Copyright: Frank Bibler, 11/97


Contents
TV GUIDE    06/23/96

A treasury of television events -- from news to cartoons -- that are truly unforgettable

When television is good, it entertains or educates us. But when it is great, it does so much more. At times, the medium touches our deepest emotions -- wonder, delight, joy, sadness, shock, fear. Moments like these, when TV moves us profoundly, become like mental snapshots that never fade. We recall treasured highlights of I Love Lucy and The Twilight Zone just as clearly as we do last week's episodes of Home Improvement and ER.

So here at TV GUIDE , when we set about ranking a selection of these indelible TV moments from 100 to 1 for this special issue, it was a unique challenge and a special pleasure. We don't expect you to agree with all our choices; in fact, this issue sparked a number of heated debates in our offices (sample objections: "Where's Uncle Miltie?" "How about the demolition of the Berlin Wall?"). But as you pore over these pages, there's one thing on which we hope you will agree: These are all exceedingly vivid moments. In other words, great TV.

From 100 to 91  From 90 to 81  From 80 to 71

From 70 to 61  From 60 to 51  From 50 to 41

From 40 to 31  From 30 to 21  From 20 to 11

From 10 to 01


From 100 to 91

100

Mork and Mindy's Baby (October 15, 1981) When the irrepressible alien (Robin Williams) married his human ally (Pam Dawber) on Mork & Mindy and started a family, Mom was a little put out. Their "baby," after all, hatched from an egg and looked like an old man (in fact, it was Williams' comic idol, Jonathan Winters). But Mindy hung in there: "I'm sure with enough time, I'll grow to love every hair on his chest."

99

Miami Vice Premiere (September 16, 1984) Don Johnson's Sonny, a vice cop with a two-day growth and expensive accessories, is on his way to meet a coke kingpin. He pulls his Ferrari over to a phone booth, calls his estranged wife, and says, "Caroline, I need to know something. It was real, wasn't it?" The answer is yes, but Sonny sadly shuffles back to his car and zooms through the glistening tropical night as Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" plays at length. Stylized and atmospheric, this cop show introduced the adrenalized mood of MTV to prime time.

98

The "1984" Macintosh Commercial (January 22, 1984) Part of the mystique of this legendary ad is its inaccessibility: It aired for just a little over a week. But that doesn't mean its creators spared any expense. The 60-second commercial presented a grim and haunting vision of a dystopian future, one that borrowed from both George Orwell and The Prisoner. A group of men with shaved heads and identical gray outfits are saved from brainwashed conformity by one determined woman with vibrant clothes and a sledgehammer.

97

The Two Faces of Latka (May 21, 1981) Latka Gravas (Andy Kaufman), Taxi's timid immigrant mechanic with the continually apologetic expression, needs to break out. Frustrated by his notable lack of success with the ladies, the squeaky-accented Latka adopts an alter ego: the ultra-suave, self-absorbed singles-bar lizard known as Vic Ferrari. It is TV's most offbeat transformation.

96

Police Brutality in Birmingham (May 3, 1963) Peacefully protesting segregation in local stores and restaurants, a group of more than 1,000 blacks, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., marched through this Alabama city. They were met with unprovoked and terrifying violence by the Birmingham police, goaded on by Commissioner "Bull" Connor. First, attack dogs were set loose on the protesters, then the marchers were blasted with fire hoses shooting water at 100 p.s.i., enough force to knock bark off trees. The evening news programs on all three networks showed extensive footage of the appalling police response. The broadcasts awakened the nation to the barbarity being committed in the name of racial segregation and added considerable impetus to the civil rights movement.

95

One Life on the Stand (March 6, 1979) On One Life to Live, Karen Wolek is torn. The wife of one of Llanview's leading doctors, she can provide an alibi for Viki Riley, on trial for murder, but only by divulging her shameful secret. Under intense grilling, she finally erupts: "What do you want from me, Mr. Callison? Do you want me to tell the court that I'm a common street hooker?" A riveting performance by Judith Light and a shocking social issue (housewives who hook) made this one of daytime's most potent scenes.

94

The Theme Music from Mission: Impossible (September 1966-May 1973) "Good morning, Mr. Phelps." So began the taped message that would propel our favorite espionage operative and his hand-picked team on another daring sortie. After briefing Phelps (Peter Graves), the tape would self-destruct in a miasma of white smoke. Then came the really cool part: the syncopated, staccato strains of Lalo Schifrin's thrilling theme, a scintillating sonata for brass, flute, and bongo drum. Hey, who needs Tom Cruise?

93

Tonya Harding at the Olympics (February 25, 1994) Incredibly, after all the scandal and criminal matters surrounding the attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding was still allotted a place on the Olympic skating team in Lillehammer. The stage seemed to be set for the redemption of this talented but troubled rink rat from Oregon. But Tonya was no Cinderella. Just 45 seconds into her long program, she skated over to the judges' table, crying petulantly and pointing at the laces on her skate. She was given yet another chance. Missing her trademark triple axel, she finished eighth. Her tawdry but fascinating saga was over.

92

The Simpsons' Conclusion (September 17, 1995) In part two of the mock-mystery "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" -- a clear parody of Dallas (see #13) -- the Simpsons are watching a TV news broadcast when the prime suspect in the shooting is cleared (his alibi involves watching Comedy Central). "Hmmm," says Marge, "I guess it's never the most likely suspect." "Actually, Mom," notes Lisa, "in 95 percent of cases it is. The rest of the time, it's usually some deranged lunatic who did it for no reason." With that, every head in the room turns to Homer.

91

Rhoda's Wedding (October 28, 1974) For the nuptials of Rhoda Morgenstern (Valerie Harper), all her friends from Minneapolis come to town -- Mary, Lou, Murray, and the rest. And 51 million viewers turn up, too, by far the largest audience this Mary Tyler Moore Show spin-off ever attracted. But Phyllis forgets to pick up the bride to take her to the ceremony in the Bronx. So plucky Rhoda, already dressed in her gown and veil, does what any determined New Yorker would do. She runs out in the street and tries to hail a cab. And when that fails, Rhoda hops the subway to her mom's house. Here comes the bride…on the D train!


From 90 to 81

90

Jack Paar Walks Off (February 11, 1960) The previous night, The Tonight Show host told a labored but innocent joke about a British term for bathroom -- W.C. The NBC censors bleeped it, and the prickly Paar took umbrage. During his next monologue, he explained what had happened and declared he wouldn't stand for it. He began to choke up as he announced he was quitting and then left the stage. A shocked audience watched second banana Hugh Downs take over a show that included Orson Bean and Shelley Berman. After predicting to the press that the show would crumble without him, a contrite Paar was back one month later.

WITNESS: Hugh Downs recalls, "That was the hottest spotlight I've ever been in. The audience was kind of stunned, too. When Jack Paar came back after a few weeks, his first line was, 'As I was saying before I was interrupted…'"

89

The Fonz's Entrance (September 1974-July 1984) He was the showstopper on Happy Days. Sauntering into Arnold's Drive-In with his sculpted hair, black leather jacket, white T-shirt, and blue jeans, he would growl, "Aaayh!" and the studio audience would go nuts. He was the Fonz, the coolest man on the planet, or at least Milwaukee. When the sitcom debuted in January 1974, Henry Winkler's character had been in the background, dressed in a gray windbreaker. But as his image became flashier, he came to dominate the show. Today, the Fonz's biker jacket resides in the Smithsonian.

88

Pee-wee's Big Comeback (September 5, 1991) It happened at the MTV Music Video Awards. An announcer asked us to welcome an old friend, and out walked Paul Reubens, better known as inventive Saturday-morning star Pee-wee Herman. Reubens had been in virtual seclusion since his arrest at an X-rated theater, but he gleefully accepted the audience's raucous ovation and insouciantly asked, "Heard any good jokes lately?" Indeed they had.

WITNESS: Arsenio Hall, MTV's 1991 awards host recalls, "Before the live broadcast, Pee-wee looked real nervous. 'Depend' nervous."

87

Tom Jordache Is Slain (March 15, 1976) Back in the days when miniseries really were mini series, ABC spun out the Irwin Shaw epic Rich Man, Poor Man in grand style, taking 12 hours to tell the story of the embattled Jordache brothers. But the emotional payoff came right at the conclusion, when former boxer, seaman, and general knockabout Tom Jordache (Nick Nolte, who became an overnight sensation) was set upon and stabbed by two thugs -- just when happiness was within his grasp. That left just enough time for a touching, 10-hankie deathbed reconciliation between Tom and his high-society sibling, Rudy (Peter Strauss). This Cain and Abel saga did everything in a big way -- it even earned 23 Emmy nominations.

86

Kookie Combs His Hair (October 10, 1958) Actor Edd Byrnes played a homicidal thug named Smiley in the movie pilot of the detective show 77 Sunset Strip. But his James Dean flair and wavy hair caught on with audiences immediately, so the producers rechristened him Kookie and brought him back as a regular. Kookie's hepcat phrases, like "the ginchiest" (the greatest) or "piling up the Z's" (sleeping), were adopted by teenagers everywhere, and his trademark gesture -- sliding his comb sensuously through his pomaded pompadour -- spawned the hit song "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb."

85

Plop-Plop Goes Letterman (September 6, 1984) Clothes make the man. At least they did for David Letterman. Back in his NBC days, the sardonic late-night host gained a reputation for skits involving surreal suits made of sponge, Velcro, even potato chips. His most celebrated garment, however, was festooned with 3,400 Alka-Seltzer tablets. Sporting plastic goggles and an oxygen tank (so the gas soon to be released by the effervescent tablets wouldn't make him pass out), Dave was dangled over a 900-gallon water tank. "Boy, if I die," he mused, "this is the worst possible way to go, isn't it?" Down went Dave, and up came a satisfying cloud of vapors. The stunt was the masterstroke in Letterman's plan to put the fizz back in late night.

84

The Alexis and Krystle Catfight (April 13, 1983) Alexis (Joan Collins) always likes to go for the soft underbelly. So when she sees Krystle (Linda Evans) sitting placidly and prettily by the lily pond, she starts needling the current Mrs. Carrington mercilessly about her inability to conceive. Now the gloves are off. "You miserable bitch," cries Krystle, diving at her tormentor. They plunge into the pond and start waling on each other, wet hair, soggy silk and all. When Alexis tries to escape, Krystle says, "Oh, no, you don't," and cracks her one right on the kisser.

83

The Debut of NYPD Blue (September 21, 1993) Almost a quarter of ABC's 225 affiliates refused to air the first episode of Steven Bochco's daring drama. Their viewers missed an extraordinary hour of TV, during which the relationship between detectives John Kelly (David Caruso) and Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) was delineated with unusual rawness -- and poignance.

82

POWs Return from Vietnam (March 19, 1973) Shortly after the Paris cease-fire agreement was signed, North Vietnam began releasing American prisoners of war. The most touching reunion seen on TV took place at California's Travis Air Force Base, as Lt. Col. Robert Stirm stepped onto the tarmac. His eldest daughter, Lorrie, 15, beamed as she rushed at her father with arms outstretched, followed closely by her brothers, her sister, and her mother, Loretta. The scene personified Operation Homecoming, during which 591 serviceman were released.

81

The U.S. Hockey Victory Over the U.S.S.R. at the 1980 Olympic Games (February 22, 1980) They said it would never happen, but with only five seconds to go, and the U.S. holding on to a tenuous lead of 4-3, ABC Sports announcer Al Michaels asked, "Do you believe in miracles?" then answered his own question with a resounding "Yes!" Michaels' words were immortalized -- and, he said, unplanned, because "the thought of the American team winning that game was ludicrous."


From 80 to 71

80

Jeff Baker's Car Wreck on As the World Turns (August 23, 1962) TV GUIDE called it the "automobile accident that shook the nation." Actor Mark Rydell, who had played Jeff Baker for six years on the top-rated CBS soap, refused to sign a long-term contract. And so, the producers ripped asunder America's favorite daytime sweethearts in a blur of twisting metal:Jeff died instantly; his wife, Penny (Rosemary Prinz), fell into a lengthy coma.

79

The Fire in Waco (April 19, 1993) After a 51-day standoff between federal agents and Branch Davidian leader David Koresh, the FBI decided it could wait no longer for Koresh to surrender on a weapons charge (a previous raid had left four agents dead). On April 19, six hours after tanks pounded holes in the Branch Davidian compound and pumped in tear gas, bright orange fireballs erupted and black smoke cast a dark shadow over the grounds. Agents waited for cult members to pour out of the burning buildings and were horrified when they didn't. More than 80 members of the religious sect were killed, including Koresh and many young children. It was the apocalyptic ending Koresh had predicted for his followers.

78

The Final Episode of M*A*S*H (February 28, 1983) Betraying mixed emotions, Hawkeye (Alan Alda) gazes for the last time at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as his chopper rises in the air. Then, in the distance, he spies a giant "good-bye" etched in the dust by his departing buddy B.J. Hunnicut (Mike Farrell) on his trademark yellow motorcycle. So ended the Korean War adventures of our favorite medical unit after 11 critically lauded and audience-grabbing years (eight years more than the actual war lasted). M*A*S*H mania ruled the country on the night the 21/2-hour series finale aired, and the episode set a Nielsen ratings record that has yet to be beaten.

WITNESS: Jamie Farr, who played cross-dresser Klinger, recalls: "On our final day of shooting, the cast had a private lunch where we expressed our fondness for one another. I think the respect we had for each other showed on camera."

77

Maddie and David Make Love on Moonlighting (March 31, 1987) In an episode entitled "The Big Bang," battling detectives Maddie Hayes and David Addison finally put two seasons of bickering behind them and "got horizontal." Pottery, glassware, and various objets d'art flew about the room as the two tangled to the tune of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby." Though fans had begged for this moment, "The Big Bang"soon turned into "The Big Bust," and a valuable lesson was learned: no sexual tension equals no sizzle.

76

Paul Newman in Bang the Drum Slowly (September 26, 1956) Newman was at the peak of his blue-eyed beauty when he played a star pitcher who befriends an unpopular but cancer-stricken catcher (Albert Salmi). In the live broadcast, Newman noticeably flubbed a line from his final soliloquy, but his stumbling speech somehow added even more pathos to the moment. Describing the sparsely attended funeral, the remorseful Newman movingly declares, "From here on in, I rag nobody."

75

Clarabell Speaks (September 24, 1960) "Say kids, what time is it?" asked Buffalo Bob Smith. The response was a high-pitched chorus of delight: "It's Howdy Doody time!" Since 1947, children had been devoted to Howdy, the freckled cowboy marionette. When it came time to pack up Doody-ville, who got the last word? Clarabell, the mute clown who had communicated only with horns and seltzer bottles. On the last show, he found his voice, saying sadly, "Good-bye, kids."

74

The Bookworm Episode of The Twilight Zone (November 20, 1959) All meek Henry Bemis ever wanted was to be left alone to read. And as the sole survivor of a nuclear holocaust, he gets his wish, sitting contentedly on the steps of a library, surrounded by books and rubble. Then the compulsive reader (played by Burgess Meredith) trips and shatters his only pair of glasses, and all those beautiful pages are just an indistinct blur. TV's most mordant twist ending.

73

Ruby Shoots Oswald (November 24, 1963) Still numb from the assassination of President Kennedy two days before, the nation tuned in to see JFK's presumed assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, being transferred from one Dallas jail to another. Bodies jostled in the crowded jailhouse basement and then a shout -- "Here he is" -- rose above the hubbub as the slight Oswald was led in. Then a burly man, Dallas strip-joint owner Jack Ruby, stepped in front of the cameras, and a shot rang out. CBS's Harry Reasoner, desperately trying to sort out the commotion, finally announced, "What you saw very clearly is a man in a dark hat step out from the line and shoot Lee Harvey Oswald." The next day we would gather in front of the TV again for JFK's funeral (see #3).

WITNESS: In his office, CBS anchor Walter Cronkite saw the shooting on NBC: "What I recall about that day was the terrible rush to get back on the air."

72

Barbara Walters Interviews Sadat and Begin (November 20, 1977) Who else but Walters could have convinced Egypt's Anwar Sadat and Israel's Menachem Begin to sit down for a televised tête-à-tête? The heads of state seemed content to bask in the symbolism. But Walters wanted this memorable moment to be an historic one, repeatedly pressing them for possible peace concessions. Finally, Sadat objected. "Politics," he said, "can't be conducted like this."

71

Dan Jansen Skates to Victory (February 18, 1994) Sometimes good guys do finish first. Speed skater Jansen had known nothing but Olympic disappointment. Favored in the previous two Winter Games, he failed to earn a medal. (In 1988, he had been distraught over the death of his sister.) Then, in Lillehammer, having slipped again in his favored event, the 500-meter, he faced his last chance but came through, winning the 1,000-meter gold. His setbacks only made the triumph sweeter, and he skated a victory lap with his baby, Jane, named after his late sister.


From 70 to 61

70

Halting the Tanks (June 5, 1989) After six weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations by students and workers, the Chinese government ordered the Army to retake Tiananmen Square. As a convoy of tanks rolled into the city, a lone man carrying groceries stepped in front of the lead tank, stopping the column. This intrepid act, seen worldwide, was a potent symbol of individual will.

69

Terrorists at the Olympics (September 5, 1972) In the middle of the night, Arab guerillas stole into the athletes' compound at the Munich Olympics, killing two Israelis and taking nine hostage. After negotiations failed, West German police made a rescue attempt that resulted in a tragic firefight in which all the hostages died. Pressed into service to cover the 23-hour crisis, ABC Sports announcer Jim McKay somberly reported, "They're all gone."

68

Star Trek's "City on the Edge of Forever" (April 6, 1967) In the original series' most provocative episode, Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock pursue Dr. McCoy through a time portal to Depression-era New York, where Kirk falls for a social worker (played by a radiant Joan Collins). But Kirk faces a torturous dilemma: If she does not die young, her subsequent activities will result in the Nazis winning World War II. So, as a truck barrels toward the woman, Kirk restrains McCoy from saving her. "Do you know what you've just done, Jim?" asks the horrified doctor. "He knows, Doctor," says Spock, his Vulcan reserve cracking. "He knows."

67

A Visit to Neverland (March 7, 1955) Fueled by a sprinkle of fairy dust, NBC's Producers' Showcase reached the pinnacle of live television with a lavish mounting of the musical Peter Pan. Custom-built machinery was shipped in from England to make the flying as convincing as possible. In the case of Mary Martin, they probably could have saved on the special effects. She was so effervescent and evocative as Peter, it seemed she could soar at will. The production was such a huge critical and popular success that NBC reprised it twice more live -- in 1956 and 1960.

66

Oprah's Little Red Wagon (November 15, 1988) It was the most notorious engagement in the daytime queen's battle of the bulge. On a show about dieting, talk-show titan Oprah Winfrey threw off an overcoat and dramatically revealed her newly trim, size-10 body. Then, using a toy wagon, she wheeled out a remarkable visual aid: a huge slab of animal fat wrapped in plastic. "This is what 67 pounds of fat looks like," she said triumphantly. "Is this gross or what? It's amazing to me that I can't lift it, but I used to carry it around with me every day."

65

Hill Street Blue (January 15, 1981) Captain Furillo locks up the bad guys and feisty public defender Joyce Davenport springs them. By the second commercial in Hill Street Blues' dazzling debut, she has called him a fascist and promised to bring him up on charges. So when she's at home at episode's end, kissing her lover's chest, and we see it is Furillo, we realize this is a couple that will create some sparks.

64

Edith Is Raped (October 16, 1977) All in the Family had a unique ability to raise serious topics within a sitcom format. Never more so than in the episode in which Edith Bunker was sexually assaulted by a stranger in her living room. There are jokes early on (her attacker compliments her scent, and Edith says, "That's Lemon Pledge"). But her vulnerability and shame become almost tangible. The episode was used at rape-crisis centers for years.

WITNESS: David Dukes played the rapist: "When I tore her dress, the [studio] audience went 'grrr.' It was the only time in my career that an audience has growled at me."

63

Al Campanis on Nightline (April 6, 1987) It was supposed to be a celebration of progress -- marking the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's entry into the major leagues. But Ted Koppel's guest, Al Campanis, a front-office executive with the Los Angeles Dodgers and a former teammate of Robinson's, was busy proving how deeply entrenched prejudice remains. He amiably asserted that blacks "may not have some of the necessities to be a…field manager or perhaps a general manager." Campanis was fired almost immediately, but his comments revealed how racism can fester, blithely unchecked, beneath a smiling façade of tolerance.

62

The Oscar Streaker (April 2, 1974) David Niven was terribly nervous about cohosting the Academy Awards. That's ironic, since he would go down as the show's most unflappable master of ceremonies. As he was in the process of introducing Elizabeth Taylor, a mustachioed man with no clothes ran across the stage. (Streaking was a popular college fad in those days.) Niven licked his lips, did a double take, tugged at his ear, and tossed off such a witty ad-lib, many people assumed it was scripted. "Well, ladies and gentlemen,"he said, "that was almost bound to happen. But isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping and showing off his shortcomings."

WITNESS: Linda Blair, then 15, was there, nominated for "The Exorcist." "I'd seen a streaker before," she says, "at a horse show. But when this guy streaked, my mouth went agape."

61

Namath in Panty Hose (1974) With sensuous languor, the camera panned up the shapely, clean-shaven legs of a reclining model. The effect was somewhat marred by a pair of green shorts. As the camera continued up, we saw a hairy arm emerging from a football jersey emblazoned with the number 12 and, finally, the grinning face and twinkling blue eyes of New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath. As promised, the ad proved "to the women of America that Beautymist Panty Hose can make any legs look like a million dollars." Using Namath, a symbol of cocky machismo, made the spot the ultimate gender bender.


From 60 to 51

60

Darrin's Dastardly Doppelgänger (September 18, 1969) It certainly looked like the Stephens' cozy home as the sixth season of Bewitched opened. But who was that guy talking with such familiar irritation to Samantha? And why was she calling him Darrin? Well, ongoing back problems and an addiction to painkillers had led to the departure of Dick York and the arrival of Dick Sargent. Or maybe it was just one of Endora's evil spells.

59

Watergate Breakthrough (July 16, 1973) After two frustrating months of uncooperative witnesses, the Senate Watergate Committee called in self-effacing bureaucrat Alexander Butterfield on short notice. Unexpectedly he provided a major revelation. Butterfield disclosed the existence of a taping system in the Oval Office, with reels kept and catalogued. The senators were incredulous. Surely the president wouldn't discuss sensitive matters on tape? "As a matter of fact," said Butterfield, "the president seemed to be totally, really oblivious or certainly uninhibited by this fact." For the first time, unraveling the whole knotty coverup seemed like a real possibility.

58

The Kiss on Cheers (September 29, 1983) Sam and Diane are fighting again in his office. But this time they're really riled up. "You know, you know," he says, barely able to spit out the words, "I've always wanted to pop you one. Maybe this is my lucky day, huh?" "You disgust me," she yells. "I hate you!" Then the mood shifts radically. "Are you as turned on as Iam?" he asks. "More," she pants. And suddenly these two antagonists are kissing with hungry passion. Out in the bar, Cliff notes how quiet it's gotten. Norm muses that maybe Sam killed Diane. And Carla observes, "Nah, even in death she wouldn't be that quiet."

57

Death Comes to Sesame Street (November 24, 1983) When Will Lee, the actor who played kindly storekeeper Mr. Hooper, died at 74, Sesame Street waited until the following Thanksgiving Day, when they were sure parents would be home with their kids, to explain the concept. Big Bird had to be reminded by Susan, "When people die, they don't come back." "Ever?" he whispered. The finality of it sank in, but all the adults were there to comfort Big Bird as the camera craned away.

WITNESS: Big Bird reflects, "I was glad my friends were there. They said we can always think about Mr. Hooper. And I do. He used to make me birdseed milk shakes."

56

Golfing on The Honeymooners (October 15, 1955) As usual, Ralph has bitten off a good deal more than he can chew. He's got a golf date with a big shot at the bus company in two days and he doesn't know a putt from a potato. Well, first things first: the clothes. Let's see, plaid pants, argyle socks, and a floppy Scottish tam with a little ball on top. "How do I look, Norton?" he asks. "Deee-vine!" enthuses his pal. Now it's time for the lesson. Norton reads from a manual. Address the ball, it suggests. Norton grabs a club, works his body like a double-jointed hula dancer, salutes, and shouts, "Helloooo, ball." Hole-in-one humor.

55

The Louds' Divorce (March 8, 1973) The PBS documentary An American Family turned out to be a surprisingly involving portrait of the Loud family of Santa Monica, California. First came the issue of son Lance's homosexuality. Then Pat dropped a real bombshell on her husband. When he returned from a business trip, she handed him a card from her lawyer and said, "I'd like to have you move out." The camera maintained a tight, blurry closeup of Bill's face. The father of five accepted the dissolution of his marriage with odd equanimity. "Well, that's a fair deal," he said.

54

Ali Defeats Foreman (October 29, 1974) Awesome. Invincible. That's how writers described domineering heavyweight boxing champ George Foreman. Muhammad Ali, then 32, was given no chance when he faced Foreman in a steamy soccer stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire, at 4 A.M. (The starting time was designed to accommodate millions of Americans watching on closed-circuit TV.) For eight rounds Ali employed his passive "rope-a-dope" technique, leaning back and letting Foreman pound away at Ali's arms and elbows. Then Ali turned the tables, unleashing a quick and devastating flurry. Foreman buckled and ever so slowly toppled to the canvas.

WITNESS: Ferdie Pacheco was Ali's cornerman in the Zaire fight. "We were shocked [by the rope-a-dope]," says Pacheco. "Our entire corner yelled at him until we lost our voices. I don't think even Ali knew he was going to do that."

53

The Contest on Seinfeld (November 18, 1992) All the show's endearing hallmarks are on display in this episode: deft ensemble work, catchy buzz phrases ("master of your domain"), and a witty, self-referential script that folds back on itself like a Möbius strip. The premise is that Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine make a wager to see who can go the longest without pleasuring him- or herself. Finally Kramer, tempted by a naked lady in the building across the way, bolts into Jerry's apartment, slams down a pile of cash, and declares, "I'm out!"

52

Bobby's in the Shower on Dallas (May 16, 1986) Pam Ewing -- still pining for her do-good hubbie, Bobby, who had died the previous year -- woke up one morning to the sound of the shower. She swung open the door of the steam-filled shower stall to find a cheery, lathery Bobby. "Good morning," he said -- season-ending freeze-frame. In the fall, we found out Bobby's death -- in fact, conveniently, the whole misbegotten preceding season -- had just been a dream of Pam's.

51

The Bombing of Baghdad (January 16, 1991) Operation Desert Storm was a made-for-TV military operation with satellite correspondents like Arthur Kent, the "Scud Stud," filing reports from the war zone and incredible footage of smart bombs finding their targets with unerring precision. It all started with CNN's gripping footage of Baghdad under siege. As sirens blared, antiaircraft tracer rounds drifted up into the night sky in a scene right out of "War of the Worlds."


From 50 to 41

50

The Borg on Star Trek: The Next Generation (June 18, 1990) Federation starships have massed to fight the Borg, the indomitable ant-like race that is rapidly conquering the universe. Captain Picard has been captured, and Officer Riker is sitting at the helm of the Enterprise when the ship is hailed. On the viewscreen, we see Picard -- or a half-man, half-machine that looks like Picard -- on the enemy vessel. "I am Locutus of Borg," he says in a dead voice. "Resistance is futile. Your life as it has been is over." Riker knows what he must do: "Mr. Worf," he orders. "Fire!"

49

Cal Ripken Jr. Breaks the Record (September 6, 1995) Boy, did we need a hero! Baseball fans were still disillusioned by the previous year's major league strike that had robbed them of a World Series for the first time since 1904. So the soft-spoken Baltimore Orioles shortstop had the ideal summer in which to play his 2,131st consecutive game, thus shattering a seemingly unbreakable mark set by legendary Iron Horse Lou Gehrig. As Ripken came out of the dugout in the fifth inning, after the game had become official, it wasn't just his athletic prowess that prompted the 22-minute standing ovation. (ESPN motormouth Chris Berman honored the occasion with silence.) No, we were saluting Cal's more heroic, but all too easily overlooked, accomplishment: doing his job with consistent devotion.

WITNESS: Mel Proctor, the Orioles play-by-play announcer, says, "[After he broke the record], I was quiet for about two minutes -- I know the guys on ESPN held out longer. When he took the victory lap, I tried to talk sparingly."

48

Hertz Puts Us in the Driver's Seat (1961) A riderless convertible rolls along the road. Then, as if from the clouds, a smiling man in a suit and tidy snap-brim hat floats down and lands snugly behind the wheel. Cue the jingle: "Let Hertz put you in the driver's seat/Let Hertz take you anywhere at all…" The levitating motorist ad campaign -- a technical tour de force -- changed car rental, previously considered the province of the rich, into a mass-market commodity.

47

The Hug on The CBS Morning News (May 15, 1985) The latest body in the revolving anchor chair of CBS's morning show belonged to Phyllis George, a former Miss America. Her guests were Gary Dotson and Cathleen Webb (who had already made appearances that morning on Today and Good Morning America). After six years in prison for raping Webb, Dotson had just been released after Webb recanted the charge. George complimented Dotson on his autograph-signing technique and inquired brightly about TV-movie offers. As the awkward interview ground on, George suggested Dotson and Webb shake hands "after a long day's work." When they stiffly complied, she followed up with four career-ending words: "How about a hug?" It was the dismal nadir of bubbly, happy-talk news.

46

Mary Lou Retton Scores a 10 (August 3, 1984) Talk about pressure. Retton was attempting to accomplish what no American woman ever had: win an Olympic gold medal in all-around gymnastics. But her principal rival, Ecaterina Szabó of Romania, had just scored an astounding 9.9 on the uneven bars. That all but mathematically eliminated Retton, the spunky 16-year-old from West Virginia. She would need a perfect score in her final event -- the vault -- to overtake Szabó. Inhaling deeply, Retton rose on her toes, bounded down the runway, and launched herself at the vault. After catapulting through the air, she stuck her landing as the crowd at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion rose to their feet to cheer. Retton flung up her fists in exultation and flashed that infectious, megawatt smile. When the score was posted, it confirmed what everyone already knew: 10.00!

45

"Where's the Beef?" (January 1984) Three white-haired ladies stand just able to peer over the counter of a brand-X fast-food eatery. Confronted by a minuscule hamburger patty sitting on an enormous bun, the lady in the middle squawks, "Where's the beef?" The expression became a national catchphrase, a favorite Johnny Carson punch line, and even a sound bite in that year's presidential race. The ad for Wendy's restaurants made a star out of grandmotherly Clara Peller, a retired beautician from Chicago who was so hard of hearing that a hidden stagehand had to tap her ankle to cue her famous line.

44

"Your Money or Your Life" (January 15, 1956) The star of The Jack Benny Program is given that simple, seemingly obvious option by a holdup man. But Benny, whose comic persona was built around his notorious stinginess, has no response. Catching on to the gag, the audience begins laughing (just as they did when Benny first performed this skit on radio). Finally, the robber prods the comedian with the gun and barks, "I said, 'Your money or your life.'" Whereupon Benny delivers in a piteous wail his most famous punch line: "I'm thinking it over!"

43

Jacqueline Kennedy at the White House (February 14, 1962) Speaking in her refined murmur, Jackie Kennedy took CBS newsman Charles Collingwood on a guided tour of the presidential residence. (The special aired simultaneously on NBC and ABC as well.) The show was part art-history lesson (as Mrs. Kennedy knowledgeably lectured on paintings and furnishings) and part house tour (for the first time, a camera was allowed inside the Lincoln and Monroe rooms). But it was most remarkable for the unusual access it afforded to our charmingly enigmatic First Lady.

42

Monday Night Football (October 9, 1972) Down on the field, the Raiders are blowing out the Oilers. The camera flashes up to the stands, where a disgruntled Oilers fan slumps, surrounded by a sea of empty seats. As Howard Cosell begins to pontificate ("Right there is a very vivid picturization…"), the fan makes an obscene gesture on live TV. Dandy Don Meredith quickly quips, "He's saying they're No. 1 in the nation," and everyone in the booth cracks up. The incident reflected the chemistry that made the show such a captivating TV institution.

41

"Went With the Wind" (November 13, 1976) The Carol Burnett Show got its longest sustained laugh during this loopy spoof of "Gone With the Wind." Starlett (played by Burnett) is in a tizzy because Ratt Butler (Harvey Korman) is returning to Terra and she doesn't have a thing to wear. As he strides into the front hall and calls to her, Starlett imperiously descends the staircase wearing an emerald-green gown that is obviously made from the curtains we just saw hanging in the window. In fact, the curtain-rod is still intact, laying across Starlett's shoulders. When Ratt compliments her on the dress, Starlett says, "I saw it in the window and I just couldn't resist it."


From 40 to 31

40

The Premiere Episode of Roseanne (October 18, 1988) The kitchen was a mess, cereal littered the table, the furnishings looked shabby, and the kids were sniping at each other. Right from the opening scene, this groundbreaking sitcom plunged us into a very different sort of American family than we were used to seeing. Then came Rosey: bumptious, brazen, crabby, and brutally honest. Wearily watching her kids squabble, she drawled, "Now I know why some animals eat their young." The show's raw, blue-collar tone clashed emphatically with everything on prime time.

39

Columbo's First Case (February 20, 1968) He wasn't your typical police investigator, with his crablike gait and wrinkled raincoat. He seemed so goofy and distracted -- the kind of guy who couldn't find his car keys, much less ferret out a killer. Especially one as clever and self-possessed as Gene Barry's character. Barry made the mistake countless villains would with Peter Falk's dumpy detective: He underestimated him. About the third time Columbo popped back in the room to croak, "One more thing," Barry was truly exasperated. At home, however, we were beginning to understand that Lieutenant Columbo was one deceptive detective.

38

The Black Power Salute (October 16, 1968) At the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos finished first and third in the 200-meter dash. On the victory stand, as "The Star-Spangled Banner" began to play in the Olympic Stadium, both athletes lowered their head and raised a gloved fist, a gesture associated with black militants. It was a shocking incident, jarringly incongruent with the usual patriotic flavor of that moment -- a sign that racial politics had splashed over into the world of sports.

37

Shatner at the Star Trek Convention (December 20, 1986) In an inspired Saturday Night Live skit, William Shatner fulfills his official duty as the former Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise: attending one of those Trekker conventions. Looking balefully out at the all-male audience, he sees attendees in Federation uniforms, sporting pointy Vulcan ears or proudly wearing T-shirts with slogans like "I Grok Spock." Finally he addresses this motley multitude who gaze up at him so raptly: "Having received many of your letters over the years -- and I've spoken to you, and some of you have traveled hundreds of miles to be here -- I'd just like to say, 'Get a life, will you, people!'" It was satire with a wicked bite of reality.

36

Michael Jackson Performs "Billie Jean" (May 16, 1983) It made musical history. After performing a medley of Jackson 5 hits with his brothers on the Motown 25th Anniversary Special, Michael remained alone on the darkened stage. The insistent pulse of Michael's new hit began to throb and the singer seemed to be consumed by the music, erupting into a dance that was part mechanical, part balletic, and totally funky. The crowd went into a frenzy when Michael unveiled his Moonwalk, a backwards gliding move which suggested magic, not choreography. In the span of three minutes, he had established himself as the most electrifying performer of his generation.

WITNESS: Suzanne de Passe produced the Motown special. "Michael didn't want to perform," she says. "I had to call Berry [Gordy] to persuade him. Here is this seminal moment in the guy's career, this life-altering moment, and he almost didn't do it."

35

The Tomahawk Incident (April 29, 1965) Ed Ames of Daniel Boone came on The Tonight Show to demonstrate tomahawk tossing. Winding up, he buried the weapon right in the crotch of the silhouetted target. Johnny Carson's wincing reaction had the audience howling interminably. Ames asked Johnny if he wanted to try throwing it. "Well," said the host, "I can't hurt him any more than you did."

34

Rather Tangles With Bush (January 25, 1988) Bombs away! In a live interview on The CBS Evening News, Dan Rather grilled then-Vice President George Bush about his role in the Iran-Contra affair. Bush fired back, chiding the anchor for having walked out of the studio the previous year in a snit, leaving six minutes of dead air. Rather shouted, "You've made us hypocrites in the face of the world!" It was a moment of unrivaled rancor.

33

Chuckles the Clown Dies (October 25, 1975) When Chuckles, a recurring character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, is killed at a circus parade, it occasions a flood of silly jokes. Ted's on-air tribute to the fallen entertainer? "A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants." Mary is infuriated by all the levity, but, later, at the funeral, when everyone else is somber, Mary cannot stop giggling. Noticing this, the priest asks her to stand up and laugh out loud. Of course, she is immediately wracked with loud, convulsive sobs. Only our Mary could make mood swings this extreme seem so lovable.

32

Nixon Waves Farewell (August 9, 1974) They were scary and, at times, surreal days for the country. The previous night President Richard Milhous Nixon, facing certain impeachment, had announced in a nationwide broadcast that he would be resigning his office "effective at noon tomorrow." In the morning, he addressed White House staffers, emotionally unspooling as he invoked his long-dead mother. Afterward, marching out stiffly to the waiting helicopter, he turned, smiling broadly, and flung out both hands in victory signs. It was an ambiguous final flourish, yet somehow fitting for this complex and confounding character.

WITNESS: "The family was crying; everyone was in tears," recalls Dick Mc-Cormack, a senior staffer in the Nixon White House. "Yet we all knew what Nixon meant when he said he brought it down on himself."

31

The Premiere Episode of The Cosby Show (September 20, 1984) Theo explains to his father that he isn't interested in having a career. "Dad," he implores, "can't you just accept me and love me 'cause I'm your son?" Giving this serious thought, Cliff Huxtable says, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." The early exchange was emblematic of this landmark sitcom: smart but amusing family dynamics presided over by parents (Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad) who were affectionately authoritative.


From 30 to 21

30

Clarence Thomas's Rebuttal (October 11, 1991) The confirmation hearings of this Supreme Court justice took a startling turn when law professor Anita Hill came forward with graphic allegations of sexual harassment by Thomas. The embattled nominee responded by indignantly denying all charges and assailing the hearings. "I would have preferred an assassin's bullet," he fumed, "to this kind of living hell." Thomas's ringing defense may have saved his confirmation. It certainly made for gripping TV.

29

Bonanza Debuts (September 12, 1959) "Look at it, Adam," said Ben Cartwright to his saturnine eldest son as they sat on horseback. "Feast thine eyes on a sight that approaches heaven itself." And the Ponderosa certainly had some impressive vistas, particularly if you were one of the fewAmericans lucky enough to own an RCA color set in 1959. Bonanza was the first hour-long series to employ the new technology (preceded by a handful of game and variety shows). Of course, the open-hearted adventures of the Cartwrights made for a pretty engaging series, even in plain old black-and-white.

28

The Dismemberment of Kunta Kinte (January 25, 1977) Few television events merit the designation "epic." Roots unquestionably does. Airing over eight consecutive nights, this profoundly affecting miniseries presented the multigenerational saga of a black family brought to this country by slave traders. The atrocious cruelty of human bondage was distilled on the third night. Kinte, shipped to this country at age 17 from his native Gambia, refused to live as a slave and kept trying to escape. His disgruntled owner (Bonanza's Lorne Green) finally said, "I don't care how you bring him back. Frankly, I prefer him dead." The slave catcher had a more sadistic solution: hacking off Kinte's foot at the ankle. The ruthlessness of that act resonated deeply with viewers as did everything else about this watershed miniseries. Roots remains the most-watched drama in the medium's history.

WITNESS: "I'd like to see Roots shown at least on a biannual basis," says John Amos, who played Kinte as an adult. "Every child should see it. It wasn't supposed to solve our race problems, but we were supposed to learn to appreciate each other more."

27

Buckner Muffs the Ball (October 25, 1986) The Curse of the Bambino was finally about to be put to rest. The Boston Red Sox had not won a World Series since 1917, a losing streak superstitious fans attribute to the team's trading of Babe Ruth to the Yankees. But at long last the Bo Sox had one in the bag. The Red Sox needed only one out to win the Series against the Mets, and Mookie Wilson had just tapped a weak grounder to Boston's first baseman Bill Buckner. Incredibly, the ball rolled right between Buckner's legs. The Mets went on to win that game and then the Series. Curses! Foiled again.

26

The Birth of Air Jordan (April 20, 1986) The Boston Celtics' Larry Bird scored 36 points. Pretty impressive. Until you realize that his opponent on the Chicago Bulls, a 23-year-old sapling out of North Carolina named Michael Jordan, almost doubled Bird's output. In an incredible offensive display, the second-year pro knocked in 63 points, erasing Elgin Baylor's playoff scoring record. Boston won the game 135-131 in double overtime and subsequently swept the series. But everyone who witnessed that incendiary performance recognized that the NBA landscape had just shifted.

25

Kennedy Debates Nixon (September 26, 1960) Television can be a cruel mistress. Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon found that out in the very first of his four broadcast debates with his Democratic opponent, John F. Kennedy. Of course, Nixon's most glaring problem was flop-sweat. He repeatedly had to wipe beads of perspiration off his lip. Even his chin grew noticeably moist. Kennedy, looking cool and poised, assiduously maintained eye contact with the camera and spoke in melodious phrases: "In the election of 1960, the question is whether the world will exist half-slave or half-free." Nixon's eyes seemed to avoid the lens and he based his arguments on dry facts and statistics. If you read the transcript of the debate, Nixon is the more substantive candidate; watch the tape and it's a different story. The camera doesn't lie, but it can flatter.

24

Rather Gets Roughed Up (August 28, 1968) Outside, chaos reigned as police clashed repeatedly with student demonstrators who had been drawn to Chicago for the Democratic convention. Mayor Richard J. Daley knew only one way to maintain order: squeeze tighter. Inside the International Amphitheatre, Daley's repressive tactics found an unlikely victim in a young CBS correspondent, Dan Rather. Near the Georgia delegation, Rather was set upon. "Excuse me being out of breath," he reported to Walter Cronkite, "but a security man just slugged me in the stomach." He was knocked to the floor and shoved toward the exit. "Get your hands off me," he shouted. The incident, which incensed Cronkite ("It looks like you have some thugs down there, Dan"), indicated how deep and dire the divisions in our society were growing.

23

The Andy Griffith Show Opening Credits (1960-1968) First you hear the folksy whistle of the theme song. And down this backcountry dirt path come Sheriff Andy Taylor and his son, Opie, toting their fishing rods. Opie stops to skim a rock and Andy calls to him. The boy runs to his father not out of fear, but because he likes being with his dad -- and who wouldn't? Note that Andy's wearing his uniform. Either it's before work or after...or maybe Andy has just decided to leave the town in the jittery hands of Barney Fife. Through the turbulent '60s -- the years of assassinations, social upheaval, and foreign wars -- that serene opening offered a gracious invitation to America's favorite rusticom. Was this nirvana or Mayberry?

22

Requiem for a Heavyweight (October 11, 1956) The '50s, a time of ambitious live dramas on television, are often referred to as the medium's golden age. And no event possessed the luster of this supernal Playhouse 90 production, written by Rod Serling. Jack Palance played Mountain McClintock, a boxer forced into retirement. Desperate for money to help his unscrupulous manager, Maish (Keenan Wynn), Mountain is reduced to professional wrestling. Dressed up in a hillbilly costume and stripped of his dignity, he confronts himself in the mirror. Soon after, he finds out that his own manager bet against him in his last fight. "You know," he says, "in all the dirty, crummy 14 years I fought for you, I never felt ashamed.…Now I feel ashamed." It is perhaps TV drama's most heartbreaking moment, rendered with exquisite pathos by Palance.

21

Murrow Skewers McCarthy (March 9, 1954) Conducting a witch hunt against Communists in the government, Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin had become one of the country's most powerful and dangerous men. Then, TV's most august newsman, Edward R. Murrow, devoted an installment of his CBS investigative show, See It Now, to McCarthy, using the senator's own comments and speeches to reveal him as a blustering demagogue. McCarthy never recovered from the devastating exposé. It was an early and powerful testament to television's ability to influence public opinion.


From 20 to 11

20

The White Bronco Chase (June 17, 1994) The networks broke into regularly scheduled programming with a news bulletin that looked like a bizarre episode of Cops. A white Ford Bronco drifted slowly down a Los Angeles freeway with a phalanx of LAPD cruisers trailing behind. Maybe it was the parade-route pace, but the police cars seemed to be escorting the Bronco rather than pursuing it. Crouched inside, we were told, was a desperate O.J. Simpson, wanted for a heinous double murder. The strange but curiously mesmerizing spectacle marked the beginning of our national obsession with the Simpson case.

19

Laura Petrie Gets Stuck in the Tub (March 31, 1965) Like many episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show, this sharp farce unfolds in flashback, as Rob (Van Dyke) and Laura (Mary Tyler Moore) recall their second honeymoon. Rob dresses up for champagne and caviar in their hotel suite, while Laura soaks in the tub. But she gets her big toe stuck in the faucet and the bathroom door is locked. Eventually, Rob grabs the gun of the hotel detective, shoots the lock off the door, and collapses in giggles at the sight that greets him off-camera: a wet, naked Laura. After a commercial, the camera goes inside the bathroom, but -- big tease -- Moore is now wrapped in a raincoat.

WITNESS: Series creator Carl Reiner confesses, "I particularly enjoyed this show because it gave leave for every American male to envision a nude Mary, desperately trying to cover herself with a washcloth."

18

Hank Aaron Hits #715 (April 8, 1974) He was so steady, so workmanlike. Although Aaron ended 1973 one home run shy of Babe Ruth's record of 714, there was little drum-beating or merchandising in the off-season. The slugger from Mobile, Alabama, simply refused to participate in the hype. We didn't have to wait long to celebrate. Aaron tied Ruth on the first day of the new season and, the same week, swatted an Al Downing fastball into the left-field bleachers. The fans went crazy -- in fact, Aaron had to shrug off two of them who tried to join him as he circled the bases. At home plate his teammates waited, whooping and jumping up and down. Then this remarkable, stoic man, never varying his deliberate, dignified trot, disappeared into the welcoming maelstrom.

17

The Challenger Explodes (January 28, 1986) After being rescheduled numerous times, the space shuttle Challenger is cleared for takeoff. Earlier, viewers had seen the smiling crew -- Scobee, Smith, Resnik, Onizuka, McNair, Jarvis, and "teacher in space" Christa McAuliffe -- make the traditional walk to the craft. Three, two, one…on the launchpad, sparks fly, engines bellow, and the Challenger rises majestically, clearing the gantry. Then, 73 seconds into the flight, a whoosh, a ball of fire, and smoke. For an instant, we think it's planned -- a booster rocket igniting. But debris careers from the fireball and the two solid-fuel rockets zigzag out of control. The cameras switch to the astronauts' families in a bleacher by the launch site, their expressions shifting from awe to concern, shock, and, finally, terrible certainty. Ten miles up, shards of a dream continue to fall and melt in a cloudless sky.

16

The Wedding of Luke & Laura (November 16-17, 1981) On the lawn of the Port Charles mayoral mansion, on a perfect autumn afternoon, Laura Webber Baldwin -- a vision in white -- and Lucas Lorenzo Spencer -- in a gray cutaway, his permed hair rustling in the breeze -- spoke their vows with quivering lips. It had been a stormy romance, starting with the night a drunken Luke raped Laura in a deserted disco. Ah well, the course of love never runs smooth on daytime. But their relationship on General Hospital resulted in the most celebrated wedding in the annals of soaps. As they walked down the aisle, Luke pumped his two fists in a show of giddy victory. Then we heard a shadowy, uninvited guest (OK, it was Elizabeth Taylor) swear, "Curse you, Laura and Luke!" So much for happy endings.

15

LBJ Announces He Will Not Seek Re-election (March 31, 1968) President Lyndon Johnson looked notably glum as he began his televised address to the nation. True, he was having a bad year, between the Tet offensive and Bobby Kennedy's decision to run against him. Johnson announced he was ordering a virtual halt to all bombing of North Vietnam in a unilateral gesture of peace. After discussing Vietnam for nearly 40 minutes, he added an astonishing codicil to his address: "I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president." On live TV, without warning and without a fight, the century's consummate politician had just surrendered the highest office in the land.

14

Samurai Delicatessen on Saturday Night Live (January 17, 1976) Guest host Buck Henry walks into a deli, finds a kimono-clad, sword-wielding samurai (John Belushi) behind the counter, and orders a sandwich. There follows a flurry of strenuous physical comedy and pseudo-Japanese double-talk worthy of Sid Caesar. Belushi uses the sword to chop salami, spread dressing, and slice a tomato in midair. Presented with his order, Henry asks, "Do you think you can cut it in half?" Belushi cocks his eyebrows slyly at the camera, emits a samurai shriek, draws the sword way up over his head and…brings it down ever so gently to delicately divide the sandwich in two.

13

Who Shot J.R.? (March 21, 1980) It is night, and coldhearted J.R. Ewing sits in his office alone. And no wonder: In the course of the previous 50 minutes, he has managed to alienate, infuriate, and betray most of Texas, and all of his relatives. It's Miller time! Then a door in the outer office opens and someone enters. "Who's there?" J.R. asks. BLAM! He clutches his chest. BLAM! He hits the floor, exhales and...dies? The following November, more than 80 million viewers -- nearly as many as voted in the presidential election that month -- tuned in to Dallas for the resolution of this tantalizing cliffhanger. In case you forgot: It was Kristin who wounded J.R.

12

The Final Episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (March 19, 1977) Minneapolis's WJM has just been bought by a new owner who has made it clear he will be clearing out some of the deadwood on the news staff. Most assumed it would be Ted Baxter's empty head that would roll. The staff was summoned and the verdict was swift: "Ted, you're staying. And the rest of you guys, I'm gonna have to let you go." After their last broadcast together was over, they stood in the newsroom until gruff news director Lou Grant blurted out, "I treasure you guys." In a flash, they were locked together in a weepy group hug. Said Lou, "I think we all need some Kleenex." Georgette replied, "There's some on Mary's desk." No one wanted to let go, so the whole gang, like some gigantic, ungainly crab, scuttled over to the desk in one of TV's most hilarious, touching, and inspired bits of physical comedy.

11

Reginald Denny Beating (April 29, 1992) The events were linked by grotesque irony. The videotaped bludgeoning of black motorist Rodney King by white policemen led to the riots in South Central Los Angeles. Now another camera, in a news chopper covering the riot, was capturing a racially motivated attack sickeningly reminiscent of King's battering: Denny, a white truck driver, was pulled from the cab of his vehicle by a black man, then beaten and smashed in the head with a brick, kicked, and trampled on. The two related attacks indicated to a horrified nation that race relations and basic human conduct were in worse shape than anyone had imagined.

WITNESS: Station KNX helicopter pilot Bob Tur recalls, "We went on the air when they started beating up motorists. There was no way to help Reginald Denny -- there were too many wires across the street and we were being shot at. Fortunately the live feed was seen by several heroic community members who responded and saved Denny's life."


From 10 to 01
From 10 to 1

10

Elvis's 1968 Comeback Special (December 3, 1968) The psychedelic era had dawned, the time of the Magical Mystery Tour, and most trend-followers had written off the King. With this electrifying televised special, Elvis reclaimed his throne. The opening salvo showed Presley in an ultratight closeup, his face filling the screen. There were the low, dark eyebrows, the simmering eyes, a red bandanna tied around his throat above a black silk shirt, his famously full lips an inch from the microphone, as he sang, "If you're lookin' for trouble/You came to the right place." This was Elvis in his electrifying adult prime, taking care of business as only he could.

09

Bette Serenades Johnny (May 21, 1992) How do you say good-bye to a legend? Yes, there'd be another show the next night, but that was to be one of The Tonight Show's patented reeling-through-the-years retrospectives. So this was really Johnny's swan song. And what a chanteuse he got to sing it! Suitably dressed in black, Bette Midler crooned "You Made Me Love You" with lyrics adapted to the occasion. When she began "Here's That Rainy Day" -- a Carson favorite -- Johnny joined in and the two, faces inches apart, warbled a sweet impromptu duet. Then, perched on a stool, Midler said, "I can't believe it, the last guest, the last fool Mr. Carson will have to suffer gladly." She swung into the Johnny Mercer-Harold Arlen standard "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)," again tailoring the lyrics ("Well, that's how it goes/And, John, I know you're getting anxious to close"). Carson, a closeup on him now, sniffed and wiped away a tear. Song done, Midler ran over and placed a red lei around his neck. And at the end, after nearly 30 years of always having something smart and funny to say, Johnny Carson was left speechless.

WITNESS: "John is not the kind of guy who shows his emotions, especially on the air," recalls Ed McMahon, Carson's sidekick for 30 years on The Tonight Show. "But that night he almost totally lost it. Bette's performance was filled with obvious admiration and most assuredly love."

08

The Wedding of Charles & Diana (July 29, 1981) Only a few thousand people received invitations to St. Paul's Cathedral for the royal nuptials. But 750 million showed up -- via worldwide TV, including throngs in this country who got up in the middle of the night to witness all the glorious pomp. First, the processional, as carriages conveyed Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, princes Charles and Andrew, and finally, Lady Diana Spencer past the cheering crowds from Buckingham Palace. Then the breathtaking ceremony. A camera affixed to the cathedral ceiling provided a magnificent tableau: the bride making her way down the aisle, the long white train of her gown flowing behind her as the organ played, a chorus sang, and the man who would be king awaited her at the altar. After conducting the vows, the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed a universal sentiment, noting, "This is the stuff of which fairy tales are made."

07

The O.J. Simpson Verdict (October 3, 1995) The "trial of the century" had dragged on for more than a year, yet it took the jury only four hours to reach a verdict. The entire country, it seemed, paused to witness the outcome. At Judge Lance Ito's instruction, the nattily dressed defendant warily turned to the 12 unseen determiners of his fate as the court clerk read the verdict: "We, the jury, in the above entitled action, find the defendant, Orenthal James Simpson" -- America held its breath -- "not guilty of the crime of murder." Across the nation, people either gasped or cheered. In the courtroom, Simpson blinked twice and bit his lip. Then the second count was read -- again not guilty -- and attorney Johnnie Cochran hugged Simpson from behind. The Simpson family rejoiced; the victims' families appeared shocked, particularly Fred Goldman, who sat open-mouthed while his daughter, Kim, sobbed. Relieved and exhausted, Simpson himself finally smiled, then nodded toward the jury and mouthed, "Thank you, thank you."

06

The Final Episode of The Fugitive (August 29, 1967) Convicted of killing his wife, Dr. Richard Kimble (David Jansen) -- "an innocent victim of blind justice" -- was finally able to vindicate himself in the second half of a two-parter that was the most-seen regular series episode at that time. (The show attracted 72 percent of the viewing audience.) Kimble convinced Philip Gerard, the police lieutenant obsessed with his capture, to grant him 24 hours to track down the real killer, the notorious one-armed man. The confrontation took place at an abandoned amusement park at the top of the towering Mahi-Mahi ride. The killer's confession was heard by Kimble alone before the one-armed man plunged to his death. Fortunately, a witness finally came forward and Kimble was acquitted. As he walked from the courtroom, a free man at last, a squad car screamed up to the curb and two policemen hurried out. In that moment, we saw in Kimble's haunted eyes and tensed body that he was getting ready to flee. But the cops walked right past him and then, only then, did Kimble realize that this was the day the running stopped.

05

Newhart Final Episode (May 21, 1990) Japanese speculators had bought up a rustic Vermont village, lock, stock, and cracker barrel -- all except for stubborn holdout Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart), whose Stratford Inn was left sitting forlornly on the 14th fairway of a golf resort. When Dick's flaky old staff and former neighbors, now all millionaires, show up for a reunion, Dick can take it no more. "I've got to get out of this madhouse," he splutters. Throwing open the front door, he is hit by a golf ball and slides to the ground. Cut to a pajama-clad Dick in bed, saying, "Honey, wake up. You won't believe the dream I just had." Whoa, we're not in Vermont anymore. That's the Chicago apartment of mild-mannered psychologist Bob Hartley, and the woman in bed next to him is Emily (Suzanne Pleshette). We're not only in an alternate reality -- we're in a whole different series (the comic's previous sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show). As Bob explains his eight-year dream, Emily, in that deep, smoky voice, says, "That settles it -- no more Japanese food before you go to bed." Unquestionably, the cleverest sitcom finale in TV history.

04

The Beatles' First Appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show (February 9, 1964) "Ladies and gentlemen," intoned Sullivan, "the Beatles!" With that, the variety-show host turned stiffly to the studio audience, gesturing for a reaction. His prompting was utterly superfluous. The ecstatic screams of the predominantly female audience all but drowned out Sullivan's next words: "Let's bring them on!" As the Fab Four launched into "All My Loving," the camera moved to the crowd, where a plump, dark-haired girl stood poleaxed, in an advanced state of shock. Nearby, another girl couldn't stop bouncing, clutching her hair, and screaming. As the band downshifted into the ballad "Till There Was You," graphics appeared on the screen, identifying each of the Beatles by name. Under John's tag, it read: "Sorry girls, he's married." The frenzy reached a peak as the boys jolted into "She Loves You," singing, "Yeah, yeah, yeah," and shaking their hair. They would return for two more songs later in the show and again a week later for another appearance from Miami, but pop-culture history had already been rewritten. This was one of those seismic events about which people ask, "Where were you when…?"

03

John-John's Salute (November 25, 1963) As a mourning nation watched on TV, a subdued parade of dignitaries and heads of state marched behind the flag-draped caisson and the riderless black horse from the Capitol to St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C. After the service, conducted by Cardinal Cushing (who had presided at President Kennedy's wedding and inauguration), an honor guard carried the casket down the steps of the church and loaded it onto the caisson for the ride to Arlington National Cemetery. John-John, standing between his veiled mother and his heartbroken uncle Robert, raised his hand in salute at his mother's gentle urging. It was the boy's third birthday.

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Lucy in the Candy Factory (September 15, 1952) To prove a point to their spouses, Lucy (Lucille Ball, right) and Ethel (Vivian Vance) get jobs at Kramer's Kandy Kitchen. After failing at a number of tasks around the plant, the gals get one last chance in the wrapping department. Their mission: Make sure every bonbon that comes down the conveyor belt gets a paper cup. Miss even one and they're fired. "This is easy," says Lucy. Famous last words. And classic slapstick -- the chaotic, crowning moment of I Love Lucy. Suddenly the conveyor belt speeds up and the chocolates are bunched closer together. Unable to keep up, Lucy and Ethel begin frantically gobbling candies, shoveling them into their chef hats, and scooping them into their blouses. The supervisor returns. Seeing everything perfectly wrapped, and oblivious to Lucy and Ethel's panic, she says, "Well, you're doing splendidly." And then, to the conveyor operator, "Speed it up a little!"

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Armstrong Walks on the Moon (July 20, 1969) It was the culmination of a national goal, set by President Kennedy, to land an American on the moon before the decade's end. After flying 240,000 miles through airless and soundless space, the buglike lunar module separated from the ship and began its jerky descent to the surface. On living-room sets, on giant outdoor screens, and in appliance-store windows, the drama unfolded. The module's thrusters kicked up lunar dust and, transfixed, we saw -- actually saw -- the craft cast a shadow on that dust. Then, at 4:17 P.M., EDT: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." The first words from the moon. (Oddly, the picture was far clearer than the audio.) More than six hours later, a hatch opened and the bulky, silhouetted figure of astronaut Neil Armstrong cautiously descended the ladder, leaping the final three feet to the powdery surface. "That's one small step for man," he intoned over his headset, "one giant leap for mankind." Nothing on television before or since has approached that unforgettable and triumphant moment.