Nightline: 2000 Vote

Nightline: 2000 Vote
ABC
December 2, 1999
News
VHS
B-

Ted Koppel, with analysis from David Gergen and George Stephanopoulos, takes a look at the New Hampshire Republican debate, when George W. Bush was in the lead, with John McCain a strong #2, and Steve Forbes trying to make it into a three-sided race.  Plus three other guys.  This almost eighteen years ago to the day episode is chockful of "they didn't know" irony and just generally entertaining for a talking heads show.

Jingle Cats

The same group, I think

Jingle Cats
KNBC
December 1992
News
VHS
C+

Local news coverage of a locally produced album of, yes, Christmas instrumentals with meows.

Local LA News Reaction to "The Brazen Bunch"

Jerry Dunphy, one of the
journalists on this breaking story. 

Local LA News Reaction to "The Brazen Bunch"
KHJ & KTLA
October 18, 1991
News
VHS
C+

Los Angeles news coverage of Barry Williams revealing his long-ago date with Florence Henderson, on Geraldo that day.  Well, it seemed like a bigger deal at the time.  (And this was before Barry's book was published.)

KABC News: "Gilligan's Island" cast reunites

KABC News: "Gilligan's Island" cast reunites

Yes, Tina, too.

ABC

October 1988

News

VHS

C+

Local LA reporter Kelly Lange tells of the GI cast and Sherwood Schwartz, minus a very ill Jim Backus, getting together to dedicate a children's room in a hospital.  It's nice to see everyone but the clip is very short.

Speaker Wright's Resignation Speech

Speaker Wright's Resignation Speech
ABC
May 31, 1989
News
VHS
C-

The "spectacle" of an historic resignation of the Speaker of the House is actually an interminable (over an hour) self-serving speech that had me thoroughly convinced of Jim Wright's guilt by the end.  Bring back Tip O'Neill!  Or I guess bring on Tom Foley, who'd be Speaker till '95. Oh, and "mindless cannibalism" is a good, if inappropriate quote.

Inauguration '89 [fragment]

Inauguration '89 [fragment]
ABC
January 20, 1989
News
VHS
B-

This is the footage after the Inauguration Ceremony and before the parade technically begins, still running to about an hour and a half.  The commentary especially emphasizes the differences between the Reagans and the Bushes, including oddly enough on class issues.  We hear that President Bush had a good friendship with Jesse Jackson and was concerned about the homeless.  And we hear a lot about the appeal of having little grandchildren in the White House.  (I think I spotted the Bush twins although not their father.)  A particular contrast to Reagan, and of course to Trump, is that Bush, Sr. very much did not run as an outsider to Washington.

Dan Quayle speaks briefly and he and Marilyn can be seen walking outside their cars, like George and Barbara.  The Reagans are nowhere in sight.  Barbara Walters joins the panel, but I'm not tagging her until I see her on another of my shows.

Vote 88: Election Night [partial]

Vote 88: Election Night [partial]
ABC
November 8, 1988
News
VHS
C+

Watching this now, I'm struck by four things:

1. George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis may well be the dullest pair of presidential candidates in living memory, and coverage that doesn't mention such things as Willie Horton, specific Dan Quayle blunders, or Dukakis's missteps, including the tank photo, is of its nature not going to be terribly interesting;
2. The obligatory shouts of "Ninety-two" from determined Dukakis voters seem especially bizarre when '92 had such a different feel to it, presidentially and otherwise, so that '88 was much closer in spirit to '84 than to '92;
3. You can't watch this without thinking about the candidates' families, from poor Kitty "recently hospitalized" to grinning George, Jr.;
4. I was heartbroken at the time, doomed to another four years of Republicans, and now I can't get worked up beyond snarkily remarking, after the president-elect calls Reagan the most decent man he ever met, "You need to get out more, George."

2 on the Town: The Beatles

Hostess Melody Rogers around that time

2 on the Town: The Beatles
CBS
Sometime between July and October 1987
News
VHS
C+

Half-hour-long local station report on the 20th anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper album, although too much of the show is about promoting the show, and not enough time is given to seeing the Beatles, including contemporary interviews (well, one-liners) from Paul, George, and Ringo.  Of historical interest at this point, including the excitement of Beatles music being released on CD for the first time.

Reagan Speech on Iran-Contra, with Mitchell Response

Reagan Speech on Iran-Contra, with Mitchell Response

Tower Report

NBC

August 1987

News

VHS
B-

It's a little hard to judge this as entertainment per se.  I will say that, although the talking heads aspect of the speeches feels very dated, I was still drawn in.  In fact, although I no longer felt the fury or even dislike I once felt towards Reagan, I did find myself making (quiet) comments.  Reagan changed the subject from Iran-Contra to issues he felt he were more important, including the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court!  George Mitchell of Maine (still alive now at 83) in his response was very respectful, speaking of "mistakes" more than "crimes."