Today in History: Sunday, August 6, 2023

Television
“Yo! MTV Raps“, MTV’s first hip-hop music show, premiered in the U.S. in 1988. It was originally hosted by Fab 5 Freddy; its main hosts would be Doctor Dre and Ed Lover. The program ran until 1995…Don’t be ridiculous! ABC sitcom “Perfect Strangers,” starring Mark Linn Baker and Bronson Pinchot, ended its 150 episode run in 1993. The series spun-off “Family Matters”…Garth Brooks performed at a free concert in New York City’s Central Park for HBO in 1997…Jon Stewart hosted Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” for the last time in 2015.

Movies
Harrison Ford starred in the blockbuster motion picture version of the 60’s TV series “The Fugitive“, which was released in 1993. Tommy Lee Jones won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor…Two hit films opened in 1999: the blockbuster psychological drama “The Sixth Sense” starring Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment; and, the remake of the heist thriller “The Thomas Crown Affair” starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo…Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis starred in “Freaky Friday” which premiered in 2003…Two notable films were released in 2004: action drama “Collateral” starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx; indie shark thriller “Open Water“

Music:
The revival of nudie musical “Oh! Calcutta!” closed at the Edison Theater in New York City after 5959 performances, making it Broadway’s longest-running musical revue…Punk rock band the Ramones performed for the last time at the Palace in Hollywood in 1996…From the film “Reality Bites“, the song “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1994.

News:
In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the historic Voting Rights Act which made it illegal to impose restrictions on federal, state and local elections designed to deny the vote to Black Americans…As a guest on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy for the Governor of California. He would win that race that October and last eight years at the position.

Sports:
Tiger Woods at age 30 became the youngest player to compile 50 PGA Tour wins with a 3 stroke victory over Jim Furyk in the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Michigan in 2006.

Celebrity Birthdays
Children’s music performer Ella Jenkins is 99; actor Ray Buktenica (“Rhoda”) is 80; actress Catherine Hicks (“7th Heaven”) is 72; actress Stepfanie Kramer (“Hunter”) is 67; actress Michelle Yeoh (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) is 61; former San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson is 58; director M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”) is 53; actress Merrin Dungey (“Alias”) is 52; pop singer Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) is 51; actress Vera Farmiga (“Bates Motel”) is 50; sports TV host Max Kellerman is also 50; former child star Soleil Moon Frye (“Punky Brewster”) is 47; actress Melissa George (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is also 47; actor Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”) is 42; “America’s Next Top Model” season one winner Adrianne Curry is 41.

Did You Know?
“Punky Brewster,” which aired for four seasons (two on NBC: 1984-86; and two in first-run syndication: 1986-88) spawned an animated spin-off, “It’s Punky Brewster.” The series featured the original cast voicing their respective characters, and it aired from September 14, 1985 to December 6, 1986.