Today in History: Friday, August 25, 2023

Television
Game show “Concentration,” hosted by Hugh Downs, debuted on NBC in daytime in 1958…Mega-producer Aaron Spelling scored another hit with adventure series “Hart to Hart” starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers, which debuted on ABC in 1979. The drama, created by novelist Sidney Sheldon, aired for five seasons. Eight made-for-TV movies were produced from 1993-96…Family sitcom “Roc” starring Charles S. Dutton and Rocky Carroll premiered on Fox in 1991. It aired for three seasons and the second season was produced live…”The Trouble with Larry” debuted on CBS in 1993. The sitcom, which was Bronson Pinchot‘s first project following the long-running “Perfect Strangers,“ was cancelled after only three episodes…Teen drama “My So-Called Life,” headlined by 15-year-old Claire Danes, debuted on ABC in 1994. It was produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, the creators of “thirtysomething,” and was considered a hit creatively. But low ratings and rumors of Danes not interested in returning for a second season led to its demise after just 19-episodes…Also in 1994, on a classic episode of MTV’s “The Real World: San Francisco,” the cast voted to evict David “Puck” Rainey from the house as a result of his abusive behavior towards fellow castmate Pedro Zamora…Multi-cam sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show” debuted on The WB began in 1996. Also starring Cedric the Entertainer, the series aired for six seasons.

Movies:
Classic fantasy film “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland opened in theaters in 1939. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, but lost to “Gone with the Wind,” also directed by Victor Fleming…”Rashomon,“ the Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa and Michiko Kyō was released in 1950. It won an honorary Academy Award at the 24th annual ceremony in 1952…Modern western “Desperado” starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek opened in 1995. It was the sequel to the 1993’s “El Mariachi”… cheerleader comedy “Bring It On” starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku and Gabrielle Union premiered in 2000.

Music:
Elton John’s first U.S. appearance was in Los Angeles in 1970…“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” debut album by Lauryn Hill was released in 1998. It won 5 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year and Billboard Album of the Year… reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Brother Louie” by Stories in 1973.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Tom Skerritt (“Picket Fences”) is 90; actor Anthony Heald (“Boston Public”) is 79; baseball Hall of Fame relief pitcher Rollie Fingers is 77; KISS lead singer Gene Simmons is 74; rock singer Elvis Costello is 69; director Tim Burton (“Beetlejuice”, “Batman”) is 65; country singer Billy Ray Cyrus is 62; “Profiler” star Ally Walker is also 62; “LA Law’s” Blair Underwood is 59; TV screenwriter-producer Marti Noxon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “Code Black”) is also 59; daytime talk show host Rachael Ray is 55; actor David Alan Basche (“The Exes”) is also 55; daytime soap actor Cameron Mathison is 54; country singer Jo Dee Messina is 53; 7-time NBA champion Robert Horry and model Claudia Schiffer are also 53; Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison is 51; actor Alexander Skarsgård (“True Blood”) is 47; actor Jonathan Togo (“CSI: Miami”) is 46: actor Kel Mitchell (“Kenan & Kel”) is 45; actress Rachel Bilson (“The O.C.”) is 42; “Gossip Girl” star Blake Lively is 36.

Did You Know?
Courtney Cox was one of the co-stars in the short-lived “The Trouble With Larry.” One year later she struck gold as Monica Geller on “Friends.”