TV Guide, Northern Alabama edition--cover, Fall Preview of 1982-83 season
NOTE: Only broadcast stations are covered in this schedule; the cable networks have been omitted. Listings are through 5 a.m. Channels in parentheses were originally designated by black bullets; those in brackets by white.
Birmingham, Alabama:
(6) WBRC (ABC)--now FOX affiliate
(10) WBIQ (PBS)*
(13) WVTM (NBC)
(21) WTTO (Ind.)--now CW affiliate
(42) WBMG (CBS)--now WIAT
Huntsville, Alabama:
(19) WHNT (CBS)
(25) WHIQ (PBS)*
(31) WAAY (ABC)
(48) WAFF (NBC)
Anniston, Alabama:
(40) WHMA (CBS)--now WJSU, an ABC affiliate
Cheaha State Park, Alabama:
(7) WCIQ (PBS)*
Florence, Alabama:
(15) WOWL (NBC)--now WHDF, a CW affiliate
(36) WFIQ (PBS)*
Tuscaloosa, Alabama:
(33) WCFT (CBS)--now ABC affiliate
Columbus, Mississippi:
(4) WCBI (CBS)
Tupelo, Mississippi:
(9) WTVA (NBC, ABC secondary)--no longer carries ABC
Nashville, Tennessee:
[2] WNGE (ABC)--now WKRN
[4] WSMV (NBC)
[5] WTVF (CBS)
*--translator relay of Alabama Public Television
***NIGHTLY SHOWS***
7:00
(7) (10) (25) (36) MacNeil/Lehrer Report
(21) Hawaii Five-O--rerun
10:00
(4) WCBI News
[4] WSMV News
[5] WTVF News
(9) WTVA News
(13) WVTM News
(15) WOWL News
(19) WHNT News
(33) WCFT News
(40) WHMA News
(42) Beverly Hillbillies--WBMG was the lone holdout on news for network affils in this edition; the station did not have a news operation at this time
(48) WAFF News
10:30
[4] (9) (15) (48) Tonight Show
(7) (10) (25) (36) Captioned ABC News--"World News Tonight" from earlier in the evening for hearing-impaired viewers
(13) M*A*S*H--rerun
11:00
(13) Jeffersons
11:30
(13) Tonight Show--one-hour delay
***MONDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (6) (31) That's Incredible!--apparently had been on hiatus; listing said "Return"
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) Private Benjamin--so-so adaptation of 1980 Goldie Hawn movie; Lorna Patterson played title role
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Little House on the Prairie
(19) Billy Graham Crusade--"False Expectations of Youth"
7:30
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) WKRP in Cincinnati--next-to-last episode
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy--PBS talk show aimed at older adults
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Monday Night Football--Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) M*A*S*H
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Movie--"Murder in Texas," 1981 TV-movie (part one)
(7) (10) (25) (36) Great Performances--"Guests of the Nation"
(21) Movie--"Sylvia," 1965
8:30
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) House Calls--final episode
9:00
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Lou Grant--controversial show about a newspaper aired its last episode, ending a turbulent five-year run
(7) (10) (25) (36) Tonight, Scandinavia!--classical music and opera special
10:30
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Trapper John, M.D.--CBS rerun
[5] Sanford and Son
10:45
(21) Movie--"Never Say Goodbye," 1956
11:00
[2] WNGE News
[5] Quincy--CBS rerun of NBC Glen Larson mystery series
(6) WBRC News
(31) WAAY News
11:30
[2] Rex Dockery: Football--Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) coach's show
[4] (9) (15) (48) Late Night with David Letterman--despite the show's rising popularity, WAFF dropped it the following year to run televangelist Jimmy Swaggart's daily show; ABC affil WAAY picked it up for awhile until about 1987--unknown when WVTM in Birmingham got on board, either
(6) Starsky and Hutch--crime drama rerun
(31) Nightline--Ted Koppel, anchor
11:40
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Columbo--famed 1970s whodunnit (actually a "howhedunnit") in CBS rerun
12:00 a.m.
[2] Entertainment Tonight
(31) Jeffersons
12:10
[5] Columbo--different episode than 11:40 p.m.; probably tape-delayed a week
12:30
[2] Nightline
[4] CNN Headline News--aired for remainder of overnight hours
(6) Baretta--rerun of rough 1975-78 crime drama
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight--low-rated experimental hour-long news show that had a cult following; Lloyd Dobyns, Linda Ellerbee, anchors
(31) WAAY News
1:00
[2] Charlie Horse--VERY short-lived syndie effort by Minneapolis-St. Paul radio personality Charlie Bush to capitalize on the retro 1950s TV fad; showed episodes of the likes of "My Little Margie," interspersed with drive-time radio-like gags; ran about a month, probably as a schedule gap filler before the beginning of the TV season
1:30
(6) Bonanza--rerun
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
2:00
(13) WVTM News
2:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Entertainment Tonight--rebroadcast from 6 p.m.
3:00
[2] Face to Face--possibly local public affairs
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***TUESDAY***
7:00
[2] Soap World: A Special Preview--teaser for upcoming syndicated soap opera talk show
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) Walter Cronkite's Universe--last episode of short-run series about science hosted by the retired CBS newscaster
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Father Murphy--Merlin Olsen starred in this knock-off of "Little House on the Prairie"
(6) (31) Happy Days
(19) Billy Graham Crusade--"The Power of the Cross"
7:30
[2] (6) (31) Laverne and Shirley--about this time, Cindy Williams left the show (it was no longer a big ratings draw by this point, anyway)
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) Movie--"Moonlight," 1982 TV-movie
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Three's Company--critically-bashed but wildly popular sitcom
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Movie--"Murder in Texas," 1981 TV-movie (part two)
(7) (10) (25) (36) National Geographic Special--"Gorilla"
(19) To be announced
(21) Movie--"Fancy Pants," 1950
8:30
[2] (6) (31) Too Close for Comfort--boarding-house-themed sitcom that ran for three seasons on NBC and three in syndication, a formula that later worked for "Mama's Family"
9:00
[2] (6) (31) Hart to Hart
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) CBS Reports--documentary examination of tobacco industry
(7) (10) (25) (36) Mystery!--"Segreant Cribb"
10:00
[2] WNGE News
(6) WBRC News
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
(21) Twilight Zone--"you are about to enter ..."
(31) WAAY News
10:30
[2] M*A*S*H
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Quincy
[5] (6) Sanford and Son (different episodes)
(21) Movie--"The Outsider," 1961
(31) Nightline
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
[5] Alice--CBS rerun
(6) Benny Hill--bawdy British antics
(31) Fantasy Island--ABC rerun
11:30
[2] Nightline
[4] (9) (15) (48) Late Night with David Letterman
(6) Starsky and Hutch
11:35
[5] McCloud--CBS rerun
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
12:05
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) McMillan and Wife--CBS rerun
12:10
(31) WAAY News
12:30
[4] CNN Headline News
(6) Baretta
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
1:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Bonanza
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
1:40
[5] WTVF News
2:00
[2] Anne Holt at Large--local public affairs
2:30
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***WEDNESDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (6) (31) The Phoenix--short-run sci-fi show (final episode)
(4) [5] (33) (40) CBS News Special--"Perspective: Counting the Enemy in Vietnam," a panel discussion of the documentary aired in January, "The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception," that prompted General William Westmoreland to sue CBS (for info, see http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/U/htmlU/uncountedene/uncountedene.htm)
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Real People--but for escapists, there was always this show
(19) Billy Graham Crusade--sermon topic: God's mercy
(42) Discover: the World of Science--syndicated (WBMG apparently opting out of the CBS controversy above--may have also been reason WHNT scheduled the Billy Graham Crusade for this week)
7:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Fall Guy--the last leg of Lee Majors' ABC trifecta; plenty of roughhousing and fist-fights to please grade-schoolers everywhere
(4) [5] (19) (33) (42) Movie--"Firepower," 1979
[4] (9) (13) (15) Facts of Life--a rare spinoff sitcom that actually outperformed and outlasted its parent show, "Diff'rent Strokes"
(7) (10) (25) (36) Live from Lincoln Center--peformers, Leontyne Price, Zubin Mehta, New York Philharmonic
(21) Movie--"Sunset Boulevard," 1950
(40) Great American Sing-a-Long--syndicated special hosted by Steve Allen featuring pop and country singers
(48) America at Play--apparently syndicated variety show (those were still around???)
8:30
[4] (9) (13) (15) Love, Sidney--pioneering sitcom with Tony Randall playing a gay male lead (WAFF may have passed on this show due to that--although the smaller markets in the edition carried it--???)
9:00
[2] (6) (31) Dynasty--ah, the days of decadence and glitz in primetime
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Quincy--standard crime drama with Jack Klugman
10:00
[2] WNGE News
(6) WBRC News
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
(31) WAAY News
10:15
(21) Twilight Zone
10:30
[2] M*A*S*H
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Archie Bunker's Place--CBS rerun
[5] (6) Sanford and Son
(31) Nightline
10:45
(21) Movie--"Romanoff and Juliet," 1961
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
[5] Movie--"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," 1977 (CBS)
(6) Benny Hill
(31) Love Boat--ABC rerun
11:05
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Movie--"The Betsy," 1978
11:30
[2] Nightline
(6) Starsky and Hutch
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
12:10
(31) WAAY News
12:30
[4] CNN Headline News
(6) Baretta
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
1:10
[5] WTVF News
1:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Bonanza
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
2:00
(13) WVTM News
2:30
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***THURSDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (31) Joanie Loves Chachi (no comment--!)
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Magnum, P.I.--hot action/adventure show
[4] Discover: The World of Science--same episode as 7 p.m. Wednesday on WBMG
(6) Sanford and Son (aired in place of the normal 10:30 p.m. slot--see below)
(9) (13) (15) (48) Fame--another of the critics' fave and cult shows of the 1980s
7:30
[2] (6) (31) NFL Football Special--Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills (probably the same commentators as "Monday Night Football")
(7) (10) (25) (36) This Old House--Bob Vila was still host
8:00
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Simon and Simon--Jameson Parker and Gerald McRaney in this light-hearted private-eye piece driven by the lead characters' (brothers) clashing personalities
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Gimme a Break--a/k/a "My Three Daughters"
(7) (10) (25) (36) Sneak Previews--about movies, of course
(21) Movie--"Paris When It Sizzles," 1964
8:30
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Teachers Only--two-season sitcom starring Lynn Redgrave and packaged by Johnny Carson
(7) (10) (25) (36) Uptown and Country--travelogue about state of Alabama
9:00
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Knots Landing--this primetime soap seemed like it would NEVER die; ran through parts of three decades
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Hill Street Blues--this lauded MTM-packaged drama was starting to gain ratings steam
(7) (10) (25) (36) Bluegrass Block--half-hour traditional country-music show produced by University of Alabama Television
9:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Montage--African-American-oriented public affairs show produced by Alabama A&M University in Huntsville
10:00
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
10:15
(21) Twilight Zone
10:30
[2] WNGE News
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Quincy
[5] Sanford and Son
(6) WBRC News
(31) WAAY News
10:45
(21) Movie--"The Shrike," 1955
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
[5] McMillan and Wife--CBS rerun
(6) Benny Hill
(31) Nightline
11:30
[2] Nightline
[4] (9) (15) (48) Late Night with David Letterman
(31) Jeffersons
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
(31) WAAY News
12:05
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) McCloud
12:30
[4] CNN Headline News
(6) Baretta
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
12:40
[5] WTVF News
1:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Bonanza
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
2:00
(13) WVTM News
2:30
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***FRIDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (6) (31) Miss Piggy--the porcine puppet gets her own special, headlined by John Ritter and George Hamilton
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Dukes of Hazzard--back in those days, some attributed the decline of Western civilization to this show; maybe the Johnny Knoxville 2005 movie remake proved them right (!)
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Powers of Matthew Star--debut of one-season teen-oriented sci-fi show
7:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Greatest American Hero--superhero spoof better known for its theme song, a 1981 top-10 hit
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Dallas--was still riding the soap tidal wave
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Martian Chronicles--even Rock Hudson did sci-fi (part two of three)
(7) (10) (25) (36) Washington Week in Review
(21) Movie--"Sword of Lancelot," English; 1962
8:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Wall Street Week
9:00
[2] (6) (31) Strike Force--Robert Stack in this rough-'em-up show about a special LAPD unit
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Falcon Crest--Jane Wyman left behind the chance to become First Lady for this? (!!!)
(7) (10) (25) (36) Hard Choices--medical documentary
10:00
[2] WNGE News
(6) WBRC News
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
(21) Twilight Zone
(31) WAAY News
10:30
[2] M*A*S*H
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) "Hardhat and Legs," 1980 TV-movie (CBS)
[5] Rockford Files--James Garner getting it done, one case and stiffed payment at a time
(6) Sanford and Son
(21) Movie--rebroadcast from 8 p.m.
(31) Nightline
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
(6) Benny Hill
(31) Fridays--ABC's slipshod attempt to ape "Saturday Night Live;" it didn't fly
11:30
[2] Nightline
[4] (9) (15) SCTV Network--legendary Canadian spoof of the TV business; launched several comedic careers, like "SNL"
[5] Movie--to be announced
(6) Starsky and Hutch
(48) Saturday Night--60-minute edited syndie reruns of "SNL" (WAFF probably didn't want to stay on until 1 for "SCTV" and pay the control-room people an extra half-hour)
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
12:30
(6) Laugh-Trax--syndie flop that tried to mix Top 40 music with stand-up routines
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(21) Movie--"Bonzo Goes to College," 1952
(31) Movie--"A Time for Love," 1972
1:00
[4] CNN Headline News
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
1:30
[2] Dance Fever--long-running Merv Griffin-packaged competition
[5] WTVF News
(6) Bonanza
2:00
[2] WNGE News
(9) Movie--"A Southern Yankee," 1948
(15) WOWL News
2:10
(31) WAAY News
2:30
[2] Movie--"Nicholas and Alexandra," English; 1971
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Rifleman--rerun
(9) Movie--"Never the Twain Shall Meet," 1931
4:00
(6) Six Million Dollar Man--rerun of 1974-78 ABC action/adventure series
4:50
(9) Movie--"Surrounded by Women," 1937
NOTE: Only broadcast stations are covered in this schedule; the cable networks have been omitted. Listings are through 5 a.m. Channels in parentheses were originally designated by black bullets; those in brackets by white.
Birmingham, Alabama:
(6) WBRC (ABC)--now FOX affiliate
(10) WBIQ (PBS)*
(13) WVTM (NBC)
(21) WTTO (Ind.)--now CW affiliate
(42) WBMG (CBS)--now WIAT
Huntsville, Alabama:
(19) WHNT (CBS)
(25) WHIQ (PBS)*
(31) WAAY (ABC)
(48) WAFF (NBC)
Anniston, Alabama:
(40) WHMA (CBS)--now WJSU, an ABC affiliate
Cheaha State Park, Alabama:
(7) WCIQ (PBS)*
Florence, Alabama:
(15) WOWL (NBC)--now WHDF, a CW affiliate
(36) WFIQ (PBS)*
Tuscaloosa, Alabama:
(33) WCFT (CBS)--now ABC affiliate
Columbus, Mississippi:
(4) WCBI (CBS)
Tupelo, Mississippi:
(9) WTVA (NBC, ABC secondary)--no longer carries ABC
Nashville, Tennessee:
[2] WNGE (ABC)--now WKRN
[4] WSMV (NBC)
[5] WTVF (CBS)
*--translator relay of Alabama Public Television
***NIGHTLY SHOWS***
7:00
(7) (10) (25) (36) MacNeil/Lehrer Report
(21) Hawaii Five-O--rerun
10:00
(4) WCBI News
[4] WSMV News
[5] WTVF News
(9) WTVA News
(13) WVTM News
(15) WOWL News
(19) WHNT News
(33) WCFT News
(40) WHMA News
(42) Beverly Hillbillies--WBMG was the lone holdout on news for network affils in this edition; the station did not have a news operation at this time
(48) WAFF News
10:30
[4] (9) (15) (48) Tonight Show
(7) (10) (25) (36) Captioned ABC News--"World News Tonight" from earlier in the evening for hearing-impaired viewers
(13) M*A*S*H--rerun
11:00
(13) Jeffersons
11:30
(13) Tonight Show--one-hour delay
***MONDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (6) (31) That's Incredible!--apparently had been on hiatus; listing said "Return"
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) Private Benjamin--so-so adaptation of 1980 Goldie Hawn movie; Lorna Patterson played title role
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Little House on the Prairie
(19) Billy Graham Crusade--"False Expectations of Youth"
7:30
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) WKRP in Cincinnati--next-to-last episode
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy--PBS talk show aimed at older adults
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Monday Night Football--Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) M*A*S*H
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Movie--"Murder in Texas," 1981 TV-movie (part one)
(7) (10) (25) (36) Great Performances--"Guests of the Nation"
(21) Movie--"Sylvia," 1965
8:30
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) House Calls--final episode
9:00
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Lou Grant--controversial show about a newspaper aired its last episode, ending a turbulent five-year run
(7) (10) (25) (36) Tonight, Scandinavia!--classical music and opera special
10:30
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Trapper John, M.D.--CBS rerun
[5] Sanford and Son
10:45
(21) Movie--"Never Say Goodbye," 1956
11:00
[2] WNGE News
[5] Quincy--CBS rerun of NBC Glen Larson mystery series
(6) WBRC News
(31) WAAY News
11:30
[2] Rex Dockery: Football--Memphis State University (now University of Memphis) coach's show
[4] (9) (15) (48) Late Night with David Letterman--despite the show's rising popularity, WAFF dropped it the following year to run televangelist Jimmy Swaggart's daily show; ABC affil WAAY picked it up for awhile until about 1987--unknown when WVTM in Birmingham got on board, either
(6) Starsky and Hutch--crime drama rerun
(31) Nightline--Ted Koppel, anchor
11:40
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Columbo--famed 1970s whodunnit (actually a "howhedunnit") in CBS rerun
12:00 a.m.
[2] Entertainment Tonight
(31) Jeffersons
12:10
[5] Columbo--different episode than 11:40 p.m.; probably tape-delayed a week
12:30
[2] Nightline
[4] CNN Headline News--aired for remainder of overnight hours
(6) Baretta--rerun of rough 1975-78 crime drama
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight--low-rated experimental hour-long news show that had a cult following; Lloyd Dobyns, Linda Ellerbee, anchors
(31) WAAY News
1:00
[2] Charlie Horse--VERY short-lived syndie effort by Minneapolis-St. Paul radio personality Charlie Bush to capitalize on the retro 1950s TV fad; showed episodes of the likes of "My Little Margie," interspersed with drive-time radio-like gags; ran about a month, probably as a schedule gap filler before the beginning of the TV season
1:30
(6) Bonanza--rerun
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
2:00
(13) WVTM News
2:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Entertainment Tonight--rebroadcast from 6 p.m.
3:00
[2] Face to Face--possibly local public affairs
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***TUESDAY***
7:00
[2] Soap World: A Special Preview--teaser for upcoming syndicated soap opera talk show
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) Walter Cronkite's Universe--last episode of short-run series about science hosted by the retired CBS newscaster
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Father Murphy--Merlin Olsen starred in this knock-off of "Little House on the Prairie"
(6) (31) Happy Days
(19) Billy Graham Crusade--"The Power of the Cross"
7:30
[2] (6) (31) Laverne and Shirley--about this time, Cindy Williams left the show (it was no longer a big ratings draw by this point, anyway)
(4) [5] (33) (40) (42) Movie--"Moonlight," 1982 TV-movie
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Three's Company--critically-bashed but wildly popular sitcom
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Movie--"Murder in Texas," 1981 TV-movie (part two)
(7) (10) (25) (36) National Geographic Special--"Gorilla"
(19) To be announced
(21) Movie--"Fancy Pants," 1950
8:30
[2] (6) (31) Too Close for Comfort--boarding-house-themed sitcom that ran for three seasons on NBC and three in syndication, a formula that later worked for "Mama's Family"
9:00
[2] (6) (31) Hart to Hart
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) CBS Reports--documentary examination of tobacco industry
(7) (10) (25) (36) Mystery!--"Segreant Cribb"
10:00
[2] WNGE News
(6) WBRC News
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
(21) Twilight Zone--"you are about to enter ..."
(31) WAAY News
10:30
[2] M*A*S*H
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Quincy
[5] (6) Sanford and Son (different episodes)
(21) Movie--"The Outsider," 1961
(31) Nightline
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
[5] Alice--CBS rerun
(6) Benny Hill--bawdy British antics
(31) Fantasy Island--ABC rerun
11:30
[2] Nightline
[4] (9) (15) (48) Late Night with David Letterman
(6) Starsky and Hutch
11:35
[5] McCloud--CBS rerun
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
12:05
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) McMillan and Wife--CBS rerun
12:10
(31) WAAY News
12:30
[4] CNN Headline News
(6) Baretta
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
1:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Bonanza
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
1:40
[5] WTVF News
2:00
[2] Anne Holt at Large--local public affairs
2:30
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***WEDNESDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (6) (31) The Phoenix--short-run sci-fi show (final episode)
(4) [5] (33) (40) CBS News Special--"Perspective: Counting the Enemy in Vietnam," a panel discussion of the documentary aired in January, "The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception," that prompted General William Westmoreland to sue CBS (for info, see http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/U/htmlU/uncountedene/uncountedene.htm)
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Real People--but for escapists, there was always this show
(19) Billy Graham Crusade--sermon topic: God's mercy
(42) Discover: the World of Science--syndicated (WBMG apparently opting out of the CBS controversy above--may have also been reason WHNT scheduled the Billy Graham Crusade for this week)
7:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Fall Guy--the last leg of Lee Majors' ABC trifecta; plenty of roughhousing and fist-fights to please grade-schoolers everywhere
(4) [5] (19) (33) (42) Movie--"Firepower," 1979
[4] (9) (13) (15) Facts of Life--a rare spinoff sitcom that actually outperformed and outlasted its parent show, "Diff'rent Strokes"
(7) (10) (25) (36) Live from Lincoln Center--peformers, Leontyne Price, Zubin Mehta, New York Philharmonic
(21) Movie--"Sunset Boulevard," 1950
(40) Great American Sing-a-Long--syndicated special hosted by Steve Allen featuring pop and country singers
(48) America at Play--apparently syndicated variety show (those were still around???)
8:30
[4] (9) (13) (15) Love, Sidney--pioneering sitcom with Tony Randall playing a gay male lead (WAFF may have passed on this show due to that--although the smaller markets in the edition carried it--???)
9:00
[2] (6) (31) Dynasty--ah, the days of decadence and glitz in primetime
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Quincy--standard crime drama with Jack Klugman
10:00
[2] WNGE News
(6) WBRC News
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
(31) WAAY News
10:15
(21) Twilight Zone
10:30
[2] M*A*S*H
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Archie Bunker's Place--CBS rerun
[5] (6) Sanford and Son
(31) Nightline
10:45
(21) Movie--"Romanoff and Juliet," 1961
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
[5] Movie--"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," 1977 (CBS)
(6) Benny Hill
(31) Love Boat--ABC rerun
11:05
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Movie--"The Betsy," 1978
11:30
[2] Nightline
(6) Starsky and Hutch
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
12:10
(31) WAAY News
12:30
[4] CNN Headline News
(6) Baretta
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
1:10
[5] WTVF News
1:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Bonanza
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
2:00
(13) WVTM News
2:30
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***THURSDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (31) Joanie Loves Chachi (no comment--!)
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Magnum, P.I.--hot action/adventure show
[4] Discover: The World of Science--same episode as 7 p.m. Wednesday on WBMG
(6) Sanford and Son (aired in place of the normal 10:30 p.m. slot--see below)
(9) (13) (15) (48) Fame--another of the critics' fave and cult shows of the 1980s
7:30
[2] (6) (31) NFL Football Special--Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills (probably the same commentators as "Monday Night Football")
(7) (10) (25) (36) This Old House--Bob Vila was still host
8:00
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Simon and Simon--Jameson Parker and Gerald McRaney in this light-hearted private-eye piece driven by the lead characters' (brothers) clashing personalities
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Gimme a Break--a/k/a "My Three Daughters"
(7) (10) (25) (36) Sneak Previews--about movies, of course
(21) Movie--"Paris When It Sizzles," 1964
8:30
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Teachers Only--two-season sitcom starring Lynn Redgrave and packaged by Johnny Carson
(7) (10) (25) (36) Uptown and Country--travelogue about state of Alabama
9:00
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Knots Landing--this primetime soap seemed like it would NEVER die; ran through parts of three decades
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Hill Street Blues--this lauded MTM-packaged drama was starting to gain ratings steam
(7) (10) (25) (36) Bluegrass Block--half-hour traditional country-music show produced by University of Alabama Television
9:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Montage--African-American-oriented public affairs show produced by Alabama A&M University in Huntsville
10:00
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
10:15
(21) Twilight Zone
10:30
[2] WNGE News
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) Quincy
[5] Sanford and Son
(6) WBRC News
(31) WAAY News
10:45
(21) Movie--"The Shrike," 1955
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
[5] McMillan and Wife--CBS rerun
(6) Benny Hill
(31) Nightline
11:30
[2] Nightline
[4] (9) (15) (48) Late Night with David Letterman
(31) Jeffersons
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
(31) WAAY News
12:05
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) McCloud
12:30
[4] CNN Headline News
(6) Baretta
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
12:40
[5] WTVF News
1:30
[2] WNGE News
(6) Bonanza
(9) WTVA News
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(15) WOWL News
2:00
(13) WVTM News
2:30
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Jim Bakker
4:30
(6) Jimmy Swaggart
***FRIDAY***
EVENING
7:00
[2] (6) (31) Miss Piggy--the porcine puppet gets her own special, headlined by John Ritter and George Hamilton
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Dukes of Hazzard--back in those days, some attributed the decline of Western civilization to this show; maybe the Johnny Knoxville 2005 movie remake proved them right (!)
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Powers of Matthew Star--debut of one-season teen-oriented sci-fi show
7:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Over Easy
8:00
[2] (6) (31) Greatest American Hero--superhero spoof better known for its theme song, a 1981 top-10 hit
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Dallas--was still riding the soap tidal wave
[4] (9) (13) (15) (48) Martian Chronicles--even Rock Hudson did sci-fi (part two of three)
(7) (10) (25) (36) Washington Week in Review
(21) Movie--"Sword of Lancelot," English; 1962
8:30
(7) (10) (25) (36) Wall Street Week
9:00
[2] (6) (31) Strike Force--Robert Stack in this rough-'em-up show about a special LAPD unit
(4) [5] (19) (33) (40) (42) Falcon Crest--Jane Wyman left behind the chance to become First Lady for this? (!!!)
(7) (10) (25) (36) Hard Choices--medical documentary
10:00
[2] WNGE News
(6) WBRC News
(7) (10) (25) (36) Dick Cavett
(21) Twilight Zone
(31) WAAY News
10:30
[2] M*A*S*H
(4) (19) (33) (40) (42) "Hardhat and Legs," 1980 TV-movie (CBS)
[5] Rockford Files--James Garner getting it done, one case and stiffed payment at a time
(6) Sanford and Son
(21) Movie--rebroadcast from 8 p.m.
(31) Nightline
11:00
[2] Entertainment Tonight
(6) Benny Hill
(31) Fridays--ABC's slipshod attempt to ape "Saturday Night Live;" it didn't fly
11:30
[2] Nightline
[4] (9) (15) SCTV Network--legendary Canadian spoof of the TV business; launched several comedic careers, like "SNL"
[5] Movie--to be announced
(6) Starsky and Hutch
(48) Saturday Night--60-minute edited syndie reruns of "SNL" (WAFF probably didn't want to stay on until 1 for "SCTV" and pay the control-room people an extra half-hour)
12:00 a.m.
[2] Charlie Horse
12:30
(6) Laugh-Trax--syndie flop that tried to mix Top 40 music with stand-up routines
(13) Mary Tyler Moore
(21) Movie--"Bonzo Goes to College," 1952
(31) Movie--"A Time for Love," 1972
1:00
[4] CNN Headline News
(9) (13) (15) NBC News Overnight
1:30
[2] Dance Fever--long-running Merv Griffin-packaged competition
[5] WTVF News
(6) Bonanza
2:00
[2] WNGE News
(9) Movie--"A Southern Yankee," 1948
(15) WOWL News
2:10
(31) WAAY News
2:30
[2] Movie--"Nicholas and Alexandra," English; 1971
(6) Entertainment Tonight
3:00
(6) WBRC News
3:30
(6) Rifleman--rerun
(9) Movie--"Never the Twain Shall Meet," 1931
4:00
(6) Six Million Dollar Man--rerun of 1974-78 ABC action/adventure series
4:50
(9) Movie--"Surrounded by Women," 1937
