Today in History: Friday, November 8, 2024

Television
NBC daytime serial “Days of Our Lives” debuted in 1965. For more on “Days of Our Lives,” click here

Also opening in 1965: NBC historical anthology “Profiles In Courage” launched its one season run. The series was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning 1965 book of the same name by President John F. Kennedy and Ted Sorenson…In a spontaneous decision, Ted (Ted Knight) and Georgette (Georgia Engel) got married in Mary’s apartment on “Mary Tyler Moore Show” on CBS in 1975. John Ritter (pre-“Three’s Company”) guest starred.

The news program, “The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage”, premiered on ABC in 1979. The show was planned to be temporary, but it evolved into “Nightline” in March of 1980…Animated Saturday morning entries “The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang” and “The Richie Rich/Scooby-Doo Show” opened in 1980. Both were produced by Hanna-Barbera. Henry Winkler, Ron Howard and Donny Most lent their voices, while Wolfgang Jack was the narrator.

Television’s first premium cable channel, Home Box Office (HBO), began in 1972. The first movie telecast was “Sometimes a Great Notion” with Paul Newman and Henry Fonda…ABC sitcom “Growing Pains” hit the 100 episode mark in 1989. It aired for seven seasons, through April 25, 1992, and was featured in two made-for television reunion movies (in 2000 and 20004)…Fantasy comedy “The Tick” starring Patrick Warburton opened for 13 episodes on 2001. Amazon Prime revived “The Tick” for two additional seasons in 2016 with Peter Serafinowicz in the lead role.

Late night talker “Conan,” hosted by Conan O’Brien, opened on TBS in 2010…“High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” launched on Disney+ in 2019.

Movies
“Mutiny on the Bounty”, which recounts the 1789 mutiny on the HMS Bounty, opened on this day in 1962. Marlon Brando starred.

Celebrity Birthdays
Singer Bonnie Raitt is 75; former “Entertainment Tonight” host Mary Hart is 74; former Playboy CEO Christie Hefner is 72; actress Alfre Woodard is also 72; singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 70; former teen idol Leif Garrett is 63; Fox personality Gordon Ramsay is 58; actress Courtney Thorne-Smith (“Melrose Place”; “Ally McBeal”); is 57; actress Parker Posey (“Dazed and Confused”) is 56; singer Diana King is 54; actress Gretchen Mol is 52; ABC News anchor David Muir is 51; actor Matthew Rhys (“The Americans,” “Brothers and Sisters”) is 50; “Sharknado” actress Tara Reid is 49; singer Bucky Covington (“American Idol”) is 47; actress Dania Ramirez (“Devious Maids,” ″Entourage”) is 45; TV personality Jack Osbourne (“The Osbournes”) is 39; actress Jessica Lowndes (“90210″) is 36; singer Solána Rowe, better known as SZA is 35; singer Lauren Alaina (“American Idol”) is 30.

Did You Know?
At 59 years, “Days of Our Lives” is NBC’s longest running daytime drama. The record was previously held by “Another World,” which had a 35-year run from 1964 to 1999. The series now streams on Peacock.