Today in History: Friday, March 22, 2024

Television
Science fiction drama “Sliders,” starring Jerry O’Connell, debuted in 1995. After three seasons on Fox it moved to the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) from 1998 to 2000.

In the made-for-TV movie “Double Edge” that premiered on CBS in 1992, Susan Lucci starred in dual roles: an FBI agent tracking her lookalike killer. Robert Urich portrayed her FBI partner who also happened to be her ex-husband. The movie also featured Kari Lizer who would later create the sitcoms “The New Adventures of Old Christine” for CBS in 2006-10 and “Call Your Mother” for ABC…Robert’s (Brad Garrett) odd habit of tapping his food to his chin before eating it was addressed on CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” in 2004…Three short-lived series launched: The series version of Ira Glass’ radio program “This American Life” on Showtime in 2007; medical drama “Heartbeat” on NBC in 2016 which starred Melissa George; crime drama “Shots Fired” on Fox in 2017 with Sanaa Lathan…Two series concluded their series runs: the Reba McEntire–Lily Tomlin sitcom “Malibu Country” on ABC in 2013 after a single season; and, the Fred Armisen–Carrie Brownstein short-based comedy “Portlandia” on IFC in 2018, which aired 77 episodes across eight condensed seasons.

The tenth season premiere of ABC competition “Dancing with the Stars” aired in 2010. First joining as co-host with Tom Bergeron was season seven champion Brooke Burke. Among the celebrities competing that season were astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actress and Playboy centerfold Pamela Anderson, sports reporter Erin Andrews (who would be a “DWTS” co-host herself from 2014-19), actress Shannen Doherty, reality TV star Kate Gosselin, actress Niecy Nash and Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. 24.2 million viewers tuned in that evening…ABC’s most recent “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off “Station 19” began with a two-hour premiere in 2018. The firefighter drama, which stars Jaina Lee Ortiz, is concluding this spring after seven seasons.

The eight-episode inaugural season of luxury real estate docuseries “Selling Sunset” was released on Netflix in 2019. One of its cast members is former daytime drama actress Chrishell Stause who had competed on the 29th season of “Dancing with the Stars” in 2020.

Movies:
“The Great Ziegfeld” starring William Powell and Luise Rainer premiered in Los Angeles in 1936. It won three Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Music:
Single “All Shook Up” single was released by Elvis Presley in 1957…The Beatles released their first album “Please Please Me” in 1963…“Not a Moment Too Soon”, the second studio album by Tim McGraw was released in 1994. It was named Billboard Album of the Year.

Sports:
Andre the Giant’s induction into inaugural WWE Hall of Fame was announced in 1993…Tara Lipinski, at 14 years and 10 months, became the youngest women’s world figure skating champion in 1997.

News:
Jimmy Stewart was inducted into the Army in 1941, becoming the first major American movie star to wear a military uniform in World War II.

Celebrity Birthdays:
“Star Trek’s” William Shatner is 93; singer Jeremy Clyde of Chad and Jeremy is 83; singer-guitarist George Benson is 81; talk show host Wolf Blitzer is 76; also turning 75 is composer Andrew Lloyd Webber; sportscaster Bob Costas is 72; country singer James House is 69; actress Lena Olin is 69;  singer Stephanie Mills is 67; actor Matthew Modine (“Birdy”) is 65; Comedian Keegan-Michael Key is 53; also turning 52 is actor Will Yun Lee (“Hawaii Five-O”); actor Guillermo Diaz (“Scandal”) is 49; also turning 49 are actors Anne Dudek (“Mad Men”) and Cole Hauser (“Yellowstone”); turning 48: Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon and “Family Matters” star Kellie Shanygne Williams; drummer John Otto of Limp Bizkit is 47; actress Tiffany Dupont (“Murder in the First”) is 43; actress Constance Wu (“Fresh Off The Boat”) is 42; guitarist Lincoln Parish of Cage The Elephant is 34.

Did You Know?
In addition to “Star Trek,” William Shatner has appeared regularly in seven different live action television series. And they are, in order of airing…“For the People” (1965), “The Barbary Coast” (1975-76), “T.J. Hooker” (1982-86),“The Practice” (2004), “Boston Legal” (2004-08), “$#*! My Dad Says” (2010-11) and “Better Late Than Never” (2016-2018).