Today in History: Thursday, March 11, 2021

Television and Radio
Children’s program “Small Fry Club” began its four season run on the Dumont Network in 1947…An unprecedented moment: Curtis Jackson (Erik Kilpatrick) was shot and killed while witnessing a liquor store robbery on CBS high drama “The White Shadow” in 1980…Detective dramedy “Houston Knights” debuted on CBS in 1987. The series, which starred Michael Paré and Michael Beck, lasted until the following year after airing for 31 episodes…Long-running crime docudrama “Cops” opened in 1989. After 25 seasons on Fox, “Cops” in 2013 moved to cable network Spike TV (now known as Paramount Network)…Dating game show “Studs” debuted in syndication in 1991. Its host was comedian Mark DeCarlo who had been a game show contestant himself, winning over $115,000 in cash and prizes during his 1985 stint on “Sale of the Century“. One of this game show’s most notable contestants was Ronald Goldman in 1992, two years before he was murdered along with Nicole Brown Simpson in June 1994. “Studs” ran for two-and-one-half seasons…Ann Curry officially joined NBC’s “Today” show as its regular news anchor in 1997. She’d remain on the program until she swiftly exited in June 2012…Three series launched — each of which lasted one season: Supernatural private eye drama “Blood Ties” on Lifetime in 2007; “Hell’s Kitchen”-esque cooking reality competition “Chopping Black” on NBC in 2009;  illusionist detective dramedy “Deception” on ABC in 2018…Three series concluded their single-season runs: Reality series “Carnie Wilson: Unstapled” on GSN in 2010; the Jim Belushi-Jerry O’Connell law dramedy “The Defenders” on CBS in 2011; genre fare “The Passage” starring Mark Paul Gosselaar on Fox in 2019…Three successful non-scripted series debuted: “North Woods Law” on Animal Planet in 2012; “Shahs of Sunset” on Bravo in 2012; “Chrisley Knows Best” on USA Network in 2014…Here comes the TV bride: Sean Lowe selected Catherine Guidici to be his bride on the seventeen season finale of ABC’s “The Bachelor” in 2013. Their wedding was televised on ABC in January 2014 with “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison as their officiant. As one of the few still-successful relationships of the franchise, the Lowes currently have two sons and one daughter…The series version of “From Dusk Till Dawn“, based on the 1996 theatrical film, premiered on El Rey Network in 2014  It featured Adrianne Paliciki, Don Johnson, Jake Busey, Robert Patrick and Wilmer Valderrama. The series produced 30 episodes across three condensed seasons…Talent competition “American Idol” made its ABC network debut in 2018. It was the start of the 16th season with host Ryan Seacrest. New judges were introduced to the franchise: Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. Later that season, contestant Gabby Barrett placed third. Her single “I Hope” with featured artist Charlie Puth peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart during the week of Thanksgiving 2020.

Movies and Theater:
In 2018: Superhero movie “The Black Panther” became the fifth Marvel movie to earn $1 billion worldwide.

Music:
Pink Floyd released his first single, “Arnold Layne”, in 1967… also in 1967, “Love Is Here and Now You’re Gone” by The Supremes hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart…In 1968: Otis Redding became the first person in the U.S. to posthumously receive gold record for his single “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay”

News:
Former Vice President Walter Mondale famously referred to a popular commercial for the fast-food restaurant Wendy’s when he told then-U.S. senator from Colorado Gary Hart, “When I hear your new ideas, I’m reminded of that ad: Where’s the beef?” during a Democratic primary debate in Atlanta, Ga. on NBC in 1984… Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Celebrity Birthdays:
TV journalist Sam Donaldson is 87; actress Tricia O’Neil (“Genghis Khan”) is 76; actor Mark Metcalf (“Animal House”) is 75; “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” singer Bobby McFerrin is 71; movie director Jerry Zucker (“Airplane!” ″Ghost”) is 71; actress Susan Richardson (“Eight Is Enough”) is 69; recording executive Jimmy Iovine (“American Idol”) is 68; country singer Jimmy Fortune of The Statler Brothers is 66; “Got to Be Real” singer Cheryl Lynn is 64; actor Elias Koteas (“Chicago P.D.”) is 60; actor Jeffrey Nordling (“Desperate Housewives”) is 59; actress Alex Kingston (“ER”) is 58; actor Peter Berg (“Chicago Hope”) is 57; actor Wallace Langham (“CSI”) is 56; actor John Barrowman (“Arrow”) is 54; “Stay (I Missed You)” singer Lisa Loeb is 53; actor Terrence Howard (“Empire”) is 52. actor Johnny Knoxville (“Jackass”) is 50; musicians Joel Madden and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte are each 42; actor David Anders (“iZombie,” ″The Vampire Diaries”) is 40; actress Thora Birch (“Ghost World,” ″American Beauty”) is 39; former “Bachelor” season 13 contestant and “Dancing with the Stars All-Stars” champion Melissa Rycroft is 38; Emmy-winning actress Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”) is 28.

Did You Know?
Three seasons after “The White Shadow” concluded, Byron Stewart as high school student Warren Coolidge was now an orderly on NBC medical dramedy “St. Elsewhere.” Both were from Bruce Paltrow and Stewart appeared sporadically from 1984 to 1988. In one scene he made reference to Mario “Salami” Pettrino from “The White Shadow” when Timothy Van Patten guest starred as a character named Dean. There was never any explanation of how Coolidge ended up moving from Los Angeles to Boston.