Days before the film’s theatrical premiere, Pocket Books publishes Gene Roddenberry‘s novelization of the movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the Star Trek creator’s sole foray into Star Trek print fiction. 
Earl Green is the creator, curator, and head writer of theLogBook.com.
Days before the film’s theatrical premiere, Pocket Books publishes Gene Roddenberry‘s novelization of the movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the Star Trek creator’s sole foray into Star Trek print fiction.
After over a year of play testing and preparation, Mattel Electronics launches the first major competitor to the market-dominating Atari VCS video game console: Intellivision (short for “Intelligent Television”). Boasting superior graphics and a library of the first-ever licensed sports titles (though licensed by various pro sports leagues, rather than by specific teams or individuals), Intellivision is well-poised to enter a market where sports games are all-important.
After a tortured development history dating back to aborted early 1970s attempts to relaunch Star Trek on the big screen, Paramount premieres the much-anticipated (and much hyped) Star Trek: The Motion Picture in theaters. At over two hours, and boasting one of Jerry Goldsmith’s best movie scores, the movie bewilders viewers as much as it thrills them. Paramount claims not to make a profit on the movie at all – primarily by including all of the development costs of years of early movie attempts and the never-made Star Trek Phase II television series as part of the movie’s price tag – but, despite its assertion that the movie lost money, the studio begins making plans for a sequel.
The fourth episode of the English-dubbed Japanese action series Monkey airs on BBC2. The series is a translation and dub of a fancifully satirical Japanese adaptation of the Chinese novel “Journey To The West”, starring Masaaki Sakai.
The 44th episode of the live-action series based on Marvel’s comic The Incredible Hulk airs on CBS, starring Bill Bixby, Jack Colvin, and Lou Ferrigno. Bradford Dillman guest stars.
This series is not yet fully chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.
The 520th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. David Daker and Peter Craze guest star in a strangely-timed (just before Christmas?) anti-drug story.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
The fifth episode of the English-dubbed Japanese action series Monkey airs on BBC2. The series is a translation and dub of a fancifully satirical Japanese adaptation of the Chinese novel “Journey To The West”, starring Masaaki Sakai.
The 45th episode of the live-action series based on Marvel’s comic The Incredible Hulk airs on CBS, starring Bill Bixby, Jack Colvin, and Lou Ferrigno. Louise Sorel guest stars.
This series is not yet fully chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.
The 521st episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. David Daker and Peter Craze guest star in a strangely-timed (just before Christmas?) anti-drug story.
This timeline entry leads to an entry covering this entire Doctor Who serial; there are plans to write new episodic entries in the future. You can support this effort!
Order Earl Green’s book VWORP!1 from theLogBook.com Store
Disney releases the long-in-development science fiction movie The Black Hole, starring Robert Forster, Maximillian Schell, Anthony Perkins, and Ernest Borgnine. Somewhat predictably hailed as Disney’s answer to Star Wars, the $20,000,000 movie meets with unflattering reviews, though in later years it will be renowned for its unique production design.
The 46th episode of the live-action series based on Marvel’s comic The Incredible Hulk airs on CBS, starring Bill Bixby, Jack Colvin, and Lou Ferrigno. Mark Lenard (Star Trek, Planet Of The Apes) guest stars.
This series is not yet fully chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.
The 522nd episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Graham Crowden guest stars. Though aired just before Christmas, this is not considered a “Christmas episode.”
The seventh episode of Douglas Adams’ breakthrough radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, initiating the second series of the now-hit cult science fiction phenomenon, the rest of which won’t be broadcast until the following month. This episode serves as a kind of Hitchhiker’s holiday special as a result. (Some elements of the second radio series will go on to form the basis of Adams’ novel The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe.)
NBC airs the 11th episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. 
The 523rd episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Graham Crowden guest stars. This is the final Doctor Who episode of the 1970s.
NBC airs the 12th episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century.
The 45th episode of the live-action series based on Marvel’s comic The Incredible Hulk airs on CBS, starring Bill Bixby, Jack Colvin, and Lou Ferrigno.
NBC airs the 16th episode of Filmation’s animated series The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, based on the classic Alex Raymond comic book character and featuring the voices of Alan Oppenheimer and Melendy Britt. This episode concludes the first season.
The 524th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Graham Crowden guest stars. This is the first Doctor Who episode of the 1980s.
BBC1 premieres the 27th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. This episode kicks off the third season and a running story arc through the third season regarding the Federation’s severe loss of manpower and territory during the intergalactic war that happens off-screen between seasons. Josette Simon and Steven Pacey are introduced as new guest stars, and Paul Darrow as Avon is established as the show’s new lead actor. Richard Franklin (Doctor Who) guest stars.
NBC airs the 13th episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century.
The 45th episode of the live-action series based on Marvel’s comic The Incredible Hulk airs on CBS, starring Bill Bixby, Jack Colvin, and Lou Ferrigno.
This series is not yet fully chronicled in the LogBook. You could help change that.
Mushroom Records releases the first Split Enz album of the 1980s, True Colours. Produced by future Prince protege David Tickle, the album gives the band a new sound and includes what will become its signature worldwide hit, “I Got You” (written by Neil Finn, who now alternates songwriting and lead vocal duties with his older brother, Enz co-founder Tim Finn). The album is released with eight different color variations, and is the first laser-etched LP. The album also suddenly draws the attention of American labels, resulting in A&M signing up to issue the band’s future output in North America.
The 525th episode of Doctor Who airs on BBC1. Graham Crowden guest stars. Due to the cancellation of the six-part season finale Shada, this episode becomes the closing chapter of season 17. Both producer Graham Williams and script editor Douglas Adams leave the series, which will return in the fall with a radically new look and feel.
BBC1 premieres the 28th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. This episode continues the story arc of the Federation’s postwar rebuilding. Michael Sheard and John Hollis (both of whom will be seen later in 1980 in The Empire Strikes Back) guest star.
NBC airs the first installment of the lavish three-part miniseries based on Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. Adapted for TV by respected SF author Richard Matheson, the miniseries has already taken an embarrassing public beating by none other than Bradbury itself, inspiring NBC to yank the heavily-publicized off of the fall 1979 schedule and burn off the miniseries in January 1980 prior to the 1980 Winter Oympics. Rock Hudson, Bernie Casey, and Robert Beatty star. The miniseries is a co-production between NBC and the BBC (who won’t air it until later in 1980).
NBC airs the 14th episode of Buck Rogers In The 25th Century. Gary Coleman guest stars.
BBC1 premieres the 29th episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. This episode focuses heavily on new series regulars Josette Simon and Steven Pacey; Michael Gough (Batman) guest stars.
The eighth episode of Douglas Adams’ breakthrough radio science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is first broadcast on BBC Radio, continuing the second series of the now-hit cult science fiction phenomenon. (Some elements of the second radio series will go on to form the basis of Adams’ novel The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe.) Valentine Dyall (Doctor Who’s Black Guardian) guest stars.
NBC airs the second installment of the lavish three-part miniseries based on Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles. Adapted for TV by respected SF author Richard Matheson, the miniseries has already taken an embarrassing public beating by none other than Bradbury itself, inspiring NBC to yank the heavily-publicized off of the fall 1979 schedule and burn off the miniseries in January 1980 prior to the 1980 Winter Oympics. Rock Hudson, Darren McGavin, Fritz Weaver and Roddy McDowall star. The miniseries is a co-production between NBC and the BBC (who won’t air it until later in 1980).