Today in History: Saturday, September 25, 2020

Television
Animated half-hour “The Beatles” began its four season run on ABC on Saturday morning in 1965…Musical family sitcom “The Partridge Family” starring Shirley Jones, David Cassidy, Susan Dey, Danny Bonaduce and Dave Madden premiered on ABC in 1970. The series, loosely based on the 60’s music act The Cowsills, lasted for four seasons and made Cassidy a chart-topping music star with his No. 1 hit “I Think I Love You“…Don Knotts officially joined the cast of ABC sitcom “Three’s Company” in its fourth season premiere in 1979 as the new apartment landlord Ralph Furley…Father-son sitcom “Silver Spoons” starring Joel Higgins and Ricky Schroder premiered on NBC in 1982. It would air for four seasons on the broadcast network with its fifth (and final) season airing in syndication in 1986-87. The show also first featured Jason Bateman and Alfonso Ribeiro…Fantasy detective drama “Beauty and the Beast” starring Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton premiered on CBS in 1987. Although the series lasted two full seasons along with an abbreviated third season, it had developed a cult following. The CW’s reboot in 2012 starring Kristin Kreuk aired for four seasons…Classic “jump the shark” moment: Leonardo DiCaprio joined the cast of ABC sitcom “Growing Pains” in the final season in 1991. He played a homeless boy Mike (Kirk Cameron) met at the school he was teaching at…NBC aired a live episode of “ER” in 1997, which was the fourth season opener…Also on NBC in 1997 was the debut of Kirstie Alley sitcom “Veronica’s Closet,” which ran for three seasons…One season syndicated action adventure “Peter Benchley’s Amazon” opened in 1999…Also on this was the debut the coming-of-age comedy “Freaks and Geeks” on NBC. Although the series lasted one season, its cast and crew would go on to have successful careers in Hollywood: show creator Paul Feig, executive producer Judd Apatow, and stars Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, James Franco, Linda Cardellini, and Busy Philipps.

Movies:
Fantasy-adventure comedy “The Princess Bride” directed by Rob Reiner and starring Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin and Andre the Giant opened in theaters in 1987… historical epic “The Last of the Mohicans” starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe premiered in 1992.

News:
Sandra Day O’Connor became the first female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court when she was sworn in as the 102nd justice in 1981. She had been nominated the previous July by President Ronald Reagan…in 1997, NBC sportscaster Marv Albert pled guilty to assault and battery of a lover. He was fired from NBC within hours.Sports:
Willie Mays, at the age of 34, became the oldest man to hit 50 home runs in a single season in 1965. He had also set the record for the youngest to hit 50 ten years earlier.

Celebrity Birthdays
Barbara Walters is 91; actor Josh Taylor (“The Hogan Family”) is 77; actor Robert Walden (“Lou Grant”) is 77; Oscar winner Michael Douglas (“Wall Street”) is 76; model Cheryl Tiegs is 73; actress Mimi Kennedy (“Mom”) is 72; actor Anson Williams (“Halpy Days”) is 71; Mark Hamill from “Star Wars” is 69; actor Michael Madsen (“Reservoir Dogs”) is 63; actress Heather Locklear (“Melrose Place,” “Dynasty”) is 59; actress Aida Turturro (“The Sopranos”) is 58; actor Tate Donovan (“The O.C.”) is 57; Oscar nominee Will Smith is 52; Oscar winner Catherine Zeta Jones (“Chicago”) is 51; “Queer as Folk” star Hal Sparks is also 51; rapper Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. aka T.I. is 40; “Atlanta” creator and star Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) is 37.

Did You Know?
Don Knotts, of course, is known for his five-time Emmy Award-winning role as Barney Fife on “The Andy Griffith Show” and landlord Ralph Furley on “Three’s Company.“ In 1988, he began his recurring role as Les Calhoun on legal drama “Matlock” starring Any Griffith. And he reunited with his initial “Three’s Company” co-star Suzanne Somers in an episode of syndicated sitcom “She’s the Sheriff” in 1988 and ABC sitcom “Step By Step” in 1993.