- Jan 4 "Night Court" starring Harry Anderson, created by comedy writer Reinhold Weege, premieres on NBC TV; runs for 9 seasons
- Jan 9 "TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes" premieres on NBC TV (Whoops)
- Jan 17 Supreme Court rules (5-4) that private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright laws
Sports History
Jan 22 Apple's seminal ad for the new Microsoft computer, directed by Ridley Scott, loosely based on George Orwell's "1984", plays during the Super Bowl [1]
Hogan's 1st WWF Title
Jan 23 Hulk Hogan defeats Iron Sheik to win his 1st World Wrestling Federation title at Madison Gardens, New York
Apple Macintosh Personal Computer
Jan 24 Apple Computer Inc unveils its revolutionary Macintosh personal computer in a Super Bowl TV ad directed by Ridley Scott
Jackson Burned
Jan 27 Michael Jackson is burned during filming for Pepsi commercial
41st Golden Globes
Jan 28 41st Golden Globes: Terms of Endearment, Tom Courtenay, Robert Duvall, & Shirley MacLaine win
- Jan 31 Edwin Newman retires from NBC News after 35 years with the network
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