Week of February 8, 1988

Richard Gephardt wins the Iowa democratic

presidential caucus with Senator Paul Simon coming

in second. On the republican side, Bob Dole wins big,

followed by Pat Robertson and George Bush.

Embarrassed, Bush now has his sights set on New

Hampshire. “It is a new day, Iowa is Iowa, New

Hampshire is New Hampshire.”

The Army’s ban on homosexual is ruled

unconstitutional by a federal appeals court. In a case from Seattle, the U.S. 9 th

Circuit Court of Appeals (in San Francisco) ruled 2 to 1 that Army rules banning

soldiers with a “homosexual orientation” violate constitutional guarantees of

equal protection of the laws.

In a taped interview with British journalist David Frost, Presidential hopeful Pat

Robertson insisted that his prayers helped divert a killer hurricane, says he has

absolutely heard god speak and that he would not hesitate to kill Moammar

Kadafi for his involvement in terrorism. Robertson has been playing down his

career as a TV evangelist. Critics say this could hurt his entry into the race.

Two U.S. Navy ships are deliberately bumped by two Soviet warships in the

Black Sea. The action came after a warning by the Soviets as the vessels moved

within 12 miles of Russia’s Black Sea coastline. No one was injured. The two

ships involved were the cruiser USS Yorktown and the destroyer USS Caron.

Both ships are still in the area, continuing with routine operations.

Mafia Chief Joseph Gallo is fined $380 thousand and sentenced to 10 years in

prison for racketeering.

Dies - Frederick Loewe (86) of the musical team

Lerner of Loewe. Loewe wrote the melodies for Lerner’s

lyrics for some of the best musicals ever - “My Fair

Lady,” “Camelot,” “Gigi,” and “Brigadoon.”

President Reagan gets a new hearing aid. The device

has remote control and filters out background noises

including aircraft and helicopter noise. The new aid

should reduce feedback noise as well.

Week of February 8, 1988

President Reagan gives a shot in the arm to the space program by announcing

plans to build a permanent space station, and to develop technology to send man

back to the moon and to Mars.

At the mart - Veal Shoulder Steaks - $2.09lb ... Oscar Mayer Variety pack - 12oz

pkg - $2.29 ... a dozen grade AA eggs - .98 ... Minute Maid Orange Juice - 96oz

carton - $2.89

In sports - Michael Jordan, scoring 40 points - gets the

MVP in the NBA’s 38th annual all-star game. The East

beat the West 138-133.

Rupert Murdoch agrees to sell the New York Post to real

estate developer Peter Kalikow. Murdoch says he’s

losing money on the paper since he purchased it in

1976. Before the sale is finalized, Kalikow wants

concessions equaling $20 million.

Entertainment news - Actor Matthew Broderick goes on

trial in Northern Ireland on charges of causing the death of two persons caused

by reckless driving. If convicted, he faces a five-year prison sentence. If a plea to

a lesser charge is accepted by the court, the actor could get off with a fine. The

accident occurred August of last year.

Ringo Starr is currently negotiating with Don Johnson’s production company to

do a one-hour pilot for NBC. Tentatively entitled “Flip Side,” the ex-Beatle would

play a rock star that has to ditch his career to care for the kids after his wife dies.

For his upcoming “Tunnel of Love Express” tour - Bruce

Springsteen is telling promoters he wants a 95-5 split -

with Springsteen getting the 95%. It’s not stopping

promoters at all. It’s Springsteen’s first U.S. tour in 2 ½

years and it starts Feb. 25 in Worcester.

After battling it out for 15 months, Joan Collins and Peter

Holm end their marriage after 4 1/2 hours of bargaining.

Holm will get $180 thousand from Collins, she’ll get their small house in France.

Both will pay attorneys fees. Earlier, a Superior Court judge upheld a prenuptial

agreement limiting Holm to 20% of Collins’ earnings during their 13-month

marriage.

Week of February 8, 1988

Fox Broadcasting says it will carry all future addresses by President Reagan. The

network said they would in light of the other networks refusal to carry President

Reagan’s Contra-aid speech live last week. “There was no reason for us to carry

it if the networks do. But when they don’t then it becomes counter programming.”

The Disney Channel boosts its subscriber base by

20% in 1987, bringing its year-end total to 3,810,000.

The Disney channel is a premium service and you

have to pay an extra fee.

Over 2,500 people turn out to meet Vanna White at a

San Jose video store. Fans shelled out $15 for

White’s new exercise video, “Get Slim-Stay Slim.”

Bestsellers - “The Bonfire Of The Vanities” - Tom

Wolfe, “Lightning” - Dean Koontz, “Elizabeth takes

Off: On Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Self-Image and

Self-Esteem” - Elizabeth Taylor, “Man Of The House” - Tip O’Neil

TV Ratings - The Cosby Show (32.3), A Different world (27.8), Cheers (24.9),

The Golden Girls (24.6), Elvis and Me (23.9), Growing Pains (22.5), Who’s The

Boss? (22.3), Murder She Wrote (21.50, Moonlighting (21.4), Super Bloopers &

Jokes (21.3), 60 Minutes (21.3), Amen (20.7), David Letterman Special (19.3),

Windmills of the Gods part 1 (19.0), Dallas (18.6), Matlock (18.4), ALF (18.0),

Head of the Class (17.8), 227 (17.3), Perfect strangers (16.6)

Monday Night TV - Kate & Allie, Designing Woman, Newhart, Frank’s Place,

Wiseguy ... NBC - Alf, Movie ... ABC - Primary Report - The Iowa Caucus,

growing Pains, Elvis And Me (part 2).

Kate & Allie - the girls think a loose mouse in

the house is really a rat.

Elvis and Me - After their marriage, Priscilla

begins to stand her own ground, setting her

identity.

Radio news - WQHT-Fm New York is

contributing custom dance mixes to a new

television music series “ID” (It’s Dance). The

show airs over WWOR-TV. This seems to be a

small trend around the country.

Week of February 8, 1988

Group W (Westinghouse) closes to buy NBC’s WMAQ radio in Chicago for $13

million. The switchover from talk to all-news is expected mid-March.

Pop music this week in 1988 - “Could’ve Been” -

Tiffany, “Need You Tonight” - INXS, “Seasons

Change” - Expose, “Father Figure” - George

Michael, “ What Have I Done To Deserve This ?” -

Pet Shop Boys/Dusty Springfield , “Hazy Shade

Of Winter” - The Bangles, “I Want To Be Your

Man” - Roger, “Hungry eyes” - Eric Carman, “Say

You Will” Foreigner, “Tunnel Of Love” - Bruce

Springsteen, “Don’t Shed A Tear” - Paul Carrack,

“I Live For Your Love” - Natalie Cole, “She’s Like

The Wind” - Patrick Swayze - “Never Gonna Give

You Up” - Rick Astley

Top Albums -

Dirty Dancing - Soundtrack

Faith - George Michael

Tiffany - Tiffany

Bad - Michael Jackson

Kick - INXS

Skyscraper - David Lee Roth

The Lonesome Jubilee - John

Cougar Mellencamp

Hysteria - Def Leppard

Whitesnake - Whitesnake

A Momentary Lapse of Reason

- Pink Floyd

Cloud Nine - George Harrison

Nothing Like The Sun - Sting

Whitney - Whitney Houston

Heaven On Earth - Belinda

Carlisle

Tunnel of Love - Bruce

Springsteen

The Joshua Tree - U2

Out of the Blue - Debbie Gibson

Back for the Attack - Kokken

You Can Dance - Madonna

Permanent Vacation - Aerosmith

Tango in The Night - Fleetwood Mac

Week of February 8, 1988

Skyscraper - David Lee Roth

Live In Australia - Elton John

Top hits in Britain -

I Think We’re Alone Now - Tiffany

Heaven Is A Place on Earth -

Belinda Carlisle

When Will I Be Famous? - Bros

Rok Da House - Beatmasters/Cookie

Crew

Sign Your Name - Terence Trent

D’arby

House Arrest - Krush

Candle In The Wind (Live) - Elton

John

Top Country - “Twinkle, Twinkle

Lucky Star” - Merle Haggard “Tennessee Flat Top Box” - Roseanne Cash, “I

Won’t Take Less Than Your Love” - Tanya Tucker, “Face To Face” - Alabama,

“Please Please Baby” - Dwight Yoakam, “Sure Thing” - Foster and Lloyd, “Too

Gone Too Long” - Randy Travis