Week of November 15, 1981
President Reagan proposes that the Soviet Union and the United States
eliminate intermediate-range nuclear missiles from Europe, in aiming for the
“lowest possible level” for these arms.
Presidential Press Secretary James Brady goes home for good
after spending eight months in the hospital and undergoing four
operations for a bullet wound in his brain. Brady (41) had been a
patient at George Washington university Hospital ever since he
was shot in the March 30 assassination attempt on President
Regan outside a Washington hotel.
Neil McNeil, director of the Medill News Service is shot and killed by his
estranged wife, Doris, who then killed herself at their northwest Washington
home. The Medill News Service is the Washington bureau for 15 newspapers
and eight TV stations.
Adm. Hyman G. Rickover will be retired next year, despite
his wishes. President Reagan in making the decision to end
Rickover’s career of almost 60’s years in the Navy, asks
Rickover to be his adviser on the civilian use of atomic
energy.
Princess Diana, expecting a baby in June, tells another
young wife that she had ever heard about morning sickness
before her marriage and she is “fed up with it.” “Some days I feel terrible. Nobody
told me about morning sickness. I’m fed up with this morning sickness.”
Orient Express to return? The new “Venice Simplon Orient Express will pull out
of London’s Victoria Station for the first time May 28. Said a spokesman for the
new venture - the idea is to “restore the art of travel” and provide “926 miles of
unashamed luxury.” The service will run from Paris, Milan and Venice and back
“the way the ultimate in train travel use to be.” The first Orient Express train left
Paris in October of 1883 and was shut down in 1977.
Playing in Las Vegas -
Wayne Newton, Dave Barry - Aladdin
Engelbert Humperdink - Hilton
Dean Martin - MGM Grand
Loretta Lynn, Jim Stafford - Riviera
George Carlin, Kay Starr - Sahara
Week of November 15, 1981
Sports news - Magic Johnson says he wants to be traded from the Los Angeles
Lakers because he and coach Paul Westhead have irreconcilable differences.
Later, the Lakers fire coach Paul Westhead.
Hollywood news -
Actor William Holden (63) is found dead in his Santa
Monica (CA) apartment. Later examiners say Holden,
apparently drunk, fell and hit his head on a blunt object,
dieing from blood loss.
Patricia Stauffer (48) - a long-time companion of William
Holden says she and the late actor had planned to be
married New Year’s eve in Africa.
Marries - Actress Brenda Vaccaro to photographer
Charles Cannizzaro.
Television -
ABC-TV begins closed-captioned services for the hearing-impaired on its “World
News Tonight.” An open caption version of the newscast has been airing later in
the evening on PBS.
Plans for a 24-hour Cable Health Network (CHN) are announced by Viacom
International Inc. It’s scheduled to get underway next spring. On-air commentator
for CHN as well as the network’s chairman is Dr. Art Ulene, who also reports on
health for NBC’s “Today” show. A spokesman said CHN will be distinguished
from the others both by its 24-hour schedule and by “in-depth” rather than
“magazine-type” reporting that will include personal interviews, audience
participation and documentary films.
HBO licenses a half-hour fully animated Christmas carton
from Coronet Films for 10 years and a four-year option
beyond. “The Trolls And the Christmas Express” will be
narrated by Roger Miller.
“Star Wars” the top-gross film of all time (so far) is sold to
CBS-TV. Price is $25 million for three runs.
Robert Ulrich is to star in a new TV series - “Gavilan” - a
one-hour action show about an ex-navy commander who
Week of November 15, 1981
takes on dangerous and exciting assignments. It’s his sixth series since 1973:
“Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice,” SWAT,” Soap” “Tabitha” and “Vegas.”
Walt Disney’s “Mary Poppins” will debut on network TV this Sunday. Don’t miss
the fun on CBS-TV.
Sunday night television -
CBS - 60 Minutes, Archie Bunker’s Place, One Day At A Time, Alice, The
Jeffersons, Trapper John
NBC - Project Peacock, ChiPs, Movie
ABC - Code Red, Movie
PBS - Nova, Masterpiece Theater
Project Peacock - A young boy is adopted by Mean
Joe Greene and learns about values, discipline and
relationships. Adopted from the Coca-Cola
commercial. Stars Mean Joe Greene , famed
defensive tackle of the Pittsburgh Stealers.
Nova - Artists in the lab - An introduction to 20 th
century pioneers who use computers and lasers to
create of strange, exciting new art forms.
ABC Sunday Night Movie - “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
Alice - Mel’s cousin Wendell shows up for a visit and Vera and Wendell become
attracted to each other.
TV Ratings -
Dallas - 29.1
60 Minutes - 27.8
The Jeffersons - 24.8
One day AT A Time - 24.5
Monday Night Football -24.1
Alice - 24.1
Movie - 10 - 23.9
Three’s Company - 22.9
Movie - Close encounters of the third Kind - 22.3
To Close for Comfort - 22.0
The Love Boat - 21.8
Archie Bunker’s Place - 21.7
Magnum, PI - 21.5
Week of November 15, 1981
Dukes of Hazzard - 21.1
NFL Football game 2 - 20.9
That’s Incredible - 20.8
Trapper John, M.D. - 20.3
Happy Days - 20.3
Real People - 20.2
MASH - 20.2
Facts of Life - 20.1
Radio news - Satellite Music Network
says it will introduce two additional
24-hour full-service formats to serve
stations on a turnkey basis. The new
formats are middle-of-the-road and black urban. That gives the service five
formats.
WNBC’s Don Imus is down to a 5.1 share from a
6.2 share in the spring and a high of 7.4 last
winter. WNBC is running a schedule of TV spots
featuring Imus asking various persons on the
street to listen to WNBC. The station just added a
traffic helicopter.
Mel Karmazin, general manager of WNEW AM/FM
resigns to become president of the newly
structured Infinity Broadcasting, a group of six
stations that include WKTU-FM, WYSP-FM and
WBCN-FM. Karmazin has been with WNEW for 11
years.
WYNY-FM New York GM Al Law is promoted to v/p of programming for NBC
radio stations. They include WNBC/WYNY-FM, WMAQ/WKQX Chicago, and
WRC/WKYS-FM Washington DC.
MOR/Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Steve and Eydie and the like are back and
the music seems to be a saving grace for AM stations. Leading the way is the
syndicated “Music of Your Life” from Al Ham. Another syndicator is Tony Arnold
with his “Unforgettable” format. WNEW-AM in New York (which does its own
version) is leading the way once again. It just got a 4.0 in the ratings, beating
contemporary AM stations WNBC and WABC.
Music news - The Rolling Stones will cap their current U.S. concert tour with a
closed-circuit satellite concert party to be beamed from an undisclosed site on
Week of November 15, 1981
December 18. Titled “The World’s Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Party” the event will be
limited to 200 venues in the U.S and Canada.
Top Country this week in 1981 -
Wish You Were Here - Barbara Mandrell
Al My Rowdy Friends - Hank Williams Jr.
My Favorite Memory - Merle Haggard
Miss Emily’s Picture - John Conlee
Bet Your Heart On Me - Johnny Lee
All Roads Lead To You - Steve Wariner
If I Needed You - Emmylou Harris and Don Williams
It’s All I Can Do - Ann Murray
Top albums -
Ghost In The Machine - Police
4 Foreigner
Tattoo You - Rolling Stones
Nine Tonight - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Escape - Journey
Bella Donna - Stevie Nicks
Raise - Earth, Wind & Fire
The Innocent Age - Dan
Fogelberg
Abacab - Genesis
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall and
John Oates
Exit Stage Left - Rush
Precious Time - Pat Benatar
Breakin’ Away - Al Jarreau
Songs in the Attic - Billy Joel
Something Special - Kool &
The Gang
If I Should Love Again - Barry
Manila
Why Do Fools Fall In Love -
Diana Ross
Pop music this week in 1981 -
Private Eyes - Daryl Hall & John Oates
Waiting For A Girl Like You - Foreigner
Physical - Olivia Newton John
Here I Am - Air Supply
Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
Week of November 15, 1981
Tryin’ To Live My Life Without You - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
The Night Owls - Little River Band
Arthur’s Theme - Christopher Cross
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - Police
Oh No - Commodores
At the movies -
Time Bandits
Halloween II
French Lieutenants Woman
Only When I Laugh
The Pursuit of DB Cooper
True Confessions
Arthur
Raiders of the Last Ark
Prince of the City
Body Heat
Crocodile
Evil Speak
Rich And Famous
Chariots of Fire
Private Lessons
Tattoo
Southern Comfort