Week of August 28, 1987
Trouble in the Philippines - Mutinous Philippine soldiers attack four key military
bases in Manila and President Corazon Aquino’s palace and seize several
television stations. So far, at least 40 are dead and 275 wounded. President
Reagan denounced the coup: “I am profoundly concerned by reports of elements
of the armed forces of the Philippines who have engaged in military action
against the democratic government of President Aquino. The United States
condemns this attempt at extra-constitutional action. I wish to make absolutely
clear America’s unqualified support of President Aquino.”
Coup threat crushed - Thousands of pro-
government troops, using fighter planes, helicopter
gunships, howitzers and bazookas - dislodge
nearly 1,000 rebellious soldiers from key military
camps and broadcast stations throughout the
country. President Corazon Aquino addresses
her nation on television and radio.
The Israeli government by a narrow margin - votes
to cancel the controversial Lavi jet fighter project.
The decision was welcomed by Washington, who
urged Israel to drop the aircraft “in the best
interests of both our countries.” After unfolding for seven years, the Lavi was
billed as one of the most crucial economic and strategic decisions in the
country’s history.
Passing - Director and actor John Huston (81) of
emphysema. Huston had just completed directing
“The Dead” which should be released in
November. His films include “The Treasure of the
Sierra Madre,” The Asphalt Jungle,” “Beat The
Devil,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Key Largo” “Red Badge of
Courage,” “The African Queen.” “Night of the
Iguana,’ “Fat City,” and “The Man Who Would Be
King.”
Week of August 28, 1987
Passing - actor Lee Marvin (63) - of a heart attack in
Tuscon. Hit his career peaked after winning an Oscar
for the 1965 film “Cat Ballou.” Marvin was born in
New York City, the son of a wealthy Madison Avenue
executive and his socialite-fashion editor wife.
Actress Jane Fonda, who starred with Marvin in “Cat
Ballou”, said that the actor “taught me a very
important thing, which is that when you’re a movie
star, you have the responsibility to think of the crew.
For all his seeming hard-living and gruffness, he had
a big heart.”
Passing - Singer/country comic Archie Campbell (72) of
kidney problems and other complications from a heart
attack suffered in June. Member of the Grand Ole’ Opry -
Campbell west best-known as the barber who recited a
country bumpkin form of pig Latin called “spoonerisms” on
TV’s “Hee Haw.” Campbell use to have his own radio, then
television show and is credited with helping to launch the
careers of Chet Atkins, Carl Smith and Flatt and Scruggs.
Chrysler says it is slashing prices up to 16% on its K-cars. Prices for 1988
models will start at $6,995 - a reduction of $1,369 from comparably equipped
1987 models.
Whoopi Goldberg files a $5 million breach of
contract lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court
against film director Rip Torn and New World
Pictures over editing over the film “The Telephone,”
which she starred. Still unreleased, Miss Goldberg
contends that she had a contractual right to edit her
version of the film. The suit also claims that New
World Pictures preferred to cut her out of the film.
The latter issue has already gone through arbitration
with the decision favoring New World.
Look for Michael Jackson’s new album “Bad” to
debut next week. Bruce Springsteen’s “Tunnel of Love” album is set to debut
early October. A lot of rumors are floating around about the new Springsteen
album. Columbia says it’s not a country album and yes, the E Street band plays
on it.
Week of August 28, 1987
For the first time - Long play vinyl records (LP’s) have slipped behind compact
discs and cassettes and are now the # 3 configuration for recorded music.
Geraldo Rivera debuts “Geraldo” - a syndicated hour
blending topical reportage with studio-audience
discussion. Rivera says that unlike “Oprah Winfrey” and
“Phil Donahue,” he wants things hot, controversial and
visual. Says Rivera - “The danger of a pure studio show is
that is becomes like broadcast radio” and that his show
“takes advantage of the fact that pictures speak louder
than words.” The show can be seen on 60 stations,
including most major markets.
IBM says it sold over $300 million on Intel Corp, ending its direct investment on
the firm it selected as the key supplier of electronic parts for its personal
computers launched in 1981. IBM began buying shares of Intel to help the
company shore up its finances. Salomon Brothers, which handled the trade, said
unidentified institutional holders bought the block of 5,884,500 shares at $52.30 a
share, down $3 from the previous close. IBM closed 25 cents higher at $166.50.
The 12-month price-range for Intel is $18.00-$55.50. The recession in the
semiconductor industry took its toll on Intel in 1986, but the company is expected
to be profitable in 1987.
After losses in its computer operation - AT & T
says it is still in the game and this week, unveils
its new 6386 Workgroup system PC, based on
Intel’s powerful 80386 microprocessor. The
machine accommodates both UNIX and MS-DOS
operating systems - the two main standards in
personal computers and will be able to handle
OS/2, a new IBM standard, when it is released
next year. AT&T says that McDonald’s restaurant
chain has contracted to install the 6386 machines
at each of 1,800 company-owned outlets. Each
will be linked to a network. AT&T says its
computer operation lost $800 million last year and is expected to lose another
$400 million this year.
GTE says it is installing its “ Airfone ” telephones at a
rate of one per day on airplanes. Right now, the
passenger telephones are available on 475 planes of
16 major carriers. Calls from the air are directed to
Week of August 28, 1987
one of the nation’s 68 ground stations. Cost is $7.50 for the first three minutes
and $1.25 for each additional minute. GTE says you can talk between 30 and 40
minutes before the connection begins to fade.
Now in its 35th season, Dick Clark’s “American
Bandstand,” makes the Guinness Book of World
Records as TV’s longest-running program. The
show has played more than 65,000 records, has
been host to more than 10,000 musical guests
and presented more than 600,000 dancing teen-
agers on camera.
The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)
unveils a softer-focus “700-Club” this week. The
show now features Tim Robertson (son of the
Rev. Pat Robertson) as co-host. The new set
now has a Southwestern motif. CBN just layed-off
470 employees and predicts a 28-million loss by the end of this year. Tim
Robertson is also CBN’s president.
In sports - Canada’s Ben Johnson stuns the
track and field world as he covers 100 meters in
9.83 seconds to set a world record in the World
Championship meet in Rome. Carl Lewis was right
behind, clocking-in at 9.93 seconds.
Friday Night Television -
CBS - Summer Playhouse, Dallas, Adderly
NBC - Rags To Riches, Miami Vice, Crime Story
ABC - Webster, Mr. Belvedere, Max Headroom,
Starman
PBS - Washington Week In Revue, Wall Street
Week, American Masters
The Nashville Network (TNN) - Videocountry, You Can Be Star, Fandango,
Nashville Now, New Country, Crook & Chase.
WTBS - Baseball, Night Tracks
Max Headroom - Framed on criminal charges by the
security service he is investigating, Edison goes into
hiding while Theora, Murray and Bryce attempt to clear
him. Series stars Matt Frewer, Amanda Pays, George
Coe, Chris Young and Jeffrey Tambor.
Week of August 28, 1987
Starman - part 2 of 2 - George Fox moves in as Starman plans a reunion for
Scott and Jenny. Robert Hays stars.
Television ratings -
The Cosby Show - 24.0
Movie-The Art of Being Nick - 23.3
Cheers - 21.4
Night Court - 20.1
Growing Pains - 17.8
60 Minutes - 16.3
Moonlighting - 15/9
Designing Woman - 15.9
20/20 - 15.7
Newhart - 15.6
Who’s The Boss? - 15.0
Murder, She Wrote - 15.0
ALF - 14.9
Movie - Blind Justice - 14.5
Valerie
14.3
The Equalizer - 14.1
Spenser For Hire - 14.0
Cagney & Lacey - 13.9
MacGyver - 13.8
My Sister Sam - 13.8
Head of the Class - 13.7
Miami Vice - 13.4
Golden Girls - 13.2
Perfect Strangers - 13.2
Kate & Allie - 13.0
Movie - Return To Mayberry - 12.8
Family Ties - 12.7
Movie - Close Encounters of the Third
Kind - 12.7
Magnum, P.I. - 11.8
Pop music this week in 1987 -
La Bamba - Los Lobos
Who’s That Girl - Madonna
Don’t Mean Nothing - Richard Marx
Only In My Dreams - Debbie Gibson
Can’t We Try - Dan Hill/Ronda Sheppard
Rock Steady - Whispers
Week of August 28, 1987
It’s Not Over (Til It’s Over) -
Starship
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You -
Michael Jackson
Love Power - Dionne Warwick &
Jeffrey Osbourne
Luka - Suzanne Vega
When Smokey Sings - ABC
Doing It All For My Baby - Huey
Lewis & The News
Back In The High Life Again - Steve
Winwood
Living In A Box - Living In A Box
Seven Wonders - Fleetwood Mac
Touch of Grey - Grateful Dead
Who Found Who - Jellybean/Elisa
Fiorillo
Give To Life - Sammy Hagar
Top Albums -
Whitesnake - Whitesnake
La Bamba - soundtrack
Whitney - Whitney Houston
In The Dark - Grateful Dead
Girls, Girls, Girls - Motley Crue
Beverly Hills Cop II - soundtrack
Bad Animals - Heart
The Joshua Tree - U2
Hysteria - Def Leppard
Duotones Kenny G
Bigger and Deffer - L.L. Cool J
Other albums -
Crushin’ - The Fat Boys
Coming Around Again - Carly
Simon
The Final Countdown - Europe
One Bitten - Great White
Stories Without Words - Spyro Gyra
The Lonesome Jubilee - John Cougar Mellencamp
Solitude Standing - Suzanna Vega
No Protection - Starship
Bad Animals - Heart
Week of August 28, 1987
Bigger and Deffer - L.L. Cool J
Alphabet City - ABC
Another Step - Kim Wilde
Just Like The First Time - Freddie Jackson
Reservations For Two - Dionne Warwick
Collaboration - George Benson/Earl Klugh
Wildside - Loverboy
Franks Wild Years - Tom Waits
At the movies
Stakeout - Richard Dreyfuess, Emilio Estevez
No Way Out - Kevin Costner , Gene Hackman
Dirty Dancing - Patrick Swayze
Hamburger Hill -
The Living Daylights -
The Lost Boys -
Beverly Hills Cop II -
House II: The Second Story - Arye Gross, Jonathan
Stark, Royal Dano, Bill Maher
The Fourth Protocol - Michael Caine, Pierce
Brosnan, Ned Beatty, Ian Richardson, Joanna
Cassidy
The Big Easy - Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin
The Living Daylights - Timothy Dalton as James Bond
La Bamba - Esai Morales, Rosana DeSoto, Elizabeth Pena, Joe Pantoliano, Lou
Diamond Phillips