Popular Music of 1983

1. "Down Under" ... Men at Work
2. "Africa" ... Toto
3. "Baby, Come to Me" ... Patti Austin & James Ingram
4. "Billie Jean" ... Michael Jackson
5. "Come on Eileen" ... Dexys Midnight Runners
6. "Beat It" ... Michael Jackson
7. "Let's Dance" ... David Bowie
8. "Flashdance...What a Feeling" ... Irene Cara
9. "Every Breath You Take" ... The Police
10. "Sweet Dreams" ... Eurythmics

Popular Movies

1. Best Friends
2. The Big Chill
3. Blue Thunder
4. The Dark Crystal
5. 48 Hours
6. Flashdance
7. Gandhi
8. High Road To China
9. Jaws 3-D
10. Mr. Mom

Most Popular Television Shows

1. Dallas (CBS)
2. 60 Minutes (CBS)
3. Dynasty (ABC)
4. The A-Team (NBC)
5. Simon & Simon (CBS)
6. Magnum, P.I. (CBS)
7. Falcon Crest (CBS)
8. Kate & Allie (CBS)
9. Hotel (ABC)
10. Cagney & Lacey (CBS)

Academy Awards

• Best Picture: "Terms of Endearment"
• Best Director:James L. Brooks ... "Terms of Endearment"
• Best Actor: Ben Kingsley ... Robert Duvall ... "Tender Mercies"
• Best Actress:Shirley MacLaine ... "Terms of Endearment"

Grammy Awards

• Record of the Year: "Beat it" ... Michael Jackson
• Song of the Year: "Every Breath You Take" ... Sting
• Best Album: "Thriller" ... Michael Jackson
• Male Vocalist: Michael Jackson ... "Thriller"
• Female Vocalist: Melissa Manchester... Irene Cara ... "Flashdance ...What a Feeling"

Politics

• President: Ronald W. Reagan
• Vice President: George Bush

News

• South Korean Boeing 747 jetliner bound for Seoul apparently strays into Soviet airspace and is shot down by a Soviet SU-15 fighter after it had tracked the airliner for two hours; all 269 aboard are killed.
• Terrorist explosion kills 237 US Marines in Beirut
• Second space shuttle, Challenger, makes successful maiden voyage, which includes the first US space walk in nine years
• US forces invade Grenada
• President Reagan proposes Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars"s;).
• Federal debt: $1371.7 billion
• Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.20

Sports

• Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins vs. Miami Dolphins Score: 27-17
• World Series:Baltimore Orioles vs. Philadelphia Phillies Series: 4-1
• NBA: Philadelphia 76ers vs. LA Lakers Series: 4-2
• Stanley Cup: New York Islanders vs. Edmunton Oilers Series: 4-0

Misc

• With the introduction of noise-free compact discs, the vinyl record begins a steep decline.
• Singer Karen Carpenter dies of complications from anorexia nervosa at age 32.
• More than 125 million viewers tune in to the last episode of M*A*S*H.
• The FCC authorizes Motorola to begin testing cellular phone service in Chicago.
• Cabbage Patch kids released
• Compact discs first hit the market.
• Wacky Wallwalker, a little rubber octopus like creature with sticky tentacles that walks down walls, is invented and sells millions.