1980: 'Bosom Buddies' Debuts on ABC
On this day in 1980, ABC introduced the sitcom Bosom Buddies, which served as the first significant role for actor Tom Hanks.
The series starred newcomer Hanks and future Newhart star Peter Scolari as two low-level advertising agency employees who dressed as women to secure a cheap apartment in a female-only residential hotel. Co-stars included Donna Dixon, Wendie Jo Sperber, Edie Adams, Telma Hopkins and Holland Tayor.
The show started off strong, but multiple network scheduling changes were blamed for diminished ratings. Bosom Buddies was cancelled after two seasons. (Reruns of the show appeared on NBC during the summer of 1984.)