Top Of The Pops- September 25, 1987 (US Premiere)

music

After a fixture on the BBC for 23 years, Top of the Pops moved stateside on CBS in the autumn of 1987 by combining footage from the half-hour UK version with an additional half hour from the Roxy in Los Angeles, providing CBS its third late Friday night attempt to have a successful pop music series. Gary Davies continued to host the London segment while Nia Peeples carried the American portion. This debut features Rick Astley "Rick Rolling" audiences for the first time, alongside Level 42, David Bowie, Mr. Mister, Jellybean with Elisa Florio, Loverboy, along with weekly US and UK chart activity. Ultimately, the series last just 26 episodes in America, with competition from cable and Johnny Carson's institution prevailing.