Ronald Reagan assumes his greatest role. 

John Hinckley, Jr., having formed a pathological obsession with Jodi Foster in Taxi Driver, shoots President Ronald Reagan. In the film, De Niro's character stalks the president. 

"E.T., phone home." 

Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 

"Family Ties": the myth of the functional family, WASP-style 

My only appearance on TV. A walk-on part as background scenery with several classmates during the shooting of a news story segment on debates over closing down the British "Grammar School" system. 

Sixteen Candles 

Footloose 

Red Dawn 

"The Cosby Show": the myth of the functional family continues 

Release of Footloose - the first "teen" movie I ever saw - I was a shy, reclusive teenager, and the movie didn't change that - but it did provide me with a fantasy role, as a rebellious teen bringing dancing to small-town American life - not terribly relevant to a teen in the suburbs of London, England - oh well, it still moved me. 

"Like A Virgin" hits the charts, becoming Madonna's first number one single 

MTV premieres. "Video Killed the Radio Star" is the first music video aired. 

"We Are The World," featuring, among others, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Wonder 

"It's Garry Shandling's Show" airs. 

"Moonlighting" airs, another inappropriate role-model is born 

The Challenger explodes. 

Andrew Keaton is born into "Family Ties"; Kate acquires a brother. 

Top Gun 

"Roseanne": dysfunctional families are people, too. 

Heathers 

Say Anything: Diane Court (Ione Skye) is valedictorian of her high school class. 

R D Laing dies from a heart attack whilst playing tennis in St Tropez. I had never heard of him.