25 nostalgic things you remember from a specific year or decade!

[retrorussell]

19. Young actor Jon-Erik Hexum accidentally kills himself during filming for the tv show COVER UP.  He puts a bullet-less gun to his temple and pulls the trigger as a joke, but paper wadding from a blank strikes his temple with enough force to crack his skull and send pieces into his brain.  Severe hemorrhaging would lead him to be declared brain-dead.  He is later taken off life support.  He was only 26 years old.
20. Pop star Michael Jackson's hair catches on fire during the making of a Pepsi commercial.  He receives mild burns but recovers.
21. A&E, Lifetime, and AMC cable channels debut.
22. Ice cream truck driver Michael Larson (otherwise unemployed) makes an appearance as a contestant on the game show PRESS YOUR LUCK.  He takes the show in his one day appearance for $110,237, which for its time was a record!  He flusters host Peter Tomarken and the CBS staffers as he continues to play spin after spin, forcing the episode to be split into two halves.  CBS took him to court, believing Michael cheated somehow, but he had simply taped past episodes and studied the board patterns; he would memorize them and know when to stop the marker for the top prize and extra spin, and thus avoid the "whammy".  CBS was forced to let him keep his earnings.
23. TV show debuts: NIGHT COURT, LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH & FAMOUS, RIPTIDE, THE MASTER, AIRWOLF, MIKE HAMMER, KATE & ALLIE, BROTHERS, SANTA BARBARA, KIDS INCORPORATED, CHALLENGE OF THE GOBOTS, VOLTRON, SNORKS, THE GET ALONG GANG, MUPPET BABIES, MIAMI VICE, PUNKY BREWSTER, COSBY SHOW, HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN, HUNTER, WHO'S THE BOSS?, MURDER SHE WROTE, V, CHARLES IN CHARGE, CRAZY LIKE A FOX, and this cool show:

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24. Jeopardy! is back!  This time, not with Art Fleming, but Alex Trebek (HIGH ROLLERS, BATTLESTARS, DOUBLE DARE)!  Also, Password returns-- this time as SUPER PASSWORD and hosted by Bert Convy (TATTLETALES).  And Chuck Woolery returns to NBC years after leaving Wheel Of Fortune with a new show-- SCRABBLE.
25. My favorite Atari 2600 game of all time was released: PITFALL II: THE LOST CAVERNS.  This blew my mind how much better it was than PITFALL; Much more interesting settings (caves, waterfalls, all new enemies, a balloon to take you to higher areas, new treasures to collect, a "checkpoint" feature, a definitive ending, great music, etc.

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I also remember us getting a bunk bed, and I slept on the top while my brothers slept below.  We had a cool flashing multi-colored night light.  Pretty cool setup!  I think I moved back upstairs the following year.

One more tidbit from 1983: FOX affiliates debut.  Ours (Portland/Vancouver) was KPDX-49.  Logo:

[retrorussell]

More 1991:
1. How embarrassing-- US Open Bowling champ Pete Weber hoists the trophy over his head.. and it BREAKS!  Shatters live on camera on the lane.  The crowd gasps and Pete stammers, but the camera keeps on a-rolling..

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2. Some really bad films: PROBLEM CHILD 2, CHILD'S PLAY 3, RETURN TO THE BLUE LAGOON, HIGHLANDER II: THE QUICKENING (went to the theater with my mom to see that-- ugh), COOL AS ICE, MANNEQUIN II: ON THE MOVE, SUBURBAN COMMANDO (we rented that.. how awful), V.I. WARSHAWSKI, ZANDALEE (popped up on pay per view real quick), SCENES FROM A MALL, DOUBLE IMPACT, ERNEST SCARED STUPID, TRUTH OR DARE, and 2 of the all-time turkeys-- NOTHING BUT TROUBLE and DROP DEAD FRED.
3. A small consolation for my Buffalo Bills losing the Super Bowl by one point would have been Thurman Thomas winning the Super Bowl MVP (they did give it to a losing team's player once before), which he would have richly deserved.. but no.  They gave it to the Giants' RB Ottis Anderson, who didn't have nearly the game Thurman did.  Also, how the hell did we lose the Super Bowl to a Giants team WITHOUT Phil Simms???!!!
4. The Colorado Buffaloes, who nowadays suck outright, won the Orange Bowl for the national championship.
5. Desmond Howard, who later won a Super Bowl MVP for the Packers, wins the Heisman for Michigan.
6. In FIFA the US Women's team win the World Cup!  2-1 over Norway.
7. Magic Johnson announces he has HIV.  This ends his regular season NBA career; he plays for the 1992 USA Dream Team in the Olympics but quits after a bloody cut occurs in the 1992-93 preseason.
8. Back to the 1991 NBA Finals: I have always hated the Lakers, and was so ticked that the Lakers eked out a win in Chicago to take game 1.  Fortunately it was all Chicago from then on.  I was thrilled the Bulls won their first title (I always root for the team that hasn't won one), but little did I know they would win a lot more.  I hated Jordan for his ugly tongue wag.  Stephen Curry's mouthpiece hanging out of his gob may be worse..
9. I never quite appreciated my job enough at Pizza Hut-- it was pretty great.  For the day shift I'd make all the dough and when they were satisfied with how much I made I could go home.  They'd let me make my own pizza and buy a soda for 50 cents.  And when I did the closing shifts the manager/assistant manager would often give me a lift home (just in time to watch some softcore porn on Showtime when everyone was (hopefully) asleep).  But still being a kid fresh out of high school I guess I just had to complain.
10. I still have all the 1990-91 HOOPS basketball cards I collected back then in a binder.  Some good ones probably worth some decent coin.  Also collected most of the UPPER DECK baseball season cards and NFL PRO SET cards, of which I also still own.
11. The biggest blowout in the history of the NBA: The Cleveland Cavaliers utterly demoralize the Miami Heat by SIXTY EIGHT POINTS!  148-80 on December 17.
12. I was big into ESPN's SportsCenter show-- and this was even before Dan Patrick/Keith Olbermann/Rich Eisen/etc.!

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13. Monica Seles wins the US Open, French Open and Australian Open tennis titles.  Steffi Graf wins Wimbledon.
14. Whitney Houston delivers one of the most famous National Anthems ever for Super Bowl XXV.
15. Coverage of the Gulf War pre-empts a lot of programming during evenings.
16. A-hole actor/martial artist Steven Seagal is banned from Saturday Night Live after being difficult with the cast/crew/Lorne Michaels.
17. Beloved Little House On The Prairie actor Michael Landon dies of prostate cancer.
18. The NBA Finals begins airing on NBC, which will last for a dozen years or so.  John Tesh's awesome theme "Roundball Rock" will open for almost its entire run.
19. On the set of the show THE ROYAL FAMILY, Redd Foxx's castmates are amused at his heart attack, thinking he is emulating his "I'm coming, Elizabeth!" routine from SANFORD AND SON.  Unfortunately, he dies for real.
20. STAR TREK creator Gene Roddenberry dies.
21. The first Norton Anti-Virus software is released.
22. Debuts: SUN CHIPS, SUPER NINTENDO, Lipton BRISK, EXCEL (gum), FRUIT BY THE FOOT, and FRUIT GUSHERS.
23. More celebrity deaths: RED GRANGE, DAVID LEAN, RALPH BELLAMY, FRANK CAPRA, BRAD DAVIS, MILES DAVIS, COLLEEN DEWHURST, TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD, JEAN ARTHUR, DR. SEUSS, BILL GRAHAM, FRED MACMURRAY, YVES MONTAND, LEE REMICK, DAVID RUFFIN, DANNY THOMAS, and DOTTIE WEST.
24. More famous games: ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST, FINAL FANTASY IV (II in the US), SIM CITY, SUPER GHOULS 'N GHOSTS, STREETS OF RAGE, STARFLIGHT (awesome game), TOEJAM AND EARL and SUPER MARIO WORLD and F-ZERO debut in the US.
25. Crappy games I got suckered into: ART ALIVE (though I did come up with some cool anime-styled artwork that I took pics of), PIT FIGHTER, MIKE DITKA POWER FOOTBALL, HEAVY NOVA and DARK CASTLE.

Bonus:
A legend is born!
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
The home port of ZERO WING is given terrible Engrish dialogue:

Captain: What happen?
Mechanic: Somebody Set Up Us the Bomb.
Operator: We get signal.
Captain: What!
Operator: Main screen turn on.
Captain: It's you!!
CATS: How are you gentlemen!!
CATS: All your base are belong to us.
CATS: You are on the way to destruction.
Captain: What you say!!
CATS: You have no chance to survive make your time.
CATS: Ha ha ha ha....


And some commercials:

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[retrorussell]

More 1976:
1. US women's skater Dorothy Hamill wins gold in the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.  Her appearance on TV Guide's cover:

2. A couple TV Guide listings from 1976:


3. 1976 commercials:

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4. The Ramones debut.  My favorite songs BLITZKRIEG BOP and BEAT ON THE BRAT are on their debut album.
5. Palestinian hijackers hold 103 hostages on an Air France plane at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.  Airborne commandos release them all but several Ugandan soldiers are killed.  The 1977 TV film RAID ON ENTEBBE is based on this event.
6. 7 people are killed on the campus of Cal St.-Fullerton during a mass shooting.
7. Bruce-- yes, BRUCE-- Jenner wins gold in the men's (yes, MEN'S) decathlon in the Summer Olympics.
8. New sports franchises: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, and my hometown PORTLAND WINTER HAWKS.
9. After the ABA is folded, a "dispersal draft" is held to integrate players from the ABA into the NBA.  My Blazers got Maurice Lucas, who was instrumental in helping us win the 1977 title.  We also selected Moses Malone but he didn't play for us.
10. Irish rock band U2 is formed.
11. Famous 70s funk-groove Stevie Wonder album SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE is released.
12. Chinese Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong dies of a heart attack.
13. The band, um, THE BAND, has a famous farewell concert in San Francisco with lots of famous musical guests like Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Emmylou Harris, Paul Butterfield, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Neil Young and others.  Director Martin Scorcese films this and makes it into a documentary film 2 years later.
14. Reggie Jackson signs with the New York Yankees, going on to win multiple World Series titles for them.  His own candy bar (kind of like a peanut cluster but with caramel) debuts!

15. Reggae star Bob Marley and 3 others are shot in his Kingston home by politically-motivated armed intruders.  All 4 survive and the shooters are tried and executed.
16. Famous deaths: Agatha Christie, Howlin' Wolf, Percy Faith, Lee J. Cobb, Jean Servais, Florence Ballard, Busby Berkeley, Paul Kossoff, Howard Hughes, Phil Ochs, Carol Reed, Fritz Lang, Rosalind Russell, Tommy Bolin, Jack Cassidy, Freddie King.
17. Mentioned before that FAMILY FEUD debuted this year, but here's the first episode! (We used to love this show, even though Richard Dawson could be a serious @ss)

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18. Magazine cigarette ad-- remember those?  TV cig ads had been banned since '71.  My mom stopped smoking somewhere in the early 90s, but she did smoke B&H in the 70s.  She got me a B&H brand deck of playing cards.

19. Game show hosts Tom Kennedy and Allen Ludden were very good, close friends and it showed when they visited each other on their new NBC shows 50 GRAND SLAM and STUMPERS, neither of which lasted past the year.

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20. An episode of MATCH GAME '76:

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More to come..

[retrorussell]

21. Loved this celebrity game show: BREAK THE BANK (1976-77), hosted by Tom Kennedy and then Jack Barry (also co-producer).  The Kennedy episodes were ABC daytime and the Barry episodes were syndicated at night.  That's the one I remember best, watching it at my grandma's house before Portland Wrestling and Benny Hill.  There were other shows called Break The Bank before and after, but were totally different from this show.  The syndicated version's episodes did not straddle (as in, a game would not be carried over to the next episode) and there was a bonus round.  Tom probably didn't do the syndicated version because he was busy with NAME THAT TUNE as well as 50 GRAND SLAM at the time.

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22. Acclaimed miniseries RICH MAN, POOR MAN debuts.  The follow-up RICH MAN, POOR MAN BOOK II would air later this year and conclude the following year. 
23. Steve Railsback delivers a dynamite performance as Charles Manson in the tv film HELTER SKELTER.  Another made-for-TV film: THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE with John Travolta.
24. Childrens TV Special RUDOLPH'S SHINY NEW YEAR debuts, as well as FROSTY'S WINTER WONDERLAND, both by Rankin-Bass.  Loved their ending bumper for some reason.

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25. Other cartoon debuts: TARZAN: LORD OF THE JUNGLE, CLUE CLUB, and THE SCOOBY DOO SHOW.
Also:
Bad movies: THE FIRST NUDIE MUSICAL, THE SHAGGY D.A., WON TON TON- THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD, THE CLOWN MURDERS, SQUIRM, GUS, DRIVE IN MASSACRE, THE SAVAGE BEES, BOBBY JO AND THE OUTLAW, EAT MY DUST, FOOD OF THE GODS, GRIZZLY (kind of a guilty pleasure).

[ER]

Just think, in three weeks we'll be able to list twenty-five things about 2022. Ewwww, ahhhh.... 

[retrorussell]

Just think, in three weeks we'll be able to list twenty-five things about 2022. Ewwww, ahhhh.... 

Bleck-- Kinda want to pretend this year didn't exist..

1977:
1. In Des Moines, IA, Anita Bryant's crusade against gays and gay rights takes an embarrassing turn when a gay activist throws a pie in her face!  Right in the middle of reporters talking to her!
2. For my 6th birthday I got this cool album that had been around a couple years:
GOOFY GREATS (K-Tel)

A lot of silly songs like Yummy Yummy Yummy, Ahab The Arab, Mr. Custer, Simon Says, and others from mostly the 60s.
3. Aww.. the original run of THE ELECTRIC COMPANY ends.  Close of the last episode is a song appropriately called "That's All".  Complete with the creepy PBS closing.

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4. Arcade video games were continuing to provide a major threat to the pinball fad.  DEPTHCHARGE was one I really enjoyed when it made its debut at Malibu Gran Prix.  The sonar "ping" and trying to time your torpedoes to hit the submarines below really drew me in.

5. Other cool titles: DOMINOES, SPACE WARS (another one I enjoyed, which is actually a ripoff of the old computer game SPACEWAR!), CANYON BOMBER, SPRINT 4, SPRINT 8, STARSHIP 1, and SUPER BUG, notable for its oddly angular cabinet.
6. David Cassidy's (PARTRIDGE FAMILY) younger half-brother Shaun flashes major sex appeal with not only the HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES show but as a singing sensation with hits like THAT'S ROCK 'N ROLL, HEY DEANIE and his #1 remake DA DOO RON RON.
7. I've never been a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, and the lyrics to this song he wrote were stupid as eff, but Manfred Mann's Earth Band turned it into a surprise #1 hit: BLINDED BY THE LIGHT.  Yep, the "revved up like a douche" song.
8. The Festrunk Brothers debut on Saturday Night Live!  Hilariously played by Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd, they are 2 "swinging Czech brothers looking to score some American chicks".  Catchphrase: "We are 2 wild and crazy guys!"

9. Star of the hit TV sitcom CHICO AND THE MAN, Freddie Prinze, shoots himself over depression and drug addiction and is taken off life support and dies a day later.  The show continues for another season without him.
10. Elvis' final concert, ELVIS IN CONCERT (filmed in Omaha NE and Rapid City SD), is aired after his death and due to his poor performance is panned.
11. A record-fast trip up the pyramid on THE $20,000 PYRAMID is set by Billy Crystal and his razor-sharp contestant partner-- Billy is as shocked as we are!

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12. Concluding series: SANFORD & SON, MCCLOUD, MCMILLAN & WIFE, EMERGENCY!, and MARY TYLER MOORE.
13. Debuting celeb/civilian game show I liked: SHOOT FOR THE STARS (NBC).  Geoff Edwards (Treasure Hunt) hosted.  One gives clues to a 2-word phrase to the other.  Pilot title: SHOOT THE WORKS.

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14. Two of my all-time favorite albums: Billy Joel's THE STRANGER and Fleetwood Mac's RUMOURS.
15. Also, Fleetwood Mac nabs their only chart-topper with the Stevie Nicks-led DREAMS.
16. Another Stevie hits #1 with Mr. Wonder's awesome SIR DUKE.
17. I think the Beaverton Burger King opened this year-- Oregon didn't get Burger Kings until the 70s.  We loved getting gift certificates for birthdays or Xmas stocking stuffers.  Plus they had a nice playground right outside the restaurant.  It closed about 10 years or so ago; I still have one about a mile away.  Not such a fan of the "flame broiled" flavor nowadays.
18. Commercials:

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19. The really stupid live action tv series THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN debuts.
20. Pat Boone's daughter Debbie scores a ridiculous TEN WEEKS at #1 with the mushy YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE.  Didi Conn later stars in the movie of the same name.
21. Other big hits of the year: JET AIRLINER- Steve Miller, THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE- 10cc, COLD AS ICE- Foreigner, (YOUR LOVE HAS LIFTED ME) HIGHER AND HIGHER- Rita Coolidge, WE'RE ALL ALONE- Rita Coolidge, EASY- Commodores, WHATCHA GONNA DO- Pablo Cruise, SLOW DANCIN' (SWAYIN' TO THE MUSIC)- Johnny Rivers, STAYIN' ALIVE- Bee Gees, SOUTHERN NIGHTS- Glen Campbell, HEARD IT IN A LOVE SONG- Marshall Tucker Band, STAR WARS THEME- Meco, BEST OF MY LOVE- Emotions, YOU MAKE LOVING FUN- Fleetwood Mac, DO YOU WANNA MAKE LOVE- Peter McCann, UNDERCOVER ANGEL- Alan O'Day, COME SAIL AWAY- Styx, WHAT'S YOUR NAME- Lynyrd Skynyrd
22. The awful Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally get their franchise's first win.  This breaks a ridiculous 26 game losing streak, at the expense of the New Orleans Saints.
23. The prelude to the MAMA'S FAMILY tv series was a skit on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW.  One particular episode in 1977 had Tim Conway just going off script with a goofy improvised story about an elephant.. and his castmates bust up trying in vain to keep their composure (especially poor Dick Van Dyke)!  Classic!

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24. MLB clubs Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays (my favorite team) debut.
25. Bad 1977 movies: EXORCIST II: THE HERETIC, THE CHOSEN, TENTACLES, THE VAN, RAGGEDY ANN & ANDY: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE (we saw this at the Valley theater; it was weird and dull), EMPIRE OF THE ANTS, TINTORERRA, THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN, ORCA (though Bo Derek gets her leg bit off), GRAND THEFT AUTO, RETURN TO BOGGY CREEK, AIRPORT '77, PICNIC AT LAKEWOOD MANOR, DAMNATION ALLEY (we saw this at the Family Drive-In on a double bill with Ralph Bakshi's WIZARDS), AUDREY ROSE, VIVA KNIEVEL, THE CAR and THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER.
Bonus:
Other films we saw at the theaters: RACE FOR YOUR LIFE CHARLIE BROWN and THE RESCUERS, and tv animated specials THE HOBBIT, NESTOR THE LONG EARED DONKEY and A COSMIC CHRISTMAS.

[retrorussell]

1978:
1. FAMILY FEUD host Richard Dawson makes one of his many appearances on MATCH GAME and acts like a serious jerk.  His surliness had been building up for a long time on the show and finally fans wrote in to ask him to smile.  He refuses when prompted by host Gene Rayburn.  Gene even tries to force him as the credits roll!  Richard would soon after leave the show.  Episode:

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2. A big new addition to MATCH GAME is the STAR WHEEL!  Contestants got to spin the wheel to determine which celeb they got to try and match.  This was designed to keep a certain celeb from being picked over and over again (usually Richard).

3. One of my favorite animated tv specials: THE DEVIL AND DANIEL MOUSE!  This is of course a takeoff on THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER, and features 2 mice musicians-- one of which is lured into stardom by the devil (a big fat lizard) and the other has to fight for her soul.  The devil is brilliantly played by Chris Wiggins (FRIDAY THE 13TH THE SERIES) and Daniel's singing voice is John Sebastian!

4. The funny episode of WKRP IN CINCINNATI is aired around Thanksgiving in which Arthur Carlson says "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!" as turkeys are dropped from above for a radio promotion.
5. The funny Beatles parody THE RUTLES-- ALL YOU NEED IS CASH airs.
6. Another great game show moment: Contestant Norma Brown wins the maximum amount of $28,800 on CARD SHARKS's bonus round "Money Cards".  She bets the maximum on every card and gets a great deal of luck!

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7. Concluding series: CAROL BURNETT SHOW, BOB NEWHART SHOW, RHODA, CHICO AND THE MAN, COLUMBO, POLICE WOMAN, and BIONIC WOMAN.
8. Kids seemed to love Godzilla's nephew "Godzooky" on the animated series of GODZILLA. 
9. Bad 1978 films: I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND (which cost producer Robert Stigwood a serious setback financially), ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, BAD NEWS BEARS GO TO JAPAN, THE SWARM, CORVETTE SUMMER, SEXTETTE, LASERBLAST, OLIVER'S STORY, RABBIT TEST, and THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE.
10. Novelty act THE VILLAGE PEOPLE release their signature disco smash hit: Y.M.C.A.
11. Other hit songs: BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE- A Taste Of Honey, NIGHT FEVER- Bee Gees, SHADOW DANCING- Andy Gibb, HOT CHILD IN THE CITY- Nick Gilder, TAKE A CHANCE ON ME- ABBA, WE WILL ROCK YOU/WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS- Queen, LE FREAK- Chic, KISS YOU ALL OVER- Exile, LAST DANCE- Donna Summer, IMAGINARY LOVER- Atlanta Rhythm Section, LADY- Little River Band, REMINISCING- Little River Band, MACARTHUR PARK- Donna Summer, I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE (DISCO ROUND)- Alicia Bridges, DON'T LOOK BACK- Boston, HOLD THE LINE- Toto, BLUER THAN BLUE- Michael Johnson, DOUBLE VISION- Foreigner, MISS YOU- Rolling Stones, EMOTION- Samantha Sang, LOVE WILL FIND A WAY- Pablo Cruise, WITH A LITTLE LUCK- Wings, LOVE IS LIKE OXYGEN- Sweet, LIFE'S BEEN GOOD- Joe Walsh, COPACABANA- Barry Manilow, HOT BLOODED- Foreigner, EVERY 1'S A WINNER- Hot Chocolate, WHO ARE YOU- The Who, MACHO MAN- Village People, SHAKE YOUR GROOVE THING- Peaches & Herb, HOW MUCH I FEEL- Ambrosia, and YOU NEEDED ME- Anne Murray.
12. Drummer Keith Moon of The Who dies of alcohol and drugs.  Kenney Jones of the band Faces/Small Faces replaces (heh) him.
13. Israel and Egypt sign the Camp David Peace Accords.
More to come..

[retrorussell]

14. GREAT, underappreciated movie-- one of Elliot Gould's best-- THE SILENT PARTNER.  Gould plays a bank teller who plays a cat-and-mouse game with a bank robber dressed as Santa Claus!  Rather than give all the money demanded to the robber he skims some for himself, and gets in hot water for it.  Saw the ads for this but as a 7 year old was too young to watch.  I think clips of this were in the later film TERROR IN THE AISLES.  It was hilarious to see Christopher Plummer dressed as Santa and saying "Just give me the money, f***er!"

15. Great arcade games besides SPACE INVADERS: SUPER BREAKOUT, SKY RAIDER, BLASTO, BLUE SHARK (we played the hell out of this at Malibu Gran Prix, especially when they set it to free play once), FIRE TRUCK (was always at the Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor we went to), GYPSY JUGGLER (also at Malibu), SEA WOLF II, SHUFFLEBOARD, SKY DIVER, and the cool 4 PLAYER BOWLING ALLEY (also at Malibu; my sister was crazy good at this).
16. Japanese explorer Naomi Uemura is the first person to reach the North Pole on a solo expedition.
17. The first test-tube baby, Louise Brown, is born in England.
18. A major shift in democracy occurs in Spain with the creation of a new Constitution.
19. A major teachers' strike across the US extends the summer vacation for students.
20. The first Susan B. Anthony dollar (coin) is minted.
21. Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat and Israel PM Menachem Begin win Nobel Peace Prize awards.
22. Actor Bob Crane (Hogan's Heroes) is murdered in his condo in Scottsdale, AZ; bludgeoned by what appears to be a camera tripod.  Though his manager John Carpenter (not the director) was suspected, the case remains unsolved.
23. Other famous deaths: John Cazale, Robert Shaw, Will Geer, Charles Boyer, Gig Young, Ed Wood, Edgar Bergen, Louis Prima, Norman Rockwell, Rocky Dennis, Golda Meir, Margaret Mead, Hubert Humphrey, Aram Khachaturian, Chill Wills, Totie Fields.
24. Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious apparently kills his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in a NY hotel room.
25. San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk is murdered.
Bonus:
Chicago (band) singer Terry Kath accidentally kills himself jokingly playing Russian Roulette, not realizing a bullet was in the chamber.

[ER]

Another great list. I did not know that about Chicago's singer. Actually I didn't know a couple things there, and yesterday I had to watch the clip of the unsmiling Richard Dawson. (What was that with the host getting to kiss that Joyce woman on the lips? Did balding paunchy middle-age lushes get to go around kissing on women back then?)

[retrorussell]

Another great list. I did not know that about Chicago's singer. Actually I didn't know a couple things there, and yesterday I had to watch the clip of the unsmiling Richard Dawson. (What was that with the host getting to kiss that Joyce woman on the lips? Did balding paunchy middle-age lushes get to go around kissing on women back then?)

Ha ha, yeah honestly I liked the 2nd host Ray Combs better.  He was funny and far less abrasive/creepy.  Sad that he was so deeply troubled and committed suicide.

[retrorussell]

Another re-visiting!
1979:
1. American icon John Wayne dies of lung cancer.
2. A major benefit concert is held at the UN General Assembly to raise money for UNICEF.  The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, ABBA and Earth Wind & Fire are performers.
3. The Ayatollah Khomeini returns to Iran after a 15-year exile.
4. American ambassador to Afghanistan Adolph Dubs is kidnapped by Muslim extremists in Kabul.  During a rescue attempt by police he is killed.
5. A heated race between racers Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison at the Daytona 500 erupts into a fistfight!  Richard Petty wins the race.  This is the first 500 race completely televised (CBS).

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6. Loved the high-energy disco remake of KNOCK ON WOOD, by disco singer Amii Stewart (hideous costume though).

7. Disco tunes on the radio.. TRAGEDY- Bee Gees, LOVE YOU INSIDE OUT- Bee Gees, RING MY BELL- Anita Ward, HOT STUFF- Donna Summer, GOOD TIMES- Chic, IN THE NAVY- Village People, BOOGIE WONDERLAND- Earth Wind & Fire & The Emotions, TOO MUCH HEAVEN- Bee Gees, THE MAIN EVENT- Barbara Streisand, WE ARE FAMILY- Sister Sledge, SEPTEMBER- Earth Wind & Fire, LADIES NIGHT- Kool & The Gang, DON'T BRING ME DOWN- ELO.
8. Other big hits on the radio: SAD EYES- Robert John, JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST- Randy Vanwarmer, THIS NIGHT WON'T LAST FOREVER- Michael Johnson, YOU DECORATED MY LIFE- Kenny Rogers, COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers, YOU'RE ONLY LONELY- J.D. Souther, ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG), REUNITED- Peaches And Herb, WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES- Doobie Brothers, FOOL IN THE RAIN- Led Zeppelin, SULTANS OF SWING- Dire Straits, THE LOGICAL SONG- Supertramp, MY SHARONA- The Knack, GOOD GIRLS DON'T- The Knack, I WANT YOU TO WANT ME- Cheap Trick, TOO HOT- Kool & The Gang, YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT- Raydio, LEAD ME ON- Maxine Nightingale, ROCK AND ROLL FANTASY- Bad Company, I'LL NEVER LOVE THIS WAY AGAIN- Dionne Warwick, GOODBYE STRANGER- Supertramp, LONESOME LOSER- Little River Band, COOL CHANGE- Little River Band, STILL- Commodores, YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY- Rex Smith, BABE- Styx, RISE- Herb Alpert, MUSIC BOX DANCER- Frank Mills, SHAKE IT- Ian Matthews, DRIVER'S SEAT- Sniff 'N The Tears, CRUEL TO BE KIND- Nick Lowe, I WAS MADE FOR LOVING YOU- Kiss, ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART II)- Pink Floyd.
9. I remember watching this crazy episode of the game show WHEW! on my grandma's tv-- a contestant excitedly jumps up and down after a win, but throws out his knee!  He is unable to play the bonus game and is rushed to the hospital.  Happy ending though-- he is invited to come back on a future episode when properly healed.  He does, and wins over $28,000!  Episode:

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10. Kurt Russell wins an Emmy for his role as the titular "King of Rock and Roll" in the made for TV movie ELVIS.
11. Cable channels ESPN, C-SPAN, Nickelodeon and USA Network debut.
12. Cable movie channel THE STAR CHANNEL is re-named THE MOVIE CHANNEL.
13. TV series endings: WHAT'S HAPPENING!, HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW MYSTERIES, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, STARSKY & HUTCH, WELCOME BACK KOTTER, ALL IN THE FAMILY (re-named ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE), GOOD TIMES, WONDER WOMAN, THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, MATCH GAME (continued on as MATCH GAME PM).
14. Debuts: THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, ANGIE, THE ROPERS, REAL PEOPLE, THE FACTS OF LIFE, HART TO HART, SPORTSCENTER, BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF FLASH GORDON (great cartoon), TRAPPER JOHN M.D., KNOTS LANDING.
15. The great horror classic made-for-TV film SALEM'S LOT is aired.
16. Some great arcade video games besides the immortal ASTEROIDS: VIDEO PINBALL, GALAXIAN (released in the US in 1980), HEAD ON, LUNAR LANDER, MONACO GP, ASTRO FIGHTER (also released in the US in 1980), ATARI BASKETBALL, LUNAR RESCUE, WARRIOR, SPEED FREAK and STAR HAWK.
17. One of the Intellivision's signature titles, LAS VEGAS POKER AND BLACKJACK, caught my attention.. I loved the expressions on the dealer's face when you win/lose and his eyes moving about as he deals the cards.

18. MVP Willie Stargell and the Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series.
19. APOCALYPSE NOW, 10, THE BLACK STALLION, BEING THERE, AMYTIVILLE HORROR, THE GREAT SANTINI, ALL THAT JAZZ, ZULU DAWN, THE WANDERERS, THE WARRIORS, THE TIN DRUM, QUADROPHENIA, BREAKING AWAY, LIFE OF BRIAN, MAD MAX, PHANTASM ("If this doesn't scare you.. you're already dead"), and THE BLACK HOLE are notable films.
20. I remember MORK & MINDY kind of jumping the shark with a weird episode where Mork shrinks into microscopic size as a result of an allergic reaction to cold medicine.  It is a 2-part episode with no laugh track.
More later..

[indianasmith]

Another great list. I did not know that about Chicago's singer. Actually I didn't know a couple things there, and yesterday I had to watch the clip of the unsmiling Richard Dawson. (What was that with the host getting to kiss that Joyce woman on the lips? Did balding paunchy middle-age lushes get to go around kissing on women back then?)

I watched him host that show when I was young, and he was famous for kissing every woman who came on the show - they lined up for it, in fact!
BTW, he did a wonderful job playing the villain in the movie adaptation of Stephen King's THE RUNNING MAN.  Absolutely worth a watch!

[retrorussell]

21. The World Hockey Association folds and 4 of its teams join the NHL: The Edmonton Oilers, New England (later Hartford) Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets.
22. An accident occurs at the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island, PA.  A reactor meltdown allows coolant and radioactive gases to escape.
23. Anti-nuclear protest music concerts known as NO NUKES are held in Madison Square Garden; Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, The Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Nicolette Larson, Ry Cooder and several other prominent names appear.
24. 1979 product debuts: Happy Meal, Sony Walkman, Strawberry Shortcake greeting cards, Erasermate, Honey Nut Cheerios, Hubba Bubba, Maglite, Mello Yello, Microvision, Tostitos.
25. Commercials:

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One from 1980 I missed:
NBC, during a malaise where they were in last place among the major networks, does a joke promo called "We're Loud!", in which they basically make fun of their misfortune.  Numerous staff got fired over this.  I imagine network exec Fred Silverman was none too thrilled.

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Also 1980: Loved DRESSED TO KILL.  Elevator murder scene that had everybody buzzing:

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And with Richard Dawson being a jerk a number of times of Family Feud it was nice to see him break down emotionally when his sons surprise him on his birthday!

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[ER]

No, not Richard Dawson, the man hosting the game show on which Dawson was a panelist who refused to smile. The woman clearly did not relish kissing the host. It seemed so much a violation for him to do that. Of course she did try to charge him for it, so I admire her brazen side-hustle of prostitution.

[retrorussell]

Oh, and one more well-known FF episode from 1980:
"September"
Richard just loses his s**t when a contestant gives a particularly bad answer during the Fast Money round.

"During what month of pregnancy does a woman begin to look pregnant?"
"September."
Richard just CANNOT keep his composure.  It's happened a number of times during his FF tenure.

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