Posted in:

Today in History: Saturday, September 16, 2023

'The Bob Newhart Show' Turns 50!

© by Rotten Tomatoes

Television
“Judge Judy,” presided over by Judge Judith Sheindlin, debuted in 1996 and revived the once prosperous syndicated daytime court show genre…In primetime, the series debuts included “The Outer Limits” on ABC in 1963, “The Dean Martin Show” on NBC in 1965, “Mannix” on CBS in 1967; “The Bob Newhart Show” on CBS in 1972, “The Streets of San Francisco” on ABC in 1972; “Webster” on ABC in 1983; “Miami Vice” on NBC in 1984, “Punky Brewster” on NBC in 1984; “Wiseguy” on CBS in 1987, and NBC’s “Frasier” in 1993. “The Bob Newhart Show” turns 50!…In 1968, then-Presidential candidate Richard Nixon appeared on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” and boldly said “Sock it to me.”

Movies:
“Drive,” starring Ryan Gosling, was released in movie theaters in 2011.

Music:
Bob Dylan recorded “Blood on the Tracks” in 1974…Ringo Starr released “Drowning in the Sea of Love” in 1977…Reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart: “Black and White” by Three Dog Night in 1972; “Don’t Wanna Lose You” by Gloria Estefan in 1989; “Music” by Madonna in 2000.

News:
The Metropolitan Opera House opened in Lincoln Center, New York with Leontyne Price as Cleopatra in “Antony and Cleopatra” by Samuel Barber…In 1956, Rainbow Crafts introduced Play-Doh.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actress Janis Paige is 101;  actor Ed Begley Jr. (“St. Elsewhere”) is 74; actress Susan Ruttan (“L.A. Law”) is also 74; actor Mickey Rourke (“9 1/2 Weeks”) is 71; actor-comedian Lenny Clarke (“Rescue Me”) is 70; former CBS Morning Show weatherman Mark McEwen is 69; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop legend Robin Yount is 68; magician David Copperfield is 67; actress Jennifer Tilly (“Child’s Play”) is 65; 1988 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser is also 65; Hall of Fame Montreal Expos outfielder Tim Raines is 64; singer-songwriter Richard Marx is 60; actress Molly Shannon (“Divorce”) is 59; singer Marc Anthony is 55; daytime talk show host Tamron Hall is 53; “SNL” alum Amy Poehler is 52; R&B singer Musiq Soulchild is 46; rapper Tramar Lacel Gillard aka Flo Rida is 44; “Gilmore Girls” star Alexis Bledel is 42; Cheetah Girls singer Sabrina Bryan is 39; actress Madeline Zima (“The Nanny”) is 38; pop singer Nick Jonas is 31.
 
Did You Know?
“Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” on NBC was the top-rated show in all of primetime from 1968-70….“Miami Vice” rose as high as No. 9 in the rankings overall for the season in 1985-86 (despite facing “Dallas” on CBS, which finished No. 6)…“Frasier” at 11-seasons is the longest running spin-off sitcom in the history of television.