I was there front and center! I remember the promos leading up to it using Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" The show got me instantly hooked and a few episodes later when they killed Rodriguez I thought "wow, this is some serious s**t! They never kill off major characters, this is one to watch!"
After that I never left the house on Friday nights except 1 time. Longtime members will remember this story. My wife, at the time had planned a surprise 30th birthday party for me at a favorite restaurant. I refused to go out until she finally had to spoil the surprise to get me out of the house!
The episode that night was 'Give A Little, Take A Little" (December 7th, 1984)