Dateline: Events/Week Of August 1, 1998 In News, Pop Culture, Tech, Celebrity, Entertainment & Fascinating Facts
In The News
The U.S. economy slows to an annual rate of 1.4%.
Pressure is on as Democrat and Republican leaders urge President Clinton to tell all on Monica Lewinsky.
The Dow loses 299 points – its worst tumble in nine months in a wide range of fears including the President’s legal problems.
Monica S. Lewinsky testifies for seven hours behind closed doors of a Washington federal grand jury room.
Technology News – August 1, 1998
Microsoft announces plans to build a 35-acre Silicon Valley campus for the employees now scattered around the Bay Area. The location is Mountain View, not far from rival Netscape Corp.
Amazon.com – a top Internet shopping site announces it will acquire Junglee Corp. of Sunnyvale, CA, a leading search tool for gathering information simultaneously from a range of online shopping sites, and PlanetAll, a Web-based calendar, address book and reminder service.
Entertainment/Celebrity News – August 1, 1998
Pop singer Toni Braxton is named to take over the “Beauty and the Best” role of Belle on Broadway. She begins next month.
Passing – No more Lamb Chop - Shari Lewis (65) – beloved children’s host who could do it all – singer, ventriloquist, puppeteer, dancer. She was found to have uterine cancer in June and died of pneumonia.
Some best-selling books – August 1, 1998
Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
Paradise – Toni Morrison
Bridget Jones’ Diary – Helen Fielding
Point of Origin – Patricia Cornwell
I Know This Much Is True – Wally Lamb
Tuesdays With Morrie – Mitch Alborn
Nine Steps To Financial Freedom – Suze Orman
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls – Peter Biskind
The Gifts of the Jews – Thomas Cahill
Angela’s Ashes – Frank McCourt
Top television shows/ratings – August 1, 1998
60 Minutes – 14.99
Just Shoot Me – 14.92
Seinfeld – 14.73
Guin, World Records – 13.81
ER – 13.13
Dateline NBC (Tue.) – 12.77
Dateline NBC (Mon.) – 12.02
Touched by an Angel – 11.79
Movie-The Pelican Brief – 1.61
48 Hours – 11.01
20/20 (Mon.) – 11.00
Friends – 10.99
PrimeTime Live – 10.86
Suddenly Susan (Thur.) – 10.47
Buffalo Girls Part 1 – 10.40
20/20 – 10.12
Law Y Order – 10.07
Everybody Loves Raymond – 10.03
Diagnoses Murder – 9.90
Drew Carey – 9.73
Dateline NBC (Sun.) – 9.71
Frasier (9:30) – 9.65
Television news- August 1, 1998
“Rock & Roll Jeopardy!,” a spin-off of the popular gameshow debuts on VH1 this week. More than 70,000 people have applied to be contestants on the program. Some 26 shows have been taped. VH1 has another gameshow “My Generation.”
Teen Jonathan Taylor Thomas announces he will be leaving “Home Improvement” to devote time to prepare for college.
The Discovery Channel kicks-off its 11th annual “Shark Week.”
Don’t miss the HBO special “Jerry Seinfeld: I’m telling You for the Last Time.”
Jerry Seinfeld’s first record album – “I’m Telling You For the Last Time” is set to be released in September.
Radio news – August 1, 1998
It’s curtains for the simulcast Ron Owens show over KABC talkradio in Los Angeles. The station had high hopes for Owens, who does his show from San Francisco, where’s he commanded top ratings on KGO there, despite being on the same time as Rush Limbaugh. He’ll continue his career on KGO.
Music News – August 1, 1998
R.E.M’s first album without drummer Bill Berry will be titled “Up” and is set for release around Halloween.
The late Tupac Shakur’s manager and mother are recruiting artists for an upcoming tribute album. Committed so far – Ziggy Marley, Smash Mouth, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Meshell-Ndegeocello, Roberta Flack and producer Lamont Dozier.
Top movies – August 1, 1998
Saving Private Ryan
The Parent Trap
There’s Something About Mary
The Negotiator
Ever After
Mask of Zorro
Lethal Weapon 4
Armageddon
Dr. Dolittle
Mafia!
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