Week of November 23, 1988

George J. Mitchell of Maine is elected Senate

majority leader by Democrats. He quickly

promised George Bush that his initiatives would

be met with “interest and enthusiasm.”

President-elect Bush names Brent Scowcroft as

national security adviser.

Condemning the repression and authoritarianism

of past Kremlin leaders, Soviet President Mikhail

Gorbachev urges a Democratic state and

outlines major changes in the country’s political

system.

Te Soviet government places the southern republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan

under military authority after new violence erupts.

In Warsaw - Solidarity founder Lech Walesa makes hi

first uncensored television appearance in eight years in

a live debate with the leader of the official trade unions,

Alfred Miodowicz. It was the first uncensored

appearance of Walesa on televising since the signing of

the historic Gdansk accords with the government on

Aug. 31, 1980, which legalized Solidarity and which was

also broadcast live to the nation. Solidarity was outlawed

in 1982.

Vice President-elect Dan Quayle, wooed by members of

his party’s right wing since the election, says that he

won’t be their “so-called spear carrier” in the Bush

Administration.

The Reagan Administration denies Yasser Arafat a visa to enter the United

States to address the U.N. General Assembly in New York, citing national

security concerts.

The U.S. trade deficit shrank by 5.4% from July through September, the third

consecutive quarter decline.

Week of November 23, 1988

Tornadoes skip across North Carolina’s capital city before dawn like a “big

bouncing ball” and went on to hit rural counties nearby, killing four and injuring

143.

The nation’s biggest banks raise their prime lending rates half a percentage to

10.5%, the fourth increase this year.

South Africa - President Pieter Botha commutes the death sentences of the

Sharpeville Six, five men and a woman who hours earlier lost their final judicial

appeal. The six blacks, who had been sentenced to hang for murder convictions,

will serve prison terms ranging from 18 to 25 years.

Sports -

Steve Sax , formerly with the Dodgers and now a free

agent, signs with the Yankees - $4 million for three

years.

Entertainment news -

Passing - Actor John Carradine (82) in Milan, Italy.

Michael Reagan, son of President Regan… well, his

days as a gameshow host may be over. As a gameshow

host for Ralph Andrews Productions’ “Lingo,” he is

having a spat with Mr. Andrews for failure to pay him more than $20,000 in back

pay, return fees and pension and welfare benefits. Andrews says he owes

Reagan money, but bitterly says - Reagan is an ingrate and that “no one else but

me would give him a chance in this town.”

Music news -

Ringo Starr returns to Britain from a private

clinic for alcoholics in the United States and

vows he would never drink again. “I feel a lot

better and my intention is never to drink again. I

haven’t had a drink in 45 days, and that’s

amazing for me.” Ringo and his wife Barbara

Bach flew to Arizona for treatment for alcoholism

five weeks ago .

Top TV -

Cosby Show - 27.0

A Different World - 24.2

Golden Girls - 23.4

60 Minutes - 22.7

Week of November 23, 1988

Cheers - 21.4

Empty Nest - 20.3

Growing Pains - 20.2

Murder: She Wrote - 20.1

War and Remembrance - part

19.8

War and Remembrance - part

19.0

ALF - 18.0

ALF (Tuesday) - 18.0

Dear John - 18.0

Hogan Family - 17.9

L..A. Law - 17.3

Television news - Don’t miss the Hollywood

Christmas Parade with grand marshal Tony

Danza. Appearing - Lyle Alzado, Gene Autry,

Norm Crosby, Rick Dees, Janet Evans , Lou

Ferrigno, Earl Holliman, Sally Kellerman,

Spuds Mackenzie, Paul Rodriguez, Mr. T.

Joan Van Ark, Tim Reid, Wally Joyner and

others.

Sunday night television -

CBS - 60 Minutes, Murder, She Wrote, Movie

NBC - Magical World of Disney, Family Ties,

Day By Day, Movie

ABC - Incredible Sunday, Mission:

Impossible, Movie

Fox - 21 Jump Street, America’s Most Wanted, Married With Children, It’s Garry

Shandling’s Show, Tracey Ullman

A&E - Rich Little: Come Laugh With Me

PBS - Nature, Masterpiece Theater

Married with Children - Cheerleader Kelly tries to attract a football player.

Tracey Ullman - A police officer learns the tango - from an arrest suspect.

At the movies -

Scrooged

The Land Before Time

Cocoon: The Return

Oliver and Company

Child’s Play

The Accused