Livewire (1980)

Genre: Talk, Kids

Show status: Ended

Overview: Livewire is a kids' talk show on the U.S. television cable network, Nickelodeon which began in September 1980 and ended in 1985. Livewire was a talk show for kids of all ages, and the show's main focus discussed true current events and stories during those times. The show was taped at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York through Reeves Teletape Studios of Sesame Street fame. Livewire was filmed 'live on tape' with a participating audience of about 20-30 teenagers and was hosted initially by Mark Cordray, but Fred Newman eventually replaced Cordray as host. The show was a CableACE Award winner, the first Nickelodeon talk show to achieve that feat. Livewire was the #1 rated show on Nickelodeon in 1982, and never went below #7 in the ratings during the 5 year span of the show.

The show was most famously known for giving relatively unknown bands and singers their first television appearance. Bands and celebrities who got their start on Livewire and those who had made an appearance on Livewire included:

⁕Bow Wow Wow

⁕Buckner and Garcia

⁕Carlene Carter

⁕John Hurt

⁕James Earl Jones

⁕Eubie Blake

⁕Molly Picon

⁕Grey Panthers

⁕Comateens

⁕Manowar

⁕The Lords of the New Church

⁕The Psychedelic Furs