1980 TV
Some argue that TV programs were better back in the day. I'll let you be the judge. On this page we list the TV shows you were watching back in 1980.
New TV Programs that started in 1980
Yes Minister 2/25 on BBC-2 with Paul Eddington as the idealistic Right Hon. James Hacker, MP, who has been appointed minister of administrative affairs, Nigel Hawthorne as Sir Humphrey Appleby (aired until to 12/23/1982, 21 episodes in all)
Shōgun 9/15 on NBC with Richard Chamberlain, Toshiro Mifune; A 10-part miniseries that ended up winning 3 Emmy's and 3 Golden Globe awards in 1981, based on James Clavell's epic novel of the same name.
Too Close for Comfort 11/16 on ABC with Ted Knight as cartoonist Henry Rush; Nancy Dussault, 42, as his wife, Muriel; Deborah Van Valkenburgh, 27, as her brainy sister Jackie; Jim Jay Bullock, 25, as their gay neighbor in a sitcom based on the British show Keep It in the Family (aired until 6/22/1985)
Magnum P.I. 12/11 on CBS with Tom Selleck as a Honolulu-based detective, John Hillerman (stuntman Robert Vanderkar was killed November 19 when his helicopter crashed into the ocean off Hawaii; the pilot survived) (aired until 5/1/1988; 154 episodes)
Nightline debuts on ABC TV March 24, 1980 with anchor Ted Koppel at 11:30 PM. Roone Arledge developed the show from reports by Koppel when he was covering the Iran hostage crisis in Teheran. Koppel anchored Nightline for over 25 years until his retirement in November of 2005.
Cable News Network (CNN) goes on the air June 1 with a speech by owner Ted Turner. Chicago-born journalist Bernard Shaw, 40, will anchor the news until 2001.
The Bravo network for U.S. cable television subscribers begins operations.
Emmy Awards for 1980:
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Edward Asner in Lou Grant (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Dallas: Larry Hagman (CBS)
Quincy M.E.: Jack Klugman (NBC)
The Rockford Files: James Garner (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Richard Mulligan in Soap (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
Barney Miller: Hal Linden (ABC)
Benson: Robert Guillaume (ABC)
M*A*S*H: Alan Alda (CBS)
Taxi: Judd Hirsch (ABC)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
Powers Boothe in Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Gideon's Trumpet: Henry Fonda (CBS)
F.D.R.: The Last Year: Jason Robards (NBC)
The Scarlett O'Hara War: Tony Curtis (NBC)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Barbara Bel Geddes in Dallas (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Family: Kristy McNichol (ABC)
Family: Sada Thompson (ABC)
The Rockford Files: Lauren Bacall (NBC) -
for episode "Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs."
The Rockford Files: Mariette Hartley (NBC) - for episode "Paradise Cove."
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Cathryn Damon in Soap (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
Archie Bunker's Place: Sheree North (CBS)
Flo: Polly Holliday (CBS)
Soap: Katherine Helmond (ABC)
The Jeffersons: Isabel Sanford (CBS)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Patty Duke in The Miracle Worker (NBC)
OTHER NOMINEES
Haywire: Lee Remick (CBS)
The Miracle Worker: Melissa Gilbert (NBC)
White Mama: Bette Davis (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Stuart Margolin in The Rockford Files (NBC)
OTHER NOMINEES
Lou Grant: Mason Adams (CBS)
Lou Grant: Robert Walden (CBS)
The Rockford Files: Noah Beery Jr. (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series
Harry Morgan in M*A*S*H (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Barney Miller: Max Gail (ABC)
Barney Miller: Steve Landesberg (ABC)
M*A*S*H: Mike Farrell (CBS)
WKRP in Cincinnati: Howard Hesseman (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special
George Grizzard in The Oldest Living Graduate (NBC)
OTHER NOMINEES
All Quiet on the Western Front: Ernest Borgnine (CBS)
Attica: Charles Durning (ABC)
Flesh & Blood: John Cassavetes (CBS)
The Scarlett O'Hara War: Harold Gould (NBC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series
Loretta Swit in
M*A*S*H (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Alice: Polly Holliday (CBS)
Benson: Inga Swenson (ABC)
WKRP in Cincinnati: Loni Anderson (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Nancy Marchand in
Lou Grant (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Lou Grant: Nina Foch (CBS) for episode "Hollywood".
Lou Grant: Linda Kelsey (CBS)
Trapper John, M.D.: Jessica Walter (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special
Mare Winningham in Amber Waves (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
All Quiet on the Western Front: Patricia Neal (CBS)
F.D.R.: The Last Year: Eileen Heckart (NBC)
The Scarlett O'Hara War: Carrie Nye (NBC)
Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program
WINNER
Dwight Hemion for Baryshnikov on Broadway (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
The Big Show: Steve Binder (NBC) for episode with hosts Mariette Hartley and Dean Martin.
The Muppet Show: Peter Harris (Syndicated)
For episode with Liza Minnelli (4/14).
John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together: Tony Charmoli (ABC)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Roger Young for
Lou Grant (CBS) for episode "Cop."
OTHER NOMINEES
Lou Grant: Burt Brinckerhoff (CBS) for episode "Hollywood."
Lou Grant: Peter Levin (CBS) for episode "Andrew, Part II: Trial."
Lou Grant: Gene Reynolds (CBS) for episode "Influence."
Pilot: Frank Perry (NBC) for the pilot episode of Skag.
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
James Burrows for
Taxi (ABC) for episode "Louie and the Nice Girl".
OTHER NOMINEES
M*A*S*H: Alan Alda (CBS) for episode "Dreams."
M*A*S*H: Charles S. Dubin (CBS) for episode "Period of Adjustment."
M*A*S*H: Burt Metcalfe (CBS) for episode "Bottle Fatigue."
M*A*S*H: Harry Morgan (CBS) for episode "Stars and Stripes."
Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special
Marvin J. Chomsky for
Attica (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
All Quiet on the Western Front: Delbert Mann (CBS)
Amber Waves: Joseph Sargent (ABC)
Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones: William A. Graham (CBS)
The Scarlett O'Hara War: John Erman (NBC)
Outstanding Variety or Music Program
WINNER
Herman Krawitz, Gary Smith, Dwight Hemion, Mikhail Baryshnikov for Baryshnikov on Broadway (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
The Benny Hill Show: Philip Jones, Keith Beckett, David Bell, Ronald Fouracre, Peter Frazer-Jones, Dennis Kirkland, John Robins, Mark Stuart, Benny Hill (Syndicated)
The Muppet Show: David Lazer, Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Louise Gold, Richard Hunt, Kathryn Mullen, Jerry Nelson, Frank Oz, Steve Whitmire (Syndicated)
Goldie and Liza Together: George Schlatter, Don Mischer, Fred Ebb, Goldie Hawn, Liza Minnelli (CBS)
Shirley MacLaine... 'Every Little Movement': Gary Smith, Dwight Hemion, Shirley MacLaine (CBS)
Outstanding Children's Program
Benji at Work (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
Sesame Street in Puerto Rico (PBS)
The Halloween That Almost Wasn't (ABC)
Outstanding Informational Program
Thomas W. Moore, Alfred R. Kelman, Robert E. Fuisz, Charles A. Bangert, Vivian R. Moss for The Body Human: The Magic Sense (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Bill Moyers' Journal: Joan Konner, Bill Moyers (PBS)
The Cousteau Odyssey: Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Philippe Cousteau (PBS) for episode "The Nile".
Picasso: A Painter's Diary: George Page, Perry Miller Adato (PBS)
Outstanding Limited Series
Andrew Brown for
Edward & Mrs. Simpson (Syndicated)
OTHER NOMINEES
Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic: Joan Wilson, Cecil Clarke (PBS)
(Shown on Masterpiece Theatre).
The Duchess of Duke Street: Joan Wilson, John Hawkesworth (PBS)
(Shown on Masterpiece Theatre).
The Scarlett O'Hara War: David L. Wolper, Stan Margulies (NBC)
Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special
The Miracle Worker (NBC)
OTHER NOMINEES
All Quiet on the Western Front (CBS)
Gideon's Trumpet (CBS)
Amber Waves (ABC)
Guyana Tragedy (CBS)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Taxi (ABC)
OTHER NOMINEES
Barney Miller(ABC)
M*A*S*H (CBS)
Soap (ABC)
WKRP in Cincinnati: (CBS)
Outstanding Animated Program
Carlton Your Doorman (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Pink Panther in the Olym-pinks (ABC)
Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You? (ABC)
She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (CBS)
Outstanding Drama Series
Lou Grant (CBS)
OTHER NOMINEES
Dallas (CBS)
Family (ABC)
The Rockford Files (NBC)
The White Shadow (CBS)
