Television The inaugural “Tony Awards,” then called “The Perry Awards,” were presented at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City in 1947. Notable first winners included actress Ingrid Bergman, playwright Arthur Miller, and director Elia Kazan…“All My Sons” and musical “Finian’s Rainbow” were honored…The food company Swanson & Sons introduced the “TV Dinner” in 1954, which for 98 cents included a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, dressing, peas and […]
Television The original “Hawaii Five-0” ended on CBS in 1980 after 12 seasons. Combined with 10 seasons for the recent reboot (2010-2020), that is 22 seasons of “Hawaii Five-O.” Fox Broadcasting Company officially launched in 1987 with Sunday night comedies “Married with Children” and “The Tracey Ullman Show.” The latter series, of course, was the original home of those animated characters […]
Television There were four series-finales on this day: 1) “Petticoat Junction” on CBS in 1970, 2) “Hogan’s Heroes” on CBS in 1971, 3) the original “Knight Rider” with David Hasselhoff on NBC in 1986, and 4) syndicated drama “Renegade” with Lorenzo Lamas in 1997. Of the four, “Petticoat Junction” had the longest run at seven seasons, followed by “Hogan’s Heroes” at six, “Renegade” at five and “Knight […]
Television The first issue of TV Guide was released in 1953, with a photograph of Lucille Ball and her newborn son, Desi Arnaz, Jr. The miniseries “Jesus of Nazareth” starring Robert Powell, Anne Bancroft, Ernest Borgnine, James Earl Jones, Christopher Plummer and Laurence Olivier debuted in the U.S. on NBC in 1977. The second part aired one week later on Easter Sunday (Apr. 10, 1977)…CBS detective drama “Barnaby Jones,“ starring Buddy […]
Television and Radio: “The Big Story” began its eight season run on NBC radio in 1947. Each week the program recognized the reporter who wrote the story on which that episode was based and the newspaper in which the story appeared…Remember that guy that streaked past David Niven in the buff on “The Academy Awards”? His name was Robert […]
Television The final episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” which featured guest stars Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams, aired on CBS in 1960…Two daytime dramas, ABC’s “General Hospital” and NBC’s “The Doctors,” debuted in 1963. “The Doctors” aired through Dec. 31, 1982…”The Andy Griffith Show” concluded its eight season run on CBS in 1968. It ranked first overall in all of primetime for that final […]
Television The first TV version of “Cinderella,” starring then 21-year-old Julie Andrews, aired in color on CBS in 1957…And the Oscar went to “Ordinary People” as Best Picture in 1981. Robert DeNiro (“Raging Bull) and Sissy Spacek (“Coal Miners Daughter”) were named Best Actor and Actress…“Wrestlemania” had its first outing in 1985. It took place in Madison Square Garden in New York City and featured Hulk […]
