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On this page, we'll take you back 20 years,
to the fall of 1980. America was holding its breath, waiting to find
out who shot J.R., and network execs were holding their breath hoping
for an end to the actors' strike that ended up delaying the start
of the new season. |
The Network
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ABC:
Slogan:
"You & Me & ABC"
CBS:
Slogan:
"Looking Good Together"
NBC:
Slogan:
"Proud As A Peacock"
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CBS was riding high, having recaptured its dominance from ABC at
the end of the seventies. "Dallas," "The Dukes of Hazzard," and
a string of sitcoms like "Alice," "The Jeffersons," and "MASH,"
were among the Top 20 shows of the previous season. ABC was waning,
but keeping afloat with "Eight is Enough," "Taxi," "Charlie's Angels,"
and the hit reality series "That's Incredible!" NBC had some success
with its own reality series "Real People," but was otherwise struggling
to regain the dominance it once had.
Among the notable series making their debuts in the fall of 1980
were the police drama "Hill Street Blues," "Bosom Buddies" featuring
a young Tom Hanks, "Too Close For Comfort" starring Ted Knight,
and "Magnum, P.I." starring Tom Selleck. "Happy Days" started its
eighth season without its main character, as actor Ron Howard left
the show. And among the series slated for a midseason debut was
"Dynasty," ABC's answer to CBS's popular "Dallas."
In late night, the dominate "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
was reduced from 90 to 60 minutes, with "The Tomorrow Show"
with Tom Snyder taking up the slack and expanding to 90 minutes.
David Letterman was struggling with his NBC morning show, "The David
Letterman Show," which ended up being cancelled in October.
The season would end with a still dominate CBS, leading the way
with the #1 hit "Dallas." ABC, while riding high aboard "The Love
Boat," saw the beginning of the slide for such hits as "Three's
Company" and "Happy Days." NBC would still have to wait a few years
to regain dominance, but started its slow climb as "Diff'rent Strokes"
helped paved the way.
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