Today in History – Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Television and Radio
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…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….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.

Music:
In 1962: Chubby Checker’s song “The Twist”, credited with starting the Twist dance craze, rose 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.

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:
Actress Frances Sternhagen (“Cheers”) is 91; actor Billy Gray (“Father Knows Best”) is 83; actor Richard Moll (“Night Court”) is 78; famed horse racing trainer Bob Baffert is 68; actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus is 60; country singer Trace Adkins is 59; actress Penelope Ann Miller (“Awakenings”) is 57; Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 55; actress Traci Bingham (“Baywatch”) is 53; “Grey’s Anatomy” creator-producer Shonda Rhimes is 51; actress Nicole Eggert (“Charles in Charge”) is 48; actor Michael Peña (“American Hustle”) is 45; actor Orlando Bloom (“The Lord of the Rings” films) is 44; “Good Morning America” meteorologist Ginger Zee is 40; actress Ruth Wilson (“The Affair”) is 39; “American Idol” season two auditioner William Hung is 38; actor Liam Hemsworth (“The Hunger Games”) is 31; “Stranger Things'” Natalia Dyer is 26; TV psychic Tyler Henry is 25.

Did You Know?
Technically, the character of Tabitha Stephens on “Bewitched” would have been 11 years old when spinoff “Tabitha” premiered. And her brother Adam was younger, and not older as portrayed in the spin-off.