Week of February 1, 1982
White House spokesman Larry Speakes threatens a
crackdown on press access to the Oval Office after accusing
a reporter of creating an “Embarrassing” international
incident by asking President Reagan “Is Cuba Getting
Dangerous Again.” The reporter - Sam Donaldson of ABC-
TV. This was as the President sat down for a picture-taking
session with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The
President just smiled and waved off any other questions.
The White House orders officials involved in national security to sign a secrecy
pledge in an effort to stop leaks of classified information.
President Reagan unveils a new budget showing deficits of $273 billion over the
next three years - a record setter.
Unemployment dips from 8.8% to 8.5% in January.
Murder charges are filed against Hanpig (Harry) Sassounian (19) the
assassination last week of Turkish Consul General Kemal Arikan in Los Angeles.
Witnesses say he was one of two gunmen who riddled Arikan’s car with bullets at
a stoplight in the Westwood section of Los Angeles.
A brick is hurled at Vice President George Bush’s limousine in Washington,
sending SWAT teams and helicopters to the area. Streets were cordoned-off and
buildings searched. The aura in Washington is tense these days with the
rumored climate of assassination attempts, rumored hit squads and terrorist
kidnappings. The reaction may have been a little silly in hindsight, but the Vice-
President said, “You can’t laugh it off.”
Technology -
Debut - Ms. Pac-Man makes her debut this week.
Television news -
ABC will air “Superman” over two nights this week -
Sunday and Monday. Don’t miss it.
The Waltons are back - Ralph Waite and other
regulars from the series will reprise their roles in the television movie “A Wedding
on Waltons Mountain” to air on February 22.
Week of February 1, 1982
Laker Airways and its no-frills Skytrain air
service, which offered low budget service
across the Atlantic, goes bankrupt and
halts all flights. Tens of thousands of
Laker ticket holders were stranded abroad
and forced to seek other means of
transport. Skytrain
service was
introduced in New
York in 1977 and
you could get a ticket to London for $135. There was no
comment from founder Sir Freddie Laker , but as recently
as a few days ago, he told backers “I am flying high and
couldn’t be more confident.” Competitors TWA, Pan Am
World Airways and British Airways said they would honor
all Laker tickets.
ABC reporter Sam Donaldson causes a stir at the White House -
White House spokesman Larry Speakes threatens a crackdown
on press access to the Oval Office after accusing Donaldson of
creating an “embarrassing” international incident by asking
President Reagan a question. Donaldson, spoke to the President
as he sat down with a picture-taking session with Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak and asked “Is Cuba getting dangerous again?” Smiling,
Reagan waved, indicating he wouldn’t answer questions. Speakes said he is
considering banning the media from future Reagan meetings with heads of state.
“It was embarrassing for the President of the United States and President of
Egypt. We have a rule; these are rules that correspondents have to live by. It was
an internationally embarrassing incident.”
New stuff - a new product to challenge the Frisbee. AMF-
Voit introduces its version of a flying disc this week - “The
Vector.” They’ll go on sale February 15. Wham-O’s Frisbee
accounts for 80% of the flying-disc market and is a
household word. The other 20% is divided among dozens
of others. AMF-Voit says “We think Wham-O caters to the
toy end of the industry. We’re gearing Vector toward the
sports involving the flying disc.”
Forum magazine picks its St Valentine’s Day list of the “10 Most Celebrated
Lovers” in order:
Elizabeth Taylor
Week of February 1, 1982
Margaret Trudeau (kiss-and-tell estranged wife of Canadian Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
Prince Charles
Marvin Hamlisch (composer)
Morgan Fairchild (actress)
Ron Dugway (New York Rangers)
Vitas Gerulaitis (tennis star)
Mick Jagger
Woody Allen
Bianca Jagger
Some Golden Globe winners -
Motion Picture drama - “On Golden Pond”
Motion Picture comedy - Arthur
Motion Picture actor-drama - Henry Fonda “On
Golden Pond”
Motion Picture actress-drama - Meryl Streep
“The French Lieutenant’s Woman”
Motion Picture actor-comedy or musical -
Dudley Moore - “Arthur”
Motion Picture actress-comedy or musical - Bernadette Peters “Pennies From
Heaven”
Best TV series - drama - “Hill Street Blues
Best TV series - comedy or musical - “MASH”
Best TV actor - drama - Daniel J. Travanti “Hill Street Blues
Best TV actress - drama - a tie - Barbara Bel Geddes “Dallas” and Linda Evans
“Dynasty”
Best TV actor - comedy or musical - Alan Alda - MASH
Best TV actress - comedy or musical - Eileen Brennan - “Private Benjamin”
Prince Charles and Princess Diana, on a pheasant
shoot, get into a shouting match in front of workers and
other members of the Royal Family. The argument was
centered on her distaste for blood sports.
Joint-venture negotiations are held between 20th-Century Fox and CBS are held
this week with chiefs Marvin Davis of Fox and CBS Chairman William S. Paley.
The talks are described as fluid.
Passing - Toy Pioneer Louis Marx (85). What kid didn’t have a Marx toy?
Porno star John C. Holmes is ordered to stand trial on charges
Week of February 1, 1982
of murdering four people last summer in the Laurel Canyon section of Hollywood.
Two witnesses implicated Holmes in a robbery of drugs, cash, weapons and
jewelry from a Los Angeles nightclub owner. (Eddie Nash) The murders were in
retaliation of the robbery, but not performed by Holmes directly. Two of the four
who took part in the robbery of Nash’s home were murdered. One of the
witnesses testified that Holmes had told him he was held at Nash’s home after
the robbery and was threatened with death unless he revealed the whereabouts
of Nash’s robbers. Finding the Laurel Canyon address, Holmes was forced to
gain entrance to the home with the killers.
Eastman Kodak unveils a disc camera. The
devices use a flat film disc, rather than a film
cartridge and automatically triggers the flash and
sets the exposure. The film is advanced and flash
ready to go for the next picture, so that the
photographer can shoot another one second later.
Three models are being introduced at suggest
retail prices of $67.95, $89.95 and $142.95. A
fifteen -exposure disc will list for $3.19. A package
of two will list for $5.90.
WTVS - a public television station in Detroit has a bone to pick with NBC. WTVS
airs a live call-in program titled “Late Night” and NBC now calls David
Letterman’s new show “Late Night.” WTVS sent a letter to NBC asking that
Letterman kindly find something else to call the show (which just debuted,
replacing Tom Snyder). NBC says, “We think that ‘Late Night’ is a generic title
that can’t be protected.” WTVS general manager Jack Caldwell then asked,
“Does that mean it’s all right for us to come up
with a “Tonight” show?
“The Lawrence Welk Show” will seize
production after a 27-year run. Welk - whose 78
says it’s time to retire. Reruns of the show will be
available with new introductions - repackaged
“Memories With Lawrence Welk.”
Looks like the “ Mike Douglas Entertainment
Hour” may be headed for trouble. Douglas, who
has been a staple on daytime TV for 20 years, was canned by his longtime
syndicator Group W not too long ago. His current show is seen on 80 stations,
but most of them broadcast the show in off-hours. Only a week’s worth of shows
have been taped since November. Most of the production staff was laid off last
December and the show is searching for studio space. Douglas continues to
Week of February 1, 1982
produce pilots for other interview-type shows.
TV Ratings -
60 Minutes - 29.3
Dallas - 28.4
Magnum, PI - 24.5
MASH - 24.0
The Dukes of Hazzard - 23.9
Alice - 23.8
Three’s Company - 23.7
The Love Boat - 22.5
The Jeffersons - 22.5
Happy Days - 22.2
Archie Bunker’s Place - 22.2
Trapper John MD - 22.0
Real People - 21.8
One Day At A Time - 21.5
Greatest American hero - 21.0
Slap Shot - 20.8
American Music Awards - 20.8
Laverne & Shirley - 20.5
Falcon Crest - 20.3
Dynasty - 20.3
That’s Incredible - 20.3
The Facts of Life - 20.2
House Calls - 20.0
Hill Street Blues - 19.8
Fall Guy - 29.8
Friday Night Television -
CBS - Dukes of Hazzard, Dallas, Falcon Crest
NBC - NBC Magazine, McClain’s Law, Cassie & Co
ABC - Benson, Open All Night, Family Feud,
Strike Force
PBS - MacNeil-Lehrer Report, Washington
Week In Review, Wall Street Week with Louis
Rukeyser, Creativity With Bill Moyers
NBC Magazine -features reporting by Jack
Perkins, Betsy Aaron, Garrick Utley and
Douglas Kiker
Week of February 1, 1982
Later on - NBC - The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson - John Byner guests
After the Tonight show - SCTV Comedy Network.
About 15,000 calls are logged after the fictitious “ Pray TV” phone # is splashed
on the made-for-TV movie broadcast this week (see ad). In the drama, Ned
Beatty, playing a television evangelist said: “If you have a problem of any kind -
financial, medical, spiritual - call the number you now see on the bottom of your
screen and let us help you to be born again by the spirit of God.” The toll=-free
number, 800-555-6864 is a vacant code,” which the phone company assigned to
ABC for the movie. It is one of many numbers not in operation, which, when
called, gets a computerized response. ABC says there was no disclaimer
because the show was clearly a drama, but might do so in the future.
Week of February 1, 1982
Top Albums -
Freeze-Frame - J. Geils Band
4- Foreigner
Escape - Journey
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John
Oates
Ghost in the Machine - The Police
Tattoo You - The Rolling Stones
Hooked on Classics - The Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra
For Those About To Rock We
Salute You - AC/DC
Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
Memories - Barbra Streisand
Top Country single - The
Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known)
- Juice Newton
Pop music this week in 1982 -
I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) - Hall & Oates
Centerfold - The J. Geils Band
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
Turn Your Love Around - George Benson
Leather and Lace - Stevie Nicks/Don Henley
The Sweetest Thing (I’ve Ever Known) -
Juice Newton
Hooked on Classics - Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra
Cool Night - Paul Davis
Comin’ In And Out Of Your Life - Barbra
Streisand
Trouble - Lindsey Buckingham
You Could Have Been With Me - Sheena
Easton
Waiting On A Friend - The Rolling Stones
Love Is Alright Tonight - Rick Springfield
Abacab - Genesis
Someone Could Lose A Heart Tonight - Eddie Rabbit
Come Go With Me - The Beach Boys
Week of February 1, 1982
Love Is Like A Rock - Donnie Iris
Shake It Up - The Cars
Open Arms - Journey
I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For The World - Ronnie Milsap
She’s Got A Way - Billy Joel
Working For The Weekend - Loverboy
More albums -
Private Eyes - Hall & Oates
Nine Tonight - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Circle of Love - The Steve Miller Band
If I Should Love Again - Barry Manilow
Tonight I’m Yours - Rod Stewart
Shake It Up - The Cars
Dairy of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
Standing Hampton - Sammy Hagar
Living Eyes - Bee Gees
Physical - Olivia Newton John
Fancy Free - The Oak Ridge Boys
The Dude - Quincy Jones
Precious Time - Pat Benatar
Chariots of Fire - Vangelis
Raise! - Earth, Wind & Fire
Top Country Albums this week -
Feels So Right - Alabama
Fancy Free - The Oak Ridge Boys
Hollywood/Tennessee - Crystal Gayle
Big City - Merle Haggard
Still The Same Ole’ Me - George Jones
Juice - Juice Newton
Cimarron - Emmylou Harris
There’s No Gettin’ Over Me - Ronnie Milsap
The Pressure is On - Hank Williams Jr.
Step By Step - Eddie Rabbit
Live - Barbara Mandrell
Bet Your Heart On Me - Johnny Lee
Greatest Hits - Charlie Pride
Greatest Hits - Kenny Rogers
Share Your Love - Kenny Rogers
Especially For You - Don Williams
Greatest Hits - Jim Reeves & Patsy Cline
Mr. T - Conway Twitty
Week of February 1, 1982
I Am What I Am - George Jones
At the movies -
Chariots of Fire - Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers, Cheryl Campbell,
Alice Krige
On Golden Pond - Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda
Taps - George C. Scott, Timothy Hutton
The Border -
Raiders of the Lost Ark - Harrison Ford
Absence of Malice - Paul Newman, Sally Field
Whose Life Is It Anyway ? -
Night Crossing - John Hurt
Sharkey’s Machine - Burt Reynolds, Vittorio Gassman, Brian Keith, Charles
Durning, Earl Holliman, Bernie Casey, Henry Silva, Rachel Ward
The Boogens -
The Seduction - Morgan Fairchild
Night Crossing - John Hurt, Jane Alexander,
Beau Bridges
Modern Problems - Chevy Chase, Patti
Darbanville, Mary Kay Place, Dabney Coleman
Week of February 1, 1982
Week of February 1, 1982