Week of March 8, 1982

Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale calls President

Reagan’s economic program “one of the biggest and most

colossal economic mistakes in modern economic history.”

“All across the American economic scene, there is suffering,

rising unemployment, bankruptcies, now threats of

bankruptcies of major industries .. and the rest. I am not

predicting a depression, but there is great fear in America.”

The Reagan Administration slaps a ban on oil imports from

Libya and accuses Libya of masterminding an abortive

attempt last November to blow up a club in neighboring

Sudan frequented by Americans.

Wholesale prices dropped for the first time in 6 years. The White House called it

good news. Prices dropped an annual rate of 1.7% in February.

Tendering resignation - Harrison A. Williams Jr. bids farewell to 23 years in the

Senate.

The Reagan Administration does not engage in operations to topple other

governments. White House Communications Director David Gergen made that

clear while answering questions on a published report that President Reagan has

approved a covert action plan against Nicaragua.

Sports - Sports Illustrated is getting into

television and will produce a series of syndicated

specials for prime time. Look for the Sports

Illustrated show, soon.

George Allen, now president and part-owner of

the Montreal Alouettes names Joe Galat to coach

the team.

Entertainment news -

About 150 - Martha’s Vineyard - John Belushi’s

relatives and friends gather near his home to pay

last respects. Seen were his wife, Judith; his

parents, Bill Murray, singer James Taylor and

producer Lorne Michaels.

Week of March 8, 1982

Television news -

In September, ABC will begin airing an hour news program late at night, probably

after “Nightline.” That means “Fridays” could be in jeopardy, but lets see.

ABC and Cardinal Industries, a New York based game company bring young the

General Hospital board game. Roll the dice and you can be Luke Spencer.

CBS says it will introduce a late-night television

newscast from 2a to 5a five nights a week beginning in

September. The network plans to hire about 100

editorial employees at a reported cost of $10 million.

News on TV is gearing up. Ted Turner has CNN/CNN2

and Westinghouse/ABC will debut the Satellite News

Channel on June 21.

Advertising restrictions on TV could be lifted? A 1979

anti-trust suit filed by the Justice department challenging

advertising restrictions could change the industry. U.S.

District Judge Harold Green has yet to rule on the NAB

code restrictions on advertising time per hour, currently

9 ½ minutes during prime time and 16 minutes at other

times. Green did rule last week that the National

Association of Broadcasters could not enforce a

standard that prohibits the advertising of two or more

products in a single commercial of less than 60 seconds.

He rejected the NAB’s argument that the rule was

voluntary, noting the association (NAB) could discipline

violators (TV stations) by denying them the right to

display the group’s Seal of Good Practice. (The

restrictions will soon be lifted, paving the way for a new

kind of industry in television - infomercials).

On ABC-TV’s “Fridays” - Host Gregory Hines with

musical guest Bonnie Raitt.

On Saturday Night Live - Host Bill Murray along with the

Spinners and Whiffenpoofs.

Monday Night television -

CBS - Mr. Merlin, Private Benjamin, MASH, House

Calls, Lou Grant