Universal Pictures Debut Network Explained

Universal Pictures Debut Network
Closed:[1]
Channel:Syndication
Key People:Doug Paul (previews announcer)
Harry Tatelman[2] (special projects veep)
Parent:MCA TV
Sister:Hollywood Premiere Network
Format:1 day
Runtime:95 minutes
Language:English

The Universal Pictures Debut Network, or simply the Debut Network, was a syndicated movie package that MCA Television sold to independent stations.[3] The service reached agreements with ten stations in larger American markets[4] such as New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago by late 1984. The Debut Network was a precursor of sorts to the Action Pack, which was also a syndicated package created by Universal Television.

Background

MCA TV[5] (also known as MCA Television Enterprises) was founded in 1951, several years before parent MCA's purchase of American Decca (in 1959) and Universal Pictures (in 1962). For more than four decades, it was one of the most active syndicators of television programming. During the 1980s, it distributed both off-network reruns of shows like Kate & Allie and Gimme a Break!, as well as original syndication product like the animated action series Bionic Six (co-produced with TMS Entertainment), The Morton Downey Jr. Show (taped at then-MCA owned WWOR-TV in Secaucus, NJ), The Munsters Today (a revival of the Universal sitcom), and Pictionary, based on the popular board game.

MCA Television[6] attempted several branded TV packages in 1985 to 2001 including an ad hoc film network, a broadcast network and a few syndicated programming blocks. The company launched the Universal Pictures Debut Network,[7] [8] [9] an ad hoc film network with plans to launch in two stages beginning[10] [11] in September 1985.[12] [13]

MCA's motivation for launching the Debut Network was to attempt to make up for lost revenue from the "big three networks", who were at the time, preferring cheaper made for TV movies. Independent stations were specifically targeted since they needed many more hours to fill. MCA set up a barter agreement, wherein each movie featured on the Debut Network would be edited down to 95 minutes, including the credits. (A notable exception was Rear Window, which, with commercials, was given a 2.5 hour block instead of the normal 2 hour block.) Of the 22 minutes for commercials, MCA received, with the local outlets keeping minutes. The remaining three minutes would be devoted to promotion spots for one thing or another.

The end of the Debut Network

MCA TV and Paramount Domestic Television had formed Premier Advertiser Sales, a joint venture created for the sale of advertising for their existing syndicated programs in September 1989. As a possible outgrowth of this sales joint venture, MCA and Paramount began plans for a new network, Premier Program Service.[14] When Premier Program Service halted, MCA teamed up with Chris-Craft TV for a syndicated programming block, Hollywood Premiere Network, that only lasted for the 1990–1991 season.[15] The Universal Family Network syndicated programming block was launched by the company in the fall of 1993 with a single weekly half hour show, Exosquad, as a counter to The Disney Afternoon.[16]

List of films featured

See main article: List of Universal Pictures films.

Beginning in September 1985, affiliated Debut Network stations could program 24 features from the Universal Pictures library on an advertiser supported basis. One feature would debut each month over the course of at least two years, and each month, the stations would be allowed to air the movie twice; usually once in prime time and a rerun in late night hours. At the end of their barter run, these features would revert to the Debut Network stations for additional cash runs with no interim pay cable window.

Frequently, the versions prepared for broadcast would contain alternate takes and scenes originally cut from the theatrical edits, usually to replace footage deemed unsuitable for television. These new edits were prepared on standard definition video, and sent to TV stations via satellite. However, when the films were resent to the affiliated stations for their cash runs, in most instances, the original theatrical versions were provided instead of the Debut Network recuts, in 16mm prints or on 1 inch videotape, and the stations would edit the films as they chose for the individual standards of their markets.

In 1988, the movie network broadcast a special edition of Dune[17] as a two-night event, with additional footage not included in the film's original release.[18]

1985 television edit of Halloween II (1981)

An alternate version of Halloween II (sometimes referred to as 'The Television Cut') has aired on network television since the early 1980s, with most of the graphic violence and blood edited out and many minor additional scenes added, while others are removed.[33] This cut of the film was released in 2012 by Scream Factory on their Collector's Edition Blu-ray disc, and again in 2014 as a standalone DVD accompanying the "Complete Collection" Deluxe Edition Blu-ray set, which features entire series.[34]

The television cut runs approximately 92 minutes, roughly one minute less than the theatrical version.[33] There are many edits such as the murder of Dr. Mixter is presumed to still happen, but remains off camera, as does Janet's, although dialogue indicates she might have gone home at the end of her shift instead of being killed. The scene where Michael stalks Alice is recut to imply that he attacks and kills her neighbor Mrs. Elrod instead. Jimmy's discovery of Mrs. Alves dead and his subsequent slipping in the pool of blood has been significantly shortened (or removed altogether in some prints) and moved just prior to the explosion which kills Myers and Loomis. Jill's stabbing is less graphic, and a moan from the ground implies she might have survived it. Also added are scenes of Michael cutting the power (this explains the dark setting throughout the latter half of the film) and a power generator kicking in. There is also extra dialogue between Laurie and Jimmy, Laurie and Mrs. Alves, Janet and Karen, Karen and Mr. Garrett, Bud and Karen, Jill and Jimmy, etc.

Another notable difference is the killing of the Marshall. In the theatrical version his throat is slit, while in the TV version it is softened, with Michael grabbing him and stabbing him from behind (with no detail shown). While the theatrical version ends with the deaths of Michael Myers and Dr. Loomis and leaves the audience in a gray area as to whether Jimmy survives, the television cut features an extended ending showing Jimmy alive (with a bandaged head wound from his slip) in the ambulance with Laurie Strode. They hold hands and Laurie says, "We made it."[35]

1988 television edit of Dune (1984)

The rough cut of Dune, without post-production effects, ran over four hours long but director David Lynch's intended cut of the film (as reflected in the seventh and final draft of the script) was almost three hours long. Universal and the film's financiers expected a standard, two-hour cut of the film. Dino De Laurentiis, his daughter Raffaella and Lynch excised numerous scenes, filmed new scenes that simplified or concentrated plot elements and added voice-over narrations, plus a new introduction by Virginia Madsen. Contrary to rumor, Lynch made no other version besides the theatrical cut.

As previously mentioned, a television version was aired in 1988[36] in two parts totaling 186 minutes including a "What happened last night" recap and second credit roll. Lynch disavowed this version and had his name removed from the credits, Alan Smithee being credited instead. This version (without recap and second credit roll) has occasionally been released on DVD as Dune: Extended Edition. Several longer versions have been spliced together.[37] Although Universal has approached Lynch for a possible director's cut, Lynch has declined every offer and prefers not to discuss Dune in interviews.[38]

In 1992, KTVU,[39] pieced together a hybrid edit[40] of the two previous versions for broadcast in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is essentially the television version with all the violence of the theatrical version reincorporated into the film, along with many of the "fabricated" shots objected to by Lynch removed.

1989 syndication version of Brazil (1985)

In 1985, a much-publicized war emerged between director Terry Gilliam and Universal's then-COO Sid Sheinberg over the final cut of Brazil for the film's North American release. Against Gilliam's wishes, Sheinberg wanted to cut the film from Gilliam's preferred 142 minute cut to 93 minutes and modify the dark sci-fi satire into an uplifting romance, complete with a happy ending. After Gilliam created an ambitious campaign to wrestle the film away from Sheinberg, including clandestine screenings of his preferred cut, which led to the Los Angeles Film Critics Association awarding the film Best Picture and Best Director, Sheinberg backed down and Universal released a "compromised" cut running 131 minutes and featuring a few of the changes suggested by Sheinberg while remaining faithful to Gilliam's vision.[41]

In January 1989, Universal released a cut of Brazil for airing on the Debut Network. Running 93 minutes, it was a heavily modified version that remained true to Sheinberg's preferred cut of the film, and was subsequently given the nickname "The Love Conquers All Cut." How this version managed to get released remains a mystery; Gilliam said that Universal asked him to make an edited-for-television cut of the film and he refused. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gilliam sarcastically complimented Sheinberg for "[getting] a chance to break into TV," but was angry that Universal didn't take his name off the TV cut and also criticized advertisements for the Debut Network premiere of Brazil which used the same critical praise that was given to his version.[42] In an interview with Jack Matthews in an updated version of his book The Battle of Brazil, Sheinberg claimed he had no idea how his cut leaked out, and said that he wasn't the one who ordered that cut to be released. In 1996, The Criterion Collection released a box set of Brazil that included Gilliam's preferred 142-minute version of the film as well as the "Love Conquers All" cut of the movie.

List of stations

CityStation
AnchorageKYUR 13[43] [44]
AtlantaWGNX 46[45]
BaltimoreWBFF 45WNUV 54
BeaumontKBMT 12
BostonWHLL 27[46] [47] [48]
BuffaloWUTV 29
CharlestonWVAH 23[49] [50]
ChicagoWGN 9[51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61]
CincinnatiWXIX 19[62]
ClevelandWEWS 5
ColumbusWTTE 28[63]
Corpus ChristiKIII 3
Dallas-Ft. WorthKTVT 11
DavenportKLJB 18[64]
DenverKWGN 2[65]
Des MoinesKDSM 17[66]
DetroitWKBD 50[67]
FairbanksKATN 2[68]
FlintWSMH 66
Fort WayneWFFT 55[69]
GreenvilleWHNS 21[70]
GreenevilleWEMT 39[71]
HardeevilleWTGS 28[72]
HarlingenKGBT 4
HoustonKTXH 20[73]
IndianapolisWXIN 59[74]
Kansas CityKSHB 41[75]
Los AngelesKTLA 5[76] [77]
MiamiWBFS 33[78] [79]
New YorkWPIX 11[80] [81] [82]
New OrleansWGNO 26
OaklandKTVU 2[83]
OmahaKPTM 42
OrlandoWOFL 35
PeoriaWHOI 19[84]
PhiladelphiaWPHL 17[85] [86] [87]
PittsburghWPGH 53[88] [89] [90]
PlattsburghWPTZ 5
PortlandKPTV 12
KFNR 11[91]
RichmondWRLH 35[92]
ScrantonWOLF 38[93] [94]
Sioux CityKCAN 8[95]
SpokaneKAYU 28[96] [97] [98]
SpringfieldKOLR 10[99]
TacomaKCPQ 13[100] [101]
TampaWFTS 28[102] [103]
TucsonKMSB 11
Washington, D.C.WDCA 20[104] [105]
WTTG 5[106]
WaterburyWTXX 20[107] [108] [109]
West Palm BeachWFLX 29[110]
YorkWPMT 43[111] [112]

By October 1988, the Debut Network was affiliated with at least 132 stations.[113]

Ratings

For the week ending on October 16, 1988, the Debut Network's movie earned a 14.1 rating on just 132 stations.[114] [115] From September 4, 1988 through January 1, 1989, the Premiere Network earned a 10.9 rating.[116] This placed it at fourth place among the top barter series for the first 16 weeks of the 1988–89 United States television season. In June 1990, the Debut Network was ranked in fifth place among the ten highest-rated syndicated programs according to Nielsen.[117]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Carmody. John. December 19, 1991. THE TV COLUMN. The Washington Post.
  2. Web site: DUNE: The "Allan Smithee" File. The BOnes & Obi-Wan Network. https://web.archive.org/web/20000618153027/http://pages.infinit.net/bonesnet/Smithee.htm. 2000-06-18.
  3. Web site: Worst Stations and Markets for Local TV. November 5, 2015. Radio Discussions.
  4. Book: Segrave, Kerry. January 1999. Movies at Home: How Hollywood Came to Television. 147. 9780786406548.
  5. Web site: 8831 Sunset Blvd., #100, West First. January 23, 1989. American Radio History.
  6. Web site: International-Television-&-Video-Almanac-1989-OCR-Page-0247.pdf. American Radio History.
  7. Web site: Channels-1989-01.pdf. World Radio History.
  8. Web site: ALL NEW DEBUT MOVIES WITH EVEN BIGGER TITLES THAN DEBUT I. January 20, 1986. World Radio History.
  9. Web site: ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION. Fogliani. Enzo. Disputes.org.
  10. Book: Kerry Segrave. Movies at Home: How Hollywood Came to Television. January 1, 1999. McFarland. 147. April 8, 2015. 9780786406548.
  11. Web site: Re: Western Il-Northeast MO Monday, April 16, 1984. April 14, 2008. Radio Discussions.
  12. Book: Kerry Segrave. Movies at Home: How Hollywood Came to Television. January 1, 1999. McFarland. 147. 9780786406548. April 8, 2015.
  13. Book: January 9, 1989. BC-1989-01-09.pdf. 2.
  14. News: Plan Seen For Another TV Network. Richard W. Stevenson. The New York Times. October 20, 1989. April 22, 2015.
  15. News: MCA TV Spins The Bottle . April 6, 2017. Variety. April 10, 1995.
  16. Brown. Rich. West. Donald V.. New Faces, Familiar Ones Vie For Kids Audience . Broadcasting. January 25, 1993. 123. 4. 72. June 15, 2017.
  17. News: Willman. Chris. June 5, 1988. 'Dune II: The Re-edit'. Los Angeles Times.
  18. Book: The Cinema of David Lynch: American Dreams, Nightmare Visions. Erica Davison. Annette Sheen. Wallflower Press. 207. 2004. April 9, 2015. 190336485X.
  19. Book: Matthews, Jack. The Battle of Brazil. 1998. 9781557833471. 161–165.
  20. Web site: November 7, 1987 commercials. April 21, 2018. Viveos.
  21. Book: BC-1984-12-31.pdf. 27.
  22. Book: Sheen, Davison, Erica, Annette. The Cinema of David Lynch: American Dreams, Nightmare Visions. 2004. 41. 9781903364857.
  23. Web site: MCA TV . January 19, 1987. American Radio History.
  24. Web site: The Great Outdoors (1988) - Company Credits. IMDb.
  25. Web site: This "Will Return" bumper was featured on a syndicated showing of the movie "Halloween III".. Retro Junk.
  26. Web site: 1989 - 'Howard the Duck' TV Trailer & Bumper for WXIN Saturday Movie. Yahoo.
  27. Book: Hilmes, Michele. Hollywood and Broadcasting: From Radio to Cable. 1990. 191. 9780252068461.
  28. Web site: Details of the Dune long version (Score:3). March 10, 2000. Slashdot.
  29. Web site: A Little Sex (1982) - Company credits. IMDb.
  30. Web site: International-Television-Almanac-1987-OCR-Page-0222.pdf. World Radio History.
  31. Web site: NEW PODCAST: "All Outta Bubble Gum". October 9, 2015. Misadventures in Blissville.
  32. Web site: Debut III.. November 28, 1988. American Radio History.
  33. Halloween II: The Television Cut. Blu-ray. 2012. Scream Factory. B0089BSM70.
  34. Web site: Dread Central. Halloween: The Complete Collection (Blu-ray). Arrigo, Anthony. September 29, 2014. https://archive.today/20181012030355/https://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/70955/halloween-complete-collection-blu-ray/. October 12, 2018.
  35. Felsher. Michael (dir.). The Nightmare Isn't Over: The Making of Halloween II. 2012. Scream Factory. Documentary. 33:22.
  36. Web site: WGN Presents. epguides.com.
  37. Web site: Building the Perfect Dune . Sean . Murphy . . 33/34 . 1996 . December 15, 2014.
  38. Web site: Dune Resurrection – Re-visiting Arrakis . https://web.archive.org/web/20090502142658/http://www.duneinfo.com/kaitain/articles/dune-resurrection.asp . May 2, 2009 . DuneInfo . January 18, 2013.
  39. News: May 29, 1988. May 29, 1988 - 8:00 O KTVU MOVIE ' Dune (1984) (Part 2) Kyle MacLachlan, Francesca Annis. A young prince rallies the inhabitants of Arrakis the desert .... Ukiah Daily Journal.
  40. Web site: Dune (1984) - Alternate Versions. IMDb.
  41. Web site: 1985-12-16. CRITICS CHOOSE 'BRAZIL' AS BEST PICTURE OF 1985. 2021-05-14. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  42. Web site: 1989-01-08. Lobotomized 'Brazil'?. 2021-06-24. Los Angeles Times. en-US.
  43. Web site: RETRO: Anchorage, Alaska (December 10, 1988). May 10, 2008. Radio Discussions.
  44. Web site: Dune Movie Trailer. Suggesting Movie.
  45. Web site: RETRO BOSTON TV- THANKSGIVING 1987. January 11, 2007. Radio Discussions.
  46. Web site: RETRO BOSTON TV- THANKSGIVING 1987. September 22, 2006. Radio Discussions.
  47. Web site: RETRO BOSTON TV- THANKSGIVING 1986. September 22, 2006. Radio Discussions.
  48. Web site: BOSTON TV- EARLY WINTER 1987. October 4, 2005. Radio Discussions.
  49. Web site: Retro:Charleston-Huntington, West Virginia, Saturday 1/10/87(Excluding PBS). June 1, 2007. Radio Discussions.
  50. Web site: Retro:Charleston-Huntington, West Virginia-January 5-9, 1987(Excluding PBS). June 5, 2007. Radio Discussions.
  51. Web site: Retro: Western South Carolina, Mon. November 9th, 1987. November 2, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  52. Web site: Retro: Chicago independents, Saturday, Feb. 4, 1989. January 21, 2005. Radio Discussions.
  53. Web site: Retro: Northern Wisconsin, Thurs. July 14th, 1988. January 17, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  54. Web site: Oldest Extant Off-Air VHS/Beta Tape You Have. February 11, 2016. Radio Discussions.
  55. Web site: Retro: Northern Indiana, Saturday, Feb. 11th, 1989. August 1, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  56. Web site: Retro: Chicago VHFs, Monday, March 12, 1990. September 5, 2006. Radio Discussions.
  57. Web site: Northern Indiana - Monday, February 27, 1989. October 7, 2006. Radio Discussions.
  58. Web site: Retro: Oklahoma City - Week of April 22, 1990. January 19, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  59. Web site: Retro: Oklahoma City - Week of April 5, 1987. January 12, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  60. Web site: Retro: Oklahoma City - Week of October 15, 1989. January 5, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  61. Web site: RETRO: MEMPHIS, FRIDAY, NOV 8 1986, By Request. October 3, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  62. Web site: Retro:Southeastern Ohio, Monday, January 6, 1986. December 2, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  63. Web site: Retro: Columbus OH Metropolitan, Sat. October 11th, 1986. February 15, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  64. Web site: Retro: Moline, IL, Thursday, Jul 6, 1989. July 7, 2020. Radio Discussions.
  65. Web site: Retro: Montana Mon, Aug 28, 1989. September 2, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  66. Web site: RETRO : DES MOINES IOWA MONDAY JULY 30, 1990. July 27, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  67. Web site: Retro: Windsor/Detroit Sat, Mar 18, 1989 (afternoon/evening, ch 2-54). June 20, 2007. Radio Discussions.
  68. Web site: RETRO: Fairbanks, Alaska (November 10, 1990). May 15, 2008. Radio Discussions.
  69. Web site: Retro: Northern Indiana, Sun. December 15th, 1985 (includes WTBS, USA, NICK and ESPN). December 2, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  70. Web site: Retro: Spartanburg, SC, Thursday, July 16, 1987. January 19, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  71. Web site: Retro: Bristol/Knoxville/Lexington (3-4-1990). March 3, 2015. Radio Discussions.
  72. Web site: Retro: Savannah, GA, Monday, December 17, 1990. October 23, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  73. Web site: Retro:Houston, Sunday, September 14, 1986-Independents. April 3, 2009. Radio Discussions.
  74. Web site: Retro: Indianapolis/Terre Haute/Lafayette, IN - Sunday, January 21, 1990. May 9, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  75. Web site: Retro: Kansas City/Topeka/St. Joseph, Sunday, December 3, 1989. March 14, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  76. News: Willman. Chris. June 5, 1988. Dune II: The Re-edit. Los Angeles Times.
  77. News: Thomas. Kevin. July 15, 1990. In the 1988 She's Having a Baby.... Los Angeles Times.
  78. Web site: Retro: Miami/West Palm Beach, Wednesday, May 24, 1989. May 24, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  79. Web site: Retro:Miami, Monday, February 6, 1989. May 12, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  80. Web site: Retro: Meriden, CT, Sunday, January 8, 1989. March 15, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  81. Web site: Retro: Western Massachusetts Sat, Oct 1, 1988. June 2, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  82. News: O'Connor. John J.. June 12, 1988. TV VIEW; TV's Film Editors Giveth As Well as Taketh. The New York Times.
  83. Book: Sheen, Davison, Erica, Annette. American Dreams, Nightmare Visions. 2004. 41. 9781903364857.
  84. Web site: Retro: Quad Cities/Springfield/Peoria/Quincy Sat, Mar 12, 1988. January 31, 2006. Radio Discussions.
  85. Web site: RETRO: PHILADELPHIA - 10/01/1990. July 25, 2009. Radio Discussions.
  86. Web site: RETRO: PHILADELPHIA - MAY 2, 1989. January 23, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  87. Web site: Philadelphia independents - June 1990. June 10, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  88. Web site: Retro: Youngstown, OH, Sunday, May 10, 1987. May 3, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  89. Web site: Retro: Youngstown/Cleveland/Pittsburgh, Tuesday, April 7, 1987. July 29, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  90. Web site: Retro: Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 30, 1989. March 19, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  91. Web site: Retro: Denver/Casper/Cheyenne/Rapid City Sat, July 4, 1987. July 4, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  92. Web site: Retro: Hampton Roads/Richmond, Friday, Feb 17, 1989. February 16, 2020. Radio Discussions.
  93. Web site: Retro: Pennsylvania-New York, Sat. September 7, 1985. May 12, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  94. Web site: Retro TV: Scranton/Wilkes Barre TV - December 2-6, 1985 - weekdays. November 24, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  95. Web site: Retro: Nebraska/Central-East South Dakota/Sioux City Sat, July 4, 1987. July 12, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  96. Web site: Retro: Spokane, WA - Saturday, January 11, 1986. May 16, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  97. Web site: Retro: Spokane Broadcast and Cable - Monday, May 21, 1990 ("The Last Newhart"). April 23, 2014. Radio Discussions.
  98. Web site: Retro: Yakima, WA; Sat. July 15th, 1989. August 2, 2015. Radio Discussions.
  99. Web site: Retro: Baxter Bulletin (Mountain Home, AR - Springfield, MO Area) October 4, 1986. June 9, 2020. Radio Discussions.
  100. Web site: Retro: Seattle/Tacoma, Mon. November 14th, 1988. September 19, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  101. Web site: Retro: Seattle/Tacoma, Tue. October 17th, 1989 *LOMA PRIETA EARTHQUAKE DAY*. July 29, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  102. Web site: Retro: Tampa/St. Petersburg, Thursday, July 10, 1986. February 9, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  103. Web site: Retro:Tampa Bay, Monday, May 5, 1986. July 9, 2011. Radio Discussions.
  104. Web site: Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Saturday, October 20, 1990. June 17, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  105. Web site: Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Thursday, May 11, 1989. May 6, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  106. Web site: Retro: Lancaster/Baltimore/DC, Sat. December 14th, 1985. November 24, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  107. Web site: Retro: Hartford/Springfield Mon, Oct 3, 1988. October 3, 2011. Radio Discussions.
  108. Web site: Retro: New York City/Hartford, Sunday, May 6, 1990. March 16, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  109. Web site: RETRO: Providence/Boston/Hartford – Sunday, September 7, 1986 (1 of 2). August 15, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  110. Web site: Retro: Miami, Florida Monday, November 2, 1987. March 13, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  111. Web site: Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Tuesday, December 12, 1989. December 8, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  112. Web site: Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Friday, September 15, 1989. September 14, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  113. News: Carmody. John. October 27, 1988. THE TV COLUMN. The Washington Post.
  114. News: Carmody. John. October 27, 1988. THE TV COLUMN. The Washington Post.
  115. Web site: BC-1987-05-18.pdf. May 18, 1987. World Radio History.
  116. Web site: Channels-1989-03-OCR-Page-0071.pdf. World Radio History.
  117. News: BY THE NUMBERS : The Top 10 Syndicated Television Shows. Los Angeles Times. June 25, 1990. April 9, 2015.