Today in History: Sunday, June 16, 2024

Television:
The first network news show, “News From Washington,” launched on the long defunct network Dumont…CBS debuted the daytime game show “Musical Chairs” in 1975. It was hosted by Adam Wade and was filmed at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater. It lasted only four months…TV Land launched sitcom “Hot in Cleveland” in 2010. Nearly 4.8 million viewers tuned in, making it the most-watched telecast in the cable network’s history. The series, which starred Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Mallick, Jane Leeves and Betty White, ran for 128 episodes over six seasons through 2015…Seven short-lived series premiered: ABC game shows “Super Jeopardy!” and “Monopoly” — both in 1990; Fox sitcoms “Quintuplets” and “Method & Red” and MTV docuseries “The Ashlee Simpson Show” — all in 2004; and TNT supernatural crime drama “Proof” and TBS sitcom “Clipped” — both in 2015…Three short-lived series concluded: Fox Family boarding school drama “Higher Ground” in 2000; the most recent update of ABC romantic comedy-drama “Cupid” in 2009; and Lifetime drama “The Client List” in 2013…The late 80’s version of syndicated game show “The Hollywood Squares” concluded in 1989. It was hosted by John Davidson. Comedienne Joan Rivers and actor Jim J. Bullock were regular panelists. Shadoe Stevens was its announcer; with radio superstar Howard Stern occasionally filled in for a vacationing Stevens…The first revival of game show “Supermarket Sweep” concluded on Lifetime in 1995. The original edition ran on ABC in 1965-67; the cable version aired from 1990 through 1995. David Ruprecht hosted the 90’s version, as well as PAX TV’s 2000-02 incarnation. The recent revival was hosted by “SNL” alum Leslie Jones…Science fiction thriller “The Dead Zone”, based on Stephen King’s 1979 novel, launched on USA Network in 2002. The series starred Anthony Michael Hall and ran for six seasons…Medical drama “Hawthorne” debuted on TNT in 2009. The series starred Jada Pinkett Smith and Michael Vartan. Latin music superstar Marc Anthony joined the cast in season two. It ran for 30 episodes across three condensed seasons…The final episode of the original run of Comedy Central sketch show “Inside Amy Schumer” aired in 2016. There were 39 episodes across four condensed seasons. The series is set for an upcoming revival of five specials on Paramount+…Historical romantic drama “Reign” concluded its four-season run on The CW in 2017…Two critically-acclaimed cable dramas launched in 2019: teen drama “Euphoria” on HBO starring Zendaya and crime drama “City on a Hill” on Showtime starring Kevin Bacon.

Movies:
Alfred Hitchcock classic “Psycho,” starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh and Vera Miles, opened in New York City in 1960….“Grease,” starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, opened in theaters in 1978…Musical comedy “The Blues Brothers,” starring Dan Akyroyd and John Belushi and based on the “Saturday Night Live” sketch, launched in Chicago in 1980…“Ghostbusters II,“ starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, premiered in 1981…“Batman Forever,“ starring Val Kilmer, Chris O’Donnell, Tommy Lee Jones and Nicole Kidman, debuted in 1995. The opening weekend scored a record $528 million…Also in 1995, the animated “Pocahontas” hit theaters featuring the Top-10 smash “Colors of the Wind” performed by Vanessa Williams …Disney’s “Tarzan,” featuring the voice of Tony Goldwyn, opened in theaters in 1999. It was the first-ever animated version of Edgar Rice Burroughs‘ classic tale and its featured tune “You’ll Be In My Heart,” which resulted in an Oscar for Phil Collins for Best Original Song.

Music:
“Beatlemania” opened in Broadway in 1977…Ringo Starr released its “Bad Boy” album in 1978… still a staple on playlists at adult contemporary radios stations, Roxette‘s “It Must Have Been Love” from the film “Pretty Woman” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990…Michael Jackson released his double album “HIStory: Past, Present and Future: Book I” in 1995, which featured his greatest hits as well as “Scream,” the hit song that paired Michael with his younger sister Janet Jackson.

Sports:
On Father’s Day 1996, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle Supersonics to win their fourth NBA championship. It was a culmination of a 72-win regular season, a record that would stand until the 73-win 2015-16 Golden State Warriors. Its most iconic image was of Finals MVP Michael Jordan collapsed on the locker room floor after the game and overcome with emotion as he celebrated his first NBA title without the presence of his father James Jordan, who was murdered three years prior…In one of the most memorable victories of his storied career, Tiger Woods won the U.S. Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego, Calif. in 2008 for his 14th career major tournament win after the first hole of the sudden death round that followed an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate despite Woods’ injured leg and torn ACL…Led by Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and coach Steve Kerr, the Golden State Warriors defeated LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals in 2015. It was the franchise’s first championship in 40 years.

News:
The Pepsi Cola company formed in 1903.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Bill Cobbs is 90; country songwriter Lamont Dozier of Holland-Dozier-Holland is 83; actress Joan Van Ark (“Knots Landing”) is 81; actor Geoff Pierson (“Splitting Up Together,” “Designated Survivor”) is 75; singer James Smith (The Stylistics) is 74; actress Sonia Braga is 73; singer Gino Vannelli is 72; actress Laurie Metcalf (“The Conners”) is 69; actor Arnold Vosloo (“The Mummy”) is 62; actor James Patrick Stuart (TV’s “The Closer”) is 56; actor Clifton Collins Jr. (“Westworld”) is 54; golfer Phil Mickelson is also 54; actor John Cho (“Harold and Kumar”) is 52; actor Eddie Cibrian (“Third Watch”) is 51; actor Fred Koehler (“Kate and Allie”) is 49; actress Missy Peregrym (“Rookie Blue”) is 42; singer Diana DeGarmo (“American Idol”) is 37; Tony-winning Broadway actress-singer Ali Stroker is 37. For more on “Knots Landing,” click here

Did You Know?
Betty White was originally slated for one appearance as Elka Ostrovsky on TV Land sitcom “Hot in Cleveland”, but was quickly upgraded to a series regular.