Episode 420: 1980s Fall TV Previews: TV Guide, Crazy Network Specials, and Saturday Morning Nostalgia
"As a TV junkie, the Fall TV Preview was the best time of the year. The network specials highlighted their new shows—they were always informative, joyful, and optimistic because everyone expected these shows to be big hits!" — Sharon Johnson
Read TranscriptThe Conversation
- THE HOLY GRAIL OF TV GUIDE: Exploring the history of TV Guide magazine, from its iconic 1953 debut cover featuring Lucille Ball’s newborn son Desi Jr. to why the annual September Fall Preview issue was every TV junkie’s holy grail.
- TIME-SLOT WARS & STRIKE DELAYS: How pre-DVR audiences navigated brutal schedule conflicts (sacrificing new shows for established favorites!), how the 1980 SAG actors' strike delayed fall premieres, and the wild 1980 magazine ads for hard liquor, cigarettes, and brand-new Maxwell VHS videotapes.
- WACKY NETWORK PROMO SPECIALS: Recapping the gloriously surreal prime-time preview specials—from the 1983 ABC Love Boat crossover where real stars boarded in-character, to Kenny Loggins singing "We've Got the Touch" on CBS, and ABC’s bizarre 1985 parody of "I Love L.A."
- SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON FEVER: Remembering the surreal Saturday morning cartoon preview specials hosted by 80s icons like Mr. T, Joyce DeWitt, Ted Knight, Weird Al, and the cast of The Facts of Life.
- FALL SHOW HITS & MISSES: Reminiscing about short-lived gems, cult classics, and massive hits from fall lineups, including WKRP in Cincinnati, Hill Street Blues, Ladies' Man, Freebie and the Bean, Breaking Away, The A-Team, and Hardcastle & McCormick.
Our Audio-ography
- Check out the digitized 1980 TV Guide Fall Preview Issue (September 13–19, 1980) to browse the original schedules, ads, and show previews.
- Get Ready for our Next Guest: Watch The Fog on Pluto, Escape From New York or Maude on Tubi to get ready for upcoming dream-guest interview with the legendary Adrienne Barbeau!
- Be ready for our next multi-episode primer on the classic sitcom, One Day at a Time, streaming on Tubi.
THE PREVIEW AND PROMO SPECIALS
YouTube has a lot of the Fall TV Specials and promos.
- Here is a curated playlist of many ABC Network Fall preview videos.
- Promo for the 1983 ABC Love Boat Special.
- The entire (we think) 1983 ABC Love Boat Fall Preview Special
- Article and review of The Love Boat Special at Tune in Tonight.
- 1980 You and Me and ABC - Fancy Dance number.
- CBS We've Got the Touch Kenny Rogers Promos 1985
- 1984 CBS Saturday Morning Preview Special with Ted Knight!
- 1983 NBC You've Got to NBC Be There" Short Promo
- 1985 ABC Fall Preview Promo "I Love LA" parody - Always Something Good to See... on ABC.
PROTECT THE VOTE
- Vote.org: Check your voter registration. Make sure you and the young adults in your life are ready to vote. Stay engaged. Let your voice be heard.
- DemocracyDocket.com is protecting our vote. Learn more.
COMMUNITY CONNECT
- Los Angeles Live Music Event: See indie rocker Michelle Malone live at the Love Song Bar in DTLA on Friday, September 4th! Get tickets at Love Song Bar eventbrite.
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