Today in History: Saturday, January 13, 2024

Television
Little Tabitha was born on the sitcom “Bewitched” in 1966, which at the time was the top-rated series on ABC (behind only NBC’s “Bonanza”). Eleven years later, Lisa Hartman played an adult Tabitha in spin-off sitcom “Tabitha.“ Original “Bewitched” stars Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay) and George Tobias and Sandra Gould (Abner and Gladys Kravitz) made guest appearances…Before “Bewitched”, Dick Sargent starred in “One Happy Family“, which debuted on NBC in 1961. The sitcom that also starred Jody Warner, Chick Chandler, Elisabeth Fraser, Jack Kirkwood and Cheerio Meredith only ran for 15 episodes…Short-lived sitcom “Me and the Chimp” starring Ted Bessell premiered on CBS in 1972. Its co-creators Garry Marshall and Thomas L. Miller achieved great success two years later with ABC’s “Happy Days”…Crime-themed television movie “The Right of the People”, starring Michael Ontkean, Billy Dee Williams, Jane Kaczmarek, Smith Jackson and Lisa Jakub, debuted on ABC in 1986. The movie, originally intended as a feature film, was written and directed by Jeffrey Bloom, who penned the script in outrage over the mass murder during the robbery of a Bob’s Big Boy restaurant in Los Angeles in 1980…On ABC in daytime was the final episode of the drama “Ryan’s Hope” in 1989, which had begun on the network on July 7, 1975…In 1991, two series debuted: the TV comedy version of “Harry and the Hendersons” (from the 1987 theatrical) starring Bruce Davison; and NBC’s revival of the 60’s vampire cult drama “Dark Shadows“. “Harry and the Hendersons” ran for 72 half-hour original episodes across three seasons in syndication; while “Dark Shadows” was axed that spring after just 12 episodes…”60 Minutes II“, the second edition of the long-running newsmagazine, debuted on CBS in 1999. It lasted six years. Charles Grodin appeared on it as a commentator in the vain of the original’s Andy Rooney…Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Osbourne, Kelly Osbourne and Jack Osbourne hosted the 30th American Music Awards on ABC in 2003. Then-“Everybody Loves Raymond” star Patricia Heaton bowed out from her scheduled appearance due to her displeasure for the Osbournes…Two series based on feature films debuted: “La Femme Nikita” starring Peta Wilson on USA Network in 1997. It ran for five seasons; “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” on Fox in 2008. Despite the huge ratings when it bowed, the action drama that starred Lena Headey, Thomas Dekker and Summer Glau ran for only two seasons.

Music:
In 1962: Chubby Checker’s song “The Twist”, credited with starting the Twist dance craze, rose again to No. 1 in the charts two years after first reaching number one spot…The YMCA filed a libel suit against the Village People’s YMCA song in 1979.

Sports:
Playing in his 436th career game, Edmonton center Wayne Gretzky scored his 400th career NHL goal and adds 2 assists in a 5-4 Oilers’ win over the Sabres in Buffalo in 1985… in 2008, after 36 seasons, the Dallas Cowboys played their final home game at Texas Stadium in Irving, Tex. Following their Divisional Playoff loss to the New York Giants, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens famously cried in the post-game press conference defending “my quarterback” Tony Romo.

News:
Tonya Harding’s bodyguards, Shawn Eric Eckardt and Derrick Brian Smith were arrested and charged with conspiracy in attack of skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1994.

Celebrity Birthdays:
Former child actor Billy Gray (“Father Knows Best”) is 86; famed horse racing trainer Bob Baffert is 71; actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 63; country singer Trace Adkins is 62; actress Penelope Ann Miller (“Awakenings”) is 60; Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 58; actress Traci Bingham (“Baywatch”) is 56; “Grey’s Anatomy” creator-producer Shonda Rhimes is 54; actress Nicole Eggert (“Charles in Charge”) is 51; actor Michael Peña (“American Hustle”) is 48; actor Orlando Bloom (“The Lord of the Rings” films) is 47; “Good Morning America” meteorologist Ginger Zee is 43; actress Ruth Wilson (“The Affair”) is 42; “American Idol” memorable season two auditioner William Hung is 41; actor Liam Hemsworth (“The Hunger Games”) is 34; “Stranger Things'” Natalia Dyer is 29; TV psychic Tyler Henry is 28.

Did You Know?
Prior to her long-running role as the youngest Walton sibling Elizabeth on family drama “The Waltons”, then seven-year-old Kami Cotler played little Kitty Reynolds on inane CBS comedy “Me and the Chimp” in 1972.