Livewire is a kids' talkshow on the U.S. television cable network, Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon (TV channel)

Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...

 which aired during the early 1980s 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 Reeves Teletape in New York (where Sesame Street

Sesame Street

Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...

 was also filmed) with a live audience of about 20-30 teenagers and was hosted by Fred Newman. The show was a CableACE Award

CableACE Award

The CableACE Award was an award that was given from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in American cable television programming...

 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
  Bow Wow Wow
  Bow Wow Wow were an English 1980s New Wave band created by Malcolm McLaren to promote his and business partner Vivienne Westwood's New Romantic fashion lines.The group's music is described as having an "African-derived drum sound".-History:...
  
  
• Buckner and Garcia
• Comateens
  Comateens
  The Comateens were originally a New Wave duo formed in 1978 in New York City by bassist/vocalist Nic North and guitarist Ramona Jan. Soon after, Lyn Byrd joined on vocals and synthesiser, and the duo became a trio...
  
  
• Manowar
  Manowar (band)
  Manowar is an American heavy metal band from Auburn, New York. Formed in 1980 the group is known for its lyrics based on fantasy and mythological topics along with their "loud and bombastic" sound...
  
  
• The Psychedelic Furs
• The Ramones
• R.E.M.
• Split Enz
  Split Enz
  Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
  
  
• Twisted Sister
  Twisted Sister
  Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
  
  
• The cast of You Can't Do That on Television
  You Can't Do That on Television
  You Can't Do That on Television is a Canadian television program that first aired locally in 1979 before ultimately airing internationally in 1981...