A Fire in the Sky (1978)

Elizabeth Ashley, Michael Biehn, Lloyd Bochner, Nicolas Coster, Diana Douglas ... see more  , Andrew Duggan , David Dukes , Marj Dusay , Cindy Eilbacher , John Larch , Joanna Miles , Kip Niven , Jenny O'Hara , Merlin Olsen , Bill Williams , Richard Crenna , Al White

The story begins as an astronomer notices that a blazing comet is headed straight for Phoenix Arizona. Unfortunately, no one believes him. They will eventually, but only after most of Phoenix has been... read more  reduced to cinders. Emmies went to the special effects (among the best ever seen on TV in those days before computer-generated special fx) and sound recording. The all-star cast includes Richard Crenna, Elizabeth Ashley, David Dukes, Joanna Miles, Lloyd Bochner, Merlin Olsen and Andrew Duggan, all of them superbly cast and none merely doing the usual celebrity walk-through. Originally telecast in a three-hour slot, Fire in the Sky debuted November 26, 1978. This film should not be confused with the 1993 alien-abduction film of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi