Today in History: Friday, March 29, 2024

Television
“Mayberry RFD,” the second spin-off from “The Andy Griffith Show,” concluded in 1971. Although it was still a Top 20 rated series, CBS at the time decided to end basically everything with a tree in what was referred to as the “rural purge.”

Beloved variety hour “The Carol Burnett Show” ended its 11 season run on CBS in 1978. It won 25 Emmy Awards in total.

After over 30 years on CBS, the daytime soap opera “Search for Tomorrow” moved to NBC in 1982. The series would officially conclude on Dec. 26, 1986. Its lead star Mary Stuart as Joanne (aka “Jo“) was on the soap opera throughout its entire 35-year run…CBS serial drama ”Knots Landing” hit the 100-episode mark in 1984 in the fifth season finale. It ultimately aired for 14 seasons (and 344 episodes)…”These Friends of Mine” starring Ellen DeGeneres as a single female who relies on her also-single pals in Los Angeles began in 1994. The series, which changed its title to “Ellen” in its second season, was most famous for its main character coming out as gay in the spring of 1997. It aired for five seasons and 109 episodes. “These Friends of Mine” also originally starred Maggie Wheeler who later had an occurring role as Janice, Chandler Bing’s ex-girlfriend, on “Friends”…Don Johnson returned to series television for the CBS crime solver “Nash Bridges” in 1996. Johnson, in the title role, played a San Francisco police inspector who relies on magic tricks and sly humor to fight the bad guys. Cheech Marin portrayed Bridges’ wisecracking partner Joe Dominguez. “Nash Bridges” — a staple of CBS Friday nights — aired for six seasons and 122 episodes. The pair reunited in 2021 for a TV movie reboot.

Several short-lived programs launched: 1) Botswana-based dramedy “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” starring Jill Scott on HBO in 2009; 2) crime solver “Body of Proof” starring Dana Delany on ABC in 2011; 3) the first “Jersey Shore” spin-off reality series “The Pauly D Project” on MTV in 2012; 4) comedy “Imaginary Mary” starring Jenna Elfman and the voice of “SNL” alum Rachel Dratch on ABC in 2017; and 5) mermaid drama “Siren” on Freeform in 2018…Late night talk show host James Corden had his first U.S. prime time special in 2016 with “The Late Late Show Carpool Karaoke Primetime Special” on CBS. It featured past segments with Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber and Adele as well as the premiere of “Carpool Karaoke” with Jennifer Lopez…Two notable series concluded: docuseries “Duck Dynasty” on A&E in 2017; and, zombie comedy “Santa Clarita Diet” starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant on Netflix in 2019.

Movies:
“Some Like It Hot”, directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, was released in New York City in 1959. The film received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jack Lemon), Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, winning for Best Costume Design.

“Howard the Duck” and “Under The Cherry Moon” tied for Worst Picture at the 7th Golden Raspberry Awards in 1987…Rob Lowe and Snow White (aka Eileen Bowman) sang “Proud Mary” during the infamous and oft-ridiculed 11-minute opening number that kicked off the 61st Academy Awards that took place in 1989. Merv Griffin had also performed his “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts” during the long number. “Rain Man” won Best Picture and its star Dustin Hoffman won Best Actor….Actress Elizabeth Taylor was presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her AIDS/HIV activism at the 65th Academy Awards in 1993.

Music:
Single “We Belong Together” was released by Mariah Carey in 2005. It won the Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 2006, and the Billboard Song of the Year…Rihanna released her single “Umbrella” featuring Jay-Z. It was No.1 on US Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks…Billie Eilish released her debut studio album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” in 2019.

News:
Then-Arkansas governor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton famously said in 1992: “I experimented with marijuana a time or two and I didn’t like it and didn’t inhale and never tried it again.”

Celebrity Birthdays:
Comedian Eric Idle is 81; singer Bobby Kimball of Toto is 77; actor Bud Cort (“Harold and Maude”) is 76; actor Brendan Gleeson (“Harry Potter”) is 69; actress Marina Sirtis (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is also 69; actor Christopher Lambert (“Highlander”) is 67; singer Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction is 65; comedian Amy Sedaris is 63; model Elle Macpherson is 60; actress Annabella Sciorra (“Law and Order: Criminal Intent”) is also 60; director Michel Hazanavicius (“The Artist”) is 57; singer-harmonica player John Popper of Blues Traveler is also 57; actress Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) is 56; country singer Regina Leigh of Regina Regina is also 56; country singer Brady Seals is 55; actress and singer Megan Hilty is 43; keyboardist PJ Morton of Maroon 5 is also 43.

Did You Know?
CBS also canceled sitcoms “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Green Acres” and variety hour “Hee Haw” the same time “Mayberry RFD” exited. One year earlier, it ended “Petticoat Junction.” But “Hee Haw” ultimately lived on in first-run syndication from 1971 to 1992…One year after concluding her variety show, Carol Burnett returned for a four week summer series on ABC, titled “Carol Burnett & Company”, with Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, Kenneth Mars and Craig Richard Nelson.