Home | About Me | Each Season | Favorite Links | One Episode | TV Notes | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010

TV Seasons

1983

1983/84 – Dallas was #1 on CBS Friday.

Note: Any BOLD shows were cancelled in 1983 season; Mama’s Family was cancelled in the second season.

Anniversary:

The Jeffersons celebrated ten years on CBS. Moving on up did them very good.

The Tonight Show celebrated thirty years on NBC.

Biggest New Hit: Kate & Allie was #8 on CBS Monday. Best friends since childhood, divorcee and sharing the same apartment with their kids. With great friends like this, it was a great living arrangement for them.

British Ties: Oh Madeline was based on Pig In The Middle.

Daytime: Benson was on ABC weekdays from September 1983–June 1984.

Death: Jack Barry died from a heart attack in New York City on May 4, 1984. Bill Cullen replaced Jack on The Joker's Wild the following season.

First Run:

Fame returned to first run syndication after a year absence; it was previously on NBC.

The Paper Chase returned to cable TV network, Showtime, for three years. It was previous on CBS for the 1978/79 season.

Too Close For Comfort returned to syndication in January 1984. It was previously on ABC.

Local TV: Cowboys & Injuns was a Los Angeles local series, then it became a short-lived series on ABC Sundays at 6 PM. The last airing was December 31, 1950. Happy New Year!

Movies 2 TV:

Blue Thunder was based on the 1983 Roy Schneider movie. It was such a battle for the helicopters on TV in January 1984. NBC's Riptide was the first one to get off the ground, followed by ABC's Blue Thunder three days later. The much popular Airwolf blasted off three weeks later on CBS. Low and behold, here was a first. Two carbon copies outlasted the Original. JR Ewing shot Blue Thunder down; it crash landed into the ocean to their death in September 1984.Soon thereafter, Riptide grounded their helicopter for more standard detective series and Airwolf was the true remaining helicopter series on TV. Airwolf and Riptide were flying high few more seasons.

The Four Seasons was based on the 1981 Alan Alda written/directed movie. Jack Weston, Beatrice Alda and Elizabeth Alda reprised their roles for the series.

Name Change:

The American Parade to Crossroads in June 1984.

Monitor to First Camera.

The Return:

Kate Jackson returned in Scarecrow & Mrs. King after a four-year absence. She was previously one of the original Charlie’s Angeles in the later 1970’s. This time, she stayed the whole series run, just like The Rookies.

Chuck Connors finally got his gun back with a Yellow Rose. Boy, howdy! Man, what a creep he turned out to be. He served time for murder and was a illegitimate son. He wants what rightfully he deserves - his dead daddy's ranch. They better give him the ranch before he kills them all. He ain't kidding! He was one cowboy that shouldn't be mess around with.

Desi Arnaz, Jr. returned in Automan after a twelve-year absence. He was last seen on his mother's show, Here's Lucy.

Eye On Hollywood returned to ABC Late Night. It was previously seen on ABC prime time in 1983.

Showtime revived The Paper Chase under a new name, The Paper Chase: The Second Year. It last seen in 1978/1979 on CBS.

Reruns: NBC aired Father Murphy reruns for the summer.

Spin Off: AfterMASH is what happened after M*A*S*H! LOL All I could say, this spin off didn’t do quite well. I watched it few times as a kid; it wasn’t funny or interesting to watch. I much prefer M*A*S*H over this awful sequel any day of the week. Interest of note: I just learned that there was a second sequel pilot named W*A*L*T*E*R, starring Gary Burghoff AKA Radar O’Reilly, a newly police officer. Maybe, that pilot should have been made instead AfterMASH.

Tidbits:

Wheel Of Fortune begins a successful nighttime syndication run. Since then, it has been #1 for each season. There is no end in sight. It original started on NBC daytime with Chuck Woolery. Pat Sajak and Vanna White are best known for the syndication version.

Bette Davis, the famous movie star, was in the Hotel pilot. She supposed to recur as Laura Trent, the hotel owner, but she was too ill to continue in the role. Laura showed up in the premiere, left Victoria in charge and went on an extended trip.

Cinemax picked up the cancelled NBC series, SCTV, for the last season. Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy and Martin Short were the only regulars on Cinemax.

Steve Martin produced Domestic Life. NBC turned the series down and CBS picked it up.

Webster was too criticized for being a “carbon copy” of Diff’rent Strokes. Both shows have dead parents, black kids in white family, small kid actors, and you get the picture. In due time, Webster won us all over with his smile and funny laugh. You gotta to love that cute kid.

Mr. Smith – OMG! What kind of monkey business is this? A talking orangutan was helping to run Washington! Dead lord! What’s next? Oh, yeah, I forgot. The monkeys already run Washington. Why can’t they banana split and let real educated people to take over? This non-talking orangutan was better off with Clint Eastwood; he was much loved to be Clint’s funny sidekick in the movies. They were both any which way you can and every which way but loose. Hey, maybe, Tarzan would give him another shot.

What a dirty shame! Lottery didn't work out for Ben & Marshall. Ben gives the money away and greedy Marshall took the money away. Oops, I mean, the money for the taxes. Hey, Ben, the next time, look for me and pretty please give me $25 million bucks. For sure, I will watch other people win the money on the Lottery! Thanks, buddy! Marshall, don't call me. My people would call you. Yeah, right! I don't want your greedy hands on my million bucks. Then again, I may end up like Richard Hatch from Survivor! Me, bad!

 

1983/84 Fall Season

One Season (1983/84)

AfterMASH – 1983–1985, CBS, comedy, Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr

Hardcastle & McCormick 1983–1986, ABC, detective/adventure, Brian Keith, Daniel Hugh-Kelly

Hotel – 1983–1988, ABC, drama, James Brolin, Connie Sellecca

Scarecrow & Mrs. King – 1983–1987, CBS, adventure, Bruce Boxleitner, Kate Jackson

Webster – 1983–1987, ABC, 1987/88 in Syndication, comedy, Emmanuel Lewis, Susan Clark

 

Cancelled Shows

Bay City Blues – NBC, drama, Dennis Franz, Ken Olin, Sharon Stone

Boone – NBC, drama, Tom Byrd

Cutter To Houston – CBS, drama, Alec Baldwin

Emerald Point N.A.S. – CBS, drama, Dennis Weaver, Sela Ward, Susan Dey

For Love & Honor – NBC, drama, Keenen Ivory Wayans

It’s Not Easy – ABC, comedy, Ken Howard, Billy Jacoby

Jennifer Slept Here – NBC, comedy, Ann Jillian, John P. Navin, Jr., Glenn Scarpelli

Just Our Luck – ABC, comedy, T.K. Carter

Lottery – ABC, dramatic anthology, Ben Murphy, Marshall Colt

Manimal – NBC, crime drama/fantasy, Simon MacCorkindale

Mr. Smith – NBC, comedy, Leonard Frey

Oh, Madeline – ABC, comedy, Madeline Kahn

The Rousters – NBC, adventure, Chad Everett, Jim Varney

Trauma Center – ABC, drama, James Naughton, Wendie Malick

We Got It Made – NBC, comedy, Teri Copley, Tom Villard

Whiz Kids – CBS, detective/adventure, A Martinez, Todd Porter

The Yellow Rose – NBC, soap, Cybill Shepherd, Chuck Connors

 

5 out 0f 22 new series SURVIVED for 1984/85

ABC – 3/8, Hardcastle & McCormick, Hotel & Webster

CBS – 2/5, AfterMASH & Scarecrow & Mrs. King

NBC – 0/9,

 

Mid Season Shows

Airwolf – January 1984–1986, CBS, adventure, Jan-Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine

Double Trouble – April 1984–1985, NBC, comedy, Jean Sagal, Liz Sagal

Foul Ups, Bleeps & Blunders – January 1984–1985, ABC, comedy, Don Rickles, Steve Lawrence

Kate & Allie – March 1984–1989, CBS, comedy, Susan Saint James, Jane Curtin

Mike Hammer – January 1984–1986, CBS, detective drama, Stacy Keach

Night Court – January 1984–1992, NBC, comedy, Harry Anderson, John Larroquette

Riptide – January 1984–1986, NBC, detective drama, Perry King, Joe Penny

TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes – January 1984–1986, NBC, comedy, Dick Clark, Ed McMahon

 

Cancelled Mid Season Shows

A.K.A. Pablo – ABC, comedy, Paul Rodriguez

The American Parade – CBS, magazine, Charles Kuralt

Automan – ABC, police/sci fi, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Robert Lansing

Blue Thunder – ABC, crime drama, Dana Carvey

Comedy Zone – CBS, comedy, 4 episodes, Mark Linn–Baker

Domestic Life – CBS, comedy, Martin Mull

The Duck Factory – NBC, comedy, Jim Carrey

Empire – CBS, comedy, 5 episodes, Dennis Dugan

The Four Seasons – CBS, comedy, Barbara Babcock

Legmen – NBC, detective drama, Bruce Greenwood

Mama Malone – CBS, comedy, Lila Kaye

Masquerade – ABC, foreign intrigue, Kirstie Alley, Greg Evigan

The Master – NBC, adventure/drama, Lee Van Cleef

The New Show – NBC, comedy variety, Dave Thomas

Shaping Up – ABC, comedy, 5 episodes, Leslie Nielsen

Summer Sunday U.S.A – NBC, newsmagazine, LIVE, Andrea Mitchell

Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs – CBS, comedy, 6 episodes, Suzanne Pleshette

 

Cable

Church Street Station – March 1984–1987, TNN, music

Cover Story – March 1984–1989, USA, interview

You Can Be A Star – 1983–1989, TNN, talent, Jim Ed Brown

 

Syndication

Fame – 1983–1987, syndication, drama, Debbie Allen, Billy Hufsey

Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous – January 1984–1996, syndication, magazine, Robin Leach

Love Connection – 1983–1995, Syndication – weekdays, game, Chuck Woolery

On Stage America – syndication, variety/magazine, Steve Edwards

Star Search – 1983–1995, Syndication, talent, Ed McMahon

This Week In Country Music – 1983–1987, syndication, magazine, Lorianne Crook, Charlie Chase

Too Close For Comfort – January 1984–1985, syndication; comedy, Ted Knight

Wheel Of Fortune – 1983–present, syndication, game, Pat Sajak, Vanna White

 

Late Night

Eye On Hollywood – February 1984–1986, ABC, magazine, Chuck Henry

Friday Night Videos – 1983–2000, NBC, music

Thicke Of The Night – syndication, talk/variety, Alan Thicke

 

Two Seasons (1982/83)

The A Team – January 1983–1987, NBC, adventure

At The Movies – 1982–1990, syndication, commentary

Buffalo Bill – May 1983–1984, NBC, comedy

Cheers – 1982–1993, NBC, comedy

Family Ties – 1982–1989, NBC, comedy

First Camera – March 1983–1984, NBC, newsmagazine

Fraggle Rock – January 1983–1987, HBO, puppets

Goodnight, Beantown – April 1983–1984, CBS, comedy

Knight Rider – 1982–1986, NBC, adventure

Lorne Greene's New Wilderness – 1982–1986, syndication, wildlife/nature

Mama’s Family – January 1983–1984, NBC, comedy

Matt Houston – 1982–1985, ABC, detective drama

The Mississippi – March 1983–1984, CBS, drama

Nashville Now – March 1983–1993, TNN, talk/variety, LIVE

Newhart – 1982–1990, CBS, comedy

The Paper Chase – February 1983–1986, Showtime, drama

Remington Steele – 1982–1987, NBC, detective drama

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not – 1982–1986, CBS, variety

St. Elsewhere – 1982–1988, NBC, drama

Silver Spoons – 1982–1986, NBC, comedy

Two Marriages – August 1983–1984, ABC, drama

 

Three Seasons (1981/82)

Cagney & Lacey – March 1982–1988, CBS, crime drama

Entertainment Tonight – 1981–present, syndication, news/gossip

Fall Guy – 1981–1986, ABC, adventure

Falcon Crest – 1981–1990, CBS, soap

Gimme A Break – 1981–1987, NBC, comedy

Late Night With David Letterman – February 1982–1993, NBC, talk

9 to 5 – March 1982–1984, ABC, comedy

The People's Court – 1981–1993, syndication, courtroom

Simon & Simon – Nov 1981–1989, CBS, detective drama

TJ Hooker – March 1982–1987, ABC, crime drama

 

Four Seasons (1980/81)

Dynasty – January 1981–1989, ABC, soap

Hill Street Blues – January 1981–1987, NBC, crime drama

Magnum P.I. – Dec 1980–1988, CBS, detective drama

Solid Gold – 1980–1988, syndication, music

 

Five Seasons (1979/80)

Benson – 1979–1986, ABC, comedy

The Facts Of Life – August 1979–1988, NBC, comedy

Knots Landing – December 1979–1993, CBS, soap

Hart To Hart – 1979–1984, ABC, adventure

That’s Incredible – March 1980–1984, ABC, documentary

Trapper John MD – 1979–1986, CBS, drama

 

Six Seasons (1978/79)

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

PM Magazine – 1978–1990, syndication, magazine

Real People – April 1979–1984, NBC, human interest

 

Seven Seasons (1977/78)

Dallas – April 1978–1991, ABC, soap

Family Feud – 1977–1985, syndication, quiz

Fantasy Island – January 1978–1984, ABC, romantic drama

The Love Boat – 1977–1986, ABC, comedy

SCTV – 1983–1984, Cinemax, comedy

20/20 – June 1978–present, ABC, newsmagazine

 

Eight Seasons (1976/77)

Alice – 1976–1985, CBS, comedy

The Joker's Wild – 1976–1986, syndication, quiz

Three’s Company – March 1977–1984, ABC, comedy

 

Nine Seasons (1975/76)

One Day At A Time – December 1975–1984, ABC, comedy

Saturday Night Live – 1975–present, NBC, variety

 

Ten Seasons (1974/75)

The Jeffersons – January 1975–1985, CBS, comedy

 

Eleven Years (1973/74)

Happy Days – January 1974–1984, ABC, comedy

 

Fourteen Seasons (1970/71)

Monday Night Football, 1970–2006, ABC, sports

That Good Ole Nashville Music – 1970–1985, syndication, music

 

Sixteen Seasons (1968/69)

Hee Haw – 1971–1993, syndication, variety

60 Minutes – 1968–present, CBS, newsmagazine

 

Seventeen Seasons (1967/68)

Wild Kingdom – 1971–1988, syndication, wildlife

 

Twenty three Seasons (1961/62)

The David Susskind Show – 1961–1987, syndication, talk

 

Thirty Seasons (1954/55)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – 1962–1992, NBC, talk/variety

 

Copyright © 2006 Kazz Falcon.  All rights reserved.
Any reproduction, duplication, or distribution in any form is expressly prohibited.
 
TV Seasons.......unlike any blog and web site you NEVER EVER read.