1 00:00:01,517 --> 00:00:04,965 ♪ 2 00:00:05,068 --> 00:00:07,862 Jensen: It's a time of enormous turmoil. 3 00:00:07,965 --> 00:00:08,758 Shut up in here. 4 00:00:08,862 --> 00:00:10,103 The '60s are over Dad. 5 00:00:10,206 --> 00:00:12,758 Durham: Here's Michael at the foul line, a shot on Ehlo. 6 00:00:12,862 --> 00:00:13,724 - Good! - Yeah! 7 00:00:13,827 --> 00:00:15,068 Ha-ha! 8 00:00:15,172 --> 00:00:17,241 Turner: We intend to cover all the news all the time. 9 00:00:17,344 --> 00:00:20,000 We won't be signing off until the world ends. 10 00:00:20,103 --> 00:00:21,655 Isn't that special? 11 00:00:21,758 --> 00:00:25,068 Any tool for human expression will bring out the best 12 00:00:25,172 --> 00:00:27,551 and the worst in us, and television has been that. 13 00:00:27,655 --> 00:00:29,758 They don't pay me enough to deal with animals like this. 14 00:00:29,862 --> 00:00:33,034 People are no longer embarrassed to admit they watch television. 15 00:00:33,137 --> 00:00:35,758 We have seen the news and it is us. 16 00:00:35,862 --> 00:00:38,896 ♪ 17 00:01:28,310 --> 00:01:32,586 Clark: Slowly but surely, the 1970s are disappearing. 18 00:01:32,689 --> 00:01:36,206 The 1980s will be upon us. 19 00:01:36,310 --> 00:01:38,448 What a decade it is coming up. 20 00:01:42,586 --> 00:01:45,448 Happy new year! 21 00:01:45,551 --> 00:01:46,758 [ Cheers and applause ] 22 00:01:46,862 --> 00:01:49,344 Auletta: As you begin the '80s in the television world, 23 00:01:49,448 --> 00:01:52,172 the landscape was, on any given evening, 24 00:01:52,275 --> 00:01:56,172 9 out of 10 people were watching only one of three networks. 25 00:01:56,275 --> 00:01:59,413 More than 30 million people are addicted to it. 26 00:01:59,517 --> 00:02:02,620 Social critics are mystified by its success. 27 00:02:02,724 --> 00:02:03,655 What is it? 28 00:02:03,758 --> 00:02:05,517 It's television's prime-time, 29 00:02:05,620 --> 00:02:07,689 prairie pot boiler, "Dallas." 30 00:02:07,793 --> 00:02:10,724 Bobby: A move like that will destroy all of Ewing Oil, 31 00:02:10,827 --> 00:02:12,172 and it'll ruin our family name. 32 00:02:12,275 --> 00:02:14,931 I assure you, a thought like that never crossed my mind. 33 00:02:15,034 --> 00:02:17,034 Brother or no brother, whatever it takes, 34 00:02:17,137 --> 00:02:19,068 I'll stop you from destroying Ewing Oil. 35 00:02:19,172 --> 00:02:20,862 "Dallas" really did establish new ground 36 00:02:20,965 --> 00:02:23,103 in terms of the weekly, one hour show 37 00:02:23,206 --> 00:02:26,655 that literally captivated America for 13 years. 38 00:02:26,758 --> 00:02:29,517 "Dallas" is a television show which in some ways is rooted 39 00:02:29,620 --> 00:02:32,103 in the 1970's and one of the crazy things 40 00:02:32,206 --> 00:02:37,137 that emerges is this character, J.R. Ewing as a pop phenomenon. 41 00:02:37,241 --> 00:02:39,827 Tell me, J.R., which slut are you gonna stay with tonight? 42 00:02:39,931 --> 00:02:41,000 What difference does it make? 43 00:02:41,103 --> 00:02:42,586 Whoever it is it's got to be more interesting 44 00:02:42,689 --> 00:02:44,344 than the slut I'm looking at right now. 45 00:02:44,448 --> 00:02:47,517 Levine: He was such a delicious villain. 46 00:02:47,620 --> 00:02:52,344 Everyone was completely enamored by this character. 47 00:02:52,448 --> 00:02:55,172 Bianculli: At this point so many people were watching television 48 00:02:55,275 --> 00:02:57,896 that you could do something so unexpected 49 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,137 that it would become news overnight. 50 00:03:00,241 --> 00:03:03,551 Who's there? 51 00:03:04,689 --> 00:03:06,034 [ Gunshot ] 52 00:03:06,137 --> 00:03:06,862 [ Groans ] 53 00:03:06,965 --> 00:03:09,068 [ Gunshot ] 54 00:03:09,172 --> 00:03:11,793 [ Gasping ] 55 00:03:11,896 --> 00:03:17,275 The national obsession in 1980 around who shot J.R. 56 00:03:17,379 --> 00:03:19,724 It's hard to imagine how obsessed we all were 57 00:03:19,827 --> 00:03:22,724 with that question, but we were. 58 00:03:22,827 --> 00:03:25,862 Who shot J.R. is about as ideal a cliffhanger 59 00:03:25,965 --> 00:03:27,689 as you possibly could get. 60 00:03:27,793 --> 00:03:28,896 Brokaw: Who did shoot J.R.? 61 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,689 We may never get the answer to that question. 62 00:03:30,793 --> 00:03:32,965 I mean, the people who produced that program are gonna keep us 63 00:03:33,068 --> 00:03:35,206 in suspense for as long as they possibly can. 64 00:03:35,310 --> 00:03:38,448 Duffy: We shot J.R. and then we broke for the summer. 65 00:03:38,551 --> 00:03:39,793 Then coincidentally, 66 00:03:39,896 --> 00:03:43,827 the actors went on strike and it delayed the resolution. 67 00:03:43,931 --> 00:03:46,793 And it just started to percolate through the world. 68 00:03:46,896 --> 00:03:51,034 I remember going on vacation to England that summer 69 00:03:51,137 --> 00:03:53,896 and that's all that people were talking about there. 70 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:55,275 Lovejoy: Well we know you don't die. 71 00:03:55,379 --> 00:03:56,448 I mean, you couldn't die? 72 00:03:56,551 --> 00:03:57,448 You don't know that. 73 00:03:57,551 --> 00:03:58,413 Well, how could you die? 74 00:03:58,517 --> 00:03:59,379 You couldn't come back next season. 75 00:03:59,482 --> 00:04:00,620 That's what I mean. 76 00:04:00,724 --> 00:04:02,965 I couldn't come back, but the show could still go. 77 00:04:03,068 --> 00:04:04,689 Oh, but you wouldn't? 78 00:04:04,793 --> 00:04:06,655 What is that show without J.R.? 79 00:04:06,758 --> 00:04:08,206 Well, that's what I figure. [ Chuckles ] 80 00:04:08,310 --> 00:04:11,344 Well, I guess if you don't know by now who shot J.R., 81 00:04:11,448 --> 00:04:12,827 you probably do not care. 82 00:04:12,931 --> 00:04:15,413 But last night, some 82 million Americans did 83 00:04:15,517 --> 00:04:18,137 and they watched the much-touted "Dallas" episode. 84 00:04:18,241 --> 00:04:21,103 It could become the most watched television show ever. 85 00:04:22,689 --> 00:04:25,758 Troy: Who shot J.R. is a reflection of old-fashioned television. 86 00:04:25,862 --> 00:04:27,724 It's a moment that gathers everybody around 87 00:04:27,827 --> 00:04:31,620 the electronic fireplace, which is now the television set. 88 00:04:31,724 --> 00:04:34,034 Now, about one special American television program, 89 00:04:34,137 --> 00:04:36,724 a critic said it transcends in popularity 90 00:04:36,827 --> 00:04:39,034 every other American statement about war. 91 00:04:39,137 --> 00:04:41,172 And something special happened today 92 00:04:41,275 --> 00:04:44,241 to Mobile Army Surgical Hospital 4077 93 00:04:44,344 --> 00:04:46,448 that will touch millions of Americans. 94 00:04:46,551 --> 00:04:49,068 Bowen: It was the kind of an event that would draw the world's press. 95 00:04:49,172 --> 00:04:51,724 Stage nine, 20th Century Fox Studios, 96 00:04:51,827 --> 00:04:53,551 the end of the Korean War-- 97 00:04:53,655 --> 00:04:54,896 The television version, "M.A.S.H." 98 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,275 O'Houlihan: It's been an honor and a privilege 99 00:04:57,379 --> 00:04:59,137 to have worked with you. 100 00:04:59,241 --> 00:05:03,448 And I'm very, very proud to have known you. 101 00:05:03,551 --> 00:05:06,620 Hart: There were those landmark times 102 00:05:06,724 --> 00:05:08,379 when shows that had been watched 103 00:05:08,482 --> 00:05:12,482 through the '70s and into the '80s, like "M.A.S.H.," 104 00:05:12,586 --> 00:05:14,034 had its final episode. 105 00:05:14,137 --> 00:05:16,103 And were all sad to see them go. 106 00:05:16,206 --> 00:05:18,310 I'll miss you. 107 00:05:18,413 --> 00:05:20,517 I'll miss you. A lot. 108 00:05:22,068 --> 00:05:23,517 Naversen: All over the country, 109 00:05:23,620 --> 00:05:26,310 armies of fans crowded around television sets 110 00:05:26,413 --> 00:05:30,172 to watch the final episode and to bid "M.A.S.H." farewell. 111 00:05:30,275 --> 00:05:34,206 Levine: The finale of "M.A.S.H." was unprecedented. 112 00:05:34,310 --> 00:05:37,931 123 million people 113 00:05:38,034 --> 00:05:42,241 watched one television program at the same time. 114 00:05:42,344 --> 00:05:44,689 You know, I really should be allowed to go home. 115 00:05:44,793 --> 00:05:46,068 There's nothing wrong with me. 116 00:05:46,172 --> 00:05:48,344 When we ended the show, 117 00:05:48,448 --> 00:05:50,655 we got telegrams of congratulations 118 00:05:50,758 --> 00:05:54,206 from Henry Kissinger and Ronald Reagan. 119 00:05:54,310 --> 00:05:56,758 The size of the response 120 00:05:56,862 --> 00:05:59,034 and the emotional nature of the response 121 00:05:59,137 --> 00:06:02,344 that we were getting was difficult for us to understand. 122 00:06:02,448 --> 00:06:05,896 Connelly: Who shot J.R. and the last episode of "M.A.S.H." 123 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:11,448 are the last call for the pre-cable world of television. 124 00:06:11,551 --> 00:06:14,103 It's like they are the last time 125 00:06:14,206 --> 00:06:18,344 that that huge audience will all turn up for one event. 126 00:06:18,448 --> 00:06:22,103 Esterhaus: All right. That's it. Let's roll. 127 00:06:22,206 --> 00:06:23,482 Hey... 128 00:06:23,586 --> 00:06:27,275 let's be careful out there. 129 00:06:27,379 --> 00:06:31,482 Dispatch. We have a 9-11. Armed robbery in progress. 130 00:06:31,586 --> 00:06:34,551 McQueen: When quality does emerge on television, 131 00:06:34,655 --> 00:06:37,689 the phrase "too good for TV" is often heard. 132 00:06:37,793 --> 00:06:40,758 One recent network offering that seems to deserve 133 00:06:40,862 --> 00:06:43,896 that phrase is "Hill Street Blues." 134 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:45,896 "Hill Street" is one of the changing points 135 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,448 of the entire industry in the history of TV. 136 00:06:48,551 --> 00:06:53,034 Bochco: We had all watched a documentary about cops 137 00:06:53,137 --> 00:06:55,620 and it had this real hand-held, 138 00:06:55,724 --> 00:06:59,000 in the moment quality that we were very enamored of. 139 00:06:59,103 --> 00:07:00,689 [ Screaming ] 140 00:07:00,793 --> 00:07:02,103 [ Screaming ] 141 00:07:02,206 --> 00:07:03,620 Come in! Come in! 142 00:07:03,724 --> 00:07:05,310 [ Telephone ringing ] 143 00:07:05,413 --> 00:07:07,862 Graham: The minute you looked at it, it looked different. 144 00:07:07,965 --> 00:07:09,310 It had a mood to it. 145 00:07:09,413 --> 00:07:12,000 You could almost, you could almost smell the stale coffee. 146 00:07:12,103 --> 00:07:15,689 Bochco: We didn't want to do a standard cop show 147 00:07:15,793 --> 00:07:18,310 where, you know, you got a crime 148 00:07:18,413 --> 00:07:20,379 and you got your two cops and you go out 149 00:07:20,482 --> 00:07:22,931 and you catch the bad guy and you sweat him 150 00:07:23,034 --> 00:07:25,793 and he confesses and that's it. 151 00:07:25,896 --> 00:07:28,344 Cops have personal lives 152 00:07:28,448 --> 00:07:31,862 that impact their behavior in profound ways. 153 00:07:31,965 --> 00:07:33,827 Well, what about it? Is he here or is he elsewhere? 154 00:07:33,931 --> 00:07:35,448 Let's don't get excited counselor. 155 00:07:35,551 --> 00:07:36,482 We're working on it. 156 00:07:36,586 --> 00:07:38,310 How's this for logic, Furillo-- 157 00:07:38,413 --> 00:07:42,448 If he's not here and if he's not elsewhere, he's lost. 158 00:07:42,551 --> 00:07:43,448 We didn't say that, counselor. 159 00:07:43,551 --> 00:07:44,551 You lost my client. 160 00:07:44,655 --> 00:07:45,689 - Not lost, per se. - Never in my entire life 161 00:07:45,793 --> 00:07:47,758 have I listened to so much incompetence 162 00:07:47,862 --> 00:07:50,413 covered up by so much unmitigated crap. 163 00:07:50,517 --> 00:07:52,689 Find my client, Furillo, 164 00:07:52,793 --> 00:07:56,068 or I swear I'll have you up on charges. 165 00:07:56,172 --> 00:07:58,965 Yost: There'd be these ongoing arcs for these characters 166 00:07:59,068 --> 00:08:01,724 that would play out over five, six episodes, 167 00:08:01,827 --> 00:08:03,103 sometimes an entire season. 168 00:08:03,206 --> 00:08:06,241 And in a way, for certain stories, over the entire series. 169 00:08:06,344 --> 00:08:09,655 And no one had really done that in an hour-long dramatic show. 170 00:08:09,758 --> 00:08:13,241 These past four months I've missed you. 171 00:08:13,344 --> 00:08:17,551 I had to find that out. 172 00:08:17,655 --> 00:08:19,275 Come home, pizza man. 173 00:08:19,379 --> 00:08:21,137 Bochco: I think in the past, 174 00:08:21,241 --> 00:08:24,896 people had watched television passively 175 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,586 and the one thing I think we did set out to be were provocateurs. 176 00:08:29,689 --> 00:08:33,724 You want an accident report? You fill it out. 177 00:08:33,827 --> 00:08:35,310 What the hell's the matter with you man? 178 00:08:35,413 --> 00:08:36,586 I'll tell you something. 179 00:08:36,689 --> 00:08:38,344 They don't pay me enough to deal with animals like this. 180 00:08:38,448 --> 00:08:39,931 The first thing they see is a white face 181 00:08:40,034 --> 00:08:41,448 and all they want to do is do him in! 182 00:08:41,551 --> 00:08:43,172 You listen to me, Renko. 183 00:08:43,275 --> 00:08:45,379 It was a white finger that pulled the trigger, 184 00:08:45,482 --> 00:08:46,413 not a black one! 185 00:08:46,517 --> 00:08:47,586 It was a white one. 186 00:08:47,689 --> 00:08:48,896 Graham: It set a trend. 187 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:50,344 The idea that the audience can accept its characters 188 00:08:50,448 --> 00:08:52,137 being deeply flawed, you know, 189 00:08:52,241 --> 00:08:53,724 even though they're wearing this uniform. 190 00:08:53,827 --> 00:08:55,275 And I thought that that was important 191 00:08:55,379 --> 00:08:57,206 to finally get across. 192 00:08:57,310 --> 00:08:58,965 Don't do it! No biting! 193 00:08:59,068 --> 00:09:02,896 Bochco: We wanted to make a show that made you participate, 194 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,275 made you pay attention. 195 00:09:05,379 --> 00:09:07,241 And I think that worked pretty well. 196 00:09:07,344 --> 00:09:10,034 And the winner is... 197 00:09:10,137 --> 00:09:11,172 "Hill Street Blues." 198 00:09:11,275 --> 00:09:12,793 [ Cheers and applause ] 199 00:09:12,896 --> 00:09:14,965 Bochco: We got 21 nominations 200 00:09:15,068 --> 00:09:16,482 and we went on to win eight Emmys 201 00:09:16,586 --> 00:09:18,241 and it put us on the map, literally. 202 00:09:18,344 --> 00:09:21,896 And that's when people finally checked us out. 203 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,827 Tartikoff: The programming chief of one of the networks 204 00:09:23,931 --> 00:09:26,862 used to say to me about shows like "Hill Street" 205 00:09:26,965 --> 00:09:28,068 and "St. Elsewhere," 206 00:09:28,172 --> 00:09:30,275 what the American public wants is a cheeseburger 207 00:09:30,379 --> 00:09:34,172 and what you're trying to give them is a French delicacy. 208 00:09:34,275 --> 00:09:37,103 And he said, your job is to keep shoving it down their throat 209 00:09:37,206 --> 00:09:40,482 until after a while they'll say, "That doesn't taste bad." 210 00:09:40,586 --> 00:09:42,586 And maybe they'll even order it themselves 211 00:09:42,689 --> 00:09:44,103 when they go to the restaurant. 212 00:09:44,206 --> 00:09:45,689 Nice of you to join us Dr. Morrison. 213 00:09:45,793 --> 00:09:47,620 Connelly: The success of "Hill Street Blues" 214 00:09:47,724 --> 00:09:48,758 is a critical phenomenon, 215 00:09:48,862 --> 00:09:51,413 influenced everything that came after. 216 00:09:51,517 --> 00:09:54,413 And then, of course, you saw shows like "St. Elsewhere." 217 00:09:54,517 --> 00:09:56,620 Do you know what people call this place? 218 00:09:56,724 --> 00:09:57,931 Not St. Eligius. 219 00:09:58,034 --> 00:09:59,413 St. Elsewhere. 220 00:09:59,517 --> 00:10:01,827 A place you wouldn't want to send your mother-in-law. 221 00:10:01,931 --> 00:10:03,862 Yost: When it first came on, 222 00:10:03,965 --> 00:10:06,724 it was actually promoted as "Hill Street" in a hospital. 223 00:10:06,827 --> 00:10:08,724 You give your patients the wrong antibiotics. 224 00:10:08,827 --> 00:10:10,655 You don't know what medications they're on. 225 00:10:10,758 --> 00:10:12,275 You write the worst progress notes. 226 00:10:12,379 --> 00:10:13,034 You're pathetic. 227 00:10:13,137 --> 00:10:13,793 Pathetic! 228 00:10:13,896 --> 00:10:15,034 - Nurse: Phil! - What?! 229 00:10:15,137 --> 00:10:16,827 Dr. Moray needs you right away. 230 00:10:16,931 --> 00:10:18,206 I'm sorry. 231 00:10:18,310 --> 00:10:21,379 "St. Elsewhere" broke every rule there was 232 00:10:21,482 --> 00:10:23,724 and then built some new rules. 233 00:10:23,827 --> 00:10:26,689 Bobby, the blood bank called a little while ago. 234 00:10:26,793 --> 00:10:29,551 They ran a routine panel on that pint of blood. 235 00:10:29,655 --> 00:10:31,482 T-cell count was off. 236 00:10:31,586 --> 00:10:33,931 Yost: They would have tragic things happen to these characters. 237 00:10:34,034 --> 00:10:36,379 There was real heartache in these people's lives. 238 00:10:36,482 --> 00:10:37,689 And you really felt for them. 239 00:10:37,793 --> 00:10:39,793 I've got AIDS? 240 00:10:39,896 --> 00:10:45,344 Television at its best is a mirror of society in the moment. 241 00:10:45,448 --> 00:10:47,034 Harmon: "St. Elsewhere" challenged people. 242 00:10:47,137 --> 00:10:48,586 It challenged you as an actor 243 00:10:48,689 --> 00:10:51,103 much less the audience, to think. 244 00:10:51,206 --> 00:10:54,793 The stuff they gave you was extreme and what they did 245 00:10:54,896 --> 00:10:57,103 whether they were dealing with AIDS 246 00:10:57,206 --> 00:11:00,206 or having one of their main doctor characters 247 00:11:00,310 --> 00:11:02,000 raped in a prison. 248 00:11:02,103 --> 00:11:04,172 They tackled lots of difficult subjects. 249 00:11:04,275 --> 00:11:08,000 "St. Elsewhere" was run by people who were trying 250 00:11:08,103 --> 00:11:10,862 to stretch the medium, and in the '80s, 251 00:11:10,965 --> 00:11:12,896 television producers were encouraged 252 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:14,344 to stretch the medium. 253 00:11:14,448 --> 00:11:16,896 Okay. Clear. 254 00:11:27,517 --> 00:11:29,965 [ Indistinct conversations ] 255 00:11:30,068 --> 00:11:32,827 MAN: A lot of people used to say, "I was there." 256 00:11:32,931 --> 00:11:34,758 Now people say they watch it on television. 257 00:11:34,862 --> 00:11:36,586 Connelly: There's just a lot of excitement 258 00:11:36,689 --> 00:11:38,517 connected to sports in the '80s. 259 00:11:38,620 --> 00:11:40,379 You used to have to depend on the five minutes 260 00:11:40,482 --> 00:11:42,586 at the end of your local newscast. 261 00:11:42,689 --> 00:11:44,310 There just hadn't been enough, you know? 262 00:11:44,413 --> 00:11:46,448 Give us a whole network of sports. 263 00:11:46,551 --> 00:11:48,551 Announcer: There's just one place you need to go 264 00:11:48,655 --> 00:11:51,586 for all the names and games making sports news-- 265 00:11:51,689 --> 00:11:53,482 "ESPN Sports Center." 266 00:11:53,586 --> 00:11:57,413 What happens in the 1980s is sports becomes a TV show 267 00:11:57,517 --> 00:11:59,689 and what are TV shows built around? 268 00:11:59,793 --> 00:12:01,655 They're built around characters. 269 00:12:03,551 --> 00:12:07,137 You can't be serious, man. You cannot be serious! 270 00:12:07,241 --> 00:12:09,827 You guys are the absolute pits of the world, you know that? 271 00:12:09,931 --> 00:12:12,172 Connelly: McEnroe, the perfect villain. 272 00:12:12,275 --> 00:12:13,827 The New Yorker that people loved to hate. 273 00:12:13,931 --> 00:12:18,413 Borg the cool Swede, never giving any emotion away. 274 00:12:18,517 --> 00:12:22,034 What tennis really wants is to get its two best players 275 00:12:22,137 --> 00:12:24,413 playing over and over again in the final. 276 00:12:24,517 --> 00:12:27,241 Whether there's John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg 277 00:12:27,344 --> 00:12:29,551 or Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. 278 00:12:29,655 --> 00:12:32,793 That's what we want to tune into over and over and over again. 279 00:12:32,896 --> 00:12:34,206 Announcer: Oh, could this be? 280 00:12:34,310 --> 00:12:38,310 Net court at three match points to Martina Navratilova. 281 00:12:38,413 --> 00:12:41,413 Know that this man has a smile 282 00:12:41,517 --> 00:12:43,586 that lights up a television screen 283 00:12:43,689 --> 00:12:45,517 from here to Bangor, Maine. 284 00:12:45,620 --> 00:12:47,793 Futterman: And then there is Magic Johnson, 285 00:12:47,896 --> 00:12:49,724 this urban kid from Michigan 286 00:12:49,827 --> 00:12:53,724 and Larry Bird, this guy who worked carrying trash. 287 00:12:53,827 --> 00:12:55,586 One plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, 288 00:12:55,689 --> 00:12:57,724 the other plays for the Boston Celtics. 289 00:12:57,827 --> 00:12:59,517 It's a great story. 290 00:12:59,620 --> 00:13:01,206 Announcer #1: Off the back. 291 00:13:01,310 --> 00:13:02,482 Lakers had several chances 292 00:13:02,586 --> 00:13:05,931 and here's Larry Bird dunking down the court. 293 00:13:06,034 --> 00:13:07,793 Announcer #2: Magic Johnson leads the attack. 294 00:13:07,896 --> 00:13:09,793 Look at that pass. Oh, oh! What a show! 295 00:13:09,896 --> 00:13:10,758 What a great play! 296 00:13:10,862 --> 00:13:12,103 Oh! What a show! 297 00:13:12,206 --> 00:13:14,896 When those championship games are in prime time 298 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,344 and people are paying attention to that, 299 00:13:17,448 --> 00:13:19,413 television feeds into those rivalries 300 00:13:19,517 --> 00:13:22,344 and makes them bigger than they've ever been before. 301 00:13:22,448 --> 00:13:23,931 [ Cheers and applause ] 302 00:13:28,793 --> 00:13:30,620 Connelly: Every Mike Tyson fight was an event 303 00:13:30,724 --> 00:13:32,931 because every fight was like an ax murder. 304 00:13:33,034 --> 00:13:34,965 When he fought Michael Spinks, 305 00:13:35,068 --> 00:13:38,068 the electricity, you could just feel it watching it on TV. 306 00:13:38,172 --> 00:13:39,931 Announcer: Here comes Mike, Spinks in! 307 00:13:40,034 --> 00:13:42,103 He leads with a right hand! Down he goes! 308 00:13:42,206 --> 00:13:44,931 Tyson was made for TV because there was drama. 309 00:13:45,034 --> 00:13:48,517 Announcer: It's all over! Mike Tyson has won it! 310 00:13:48,620 --> 00:13:52,068 Firestone: Not a lot of junior high school kids can dunk, 311 00:13:52,172 --> 00:13:53,137 especially at five feet. 312 00:13:53,241 --> 00:13:54,655 But everybody tries now. Everybody tries. 313 00:13:54,758 --> 00:13:56,551 [ Laughs ] I bet now. 314 00:13:56,655 --> 00:13:59,068 I think that he is starting to transcend just his sport. 315 00:13:59,172 --> 00:14:00,965 He's becoming something of a public figure. 316 00:14:01,068 --> 00:14:03,000 Futterman: Michael Jordan becomes the model 317 00:14:03,103 --> 00:14:05,448 that every other athlete wants to shoot for. 318 00:14:05,551 --> 00:14:06,965 They want to be a brand. 319 00:14:07,068 --> 00:14:09,172 And that's what television does for these athletes. 320 00:14:09,275 --> 00:14:12,172 It turns them into worldwide, iconic brands. 321 00:14:12,275 --> 00:14:14,310 Announcer: The inbound pass comes in to Jordan. 322 00:14:14,413 --> 00:14:16,551 Here's Michael at the foul line. A shot on Ehlo. 323 00:14:16,655 --> 00:14:17,655 - Good! - Yeah! 324 00:14:17,758 --> 00:14:18,965 The Bulls win! 325 00:14:19,068 --> 00:14:22,241 Athletes in the '80s became part of an ongoing 326 00:14:22,344 --> 00:14:23,793 group of people that we cared about. 327 00:14:23,896 --> 00:14:26,344 We just had an enormous, pent-up demand for sports 328 00:14:26,448 --> 00:14:29,586 and the '80s began to provide. Thank goodness. 329 00:14:29,689 --> 00:14:31,655 Cable television is continuing to grow. 330 00:14:31,758 --> 00:14:33,275 It's estimated that it will go into 331 00:14:33,379 --> 00:14:35,965 one million more U.S. households this year. 332 00:14:36,068 --> 00:14:39,103 With cable television suddenly offering an array 333 00:14:39,206 --> 00:14:42,068 of different channel choices, the audience bifurcated. 334 00:14:42,172 --> 00:14:43,310 That's an earthquake. 335 00:14:43,413 --> 00:14:45,344 I want my MTV!I want my MTV!I want my MTV! 336 00:14:45,448 --> 00:14:47,206 I want my MTV. 337 00:14:47,310 --> 00:14:49,000 I want my MTV. 338 00:14:49,103 --> 00:14:52,379 ♪ 339 00:14:52,482 --> 00:14:54,793 Goodman: A new concept is born-- 340 00:14:54,896 --> 00:14:58,172 The best of TV combined with the best of radio. 341 00:14:58,275 --> 00:14:59,758 This is it. 342 00:14:59,862 --> 00:15:02,758 Welcome to MTV, music television-- 343 00:15:02,862 --> 00:15:06,896 the world's first 24-hour, stereo, video music channel. 344 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:09,655 Julie Brown: Music television, what a concept. 345 00:15:09,758 --> 00:15:12,793 MTV was, pow!, in your face. 346 00:15:12,896 --> 00:15:15,517 You were not gonna turn us off. 347 00:15:17,206 --> 00:15:18,931 Hanks: MTV did nothing 348 00:15:19,034 --> 00:15:21,758 but play current music videos all day long. 349 00:15:21,862 --> 00:15:22,896 So let me get this straight-- 350 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,241 You turn on the TV and it's like the radio? 351 00:15:25,344 --> 00:15:27,241 I'm Martha Quinn. 352 00:15:27,344 --> 00:15:30,724 The music will continue non-stop on MTV music television, 353 00:15:30,827 --> 00:15:33,827 the newest component of your stereo system. 354 00:15:33,931 --> 00:15:36,793 When MTV launched, a generation was launched. 355 00:15:36,896 --> 00:15:40,931 18 to 24-year-olds were saying, "I want my MTV." 356 00:15:41,034 --> 00:15:44,172 I want my MTV videos. I want my MTV fashion. 357 00:15:44,275 --> 00:15:45,137 Yo! 358 00:15:45,241 --> 00:15:47,379 Connelly: MTV was the first network 359 00:15:47,482 --> 00:15:48,827 really focused on the youth market 360 00:15:48,931 --> 00:15:51,000 and becomes hugely influential 361 00:15:51,103 --> 00:15:52,620 because they understand each other, 362 00:15:52,724 --> 00:15:53,931 the audience and the network. 363 00:15:54,034 --> 00:15:58,827 MTV had a giant impact visually and musically 364 00:15:58,931 --> 00:16:01,862 on every part of the TV culture that came next. 365 00:16:02,793 --> 00:16:03,655 - Freeze! - Freeze! 366 00:16:03,758 --> 00:16:04,793 Miami Vice. 367 00:16:07,689 --> 00:16:10,793 Pauley: Friday nights on NBC are different this season, 368 00:16:10,896 --> 00:16:12,172 thanks to "Miami Vice." 369 00:16:12,275 --> 00:16:15,034 It's a show with an old theme, but a lot of new twists. 370 00:16:15,137 --> 00:16:16,344 Described by one critic 371 00:16:16,448 --> 00:16:18,689 as containing flashes of brilliance, nonetheless. 372 00:16:18,793 --> 00:16:20,965 Shot entirely on location in South Miami, 373 00:16:21,068 --> 00:16:23,793 the story centers around two undercover vice cops. 374 00:16:23,896 --> 00:16:27,793 I don't know how this is gonna work Tubbs. 375 00:16:27,896 --> 00:16:32,517 I mean, you're not exactly up my alley style- and persona- wise. 376 00:16:32,620 --> 00:16:34,896 Heaven knows I'm no box of candy. 377 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,655 Michael Mann: Television very much was the small screen. 378 00:16:37,758 --> 00:16:38,862 What was interesting 379 00:16:38,965 --> 00:16:41,000 about Tony Yerkovich's pilot screenplay 380 00:16:41,103 --> 00:16:43,551 for "Miami Vice" is that it was exactly not that. 381 00:16:43,655 --> 00:16:45,793 Very much the approach was, 382 00:16:45,896 --> 00:16:47,655 okay they call this a television series, 383 00:16:47,758 --> 00:16:50,620 but we're gonna make one-hour movies every single week. 384 00:16:50,724 --> 00:16:52,482 Okay, here we go. Standby. 385 00:16:52,586 --> 00:16:53,517 Action! 386 00:16:53,620 --> 00:16:54,758 Police! Police! 387 00:16:54,862 --> 00:16:55,965 Pauley: You were just describing the show 388 00:16:56,068 --> 00:16:57,758 as sort of a new-wave cop show. 389 00:16:57,862 --> 00:16:59,517 Johnson: Yeah, it's a cop show for the '80s. 390 00:16:59,620 --> 00:17:01,827 I mean, we use a lot of MTV images 391 00:17:01,931 --> 00:17:05,448 and rock music to help describe the mood 392 00:17:05,551 --> 00:17:06,793 and feeling of our show. 393 00:17:06,896 --> 00:17:08,034 Graham: In a lot of ways, 394 00:17:08,137 --> 00:17:10,827 you don't get "Miami Vice" without MTV 395 00:17:10,931 --> 00:17:13,034 because in a lot of ways, "Miami Vice" was a long video. 396 00:17:13,137 --> 00:17:14,931 The music was such a big part of that show. 397 00:17:15,034 --> 00:17:17,413 [ Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" plays ] 398 00:17:17,517 --> 00:17:20,448 Michael Mann: There was an allure to using great music 399 00:17:20,551 --> 00:17:23,482 that everybody was listening to as opposed to the routine 400 00:17:23,586 --> 00:17:27,413 kind of TV scoring of that period. 401 00:17:27,517 --> 00:17:31,275 ♪ And I can feel it coming in the air tonight ♪ 402 00:17:31,379 --> 00:17:34,931 Not only was it not afraid to let long scenes play out, 403 00:17:35,034 --> 00:17:38,620 it would drag-- a car going from point A to point B 404 00:17:38,724 --> 00:17:41,172 could be a four-minute Phil Collins song, 405 00:17:41,275 --> 00:17:43,172 you know, and it was. 406 00:17:43,275 --> 00:17:46,724 ♪ Oh, Lord 407 00:17:46,827 --> 00:17:48,206 Michael Mann: Being able to take a television series 408 00:17:48,310 --> 00:17:51,103 like "Miami Vice" and let's really kind of rock 'n' roll 409 00:17:51,206 --> 00:17:53,068 with this until somebody says, 410 00:17:53,172 --> 00:17:55,586 "Stop, are you guys crazy? You can't do that." 411 00:17:55,689 --> 00:17:57,034 And nobody ever did. 412 00:17:57,137 --> 00:17:58,172 [ People screaming ] 413 00:17:58,275 --> 00:17:59,827 Go! 414 00:17:59,931 --> 00:18:02,241 Freeze! Police! 415 00:18:13,482 --> 00:18:14,448 ♪ 416 00:18:14,551 --> 00:18:15,896 [ Bleating ] 417 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:16,724 Thomas Magnum? 418 00:18:16,827 --> 00:18:18,310 Marion Hammond? 419 00:18:18,413 --> 00:18:20,482 The private investigator? 420 00:18:20,586 --> 00:18:21,689 Oh [ Chuckles ] 421 00:18:21,793 --> 00:18:23,241 You're probably wondering about the goat. 422 00:18:23,344 --> 00:18:26,896 Um, just let me drop off my friend, and then we'll talk. 423 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:28,586 Levine: When we entered the '80s, 424 00:18:28,689 --> 00:18:32,793 a lot of one-hour dramas that were light hearted, 425 00:18:32,896 --> 00:18:34,344 like "Magnum, P.I.," 426 00:18:34,448 --> 00:18:36,344 were very popular. 427 00:18:36,448 --> 00:18:37,551 [ Gunfire ] 428 00:18:37,655 --> 00:18:38,758 [ Tires squeal ] 429 00:18:38,862 --> 00:18:40,724 Bianculli: After "M.A.S.H." went off the air, 430 00:18:40,827 --> 00:18:44,862 the next season there wasn't a single sitcom in the top 10. 431 00:18:44,965 --> 00:18:48,551 First time that had ever happened in TV history. 432 00:18:48,655 --> 00:18:51,896 The prevailing feeling was that the sitcom was dead. 433 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,689 Greenfield: Brandon Tartikoff, NBC programming chief, 434 00:18:54,793 --> 00:18:58,241 says reports of the sitcom's death were greatly exaggerated. 435 00:18:58,344 --> 00:19:01,896 Time and time again, if you study television history, 436 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,413 just when someone is counting a form out, 437 00:19:05,517 --> 00:19:07,655 that is exactly the form of programming 438 00:19:07,758 --> 00:19:09,655 that leads to the next big hit. 439 00:19:09,758 --> 00:19:12,482 ♪ 440 00:19:12,586 --> 00:19:15,586 Graham: So 1984, "The Cosby Show" comes on. 441 00:19:15,689 --> 00:19:19,172 Now, Bill Cosby's not new to TV. He's had other TV shows. 442 00:19:19,275 --> 00:19:22,068 But "The Cosby Show" is very different. 443 00:19:22,172 --> 00:19:23,862 It stands apart from everything else he's done. 444 00:19:23,965 --> 00:19:26,034 Mom, I wanted my eggs scrambled. 445 00:19:26,137 --> 00:19:28,379 Coming right up. 446 00:19:28,482 --> 00:19:30,068 Mandabach: They talked about parenting. 447 00:19:30,172 --> 00:19:31,758 Previous to that, on television 448 00:19:31,862 --> 00:19:33,931 the kids were cool and the parents were idiots. 449 00:19:34,034 --> 00:19:37,689 And then Cosby says the parents are in charge 450 00:19:37,793 --> 00:19:39,275 and that was something new. 451 00:19:39,379 --> 00:19:44,931 Instead of acting disappointed because I'm not like you, 452 00:19:45,034 --> 00:19:47,482 maybe you can just accept who I am 453 00:19:47,586 --> 00:19:51,896 and love me anyway because I'm your son. 454 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,206 That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life! 455 00:19:56,310 --> 00:19:57,724 Shales: You know, it helps, 456 00:19:57,827 --> 00:19:59,206 the casting of anything helps a lot in television. 457 00:19:59,310 --> 00:20:00,620 And the kids were just great. 458 00:20:00,724 --> 00:20:02,724 If you were the last person on this earth, 459 00:20:02,827 --> 00:20:05,241 I still wouldn't tell you. 460 00:20:05,344 --> 00:20:07,655 You don't have to tell me what you did. 461 00:20:07,758 --> 00:20:11,172 Just tell me what they're gonna do to you. 462 00:20:11,275 --> 00:20:12,862 Graham: Unlike every other show on TV, 463 00:20:12,965 --> 00:20:16,000 it's showing an upper-middle-class black family. 464 00:20:16,103 --> 00:20:17,413 This wasn't "All in the Family." 465 00:20:17,517 --> 00:20:19,275 They weren't tackling, you know, deep issues. 466 00:20:19,379 --> 00:20:20,620 But that was okay. 467 00:20:20,724 --> 00:20:23,068 The mere fact that they existed was a deep issue. 468 00:20:23,172 --> 00:20:27,206 Mandabach: The decade was waiting for something real. 469 00:20:27,310 --> 00:20:28,620 In other words, unless it's real 470 00:20:28,724 --> 00:20:31,241 it doesn't seem like it moves anybody. 471 00:20:31,344 --> 00:20:32,517 If someone's feeling something, 472 00:20:32,620 --> 00:20:34,103 you get to the heart, you get to the mind. 473 00:20:34,206 --> 00:20:36,379 And if you can hit the hearts and minds, 474 00:20:36,482 --> 00:20:37,689 you got yourself a hit. 475 00:20:37,793 --> 00:20:39,000 How was school? 476 00:20:39,103 --> 00:20:40,896 School, dear? 477 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:46,413 I brought home two children that may or may not be ours. 478 00:20:46,517 --> 00:20:52,413 Long: Cosby's show brought this tremendous audience to NBC. 479 00:20:52,517 --> 00:20:58,206 And that was a bridge to us. I mean, our ratings went way up. 480 00:20:58,310 --> 00:21:01,103 ♪ Sometimes you want to go 481 00:21:01,206 --> 00:21:04,862 ♪ Where everybody knows your name ♪ 482 00:21:04,965 --> 00:21:07,482 Even the theme song to "Cheers" put you in a good mood. 483 00:21:07,586 --> 00:21:08,517 Evening everybody. 484 00:21:08,620 --> 00:21:09,931 - Norm! - Norm! - Norm! - Norm! 485 00:21:10,034 --> 00:21:11,137 Norman. 486 00:21:11,241 --> 00:21:12,379 What's shaking Norm? 487 00:21:12,482 --> 00:21:15,206 All four cheeks and a couple of chins, Coach. 488 00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:18,724 Levine: By the end of the "Cheers" pilot, 489 00:21:18,827 --> 00:21:21,758 not only did you know who everybody was, 490 00:21:21,862 --> 00:21:25,655 but you wanted to come back and see what was gonna happen. 491 00:21:25,758 --> 00:21:28,137 Bianculli: It's like all you have to do is watch it once, 492 00:21:28,241 --> 00:21:29,896 you're gonna love these people. 493 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:31,448 These are universal characters 494 00:21:31,551 --> 00:21:34,000 and the humor worked on so many levels. 495 00:21:34,103 --> 00:21:35,586 Last night I was up till 2:00 in the morning 496 00:21:35,689 --> 00:21:37,551 finishing off Kierkegaard. 497 00:21:37,655 --> 00:21:39,827 I hope he thanked you for it. 498 00:21:40,724 --> 00:21:42,482 You have to create a community 499 00:21:42,586 --> 00:21:44,275 that people are identifying with. 500 00:21:44,379 --> 00:21:47,000 And "Cheers" gives you that community. 501 00:21:47,103 --> 00:21:49,482 Boy I tell you, I've always wanted to sky dive. 502 00:21:49,586 --> 00:21:50,689 I've just never had the guts. 503 00:21:50,793 --> 00:21:52,034 What did it feel like? 504 00:21:52,137 --> 00:21:54,034 Well, imagine it's a lot like sex, Sammy. 505 00:21:54,137 --> 00:21:58,034 Not that I have to imagine what sex is like. 506 00:21:58,137 --> 00:22:00,586 But I've had plenty of sex, and plenty of this, too. 507 00:22:00,689 --> 00:22:03,689 What don't you just get off my back, okay? 508 00:22:03,793 --> 00:22:06,034 Long: In the first episode, 509 00:22:06,137 --> 00:22:09,068 there was a rather passionate annoyance. 510 00:22:09,172 --> 00:22:13,758 I was saying, uh, something's going on here. 511 00:22:13,862 --> 00:22:17,241 A really intelligent woman would see your line of B.S. 512 00:22:17,344 --> 00:22:18,620 a mile away. 513 00:22:18,724 --> 00:22:21,896 I've never met an intelligent woman that I'd want to date. 514 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,896 On behalf of the intelligent women around the world, 515 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,413 may I just say, phew! 516 00:22:28,517 --> 00:22:31,172 Burrows: When we saw what Ted and Shelley had together, 517 00:22:31,275 --> 00:22:35,137 we said, "Oh no, we gotta do this relationship." 518 00:22:35,241 --> 00:22:39,793 Ted and I understood what they were writing right away. 519 00:22:39,896 --> 00:22:43,413 If you'll admit that you are carrying 520 00:22:43,517 --> 00:22:46,310 a little torch for me, 521 00:22:46,413 --> 00:22:49,931 I'll admit that I'm carrying a little one for you. 522 00:22:50,034 --> 00:22:53,620 Well, I a-am carrying a little torch for you. 523 00:22:53,724 --> 00:22:55,517 Well, 524 00:22:55,620 --> 00:22:57,689 I'm not carrying one for you. 525 00:22:57,793 --> 00:23:02,827 Diane knew how to tease Sam. Sam knew how to tease Diane. 526 00:23:02,931 --> 00:23:05,413 And I guess we knew how to tease the audience. 527 00:23:07,793 --> 00:23:09,068 Burrows: This incredible chemistry 528 00:23:09,172 --> 00:23:11,000 between the two of them ignited the show. 529 00:23:11,103 --> 00:23:13,241 And that's what drove the show for the first five years. 530 00:23:13,344 --> 00:23:14,517 Oh, I'm devastated. 531 00:23:14,620 --> 00:23:16,241 I need something expeditious 532 00:23:16,344 --> 00:23:18,586 and brutal to numb my sensibilities 533 00:23:18,689 --> 00:23:20,689 and blast me into sweet oblivion. 534 00:23:20,793 --> 00:23:21,793 How about a boilermaker? 535 00:23:21,896 --> 00:23:23,275 Make it a mimosa. 536 00:23:23,379 --> 00:23:27,172 Burrows: We had the luck to be able to rotate cast 537 00:23:27,275 --> 00:23:30,896 and every time we put somebody in, there were explosions. 538 00:23:33,310 --> 00:23:36,172 Bwah! 539 00:23:36,275 --> 00:23:40,586 Levine: There was something very special about that setting, 540 00:23:40,689 --> 00:23:45,275 those characters, that I never got tired of writing that show. 541 00:23:45,379 --> 00:23:47,862 Sophisticated surveys, telephonic samplings, 542 00:23:47,965 --> 00:23:49,896 test audiences, all of those things 543 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:51,896 help to separate winners from losers 544 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:53,793 and make mid-course corrections. 545 00:23:53,896 --> 00:23:56,827 But you can't cut all comedies from the same cookie cutters. 546 00:23:56,931 --> 00:24:00,206 All you can hope is that every night turns out like Thursday. 547 00:24:00,310 --> 00:24:01,827 Yo, Angela! 548 00:24:01,931 --> 00:24:03,689 Larry, Larry. 549 00:24:03,793 --> 00:24:04,965 Next... 550 00:24:06,068 --> 00:24:06,965 How rude. 551 00:24:08,206 --> 00:24:09,310 [ Cat yowling ] 552 00:24:09,413 --> 00:24:11,413 He's quick, I'll give him that. 553 00:24:11,517 --> 00:24:12,620 Bianculli: All of television said, 554 00:24:12,724 --> 00:24:16,241 "Oh, well, maybe the sitcoms are alive again." 555 00:24:16,344 --> 00:24:19,551 And that's all that it took. It took one success. 556 00:24:19,655 --> 00:24:20,586 Greenfield: A few years from now, 557 00:24:20,689 --> 00:24:22,206 something new may tempt the people 558 00:24:22,310 --> 00:24:23,482 who pick what we see. 559 00:24:23,586 --> 00:24:25,275 But it's a very safe guess that whatever gets hot 560 00:24:25,379 --> 00:24:27,793 for a season or two, the men and women who create 561 00:24:27,896 --> 00:24:29,275 good television comedy 562 00:24:29,379 --> 00:24:31,172 will be laughing all the way to the bank. 563 00:24:41,620 --> 00:24:43,137 This is my last broadcast 564 00:24:43,241 --> 00:24:45,724 as the anchorman of the "CBS Evening News." 565 00:24:45,827 --> 00:24:48,413 For me it's a moment for which I long have planned, 566 00:24:48,517 --> 00:24:51,206 but which nevertheless comes with some sadness. 567 00:24:51,310 --> 00:24:52,965 For almost two decades after all, 568 00:24:53,068 --> 00:24:55,689 we've been meeting like this in the evenings and I'll miss that. 569 00:24:55,793 --> 00:24:59,620 And that's the way it is, Friday, March 6, 1981. 570 00:24:59,724 --> 00:25:01,172 I'll be away on assignment 571 00:25:01,275 --> 00:25:04,103 and Dan Rather will be sitting in here for the next few years. 572 00:25:04,206 --> 00:25:05,379 Good night. 573 00:25:05,482 --> 00:25:09,000 Uncle Walter had dominated certainly CBS, 574 00:25:09,103 --> 00:25:10,827 but in a way the country. 575 00:25:10,931 --> 00:25:12,241 People used to say 576 00:25:12,344 --> 00:25:15,068 that he was the most trusted man in the country. 577 00:25:15,172 --> 00:25:17,000 Bianculli: Once Walter Cronkite retires, 578 00:25:17,103 --> 00:25:19,103 all three network news anchors 579 00:25:19,206 --> 00:25:20,551 within a period of a couple of years 580 00:25:20,655 --> 00:25:22,000 switch over to a new generation. 581 00:25:22,103 --> 00:25:24,172 The '80s may have been the last gasp 582 00:25:24,275 --> 00:25:27,931 where people watching the media liked and trusted the media. 583 00:25:28,034 --> 00:25:31,206 Nuclear arms and how to prevent global destruction 584 00:25:31,310 --> 00:25:32,931 are expected to be the major topic 585 00:25:33,034 --> 00:25:35,034 of President Reagan's news conference tonight. 586 00:25:35,137 --> 00:25:37,000 That conference will be nationally televised 587 00:25:37,103 --> 00:25:38,068 within the hour. 588 00:25:38,172 --> 00:25:39,793 Lesley Stahl is at the White House. 589 00:25:39,896 --> 00:25:41,758 Stahl: The White House is hoping that tomorrow's... 590 00:25:41,862 --> 00:25:44,137 In the '80s, women came into the newsroom. 591 00:25:44,241 --> 00:25:47,931 When I first joined, it was '72 and there were very few. 592 00:25:48,034 --> 00:25:51,000 By the '80s, there were more and more. 593 00:25:51,103 --> 00:25:52,310 Woodruff: The decade of the '80s 594 00:25:52,413 --> 00:25:54,379 was still a time of sink or swim. 595 00:25:54,482 --> 00:25:56,586 You had to be resilient in your own way 596 00:25:56,689 --> 00:26:00,103 to survive in a period when you were going up against 597 00:26:00,206 --> 00:26:03,793 a lot of people who still didn't think women had what it took. 598 00:26:03,896 --> 00:26:06,310 These are some of the most famous faces in broadcasting, 599 00:26:06,413 --> 00:26:08,103 all of whom happen to be women. 600 00:26:08,206 --> 00:26:10,724 The best producers, I'm gonna get fired-- 601 00:26:10,827 --> 00:26:13,758 the best producers at CBS News are women. 602 00:26:13,862 --> 00:26:16,896 And they are at the level of taking hold 603 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:19,344 and making decisions about individual pieces. 604 00:26:19,448 --> 00:26:21,206 They're not yet executive producers 605 00:26:21,310 --> 00:26:24,000 of all the news shows, but they will be. 606 00:26:24,103 --> 00:26:25,931 Clayton: For the past 24 hours, 607 00:26:26,034 --> 00:26:28,172 Christine Craft has taken her cause 608 00:26:28,275 --> 00:26:31,000 to many of the nation's news and talk programs. 609 00:26:31,103 --> 00:26:33,068 I didn't set out to be Joan of Arc. 610 00:26:33,172 --> 00:26:36,310 But I think that what happened to me deserves some attention. 611 00:26:36,413 --> 00:26:39,724 Woodruff: Christine Craft had a very successful career, 612 00:26:39,827 --> 00:26:41,827 but there she was in her late 30s 613 00:26:41,931 --> 00:26:43,862 and the TV station said to her, 614 00:26:43,965 --> 00:26:47,137 we're taking you off the air because you've gotten older 615 00:26:47,241 --> 00:26:49,206 and you're not as attractive as you once were, 616 00:26:49,310 --> 00:26:50,655 which was outrageous. 617 00:26:50,758 --> 00:26:52,827 And she decided to make an issue of it. 618 00:26:52,931 --> 00:26:54,551 She filed a lawsuit 619 00:26:54,655 --> 00:26:57,724 and it became a huge national topic of discussion. 620 00:26:57,827 --> 00:27:00,827 Woman: A jury said she got a raw deal because she is a woman. 621 00:27:00,931 --> 00:27:03,655 Woodruff: And so women in television news everywhere were asked, 622 00:27:03,758 --> 00:27:05,517 what do you think about Christine Craft? 623 00:27:05,620 --> 00:27:07,413 I think unfortunately in recent years, 624 00:27:07,517 --> 00:27:09,241 the emphasis has been increasingly 625 00:27:09,344 --> 00:27:12,517 on physical appearance and to the extent this decision 626 00:27:12,620 --> 00:27:15,344 helped swing the emphasis back to substance 627 00:27:15,448 --> 00:27:16,689 and to good journalism, 628 00:27:16,793 --> 00:27:18,724 I think we've got something to be happy about. 629 00:27:18,827 --> 00:27:21,827 It was important to make the point that what mattered 630 00:27:21,931 --> 00:27:23,724 was what kind of reporter are you? 631 00:27:23,827 --> 00:27:26,206 But it took the Christine Craft incident, 632 00:27:26,310 --> 00:27:29,862 I think, to bring that conversation out into the open. 633 00:27:29,965 --> 00:27:31,413 This coming Sunday, 634 00:27:31,517 --> 00:27:34,793 a new television network opens for business-- CNN. 635 00:27:34,896 --> 00:27:36,586 Cable News Network. 636 00:27:36,689 --> 00:27:38,275 You're throwing all the dice on this one? 637 00:27:38,379 --> 00:27:40,793 Why not? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 638 00:27:40,896 --> 00:27:42,586 Faint heart never won fair lady. 639 00:27:42,689 --> 00:27:44,827 Well on that original point, Mr. Turner, 640 00:27:44,931 --> 00:27:46,241 thank you very much indeed. 641 00:27:46,344 --> 00:27:49,620 Turner: I wanted to see what was going on in the world. 642 00:27:49,724 --> 00:27:51,793 And there was no way that you could do it 643 00:27:51,896 --> 00:27:54,068 watching the regular television stations. 644 00:27:54,172 --> 00:27:57,034 The news only comes on at 6:00 and 10:00. 645 00:27:57,137 --> 00:27:59,379 But if there was news on 24 hours, 646 00:27:59,482 --> 00:28:01,344 people could watch it any time. 647 00:28:01,448 --> 00:28:05,206 We sign on on June 1 and barring satellite problems 648 00:28:05,310 --> 00:28:07,034 in the future, we won't be signing off 649 00:28:07,137 --> 00:28:08,793 until the world ends. 650 00:28:08,896 --> 00:28:10,068 Greenfield: There was a widespread belief 651 00:28:10,172 --> 00:28:11,482 this was a fool's errand. 652 00:28:11,586 --> 00:28:14,103 How can this possibly find an audience? 653 00:28:14,206 --> 00:28:16,827 Well, he did. 654 00:28:16,931 --> 00:28:19,137 Ready Camera three. One center up. 655 00:28:19,241 --> 00:28:20,655 Good evening. I'm David Walker. 656 00:28:20,758 --> 00:28:22,689 And I'm Lois Harp. Now here's the news. 657 00:28:22,793 --> 00:28:24,206 President Carter has arrived... 658 00:28:24,310 --> 00:28:27,758 Television news before this was stuff that had already happened. 659 00:28:27,862 --> 00:28:29,482 For the first time, 660 00:28:29,586 --> 00:28:34,000 CNN brought the world to people in real time. 661 00:28:34,103 --> 00:28:37,655 Announcer: CNN-- the world's most important network. 662 00:28:37,758 --> 00:28:40,103 Turner: I didn't do Cable News Network 663 00:28:40,206 --> 00:28:42,068 because somebody told me it couldn't be done. 664 00:28:42,172 --> 00:28:44,448 I figured it was a very viable concept 665 00:28:44,551 --> 00:28:46,275 and I went ahead and did it. 666 00:28:46,379 --> 00:28:49,000 It was after we announced that we were going to do it 667 00:28:49,103 --> 00:28:51,275 that the detractors showed up. 668 00:28:51,379 --> 00:28:54,724 Gumbel: Is Cable News Network just gonna be a new means 669 00:28:54,827 --> 00:28:56,172 of delivering the same kind of fare? 670 00:28:56,275 --> 00:28:57,724 No. 671 00:28:57,827 --> 00:29:00,448 It already does provide different fare 672 00:29:00,551 --> 00:29:02,586 and Cable News Network is a perfect 673 00:29:02,689 --> 00:29:05,413 and maybe the best example of that. 674 00:29:05,517 --> 00:29:08,655 People love news and we had lots of it. 675 00:29:08,758 --> 00:29:10,724 And the other guys had not very much. 676 00:29:10,827 --> 00:29:14,241 So choice and quantity won out. 677 00:29:14,344 --> 00:29:16,034 New York City, hello. 678 00:29:16,137 --> 00:29:19,551 Mintier: A major catastrophe in America's space program... 679 00:29:19,655 --> 00:29:22,724 I'm Lou Dobbs along with Financial Editor Myron Kandel. 680 00:29:22,827 --> 00:29:26,000 Jessica McClure trapped for almost three days now 681 00:29:26,103 --> 00:29:27,896 in a dry artesian well. 682 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:29,689 Miller: The Iron Curtain between East Germany 683 00:29:29,793 --> 00:29:32,241 and West Berlin has come tumbling down. 684 00:29:32,344 --> 00:29:35,206 Good evening I'm Pat Buchanan the conservative in "Crossfire." 685 00:29:35,310 --> 00:29:38,379 Buchanan: The American people appreciated the new television. 686 00:29:38,482 --> 00:29:42,206 They certainly came to-- came to CNN in droves. 687 00:29:42,310 --> 00:29:46,034 Mr. Gorbachev and I both agree on the desirability of freer 688 00:29:46,137 --> 00:29:49,655 and more extensive personal contact between the peoples 689 00:29:49,758 --> 00:29:52,310 of the Soviet Union and the United States. 690 00:29:52,413 --> 00:29:55,448 We began to realize that the best way 691 00:29:55,551 --> 00:29:58,379 to get a message to a foreign leader was to have the President 692 00:29:58,482 --> 00:30:00,931 go in the rose garden and make a statement. 693 00:30:01,034 --> 00:30:03,689 Because everybody was watching CNN. 694 00:30:03,793 --> 00:30:07,758 CNN was a breakthrough. It changed the whole world. 695 00:30:07,862 --> 00:30:10,862 Stahl: It changed quickly, the network news business. 696 00:30:10,965 --> 00:30:13,379 That business that we weren't the only ones. 697 00:30:13,482 --> 00:30:14,827 And it was hard, you know. 698 00:30:14,931 --> 00:30:17,620 It's hard to be on the top little perch 699 00:30:17,724 --> 00:30:19,896 and have to come down off it. 700 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,172 A special segment tonight, the network news. 701 00:30:23,275 --> 00:30:26,413 The first in a two-part series on the profound changes 702 00:30:26,517 --> 00:30:28,586 taking place in television news. 703 00:30:28,689 --> 00:30:31,344 Changes being brought about by business, competition, 704 00:30:31,448 --> 00:30:32,896 and technology. 705 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:34,862 Heilemann: There are a variety of reasons why people who worked 706 00:30:34,965 --> 00:30:37,965 at the broadcast networks were freaked out in the 1980s. 707 00:30:38,068 --> 00:30:40,896 One of them was CNN and the rise of cable. 708 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,482 Another was being taken over 709 00:30:43,586 --> 00:30:46,344 by foreign entities in corporate America. 710 00:30:46,448 --> 00:30:49,965 Hart: New owners spent billions buying the networks recently, 711 00:30:50,068 --> 00:30:52,344 and all of them want their money's worth. 712 00:30:52,448 --> 00:30:55,896 People began to find out that news could be a profit center. 713 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,068 And that focused a lot of attention on us. 714 00:30:58,172 --> 00:31:00,724 A lot from people in Wall Street, for instance. 715 00:31:00,827 --> 00:31:05,137 If you think about the news divisions of CBS, NBC and ABC, 716 00:31:05,241 --> 00:31:07,758 they were part of a really proud tradition, 717 00:31:07,862 --> 00:31:09,862 a journalistic tradition that really matters. 718 00:31:09,965 --> 00:31:10,931 We serve the public. 719 00:31:11,034 --> 00:31:13,172 This is not about profit and loss. 720 00:31:13,275 --> 00:31:15,241 And the people who worked at those news divisions 721 00:31:15,344 --> 00:31:18,034 were totally freaked out by what it meant 722 00:31:18,137 --> 00:31:21,620 that they were now owned by these larger corporate entities. 723 00:31:21,724 --> 00:31:24,137 If the television news isn't profitable at some point, 724 00:31:24,241 --> 00:31:26,620 there won't be any more television news on the networks. 725 00:31:26,724 --> 00:31:28,689 Shales: I worry about people who are interested only in money 726 00:31:28,793 --> 00:31:30,551 and power getting ahold of television. 727 00:31:30,655 --> 00:31:32,482 It has higher purposes than that. 728 00:31:32,586 --> 00:31:35,068 We have seen the news and it is us. 729 00:31:45,689 --> 00:31:47,206 ♪ 730 00:31:47,310 --> 00:31:49,275 Collins: Sometimes ambition in a woman 731 00:31:49,379 --> 00:31:52,172 is considered to be a dirty word unfortunately. 732 00:31:52,275 --> 00:31:54,137 Bloodworth-Thomason: I don't hear a lot of female voices 733 00:31:54,241 --> 00:31:56,275 reverberating in the halls of power in this business. 734 00:31:56,379 --> 00:31:58,517 Well I'm surprised there aren't more shows about women 735 00:31:58,620 --> 00:32:00,172 that are talking about who they are. 736 00:32:00,275 --> 00:32:01,931 Directing seems to be an area 737 00:32:02,034 --> 00:32:04,482 that is almost impossible to break through. 738 00:32:04,586 --> 00:32:07,827 I think the '80s were the era 739 00:32:07,931 --> 00:32:10,862 when women were being looked at 740 00:32:10,965 --> 00:32:12,827 with a little skepticism, 741 00:32:12,931 --> 00:32:16,655 but definitely with more acceptability. 742 00:32:16,758 --> 00:32:22,448 You could see the door opening, but it wasn't wide open. 743 00:32:22,551 --> 00:32:24,758 Stahl: "Cagney & Lacey" was huge. 744 00:32:24,862 --> 00:32:27,620 That there would be two women and they had a serious job 745 00:32:27,724 --> 00:32:30,137 and they solved crimes and they were out on the streets. 746 00:32:30,241 --> 00:32:31,448 They were tough. 747 00:32:31,551 --> 00:32:34,551 That was emblematic or maybe out in front a little 748 00:32:34,655 --> 00:32:36,551 of what was actually happening in the country. 749 00:32:36,655 --> 00:32:39,896 - So, we're a terrific team. - This is true. 750 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:41,827 What do you say we go out and celebrate how terrific we are? 751 00:32:41,931 --> 00:32:45,379 Bianculli: There had been by that point hundreds of buddy cop shows, 752 00:32:45,482 --> 00:32:47,413 but these buddies were women. 753 00:32:47,517 --> 00:32:49,482 That had never been done before. 754 00:32:49,586 --> 00:32:52,379 I didn't go after this job 755 00:32:52,482 --> 00:32:54,482 because I couldn't find anything else. 756 00:32:54,586 --> 00:32:57,137 All right? I did not come here because I needed 757 00:32:57,241 --> 00:32:59,517 some kind of work to help pay the orthodontist. 758 00:32:59,620 --> 00:33:00,586 This means something to me. 759 00:33:00,689 --> 00:33:02,206 What the hell are we talking about here? 760 00:33:02,310 --> 00:33:05,310 Corday: We didn't even realize that this was gonna be 761 00:33:05,413 --> 00:33:08,862 such a big deal, and strangely, 762 00:33:08,965 --> 00:33:11,517 all these guys would say to us, 763 00:33:11,620 --> 00:33:13,517 "Well yeah, I mean, it's a good script, 764 00:33:13,620 --> 00:33:16,000 but who's gonna save them in the end?" 765 00:33:16,103 --> 00:33:18,137 All right, come on. We're taking you out of here. 766 00:33:18,241 --> 00:33:19,206 [ Sobbing ] Come on. 767 00:33:19,310 --> 00:33:20,551 You're taking my wife?! 768 00:33:20,655 --> 00:33:23,103 You don't take one step. You understand me? 769 00:33:23,206 --> 00:33:25,551 Sergeant Nelson, you have until 8:00 tomorrow morning 770 00:33:25,655 --> 00:33:27,206 to turn yourself into IAD. 771 00:33:27,310 --> 00:33:28,068 Phyllis! 772 00:33:28,172 --> 00:33:29,965 If you don't, I will. 773 00:33:30,068 --> 00:33:34,206 Hart: It was a time where you really saw an emergence of women 774 00:33:34,310 --> 00:33:37,344 on television who were not necessarily 775 00:33:37,448 --> 00:33:40,896 just 20 and blond and had a small role. 776 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:42,827 But women who had substantial roles. 777 00:33:42,931 --> 00:33:47,137 ♪ Thank you for being a friend 778 00:33:47,241 --> 00:33:51,137 ♪ Traveled down the road and back again ♪ 779 00:33:51,241 --> 00:33:55,000 It was unpredictable that an audience, 780 00:33:55,103 --> 00:33:58,344 a young audience, a not so young audience 781 00:33:58,448 --> 00:34:02,482 and lots in between could relate to those older ladies. 782 00:34:02,586 --> 00:34:04,206 Ma, if you couldn't see, 783 00:34:04,310 --> 00:34:07,068 why didn't you call me to come get you? 784 00:34:07,172 --> 00:34:09,931 I tried to but every time I put in a dime and dialed, 785 00:34:10,034 --> 00:34:11,827 a condom popped out. 786 00:34:11,931 --> 00:34:13,620 [ Laughter ] 787 00:34:15,793 --> 00:34:18,517 I got five in my pocket. Here Dorothy. 788 00:34:18,620 --> 00:34:19,931 [ Laughter ] 789 00:34:20,034 --> 00:34:22,827 A lifetime supply. 790 00:34:22,931 --> 00:34:23,896 Mitchell: She was recently named 791 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:25,379 along with Norman Lear and Jim Brooks 792 00:34:25,482 --> 00:34:27,827 as one of television's most gifted creator/writers. 793 00:34:27,931 --> 00:34:30,551 And when you look back at the past women role models 794 00:34:30,655 --> 00:34:33,965 on television, well it's easy to see Susan Harris' impact. 795 00:34:34,068 --> 00:34:37,413 Mandabach: Susan Harris was the greatest writer, in my opinion, 796 00:34:37,517 --> 00:34:39,137 of her generation, of that time. 797 00:34:39,241 --> 00:34:41,137 Singularly, so, you know, 798 00:34:41,241 --> 00:34:43,724 all credit to her for coming up with so many iterations 799 00:34:43,827 --> 00:34:45,517 of something so amazing. 800 00:34:45,620 --> 00:34:49,137 Mitchell: Do you think there is a woman's voice as a writer? 801 00:34:49,241 --> 00:34:51,965 Woman's voice-- well generally they speak higher, softer. 802 00:34:52,068 --> 00:34:53,793 [ Laughter ] 803 00:34:53,896 --> 00:34:55,137 I should have known not to ask that of a writer. 804 00:34:55,241 --> 00:34:58,310 Yes, of course, there's a woman's voice. 805 00:34:58,413 --> 00:35:00,655 Women have a different perspective. 806 00:35:00,758 --> 00:35:02,931 Women laugh at different things. 807 00:35:03,034 --> 00:35:05,620 So yes, they're very definitely is a woman's voice. 808 00:35:05,724 --> 00:35:09,517 Oh, do you know how many problems we have solved 809 00:35:09,620 --> 00:35:12,620 over a cheesecake at this kitchen table? 810 00:35:12,724 --> 00:35:14,103 No, Dorothy, exactly how many? 811 00:35:14,206 --> 00:35:16,310 147, Rose! 812 00:35:16,413 --> 00:35:18,310 Oh. 813 00:35:18,413 --> 00:35:21,379 Hi Bryant. It's cutthroat prime time time this fall 814 00:35:21,482 --> 00:35:23,137 as some 23 new shows compete 815 00:35:23,241 --> 00:35:25,724 in one of the hottest ratings races in years. 816 00:35:25,827 --> 00:35:28,482 Here's one just about everybody predicts will be a big hit. 817 00:35:28,586 --> 00:35:30,620 "Designing Women" on CBS. 818 00:35:30,724 --> 00:35:33,137 Four femmes forming an interior decorating business 819 00:35:33,241 --> 00:35:34,862 and giving each other the business. 820 00:35:34,965 --> 00:35:36,931 Suzanne, if sex were fast food, 821 00:35:37,034 --> 00:35:41,413 there'd be an arch over your bed. 822 00:35:41,517 --> 00:35:44,965 Corday: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason created one of the funniest, 823 00:35:45,068 --> 00:35:48,000 most unusual shows in "Designing Women." 824 00:35:48,103 --> 00:35:50,689 They were a different group of women 825 00:35:50,793 --> 00:35:53,724 than you really saw on television. 826 00:35:53,827 --> 00:35:56,310 They were feisty, they were sexy, 827 00:35:56,413 --> 00:36:01,448 and Linda's voice came through shining. 828 00:36:01,551 --> 00:36:03,448 A man can get away with anything. 829 00:36:03,551 --> 00:36:06,344 I mean, look at Reagan's neck. It sags down to here. 830 00:36:06,448 --> 00:36:08,862 Everybody raves about how great he looks. 831 00:36:08,965 --> 00:36:11,310 Can you imagine if Nancy had that neck? 832 00:36:11,413 --> 00:36:14,000 They'd be putting her in a nursing home for turkeys. 833 00:36:15,620 --> 00:36:19,931 [ Cheers and applause ] 834 00:36:20,034 --> 00:36:21,551 They'd given me this 23 minutes 835 00:36:21,655 --> 00:36:23,793 to address whatever topic I want. 836 00:36:23,896 --> 00:36:25,689 And it's such a privilege. 837 00:36:25,793 --> 00:36:27,586 It's more than the President of the United States gets 838 00:36:27,689 --> 00:36:30,068 and it's kind of thrilling to have that every week. 839 00:36:30,172 --> 00:36:33,103 I would lying if I said I didn't put my opinions in the show. 840 00:36:33,206 --> 00:36:35,827 Excuse me, but you lovely ladies look like you're in need 841 00:36:35,931 --> 00:36:38,034 of a little male companionship here. 842 00:36:38,137 --> 00:36:40,793 Trust me when I tell you that you have completely 843 00:36:40,896 --> 00:36:43,241 mis-assessed the situation at this table. 844 00:36:43,344 --> 00:36:46,551 All right. Moving onto scene B. 845 00:36:46,655 --> 00:36:48,793 English: I am a woman and I am a writer, 846 00:36:48,896 --> 00:36:53,206 but I don't really enjoy being called a woman's writer. 847 00:36:53,310 --> 00:36:55,448 I think labels are harmful to us. 848 00:36:55,551 --> 00:36:57,310 Mitchell: With "Murphy Brown," 849 00:36:57,413 --> 00:37:01,206 just about everything about that program felt new. 850 00:37:01,310 --> 00:37:03,517 The civil rights movement and the women's movement 851 00:37:03,620 --> 00:37:07,482 had just begun to sort of be reflected in the programming 852 00:37:07,586 --> 00:37:10,206 that you saw on television in the '80s. 853 00:37:10,310 --> 00:37:12,931 Murphy, you know the Dunfries Club is for men only? 854 00:37:13,034 --> 00:37:15,241 And they have great dinners with great guests 855 00:37:15,344 --> 00:37:18,310 and I don't get to go for one reason and one reason only. 856 00:37:18,413 --> 00:37:22,034 And it has to do with something you've got and I don't. 857 00:37:22,137 --> 00:37:27,137 A tiny, pathetic, little Y chromosome. 858 00:37:29,103 --> 00:37:32,862 Stahl: "Murphy Brown" was sea change because she was so popular 859 00:37:32,965 --> 00:37:36,172 and such a strong, independent, tough woman. 860 00:37:36,275 --> 00:37:38,448 No matter what you think of a guest or their views, 861 00:37:38,551 --> 00:37:40,724 you are obligated to ask the questions in a dignified manner. 862 00:37:40,827 --> 00:37:42,862 Jim, she was unprofessional, am I right? 863 00:37:42,965 --> 00:37:43,689 Well, I, uh... 864 00:37:43,793 --> 00:37:44,931 Do you believe this Jim? 865 00:37:45,034 --> 00:37:47,379 He thinks it's neat that his office chair swivels 866 00:37:47,482 --> 00:37:49,344 and he's calling me unprofessional. 867 00:38:01,758 --> 00:38:04,551 You are in a good mood tonight. 868 00:38:04,655 --> 00:38:06,827 And I tell you, we have put a great show together. 869 00:38:06,931 --> 00:38:08,758 It'll be on a week from Thursday. 870 00:38:08,862 --> 00:38:10,379 [ Laughter ] 871 00:38:10,482 --> 00:38:13,172 Connelly: Johnny Carson in the '80s is making the transition 872 00:38:13,275 --> 00:38:14,655 from being the king of late night 873 00:38:14,758 --> 00:38:16,344 to being a national treasure. 874 00:38:16,448 --> 00:38:19,827 He was a throwback to that old show biz stuff. 875 00:38:19,931 --> 00:38:21,241 I haven't been on with you for some time. 876 00:38:21,344 --> 00:38:22,689 You, you've been... It's been a long time. 877 00:38:22,793 --> 00:38:24,241 Yeah, well, you've been busy with other things. 878 00:38:24,344 --> 00:38:25,689 That's-- [ Chuckles ] 879 00:38:25,793 --> 00:38:27,931 [ Laughter ] 880 00:38:28,034 --> 00:38:30,931 Connelly: The tide is starting to turn in terms of 881 00:38:31,034 --> 00:38:32,724 where late-night television is gonna go. 882 00:38:32,827 --> 00:38:34,655 But Johnny is kind of holding out. 883 00:38:34,758 --> 00:38:38,724 He was not necessarily of his time in the '80s. 884 00:38:38,827 --> 00:38:41,931 But he did sustain a certain timelessness. 885 00:38:42,034 --> 00:38:43,275 He's the king. 886 00:38:43,379 --> 00:38:44,758 On your chair. 887 00:38:44,862 --> 00:38:46,448 [ Laughter ] 888 00:38:46,551 --> 00:38:50,724 Whoa! 889 00:38:50,827 --> 00:38:53,241 Hyah! 890 00:38:53,344 --> 00:38:54,551 He's all right. He's just playing. 891 00:38:54,655 --> 00:38:55,827 Playing my [bleep] 892 00:38:55,931 --> 00:38:57,586 [ Laughter ] 893 00:38:57,689 --> 00:39:01,241 My next guest not only has a college degree, 894 00:39:01,344 --> 00:39:04,206 but he also has a high-school degree. 895 00:39:04,310 --> 00:39:04,965 That's right, I do. 896 00:39:05,068 --> 00:39:06,275 - As well, un-huh. - Yes. 897 00:39:06,379 --> 00:39:07,896 He's hosted "The Tonight Show" practically as often 898 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,344 as Johnny Carson and now he has his very own show, 899 00:39:11,448 --> 00:39:15,000 Weekday Mornings at 10:00 on NBC. 900 00:39:15,103 --> 00:39:16,862 Ladies and gentleman what you're witnessing here 901 00:39:16,965 --> 00:39:20,034 is a good idea gone awry. 902 00:39:20,137 --> 00:39:21,931 Yes, and a fun-filled surprise 903 00:39:22,034 --> 00:39:26,000 turning into an incredible screw up right here. 904 00:39:26,103 --> 00:39:29,896 David Letterman originally had a one-hour daytime show. 905 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:34,448 And NBC, after like 13 weeks, decided to cancel it. 906 00:39:34,551 --> 00:39:36,172 Today is our last show on the air. 907 00:39:36,275 --> 00:39:37,689 Monday, Las Vegas. 908 00:39:37,793 --> 00:39:40,379 [ Crowd booing ] 909 00:39:40,482 --> 00:39:42,827 Have these people been frisked before they... 910 00:39:42,931 --> 00:39:45,413 It was a dismal failure in terms of the ratings. 911 00:39:45,517 --> 00:39:48,655 But not in terms of introducing us to Letterman. 912 00:39:48,758 --> 00:39:50,655 David, thank you for being with us tonight. 913 00:39:50,758 --> 00:39:52,620 Thank you very much for having me, I appreciate it. 914 00:39:52,724 --> 00:39:54,517 And in spite of all this nonsense 915 00:39:54,620 --> 00:39:57,034 that goes around in the background, stay with it. 916 00:39:57,137 --> 00:39:58,965 Don't give up. And stay with us here in New York. 917 00:39:59,068 --> 00:40:00,000 We like having you. 918 00:40:00,103 --> 00:40:01,379 I like being here. Thank you very much. 919 00:40:01,482 --> 00:40:04,758 Dave is back in New York. You're going to host 920 00:40:04,862 --> 00:40:08,448 a late-night television program that premieres Monday night. 921 00:40:08,551 --> 00:40:11,137 What are, what are critics likely to say Tuesday morning? 922 00:40:11,241 --> 00:40:14,344 I don't much care because I found a way to deal with that-- 923 00:40:14,448 --> 00:40:15,310 Pills and whiskey. 924 00:40:15,413 --> 00:40:16,206 [ Laughs ] 925 00:40:16,310 --> 00:40:17,793 [ Laughs ] 926 00:40:17,896 --> 00:40:20,758 [ Snorts ] 927 00:40:20,862 --> 00:40:22,137 [ Chuckles ] You're on. 928 00:40:22,241 --> 00:40:24,896 Oh, I'm on. I'm sorry, I was enjoying listening to you snort. 929 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:26,655 [ Laughs ] 930 00:40:26,758 --> 00:40:30,379 Levine: They gave him the "Late Night" show after "The Tonight Show," 931 00:40:30,482 --> 00:40:31,758 and at the time, people thought, 932 00:40:31,862 --> 00:40:34,586 who's gonna watch television at 12:30 at night? 933 00:40:34,689 --> 00:40:36,172 Who's up? I'll tell you who's up. 934 00:40:36,275 --> 00:40:38,379 Young people. College people. 935 00:40:38,482 --> 00:40:40,344 Is it going well? I know this is the first show 936 00:40:40,448 --> 00:40:42,000 and I think this guy needs a little support. 937 00:40:42,103 --> 00:40:43,206 Dave Letterman. 938 00:40:43,310 --> 00:40:45,758 Mandabach: He was antiestablishment at his core. 939 00:40:45,862 --> 00:40:50,586 He was thumbing his nose to any existing social structures. 940 00:40:50,689 --> 00:40:52,517 Lettermen: Who are those women - out there, by the way? - Woman: Neighbors. 941 00:40:52,620 --> 00:40:56,655 I'll get rid of them. Hey, excuse me. 942 00:40:56,758 --> 00:41:00,517 Just keep it moving, come on. 943 00:41:00,620 --> 00:41:04,896 He kind of spoofed the whole notion of talk shows. 944 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:06,862 It's the "Late Night" guest cam. 945 00:41:06,965 --> 00:41:09,827 Please say hello to Tom Hanks. Here he is. 946 00:41:09,931 --> 00:41:11,620 [ Cheers and applause ] 947 00:41:11,724 --> 00:41:14,137 Hanks: No one can go on the "David Letterman Show" 948 00:41:14,241 --> 00:41:16,758 and try to steer it towards a point of view 949 00:41:16,862 --> 00:41:18,344 or push something in particular. 950 00:41:18,448 --> 00:41:19,862 He just wouldn't stand for it. 951 00:41:19,965 --> 00:41:21,758 You're on to do one thing and one thing only-- 952 00:41:21,862 --> 00:41:23,517 be as funny as the rest of the show. 953 00:41:23,620 --> 00:41:25,965 You know, we could get in a two shot here, Dave. 954 00:41:26,068 --> 00:41:28,379 We could actually send the crew home, couldn't we? 955 00:41:28,482 --> 00:41:31,103 [ Laughter ] 956 00:41:31,206 --> 00:41:33,000 Steinberg: You know, as a comedian, 957 00:41:33,103 --> 00:41:35,103 you want the biggest audience that you could get. 958 00:41:35,206 --> 00:41:36,896 For Dave, he knew a lot of things 959 00:41:37,000 --> 00:41:39,413 that he would do were gonna alienate people. 960 00:41:39,517 --> 00:41:40,310 And he didn't care. 961 00:41:40,413 --> 00:41:41,896 He wanted his thumbprint out there 962 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:44,034 and that's the most important thing. 963 00:41:44,137 --> 00:41:46,896 It's time for "Small Town News." Paul? 964 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:48,724 Excuse me. Paul? Do you have any-- 965 00:41:48,827 --> 00:41:50,172 do you have any accompanying music here 966 00:41:50,275 --> 00:41:52,689 for "Small Town News"? 967 00:41:52,793 --> 00:41:54,862 Paul Shaffer, ladies and gentlemen. 968 00:41:54,965 --> 00:41:57,551 Shales: The show making fun of itself and turning itself 969 00:41:57,655 --> 00:42:01,103 inside out that way was something kind of new. 970 00:42:01,206 --> 00:42:02,551 I mean, don't we look like guys 971 00:42:02,655 --> 00:42:03,862 that you'd see hanging around together? 972 00:42:03,965 --> 00:42:05,551 Absolutely. Would you like to hang around with me? 973 00:42:05,655 --> 00:42:06,758 Nope. 974 00:42:06,862 --> 00:42:08,965 I've said it before and I'll say it again. 975 00:42:09,068 --> 00:42:11,758 This is the stupidest show I've... 976 00:42:11,862 --> 00:42:14,241 I thought that I would never want to do this show with you. 977 00:42:14,344 --> 00:42:15,241 Now why? 978 00:42:15,344 --> 00:42:17,206 Because you thought I was a... 979 00:42:17,310 --> 00:42:18,413 An [bleep] 980 00:42:18,517 --> 00:42:20,034 [ Laughter ] 981 00:42:20,137 --> 00:42:23,793 There's one rule I keep trying to abide by 982 00:42:23,896 --> 00:42:27,275 and unfortunately I only get to it about 12% of the time. 983 00:42:27,379 --> 00:42:29,827 And that is, it's only television. 984 00:42:29,931 --> 00:42:32,344 We're not doing cancer research. 985 00:42:32,448 --> 00:42:35,310 If the 40 year-odd history of commercial broadcasting 986 00:42:35,413 --> 00:42:38,482 has taught us one thing, there's nothing sacred about television. 987 00:42:38,586 --> 00:42:40,413 All right. Steven is upstairs. 988 00:42:40,517 --> 00:42:43,827 [ Laughter ] 989 00:42:43,931 --> 00:42:45,206 Hey Dave, I was just curious, 990 00:42:45,310 --> 00:42:47,551 is there any way I can get MTV on this... 991 00:42:47,655 --> 00:42:50,172 Actually, Steve, that's a-- that's just a monitor 992 00:42:50,275 --> 00:42:52,241 and all you can get on that is our show. 993 00:42:52,344 --> 00:42:54,275 Oh. That's okay. 994 00:42:54,379 --> 00:42:57,310 Hanks: There was a degree of cynicism 995 00:42:57,413 --> 00:42:59,551 that was needed in the art form at that time. 996 00:42:59,655 --> 00:43:00,793 And it's a cynicism 997 00:43:00,896 --> 00:43:03,172 that just became common sense after a while. 998 00:43:03,275 --> 00:43:04,379 Because it never got old. 999 00:43:04,482 --> 00:43:07,034 I've watched Johnny Carson, 1000 00:43:07,137 --> 00:43:10,206 and you are no Johnny Carson. 1001 00:43:10,310 --> 00:43:13,931 [ Cheers and applause ] 1002 00:43:14,034 --> 00:43:16,241 [ Whooping ] 1003 00:43:16,344 --> 00:43:18,517 Good day, welcome to the Great White North Canadian Corner. 1004 00:43:18,620 --> 00:43:20,137 I'm Bob McKenzie, this is my brother Doug. 1005 00:43:20,241 --> 00:43:23,034 And today we got a real big show 'cause we got a... 1006 00:43:23,137 --> 00:43:24,827 Bianculli: There was a Second City Chicago company, 1007 00:43:24,931 --> 00:43:27,206 there was a Second City Toronto company. 1008 00:43:27,310 --> 00:43:31,379 The Toronto one is the one that fueled the SCTV series, 1009 00:43:31,482 --> 00:43:34,965 which originally was syndicated and got to the States that way. 1010 00:43:35,068 --> 00:43:37,689 - Hail Caesar! - Hail Caesar! 1011 00:43:37,793 --> 00:43:38,965 Hail, hail. 1012 00:43:39,068 --> 00:43:40,655 Thank you very much for that marvelous reception. 1013 00:43:40,758 --> 00:43:43,241 I particularly want to thank my supporters over there 1014 00:43:43,344 --> 00:43:45,827 in the Caesarian section.[ Laughter ] 1015 00:43:45,931 --> 00:43:49,275 Steinberg: It's healthy to be an outsider, you know, as a comedian. 1016 00:43:49,379 --> 00:43:52,103 And Canadian are always outsiders 1017 00:43:52,206 --> 00:43:54,620 but they're looking at the other culture, 1018 00:43:54,724 --> 00:43:56,517 which is right next door to them. 1019 00:43:56,620 --> 00:43:59,206 I love you Sammy Maudlin! I want to bear your children! 1020 00:43:59,310 --> 00:44:00,655 [ Laughs ] 1021 00:44:00,758 --> 00:44:06,034 Hanks: It was the type of comedy that had only been accessible 1022 00:44:06,137 --> 00:44:08,206 if you could have gotten into the improv clubs 1023 00:44:08,310 --> 00:44:09,827 in Chicago or Toronto. 1024 00:44:09,931 --> 00:44:12,793 I had never seen anything like Second City TV. 1025 00:44:12,896 --> 00:44:14,620 Alex Trembel: James Bridgeman, Parkdale. 1026 00:44:14,724 --> 00:44:16,862 [ Laughter ] 1027 00:44:16,965 --> 00:44:18,724 Sorry, no, never mind. I'm sorry. 1028 00:44:18,827 --> 00:44:21,827 Yost: It was far more conceptual in its humor 1029 00:44:21,931 --> 00:44:23,655 because it didn't have to be performed 1030 00:44:23,758 --> 00:44:25,172 in front of an audience. 1031 00:44:25,275 --> 00:44:27,344 And there was also just the idea 1032 00:44:27,448 --> 00:44:30,482 that it was this sort of low-rent thing. 1033 00:44:30,586 --> 00:44:32,724 It was this sort of by the seat of their pants 1034 00:44:32,827 --> 00:44:36,827 kind of operation that gave it an authenticity. 1035 00:44:36,931 --> 00:44:39,000 Now that our programming day has been extended, 1036 00:44:39,103 --> 00:44:40,413 I'm gonna be spending a lot... 1037 00:44:40,517 --> 00:44:42,965 Where do you want me to put the kielbasa Mrs. Prickley? 1038 00:44:43,068 --> 00:44:44,275 Put it in the fridge, Butch. 1039 00:44:44,379 --> 00:44:45,965 Yost: You were rooting for the show 1040 00:44:46,068 --> 00:44:47,862 and the characters that they had created. 1041 00:44:47,965 --> 00:44:51,241 There was just something that you got behind. 1042 00:44:51,344 --> 00:44:53,344 Whereas, you know, "SNL" right from the-- 1043 00:44:53,448 --> 00:44:56,379 from the gate and through the '80s 1044 00:44:56,482 --> 00:44:59,413 was this big enterprise. 1045 00:44:59,517 --> 00:45:01,758 Franken: After five golden years, 1046 00:45:01,862 --> 00:45:05,137 Lorne decided to leave and so did those close to him, 1047 00:45:05,241 --> 00:45:09,137 including me, Al Franken. 1048 00:45:09,241 --> 00:45:12,068 So NBC had to pick a new producer. 1049 00:45:12,172 --> 00:45:14,758 Now most knowledgeable people, as you might imagine, 1050 00:45:14,862 --> 00:45:18,724 hoped it would be me, Al Franken. 1051 00:45:18,827 --> 00:45:20,068 Shales: There was a real question 1052 00:45:20,172 --> 00:45:22,103 of whether "Saturday Night Live" would continue at all 1053 00:45:22,206 --> 00:45:23,551 or whether it would just die. 1054 00:45:23,655 --> 00:45:25,482 The press hasn't been overly kind. 1055 00:45:25,586 --> 00:45:26,965 Yeah, I read that stuff. 1056 00:45:27,068 --> 00:45:28,862 "Saturday Night Live" is Saturday Night Dead. 1057 00:45:28,965 --> 00:45:31,448 Man: Oh, man, come on. Geez. 1058 00:45:31,551 --> 00:45:32,931 From yucks to yech. 1059 00:45:33,034 --> 00:45:34,103 [ All groan ] 1060 00:45:34,206 --> 00:45:36,103 My favorite, though, is "Vile From New York." 1061 00:45:36,206 --> 00:45:37,310 Please, Bill, come on. 1062 00:45:37,413 --> 00:45:38,793 It's funny, it's funny. 1063 00:45:38,896 --> 00:45:40,275 Shales: They were having a hard time 1064 00:45:40,379 --> 00:45:43,068 and then came the man that saved the show, Eddie Murphy. 1065 00:45:43,172 --> 00:45:46,448 ♪ Wookin' pa nub 1066 00:45:46,551 --> 00:45:49,310 Shales: There was buzz about him so you tuned in 1067 00:45:49,413 --> 00:45:52,275 and there was this kind of explosion of talent 1068 00:45:52,379 --> 00:45:53,551 in front of your eyes. 1069 00:45:53,655 --> 00:45:56,206 [ As James Brown ] Hey! Too hot in the hot tub! 1070 00:45:56,310 --> 00:45:58,275 Burn myself! 1071 00:45:58,379 --> 00:46:00,896 It really kind of rejuvenated the show. 1072 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:04,172 I am Gumby, damn it! You don't talk to me that way. 1073 00:46:04,275 --> 00:46:05,896 Shales: After a while, 1074 00:46:06,000 --> 00:46:08,034 the show regained its status and its clout 1075 00:46:08,137 --> 00:46:10,965 and became even more of an institution than it had been. 1076 00:46:11,068 --> 00:46:12,034 Hey Bob. [ Chuckles ] 1077 00:46:12,137 --> 00:46:15,172 Hey, penis looks great today. 1078 00:46:15,275 --> 00:46:17,413 Listen, Harry, if you're unhappy with my work, tell me now! 1079 00:46:17,517 --> 00:46:18,793 You're through, do you hear me? 1080 00:46:18,896 --> 00:46:20,482 Through! You'll never work in this town again. 1081 00:46:20,586 --> 00:46:21,551 Don't leave me hanging by a thread! 1082 00:46:21,655 --> 00:46:23,000 Let me know where I stand! 1083 00:46:23,103 --> 00:46:26,620 We were a little worried at first because we had a new cast, 1084 00:46:26,724 --> 00:46:28,000 but everyone loves us. 1085 00:46:28,103 --> 00:46:30,413 You guys have been so nice to us during our stay. 1086 00:46:30,517 --> 00:46:31,896 Isn't that special? 1087 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:33,413 I am Hans. 1088 00:46:33,517 --> 00:46:37,344 And I am Franz. And we just want to pump you up! 1089 00:46:37,448 --> 00:46:39,206 Levine: A lot of things that they could do 1090 00:46:39,310 --> 00:46:42,655 on "Saturday Night Live" they couldn't do on a sitcom. 1091 00:46:42,758 --> 00:46:47,620 The humor was more daring and more satirical. 1092 00:46:47,724 --> 00:46:49,137 And it was political. 1093 00:46:49,241 --> 00:46:53,413 You still have, uh, 50 seconds left Mr. Vice President. 1094 00:46:53,517 --> 00:46:57,793 Well let me just sum up, on track, 1095 00:46:57,896 --> 00:47:02,206 stay the course, a thousand points of light. 1096 00:47:02,310 --> 00:47:03,482 Stay the course. 1097 00:47:03,586 --> 00:47:06,000 Governor Dukakis, rebuttal? 1098 00:47:06,103 --> 00:47:08,103 I can't believe I'm losing to this guy. 1099 00:47:08,206 --> 00:47:09,482 [ Laughter ] 1100 00:47:09,586 --> 00:47:10,896 [ Telephone ringing ] 1101 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:12,241 I'll get it. Oh, geez. 1102 00:47:12,344 --> 00:47:13,724 It's Garry Shandling's Show. 1103 00:47:13,827 --> 00:47:16,137 Connelly: People were taking all the old principles of comedy 1104 00:47:16,241 --> 00:47:18,206 and trying to turn them into something new. 1105 00:47:18,310 --> 00:47:21,482 We spent years and years watching sitcoms and dramas 1106 00:47:21,586 --> 00:47:22,655 and talk shows by then. 1107 00:47:22,758 --> 00:47:24,827 We knew them by heart that if somebody 1108 00:47:24,931 --> 00:47:27,620 played on that and parodied it, we got it instantly. 1109 00:47:27,724 --> 00:47:30,344 Yeah, I appreciate you coming in under these conditions Lewis. 1110 00:47:30,448 --> 00:47:32,793 I really do. You want to hold the credits. 1111 00:47:32,896 --> 00:47:34,793 Okay. Now, see, we were gonna show the credits 1112 00:47:34,896 --> 00:47:35,896 and you screwed that up, okay? 1113 00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:37,931 'Cause you're late. 1114 00:47:38,034 --> 00:47:41,206 "The Garry Shandling Show" was aware of the fact 1115 00:47:41,310 --> 00:47:43,000 that it was a situation comedy. 1116 00:47:43,103 --> 00:47:44,241 [ Gasps ] 1117 00:47:44,344 --> 00:47:47,551 It highlighted the cliches in funny ways. 1118 00:47:47,655 --> 00:47:49,137 Are you looking into the camera? 1119 00:47:49,241 --> 00:47:50,655 No. 1120 00:47:50,758 --> 00:47:51,724 No, I didn't. 1121 00:47:51,827 --> 00:47:52,689 Don't-- Don't look into the camera. 1122 00:47:52,793 --> 00:47:53,344 I didn't. Don't. 1123 00:47:53,448 --> 00:47:54,620 I didn't. 1124 00:47:54,724 --> 00:47:55,862 You don't come in here and look in the camera. 1125 00:47:55,965 --> 00:47:57,310 I didn't. 1126 00:47:57,413 --> 00:47:59,965 I'll bop you. 1127 00:48:00,068 --> 00:48:02,344 I will, if I see a tape of this show... 1128 00:48:02,448 --> 00:48:03,482 [ Laughter ] 1129 00:48:03,586 --> 00:48:05,448 ...and you're looking into the c-- 1130 00:48:05,551 --> 00:48:07,586 [ Cheers and applause ] 1131 00:48:07,689 --> 00:48:09,827 Well, it's about that time. 1132 00:48:09,931 --> 00:48:11,551 Shales: "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" on CBS, 1133 00:48:11,655 --> 00:48:13,620 a so-called Saturday morning kids show 1134 00:48:13,724 --> 00:48:16,034 that adults could watch and wink at each other 1135 00:48:16,137 --> 00:48:18,034 as they were watching it. It was very clever. 1136 00:48:18,137 --> 00:48:19,448 Ha-ha! Morning Conky. 1137 00:48:19,551 --> 00:48:20,758 What's today's secret word? 1138 00:48:22,344 --> 00:48:24,793 Today's secret word is good! 1139 00:48:24,896 --> 00:48:28,448 Levine: It was a show certainly for kids 1140 00:48:28,551 --> 00:48:31,793 and it was for stoned baby boomers 1141 00:48:31,896 --> 00:48:35,068 who were totally wasted on Saturday morning 1142 00:48:35,172 --> 00:48:37,172 and watched "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" 1143 00:48:37,275 --> 00:48:38,068 and saw God. 1144 00:48:38,172 --> 00:48:39,551 I sure had a lot of fun. 1145 00:48:39,655 --> 00:48:41,172 See you all real soon. 1146 00:48:41,275 --> 00:48:44,000 Until then, everybody be good! 1147 00:48:44,103 --> 00:48:45,344 Ha-ha! 1148 00:48:45,448 --> 00:48:46,206 [ Bell dinging ] 1149 00:48:46,310 --> 00:48:48,689 [ All screaming ] 1150 00:48:59,137 --> 00:49:02,482 Arnold: 1968, the summer before junior high school. 1151 00:49:02,586 --> 00:49:07,689 And I don't mind saying I was a pretty fair little athlete. 1152 00:49:07,793 --> 00:49:11,034 Bianculli: "The Wonder Years" was a guy in modern times 1153 00:49:11,137 --> 00:49:12,896 looking back on his childhood. 1154 00:49:13,000 --> 00:49:14,551 That in itself is not new, 1155 00:49:14,655 --> 00:49:18,206 but "The Wonder Years" did it with a wit and with the music. 1156 00:49:18,310 --> 00:49:22,758 It was a brilliantly written show and a great performance 1157 00:49:22,862 --> 00:49:24,482 by that entire young cast. 1158 00:49:24,586 --> 00:49:25,793 Hey, Steve. 1159 00:49:25,896 --> 00:49:27,517 It looks like my baby brother 1160 00:49:27,620 --> 00:49:30,000 and his girlfriend have found each other. 1161 00:49:30,103 --> 00:49:30,862 [ Chuckles ] 1162 00:49:30,965 --> 00:49:32,931 She's not my girlfriend. 1163 00:49:33,034 --> 00:49:36,068 Kevin Arnold has to cope with all the timeless problems 1164 00:49:36,172 --> 00:49:38,000 of growing up during one of the most turbulent times 1165 00:49:38,103 --> 00:49:39,310 that we have known. 1166 00:49:39,413 --> 00:49:42,448 Kevin Arnold is just like a regular kid 1167 00:49:42,551 --> 00:49:44,103 except in the 1960s. 1168 00:49:44,206 --> 00:49:47,586 And he's not really aware of many of the events. 1169 00:49:47,689 --> 00:49:49,206 Like in one of the episodes, 1170 00:49:49,310 --> 00:49:52,620 the whole family's watching the Apollo 8 take off. 1171 00:49:52,724 --> 00:49:55,448 But I'm just sitting there trying to call a girl. 1172 00:49:55,551 --> 00:49:58,172 Bianculli: The first episode of "The Wonder Years," 1173 00:49:58,275 --> 00:50:01,310 anybody who saw it remembers the ending 1174 00:50:01,413 --> 00:50:03,931 where, you know-- the first kiss 1175 00:50:04,034 --> 00:50:06,103 with Winnie and Kevin Arnold. 1176 00:50:06,206 --> 00:50:08,931 The song that they play is "When a Man Loves a Woman." 1177 00:50:09,034 --> 00:50:13,275 That moment seemed so pure and so real. 1178 00:50:13,379 --> 00:50:18,448 ♪ When a man loves a woman 1179 00:50:18,551 --> 00:50:21,310 ♪ Can't keep his mind on nothing else ♪ 1180 00:50:21,413 --> 00:50:24,172 Troy: The tone of the baby boomers of the 1960s is about rebellion, 1181 00:50:24,275 --> 00:50:25,482 about being students. 1182 00:50:25,586 --> 00:50:27,689 By the 1980s, it's time to grow up. 1183 00:50:27,793 --> 00:50:30,034 And so they shave their beards, 1184 00:50:30,137 --> 00:50:32,689 give up their dashikis, and they put on power suits-- 1185 00:50:32,793 --> 00:50:33,655 A whole new notion. 1186 00:50:33,758 --> 00:50:35,068 Ah, the yuppies. 1187 00:50:35,172 --> 00:50:36,241 Last year the politicians 1188 00:50:36,344 --> 00:50:37,862 were all talking about winning their votes. 1189 00:50:37,965 --> 00:50:39,862 Now those young, urban professionals 1190 00:50:39,965 --> 00:50:42,137 and the rest of their baby boom generation 1191 00:50:42,241 --> 00:50:44,931 are being wooed by advertisers and their agencies. 1192 00:50:45,034 --> 00:50:46,344 Greenfield: By the '80s, 1193 00:50:46,448 --> 00:50:48,655 it was pretty clear that the generation 1194 00:50:48,758 --> 00:50:50,379 after the generation of the '60s 1195 00:50:50,482 --> 00:50:53,551 may be embodied by Alex Keaton on "Family Ties." 1196 00:50:53,655 --> 00:50:55,896 Soon to be a lot more interested in the corner office 1197 00:50:56,000 --> 00:50:57,620 than the new Jerusalem. 1198 00:50:57,724 --> 00:50:58,896 You're a young man. 1199 00:50:59,000 --> 00:51:01,482 You shouldn't be worried about success. 1200 00:51:01,586 --> 00:51:04,517 You should be thinking about hopping on a tramp steamer 1201 00:51:04,620 --> 00:51:06,034 and going around the world. 1202 00:51:06,137 --> 00:51:08,689 The '60s are over, Dad. 1203 00:51:08,793 --> 00:51:10,241 Thanks for the tip. 1204 00:51:10,344 --> 00:51:13,896 Bianculli: You weren't laughing at Michael J. Fox's character 1205 00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:15,413 for being too conservative. 1206 00:51:15,517 --> 00:51:18,413 You were actually laughing at the parents 1207 00:51:18,517 --> 00:51:20,862 for being too hopelessly liberal. 1208 00:51:20,965 --> 00:51:23,586 What is this? I found it in the shower. 1209 00:51:23,689 --> 00:51:25,620 That's generic brand shampoo. 1210 00:51:25,724 --> 00:51:27,241 Ah! 1211 00:51:27,344 --> 00:51:30,965 This is him. This is the guy I've been telling you about. 1212 00:51:31,068 --> 00:51:33,103 This is everything you'd want in a President. 1213 00:51:33,206 --> 00:51:35,551 Troy: The genius of "Family Ties" is it allows 1214 00:51:35,655 --> 00:51:37,724 a kind of youthful Reaganite to emerge 1215 00:51:37,827 --> 00:51:39,034 that's focused more on the future, 1216 00:51:39,137 --> 00:51:41,137 that's focused more on the a critique of the '60s. 1217 00:51:41,241 --> 00:51:44,620 Levine: Michael J. Fox as Alex Keaton 1218 00:51:44,724 --> 00:51:48,068 really became the center of the show. 1219 00:51:48,172 --> 00:51:51,620 And writers were smart enough to see 1220 00:51:51,724 --> 00:51:55,862 that they had something special and they wrote to that. 1221 00:51:55,965 --> 00:51:58,000 It's not fair, Alex. 1222 00:51:58,103 --> 00:51:59,137 Yeah. 1223 00:51:59,241 --> 00:52:01,103 There's nothing you can do about it, Jen. 1224 00:52:01,206 --> 00:52:04,103 My advice to you is that you just enjoy 1225 00:52:04,206 --> 00:52:06,551 being a child for as long as you can. 1226 00:52:06,655 --> 00:52:08,413 I know I did. 1227 00:52:08,517 --> 00:52:10,862 It's the best two weeks of my life. 1228 00:52:10,965 --> 00:52:11,965 [ Laughter ] 1229 00:52:12,068 --> 00:52:14,344 Fox: Alex is a little Bill Buckley. 1230 00:52:14,448 --> 00:52:16,965 He-- the Wall Street Journal is his Bible. 1231 00:52:17,068 --> 00:52:17,965 [ Laughs ] 1232 00:52:18,068 --> 00:52:19,896 He has a tie to go with his pajamas. 1233 00:52:20,000 --> 00:52:24,000 He's very conservative and a very intense 17-year-old. 1234 00:52:24,103 --> 00:52:25,655 Now the first thing your teacher's gonna ask 1235 00:52:25,758 --> 00:52:27,000 is what you did over the summer. 1236 00:52:27,103 --> 00:52:29,103 Now, a lot of kids are gonna say, I went to the zoo. 1237 00:52:29,206 --> 00:52:31,586 Or I went to the beach. Or I went to a baseball game. 1238 00:52:31,689 --> 00:52:32,620 What are you gonna say? 1239 00:52:32,724 --> 00:52:34,758 I watched the Iran Contra hearings. 1240 00:52:34,862 --> 00:52:36,241 [ Laughter ] 1241 00:52:36,344 --> 00:52:39,068 Peterson: If mom and dad thought this generation 1242 00:52:39,172 --> 00:52:41,068 was going to the dogs, think again. 1243 00:52:41,172 --> 00:52:42,586 This is the generation 1244 00:52:42,689 --> 00:52:44,896 that has discovered hard work and success. 1245 00:52:45,000 --> 00:52:47,068 Troy: American culture is changing in the '80s. 1246 00:52:47,172 --> 00:52:48,379 And in terms of television, 1247 00:52:48,482 --> 00:52:50,241 there's a whole notion of demographic segmentation. 1248 00:52:50,344 --> 00:52:54,448 Bochco: Networks were beginning to not be afraid 1249 00:52:54,551 --> 00:52:58,275 to appeal to a very specific demographic. 1250 00:52:58,379 --> 00:53:01,068 Hi, handsome. Look at that shirt. 1251 00:53:01,172 --> 00:53:02,344 Is that a power shirt or what? 1252 00:53:02,448 --> 00:53:04,586 Nice suit Ellen, good shoulder pads. 1253 00:53:04,689 --> 00:53:06,275 You looking to get drafted by the Eagles? 1254 00:53:06,379 --> 00:53:07,655 [ Chuckles ] 1255 00:53:07,758 --> 00:53:09,724 "Thirtysomething" said, we're not gonna have cops, 1256 00:53:09,827 --> 00:53:10,758 lawyers, or doctors. 1257 00:53:10,862 --> 00:53:12,068 We're just gonna be about people. 1258 00:53:12,172 --> 00:53:14,793 What are we doing here? Why did we start this business? 1259 00:53:14,896 --> 00:53:16,310 To do our thing. 1260 00:53:16,413 --> 00:53:18,206 But right now we got two wives, 1261 00:53:18,310 --> 00:53:20,931 three kids, four cars, 1262 00:53:21,034 --> 00:53:23,000 two mortgages, a payroll. 1263 00:53:23,103 --> 00:53:24,482 And that's life, pal. 1264 00:53:24,586 --> 00:53:26,413 You be the breadwinner now. 1265 00:53:26,517 --> 00:53:28,448 Is that what I am? 1266 00:53:28,551 --> 00:53:30,655 Holmes: "Thirtysomething" is a very important show 1267 00:53:30,758 --> 00:53:33,724 as you're going into this era of television 1268 00:53:33,827 --> 00:53:35,448 being more introspective and more emotional. 1269 00:53:35,551 --> 00:53:36,931 And some people weren't buying it. 1270 00:53:37,034 --> 00:53:39,034 But for other people, when they were talking about things 1271 00:53:39,137 --> 00:53:42,448 like having kids and who was gonna go back to work 1272 00:53:42,551 --> 00:53:44,310 and some of these issues that hadn't been talked about 1273 00:53:44,413 --> 00:53:46,448 a whole lot, it was important to people. 1274 00:53:46,551 --> 00:53:49,413 [ Fussing, crying ] 1275 00:53:49,517 --> 00:53:51,137 I was so looking forward-- 1276 00:53:51,241 --> 00:53:54,344 [ Louder ] I was so looking forward to doing this, 1277 00:53:54,448 --> 00:53:57,034 to be a grownup for just an hour. 1278 00:53:57,137 --> 00:54:00,275 In the beginning, there was talk of this being 1279 00:54:00,379 --> 00:54:02,379 the yuppie show and you mentioned it tonight. 1280 00:54:02,482 --> 00:54:04,206 You-you said that if there were a category 1281 00:54:04,310 --> 00:54:06,620 for the most annoying show, this might win as well. 1282 00:54:06,724 --> 00:54:08,586 No, what some people perceive as annoying 1283 00:54:08,689 --> 00:54:09,793 has nothing to do with yuppie. 1284 00:54:09,896 --> 00:54:12,137 I think yuppie is a word made up by demographers 1285 00:54:12,241 --> 00:54:13,586 and advertisers to sell soap. 1286 00:54:13,689 --> 00:54:15,793 I don't think it has anything to do with what the show is. 1287 00:54:15,896 --> 00:54:19,000 "Thirtysomething" was not a giant hit. 1288 00:54:19,103 --> 00:54:21,965 But it was a niche hit. 1289 00:54:22,068 --> 00:54:25,758 It attracted an enormously upscale group of advertisers. 1290 00:54:25,862 --> 00:54:28,068 Shales: The network cared who was watching, 1291 00:54:28,172 --> 00:54:29,517 not how many were watching. 1292 00:54:29,620 --> 00:54:31,793 And that was more and more catching on in the '80s. 1293 00:54:33,103 --> 00:54:34,724 ♪ 1294 00:54:34,827 --> 00:54:37,275 Sifuentes: The prosecution will ask you that you look to the law 1295 00:54:37,379 --> 00:54:40,344 and this you must do. 1296 00:54:40,448 --> 00:54:44,103 But I ask of you that you look to your hearts as well. 1297 00:54:44,206 --> 00:54:45,448 Thank you. 1298 00:54:45,551 --> 00:54:49,103 Holmes: "L.A. Law" was partly a classic lawyer show. 1299 00:54:49,206 --> 00:54:51,551 But it was intertwined with their personal lives 1300 00:54:51,655 --> 00:54:53,517 and different lawyers who were sleeping together 1301 00:54:53,620 --> 00:54:55,586 and trying to get ahead. 1302 00:54:55,689 --> 00:54:57,551 Yost: The reality level on that show 1303 00:54:57,655 --> 00:54:59,758 was like a foot or two off the ground. 1304 00:54:59,862 --> 00:55:02,137 And you were willing to go with that 1305 00:55:02,241 --> 00:55:04,689 because it was a whole new spin on a law show. 1306 00:55:04,793 --> 00:55:06,241 Unh-unh, tell the truth. 1307 00:55:06,344 --> 00:55:08,344 If you had to do it all over again 1308 00:55:08,448 --> 00:55:10,068 and she walked into your office and she said, 1309 00:55:10,172 --> 00:55:11,482 take my case, would you? 1310 00:55:11,586 --> 00:55:13,000 Well... 1311 00:55:13,103 --> 00:55:17,620 Of course you would, because it is juicy, newsy, exciting stuff. 1312 00:55:17,724 --> 00:55:19,137 Bochco: It was really fun 1313 00:55:19,241 --> 00:55:22,137 to take the "Hill Street Blues" format 1314 00:55:22,241 --> 00:55:25,448 and use it to frame 1315 00:55:25,551 --> 00:55:29,931 an entirely different social and cultural strata 1316 00:55:30,034 --> 00:55:32,344 with vastly different results. 1317 00:55:32,448 --> 00:55:35,931 I wonder if I might engage with my client privately. 1318 00:55:36,034 --> 00:55:37,241 Certainly. 1319 00:55:37,344 --> 00:55:41,689 [ Sighs ] What are you doing for dinner tonight? 1320 00:55:41,793 --> 00:55:44,517 I was planning on having you. 1321 00:55:44,620 --> 00:55:46,931 In that case, skip lunch. 1322 00:55:47,034 --> 00:55:49,689 Bianculli: The formula had gotten established 1323 00:55:49,793 --> 00:55:51,655 of how you can do a dramatic show 1324 00:55:51,758 --> 00:55:54,413 and yet still have an awful lot of fun. 1325 00:55:54,517 --> 00:55:57,310 We didn't used to be able to accept that very easily 1326 00:55:57,413 --> 00:55:58,724 in a TV hour. 1327 00:55:58,827 --> 00:56:01,034 And even before the '80s are out, 1328 00:56:01,137 --> 00:56:02,517 it's like, "Oh, okay, I get it. 1329 00:56:02,620 --> 00:56:04,793 You know, so it's like, all right, what are the rules now?" 1330 00:56:04,896 --> 00:56:06,172 - What are you doing? - I'm doing what I 1331 00:56:06,275 --> 00:56:07,793 should have done all along....should have done all along. 1332 00:56:07,896 --> 00:56:09,206 What I wanted to do originally....do originally. 1333 00:56:09,310 --> 00:56:10,034 What I should have done 1334 00:56:10,137 --> 00:56:10,896 last night. ...last night. 1335 00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:12,172 - Stop that David! - Stop that David! 1336 00:56:12,275 --> 00:56:14,758 I'm calling the police, David!...the police, David! 1337 00:56:16,034 --> 00:56:17,275 - Hello, police? - Hello, police? 1338 00:56:17,379 --> 00:56:19,827 Shriver: The networks realized there was an audience 1339 00:56:19,931 --> 00:56:21,758 looking for something less predictable 1340 00:56:21,862 --> 00:56:23,655 than traditional prime-time fare. 1341 00:56:23,758 --> 00:56:25,034 - [ Groans ] - [ Gasps ] 1342 00:56:25,137 --> 00:56:26,620 Bianculli: "Moonlighting" was another of those shows 1343 00:56:26,724 --> 00:56:28,517 that said, "Okay, I see the formulas 1344 00:56:28,620 --> 00:56:29,655 that we've had up to here. 1345 00:56:29,758 --> 00:56:31,827 Let's do different things. 1346 00:56:34,896 --> 00:56:35,620 Hello. 1347 00:56:35,724 --> 00:56:37,034 Hello. 1348 00:56:37,137 --> 00:56:39,310 We're looking a little "pale" [pail] today, aren't we? 1349 00:56:39,413 --> 00:56:40,931 - And who have we here? - I don't know. 1350 00:56:41,034 --> 00:56:44,103 Moonlighting was a really experimental show. 1351 00:56:44,206 --> 00:56:46,000 They had a Shakespeare episode. 1352 00:56:46,103 --> 00:56:47,965 They had a black and white episode. 1353 00:56:48,068 --> 00:56:49,827 They did a musical episode. 1354 00:56:49,931 --> 00:56:51,724 They tried a lot of different stuff. 1355 00:56:51,827 --> 00:56:55,137 I don't give a flying fig about the lines in my face, 1356 00:56:55,241 --> 00:56:58,517 the crow's feet by my eyes, or the altitude of my caboose. 1357 00:56:58,620 --> 00:57:01,620 Well, I'm at a loss. 1358 00:57:01,724 --> 00:57:03,551 I don't know what a flying fig is. 1359 00:57:03,655 --> 00:57:06,689 That's okay, they do. 1360 00:57:06,793 --> 00:57:08,103 [ Cheers and applause ] 1361 00:57:08,206 --> 00:57:10,793 There's no trouble on the set. There is no trouble on the set. 1362 00:57:10,896 --> 00:57:13,517 Well, we have a very volatile relationship. 1363 00:57:13,620 --> 00:57:15,793 There is a hate/love element to it. 1364 00:57:15,896 --> 00:57:17,379 Easy come, easy go! Ha! 1365 00:57:17,482 --> 00:57:18,413 Burrows: The flirtations were great, 1366 00:57:18,517 --> 00:57:20,137 and Bruce and Cybill were great. 1367 00:57:20,241 --> 00:57:22,655 Glenn Caron kept them apart for a long time. 1368 00:57:22,758 --> 00:57:24,896 And bravo to him. 1369 00:57:25,000 --> 00:57:28,379 Bianculli: What they did was they took the Sam and Diane dynamic 1370 00:57:28,482 --> 00:57:30,655 from "Cheers" and escalated it. 1371 00:57:30,758 --> 00:57:32,551 "Cheers" was, "Will they or won't they?" 1372 00:57:32,655 --> 00:57:35,448 "Moonlighting" was, "Do they even want to?" 1373 00:57:35,551 --> 00:57:37,068 Stay away from me. 1374 00:57:37,172 --> 00:57:38,620 Here I come. 1375 00:57:38,724 --> 00:57:41,103 But I don't want you. I never wanted you. 1376 00:57:41,206 --> 00:57:42,241 Yeah, right. 1377 00:57:42,724 --> 00:57:46,068 Does entertaining mean at some point stopping the tease 1378 00:57:46,172 --> 00:57:47,172 of Dave and Maddie? 1379 00:57:47,275 --> 00:57:48,586 I mean, do they get together at some point? 1380 00:57:48,689 --> 00:57:50,896 I hope so. Well, that, that's gonna be resolved this year. 1381 00:57:51,000 --> 00:57:53,137 We like to think of it as two and a half years of foreplay. 1382 00:57:53,758 --> 00:57:55,000 Bianculli: People who had been watching 1383 00:57:55,103 --> 00:57:57,689 "Moonlighting" for years were waiting for this moment. 1384 00:57:57,793 --> 00:57:59,379 And your emotions are already there, 1385 00:57:59,482 --> 00:58:02,206 built onto the emotions that you're seeing on the screen. 1386 00:58:02,310 --> 00:58:04,896 So when "Be My Baby" by the Ronettes starts playing, 1387 00:58:05,000 --> 00:58:06,965 it's like a perfect storm of romance. 1388 00:58:07,068 --> 00:58:10,827 [ "Be My Baby" plays ] 1389 00:58:10,931 --> 00:58:14,931 ♪ The night we met I knew I 1390 00:58:15,034 --> 00:58:17,620 ♪ Needed you so 1391 00:58:28,137 --> 00:58:30,965 In recent years, it seems that television has become 1392 00:58:31,068 --> 00:58:33,241 a kind of an electronic confessional 1393 00:58:33,344 --> 00:58:35,758 where guests are willing to expose painful 1394 00:58:35,862 --> 00:58:38,413 and sometimes embarrassing aspects of their lives 1395 00:58:38,517 --> 00:58:40,793 quite readily to millions of viewers. 1396 00:58:40,896 --> 00:58:42,758 Bianculli: At the beginning of the decade, 1397 00:58:42,862 --> 00:58:45,275 we get the dominance of Phil Donahue. 1398 00:58:45,379 --> 00:58:48,827 And that's sort of a maturation of women's issues. 1399 00:58:48,931 --> 00:58:51,517 And he seemed to talk to them, in the audience, 1400 00:58:51,620 --> 00:58:53,793 he seemed to talk to them through the TV screen. 1401 00:58:53,896 --> 00:58:56,137 I'm glad you called. Kiss the kids. 1402 00:58:56,241 --> 00:58:57,310 [ Laughter ] 1403 00:58:57,413 --> 00:58:58,758 We'll be back in just a moment. 1404 00:58:58,862 --> 00:59:02,000 If you look at the body of work we've had, 1405 00:59:02,103 --> 00:59:05,000 you know, you're gonna see the '80s there. 1406 00:59:05,103 --> 00:59:06,689 I'm not here to say you're wrong, 1407 00:59:06,793 --> 00:59:08,482 but let's understand this. 1408 00:59:08,586 --> 00:59:11,206 When you bring a moral judgment without knowing them, 1409 00:59:11,310 --> 00:59:14,103 against them for the way that they look 1410 00:59:14,206 --> 00:59:18,931 they feel that confirms the reason for their rebellion, 1411 00:59:19,034 --> 00:59:20,827 if that's what you want to call it. 1412 00:59:20,931 --> 00:59:23,448 Mitchell: He really believed that daytime television 1413 00:59:23,551 --> 00:59:28,379 needed to talk about the ideas we were thinking about, 1414 00:59:28,482 --> 00:59:30,482 the issues we were concerned about. 1415 00:59:30,586 --> 00:59:33,068 [ Chuckles ] I don't want to characterize his question, 1416 00:59:33,172 --> 00:59:34,620 but why don't you get this fixed 1417 00:59:34,724 --> 00:59:36,482 instead of doing this screwy stuff? 1418 00:59:36,586 --> 00:59:38,344 There's not a single recorded case 1419 00:59:38,448 --> 00:59:41,724 in history of any transsexual, that ever, 1420 00:59:41,827 --> 00:59:43,275 through psychological treatment, changed. 1421 00:59:43,379 --> 00:59:45,068 It has never happened yet. 1422 00:59:45,172 --> 00:59:48,344 We were putting very important people on the program. 1423 00:59:48,448 --> 00:59:50,068 All kinds of people. 1424 00:59:50,172 --> 00:59:52,413 Gay people. People going to jail. 1425 00:59:52,517 --> 00:59:54,344 People running for office, you know? 1426 00:59:54,448 --> 00:59:56,000 Sometimes the same people. 1427 00:59:56,103 --> 00:59:58,896 It was a magic carpet ride. 1428 00:59:59,000 --> 01:00:01,517 You really do paint a very, very grim, picture 1429 01:00:01,620 --> 01:00:05,206 of the sitting President of the United States. 1430 01:00:05,310 --> 01:00:07,137 Let me just say this-- I think he's probably 1431 01:00:07,241 --> 01:00:09,241 the laziest president that I've ever seen. 1432 01:00:09,344 --> 01:00:12,965 The audience for Phil Donahue built and built and built 1433 01:00:13,068 --> 01:00:17,793 and built and led the way to "Oprah." 1434 01:00:17,896 --> 01:00:22,965 ♪ 1435 01:00:23,068 --> 01:00:24,275 [ Cheers and applause ] 1436 01:00:24,379 --> 01:00:26,310 Whoo! 1437 01:00:26,413 --> 01:00:29,413 Hello, everybody. Hello! 1438 01:00:29,517 --> 01:00:33,862 Mitchell: Oprah has a particularly magical combination 1439 01:00:33,965 --> 01:00:37,206 of her own background, her own experience, 1440 01:00:37,310 --> 01:00:42,379 her own incisive mind, and empathetic spirit. 1441 01:00:42,482 --> 01:00:45,034 Thank you. I'm Oprah Winfrey 1442 01:00:45,137 --> 01:00:48,241 and welcome to the very first national "Oprah Winfrey Show"! 1443 01:00:48,344 --> 01:00:49,793 [ Cheers and applause ] 1444 01:00:49,896 --> 01:00:51,620 Donahue: I was surprised at the rocket pace 1445 01:00:51,724 --> 01:00:54,931 that "Oprah" took off because it took us a lot longer. 1446 01:00:55,034 --> 01:00:57,620 The Donahue show rearranged the furniture, 1447 01:00:57,724 --> 01:01:00,448 but Oprah remodeled the whole house. 1448 01:01:00,551 --> 01:01:02,689 Winfrey: There are a lot of other people who are watching 1449 01:01:02,793 --> 01:01:05,551 who really don't understand what you mean when you say, 1450 01:01:05,655 --> 01:01:07,000 well, you know, we're in love. 1451 01:01:07,103 --> 01:01:09,000 Because I remember questioning my gay friends saying, you mean, 1452 01:01:09,103 --> 01:01:11,724 like, you feel about him the way I feel about... 1453 01:01:11,827 --> 01:01:14,655 It's kind of a strange concept, 1454 01:01:14,758 --> 01:01:16,586 you know, for a lot of people to accept. 1455 01:01:16,689 --> 01:01:19,241 Oprah was connecting with people in a way 1456 01:01:19,344 --> 01:01:21,310 that no one had on TV before. 1457 01:01:21,413 --> 01:01:24,137 And it was really special to see. 1458 01:01:24,241 --> 01:01:26,034 Well, did you know that for the longest time, 1459 01:01:26,137 --> 01:01:27,862 I wanted to be a fourth grade teacher because of you? 1460 01:01:27,965 --> 01:01:32,206 My, I was not aware of inspiring anyone. 1461 01:01:32,310 --> 01:01:34,758 I think you did exactly what teachers are supposed to do. 1462 01:01:34,862 --> 01:01:36,724 They create a spark for learning. 1463 01:01:36,827 --> 01:01:38,965 That's the reason I have a talk show today. 1464 01:01:39,068 --> 01:01:42,310 Oprah Winfrey now dominates the talk show circuit 1465 01:01:42,413 --> 01:01:44,793 both in the ratings and popularity. 1466 01:01:44,896 --> 01:01:49,206 I want to use my life as a source of lifting people up. 1467 01:01:49,310 --> 01:01:50,310 That's what I want to do. 1468 01:01:50,413 --> 01:01:52,068 That's what I do every day on my show. 1469 01:01:52,172 --> 01:01:54,448 You know, we get accused of being tabloid television 1470 01:01:54,551 --> 01:01:55,827 and sensational and so forth, 1471 01:01:55,931 --> 01:01:58,000 but what I really think we do more than anything else 1472 01:01:58,103 --> 01:02:01,206 is we serve as a voice to a lot of people 1473 01:02:01,310 --> 01:02:04,241 who felt up until perhaps my show or some of the others, 1474 01:02:04,344 --> 01:02:05,448 that they were alone. 1475 01:02:05,551 --> 01:02:08,931 This is what 67 pounds of fat looks like. 1476 01:02:09,034 --> 01:02:09,724 [ Audience murmurs, gasps ] 1477 01:02:09,827 --> 01:02:11,793 I can't, I can't lift it. 1478 01:02:11,896 --> 01:02:13,586 It is amazing to me that I can't lift it, 1479 01:02:13,689 --> 01:02:15,965 but I used to carry it around every day. 1480 01:02:16,068 --> 01:02:19,344 There's nothing more endearing to an audience 1481 01:02:19,448 --> 01:02:24,068 than to have that kind of honest and humility and courage 1482 01:02:24,172 --> 01:02:25,551 on the part of a host. 1483 01:02:25,655 --> 01:02:28,965 And that, I think, has a lot to do with her power. 1484 01:02:29,068 --> 01:02:30,793 It feels like I can do some good here. 1485 01:02:30,896 --> 01:02:34,241 And I really do think that the show does a lot of good. 1486 01:02:34,344 --> 01:02:37,310 ♪ 1487 01:02:37,413 --> 01:02:40,551 American television is drowning in talk shows. 1488 01:02:40,655 --> 01:02:43,620 But it's never seen anything like Morton Downy, Jr. 1489 01:02:43,724 --> 01:02:44,862 I want to tell you this story-- 1490 01:02:44,965 --> 01:02:46,379 Sit down and shut up! 1491 01:02:46,482 --> 01:02:47,793 Troy: Other competitors come 1492 01:02:47,896 --> 01:02:49,620 and take the television talk show 1493 01:02:49,724 --> 01:02:51,275 into two different directions. 1494 01:02:51,379 --> 01:02:52,482 So you start seeing the phenomenon 1495 01:02:52,586 --> 01:02:54,344 of daytime television shows 1496 01:02:54,448 --> 01:02:56,689 becoming less tame and more wild. 1497 01:02:56,793 --> 01:03:02,241 Hart: The '80s brought a lot of belligerence to television. 1498 01:03:02,344 --> 01:03:04,241 Whether it was Morton Downey, Jr. 1499 01:03:04,344 --> 01:03:06,482 being the offensive, 1500 01:03:06,586 --> 01:03:09,724 caricature-ish person that he was, 1501 01:03:09,827 --> 01:03:11,206 or Geraldo. 1502 01:03:11,310 --> 01:03:13,551 He did his own outlandish things. 1503 01:03:13,655 --> 01:03:15,482 Stay with us ladies and gentlemen. 1504 01:03:15,586 --> 01:03:18,482 We're gonna get into the mind of another all American boy 1505 01:03:18,586 --> 01:03:20,310 who came under the influence of Satanism 1506 01:03:20,413 --> 01:03:23,103 and took part in a crime without passion or motive. 1507 01:03:23,206 --> 01:03:24,655 Troy: Geraldo Rivera takes the power 1508 01:03:24,758 --> 01:03:26,448 of the talk show to a whole other level, 1509 01:03:26,551 --> 01:03:29,034 trying to put people on stage who hate each other, 1510 01:03:29,137 --> 01:03:30,413 who are gonna fight. 1511 01:03:30,517 --> 01:03:32,448 In the case of the temple of Set and the church of Satan, 1512 01:03:32,551 --> 01:03:35,206 we have not had any problems with criminal behavior. 1513 01:03:35,310 --> 01:03:39,620 Yet when you hear story after story after story of people 1514 01:03:39,724 --> 01:03:41,379 committing these wretched crimes, 1515 01:03:41,482 --> 01:03:43,586 these violent crimes in the devil's name? 1516 01:03:43,689 --> 01:03:46,241 Troy: The more tension there is, the more conflict there is, 1517 01:03:46,344 --> 01:03:48,724 the more violence there is, the more the ratings go up. 1518 01:03:48,827 --> 01:03:50,655 And the American people love to complain about it, 1519 01:03:50,758 --> 01:03:52,103 but they also love to watch. 1520 01:03:52,206 --> 01:03:55,206 Brokaw: Geraldo Rivera is back in a controversy tonight. 1521 01:03:55,310 --> 01:03:56,586 Rivera drew sharp criticism 1522 01:03:56,689 --> 01:03:59,172 with his recent television special on devil worship. 1523 01:03:59,275 --> 01:04:02,172 But today he found himself in a real free for all. 1524 01:04:02,275 --> 01:04:05,172 I get sick and tired of seeing Uncle Tom here, sucking up, 1525 01:04:05,275 --> 01:04:06,482 trying to be a white man. 1526 01:04:06,586 --> 01:04:08,413 Go ahead, Troy, go ahead. Now, let me tell you-- 1527 01:04:08,517 --> 01:04:09,448 [ Audience shouting ] 1528 01:04:09,551 --> 01:04:10,517 - Sit down, man. - Hey! 1529 01:04:10,620 --> 01:04:11,620 Come on. No. 1530 01:04:11,724 --> 01:04:13,000 You got it coming. You got it coming. 1531 01:04:13,103 --> 01:04:14,379 Dude... Get up and get it. 1532 01:04:14,482 --> 01:04:15,413 Nah. Hey, hold it! 1533 01:04:15,517 --> 01:04:16,517 Hold it! Sit down! 1534 01:04:16,620 --> 01:04:18,413 [ Indistinct shouting ] 1535 01:04:23,310 --> 01:04:24,793 Brokaw: Rivera suffered a broken nose 1536 01:04:24,896 --> 01:04:26,275 but he says the show will be broadcast 1537 01:04:26,379 --> 01:04:29,310 later this month in its entirety. 1538 01:04:29,413 --> 01:04:33,172 Well, that's not something, you know, I would have done. 1539 01:04:33,275 --> 01:04:36,275 But there was a lot of hypocrisy. 1540 01:04:36,379 --> 01:04:39,448 One of the major magazines put the picture of Geraldo 1541 01:04:39,551 --> 01:04:41,517 getting hit with a chair on the cover. 1542 01:04:41,620 --> 01:04:43,172 And the article said, "Isn't this awful? 1543 01:04:43,275 --> 01:04:44,517 Look what's happened to television." 1544 01:04:44,620 --> 01:04:46,172 And yet they couldn't wait to use it 1545 01:04:46,275 --> 01:04:47,689 to sell their own magazine. 1546 01:04:47,793 --> 01:04:49,827 Let's go to the audience, all right. 1547 01:04:49,931 --> 01:04:51,862 I want to speak to you guys. You guys are... 1548 01:04:51,965 --> 01:04:53,931 Shales: Over the years, broadcasting has deteriorated. 1549 01:04:54,034 --> 01:04:55,689 And now in this era of deregulation, 1550 01:04:55,793 --> 01:04:57,103 it's deteriorating further. 1551 01:04:57,206 --> 01:05:01,172 Give people light, and they will find their own way. Relax. 1552 01:05:01,275 --> 01:05:03,586 America will survive the talk shows. 1553 01:05:14,275 --> 01:05:19,413 ♪ 1554 01:05:19,517 --> 01:05:21,482 Troy: A big thing that changes in the '80s 1555 01:05:21,586 --> 01:05:23,482 is the number of hours spent watching television. 1556 01:05:23,586 --> 01:05:24,965 [ Whistles ] Goes up. 1557 01:05:25,068 --> 01:05:26,655 The number of hours spent 1558 01:05:26,758 --> 01:05:28,448 talking about television goes up. 1559 01:05:28,551 --> 01:05:30,000 One of the symbols of this phenomenon 1560 01:05:30,103 --> 01:05:31,896 is "Entertainment Tonight." 1561 01:05:32,000 --> 01:05:35,965 Hi, I'm Tom Hallick and welcome to our opening night, 1562 01:05:36,068 --> 01:05:38,931 the premiere edition of "Entertainment Tonight." 1563 01:05:39,034 --> 01:05:42,000 Hart: All of the critics were kind of unanimous 1564 01:05:42,103 --> 01:05:43,586 in that they said, 1565 01:05:43,689 --> 01:05:44,931 "It'll never last 1566 01:05:45,034 --> 01:05:47,689 because there simply isn't enough entertainment news 1567 01:05:47,793 --> 01:05:49,068 to fill a half-hour every night. 1568 01:05:49,172 --> 01:05:51,862 "Entertainment Tonight" has surveyed TV critics 1569 01:05:51,965 --> 01:05:53,793 in the United States and Canada 1570 01:05:53,896 --> 01:05:56,758 to find out which television shows had the most impact 1571 01:05:56,862 --> 01:05:58,413 on viewers over the years. 1572 01:05:58,517 --> 01:06:02,206 Now, up until this time, nobody had done television like this. 1573 01:06:02,310 --> 01:06:03,655 Nobody. 1574 01:06:03,758 --> 01:06:06,724 Burt Reynolds, the hottest actor in Hollywood. 1575 01:06:06,827 --> 01:06:07,551 I'm surprised to see you here. 1576 01:06:07,655 --> 01:06:08,310 Well, I'm glad to see you. 1577 01:06:08,413 --> 01:06:09,413 Well, thank you. 1578 01:06:09,517 --> 01:06:10,586 We can meet here every night if you'd like. 1579 01:06:10,689 --> 01:06:11,448 Thank you. I'd love it. 1580 01:06:11,551 --> 01:06:12,379 [ Women "Ohh" ] 1581 01:06:12,482 --> 01:06:13,620 Leach: A lot of what makes 1582 01:06:13,724 --> 01:06:15,413 successful television programming 1583 01:06:15,517 --> 01:06:18,862 is being in the right place at the right time. 1584 01:06:18,965 --> 01:06:20,413 And it was the right time. 1585 01:06:20,517 --> 01:06:23,241 Mitchell: Entertainment journalism evolved 1586 01:06:23,344 --> 01:06:26,724 as the audience got more curious and had more access. 1587 01:06:26,827 --> 01:06:27,931 Until that point, 1588 01:06:28,034 --> 01:06:29,896 the entertainment business had been something 1589 01:06:30,000 --> 01:06:32,172 that we didn't know all that much about. 1590 01:06:32,275 --> 01:06:35,103 Hart: We could go behind the scenes in our effort 1591 01:06:35,206 --> 01:06:38,137 to really give an insider's look. 1592 01:06:38,241 --> 01:06:41,137 The crafty old J.R. of "Dallas" fame was with his mother, 1593 01:06:41,241 --> 01:06:44,034 actress Mary Martin as he was presented with a star 1594 01:06:44,137 --> 01:06:45,482 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 1595 01:06:45,586 --> 01:06:48,793 It was very honorific of the industry. 1596 01:06:48,896 --> 01:06:50,793 They would do serious coverage of it. 1597 01:06:50,896 --> 01:06:52,827 It wasn't salacious and you would see actors 1598 01:06:52,931 --> 01:06:56,448 speaking as actors instead of on a Johnny Carson show. 1599 01:06:56,551 --> 01:06:58,172 Man: What are you like off camera? 1600 01:06:58,275 --> 01:06:59,965 I'm like this. Oh, this is on camera. 1601 01:07:00,068 --> 01:07:01,448 This is on camera. 1602 01:07:01,551 --> 01:07:05,137 Hanks: It was the beginning of a lot of money being made 1603 01:07:05,241 --> 01:07:08,448 talking about entertainment and celebrities. 1604 01:07:08,551 --> 01:07:10,551 Robert Redford plays the good guy in the movies, 1605 01:07:10,655 --> 01:07:12,482 but don't tell that to his neighbors in Utah. 1606 01:07:12,586 --> 01:07:13,586 They are still bitter 1607 01:07:13,689 --> 01:07:15,620 and Redford is the target of their ire. 1608 01:07:15,724 --> 01:07:17,862 Hart: The audience grew and grew. 1609 01:07:17,965 --> 01:07:19,620 And that was showing us that the appetite 1610 01:07:19,724 --> 01:07:23,310 for celebrity news was big. It was big. 1611 01:07:23,413 --> 01:07:26,448 Get ready for "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," 1612 01:07:26,551 --> 01:07:30,137 television's most dazzling hour of excitement! 1613 01:07:30,241 --> 01:07:32,413 Hi, I'm Robin Leach in Monaco, 1614 01:07:32,517 --> 01:07:34,862 the glittering gem of the Riviera. 1615 01:07:34,965 --> 01:07:40,034 And you've got a VIP ticket to Prince Rainier's private party. 1616 01:07:40,137 --> 01:07:42,724 Your Sunday newspaper is still delivered 1617 01:07:42,827 --> 01:07:45,000 with the comics around the news. 1618 01:07:45,103 --> 01:07:48,206 And that was what I always thought "Lifestyles" was. 1619 01:07:48,310 --> 01:07:50,103 We were the comic around the news. 1620 01:07:50,206 --> 01:07:53,965 Except we did it as seriously as they did news. 1621 01:07:54,068 --> 01:07:56,655 Finally in the driving seat of his own career, 1622 01:07:56,758 --> 01:07:59,137 he burned rubber in a new direction. 1623 01:07:59,241 --> 01:08:01,448 David Hasselhoff-- rock idol. 1624 01:08:01,551 --> 01:08:05,827 Hart: It was a time where pushing the limits with wealth 1625 01:08:05,931 --> 01:08:10,068 and ostentatiousness in a lot of cases was very comfortable. 1626 01:08:10,172 --> 01:08:12,758 One of the earliest stories that we presented to you 1627 01:08:12,862 --> 01:08:16,172 on "Lifestyles" was about the amazing real-estate wizard 1628 01:08:16,275 --> 01:08:17,551 Donald Trump. 1629 01:08:17,655 --> 01:08:19,586 If he didn't shock and surprise you back then, 1630 01:08:19,689 --> 01:08:22,172 he's had plenty of time since. 1631 01:08:22,275 --> 01:08:25,413 With all of this costing billions, not millions, 1632 01:08:25,517 --> 01:08:27,172 do the figures ever frighten you? 1633 01:08:27,275 --> 01:08:28,758 The answer is no. It's my business. 1634 01:08:28,862 --> 01:08:30,758 It's my life. It's my lifestyle. 1635 01:08:30,862 --> 01:08:33,379 I love it. The good, the bad. 1636 01:08:33,482 --> 01:08:36,586 Does this bring with it political aspirations? 1637 01:08:36,689 --> 01:08:38,655 No political aspiration. 1638 01:08:38,758 --> 01:08:41,931 Bob Brown: Your show has gotten a lot of ridicule. 1639 01:08:42,034 --> 01:08:45,172 There are people who say it's nothing more than trash. 1640 01:08:45,275 --> 01:08:46,931 That doesn't upset me because I think 1641 01:08:47,034 --> 01:08:48,862 it's the best trash there is on television. 1642 01:08:48,965 --> 01:08:52,068 I am not in the business of brain surgery. 1643 01:08:52,172 --> 01:08:54,206 I am in the business of fluff. 1644 01:08:54,310 --> 01:08:55,965 Connelly: It's the fantasy element 1645 01:08:56,068 --> 01:08:58,103 at a time when the access is possible. 1646 01:08:58,206 --> 01:09:00,965 It's escapism and it's aspirational. 1647 01:09:01,068 --> 01:09:03,206 You want to stand in a hot tub with a glass of champagne? 1648 01:09:03,310 --> 01:09:04,758 Rock on! 1649 01:09:04,862 --> 01:09:08,896 Leach: We'd never seen that kind of wealth ever before. 1650 01:09:09,000 --> 01:09:11,689 We didn't mock it, we didn't say it was right, 1651 01:09:11,793 --> 01:09:13,551 and we didn't say it was wrong. 1652 01:09:13,655 --> 01:09:16,689 We were just through the keyhole. 1653 01:09:16,793 --> 01:09:19,310 Sometimes, you know, it absolutely amazes me. 1654 01:09:19,413 --> 01:09:23,103 I walk away from a shoot and I think, "Well, we did it again." 1655 01:09:23,206 --> 01:09:25,689 There was more of everything in TV by the '80s. 1656 01:09:25,793 --> 01:09:28,965 Your opportunities for watching stuff is increasingly vast. 1657 01:09:29,068 --> 01:09:32,068 Announcer: NBC presents "Real People." 1658 01:09:32,172 --> 01:09:35,000 My name's Michael B. Wilson. 1659 01:09:35,103 --> 01:09:36,931 The thought dawned on me that the application 1660 01:09:37,034 --> 01:09:38,655 of a small motor on a pair of roller skates 1661 01:09:38,758 --> 01:09:40,517 might really be a great thing. 1662 01:09:40,620 --> 01:09:42,655 Barbour: Somebody once said that each one of us 1663 01:09:42,758 --> 01:09:44,793 will be a star for 15 minutes. 1664 01:09:44,896 --> 01:09:46,862 And I think that that's probably going to happen. 1665 01:09:46,965 --> 01:09:49,172 Troy: American culture used to be a culture that celebrated 1666 01:09:49,275 --> 01:09:52,206 privacy and in the 1980s as we're watching celebrities 1667 01:09:52,310 --> 01:09:56,344 sort of play out onstage, "Hey, I want to join, too." 1668 01:09:56,448 --> 01:09:59,137 All the world becomes a stage and you start seeing shows 1669 01:09:59,241 --> 01:10:01,379 like "Real People" or "The People's Court." 1670 01:10:01,482 --> 01:10:02,620 Announcer: The People's Court-- 1671 01:10:02,724 --> 01:10:06,379 Where reality television is taken one step further. 1672 01:10:06,482 --> 01:10:09,827 To see more TV, producers had to come up with 1673 01:10:09,931 --> 01:10:13,241 new and different ways to give them television. 1674 01:10:13,344 --> 01:10:15,241 Don't. Be. Stupid. 1675 01:10:15,344 --> 01:10:17,241 Carl, get over here! 1676 01:10:17,344 --> 01:10:19,068 [ Screams ] 1677 01:10:19,172 --> 01:10:20,448 I told you not to be stupid! 1678 01:10:20,551 --> 01:10:23,137 Bianculli: What "Cops" did was it took away the script 1679 01:10:23,241 --> 01:10:27,275 and just brought the camera people and the crews on location 1680 01:10:27,379 --> 01:10:29,896 to try and catch actual things happening. 1681 01:10:30,000 --> 01:10:31,241 Cocaine... 1682 01:10:31,344 --> 01:10:33,551 Possession of a stolen firearm no less. 1683 01:10:33,655 --> 01:10:35,448 What else are you gonna do? 1684 01:10:45,586 --> 01:10:49,103 ♪ 1685 01:10:49,206 --> 01:10:51,275 Officiant: With this ring... 1686 01:10:51,379 --> 01:10:52,344 With this ring... 1687 01:10:52,448 --> 01:10:53,172 I thee wed. 1688 01:10:53,275 --> 01:10:54,862 I thee wed. 1689 01:10:54,965 --> 01:10:56,310 With my body... 1690 01:10:56,413 --> 01:10:57,517 With my body... 1691 01:10:57,620 --> 01:10:58,517 I thee bond. 1692 01:10:58,620 --> 01:11:00,137 I thee bond. 1693 01:11:00,241 --> 01:11:03,068 Connelly: The biggest television event of the 1980s 1694 01:11:03,172 --> 01:11:05,137 is the marriage of Charles and Diana. 1695 01:11:05,241 --> 01:11:07,586 It's like the world stopped when that happened. 1696 01:11:07,689 --> 01:11:09,862 I mean, that was, like, just massive. 1697 01:11:09,965 --> 01:11:12,137 Reporter: This was the final act of a spectacle 1698 01:11:12,241 --> 01:11:15,758 that may never again be seen in this century, if ever. 1699 01:11:15,862 --> 01:11:17,689 Rather: The Archbishop of Canterbury called the wedding 1700 01:11:17,793 --> 01:11:20,068 of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer today 1701 01:11:20,172 --> 01:11:21,655 the stuff of fairy tales. 1702 01:11:21,758 --> 01:11:24,068 Chancellor: Good evening. The royal couple at this hour 1703 01:11:24,172 --> 01:11:25,413 is off on the honeymoon, 1704 01:11:25,517 --> 01:11:27,827 while a lot of people here in London tonight 1705 01:11:27,931 --> 01:11:30,379 are still talking about the events of the day. 1706 01:11:30,482 --> 01:11:32,965 Troy: When you have great moments like the royal wedding, 1707 01:11:33,068 --> 01:11:35,379 they're a part of history and it's done beautifully 1708 01:11:35,482 --> 01:11:37,965 and everybody has a chance to watch it all on television. 1709 01:11:38,068 --> 01:11:41,793 Everybody just wants to drink a toast to Chuck and Di. 1710 01:11:41,896 --> 01:11:44,896 Jennings: A princess who must now be aware as it was 1711 01:11:45,000 --> 01:11:48,103 on this day that every single move she makes in public 1712 01:11:48,206 --> 01:11:50,551 will be recorded and observed. 1713 01:11:50,655 --> 01:11:53,482 A very difficult life indeed. 1714 01:11:53,586 --> 01:11:56,068 We'll be back in just a moment with some closing observations 1715 01:11:56,172 --> 01:12:00,000 and one final look at what has justifiably been called 1716 01:12:00,103 --> 01:12:01,896 the wedding of the century. 1717 01:12:02,000 --> 01:12:04,896 Officiant: By the authority of the state of New York, 1718 01:12:05,000 --> 01:12:08,655 I pronounce that they are husband and wife. 1719 01:12:08,758 --> 01:12:10,137 You may kiss the bride. 1720 01:12:10,241 --> 01:12:12,758 [ Cheers and applause ] 1721 01:12:12,862 --> 01:12:16,137 Your wedding was seen by an astonishing number of people-- 1722 01:12:16,241 --> 01:12:17,931 16 and 19 million viewers. 1723 01:12:18,034 --> 01:12:19,206 How do you account for that kind of popularity? 1724 01:12:19,310 --> 01:12:21,310 Oh, I can't. I can't. 1725 01:12:21,413 --> 01:12:24,896 The way it's grown, it's just-- it's amazing to me. 1726 01:12:25,000 --> 01:12:28,482 Connelly: It did appear in the '80s that it was a good time 1727 01:12:28,586 --> 01:12:29,827 for daytime soap operas, 1728 01:12:29,931 --> 01:12:31,827 especially for a show like "General Hospital," 1729 01:12:31,931 --> 01:12:34,689 which had that huge success with Luke and Laura's wedding. 1730 01:12:34,793 --> 01:12:37,758 Duffy: I remember when Luke and Laura got married 1731 01:12:37,862 --> 01:12:40,655 because it was nighttime newsworthy. 1732 01:12:40,758 --> 01:12:45,000 The soap opera discovers the blockbuster mentality, 1733 01:12:45,103 --> 01:12:46,827 the sweeps month mentality. 1734 01:12:46,931 --> 01:12:50,206 Like, what can we do to get even more people watching. 1735 01:12:50,310 --> 01:12:52,620 You have a wedding. You have a kidnapping. 1736 01:12:52,724 --> 01:12:54,206 You have an evil twin. 1737 01:12:54,310 --> 01:12:56,793 And prime time stole from daytime. 1738 01:12:56,896 --> 01:12:59,655 Reporter: After "Dallas" proved that Ewing Oil was better 1739 01:12:59,758 --> 01:13:01,689 than real oil for CBS, 1740 01:13:01,793 --> 01:13:03,862 the networks rushed to give the public more. 1741 01:13:03,965 --> 01:13:06,965 Troy: The great prime-time soap operas of the 1980s. 1742 01:13:07,068 --> 01:13:10,517 "Dallas," "Dynasty." They're all about excess. 1743 01:13:10,620 --> 01:13:12,551 This is about being over the top, 1744 01:13:12,655 --> 01:13:14,172 stabbing each other in the back, 1745 01:13:14,275 --> 01:13:17,137 going for the gusto, and having fun. 1746 01:13:17,241 --> 01:13:21,103 I know what's wrong with you. The empty armed Madonna. 1747 01:13:21,206 --> 01:13:23,655 Mourning the baby that she couldn't have 1748 01:13:23,758 --> 01:13:26,862 and the baby that she almost got to adopt. 1749 01:13:26,965 --> 01:13:28,344 That is it, isn't it? 1750 01:13:28,448 --> 01:13:31,793 Oh, you miserable bitch! 1751 01:13:36,448 --> 01:13:38,482 Yost: There was a bigness to the stories. 1752 01:13:38,586 --> 01:13:40,517 And that they could afford to do on a network, 1753 01:13:40,620 --> 01:13:41,862 if you're doing one episode a week. 1754 01:13:41,965 --> 01:13:43,344 Now you can't do that if you're doing five episodes 1755 01:13:43,448 --> 01:13:45,689 a week for a daytime show. 1756 01:13:45,793 --> 01:13:49,344 So just the production value gave it that pizzazz. 1757 01:13:49,448 --> 01:13:52,931 Reporter: If you can't have it, watch other people with it. 1758 01:13:53,034 --> 01:13:55,517 Or so say the three networks who are programming 1759 01:13:55,620 --> 01:13:57,862 nearly 40% of their prime-time fare 1760 01:13:57,965 --> 01:13:59,620 with series about the very rich. 1761 01:13:59,724 --> 01:14:02,344 And the public is devouring it at such a rate 1762 01:14:02,448 --> 01:14:05,275 that make believe money has become ratings gold. 1763 01:14:05,379 --> 01:14:06,689 [ Screams ] 1764 01:14:06,793 --> 01:14:08,689 Hart: The characters were larger than life. 1765 01:14:08,793 --> 01:14:12,620 They were more evil and more cunning and manipulative. 1766 01:14:12,724 --> 01:14:15,241 And more gorgeous. I mean, really. 1767 01:14:15,344 --> 01:14:17,413 Look at the way they were dressed. 1768 01:14:17,517 --> 01:14:20,586 Look at the way they lived. Everything, it was fascinating. 1769 01:14:20,689 --> 01:14:21,862 - Alexis? - Yes. 1770 01:14:21,965 --> 01:14:24,206 I didn't thank you for your present. 1771 01:14:25,172 --> 01:14:27,482 [ Gasps ] 1772 01:14:27,586 --> 01:14:31,206 [ Sighs ] 1773 01:14:31,310 --> 01:14:34,862 It's he you should slap, dear, not I. 1774 01:14:34,965 --> 01:14:36,862 Julie Brown: We all wanted to live like, you know, 1775 01:14:36,965 --> 01:14:39,000 we were on "Dynasty," like the Carringtons. 1776 01:14:39,103 --> 01:14:41,827 And it all just ended up being a wonderful picture 1777 01:14:41,931 --> 01:14:44,551 of fun and debauchery. 1778 01:14:44,655 --> 01:14:47,413 Yost: Greed was encouraged in the '80s. 1779 01:14:47,517 --> 01:14:51,793 There was a sense of conspicuous consumption as being okay. 1780 01:14:51,896 --> 01:14:53,448 And those shows kind of exploited that. 1781 01:14:53,551 --> 01:14:55,931 Catherine Mann: Prime-time families like the Carringtons 1782 01:14:56,034 --> 01:14:58,793 who live here in luxury on the "Dynasty" sound stage 1783 01:14:58,896 --> 01:15:01,586 are not the only rich folk on TV. 1784 01:15:01,689 --> 01:15:03,068 In the last five years, 1785 01:15:03,172 --> 01:15:06,172 more than half of all new shows have featured the wealthy. 1786 01:15:06,275 --> 01:15:08,689 10 years ago, that figure was zero. 1787 01:15:08,793 --> 01:15:11,620 There was an accident. Your father's dead. 1788 01:15:12,827 --> 01:15:15,068 Connelly: Falcon Crest was a wine family. 1789 01:15:15,172 --> 01:15:16,413 There's Lorenzo Lamas 1790 01:15:16,517 --> 01:15:18,724 and there's Ronald Reagan's first wife, 1791 01:15:18,827 --> 01:15:21,241 Jane Wyman is on that show. 1792 01:15:21,344 --> 01:15:22,896 Emma is pregnant. 1793 01:15:24,655 --> 01:15:26,103 I know a doctor who can take care of it right away. 1794 01:15:26,206 --> 01:15:28,310 That will never happen. 1795 01:15:28,413 --> 01:15:31,758 All of those shows were, "Oh, my God, what's next? 1796 01:15:31,862 --> 01:15:34,517 What's gonna happen with that? He can't get away with that." 1797 01:15:34,620 --> 01:15:36,344 And then you tune in. It was appointment television. 1798 01:15:36,448 --> 01:15:38,517 Announcer: What will become of the missing twins 1799 01:15:38,620 --> 01:15:39,793 on Knots Landing? 1800 01:15:39,896 --> 01:15:40,758 What? 1801 01:15:40,862 --> 01:15:42,689 Connelly: They all had spin-offs. 1802 01:15:42,793 --> 01:15:44,620 "Dallas" had the spin-off "Knots Landing." 1803 01:15:44,724 --> 01:15:47,517 "The Colbys" was the spin-off for "Dynasty." 1804 01:15:47,620 --> 01:15:49,931 They were seeing how much they could max this stuff out. 1805 01:15:50,034 --> 01:15:51,172 'Cause it was really successful. 1806 01:15:51,275 --> 01:15:53,241 Where's your son Miles? 1807 01:15:53,344 --> 01:15:55,068 Isn't he going to be a part of this venture, 1808 01:15:55,172 --> 01:15:57,724 or is he just playing polo as usual? 1809 01:15:57,827 --> 01:15:59,068 [ Laughter ] 1810 01:15:59,172 --> 01:16:01,000 The Colbys can always find room for another trophy. 1811 01:16:01,103 --> 01:16:02,448 [ Laughter ] 1812 01:16:02,551 --> 01:16:05,034 Corday: You had these people fighting over oil 1813 01:16:05,137 --> 01:16:09,517 and mansions and it was fantasy, 1814 01:16:09,620 --> 01:16:13,827 but in a kind of so over the top way 1815 01:16:13,931 --> 01:16:15,620 that it was fun. 1816 01:16:15,724 --> 01:16:19,413 There's nothing devious about using your femininity. 1817 01:16:19,517 --> 01:16:21,689 Bianculli: These shows took themselves 1818 01:16:21,793 --> 01:16:24,965 so unseriously that they were camp. 1819 01:16:25,068 --> 01:16:27,586 But that was okay with the central audience 1820 01:16:27,689 --> 01:16:28,896 that was loving them. 1821 01:16:29,000 --> 01:16:29,965 Duffy: It was entertainment. 1822 01:16:30,068 --> 01:16:31,724 We weren't trying to do high drama. 1823 01:16:31,827 --> 01:16:33,620 We were there to entertain. We were glossy. 1824 01:16:33,724 --> 01:16:35,310 There was no getting around it. 1825 01:16:35,413 --> 01:16:37,448 We knew what we were there for and we did it as best we could. 1826 01:16:47,620 --> 01:16:49,931 Gumbel: Australia's most important export 1827 01:16:50,034 --> 01:16:53,172 may be neither its animals nor its beer nor its films. 1828 01:16:53,275 --> 01:16:55,068 Could in fact be one Rupert Murdoch. 1829 01:16:55,172 --> 01:16:57,827 55-year-old Mr. Murdoch is in the midst of building 1830 01:16:57,931 --> 01:17:01,310 what Forbes magazine says is the most extensive media empire 1831 01:17:01,413 --> 01:17:02,655 in history. 1832 01:17:02,758 --> 01:17:04,586 Heilemann: A huge development in television. 1833 01:17:04,689 --> 01:17:06,827 The gemini of the three broadcast networks 1834 01:17:06,931 --> 01:17:08,896 was presumed to be complete and Rupert Murdoch 1835 01:17:09,000 --> 01:17:11,620 having disrupted the newspaper business in Australia, 1836 01:17:11,724 --> 01:17:13,000 the television business in Britain. 1837 01:17:13,103 --> 01:17:14,413 He arrives in America and basically says, 1838 01:17:14,517 --> 01:17:15,620 I don't really see why there should only be 1839 01:17:15,724 --> 01:17:16,448 three broadcast networks. 1840 01:17:16,551 --> 01:17:17,448 I'm gonna make another one. 1841 01:17:17,551 --> 01:17:19,724 This was a big, bold bet. 1842 01:17:19,827 --> 01:17:21,482 Jensen: Meantime, he will have to become 1843 01:17:21,586 --> 01:17:24,896 an American citizen if he is to own TV stations here. 1844 01:17:25,000 --> 01:17:27,448 Something Murdoch says he is willing to do. 1845 01:17:27,551 --> 01:17:29,172 Gumbel: There are some people who are saying 1846 01:17:29,275 --> 01:17:33,103 that it'll take you 20 years to get your Fox network 1847 01:17:33,206 --> 01:17:34,724 on a par with the big three. 1848 01:17:34,827 --> 01:17:36,275 Are you prepared to wait that long? 1849 01:17:36,379 --> 01:17:38,413 Sure, I certainly intend to live that long. 1850 01:17:38,517 --> 01:17:40,655 But I don't believe in the 20 years. 1851 01:17:40,758 --> 01:17:43,000 Auletta: The reaction to Murdoch's idea 1852 01:17:43,103 --> 01:17:46,034 for a fourth network was similar to the reaction at Ted Turner 1853 01:17:46,137 --> 01:17:48,172 starting CNN. It's ridiculous, you know. 1854 01:17:48,275 --> 01:17:50,586 What does he know about television? 1855 01:17:50,689 --> 01:17:53,137 We don't think of ourselves as ABC, CBS or NBC. 1856 01:17:53,241 --> 01:17:54,413 We don't have to reach everyone. 1857 01:17:54,517 --> 01:17:56,793 There's no question we have an inferior lineup 1858 01:17:56,896 --> 01:17:58,379 of stations to our counterparts. 1859 01:17:58,482 --> 01:17:59,793 That means we'll all have to work harder 1860 01:17:59,896 --> 01:18:02,137 to get our-our message across and get shows sampled. 1861 01:18:02,241 --> 01:18:05,931 Auletta: They had an idea that, "In order to succeed 1862 01:18:06,034 --> 01:18:08,068 we have to differentiate ourselves from the networks. 1863 01:18:08,172 --> 01:18:10,344 We have to do things they would not do." 1864 01:18:10,448 --> 01:18:12,827 Fox started throwing anything against the wall, 1865 01:18:12,931 --> 01:18:14,310 not knowing what was gonna go. 1866 01:18:14,413 --> 01:18:17,862 First shows were things like "21 Jump Street"... 1867 01:18:17,965 --> 01:18:20,310 What exactly are we looking for here? 1868 01:18:20,413 --> 01:18:21,827 Bianculli: ...Joan Rivers in terms of late night... 1869 01:18:21,931 --> 01:18:24,620 We have been banned in Boston, which I think is wonderful. 1870 01:18:24,724 --> 01:18:28,448 WXNE, so pick a finger WXNE. 1871 01:18:28,551 --> 01:18:30,275 Bianculli: ...and "The Tracey Ullman Show." 1872 01:18:30,379 --> 01:18:33,379 Oh, Polly! 1873 01:18:33,482 --> 01:18:35,758 Levine: It was a sketch show 1874 01:18:35,862 --> 01:18:40,758 and they needed something to go between the sketches. 1875 01:18:40,862 --> 01:18:42,482 And again, they were looking for something different. 1876 01:18:42,586 --> 01:18:44,482 I gotta have those candy bars. 1877 01:18:44,586 --> 01:18:47,241 You better not be thinking of stealing those candy bars. 1878 01:18:47,344 --> 01:18:48,413 That's it! 1879 01:18:48,517 --> 01:18:52,206 "The Simpsons" would never have come along 1880 01:18:52,310 --> 01:18:55,137 had it not been for "The Tracey Ullman Show." 1881 01:18:55,241 --> 01:18:58,068 Ultimately, crime hurts the criminal. 1882 01:18:58,172 --> 01:19:01,379 But that's not true Mom. I gotta free ride home didn't I? 1883 01:19:01,482 --> 01:19:02,241 Bart! 1884 01:19:02,344 --> 01:19:04,241 Levine: Fox was thrilled 1885 01:19:04,344 --> 01:19:06,068 that it was different. 1886 01:19:06,172 --> 01:19:07,655 They said, sure, be experimental. 1887 01:19:07,758 --> 01:19:08,793 Do whatever you want. 1888 01:19:08,896 --> 01:19:10,655 We're just happy to have a show on the air. 1889 01:19:10,758 --> 01:19:13,172 [ Laughter ] 1890 01:19:13,275 --> 01:19:14,724 I'm home! 1891 01:19:14,827 --> 01:19:15,620 Bianculli: "Married With Children" 1892 01:19:15,724 --> 01:19:17,827 was their first big, big hit 1893 01:19:17,931 --> 01:19:20,758 in that way that said if all the rest of television 1894 01:19:20,862 --> 01:19:23,586 is going this way, we're going that way. 1895 01:19:23,689 --> 01:19:26,862 Bud, Kelly, you want to come down and help me in the kitchen? 1896 01:19:26,965 --> 01:19:27,896 [ Doors slam ] 1897 01:19:28,000 --> 01:19:30,931 [ Chuckles ] 1898 01:19:31,034 --> 01:19:34,724 There, that should buy us about 10 minutes. 1899 01:19:34,827 --> 01:19:38,413 7 more than we'll need. [ Chuckles ] 1900 01:19:38,517 --> 01:19:40,448 Mandabach: The title of "Married With Children" 1901 01:19:40,551 --> 01:19:42,689 on the script was "Not The Cosby Show." 1902 01:19:42,793 --> 01:19:45,275 How great. I mean, you know, you have to love that. 1903 01:19:45,379 --> 01:19:48,137 They just were taking the piss out of American families. 1904 01:19:48,241 --> 01:19:49,551 Fun, great fun. 1905 01:19:49,655 --> 01:19:50,965 Hurry up Bud. 1906 01:19:51,068 --> 01:19:52,206 Never wanted to get married, I'm married. 1907 01:19:52,310 --> 01:19:53,551 Never wanted to have kids, I got two of them. 1908 01:19:53,655 --> 01:19:55,448 How the hell did this happen? 1909 01:19:55,551 --> 01:19:58,448 The Bundys were almost like a purposeful reaction 1910 01:19:58,551 --> 01:20:00,724 to the perfection of the Huxtables. 1911 01:20:00,827 --> 01:20:01,931 And it was funny because, you know, 1912 01:20:02,034 --> 01:20:04,275 you had this wonderful, perfect black family 1913 01:20:04,379 --> 01:20:06,275 and these horrible, miserable white people. 1914 01:20:06,379 --> 01:20:07,931 And each show worked on its own terms 1915 01:20:08,034 --> 01:20:10,379 because you could find things to relate to in both. 1916 01:20:10,482 --> 01:20:11,758 Howdy neighbor. 1917 01:20:11,862 --> 01:20:12,758 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 1918 01:20:12,862 --> 01:20:14,275 [ Whispers ] I hate these people. 1919 01:20:14,379 --> 01:20:15,758 Why don't we sit down? 1920 01:20:15,862 --> 01:20:18,862 There was a lot of fun to be had in, you know, Al and Peg Bundy. 1921 01:20:18,965 --> 01:20:22,448 Bianculli: After Fox introduces "Married With Children," 1922 01:20:22,551 --> 01:20:25,448 it does very, very well, then back on ABC, 1923 01:20:25,551 --> 01:20:28,586 they came up with another major hit, "Roseanne." 1924 01:20:28,689 --> 01:20:30,241 You think this is a magic kingdom 1925 01:20:30,344 --> 01:20:32,241 where you just sit up here on your throne. 1926 01:20:32,344 --> 01:20:33,310 Oh yeah? 1927 01:20:33,413 --> 01:20:34,689 Yeah! And you think everything gets done 1928 01:20:34,793 --> 01:20:36,172 by some wonderful wizard. 1929 01:20:36,275 --> 01:20:38,137 Oh, poof, the laundry's folded. 1930 01:20:38,241 --> 01:20:39,689 Poof, dinner's on the table. 1931 01:20:39,793 --> 01:20:42,137 You want me to fix dinner? I'll fix dinner. 1932 01:20:42,241 --> 01:20:43,448 I'm fixing dinner! 1933 01:20:43,551 --> 01:20:48,137 Oh, but, honey, you just fixed dinner three years ago. 1934 01:20:48,241 --> 01:20:49,965 Bianculli: Typical American families 1935 01:20:50,068 --> 01:20:52,344 weren't on television for the longest time. 1936 01:20:52,448 --> 01:20:54,724 The Donna Reed days, you know, the early days, 1937 01:20:54,827 --> 01:20:57,862 the "Father Knows Best," hardly anybody really lived like that. 1938 01:20:57,965 --> 01:21:00,620 That was the way advertisers wanted you to live. 1939 01:21:00,724 --> 01:21:02,827 I know what just might make me feel better. 1940 01:21:02,931 --> 01:21:05,034 Me too, but I bet it's a different list 1941 01:21:05,137 --> 01:21:06,206 than what you got. 1942 01:21:06,310 --> 01:21:08,827 The ideal situation is if you can subvert 1943 01:21:08,931 --> 01:21:11,862 whatever common stuff is said about families 1944 01:21:11,965 --> 01:21:13,103 and about parenting. 1945 01:21:13,206 --> 01:21:15,241 What's in this, lead? 1946 01:21:15,344 --> 01:21:17,724 Oh, I got you kids new leg irons. 1947 01:21:17,827 --> 01:21:18,758 [ Cackles ] 1948 01:21:18,862 --> 01:21:21,793 Her loudness and her unfilteredness 1949 01:21:21,896 --> 01:21:23,758 were key to why we liked her. 1950 01:21:23,862 --> 01:21:25,827 She was saying stuff about working class people, 1951 01:21:25,931 --> 01:21:28,068 she was saying stuff about men and women. 1952 01:21:28,172 --> 01:21:30,862 So it was about marriage and about raising kids 1953 01:21:30,965 --> 01:21:32,275 and about how hard it is. 1954 01:21:32,379 --> 01:21:35,068 Oh, great, I'm just gonna look like a freak, that's all. 1955 01:21:35,172 --> 01:21:35,896 What else is new? 1956 01:21:36,000 --> 01:21:37,551 Shut up! 1957 01:21:37,655 --> 01:21:40,620 This is why some animals eat their young. 1958 01:21:40,724 --> 01:21:45,172 TV in the '80s was a big decade for the evolution of comedy, 1959 01:21:45,275 --> 01:21:47,103 for the evolution of drama. 1960 01:21:47,206 --> 01:21:49,137 It just pushed everything forward. 1961 01:21:49,241 --> 01:21:50,793 Shriver: Do you think perhaps this generation 1962 01:21:50,896 --> 01:21:53,344 are paying more attention to the dialogue, 1963 01:21:53,448 --> 01:21:56,000 to the relationships that they see on television 1964 01:21:56,103 --> 01:21:57,689 than in years previous? 1965 01:21:57,793 --> 01:22:00,896 Well, clearly the people that are watching our shows are. 1966 01:22:01,000 --> 01:22:03,827 And "Thirtysomething" 1967 01:22:03,931 --> 01:22:06,724 and "Cheers" and "St. Elsewhere." 1968 01:22:06,827 --> 01:22:09,965 These are shows that are smartly written. 1969 01:22:10,068 --> 01:22:12,344 It's their words that define them. 1970 01:22:12,448 --> 01:22:15,000 And I think that's what people like. 1971 01:22:15,103 --> 01:22:16,689 Furillo: What we're supposed to be here 1972 01:22:16,793 --> 01:22:18,586 is the one thing people can trust. 1973 01:22:18,689 --> 01:22:21,172 If you go out there like a bunch of night riders, 1974 01:22:21,275 --> 01:22:24,793 what the hell are you but just another vicious street gang? 1975 01:22:24,896 --> 01:22:27,724 That decade spawned an extraordinary number 1976 01:22:27,827 --> 01:22:32,931 of shows that really carved out a unique niche for themselves. 1977 01:22:33,034 --> 01:22:36,517 We began to turn television into an art form. 1978 01:22:36,620 --> 01:22:39,689 And for the first time, people were proud to say, 1979 01:22:39,793 --> 01:22:41,689 "I write for television." 1980 01:22:41,793 --> 01:22:45,448 Yost: Up until that point, television was second class. 1981 01:22:45,551 --> 01:22:48,172 In the '80s, it was something else entirely 1982 01:22:48,275 --> 01:22:50,931 and it was new and it was kind of interesting. 1983 01:22:51,034 --> 01:22:53,448 Connelly: It's like everyone in the '80s 1984 01:22:53,551 --> 01:22:55,241 starts to want to tell their stories. 1985 01:22:55,344 --> 01:22:57,758 That's what really changes things. 1986 01:22:57,862 --> 01:23:00,827 Shales: The unexpected was more welcome in the '80s. 1987 01:23:00,931 --> 01:23:03,931 Predictability lost its cache. 1988 01:23:04,034 --> 01:23:08,275 Television has an impact on every era, every decade. 1989 01:23:08,379 --> 01:23:11,448 Television still shapes the thinking of America like 1990 01:23:11,551 --> 01:23:12,793 no other element in our country. 1991 01:23:12,896 --> 01:23:15,965 Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. 1992 01:23:16,068 --> 01:23:20,379 Duffy: It gave rise to people pursuing artistic content 1993 01:23:20,482 --> 01:23:24,379 in a way that I think has raised the bar in television production 1994 01:23:24,482 --> 01:23:25,793 exponentially. 1995 01:23:25,896 --> 01:23:27,965 I love you guys! 1996 01:23:28,068 --> 01:23:30,275 Bianculli: There's a shift in the '80s from just wanting 1997 01:23:30,379 --> 01:23:33,344 to placate the audience to wanting to please 1998 01:23:33,448 --> 01:23:34,827 and challenge the audience. 1999 01:23:34,931 --> 01:23:36,586 And that's the decade when it happened. 2000 01:23:36,689 --> 01:23:39,344 We had one hell of a run. Didn't we partner? 2001 01:23:39,448 --> 01:23:41,206 Yeah. We sure did, sonny. 2002 01:23:41,310 --> 01:23:43,344 I'm gonna miss you man. 2003 01:23:43,448 --> 01:23:46,310 I'm gonna miss you, too, sonny. 2004 01:23:46,413 --> 01:23:50,551 Can I give you a ride to the airport? 2005 01:23:50,655 --> 01:23:51,655 Why not? 2006 01:23:51,758 --> 01:23:54,793 ♪