Today in History: Thursday, November 9, 2023

Television
NBC’s ”Saturday Night Live” opened season 11 in 1985, which was hosted by Madonna (with musical guest Simple Minds and a slew of new cast members including Randy Quaid, Joan Cusack, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Lovitz, Nora Dunn and “Weekend Update” anchor Dennis Miller). It also marked the return of creator Lorne Michaels, who had exited five years earlier…Two “Perry Mason” movies aired on this day on NBC: “The Case of the Shooting Star” in 1986 and “The Case of the Grimacing Governor” in 1994. A total of 30 “Perry Mason” television movies were produced, with Raymond Burr reprising his role in 26 of them. After his death in 1993, Hal Holbrook was featured in “The Case of the Grimacing Governor” as “Wild” Bill McKenzie, a friend of Perry Mason…Nine years after it debuted came the reboot second season of HBO comedy “The Comeback” in 2014. It starred Lisa Kudrow as actress Valerie Cherish and Damian Young as her husband Mark Berman…George Lopez became the first Mexican-American to host a late night talk show on an English-language network euthanized his show “Lopez Tonight” debuted on TBS in 2009. It ran for two years. “Lopez Vs. Lopez”, a family comedy starring George Lopez and his daughter Mayan, premiered on NBC last Friday.

Movies
Wes Craven‘s classic horror film “A Nightmare on Elm Street” starring Robert Englund as serial killer Freddy Krueger premiered in the U.S. in 1984. The film, which grossed $57 million worldwide, spawned a franchise consisting of six sequels, a television series, and a crossover film with “Friday the 13th” called “Freddy vs. Jason” in 2003.

Music
Ringo Starr released his “Ringo” album in 1973…”No Diggity” by Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre hit No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1996…Alicia Keys released her 3rd studio album “As I Am” in 2007. It won the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance 2008 and the 2008 Billboard Album of the Year…Single “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber was released in 2015. It won the Grammy for Song of the Year and Billboard Song of the Year.

News
In 1989, East German officials opened the Berlin Wall, allowing travel from East Berlin to West Berlin.

Periodicals
The first issue of Rolling Stone magazine was published in 1967. John Lennon was featured on the cover.

Sports
22-year-old Garry Kasparov became the youngest-ever world chess champion by defeating fellow Russian Anatoly Karpov in 1985…In 1996, Evander Holyfield became the second boxer ever, after Muhammad Ali, to win a heavyweight title three times by knocking out Mike Tyson in the 11th round in their bout in Las Vegas…Tennis star Venus Williams won her first career year-ending title in 2008.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actor Robert David Hall (“CSI”) 75; “The Incredible Hulk” star Lou Ferrigno is 72; gospel singer Donnie McClurkin is 64; Salt-N-Pepa rapper Sandra Denton (aka Pepa) is 59; wrestler Chris Jericho is 53; actor Eric Dane (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 51; reality star Nick Lachey is 50; R&B singer Mark Andrews aka Sisqó is 45; actress Emily Tyra (“Code Black”) is 36; actress Nikki Blonsky (“Hairspray”) is 35.

Did You Know?
Arnold Schwarzenegger was considered for the role of The Hulk on CBS’ “The Incredible Hulk,” but was considered too short at 6’2.” The original choice for the role was Richard Kiel, who was certainly tall enough at 7’2.” But, as the pilot began filming, the producers felt he was not bulky enough.