Americans had a lot of choices about what to watch on TV the night of Nov. 20, 1983.
On CBS, they could enjoy an evening of sitcoms, beginning with Alice, then moving onto The Jeffersons and Goodnight, Beantown, finally wrapping up their prime time viewing with an episode of Trapper John, M.D.
Across the dial on NBC, there was part one of Kennedy, a five-hour mini-series in which Martin Sheen put on a thick-as-chowder Bahston accent to portray, for a change, a president not named Bartlet.
But most people — a staggering 100 million — chose to tune into ABC, where they watched the end of the world.
Next to the moon landing, it’s hard to think of a TV moment that had a bigger impact on the collective psyche than The Day After, ABC’s white-knuckle drama depicting the aftermath of a nuclear strike on the United States. Its airing 40 years ago...
On CBS, they could enjoy an evening of sitcoms, beginning with Alice, then moving onto The Jeffersons and Goodnight, Beantown, finally wrapping up their prime time viewing with an episode of Trapper John, M.D.
Across the dial on NBC, there was part one of Kennedy, a five-hour mini-series in which Martin Sheen put on a thick-as-chowder Bahston accent to portray, for a change, a president not named Bartlet.
But most people — a staggering 100 million — chose to tune into ABC, where they watched the end of the world.
Next to the moon landing, it’s hard to think of a TV moment that had a bigger impact on the collective psyche than The Day After, ABC’s white-knuckle drama depicting the aftermath of a nuclear strike on the United States. Its airing 40 years ago...
- 12/4/2023
- by Benjamin Svetkey
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Directed by Nicholas Meyer, The Day After disturbed a generation of TV audiences in 1983. On the 40th anniversary of its first airing, we look back at its immediate and lasting impact.
“If you can, take a quick look out of the window,” said TV host Ted Koppel immediately after the first airing of The Day After on the 20th November, 1983. “It’s all still there. Your neighbourhood is still there. So is Kansas City. And Lawrence. And Chicago, San Diego, Moscow and Vladivostok…”
Koppel’s words of reassurance were a sign of how nervous the ABC Network was about airing its multi-million dollar, two-hour feature about the nuclear destruction of the United States. The company had reason to be on edge: aside from the expense, the film had alienated advertisers, angered the political right, and left ABC executives fearing that audiences would switch off their televisions – all before the film had even aired.
“If you can, take a quick look out of the window,” said TV host Ted Koppel immediately after the first airing of The Day After on the 20th November, 1983. “It’s all still there. Your neighbourhood is still there. So is Kansas City. And Lawrence. And Chicago, San Diego, Moscow and Vladivostok…”
Koppel’s words of reassurance were a sign of how nervous the ABC Network was about airing its multi-million dollar, two-hour feature about the nuclear destruction of the United States. The company had reason to be on edge: aside from the expense, the film had alienated advertisers, angered the political right, and left ABC executives fearing that audiences would switch off their televisions – all before the film had even aired.
- 11/20/2023
- by Ryan Lambie
- Film Stories
The death of legendary television producer Steven Bochco on Sunday left Hollywood reeling — and full of stories about their experiences working with him as he created some of the medium’s most groundbreaking shows, including “Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law” and “NYPD Blue.” Here, some of the executives, stars, and producers who worked with him share their memories of their time with him.
Dennis Franz, star of “Hill Street Blues,” “NYPD Blue”
I met Steven Bochco at an audition for “Hill Street Blues,” when I was going in for the role of Sal Benedetto. There was the usual group of people standing around, but there was one guy in the corner with graying hair flipping a basketball in the air. He threw it to me, and I caught it. That really broke the tension.
I understood the effect that he had on people. He was truly aware his presence could be a distraction,...
Dennis Franz, star of “Hill Street Blues,” “NYPD Blue”
I met Steven Bochco at an audition for “Hill Street Blues,” when I was going in for the role of Sal Benedetto. There was the usual group of people standing around, but there was one guy in the corner with graying hair flipping a basketball in the air. He threw it to me, and I caught it. That really broke the tension.
I understood the effect that he had on people. He was truly aware his presence could be a distraction,...
- 4/3/2018
- by Debra Birnbaum
- Variety Film + TV
Joseph Sargent, the director of the original film adaptation of “The Taking of Pelham 123,” died on Monday at his home in Malibu, California as the result of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 89.
A prolific director who got his start in the 1950s, Sargent has more Emmy wins for television films or mini-series than any other director. He took home four Emmy awards for directing out of nine total nominations. He also won four Directors Guild of America awards out of nine nominations.
See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014 (Photos)
The DGA proudly noted of the late director,...
A prolific director who got his start in the 1950s, Sargent has more Emmy wins for television films or mini-series than any other director. He took home four Emmy awards for directing out of nine total nominations. He also won four Directors Guild of America awards out of nine nominations.
See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014 (Photos)
The DGA proudly noted of the late director,...
- 12/23/2014
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Brandon Stoddard, the former president of ABC Entertainment, who oversaw the groundbreaking mini-series “Roots,” died at his home in Bel-Air Monday following a long battle with cancer, a close friend of Stoddard’s told TheWrap. He was 77 years old.
Stoddard was inducted into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Known as the “father of the miniseries,” Stoddard oversaw the production of “Roots,” “The Winds of War,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Rich Man, Poor Man,” “Masada,” “East of Eden” and “North and South.”
See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014
In 1970, Stoddard joined ABC as director of daytime programs.
Stoddard was inducted into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Known as the “father of the miniseries,” Stoddard oversaw the production of “Roots,” “The Winds of War,” “The Thorn Birds,” “Rich Man, Poor Man,” “Masada,” “East of Eden” and “North and South.”
See photos: Hollywood’s Notable Deaths of 2014
In 1970, Stoddard joined ABC as director of daytime programs.
- 12/23/2014
- by Itay Hod
- The Wrap
Brandon Stoddard, the former president of ABC Entertainment, who oversaw such landmark miniseries as Roots and The Winds of War, died at his home in Bel-Air on Monday following a long battle with cancer. He was 77. A television executive who consistently broke new ground for the medium, Stoddard was inducted into the Television Academy’s Hall of Fame in March. Speaking of the challenge he faced when he took over the network, he once told the Los Angeles Times, "I was disappointed with what ABC had on the air. I was intrigued with taking a network and moving it into another
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- 12/23/2014
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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