Mr. Television

Television Jack Paar began his five season hosting duties on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” in 1957. In 1974, Jim Hartz became the first host of NBC’s “The Today Show” to share the title of co-anchor with a woman (who was Barbara Walters)…The “wedding of the century,” Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Frances Spencer, took place at St Paul’s Cathedral, London, United Kingdom […]

Television: The live NBC quiz show “Up to Paar,“ hosted by Jack Paar five years before he sat in “The Tonight Show” chair, debuted in 1952. It aired three nights per week for two months and it was Paar’s first television series…In 1957, the country crooner Jerry Lee Lewis made his first TV appearance ever on “The Steve Allen Show” on NBC…Comedian Andy Kaufman and wrestler Jerry Lawler appeared […]

Television: Serial drama “The Hamptons,” starring Michael Goodwin and Leigh Taylor-Young, debuted on ABC in 1983. Its limited five-episode run, recorded on videotape in lieu of film, was all that was produced for this project…”Our Time,” the summer nostalgia series that harkened back to the 1960’s and was hosted by Karen Valentine and Harry Anderson, debuted on NBC in 1985…Science-fiction drama “Stargate […]

Television ABC daytime drama “General Hospital” filmed its 7,000th episode in 1990. It is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running American soap opera in production…Dramatic anthology “Undressed” debuted on MTV in 1999. It aired for three seasons. Dating/relationship series “3,” which was canceled after two episodes, opened on CBS in 2012…Comedy “Henry Danger” debuted on Nickelodeon in 2014. The […]

Television Roseanne Barr made headlines, and they were not positive, for singing (or screeching) the National Anthem at the San Diego Padres baseball game in 1990. It was “Working Women’s Night” at the ballpark, and having Roseanne sing the Anthem seemed like a suitable fit. Not! Also in 1990, Fox debuted the family sitcom “Molloy“. It starred two actresses who would gain mainstream fame […]

Television CBS sitcom “Morton & Hayes,” produced and hosted by Rob Reiner, began its six-episode run in 1991. NBC announced in 2003 that Matt LeBlanc would be featured in spin-off “Joey” after “Friends” concluded in the spring of 2004. “Joey” lasted two seasons, producing 46 episodes from 2004-06. Movies The World War II drama “Saving Private Ryan,“ starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon and Tom Sizemore, opened in […]