Today in History: Saturday, July 22, 2023

Television

ABC drama “China Beach,” which was set during the Vietnam War, concluded in 1991 after after 64 episodes. It debuted on April 26, 1988…”Dear John,” the NBC sitcom that starred Judd Hirsch, ended its four-season run in 1992… Dylan Walsh and Julian McMahon portrayed plastic surgeons in South Florida in the drama “Nip/Tuck” which debuted on FX in 2003. The series became one of creator Ryan Murphy‘s first hits; its most notable line of dialogue was when either surgeon would ask his patient, “Tell me what you don’t like about yourself.” It ran for six seasons…In 2018, CW action drama “Supergirl” announced the casting of first live-action transgender superhero, by transgender actor Nicole Maines as Nia Nal.

Movies
Cult theatrical classic “Plan 9 From Outer Space,“ which is known as one of the worse films ever, debuted in 1959. This was Bela Lugosi’s last film appearance. He died before the movie was finished…Comedy “Mr. Mom” starring Michael Keaton opened in limited release in 1983…”Summer School,” the comedy directed by Carl Reiner and written by Jeff Franklin and starring Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley and Courtney Thorne-Smith opened in theaters in 1987. Later that year, Franklin’s TV sitcom “Full House” premiered on ABC and lasted for eight seasons… “Big Top Pee Wee,” the sequel to “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” starring Paul Reubens as Pee Wee Herman premiered in 1988.

Music:
Reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100: “Toy Soldiers” by Martika in 1989, “Bent” by Matchbox Twenty in 2000.Sports
Sonny Liston knocked out Floyd Patterson in 2 minutes 10 seconds of the first round to retain the heavyweight boxing title in 1963. Liston had previously taken the title from Patterson with another first-round knockout from Sep. 1962.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Terence Stamp (“Superman”) is 85; singer George Clinton is 82; singer Bobby Sherman is 80; Danny Glover (“Lethal Weapon”) is 77; Albert Brooks (“Broadcast News”) is 76; singer Don Henley is 76; composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid”, “Little Shop of Horrors”) is 74; Willem Dafoe (“Platoon”) is 68; singer Keith Sweat is 62; “Just Shoot Me” star David Spade is 60; actor-comedian John Leguizamo is 59; actor Patrick Labyorteaux (“Little House on the Prairie”) is 58; “Jane the Virgin” star Jaime Camil is 50; actress A.J. Cook (“Criminal Minds”) is 45; singer Selena Gomez is 31.

Did You Know?
Both Dana Delany (Colleen McMurphy) and Marg Helgenberger (KC Koloski) won Emmys for their performances on drama “China Beach.“ Delaney actually won twice for Best Actress in a Drama Series, while Helgenberger took home the Emmy gold as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama in 1990.