Today in History: Saturday, September 30, 2023

Television
Animated classic “The Flintstones” from Hanna-Barbera, premiered in 1960. It aired on ABC in primetime for six seasons. Following the show’s cancellation in 1966, a film based upon the series, “The Man Called Flintstone,“ was created… Boston-set pub sitcom “Cheers” starring Ted Danson, Shelley Long and Rhea Perlman premiered on NBC in 1982. An immediate critical favorite, the series first became a ratings hit two years later when “The Cosby Show” arrived on Thursday nights. For the 1990-91 season, it was the No. 1 show on television. Winner of multiple Emmys, it ran for 11 seasons and spawned the also-long running “Frasier”…Bizarre short-lived action/adventure “Manimal” launched on NBC in 1983. The show centered on Simon MacCorkindale as Dr. Jonathan Chase , a man who could turn himself into any animal he chooses to help the police solve crimes…Detective drama “Murder, She Write,“ starring Angela Lansbury, opened its 12-season run on CBS in 1984…Syndicated daytime talker “The Jerry Springer Show” premiered in 1991 and ultimately ran for 17 seasons. The program was modest in the ratings in its first seasons due to its focus on more serious political issues, which led to an overhaul of the structure which by the mid-1990’s led to controversial topics (such as incest and adultery), profanity, physical fights and scantily clad guests…Joining the cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” for its 21st season in 1995 were Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, Cheri Oteri and Jim Breuer…Also in 1995, the premiere of “Baywatch Nights,” the syndicated “Baywatch” spinoff starring David Hasselhoff as lifeguard Mitch Buchannon moonlighting as a private investigator. It lasted just two seasons…”90210″ star Tori Spelling starred in what most deem as her most famous made-for-TV movie, “Mother, May I Please Sleep with Danger?.” It premiered on NBC in 1996…The JJ Abrams spy drama “Alias” starring Jennifer Garner, Victor Garber and Ron Rifkin debuted on ABC in 2001. The series, which made Garner a household name, ran for five seasons.

Movies:
Horror comedy “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark” starring Cassandra Peterson opened in theaters in 1988… Meryl Streep starred in her first action movie in the thriller “The River Wild” premiering in 1994. It also starred Kevin Bacon.

Songs:
The Supremes released single “Love Child” in 1968…Ringo Starr released “Ringo the 4th” album in 1977.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actress Angie Dickinson (“Police Woman”) is 92; gospel singer Cissy Houston is 90; singer Johnny Mathis is 88; singer and former “Solid Gold” host Marilyn McCoo is 80; actor Barry Williams (“The Brady Bunch”) is 69; “The Nanny” star Fran Drescher is 66; actress Crystal Bernard (“Wings”) is 62; actor Eric Stoltz (“Mask”) is also 62; actor Tony Hale (“Arrested Development”) is 53; actress Jenna Elfman (“Dharma & Greg”) is 52; Oscar winning actress Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”) is 48; “Party of Five” star Lacey Chabert is 41; actor Kieran Culkin (“Succession”) is also 41; rapper Faheem Najm aka T-Pain is 38; dancer Maddie Ziegler is 21.

Did You Know?
“The Flintstones” was revived in the early 1970s with Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm having grown into teenagers, and several different series and made-for-TV movies (broadcast mainly on Saturday morning, with a few shown in primetime). Included was a series depicting Fred and Barney as police officers, another with them as children, and others featuring Fred and Barney encountering Marvel Comics superhero The Thing and Al Capp’s comic strip character The Shmoo. The original show also was adapted into a live-action film in 1994, and a prequel, “The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas,” which followed in 2000. The latest revival, animated “Yabba Dabba Doo Dinosaurs”, airs on HBO Max…Angela Lansbury was nominated for 12 consecutive years for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for “Murder, She Wrote,“ but never won.