A lot of people thought that 1984 was going to be a very fateful year, thanks to the the 1949 novel called "1984" by George Orwell. 1984 wasn't as dire as people predicted, in fact, it produced a lot of great funny songs like these.

Rick Dees, a radio personality, had a semi-hit single that year, which was a cover of a song we played earlier that year. This is the original.

The #5 novelty single of 1984 was the court-ordered breakup of AT&T's phone system. It doesn't sound like promising material for a funny song, but the American Comedy Network had a lot of fun with this song and we got a lot of requests for this parody of a Neil Sedaka song "Breaking Up is Hard to Do", here is the parody...

1984 was an election year and it was the year that Ronald Reagan won a second presidential term over Walter Mondale. President Reagan was a very popular subject for comedy throughout his years in office. The Reagan comedy hit of 1984 was written by Garry Trudeau, author of the Doonesbury comic strip.

In 1983, Nena had a Top 40 hit "99 Luft Ballons" in German and she also recorded an English version of her hit in 1984 "99 Red Balloons", which got up to as high as #2 on the Billboard charts, and it was the oddest charted single of the year. Tim Cavanaugh explains in his song how the German song translated into 99 Dead Baboons in the song.

This parody of Michael Jackson's 1983 hit record "Beat It" actually made it all the way to #12 on the Billboard pop charts.

In 1984, a song about a high-school homecoming queen with a gun was the height of absurbity.

Events in 1984

01/09, Clara Peller, Mildred Lane, and Elizabeth Shaw stare at a tiny hamburger on a huge bun. The hard-of-hearing Peller barks three words which will earn her over a half a million dollars: "Where's the beef?" The Wendy's hamburger chain will later drop Peller in 1985 after she claims she's "found" the beef somewhere else -- "Prego Plus" spaghetti sauce.

01/09, following a few of specials, "TVs Blopers & Practical Jokes," makes its debut as a weakly seers on NBC with Dick Clark and Ed McMahon.

01/09, "Comedian" album by Eddie Murphy was certified Gold by the RIAA

01/09, "Eddie Murphy" album by Eddie Murphy was certified Gold by the RIAA

01/10, "Foulups, Bleeps,& Blunders", TV Variety; debut on ABC.

01/14, R.C., "Rappin' Rodney" by Rodney Dangerfield peaked at #83 on the pop singles chart.

01/21, R.C., "The Curly Shuffle" by Jump 'N The Saddle peaked at #15 on the pop singles chart with a nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk.

02/00, "Weird Al" Yankovic released his "In 3-D" LP featuring the hits "I Lost On Jeopardy", "The Brady Bunch", "Eat It", "King Of Suede", "Nature Trail To Hell In 3-D", and "Midnight Star".

02/25, R.C., "Breaking Up Is Hard On You (a/k/a Don't Take My Bell Away From Me)" by The American Comedy Network peaked at #70 on the pop singles chart.

02/28, on "Late Night with David Letterman" on NBC, Suit of Velcro. "Sit back, relax, open up a thermos of hot coffee," said Letterman at the opening of this show as he opened a geyser of liquid from his container. The camera pulled back to reveal Dave on a chair, stuck to the wall in his velcro body suit, upside down.

02/28, "Eat It" is the first single relased off Weird Al Yankovic's second LP "In 3-D", spoofing Michael Jackson's hit "Beat It"

02/29, "Weird Al" Yankovic leaped to give a live performance at Gabe's Oasis in Iowa City IA.

03/02, Rob Reiner's rock group mockumentary satire "This Is Spinal Tap" opened in theaters in the U.S.A. in a limited engagement.

03/03, R.C., "99 Luft Balloons" by Nena peaked at #1 on the U.K. pop singles chart and #2 on the U.S. pop singles chart. It was parodied into "99 Dead Baboons" by Tim Cavanaugh.

03/03, R.C., "Thriller" by Michael Jackson peaked at #4 on the pop singles chart.

03/10, R.C., "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper peaked at #2 on the pop singles chart; "Weird Al" parodied it into "Girls Just Wanna Have Lunch".

03/10, R.C., "Make My Day" by T.G. Sheppard With Clint Eastwood peaked at #62 on the pop singles chart.

03/10, "Weird Al" Yankovic gave a live performance at Tralfamadore in Buffalo NY taped for a later King Biscuit Flower Hour radio broadcast.

03/20, Andy Kaufman & Fred Blassie's "My Breakfast With Blassie" premieres.

03/24, R.C., "Want A New Drug" by Huey Lewis & The News peaked at #6 on the pop singles chart; "Weird Al" parodied it into "I Wanna New Duck".

03/24, R.C., "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell peaked at #2 on the pop singles chart.

04/01, "AL-TV" starring Weird Al Yankovic aired as a special on MTV.

04/04, Bob Bell retired as Bozo the Clown at WGN-TV 9 in Chicago, IL. Bell was an institution in the Windy City since making his first appearance in 1961. Pinto Colvig was the original Bozo. http://wgntv.com/station/bozotime.

04/05, "Late Night With David Letterman's first Tower Drop", random objects are hurled from a 5-story window.

04/12, NBC's "The Duck Factory," a short-lived sitcom about the workings of a struggling animation studio, comes to life. It will become famous as one of the early jobs for star (and future megastar) Jim Carrey. Also in the cast are Jack Gilford, Don Messick (Smurfs' cartoon voicist), and Teresa Ganzel.

04/14, R.C., "Eat It" by "Weird Al" Yankovic peaked at #12 on the pop singles chart; it was a parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It".

04/28, R.C., "Weird Al" Yankovic's album "In 3-D" peaked at #17 on the Billboard album chart

04/30, "Weird Al in 3-D" album by "Weird Al" Yankovic was certified Gold...in 3-D, or course!

05/02, "Weird Al" Yankovic gave a live performance at The Metro in Boston, MA and broadcast for KISS Radio's fifth Anniversary.

05/03, on "Late Night with David Letterman," to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of Alan Shepard's Mercury sub-orbital flight, David Letterman and Paul Shaffer compete in the "Rocket Chair Race," announced by Bob Costas, in the NBC hallways. Dave wins at 11.03 seconds.

05/06, "Spinal Tap," the fictional rock group formed to star in a neo-documentary about a heavy metal band, played a real concert at New York's CBGBs club.

05/12, R.C., "White Horse" by Laid Back peaked at #26 on the pop singles chart.

05/19, R.C., "King Of Suede" by "Weird Al" Yankovic peaked at #62 on the pop singles chart; it was a parody of the Police's "King Of Pain"

06/02, failed pilot "Welcome To The Fun Zone," hosted by deejay Dr. Demento, airs in "Saturday Night Live's" regular timeslot. Guests include Howie Mandel, John Candy, Bozo The Clown, and Weird Al Yankovic (who provides the show's theme song, "Fun Zone," which will end up on soundtrack to Yankovic's feature film "UHF").

06/09, Donald Duck and Clarence Nash lead a ticker-tape parade through Disneyland, celebrating 50 years since Donald Duck's film debut in "The Wise Little Hen".

06/09, "Weird Al" Yankovic gave a live performance at the Starlight Amphitheater in Burbank CA; Howie Mandell opened with his comedy act.

06/18, country's Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley released their Culture Club satire: "Where's the Dress?". which got some airplay on Dr. Demento.

06/19, "Weird Al" Yankovic gave a free live performance at the Del Mar Fair in Del Mar (San Diego) CA. David Tanny made a rare visit to any concert event that night cause he's cheap (D.T. that is).

06/30, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. entered the Top 40 chart.

07/02, "She Bop" single by Cyndi Lauper was released

07/04, "Weird Al" Yankovic gave a live performance at Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI; portions were broadcast live on radio.

07/07, R.C., "I Lost On Jeopardy" by "Weird Al" Yankovic peaked at #81 on the pop singles chart; it was a parody of Greg Kihn's "Jeopardy" whose title had nothing to do with the game show.

07/11, "The Duck Factory" ends a three-month run on NBC with its place in history assured: It starred a young comic named Jim Carrey.

07/21, R.C., "Jam On It" by Newcleus peaked at #56 on the pop singles chart.

07/21, A robot turned and caught a 34-year-old worker between it and a safety bar, crushing the man in Jackson, Miss. The man died five days later becoming the first robot-related fatality in the U.S.

07/28, "She Bop", by Cyndi Lauper entered the Top 40 chart.

07/28, "Weird Al" Yankovic gave a live performance at Valleyfair in Shakopee, MN and later that same day in another state at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair in Chippewa Falls, WI.

08/06, Copycat Corner Item: No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Ghostbusters," Ray Parker Jr. Huey Lewis sues Parker, saying the Academy Award-nominated song sounds too much like his "I Want a New Drug."

08/07, "Ghostbusters" single by Parker, Ray, Jr. was certified Gold by the RIAA

08/11, R.C., "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart.

08/11, during a voice test for a paid political radio address, President Reagan made a comment in jest, "My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you today that I've just signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes". The comments are broadcast, causing an international uproar. Reagan didn't realize that his microphone was on as he said that famous joke.

08/15, "Ghostbusters" album (soundtrack) was certified Gold by the RIAA

08/15, "The Woman In Red" starring Gene Wilder, Charles Grodin, Gilda Radner, and Kelly LeBrock opened in theaters in the U.S.A.

08/20, "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded the "This Is The Life" single.

09/00, "Jeopardy!", TV Game Show, retured on syndication with host Alex Trebek.

09/01, R.C., "What's Love Got To Do With It" by Tina Turner peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart; a parody "Tina and Bullwinkle" was based on the melody.

09/06, "Plop-Plop Goes Letterman" Clothes make the man. At least they did for David Letterman. Back in his NBC days, the sardonic late-night host gained a reputation for skits involving surreal suits made of sponge, Velcro, even potato chips. His most celebrated garment, however, was festooned with 3,400 Alka-Seltzer tablets. Sporting plastic goggles and an oxygen tank (so the gas soon to be released by the effervescent tablets wouldn't make him pass out), Dave was dangled over a 900-gallon water tank. "Boy, if I die," he mused, "this is the worst possible way to go, isn't it?" Down went Dave, and up came a satisfying cloud of vapors. The stunt was the masterstroke in Letterman's plan to put the fizz back in late night.

09/08, R.C., "She Bop" by Cyndi Lauper peaked at #3 on the pop singles chart.

09/14, The first "MTV Video Music Awards", co-hosted by Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler, were presented at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The Cars won Best Video honors for "You Might Think", and Michael Jackson won Best Overall Performance and Choreography for his "Thriller" video. Herbie Hancock was the big winner, winning five awards for his "Rockit" video. However, Madonna stole the show with her performance of "Like A Virgin" in which she rolled around on the stage in a wedding dress.

09/20, "The Cosby Show" ENTRY PART 1, TV Comedy, debut on NBC. It lasted eight seasons and made NBC the Network of Bill Cosby. It was the most popular sitcom ever. Factor four [sic] kids into a two career marriage and it's not difficult to understand why Cliff and Claire Huxtable react the way they do when son Theodore brings home an atrocious report card in the opener or when daughter Denise has a date with a fellow sporting an earring and confessing to having sojourned in a Turkish prison. Bill Cosby played Dr. Heathcliff (Cliff) Huxtable. His lovely wife, Clair, was played by Phylicia Rashad. The Huxtable kids were Sondra, age 20 (Sabrina Le Beauf), Denise, age 16 (Lisa Bonet), Theodore, age 14 (Malcom-Jamal Warner), Vanessa, age 8 (Tempestt Bledsoe) and Rudy, age 5 (Keshia Knight Pulliam). The premiere was the most watched show of the week and the show went on to become an Emmy Award-winner and one of the most popular on television for eight years.

09/20, "The Cosby Show" ENTRY PART 2, Theo explains to his father that he isn't interested in having a career. "Dad," he implores, "can't you just accept me and love me 'cause I'm your son?" Giving this serious thought, Cliff Huxtable says, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." The early exchange was emblematic of this landmark sitcom: smart but amusing family dynamics presided over by parents (Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad) who were affectionately authoritative.

09/20, "Who's The Boss?", TV Comedy; debut on ABC. It lasted eight seasons and made Alyssa Milano a teen queen.

09/20, Steve Goodman died following a bone marrow transplant. He was 36 and had been suffering from leukemia.

09/22, "Pryor's Place", TV Childrens starring Richard Pryor; debut on CBS.

10/01, Gary Trudeau's "Doonesbury" comic strip resumed after 2-year hiatus.

10/15, "He Thinks He's Ray Stevens" album by Ray Stevens was released

10/18, Frank Zappa's album [38] THEM OR US was released.

10/30, Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi, aka The Blues Brothers, hit the two-million dollar sales mark with their LP, "Briefcase Full of Blues". The album, by Jake and Elwood Blues, is still a hit long after the death of Belushi.

10/31, Tiny Tim wed Miss Jan, which was not televised on The Tonight Show. Tim died in 1996.

11/00, "Weird Al" Yankovic released his "This Is The Life" single.

11/03, Willie Nelson's recording of Steve Goodman's "City of New Orleans" topped the country music charts six weeks after Goodman's death.

11/12, Madonna released her "Like A Virgin" LP; "Weird Al" parodied the title track the next year as "Like A Surgeon".

11/17, R.C., "Purple Rain" by Prince & The Revolution peaked at #2 on the pop singles chart. Parodies such as "Purple Reindeer" were recorded.

11/24, R.C., "Hot For Teacher" by Van Halen peaked at #56 on the pop singles chart.

11/24, R.C., "I Can't Drive 55" by Sammy Hagar peaked at #26 on the pop singles chart.

11/30, "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" album by Elmo And Patsy was released

12/05, "Beverly Hills Cop" starring Eddie Murphy opened in theaters in the U.S.A. Hits from the soundtrack include "The Heat Is On" by Glen Frey, and "Neutron Dance" by the Pointer Sisters. It's Eddie Murphy's first movie as a former cast member of "Saturday Night Live."

12/08, "Captain Kangaroo", TV Childrens, starring Bob Keeshan; last aired on CBS after 29 years.

12/22, R.C., "Like A Virgin" by Madonna peaked at #1 on the pop singles chart; "Weird Al" parodied it into "Like A Surgeon". Madonna's 1st. #1 Hit "Like A Virgin" also is notable as the 600th chart topper of the rock era.

12/22, R.C., "Eat My Shorts" by Rick Dees peaked at #75 on the pop singles chart.

12/30, Macho Man Savage (Randy Poff), wrestler, & The Lovely Elizabeth Hulette, his manager, wed.