Today in History: Thursday, August 22, 2024

Television
“Later With Bob Costas,” a half-hour talk show created to follow “Late Night with David Letterman” (and, eventually, “Late Night with Conan O’Brien”), debuted on NBC in 1988. Hosted by Costas in New York until 1994, the format featured conversations with one individual in each telecast. Production shifted to Burbank after Costas departed with Greg Kinnear the new host until 1996. Ultimately, Carson Daly stepped in and the show was re-titled “Last Call with Carson Daly” in 2002.

Sitcom “Living Single” starring Queen Latifah, Kim Fields, Kim Coles and Erika Alexander debuted on Fox in 1993. Despite airing opposite NBC’s “Must-See” Thursdays, it was one of the network’s consistent hits of the 90’s, mostly as a lead-out of the similarly successful “Martin.” It ran five seasons.

Daytime cooking show “Aarti Party“, hosted by season six winner of “The Next Food Network Star” Aarti Sequeira, debuted on Food Network in 2010. 31 episodes were produced within a 13-month span.

Movies
“Stand By Me”, based on the novella by Stephen King, directed by Rob Reiner, and starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell was released in 1986.

Music
The Beatles recorded a video for “Long & Winding Road” in 1969…Madonna’s single “Who’s That Girl” rose to #1 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1987.

News
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 by three Italian handymen. It was not recovered until 1913, and the media sensation helped make it one of the world’s most famous paintings.

Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959…In 2017: For the first time in nearly 40 years, the continental United States experienced a total solar eclipse, which was viewed from Oregon to South Carolina.

Celebrity Birthdays
Newsman Morton Dean is 89; TV writer/producer David Chase (“The Sopranos”) is 79; correspondent Steve Kroft (“60 Minutes”) is 79; country singer Collin Raye is 64; actress Regina Taylor (“The Unit,” ″I’ll Fly Away”) is 64; singer Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears is 63; singer Tori Amos is 61; rapper GZA (Wu-Tang Clan) is 58; actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (“Oz,” “Lost”) is 57; actor Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”) is 57; celebrity chef Giada DeLaurentiis is 54; actor Rick Yune (“Die Another Day,” “The Fast and the Furious”) is 53; rapper Beenie Man is 51; singer Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys is 51; comedian Kristen Wiig (“Bridesmaids,” ″Saturday Night Live”) is 51; “The Late Late Show” host James Corden is 46.

Did You Know?:
“Stand By Me” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and two Golden Globe Awards: one for Best Drama Motion Picture and one for Best Director.