1980/81 – Dallas was #1 on CBS Friday.
Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1980 season; Charlie’s Angels was
cancelled in the fifth season.
Anniversary: The David Susskind Show celebrated twenty years in syndication.
Australia Ties: Number 96 was based on the popular 1972–1977 Australian soap, Number 96.
Biggest New Hit: Magnum P.I. was #14 on CBS Thursday. No ladies could resist Tom Selleck. He was one sexy detective.
Tom was supposed to play Indiana Jones in Raiders Of The Lost Ark; the role went to Harrison Ford. Thankfully, Tom was stuck
playing Magnum P.I. The show made him a big star.
British Ties: Too Close For Comfort was based on Keep It In The Family.
Movies 2 TV:
Breaking Away – Barbara Barrie, Jackie Earle Haley and John Aston played the same roles from the 1979 Oscar nominated
movie.
Flamingo Road was based on the 1949 Joan Crawford movie. It was NBC’s first attempt at a prime time soap. It was
no match for Hart & Hart on ABC; it was cancelled next season.
Freebie & The Bean was based on the 1974 movie, Freebie & The Bean, starring James Caan & Alan Arkin. The show
didn’t last long; it was against ABC’s The Love Boat.
Private Benjamin – Eileen Brennan & Hal Williams reprised their roles from the 1980 movie, starring Golden Hawn.
Walking Tall – Bo Svenson reprised his role from the 1973 movie, based on the true life of Buford Pusser.
Name Change:
The Misadventures Of Sheriff Lobo to Lobo.
Palmerston, U.S.A to Palmerston.
Second City TV to SCTV Network 90.
The Tomorrow Show to Tomorrow Coast To Coast.
Universe to Walter Cronkite's Universe.
Original Title: Dynasty was going to be called Oil.
The Return:
Barbara Eden returned in Harper Valley PTA. She was best known for I Dream Of Jeannie in the 1960’s with Larry Hagman,
who became a ruthless oil tycoon on Dallas in 1978. To this day, I still want Jeannie to grant my three wishes.
Ann Jillian returned in It’s A Living after a fourteen year absence; she was in the last season on Hazel from 1965/66.
Shaun Cassidy returned in Breaking Away after a year absence. He was best known as one of The Hardy Boys with Parker Stevenson
in the late 1970’s. He was a popular singer and teen idol like his half brother, David Cassidy of The Partridge Family.
Secrets Of Midland Heights
The series was supposed to be the first teen soap.
The series was Lorenzo Lamas’ first soap. His second soap was the popular Falcon Crest. He was in his first daytime
soap, The Bold & The Beautiful, in 2004.
His costar, Mark Pinter, was a hugely popular soap star on the cancelled Another World and other numerous daytime soaps.
Mark’s wife, Colleen Zenk Pinter, is on As The World Turns as Barbara Ryan.
The series was Linda Hamilton’s first series. She appeared in another failed soap, King’s Crossing, in 1982.
She struck it gold in the 1984 Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, The Terminator. The 1987-90 fantasy series,
Beauty & The Beast, brought her more success.
The series was Bibi Besch’s first series. Bibi was in a variety of daytime soaps from 1965-76. She was the mother,
Dr. Carol Marcus, of Captain James T. Kirk's son in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Ironically, Bibi died one day before
the 30th Anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek.
Simultaneous: John Forsythe was on two series - Charlie’s Angels and Dynasty. He was on TV nonstop for thirteen
years.
Spin Off:
Enos from The Dukes Of Hazzard, Enos sure have wished he didn’t leave Daisy Duke for a failed TV series. Enos lasted
for seventeen episodes. If I was him, I will stay behind and try to capture her heart and hand in marriage. Thank goodness
that he went back home to Hazzard County. I sure missed him while he was gone. Sonny Shroyer was extremely popular as Enos
that prompted Warner Bros and CBS to spin Enos into his own series.
Checking In from The Jeffersons.
Those Amazing Animals from the animal segments on That’s Incredible! This show was Priscilla Presley’s first
series. She called Dallas home for five years, starting in 1983. She played Bobby Ewing’s ex girlfriend.
TV History: The Waltons entered the record books as the longest family drama for nine years! Good night, John
Boy!
Tidbits:
Bosom Buddies is Tom Hanks’ first TV show. Ron Howard caught wind of Tom on that show and cast him in the lead of
Splash. Even since, Tom went on to a successful movie career. Hmm, whatever became of Tom’s costar? Peter Scolari found
success on Newhart in 1984. Tom and Peter were costars once again in the 2004 Tom Hanks movie, The Polar Express.
Just like Dallas, Dynasty wasn’t successful at first, till Alexis Carrington wrecked havoc next season. Alexis was
Blake’s ex wife and Krystle’s rival.
Too Close for Comfort’s Nancy Dussault was Good Morning America’s first female co-anchor with David Hartman.
Sandy Hill replaced her in 1977.
Nancy’s costar, Lydia Cornell, won the role of Sara Rush at age eighteen; she struggled with an eating disorder during
her time on Too Close for Comfort. Lydia’s great-great grandmother is Harriet Beecher Stowe, famed author of Uncle Tom's
Cabin.
Games People Play was Bryant Gumbel’s first series. Bryant went on to an excellent fifteen years run as a Today co-host,
starting in 1982. Matt Lauer replaced him in 1997.
John Forsythe sure knows how to rock the cradle. My God! He went from three beautiful angels to a beautiful teenager! The
Bachelor Father kissed his daughter’s friend. Somehow, they ended up in a Dynasty marriage.
John was not the original choice for Blake Carrington; it was George Peppard of The A-Team. George quit over differences
with the writers.
I just realized something about Michael Learned. Michael “learned” how to became a real woman! Oh, yeah!
Aloha Paradise was a rip off of The Love Boat by...the same producers! Oh, boy! Can't the producers think of something
ORIGINAL, instead of making a clone of their hit. Besides, the original is the best. You betcha!
Steven Bochco co–created Hill Street Blues. His ex wife, Barbara Bosson, played Fay Furillo, from 1981–1986.
NBC replaced The Midnight Special with SCTV Network 90 in May 1981. SCTV originally started in syndication in 1977 as Second
City TV. Even John Candy rejoined the network series; he was first on SCTV from 1977–1979.
1980/81 Fall Season
An actor’s strike delayed the 1980/81 Season.
One Season (1980/81)
Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters – 1980–1982, NBC, variety, Barbara Mandrell
Bosom Buddies – 1980–1982, ABC, comedy, Tom Hanks, Peter Scolari
Hill Street Blues – January 1981–1987, NBC, crime drama, Daniel J. Travanti, Dennis Franz, Michael Conrad
It’s A Living – 1980–1982, ABC, comedy, Ann Jillian
Magnum PI – 1980–1988, CBS, detective drama, Tom Selleck
NBC Magazine With David Brinkley – 1980–1982, NBC, newsmagazine, David Brinkley
Too Close For Comfort – 1980–1983, ABC, comedy, Ted Knight, Jim J. Bullock, Nancy Dussault
Cancelled TV Shows
Breaking Away – ABC, comedy, Shaun Cassidy, Vincent Gardenia
Enos – CBS, comedy, Sonny Shroyer, Samuel E. Wright
Freebie & The Bean – CBS, crime drama, Tom Mason, Hector Elizondo, William Daniels
Games People Play – NBC, sports, Bryant Gumbel
The Gangster Chronicles – NBC, drama, Joe Penny, Markie Post, Brian Benben
I’m A Big Girl Now – ABC, comedy, Diana Canova, Danny Thomas
Ladies’ Man – CBS, comedy, Lawrence Pressman
Marie – NBC, variety, Marie Osmond
Secrets Of Midland Heights – CBS, soap, Bibi Besch, Mark Pinter, Lorenzo Lamas, Linda Hamilton
Speak Up, America – NBC, human interest, Marjoe Gortner
Steve Allen Comedy Hour – NBC, variety, Steve Allen
Those Amazing Animals – ABC, animals, Priscilla Presley, Burgess Meredith
Walking Tall – NBC, crime drama, Bo Svenson
7 out of 20 new series SURVIVED for 1981/82
ABC – 3/6, Bosom Buddies, It’s A Living & Too Close
For Comfort
CBS – 1/5, Magnum PI
NBC – 3/9, Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters, The Facts
Of Life, Hill Street Blues & NBC Magazine With David Brinkley
Mid season shows
Dynasty – January 1981–1989, ABC, soap, John Forsythe, Linda Evans
Flamingo Road – January 1981–1982, NBC, soap, Morgan Fairchild, Howard Duff
The Greatest American Hero – March 1981–1983, ABC, adventure, William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca
Harper P.T.A. – January 1981–1982, NBC, comedy, Barbara Eden
Nurse – April 1981–1982, CBS, drama, Michael Learned, Robert Reed
Private Benjamin – April 1981–1983, CBS, comedy, Lorna Patterson
Two Of Us – April 1981–1982, CBS, comedy, Peter Cook, Mimi Kennedy
Cancelled Mid Season Shows
Aloha Paradise – ABC, comedy, Debbie Reynolds, Bill Daly
American Dream – ABC, drama, Stephen Macht
The Brady Brides – NBC, comedy, Maureen McCormick, Eve Plumb
Checking In – CBS, comedy, 4 episodes, Marla Gibbs, Liz Torres
Comedy Theater – NBC, comedy anthology, failed pilots
Concrete Cowboys – CBS, adventure, Jerry Reed
Darkroom – ABC, occult anthology, James Coburn
The Krypton Factor – ABC, quiz, 5 episodes, Dick Clark
Nero Wolfe – NBC, detective drama, William Conrad, Lee Horsley
Number 96 – NBC, soap, 6 episodes, Ellen Travolta
Park Place – CBS, comedy, 4 episodes, Harold Gould
Riker – CBS, crime drama, 5 episodes, Josh Taylor
Walking Tall – NBC, crime drama, Bo Svenson
Syndication
Solid Gold – 1980–1988, syndication, music, Dionne Warwick
Late Night
No Holds Barred – CBS, comedy/variety, Kelly Monteith
Two Seasons (1979/80)
Archie Bunker’s Place – 1979–1983, CBS, comedy
Benson – 1979–1986, ABC, comedy
Buck Rogers In 25th Century – 1979–1981, NBC, sci-fi
The Facts Of Life – August 1979–1988, NBC, comedy
Flo – March 1980–1981, CBS, comedy
Fridays – April 1980–1982, ABC, comedy/variety
Hart To Hart – 1979–1984, ABC, adventure
House Calls – December 1979–1982, CBS, comedy
Knots Landing – December 1979–1993, CBS, soap
Lobo – 1979–1981, NBC, comedy
Palmerston, U.S.A – March 1980–1981, drama
That’s Incredible – March 1980–1984, ABC, documentary
That’s My Line – summer of 1980, Feb–April 1981, CBS, comedy/variety
The Tim Conway Show – March 1980–1981, CBS, variety
240-Robert – 1979–1981, ABC, adventure
Walter Cronkite's Universe – July 1980–1982, CBS, science magazine
Three Season (1978/79)
B.J. & The Bear – February 1979–1981, NBC, adventure
Dance Fever – January 1979–1987, syndication, dance
Diff’rent Stokes – November 1978–1985, NBC; 1985/86, ABC, comedy
The Dukes Of Hazzard – January 1979–1985, CBS, comedy/adventure
Mork & Mindy –1978–1982, ABC, comedy
PM Magazine – 1978–1990, syndication, magazine
Real People – April 1979–1984, NBC, human interest
Taxi – 1978–1982, ABC; 1982/83, NBC, comedy
WKRP In Cincinnati – 1978–1982, CBS, comedy
The White Shadow – November 1978–1981, CBS, drama
Vega$ – 1978–1981, ABC, detective
Four Seasons (1977/78)
Chips – 1977–1983, NBC, crime drama
Dallas – April 1978–1991, CBS, soap
Family Feud – 1977–1985, syndication, quiz
Fantasy Island – January 1978–1984, ABC, romantic drama
The Incredible Hulk – March 1978–1982, CBS, adventure
Lou Grant – 1977–1982, CBS, drama
The Love Boat – 1977–1986, ABC, comedy
Second City TV – 1977–1981, syndication, comedy
Sha Na Na – 1977–1981, syndication, musical variety
Soap – 1977–1982, ABC, comedy
That's Hollywood – 1977–1982, syndication, documentary
20/20 – June 1978–present, ABC, newsmagazine
Five Seasons (1976/77)
Alice – 1976–1985, CBS, comedy
The Big Event – 1976–1981, NBC, various
Charlie’s Angels – 1976–1981, ABC, crime drama
Eight Is Enough – March 1977–1981, ABC, drama
In Search Of... – 1976–1982, syndication, documentary
The Joker's Wild – 1976–1986, syndication, quiz
The Muppet Show – 1976–1981, syndication, variety
Quincy, M.E. – 1976–1983, NBC, crime drama
Three’s Company – March 1977–1984, ABC, comedy
Six Seasons (1975/76)
Laverne & Shirley – January 1976–1983, ABC, comedy
Match Game P.M. – 1975–1982, syndication, game
Nashville On The Road – 1975–1983, syndication, music
One Day At A Time – December 1975–1984, ABC, comedy
Saturday Night Live – 1975–present, NBC, variety
Seven Seasons (1974/75)
Barney Miller – January 1975–1982, ABC, comedy
The Jeffersons – January 1975–1985, CBS, comedy
Little House On The Prairie – 1974–1983, NBC; drama
Pop! Goes The Country – 1974–1982, syndication, music
Eight Seasons (1973/74)
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert – 1973–1981, syndicated, music
Happy Days – January 1974–1984, ABC, comedy
The Tomorrow Show – 1973–1982, NBC, talk
Nine Seasons (1972/73)
M*A*S*H – 1972–1983,CBS, comedy
The Midnight Special – February 1973–1981, NBC, music
The Waltons – 1972–1981, CBS, drama
Eleven Seasons (1970/71)
Monday Night Football – 1970–2006, ABC, sports
That Good Ole Nashville Music – 1970–1985, syndication, music
Thirteen Seasons (1968/69)
Hee Haw – 1971–1993, syndication, variety
60 Minutes – 1968–present, CBS, newsmagazine
Fourteen Seasons (1967/68)
Wild Kingdom – 1971–1988, syndication, wildlife
Twenty Seasons (1961/62)
The David Susskind Show – 1961–1987, syndication, talk
Twenty seven Seasons (1954/55)
Disney’s Wonderful World – 1954–1983, anthology
The Lawrence Welk Show – 1971–1982, syndication, music
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – 1962–1992, NBC, talk/variety
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