What's on TV? Thursday, February 9, 1984

I still find it hard to comprehend that 1984 was 35 years ago; some of you out there will look at these shows as every bit as deserving of the "classic" moniker as the shows from the '50s and '60s. It could be just me, or it could be this particular night of the week, but I have to admit that aside from Hill Street Blues and Cheers, none of these network shows strike me as being "classic." And yet, as I mention below, for the cable stations, WGN and USA in particular (but also ESPN, TBS, and CNN, for starters), this looks like the glory days compared to the way they are now. To each his own, I suppose. This week's listings come from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

	2  KTCA (PBS)
	MORNING
	5:45	A.M. WEATHER
	6AM	COLLEGE FOR WORKING ADULTS
	6:30	NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT
	7AM	CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
	7:30	MISTER ROGERS—Children
	8AM	SESAME STREET (CC)—Children
	9AM	ELECTRIC COMPANY—Children
	9:30	3-2-1 CONTACT (CC)—Children
	10AM	REBOP—Children
	10:30	LAP QULITING WITH GEORGIA BONESTEEL—Instruction
	11AM	WOODWRIGHT’S SHOP—Instruction
	11:30	SESAME STREET (CC)—Children
	AFTERNOON
	12:30	MISTER ROGERS—Children
	1PM	MOVIE—Crime Drama BW  “Blackmail” (English; 1929)
	2:30	WORD INTO IMAGE—Documentary
	3PM	OVER EASY (CC) Guest: Bel Kaufman
	3:30	MISTER ROGERS—Children
	4PM	SESAME STREET (CC)—Children
	5PM	3-2-1 CONTACT (CC)--Children
	5:30	NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT
	EVENING
	6PM	MacNEIL, LEHRER NEWSHOUR
	7PM	NIGHTTIMES, WITH GARY GILSON
	8PM	SNEAK PREVIEWS—Movie Reviews
	8:30	MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS
	9PM	MYSTERY! (CC) “Reilly, Ace of Spies” Part 4
	10PM	GOOD NEIGHBORS—Comedy
	10:30	TO THE MANOR BORN—Comedy
	11PM	SEEING THINGS
	12AM	LATENIGHT AMERICA—Wholey Guest: Mark Russell

I've always been a fan of Mark Russell and his political satire; it's certainly got an edge to it, but it's bipartisan, and it's not mean-spirited. Today's comics could take a cue or two from him.

	4  WCCO (CBS)
	MORNING
	5AM	NEWS
	5:30	CBS NEWS—Kurtis/Sawyer
	8AM	PHIL DONAHUE
	9AM	HOUR MAGAZINE Guests: John James, June L. Shiplett
	10AM	PRICE IS RIGHT—Game
	11AM	YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS—Serial
	AFTERNOON
	12PM	NOON REPORT
	12:30	AS THE WORLD TURNS—Serial
	1:30	CAPITOL—Serial
	2PM	GUIDING LIGHT—Serial
	3PM	TATTLETALES—Game Guests: Melody Thomas, Eric Braeden, Deborah Mullowney
	3:30	WHEEL OF FORTUNE—Game
	4PM	BREAKAWAY—Magazine
	5PM	NEWS
	5:30	CBS NEWS—Dan Rather
	EVENING
	6PM	NEWS
	6:30	PM MAGAZINE Guests: Christopher Atkins, Linda Gray
	7PM	MAGNUM, P.I.—Crime Drama
	8PM	SIMON & SIMON—Crime Drama
	9PM	KNOTS LANDING
	10PM	NEWS
	10:30	JEFFERSONS (CC)—Comedy
	11PM	TRAPPER JOHN, M.D.
	12:10	MOVIE—Drama “…And Your Name is Jonah” (Made for TV; 1979)
	1:30	CBS NEWS

Capitol was a soap opera set in Washington, in the world of politics. You may think it went off the air years ago, but in fact it just changed channels. Instead of CBS, it's now on C-SPAN.

	5  KSTP (ABC)
	MORNING
	5AM	FILM
	5:30	HEALTH FIELD
	6AM	NEWS
	7AM	GOOD MORNING AMERICA—Hartman/Lunden
	9AM	FAMILY—Drama
	10AM	BENSON
	10:30	LOVING—Serial
	11AM	FAMILY FEUD—Game
	11:30	RYAN’S HOPE—Serial
	AFTERNOON
	12PM	ALL MY CHILDREN—Serial
	1PM	ONE LIFE TO LIVE—Serial
	2PM	GENERAL HOSPITAL—Serial
	3PM	GOOD COMPANY—Variety
	4PM	HAPPY DAYS AGAIN
	4:30	EYEWITNESS AFTERNOON
	5PM	NEWS
	5:30	ABC NEWS (CC)—Peter Jennings
	EVENING
	6PM	NEWS
	6:30	ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT Guest: Walter Cronkite
	7PM	XIV WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES
	10PM	NEWS
	10:30	XIV WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES UPDATE
	11PM	NIGHTLINE—Ted Koppel
	11:30	MOVIE—Biography BW  “Man of a Thousand Faces” (1957)
	1:50	MOVIE—Drama BW  “Dangerous” (1935)
	3:25	MOVIE—Comedy BW  “Half Shot at Sunrise” (1930)

Tonight's Olympic coverage was to feature one of the glamour events of any Olympiad: the men's downhill. However, due to weather, the race was postponed for a week; when it eventually was run, the winner was American Bill Johnson. 

	9  KMSP (Ind.)
	MORNING
	5AM	NEWS
	5:30	JIMMY SWAGGART—Religion
	6AM	GARY RANDALL—Religion
	6:30	:20 MINUTE WORKOUT—Exercises
	7AM	SUPERFRIENDS—Cartoon
	7:30	TOM AND JERRY—Cartoon
	8AM	FLINTSTONES—Cartoons
	8:30	GREAT SPACE COASTER—Children
	9AM	GILLIGAN’S ISLAND
	9:30	MORNING STRETCH—Exercise
	10AM	WOMAN TO WOMAN—Discussion
	11AM	BIG VALLEY—Western
	AFTERNOON
	12PM	NEWS
	1PM	LOVE CONNECTION
	1:30	JOKER’S WILD—Game
	2PM	TIC TAC DOUGH—Game
	2:30	WOODY WOODPECKER—Cartoon
	3PM	SCOOBY DOO—Cartoon
	3:30	HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE—Cartoon
	4PM	LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
	5PM	LOVE BOAT—Comedy
	EVENING
	6PM	TAXI—Comedy
	6:30	PEOPLE’S COURT (CC)
	7PM	COLLEGE BASKETBALL Minnesota at Ohio State
	9PM	NEWS
	10PM	TAXI—Comedy
	10:30	ROCKFORD FILES—Crime Drama
	11:30	TOP 40 VIDEOS
	12AM	THICKE OF THE NIGHT Guests: Sarah Purcell, Bob Paris, Wally George, Bill Champlain
	1:30	MOVIE—Thriller “Scream of the Wolf” (Made for TV; 1974)
	3AM	MOVIE—Science Fiction BW  “Night Caller from Outer Space” (English; 1965)
	4:30	MUNSTERS—Comedy BW

Boy, remember Thicke of the Night? It really stands out here, because neither ABC nor CBS have gotten into the late night talk show business yet. It's preceded by Top 40 Videos; for you youngsters out there, there used to be an entire channel devoted to showing those things.

	11 WTCN (NBC)
	MORNING
	5AM	COURTSHIP OF EDDIE’S FATHER—Comedy/Dramma
	5:30	MY THREE SONS—Comedy
	6AM	AG-DAY
	6:30	NBC NEWS—John Dancy
	7AM	TODAY—Gumbel/Chung Guest: Sylvester Stallone
	9AM	FACTS OF LIFE
	9:30	SALE OF THE CENTURY—Game
	10AM	WHEEL OF FORTUNE—Game
	10:30	DREAM HOUSE—Game
	11AM	MARY TYLER MOORE—Comedy
	11:30	SEARCH FOR TOMORROW—Serial
	AFTERNOON
	12PM	DAYS OF OUR LIVES—Serial
	1PM	ANOTHER WORLD—Serial
	2PM	MATCH GAME-HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
	3PM	LAVERNE & SHIRLEY & COMPANY—Comedy
	3:30	ALICE—Comedy
	4PM	ONE DAY AT A TIME—Comedy
	4:30	THREE’S COMPANY—Comedy
	5PM	NEWSCOPE
	5:30	NEWS
	EVENING
	6PM	NBC NEWS—Tom Brokaw
	6:30	FAMILY FEUD—Game
	7PM	GIMMIE A BREAK!
	7:30	FAMILY TIES
	8PM	CHEERS
	8:30	BUFFALO BILL
	9PM	HILL STREET BLUES—Crime Drama
	10PM	NEWS
	10:35	M*A*S*H
	11:05	TONIGHT Guests: Tony Bennett, Lee Van Cleef
	12:05	LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN Guest: Steve Martin
	1:05	NEWS
	1:40	CELEBRITY CRUSADE FOR LIFE
	2:40	MOVIE—Drama “Secrets” (Made for TV; 1977)
	4:30	MARY TYLER MOORE—Comedy

Like Happy Days Again, Laverne & Shirley & Friends is called that because it's still in first-run on the network; therefore, it had to have an alternate title in syndication. Somehow, I don't think most people noticed the difference.

	17 KTCI (PBS)
	AFTERNOON
	5PM	SESAME STREET (CC)—Children
	EVENING
	6PM	NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT
	6:30	OVER EASY (CC)
	7PM	MASTERPIECE THEATRE (CC)
	8PM	MacNEIL, LEHRER NEWSHOUR
	9PM	SNEAK PREVIEWS
	9:30	ENTERPRISE (CC)—Documentary
	10PM	MYSTERY! (CC)
	11PM	LAWMAKERS
	11:30	TONY BROWN’S JOURNAL

KTCI was always been something of an enigma; sometimes it served as an outlet for PBS programming that didn't air on the big station, KTCA, while at other times it simply rebroadcast shows that had been on Channel 2 earlier. This is one of those latter times, and it's also before KTCI had a full broadcasting schedule.

	29 WFBT (Ind.)
	MORNING
	6AM	JIM BAKKER—Religion
	7AM	BREAKFAST WITH CASEY JONES
	8AM	INSPECTOR GADGET—Cartoon
	8:30	D. JAMES KENNEDY—Religion
	9AM	700 CLUB—Religion
	10:30	JIMMY SWAGGART—Religion
	11AM	JIM BAKKER—Religion
	AFTERNOON
	12PM	REJOICE—Danny Koker
	12:30	ANOTHER LIFE—Serial
	1PM	THAT GIRL—Comedy
	1:30	MERV GRIFFIN Guest: Gary Coleman
	2:30	TREASURE HUNT—Game
	3PM	FAMILY AFFAIR—Comedy
	3:30	INSPECTOR GADGET—Cartoon
	4PM	LONE RANGER—Western BW
	4:30	F TROOP—Comedy BW
	5PM	GET SMART!—Comedy
	5:30	DICK VAN DYKE—Comedy BW
	EVENING
	6PM	ADAM-12—Crime Drama
	6:30	700 CLUB—Religion
	8PM	JIM BAKKER—Religion
	9PM	SPORTS MAGAZINE
	9:30	SILENT SERVICE—Drama BW
	10PM	REJOICE—Danny Koker
	10:30	EMERGENCY!—Drama
	11:30	MOVIE—Mystery BW  “Mr. Wong, Detective” (1938)

WFBT (which is now WFTC) stood for "Family Bible Television;" hence, the religious programming, combined with wholesome classic television. It went through several other iterations, including one as the Twin Cities' Fox affiliate; today, it's an "affiliate" of MyNetwork.

	41 KXLI (St. Cloud) (Ind.)
	MORNING
	6AM	BIZNET NEWS
	8AM	CARTOON CARNIVAL
	8:30	MUPPET SHOW—Variety
	9AM	DANIEL BOONE—Adventure
	10AM	STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO—Crime Drama
	11AM	HAWAII FIVE-O—Crime Drama
	AFTERNOON
	12PM	FNN FINANCIAL NEWS
	1PM	MILLIONAIRE—Drama BW
	1:30	BURNS AND ALLEN—Comedy BW
	2PM	OUR MISS BROOKS BW
	2:30	ANDY GRIFFITH—Comedy BW
	3PM	BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
	3:30	MY FAVORITE MARTIAN—Comedy
	4PM	INSPECTOR GADGET—Cartoon
	4:30	HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE—Cartoon
	5PM	LEAVE IT TO BEAVER BW
	5:30	TWILIGHT ZONE—Drama BW
	EVENING
	6PM	M*A*S*H
	6:30	WKRP IN CINCINNATI—Comedy
	7PM	FAMILY—Drama
	8PM	COLLEGE BASKETBALL Notre Dame vs. Rutgers
	10PM	COLLEGE BASKETBALL Arizona State at Washington
	12AM	FNN FINANCIAL NEWS

KXLI was the original "TV Heaven," specializing in classic TV programs, theme nights, and marathons. It sounds ideal, but KXLI also faced frequent financial challenges. I believe this is from its modified TV Heaven era, when it had a significant number of classic shows, combined with a heavy college sports schedule.

	USA
	MORNING
	5AM	WRESTLING
	6AM	CARTOON EXPRESS
	7AM	CALLIOPE—Children
	8AM	ALIVE & WELL! Guest: Jessie White
	10:30	GREAT AMERICAN HOMEMAKER
	11AM	MOVIE—Drama BW  “Miss Annie Rooney” (1942)
	AFTERNOON
	1PM	SONYA—Discussion Guest: James Coco
	2PM	ALIVE & WELL! Guest: Jessie White
	4PM	HOT SPOTS—Music
	5PM	CARTOON EXPRESS
	EVENING
	6PM	RADIO 1990—Lisa Robinson
	6:30	DRAGNET—Crime Drama
	7PM	NBA BASKETBALL Seattle at Indiana
	9:30	COLLEGE BASKETBALL Texas El Paso at San Diego State [Joined in Progress]
	11PM	PICK THE PROS—Discussion
	11:30	SPORTS PROBE
	12AM	1984 OLYMPIC GAMES PREVIEW
	12:30	NBA BASKETBALL Seattle at Indiana, taped earlier tonight
	3AM	WRESTLING
	4AM	MOVIE—Drama BW  “The Mark” (English; 1961)

I know USA is still in the original programming business, but I was surprised to see how much like a regular broadcast network they were at this point. Besides the sports that always marked USA, they have Alive & Well, Sonya, cartoons, and some older movies. In other words, they were more than just an outlet for endless reruns of NCIS.

	WGN
	MORNING
	5AM	CHICO AND THE MAN—Comedy
	5:30	FAITH 20—Religion
	6AM	TOP O’ THE MORNING
	6:30	MUPPET SHOW—Variety
	7AM	BOZO—Children
	8:30	BEVERLY HILLBILLIES
	9AM	MOVIE—Drama BW  “The Tarnished Angels” (1957)
	AFTERNOON
	12PM	NEWS
	1PM	RHODA—Comedy
	1:30	ANDY GRIFFITH—Comedy BW
	2:30	ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS—Cartoon
	3PM	SUPERFRIENDS—Cartoon
	3:30	SCOOBY DOO—Cartoon
	4PM	CHARLIE’S ANGELS
	5PM	ONE DAY AT A TIME—Comedy
	5:30	WKRP IN CINCINNATI—Comedy
	EVENING
	6PM	BARNEY MILLER—Comedy
	6:30	JEFFERSONS (CC)—Comedy
	7PM	INCREDIBLE HULK
	8PM	COLLEGE BASKETBALL Notre Dame vs. Rutgers
	10PM	NEWS
	10:30	INN NEWS—Bosh/Harper
	11PM	TWILIGHT ZONE—Drama BW
	11:30	MOVIE—Drama “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972)
	2AM	INN NEWS—Bosh/Harper
	2:30	ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN
	3AM	MOVIE—Drama “Then Came Bronson” (Made for TV; 1969)

This is the classic WGN I remember; the one that would have had Cubs baseball in the summer, Bozo in the morning, and local news. Now it's virtually a clone of cable networks such as—well, USA.  TV