Category Archives: Television 1980s

‘St. Elsewhere’ debuts on NBC-TV 30 years ago this hour (1982)


Video: St. Elsewhere 'Pilot' (Oct. 26, 1982)

(Tuesday, October 26, 1982, 10:00 p.m. EDT)St. Elsewhere, a medical drama television series set at fictional St. Eligius, a decaying urban teaching hospital in Boston’s South End neighborhood, debuted tonight on NBC-TV. It starred Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd, William Daniels, David Birney, Ed Begley, Jr., Denzel Washington, Bonnie Bartlett, Christina Pickles, Mark Harmon, David Morse, Cynthia Sikes, Howie Mandel, Kim Miyori and Bruce Greenwood.

‘Newhart’ debuts on CBS-TV 30 years ago this hour (1982)


Video: 'In The Beginning...' (Oct. 25, 1982)

(Monday, October 25, 1982, 9:30 p.m. EDT)Newhart, a situation comedy series about an author and wife who owned and operated an inn located in a small, rural Vermont town that was home to many eccentric characters, debuted tonight on CBS-TV. It starred Bob Newhart, Mary Frann, Jennifer Holmes, Julia Duffy, Tom Poston, Steven Kampmann, Peter Scolari, William Sanderson, Tony Papenfuss and John Volstad.

‘Remington Steele’ debuts on NBC-TV 30 years ago this hour (1982)


Video: 'License to Steele' (Oct. 1, 1982)

(Friday, October 1, 1982, 10:00 p.m. EDT)Remington Steele, a comedy-drama-detective television series about a licensed female private detective who invents a fictitious male superior to attract more business to her detective agency, debuted tonight on NBC-TV. It starred Stephanie Zimbalist, Pierce Brosnan and Doris Roberts.

‘Did You See the Sunrise?’ episode airs on ‘Magnum, P.I.’ 30 years ago this hour (1982)


Video: 'Did You See the Sunrise?' (clip)

(Thursday, September 30, 1982, 8:00 p.m. ET) — Magnum, T.C., and an ex-army buddy named Nuzzo try to track down Ivan, a Russian who held them captive during the Vietnam War and won’t stop until he kills them all on tonight’s episode of the CBS-TV series Magnum, P.I..

This episode is listed as #98 on TV Guide‘s 2009 list of Top 100 Episodes of All Time.

Starr tapes an appearance for ‘Parkinson in Australia’ 30 years ago today (1982)


'Honey Don't'

(Tuesday, September 28, 1982) — Ex-Beatle Ringo Starr taped an appearance today for Parkinson in Australia in North Ryde, Australia. Ringo played drums on Honey Don’t with Glenn Shorrock on vocals for airing on October 8.

‘Hill Street Blues’ and ‘Barney Miller’ top Emmys 30 years ago tonight (1982)


Video: 'Ingrid Bergman' s Emmy for GOLDA'

(Sunday, September 19, 1982) — The late Ingrid Bergman won an Emmy tonight for her portrayal of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, while Hill Street Blues was the big winner for the second straight year with six awards, including best dramatic series. Continue reading ‘Hill Street Blues’ and ‘Barney Miller’ top Emmys 30 years ago tonight (1982)

Wrestler appears to knock Andy Kaufman out of chair on ‘Letterman’ show 30 years ago today (1982)


Video: 'David Letterman - Jerry Lawler - Andy Kaufman - Unedited'

(Wednesday, July 28, 1982) — Entertainer Andy Kaufman and wrestler Jerry Lawler appear to get in a fight today during a taping of NBC-TV’s Late Night with David Letterman, with Lawler knocking Kaufman out of his chair. It was later revealed to have been staged.

McCartneys appear on ‘Top of the Pops’ in London 30 years ago this hour (1982)

(Thursday, May 6, 1982, 7:25 p.m. local time) — Paul and Linda McCartney made a guest appearance tonight on Top of the Pops at the BBC TV Centre in Wood Lane, London, after the Ebony and Ivory video had been shown.

‘Up in the Air’ airs on ‘Three’s Company’ 30 years ago this hour (1982)


Video: 'Up in the Air' clip

(Tuesday, May 4, 1982, 9:00 p.m. ET) — Jack takes one of Larry’s tranquilizers to deal with his fear of flying, but then experiences unpredictable side effects after ignoring warnings not to drink alcohol on tonight’s episode of the ABC-TV sitcom Three’s Company.

The Weather Channel debuts 30 years ago today (1982)


Video: Pre-launch ceremony from Las Vegas and Atlanta (30 minutes) followed by first 30 minutes of the Weather Channel's broadcast

(Sunday, May 2, 1982) — The Weather Channel (TWC), a U.S. cable and satellite television network that broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news, debuted today.