This Day in History: Sunday, February 20, 2022

Television
Two long-running CBS series hit the 200-episode mark: “Perry Mason” in 1964 and “The Jeffersons” in 1983…”Good Morning America” co-host David Hartman exited in 1987 after 11 years on the ABC morning franchise…The final episode of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” aired on NBC in 2009, which led to Conan’s very temporary hosting chores on “The Tonight Show” (and Jay Leno’s ill-rated stint in primetime from September 14, 2009 to February 9, 2010).|

News
American businessman and adventurer Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. It was the first of his many aviation record in 1995…The World Day of Social Justice began being observed in 2007. It includes highlighting issues surrounding poverty, exclusion, human rights and inequalities due to gender, among other issues. The United Nations General Assembly decided that February 20 will be celebrated as World Day of Social Justice on November 26, 2007.

Periodicals
Weekly magazine The New Yorker began publishing in 1925. The creator, Harold Ross, wanted to create a sophisticated humor magazine that would be different from perceivably “corny” humor publications such as Judge, where he had worked, or the old Life.

Celebrity Birthdays:
NBA legend Charles Barkley is 59; late night talk show host Trevor Noah is 38; singer Rihanna is 34.

Did You Know?:
“Perry Mason,” starring Raymond Burr, produced 271 episodes in total in its nine season (1957-66) run. A short-lived revival, “The New Perry Mason,” with Monte Markham, aired on CBS in the fall of 1973. Raymond Burr returned for 30 made-for television movies on NBC, airing from 1985 to 1995. After Burr’s death in 1993, four television films (1993–95) were produced under the umbrella title “A Perry Mason Mystery,” with Paul Sorvino starring in the first film and Hal Holbrook featured in the remaining three.