Music videos opened this tape, which finally explained the handwritten “videos” on its label. I was happy with that start. Then it kept bouncing between Stingray, ALF on two stations and Remington Steele. The breaks were almost a second show: a beef ad tried to make a hamburger sound seductive, Ragu wanted you to microwave pasta in a jar, and a local carpet shop in Weirton offered a free pad.
The handwritten note about teachers striking eventually paid off. WTRF’s February 19, 1987 news covered the strike alongside Ormett layoffs and what to do with old strip mines. I like getting the commercials and station bits around that kind of local reporting, not just a clipped headline. We came back later and made it to the end, where I had to work out why a hockey player had been shot outside a rink before Night Heat finally revealed itself. There was still time for a Wheeling-area Hoover sale.
On this tape
Jump to a program: Music videos · Stingray on WTOV-TV9 · ALF on WPXI-TV11 · ALF on WTOV-TV9 · Remington Steele on WTOV-TV9 · Stingray, continued · ALF on WPXI-TV11, continued · WTRF-TV 7 Wheeling news · Night Heat on CBS Late Night
Music videos
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Four music videos at the start: The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian,” Huey Lewis’ “Step by Step,” Eric Clapton’s “It’s in the Way That You Use It,” and an unidentified fourth video. Craig wondered whether they came from MTV or VH1.
Stingray on WTOV-TV9
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Stingray, “The Second Finest Man Who Ever Lived,” on WTOV-TV9. The episode has a January 16, 1987 air-date identification; that does not date the whole tape.
Ads and PSAs
- Raisin Bran, “law of raisins.”
- Coldwell Banker real estate.
- Zenith VHS camcorder.
- Snickers, “just got bigger.”
- Advil.
- Milk spot with roller skaters.
- Zenith 27-inch stereo TV with Bose sound.
- Denorex compared with Head & Shoulders.
- Army recruiting, tanks and computers.
- Buckle Up for Safety PSA.
- Weekend with the Stars cerebral-palsy telethon announcement for January 17 and 18.
- Huebner Chevrolet station-clock spot; “cost plus time?” wording uncertain.
- Kibbles ‘n Bits.
- Quaker Oh’s cereal.
- Philips elevator light bulb.
- Foster Parent PSA.
- Quaker Fruit ‘n Cream instant oatmeal, identified as a Stingray sponsor.
- Frozen Bacardi.
- Campbell’s Chicken and Stars soup with an alien.
Station and show promos
- Crime Story promo.
- The Golden Girls promo.
- Miami Vice promo.
- The Tortellis promo.
ALF on WPXI-TV11
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ALF on WPXI-TV11, Pittsburgh.
Ads and PSAs
- Cool Ranch Doritos with Jay Leno.
- Miracle Whip with Jim McMahon and a sandwich.
- Ultra Pampers, extra large.
- NyQuil.
- Ivory soap with football players.
- Co-op Education Boston.
- Red Lobster Seafood Trios.
Station and show promos
- Amazing Stories promo.
- ALF hosting Saturday Morning on NBC promo.
ALF on WTOV-TV9
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Another ALF block, this one on WTOV-TV9.
Ads and PSAs
- Hershey Bar, described as Andy Warhol-style.
- Navy recruitment.
- Pizza Hut, “Pizza Therapy.”
- Juicy Fruit skiing spot.
- Pillsbury microwave cake mix.
- Emeraude fragrance.
- Peter Paul Mounds.
- Motorsport Winter Nationals at Wheeling Civic Center.
Station and show promos
- The A-Team promo.
Remington Steele on WTOV-TV9
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Remington Steele on WTOV-TV9.
Ads and PSAs
- Chrysler LeBaron.
- Rolaids with Davey Johnson.
- Efferdent.
- Beef kebab spot, with the line about vegetables being for salad.
- Pink Panther pink insulation.
- Lincoln Mercury Merkur, 3.9% financing.
- Jeep Cherokee.
- Robitussin DM, “Dr. Mom.”
- Robitussin Night Relief.
- Health Plan, “We Deliver.”
- Huebner Chevrolet factory incentives.
- Oldsmobile, “Quality.”
- American Express phone applications.
- Light Style / Le Menu microwave dinners.
- Chrysler LeBaron again.
- Diet Coke with Pierce Brosnan and ninjas.
Station and show promos
- The Dating Game, Divorce Court and The New Newlywed Game appear in one combined promo as logged.
- David Letterman 5th Anniversary Special promo.
- News Nine with Nancy Ritchey station tease.
- St. Elsewhere promo with Ray Charles.
- Cheers promo.
- Night Court promo.
- The Two Mrs. Grenvilles promo.
Stingray, continued
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Further Stingray footage on WTOV-TV9, with another long advertising block.
Ads and PSAs
- McDonald’s Double Feature, double cheeseburger and double fries.
- Discover Card cash back.
- Over the Top film trailer.
- Beef hamburger spot.
- Ragu Pasta Meals in a jar.
- Navy recruitment again.
- Noid/freezer pizza spot; brand uncertain.
- Simon’s Carpet Town in Weirton, free pad.
- Honda Ninja Hurricane motorcycle.
- McDonald’s Double Feature, a second variant.
- American Airlines “America’s Super Sale,” price range noted as $19 to $99.
- Wrigley’s Spearmint gum.
- Kibbles ‘n Bits ‘n Gravy.
Station and show promos
- Our House promo.
- Fred Lewis, “Conversations on Baldness: Ripoff or Reality?” WTOV-TV9 tease; wording uncertain.
- Crime Story promo again.
- Hunter promo.
ALF on WPXI-TV11, continued
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Another ALF segment on WPXI-TV11, watched on May 11 and continued May 17. The label calls it “alf (the special),” but the exact program identity is uncertain. It includes an ALF music video and a water/electricity safety message within the program.
Ads and PSAs
- Pizza Hut Large for Medium.
- Tylenol Extra Strength with Susan Sullivan and a computer map.
- Over the Top trailer, another airing.
- McDonald’s Double Feature, another airing.
- Crispix with grandpa.
- Visine with a photographer.
- Milk Health Kick jingle PSA.
- Navy aviation recruitment.
- Sucrets spray.
- Maybelline eyeliner.
- Pittsburgh Tips for Good Life, suggesting vanilla extract in paint.
- McDonald’s Double Features / double cheeseburger again.
- Permasoft shampoo and conditioner.
- Little Pat butter, “36 calories.”
- Doublemint twins gum.
- Palmolive automatic dishwasher detergent.
- McDonald’s Double Features again.
- Dial soap with people piled in a car.
- Teleflora Valentine’s Day spot.
- L’eggs Sheer Energy.
Station and show promos
- Disney DTV Doggone Valentine hour promo.
- The Facts of Life Down Under promo.
- Dennis Bowman weather tease.
- ALF teasing next week’s animated Amazing Stories.
WTRF-TV 7 Wheeling news
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WTRF-TV 7 Wheeling news, dated Thursday, February 19, 1987: teachers’ strike, Reagan/Contra coverage, proposed government employee drug testing, trade imbalance, Ormett layoffs, possible industrial use for strip mines, and discussion of The Mission. Weather with John Domenick; sports includes Mean Joe Greene and Reds spring training.
Ads and PSAs
- Domino’s Pizza guarantee.
- Dodge 3.7% financing.
- Kraft Spread margarine with a touch of butter.
- Belmont Tech school.
- Riesbeck’s weather sponsorship.
- Riesbeck’s grocery specials.
- TrueValue hardware of the month, Rich Ladder step stool.
- Mazda RX-7 with a “Jim Rockford” reference; performer uncertain.
- Ohio Valley Window Company bay windows.
- McDonald’s 99-cent double cheeseburger.
- King Chevrolet “Buyers Choice” sale.
- Dairy Queen hot dogs with Dick Clark and Kraft Singles.
- Carpet Town and Simon’s Furniture.
- Straub Pontiac/Honda dealer in Wheeling.
Station and show promos
- Throb promo.
- Donahue, “Mr. Romance gets married” promo.
- Hee Haw promo mentioning Loretta Lynne; name spelling uncertain.
- Night Heat promo.
Night Heat on CBS Late Night
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Night Heat in the CBS Late Night block. The watched story begins with a hockey player shot after a confrontation outside the rink and cocaine planted on him. Craig and chat worked out what they were seeing as the show played.
Ads and PSAs
- General Foods “Satisfy Your Family” sponsor spot.
- Maxwell House Coffee, “Coffee Made Our Way” jingle.
- Mazda 626 with James Garner.
- Head & Shoulders.
- NutraSweet with a song; singer uncertain.
- Magnavox, “Perfect picture, perfect remote.”
- Ohio Lottery million-dollar spot.
- Lung Line PSA, 1-800-222-LUNG.
- Bali bras sale at Stone & Thomas.
- King Chevrolet.
- Mountain Dew skateboard spot.
- Hoover Savings Time vacuum sale, Wheeling-area dealers.
Station and show promos
- Siege, announced as the second CBS Late Night feature.
- Return to Horror High promo.
- Keep On Cruisin’ CBS Late Night promo.
About this recording
WTRF news is dated February 19, 1987. The Stingray episode has a January 16 air-date identification, but the other blocks have no established recording dates. Watched in parts May 11 and 17, 2026; reached the end July 21, 2026. The handwritten label mentions videos, Stingray, ALF, Remington Steele and news about teachers striking; its EP box is checked. Watch the WTRF news excerpt with its original commercials (not the full tape).
