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1987 - The Final Episode of Gimme a Break Aired
* Ran 6 Seasons and 137 Episodes
Fun Fact!
The Theme Song For Gimme a Break Was Sung by the Star of the Show, Nell Carter
* Unfortunately She Passed Away in 2003 at Age 54 From Heart Disease and Diabetes
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#1 Songs in America
(May 12th)
1980 - "Call Me"
Blondie
4/19 - 5/30
1981 - "Morning Train
Sheena Easton
5/2 - 5/17
1982 - "Chariots of Fire"
Vangelis
5/8 - 5/14
1983 - "Beat It"
Michael Jackson
4/30 - 5/20
1984 - "Hello"
Lionel Richie
5/12 - 5/25
1985 - "Crazy For You"
Madonna
5/11 - 5/17
1986 - "West End Girls"
Pet Shop Boys
5/10 - 5/16
1987 - "(I Just) Died in Your Arms"
Cutting Crew
5/2 - 5/15
1988 - "Wishing Well"
Terrence Trent D'Arby
5/7 - 5/13
1989 - "Like a Prayer"
Madonna
4/22 - 5/12
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
1984 - "Hello" by Lionel Richie Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from May 12 - 25
Also Hit #1 in the UK, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands and Australia
The Final Episode of Hill Street Blues Aired
In Other News
(On May 12th)
1846 - The Donner Party Departed Missouri For California
* Become a Year-Long Journey of Hardship and Cannibalism
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1984 - The Louisiana World Exposition Opened in New Orleans
* The 1984 World's Fair
1989 - The San Bernardino Train Disaster Killed 4 People
Headlines
(May 12th)
1982 - The Final Episode of The Incredible Hulk Aired
* Ran 5 Seasons with 80 Episodes
Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk
1987 - The Final Episode of Hill Street Blues Aired
* Ran 7 Seasons with 146 Episodes
Won 4 Emmy Awards in a Row For Most Outstanding Drama From 1981 to 1984
May 12th in 80s History
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1938 - Millie Perkins (Actress) Wall Street
1948 - Steve Winwood (Singer)
1948 - Lindsay Crouse (Actress) The Verdict
1948 - Richard Riehle (Actor) Glory
1950 - Bruce Boxleitner (Actor) Tron
1950 - Gabriel Byrne (Actor) Excalibur
1958 - Eric Singer (Drummer) Kiss
1958 - Kim Griest (Actress) Throw Momma From the Train
1961 - Billy Duffy (Guitarist) The Cult
1962 - Emilio Estevez (Actor) The Breakfast Club
1962 - Brett Gurewitz (Guitarist) Bad Religion
1963 - Vanessa Williams (Actress and Singer)
1966 - Stephen Baldwin (Actor) Born on the 4th of July
1968 - Tony Hawk (Skateboarder)
1968 - Scott Schwartz (Actor) The Toy
1969 - Kim Fields (Actress) The Facts of Life
1971 - Jamie Luner (Actress) Just the Ten of Us
1973 - Mackenzie Astin (Actor) The Facts of Life
Fun Fact!
In 1984 Vanessa Williams Became the First African-American to Win Miss America
* Had the #1 Song in America “Save the Best for Last” in 1992
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Other Notable Birthdays
Florence Nightingale (Italian-English Nurse)
May 12, 1820 - August 13, 1910
Passed Away Peacefully in Her Sleep at Age 90
The Founder of Modern Medicine
Katharine Hepburn (Actress)
May 12, 1907 - June 29, 2003
Passed Away Age 96 From Cardiac Arrest
4x Best Actress Winner (Academy Awards)
Morning Glory (1934)
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1968)
The Lion in Winter (1969)
On Golden Pond (1982)
Yogi Berra (Baseball)
May 12, 1925 - September 22, 2015
Passed Away at Age 90 (Natural Causes)
Played 18 Seasons With the New York Yankees
* A Record 13x World Series Champion
18x All-Star
3x AL MVP (1951, 1954, 1955)
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972
George Carlin (Comedian)
May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008
Passed Away at Age 71 From Heart Failure
Regarded as the Most Influential Stand-Up Comedians of All-Time
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Robert Reed (Actor)
October 19, 1932 - May 12, 1992
Passed Away at Age 59 From Colon Cancer
* Reed Was HIV Positive
Played Mike Brady On The Brady Bunch
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1989 - Earth Girls Are Easy
Director: Julien Temple
Starring: Geena Davis, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans and Jeff Goldblum
Budget: $10 Million
Box Office: $3.9 Million
1989 - See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Director: Arthur Hill
Starring: Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder
Budget: $18 Million
Box Office: $46.9 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1982 - Final Episode of The Incredible Hulk
Seasons: 5
Episodes: 80 (Plus 5 TV Movies)
Network: CBS
Starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno
1984 - Billy Crystal, Ed Koch, Edwin Newman, Don Novello and Betty Thomas Hosted the Season 9 Finale of Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: The Cars
* The Final Episode For Robin Duke, Brad Hall, Tim Kazurinsky and Joe Piscopo as Cast Members
1986 - NBC Unveiled the New Peacock Logo During Its 60th Anniversary Special
1987 - Final Episode of Hill Street Blues
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 146
Network: NBC
Emmy Awards
Best Drama: 4
Best Actor: Daniel J. Travanti (1981, 1982)
Best Actress: Barbara Babcock (1981)
1987 - Final Episode of Gimme a Break
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 137
Network: NBC
1987 - Final Episode of The Tortellis
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 13
Network: NBC
Cheers Spinoff
1988 - Final Episode of Max Headroom
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 14
Network: ABC
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1984 - Slades Greats (Compilation Album)
Slade
1986 - Sleight of Hand
Joan Armatrading (12th Album)
Billboard Charts: #70
1988 - Invisible Lanter
Screaming Trees (3rd Album)
1989 - Altars of Madness
Morbid Angel (Debut Album)
1989 - Dress (Remix Album)
TM Network
Singles Released
1980 - “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me”
Billy Joel
#1 Song in America from July 19 - August 1
* Also Hit #1 in Canada
Over 2 Million Copies Sold in the US
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - Kentucky Derby Winner Genuine Risk Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title: "THE LADY IS A CHAMP"
1981 - The Boston Celtics Beat the Houston Rockets 109 - 80 in Boston to Take a 3-2 Lead in the NBA Finals
1986 - Boston Red Sox Pitcher Roger Clemens Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title: "THE LORD OF THE K's"
1987 - Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher, Rick Honeycutt Pitched a Complete Game Shutout to Beat the Chicago Cubs 7 - 0 in Los Angeles
Attendance: 41,216
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In Other 80s News
(On This Day)
1982 - Portugal Security Guards Were Able to Overpower Juan María Fernández y Krohn, Before He Could Attack Pope John Paul II With a Bayonet During a Procession Outside the Shrine of the Virgin Mary in Fátima