To sign up for our daily email newsletter, CLICK HERE
Television and Radio:
CBS detective drama “Crazy Like a Fox”, starring Jack Warden and John Rubenstein, prematurely ended after two seasons in 1986. The pair returned in television movie “Still Crazy Like a Fox” on April 5, 1987…“Hotel“, the Aaron Spelling-produced prime time soap opera based on Arthur Hailey’s novel of the same name, aired its series finale on ABC in 1988. The San Francisco-set series, starring Connie Sellecca and James Brolin, ran for five seasons. Most of its early success was the result of airing out of the original “Dynasty”…The original “Dallas” concluded its 13 year run on CBS in 1991. “Dallas” also featured prequel movie “Dallas: The Early Years” in 1986 and reunion movies “Dallas: Jr. Returns” in 1996 and “Dallas: War of the Ewings” in 1998. The recent revival on TNT aired from 2012-14 (and never resolved the third season cliffhanger)…So long, Salingers. Family drama “Party of Five” concluded its six season run on Fox on this day in 2000. The recent revival of “Party of Five” on Freeform ran for only one season (and 10 episodes) in 2020…Oscar winner George C. Scott attempted a TV sitcom in Fox’s “Mr. President”, which launched in 1987. But it only aired for two seasons…Two miniseries launched: “Murder in the Heartland”, starring Tim Roth, in 1993; and CBS mob miniseries “The Last Don” in 1998…Seven short-lived series concluded: The WB sitcoms “Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher” and “You’re the One” both in 1998; The WB medical drama “Rescue 77” in 1999; CBS legal drama “First Monday” (which starred Joe Mantegna and James Garner) and The WB sitcom “Maybe It’s Me”, both in 2002; VH1’s docuseries “Jessica Simpson’s The Price of Beauty” and VH1’s makeover “TRANSform Me” with Laverne Cox in 2010…Science fiction action drama “Dark Angel”, co-created by James Cameron (“The Terminator”, “Aliens”), concluded on Fox in 2002 after two seasons. Despite its brief run, it propelled Jessica Alba into stardom from her role as a genetically-enhanced super soldier…“Judging Amy”, the legal drama that was co-created and starred Amy Brenneman, concluded on CBS in 2005 after six seasons. It also starred Tyne Daly….“Trading Spouses”, Fox’s docuseries answer to ABC’s “Wife Swap”, concluded its three-season run in 2007….Cartoon Network debuted two animated series in 2011: “The Amazing World of Gumball” and “The Looney Tunes Show”…Comedy “Happy Endings” aired its series finale on ABC in 2013. The series, which developed a cult following, starred Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Casey Wilson, and Daman Wayans, Jr. It ran for three seasons…Jeanne Cooper made her final appearance as Katherine Chancellor on CBS Daytime drama “The Young and the Restless” in 2013. Cooper, who had portrayed Chancellor for 40 years, passed away five days later at the age of 84. Her eldest son is Corbin Bernsen (“L.A. Law”)…“Maron”, the comedy centered on a fictionalized version of comedian Marc Maron, debuted on IFC in 2013. It ran for four condensed seasons…In 2017, Hulu With Live TV was beta launched. It initially offered 50 channels including local affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in major markets as well as nationally-televised cable networks ESPN, CNN, TBS, TNT and Disney Channel…Sinclair Broadcast Group and Entertainment Studios (through their joint venture, Diamond Holdings) acquired Fox Sports Networks from The Walt Disney Company in a $10.6 billion deal in 2019. Among its sports portfolio included a joint ventures with YES Network, Chicago’s Marquee Sports Network and the Stadium digital network. The Fox Sports Networks were rebranded as Bally Sports on March 31, 2021…Netflix debuted two critically-acclaimed series in 2019: animated “Tuca & Bertie” featuring the voices of Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong (season two will premiere on Adult Swim later this year), and the Emmy-nominated dark comedy “Dead To Me”. Headlined by Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, “Dead To Me” begins as these two women meet at a grief support group. The third (and final) season is set to be released later this year.
Movies:
“Going My Way”, directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby premiered in New York in 1944. It won seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Director and Barry Fitzgerald for Best Actor in a Supporting Role…“Spider-Man”, starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin, premiered in 2004.
News:
The Anne Frank House opened in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1960.
Sports:
Joe DiMaggio made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees in 1936. He earned three hits in his first game, as batted ahead of legend Lou Gehrig in the lineup. Throughout his 13-season playing career, the Hall of Famer was a 13-time All-Star, 3-time American League MVP and had led the New York Yankees to nine world championships. He also set the record for most consecutive games with at least one hit at 56, a mark that still stands to this day.
Celebrity Birthdays:
Actor Alex Cord (“Airwolf”) is 88; singer Frankie Valli is 87; sports announcer Greg Gumbel is 75; singer Christopher Cross is 70; actress Amy Ryan (“The Office”) is 53; “Boardwalk Empire” star Bobby Cannavale is 51; music producer Damon Dash is 50; “Psych” star Dule Hill is 46; “Today” news anchor Willie Geist is 46; actress Christina Hendricks (“Good Girls”) is 46; country singer Eric Church is 44; dancer Cheryl Burke is 37.
-Did You Know?:
Bette Davis appeared in the pilot episode of “Hotel” as hotel owner Laura Trent, and was slated to be a regular. However, Davis suffered a stroke and had to withdraw from the series. Anne Baxter, who had played Davis’ nemesis in the 1950 film “All About Eve”, was brought in as Victoria Cabot, Mrs. Trent’s sister-in-law. Baxter, unfortunately, passed away midway through season three…The role of Sarah on “Party of Five,” played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, was originally planned for only nine episodes in season two. But the producers liked Hewitt’s performance and she became a regular. In 1999, Hewitt exited “Party of Five” for spin-off “Time of Your Life,” which co-starred Jennifer Garner and ran for just one season.
