Today in History: Saturday, February 17, 2024

Television
NBC private eye comedy-drama “Remington Steele” concluded its five-season run in 1987. It starred Stephanie Zimbalist, Pierce Brosnan and Doris Roberts. After originally being canceled in 1986, the network reversed its its decision and brought it back in a series of six TV movies…On NBC’s “Seinfeld” in 1994, George (Jason Alexander) attempted to purchase a new suit and stumbled upon a mannequin which scarily resembled Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)…On a one-hour episode of NBC’s “Friends” in 2000, the six main characters imagine alternate realities where Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer) are in unhappy marriages, Joey’s (Matt Le Blanc) a successful actor with a down-and-out Chandler (Matthew Perry) as his assistant, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) is an unhealthy high-powered executive and Monica (Courteney Cox) is an overweight virgin…”Survivor: Palau“, the tenth season of the long-running reality competition “Survivor“, premiered on CBS in 2005. It was only the second time since the series premiere (Thailand was the first) that the castaways themselves determined the two tribes. Twenty participated including Stephenie LaGrossa, Tom Westman and Jenn Lyon. Lyon was the first former “Survivor” castaway to pass away when, in January 2010, she succumbed to breast cancer…The TV movie of the reboot of 80’s drama “Knight Rider” premiered on NBC in 2008. It starred Justin Bruening, Deanna Russo, Sydney Tamiia Poitier and Bruce Davison. The original series’ star David Hasselhoff made a guest appearance. It delivered the largest adult 18-49 performance for any telefilm in three years, resulting in the development of a weekly series for the 2008-09 season. But the rebooted series only lasted one season…On the third season finale of “Downton Abbey” — first aired in the U.S. on PBS’ “Masterpiece Theatre” in 2013, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) gave birth to a baby boy but her husband Matthew (Dan Stevens) soon after perished in a car accident… “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” premiered on NBC in 2014… “Survivor: Kaoh Rong“, the 32nd season of the long-running reality competition “Survivor“, premiered on CBS in 2016. Eighteen castaways competed including Michele Fitzgerald, Aubry Bracco, Tai Trang, former NBA player Scot Pollard, and “Big Brother 16” houseguest Caleb Reynolds.

Music:
“Cloud Nine”, the ninth studio album by The Temptations was released in 1969. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Performance by a Duo or Group and the Billboard Album of the Year…“Always On Time'” by R&B artist Ja Rule and featuring Ashanti began a two-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart in 2002…Single “If I Ain’t Got You” was released by Alicia Keys in 2004. It won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the Billboard Song of the Year.

Books:
The National Critics Book Circle Award was given to Ann Tyler in 1986. She had written a book “The Accidental Tourist”, for which the award she received was given. Her book was spun-off into a movie of the same name in 1988 starring William Hurt, Kathleen Turner and Geena Davis, who took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

News:
The First Electric Self Start was installed in a Cadillac by General Motors in 1911. Up until that time all cars needed to be started by cranking a starting handle which was hard work and caused multiple minor injuries when the car backfired during the starting process…Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced today to 15 consecutive life sentences without parole by a Wisconsin court in 1992, he had practiced necrophilia and cannibalism on 15 young men and boys. On November 28, 1994 he was murdered by a fellow inmate, who bludgeoned him to death with a metal bar.

Celebrity Birthdays:
Actress Christina Pickles (“The Wedding Singer,” ″St. Elsewhere”) is 89; actress Brenda Fricke is 79; actress Becky Ann Baker (“Girls,” ″Freaks and Geeks”) is 71; actress Rene Russo is 70; actor Richard Karn (“Home Improvement”) is 68; actor Lou Diamond Phillips is 62; comedian Larry the Cable Guy is 61; director Michael Bay (“Transformers,” “Armageddon”) is 60; singer Chante Moore is 57; actor Dominic Purcell (“Prison Break”) is 54; actress Denise Richards is 53; singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day is 52; actor Jerry O’Connell is 50; actress Kelly Carlson (“Nip/Tuck”) is 48; actor Conrad Ricamora (“How To Get Away With Murder”) is 45; actor Jason Ritter (“Kevin (Probably) Saves the World,” ″Joan of Arcadia”) is 44; actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt is 43; TV personality Paris Hilton is 43; TV co-host Daphne Oz (“The Chew”) is 38; actor Chord Overstreet (“Glee”) is 35; singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is 33; actor Sasha Pieterse (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 28.

Did You Know?
“The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” is the seventh incarnation of NBC’s veteran “Tonight Show” franchise. The show has had six principal hosts in its history — Steve Allen (1954–57), Jack Paar (1957–62), Johnny Carson (1962–92), Jay Leno (1992–2009, 2010–14), Conan O’Brien (2009–10), and Jimmy Fallon (2014 – present).