TV GUIDE SPECIAL, THE 3RD ANNUAL: 1981 -- THE YEAR IN TELEVISION (TV)
Summary
This retrospective of the 1981 television season includes clips from the year's television programs, as well as highlights from previous years. Clips from the first half include the following: Robert Stack in "The Untouchables" and "Strike Force"; James Garner in "Maverick" and "Bret Maverick"; James Arness in "Gunsmoke" and "McClain's Law"; Tony Randall in "Mr. Peepers" and "Love, Sidney"; President Jimmy Carter; Vice President Walter Mondale; the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan; First Lady Nancy Reagan; Prince Charles and Princess Diana; Tony Geary and Genie Francis as Luke and Laura on the daytime drama "General Hospital"; tennis player John McEnroe at Wimbledon; "Donahue," featuring a telephone conversation between guest Rita Jenrette and her estranged husband, Rep. John Jenrette (D-S.C.), convicted in the "Abscam" bribery trial; Tom Snyder's interview of Charles Manson on "Tomorrow Coast to Coast"; baseball manager Dallas Green of the Philadelphia Phillies; and Andy Kaufman on "Fridays." A review of 1981 made-for-TV movies features clips from "Kent State"; "The Patricia Neal Story"; "Skokie," with Danny Kaye; "Of Mice and Men"; "Bill" with Mickey Rooney; and "Sophisticated Gents." Also included are clips from the television shows "Taxi," featuring cast members Judd Hirsch, Danny De Vito, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman, Marilu Henner, and Christopher Lloyd; "Broadway Open House," with Jerry Lester; "The Tonight Show," featuring Steve Allen, Jack Paar, the Smothers Brothers, and Johnny Carson; "The Joey Bishop Show"; "The Merv Griffin Show"; "The Dick Cavett Show"; "Saturday Night Live"; "Fridays"; "SCTV Network"; and "ABC News Nightline," with Ted Koppel. The second part of the retrospective stars Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Morgan Fairchild, Pamela Sue Martin, Donna Mills, Sarah Purcell, Pam Dawber, and Bob Hope, with guest Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver, Jr., former NBC president. Highlights include an interview with Walter Cronkite; a review of Weaver's career in the television industry, the program shows clips from "The Colgate Comedy Hour," with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis; "Your Show of Shows"; Dave Garroway; and Mary Martin in "Peter Pan" (with a clip from the 1960 version, erroneously identified as the 1955 version). Clips are also shown from the following television programs: "Quiz Kids," with Norman Lear; "Heather & Annie," with guest Deborah Harry of the rock group Blondie; "Reggie Jackson: World of Sports"; "Omni: The New Frontier"; "Real People"; "Donahue"; "Please Don't Hit Me Mom"; "The Body Human: Facts for Girls," with Marlo Thomas; "Schoolhouse Rock"; and "Project Peacock." Also included are clips from the 1981 made-for-TV movies "She's in the Army Now," "Miracle On Ice," "Evita Peron" with Faye Dunaway, "A Whale for the Killing," "The Bunker," "The Best Little Girl in the World," and "Coward of the County"; and news clips of President Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, and the assassination of President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: February 8, 1982 Monday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:28:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T85:0409
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Television history; Entertainers
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1982
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jay S. Harris … Executive Producer
- Ken Ehrlich … Executive Producer, Writer
- Stan Harris … Producer, Director
- Lenny Stack … Music (Misc. Credits), Musical Director
- Lee Remick … Host
- Guillaume, Robert (Robert Williams) … Host
- Dick Cavett … Host
- James Coburn … Host
- Telly Savalas … Host
- Howard Hesseman … Host
- Steve Allen
- James Arness
- Basie, William "Count"
- Joey Bishop
- Johnny Carson
- Jimmy Carter
- Charles, Prince of Wales
- Walter Cronkite
- Tony Danza
- Pam Dawber
- De Vito, Danny
- Diana, Princess of Wales (See also: Spencer, Diana)
- Phil Donahue
- Faye Dunaway
- Morgan Fairchild
- Genie Francis
- James Garner
- Dave Garroway
- Tony Geary
- Dallas Green
- Merv Griffin
- Harry, Deborah (See also: Harry, Debbie)
- Marilu Henner
- Judd Hirsch
- Bob Hope
- Reggie Jackson
- John Jenrette
- Rita Jenrette
- John Paul II, Pope (Karol Wojtyla)
- Andy Kaufman
- Danny Kaye
- Ted Koppel
- Norman Lear
- Jerry Lester
- Jerry Lewis
- Christopher Lloyd
- Charles Manson
- Dean Martin
- Pamela Sue Martin
- John McEnroe
- Donna Mills
- Walter Mondale
- Jack Paar
- Sarah Purcell
- Tony Randall
- Nancy Reagan
- Ronald Reagan
- Mickey Rooney
- Anwar el- Sadat
- Frank Sinatra
- Smothers Brothers, The
- Tom Snyder
- Robert Stack
- Marlo Thomas
- Weaver, Sylvester L. "Pat," Jr.
- Wylleen May … Associate Producer