Week of December 1, 1983

Eight U.S. Marines are killed and two wounded after the Marine encampment at

Beirut’s international airport was hit by heavy artillery, rocket, ground-based anti-

aircraft and small arms fire.

In Madrid - to Spanish jetliners collide in fog as they accelerated to take off. 93

are known dead.

Domestic automakers say new car sales rose 18.7% in late November compared

to a year ago.

President Reagan believes he suspects leftist guerillas of carrying out the death

squad executions that rightists are being blamed for in El Salvador and the

reason - to show the government is making little progress on human rights.

Unemployment hits a 2-year low - at 8.4%.

Technology -

Tandy now joins the ranks in making P/C’s patterned after IBM’s top selling

machines. Look for the new Tandy TRS 80 Model 2000 personal computer at

your Radio Shack store.

Cabbage Patch Doll mania - Rock Coffman,

managing editor of the Idaho Press-Tribune

reports that a doll named Jacob was taken

from the locked trunk of his car. Later, he

received a ransom note, “We’ve got the kid. If

you want Jacob back by Christmas, be

prepared to pay. Our demands will follow. Don’t

call the cops or your Cabbage Kid will be

coleslaw.” He later received a call from the

nappers, but he thinks its now a gag from

someone at the paper he works for. Nonetheless, Coffman said he bought the

doll hoping to resell him before Christmas.

More Cabbage Patch - So far, at least 10 people have been injured and two

arrested as melees have broken out in stores among buyers scrambling to get

their Cabbage Patch kid. A recent Wall St. Journal editorial asked whether most

American families are more concerned about nuclear war or getting a Cabbage

patch kid.

Week of December 1, 1983

More Cabbage Patch -

Ed Pannington - a Kansas City mailman leaves for home after a $900 flight to

London to pick up five Cabbage Patch Dolls he could not get at home. He said

he made the trek because his 5-year-old daughter was “almost in tears” when

area stores ran out of the dolls. He said he took the $900 from his savings. But,

he was met by reporters from the Daily Star tabloid in London and, after hearing

his plight, had all five dolls on the ready with what turned-out to be - a nice gift.

Top selling kids toys for Christmas according to Toy and Hobby World -

Masters of the Universe

GI Joe

Cabbage Patch Kids

Care Bears by Kenner

The Jedi line of toys.

Trivial Pursuit

Barbie

Sports -

Rookie John Elway completes 16 of 24

passes or 284 years and two TD’s as the Denver Broncos best the Cleveland

Browns 27-6.

Entertainment news -

Passing - Charlie Brown , the inspiration for the

famous comic/cartoon character, dies after a seven-

year battle with cancer. He was 57. Both he and

“Peanuts” creator Charles Schultz met in an art class

and became friends. Then Schulz had an idea called

“Good Old Charlie Brown” - about a character that

struggled and tried to do well, sort of like the real

Charlie Brown.

Television news -

“NBC News Overnight” leaves the air this week. It had

been a part of overnights since July of last year.

Unprecedented - After a slough of save-the-show

mail, CBS is bringing back Cagney and Lacey starring Tyne Daly and (now)

Sharon Gless as two police officers. Gless replaces Meg Foster as the co-star.

CBS has never done this. Hopefully, the ratings will go up.

Week of December 1, 1983

After 255 episodes - “Happy Days” shoots its last show of the season and

perhaps of the series. In it, Fonzie adopts a son and Joanie and Chachi get

married. But the show’s been clobbered by “The A-Team” and probably won’t be

back.

NBC has ordered more episodes of “St. Elsewhere” even though it’s #59 in the

weekly ratings. The network believes in the show. But, ABC is pulling “Trauma

Center” from its schedule.

“Creative differences” - Speaking of “The A-Team” -

looks like Melinda Culea , who played Amy has been

dropped form the series.

This week, catch “Lou Rawls Parade of Stars”

benefiting the United Negro College Fund. Lou

Rawls, Ed McMahon and Marilyn McCoo host with

guests Robert Flack, Tom Schneider, Dick Clark,

Lionel Richie Sister Sledge, Andrae Crouch, Thelma Houston, Paul McCartney,

Stevie Wonder and others.

Music news - Did you catch Boy George on the Tonight Show this week? Joan

Rivers it seems, did a terrific interview with him.

Friday night television -

CBS - Dukes of Hazzard, Dallas, Falcon Crest

NBC - Mr. Smith, Jennifer Slept Here, Movie, Tonight Show

ABC - Benson, Webster, Lottery, Matt Houston, Nightline

PBS - Washington Week, Wall St. Week

Tonight Show - Joan Rivers hosts with Andy Gibb,

Marilu Henner and Susan Sullivan.

Saturday night television -

CBS - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Movie

NBC - Diff’rent Strokes, Silver Spoons, Manimal,

Big John, Saturday Night Live

ABC - T.J. Hooker, Love Boat, Fantasy Island

Manimal - Moves to Saturday. This crime fighter

can change himself into various animals.