection mechanism,

hurling her 15 feet into the air. Luckily, she landed on the fuselage of a grounded

plane - cushion down, softening the impact. She’ll be ok.

IBM enters the Personal Computer market. The first PC’s will have a 16-bit

microprocessor - twice that of PC rivals Apple, Tandy Corp and Commodore. The

expected price range is from $1,565 to $6,300 with the first shipments in

October. IBM says it will sell through participating retailers (a first). Some say

having IBM enter the PC market gives the industry an added legitimacy. Quoting

an analyst “The cynics who say it’s a toy have been silenced effectively.”

Week of August 11, 1981

will begin to offer low-far, low-frill lines. The shift will

include adding increased seating in all49 of United’s

737’s and 19 of its 104 727’s. Meals and other in-flight

services might be reduced to cut costs. Service could

begin as early as October 1.

In Maui, singer Willie Nelson is in the hospital after suffering a collapsed lung due

to a respiratory ailment.

At your 7-Eleven - a carton of cigarettes - $5.79 ... 12 pack of Budweiser or

Coors - $4.19.

Bestsellers - “Noble House” - James Clavell, “The Third deadly Sin’ - Lawrence

Sanders, “Cujo” - Stephen King, “The Beverly Hills Diet” - Judy Mazel, “The Lord

Made Them All” - James Herriot

TV Ratings - Facts Of Life (21.7), All-Star Baseball (20.1), Three’s Company

(20.1), Diff'rent Strokes (19.7), Hart to Hart (19.4), Dukes Of Hazzard (19.0),

Trapper John MD (18.8), It’s A Living (18.7), MASH (18.1), Quincy ME (18.0), 60

Minutes (17.5), The Jeffersons (17.4), Lou Grant (17.1), Barney Miller special

(16.5), Dallas (16.5), Happy Days (16.4), House Calls (16.2), Laverne & Shirley

(16.0), Love Boat (15.9), fantasy Island (15.9), Alice (15.8), Mork & Mindy (15.5),

Barney Miller (15.3)

Monday Night TV - CBS - WKRP in Cincinnati, The Tim Conway Show, MASH,

House Calls, Lou Grant ... NBC - Little House on the Prairie, Movie ... ABC -

Border Pals, Movie

WKRP in Cincinnati - Herb, Andy and Mr. Carlson head to Dayton to secure an

advertising account. The trouble begins with mistaken identities.

ABC Movie - “Dallas Cowboys

Cheerleaders II” - stars John

Davidson, Laraine Stephens.

Lou Grant - The Trib management

is shaken after a threat to make

public their salaries.

Top Albums - “4” - Foreigner, “Bella

Donaa” - Stevie Nicks, “Escape” -

Week of August 11, 1981

Journey, “Precious Time” - Pet Benatar, “Long Distance Voyager” - The Moody

Blues

Pop music this week in 1981 -

“Endless Love” - Diana Ross & Lionel

Ritchie, “Slow Hand” - The Pointer

Sisters, “Queen Of Hearts” - Juice

Newton, “Hearts” - Marty Balin, “Theme

From The Greatest American Hero” -

Joey Scarbury, “I Don’t Need You” -

Kenny Rogers, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart

Around’ - Stevie Nicks, “Elvira” - The Oak

Ridge Boys, “The One That You Love” -

Air Supply, “Lady (You Bring Me Up)” -

The Commodores, “Fire and Ice” - Pat

Benatar, “Bette Davis Eyes” - Kim

Carnes, “Love On A Two Way Street” -

Stacy Lattisaw, “Slow Hand” - The

Pointer Sisters, “The Breakup Song” - The Greg Kihn Band, “Hold On Tight” -

Electric Light Orchestra, “The Beach Boys Medly” - The Beach Boys.

Country Charts - “Too Many Lovers’ - Crystal Gayle, “I Don’t Need You’ - Kenny

Rogers, “Feels So Right’ - Alabama.

At the movies-

Kristy McNichol, Dennis Quaid

Crawford, Oliver Reed

Jack Warden