Today in History: Friday, October 18, 2024

Television and Radio
The first broadcast of “Perry Mason” was presented on CBS Radio in 1943. The original version of the legal drama with Raymond Burr debuted on CBS on Sept. 21, 1957…Orson Welles made his television debut in the live “Omnibus” production of “King Lear” on CBS in 1953. Hosted by Alistair Cooke, “Omnibus” showcased dramatic plays, literary readings, documentary-style films, operas, ballet and symphony performances…The Jackson Five made their first national television appearance on ABC variety hour “The Hollywood Palace” in 1969.

ABC sitcom “Roseanne” began its 10-season run in 1988. During the initial run, the series remained in the top four for six of the nine seasons, and in the top 20 for eight. During the short-lived revival in 2018, “Roseanne” finished third overall for the season.

The remake of science fiction drama “Battlestar Galactica,” developed by Ronald D. Moore, began as a weekly series on Sci-Fi Channel in 2004. It had first premiered as a two-part miniseries on the same network ten months prior. The ensemble cast included Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer and Grace Park. Original “Battlestar Galactica” star Richard Hatch had a recurring role on the remake as an extremist politician. Moore’s “Battlestar Galactica” produced 76 episodes across four seasons.

Musical comedy-drama “Viva Laughlin” debuted on CBS in 2007. Based on the British series “Viva Blackpool”, it starred Lloyd Owen, Madchen Amick, Melanie Griffith and co-executive producer Hugh Jackman. Negative reviews and poor ratings led to its demise after only two episodes of the seven produced.

Original “Roseanne” star Sara Gilbert developed and co-hosted daytime talk show “The Talk” which launched in 2010 on CBS. It took over the time slot from longtime daytime drama “As The World Turns“, which had concluded one month prior. Joining Gilbert on the original host panel were Julie Chen, Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete and Marissa Jaret-Winokur.

Books
“Moby Dick” by Herman Melville, the tale of a sailor’s obsession with tracking down and killing an elusive whale that took his leg in a previous encounter, was published as “The Whale in London” for the first time in 1851. One month later it was available in the United States.

News
Alaska became part of the United States in 1867 following the purchase from Russia for $7.2 million.

Sports
Chicago Bulls’ Nate Thurmond recorded the first quadruple-double in NBA history in 1974. He delivered 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks... Reggie Jackson tied Babe Ruth’s record for hitting three home runs in a single World Series game in 1977. Jackson was only the second player to achieve this. On that night, Jackson propelled the New York Yankees to a Series-clinching 8-4 Game Six victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY. It was the Yankees’ 21st world championship title in franchise history.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Joe Morton (“Scandal”) is 77; actress Pam Dawber (“Mork & Mindy”) is 74; actor Jon Lindstrom (“General Hospital”) is 67; action star Jean-Claude Van Damme is 64; jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is 63; acrid Vincent Spano (“Law & Order: SVU”) is 62; actress Joy Bryant (“Parenthood”) is 50; singer Shaffer Smith aka Ne-Yo is 45; country singer and “American Idol” contestant Josh Gracin is 44; actress Freida Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”) is 40; Grammy-winning jazz musician Esperanza Spalding is 40; actor Zac Efron (“High School Musical”) is 37; actress Joy Lauren (“Desperate Housewives”) is 35; actor Tyler Posey (“Teen Wolf”) is 33.

Did You Know?
“Roseanne” returned after a 21-year absence in 2018 with the main cast intact. Had Roseanne Barr not been fired following her controversial tweet, the sitcom – which is officially concluding this upcoming season as “The Conners” – would now be heading into season 17.