Week of February 13, 1985

American Journalist Jeremy Levin, kidnapped 11 months

ago in Beirut is free from captivity. Either he escaped or was

set free. Levin is being cared for in Damascus and is in

good condition.

The price of a first-class mail stamp goes up to 22 cents this

week - the first rate increase in more than three years.

The Reagan Administration abandons its claim that aid to

Nicaraguan rebels is justified because the insurgents

intercept arms shipments to El Salvador. Instead, it plans to

ask Congress to renew such assistance on the grounds that

military pressure is needed to force the leftist Manugua

regime to negotiate.

Third Artificial Heart Operation is Successful - Dr William C DeVries and his

team, implant an artificial heart in Murray P. Haydon in Louisville. The patient, 58,

is in very stable condition.

$120 million lawsuit against CBS without going to the

jury. He had charged that the network libeled him in a

1982 documentary on the Vietnam War. Westmoreland

is America’s best-known field general since World War

II.

Bestsellers -

If Tomorrow Comes - Sidney Sheldon

The Talisman - Stephen King

The Sicilian - Mario Puzo

So Long and Thanks For All The Fish - Douglas Adams

Moscow Rules - Robert Moss

Illusions of Love - Cynthia Freeman

Glitz - Elmore Leonard

The Finishing School - Gail Godwin

Iacocca - Lee Iacocca

Loving each Other - Leo Buscaglia

Citizen Hughs - Michael Drosnin

What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School - Mark H. McCormanck

Nothing Down - Robert G. Allen

Women Coming of Age - Jane Fonda

Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn - Evan S. Connell

Week of February 13, 1985

The Bridge Across Forever - Richard Bach

Computer News - In San Jose, a 15 year-old boy becomes the first person cited

under a new California law against computer trespassing. The youth allegedly

attempted to get into Stanford University’s system with a home computer.

Authorities say he was not formally arrested, but was cited for an infraction. He

could have been charged with a misdemeanor. The new law provides penalties

for adults of up to six months in jail and a $500 fine.

Intel Corp announces it will lay off nearly 900 workers

when it closes to plants in California and cuts back

operations at facilities in Oregon and Arizona. Two

components-testing plants will close in Santa Clara.

Said a spokesman - “Our components operations have

been hurt by a sharp drop in demand caused by a major

inventory correction underway among our customers,

especially those in office automation.”

Xerox announces that it is getting out of the personal computer market. Analysts

say that, although the company was first with a PC model, the company failed to

cash in “on crucial lead time.” According to Ad Age, Eagle Computer and

Columbia Data Products “are barely afloat.” The company will try to sell its

remaining inventory through its direct sales force and dealers. The company

plans to announce new computer products my midyear.

Burial in space becomes closer to reality - Transportation Department grants

“mission approval” for preliminary plans of Space Services Inc - a fledging rocket

company, to carry cremated human remains into space in late 1986 or 1987. The

company says it wants to use its own “Conestoga” rocket for the Celestis Group

of Melbourne, Fla to carry the ashes of more than 10,000 persons into a 1,900

orbit. The company says burial in space would cost $3,900 and the orbiting

container would be coated with a highly reflective surface to make it easy to spot

from the ground through small telescopes or binoculars. Celestis says it will mail

23,000 flyers to funeral directors to brief them on the

service.

Passing - actor Nicholas Colasanto (61) - best known

for his role on the television series “Cheers” where he

played Ernie Pantusso, a former baseball coach

tending bar in Boston. The actor suffered a heart attack

while sitting in bed watching television at home. He was

Week of February 13, 1985

recently hospitalized by a long-standing heart ailment and had missed several

episodes of the show. Last week, he attended a taping of the show as a

spectator, assuring the cast that he was feeling better and expected to rejoin the

cast for the final show of the season.

The movie “Peggy Sue Got Married” which

was suppose to begin shooting next month -

a back injury suffered in high school. The

herniated disc will keep her out for “six

weeks to six months” according to her

publicist. Producer Paul Gurian is a little

upset - “I have an entire crew assembled

and ready to begin principal photography.

This is a picture designed for one star and

we’ve been through a lot of rocky roads.”

(She would be replaced by Kathleen

Turner).

Singer/actress Cher accepts the “Women of the Year” award from Harvard

University’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals Club. Students appeared in their

traditional 20-minute parade through Harvard Square decked in wigs of all colors,

overdone makeup, overstuffed bosoms and fringed or tasseled floor-length

gowns. Cher rode in the parade perched atop a 1930’s vintage Lincoln

Continental convertible. Accepting her small gold pot after the parade - she said,

“This is a nightmare. I don’t know what the other recipients did with their pots, but

I’m going to make mine into an earring.”

relief pitcher, announces his retirement from baseball. In

his 17year pro career, he played with the New York Mets

for the first 10, and then moved to Philly.

Radio news - Rona Barrett will provide a daily 90-second

segment titled “Rona Barrett’s Entertainment Report” on

the Mutual Radio Network. It begins April 15.

DIR debuts Scott Muni’s “Ticket To Ride.” The program

claims to be the first coast-to-coast weekly Beatles show.

Week of February 13, 1985

hosts a weekly Friday morning show over New York’s WAPP

(103.5).

Rolling Stone Magazine’s reader’s poll names WMMS

(Cleveland) “radio station of the year.” It’s the sixth consecutive

time.

Jane Fonda becomes the first artist to

have three titles on Billboard’s Top Video

cassettes sales top 10 at the same time.

They are “Jane Fonda’s Workout,” Prime

Time Workout” and “Workout Challenge.”

“Jane Fonda’s Workout” has been a top

10 title for 145 weeks.

Television news -

Sports - ABC-TV is less than happy with

its clearance for the 1985 USFL season

which debuts next week. Fewer TV stations will carry the games this year.

Next month, the Nashville Network celebrates two years and in April, will debut a

weekly airing of “Grand Ole Opry.” It’s the first time the program will be offered to

a national audience. TNN can be seen in 20.6 million houses.

Group W Cable begins a campaign aimed at educating its subscribers in the use

of their VCR’s. They’ve discovered that many of their customers had trouble

hooking up their devices with a cable connection - a quite often, they’re blamed

for the problem.

Walt Disney Pictures will begin supplying cartoon

programming for Saturday morning network TV for

the first time with the first two shows headed to

NBC will offer “The Gummi Bears.”

ABC’s “Nightline” has received permission from

the South African government to broadcast five

programs from the racially divided nation

beginning the week of March 18. On the air for

“Nightline,” Ted Koppel, commentator Jeff Greenfield and correspondent Ken

Walker.

Week of February 13, 1985

Sally Jessy Raphael grows to 40 markets.

Week of February 13, 1985

Thursday Night Television -

CBS- Magnum, PI, Simon & Simon, Knots Landing

NBC - Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, Night Court, Hill Street Blues

ABC - Movie, 20/20

PBS - The Nature of Things, Mystery!, Faulty Towers, To The Manor Born, Late

night America

MTV - Video Music

Disney Channel - From Disney With Love,

Mousterpiece Theater, Movie, Disney Family

Album, Movie

Cheers - A friend turns up to collect on a bet Sam

made during his drinking days

Hill Street Blues - Goldblume is an unlikely

heartthrob hero of an attractive young women when he saves her life during an

undercover investigation into international weapons sales.

The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson - Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme and

Lavern McDavitt (whose 97 years-old)

Music news -

British rock ‘n’ roll series “The Tube,” is picked-up by

MTV for U.S. cablecast the first Sunday of each month.

The 60-minute show is hosted by Jools Holland and

archival footage. It’s been the U.K airwaves for two

years.

CD sales tripled in 1984 to 15.6 million - up from 4.9

million in 1983.

The song “New York, New York” is declared Gotham’s

official song at a City Hall ceremony. New York Mayor Ed Koch presented a

certificate of appreciation to the songwriters - John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Prince, Linda Ronstadt and Pat Benatar are the first three artists set to contribute

a track to the forthcoming “USA For Africa” album due in April. Neither appeared

on the single “We Are The World.” Ronstadt had the flu, Benatar was in the last

weeks of pregnancy and Prince simply didn’t show up. Prince will offer “Tears In

Week of February 13, 1985

Your Eyes and Ms. Ronstadt is contributing “Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now” an

outtake from her “Lush Life” album.

Barry Richards debuts a TV show that mimics the newfound “Zoo” morning

shows heard on radio. Debuting over KDOC-TV in Anaheim, the show is titled

“Video Zoo.” Guests will include recording artists, local celebrities and an

assortment of characters including “the world’s largest weatherman - he’ll have a

map of the United States on his stomach. Richards is best-known for TV music

shows around the Washington/Baltimore area.

Playing On MTV -

Easy Lover - Bialey and Collins

Tender Years - John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown

Band

You’re The Inspiration - Chicago

I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner

Boys Of Summer - Don Henley

Keepin’ the Faith - Billy Joel

Pop music this week in 1985 -

Careless Whisper - Wham

Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon

The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey

Method of Modern Love - Hall and Oates

Sugar Walls - Sheena Easton

Lover Boy - Billy Ocean

I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner

Neutron Dance - Pointer Sisters

The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey

California Girls - David Lee Roth

Method of Modern Love - Hall and Oates

The Old Man Down the Road - John

Fogarty

Neutron Dance - The Pointer Sisters

I Would Die 4 U - Prince

Solid - Ashford & Simpson

Week of February 13, 1985

Love Light in Flight - Stevie Wonder

Rockin’ At Midnight - The Honeydrippers

Lover Girl - Teena Marie

Misled - Kool and the Gang

Mr. Telephone Man - New Edition

One More Night - Phil Collins

Material Girl - Madonna

Too Late For Goodbyes - Julian Lennon

Top Albums -

Like a Virgin - Madonna

Make It Big - Wham

Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen

Centerfield - John Fogerty

New Edition - New Edition

Reckless - Bryan Adams

17 - Chicago

Private Dancer - Tina Turner

Agent Provocteur - Foreigner

Purple Rain - Prince

I Feel For You - Chaka Khan

Big Bam Boom - Hall & Oates

What’s New - Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson

Riddle Orchestra

Sports - Huey Lewis & The News

Special Beat Service - The English Beat

Fame & Fashion - David Bowie

Beverly Hills Cop - soundtrack

Volotte - Julian Lennon

Wheels are Turning - REO Speedwagon

Crazy From The Heat - David Lee Roth

Emergency - Kool and the Gang

40 Hour Week - Alabama

Chinese Wall - Philip Bailey

Solid - Ashford & Simpson

Week of February 13, 1985

Top Country singles -

Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On - Mel McDaniel

Baby Bye Bye - Gary Morris

You Turn Me On (Like A Radio) - Ed Bruce

My Only Love - The Statler Brothers

My Baby’s Got Good Thing - Dan Seals

A Lady Like You - Glen Campbell

Make My Life With You - Oak Ridge Boys

Crazy For Your Love - Exile

What She Wants - Michael Martin Murphy

A Tangled Up In Love - Gus Hardin

At the movies -

Haing S Ngor, Craig T. Nelson, John

Malkovich

Purple Rain - Prince

Mary Stuart Masterson, Kevin Dillon,

Malcolm Danare, Kate Reid, Wallace

Shawn

The Breakfast Club (They only met

once, but it changed their lives

Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy

McGavin, Peter Boyle

Beverly Hills Cop

Police Academy

Tightrope

All of Me

Week of February 13, 1985

The Natural

Romancing the Stone