Week of December 6-17, 1985

Secretary of State George P. Shultz says that the U.S. may undertake ‘further

steps’ to counter what he described as growing soviet and Cuban military

involvement in Nicaragua.

A DC-8 charger jet brining U.S. troops home for Christmas from the Middle East,

crashes and burns on takeoff from Newfoundland, killing all 250 soldiers and 8

crew members. It’s the seventh major airline disaster in 1985 which looks like

aviation history’s worst year in terms of deaths.

Wholesale prices surge .8% in November and retail inflation is running at an

annual rate of 3.3%.

Former Democratic vice presidential candidate

Geraldine A. Ferraro says she will not run

against Sen. Alfonse M. D’Amato in 1986 because

of a continuing federal investigation into her

finances.

Passing - Peggy Goldwater, wife of Sen. Barry

Goldwater. She was 76.

The nation’s unemployment rate fell a tenth back

to 7% in November.

Former Argentina President Jorge Videla is

sentenced to life in prison for his part in the

abduction, torture and killing of up to 9,000 people

who disappeared in the “dirty war’ against leftist guerrillas.

Technology -

Cell phone update - Tandy Corp introduces a hand-held cell phone that weighs a

much lighter 11-lbs and will sell for $1,199.

Radio news - Former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock, now free on appeal

of his conspiracy and perjury convictions, will host an afternoon talkshow over

KSDO (1130 AM) from noon until 3pm weekday afternoons. He was sentenced

to spend a year in county custody after his convictions stemming from

irregularities in his 1983 campaign.

Ben Hoberman - who brought ABC radio into the talk era back in 1960 with

KABC radio, is quitting the network. For the last six years, he has lived in New

Week of December 6-17, 1985

York and run the network’s radio division. Hoberman, who was heavily influence

by WOR-New York and its successful talk format - put talk on KABC Los

Angeles back in July of 1960. The station had been playing pop music with DJ’s

such Jim Ameche and Don McKinnon.

Sports -

John McEnroe begins serving a 42-day suspension for exceeding the allowable

limit of fines in a year. He exceeded the $7,500 limit during the Australian Open

earlier this month when he was fined on three occasions - one for verbal abuse,

another for audible obscenity and another for failure to attend a post-match press

conference.

Passing - Roger Maris - who hit 61

homers in 1961, breaking Babe Ruth’s

record of 60 back in 1927. He was only

51... of Lymphoma.

Vince Ferragamo, who was cut by the

Buffalo Bills last week, has signed with

the Green Bay Packers for the

remainder of the season and into next

year.

Business - General electric Corp will

purchase RCA Corp for $6.28 billion in

cash.

Entertainment news - Barbara Streisand is said to be livid about the

unauthorized book “Barbra Steisand: the Woman, the Myth, The Music.”

Apparently, many stars in the book, including Jane Fonda, Barry Gibb and

Marlene Dietrich have been misquoted.

Passing - Actress Anne Baxter, granddaughter of famed architect Frank Lloyd

Wright - eight days after suffering a stroke. She was 62.

Media - Viacom says it is purchasing KMOX-TV St. Louis

from CBS for $122.5 million in cash.

Music news -

Keyboardist Ian Stewart - an early member of the Rolling

Stones, is dead of a heart attack at the age of 47. Stewart

was called “the sixth Stone” before he was phased-out of

the band. In 1961, Stewart, Keith Richards and Billy

Week of December 6-17, 1985

Wyman and Charlie Watts became the first Rolling Stones when they performed

near London. A fifth member, Brian Jones was added. Stewart was replaced by

Mick Jagger and then became the group’s road manager.

As a dozen Soviet dissidents marking International Human rights day are

arrested in Moscow at Pushkin Square for distributing leaflets and trying to make

speeches, the official media attacked the United States on human rights, citing

entertainer Michael Jackson as a black man being exploited by capitalists.

On MTV this week - Night Ranger’s 7 Wishes Tour (concert). Next week - The

Thompson Twins (Saturday night).

Van Halen has two new members - Steve Vai replaces guitarist Eddie Van Halen

along with drummer Billy Sheehan.

It’s official - Johnson & Johnson, the guys

who make Band-Aids have given Bob

Geldolf permission to use the name for

artists on ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas.”

The name is only good for a limited time.

One solution after the record runs its course

- is to use “Live Aid.”

Television news -

Mary Tyler Moore’s new sitcom, “Mary” is a

dud - ranking #31 in the ratings overall.

On “Saturday Night Live” this week - John

Lithgow with musical guest Mr. Mister.

Cable News Network has been granted permission to routinely receive

transmissions of Soviet television pictures from the Soviet satellite system. The

Soviets will be able to select portions of CNN programming for use on Soviet

television.

Cable convention in Anaheim - Ted Turner tells the crowd that the industry must

gather more advertising support “so we can spend more on programming.” He

says cable is being outspent 4-1 as compared to commercial networks and

independent television - $5 billion a year vs. $1.5 billion a year for cable.

Monday night television -

CBS - Alice in Wonderland, Cagney & Lacey