Today in History: Thursday, September 28, 2023

Television
Early crime drama anthology “Racquet Club” concluded its two season run on CBS in 1953. Episodes were introduced and narrated by Reed Hadley as “Captain John Braddock”, a fictional detective working for a police department in a large, unnamed American city…CBS military comedy “Hennesey”, starring Jackie Cooper and Abby Dalton, opened in 1959. It aired for three seasons…Other series premieres: ABC medical drama “Dr. Kildare” and sitcom “Hazel,” both in 1961, and syndicated “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in 1987. “Hazel”, with Shirley Booth in the lead role, began on NBC and concluded on CBS in 1966…Also debuting was one season sitcom “I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster”, starring John Astin and Mary Ingels on ABC in 1962; and animated “Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales” on CBS on Saturday mornings in 1963. New short episodes of Tennessee Tuxedo were created for YouTube in 2014…Other notable series premieres: “The Commish” on ABC in 1991; fantasy comedy-drama “Early Edition” on CBS in 1996; detective drama “Cold Case” on CBS in 2003; romantic comedy “Ugly Betty” on ABC in 2006…Trevor Noah succeeded Jon Stewart as host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central in 2015.

Movies
“Mildred Pierce”, starring Joan Crawford, Ann Blyth, Eve Arden and Zachary Scott, opened at the Strand Theater in New York City in 1945. Crawford won the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Both Bette Davis and Rosalind Russell originally turned down the part.

Music
The Beatles’ single “Hey Jude” went No. 1 on the Billboard Music charts and stayed No. 1 for 9 weeks in 1968…“Songs in the Key of Life”, the 18th studio album by Stevie Wonder, was released in 1976. It was named the Billboard Song of the Year…Metal band Black Sabbath released their 8th album “Never Say Die” in 1978. It was the last to feature Ozzy Osbourne before he was fired…Single “Physical” by Olivia Newton-John was released in 1981. It was named the Billboard Song of the Year.

Sports
Muhammad Ali kept his world heavyweight boxing championship with a close 15-round decision over Ken Norton at New York’s Yankee Stadium in 1976.

Celebrity Birthdays
Actress Brigitte Bardot is 89; actor Joel Higgins (“Silver Spoons”) is 80; actor Jeffrey Jones is 77; actor Vernee Watson (“Bob Hearts Abishola,” “Welcome Back, Kotter”) is 74; writer-director-actor John Sayles is 73; actress-comedian Janeane Garofalo is 59; Oscar winner Mira Sorvino (“The Mighty Aphrodite”) is 56; TV personality and singer Moon Zappa is also 56; Oscar nominated actress Naomi Watts is 55; rapper Young Jeezy is 46; TV personality Bam Margera (“Jackass”) is 44; musician St. Vincent is 41.

Did You Know?
A five-part miniseries remake of “Mildred Pierce” premiered on HBO in March 2011. It starred Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood, Guy Pearce and Mare Winningham…“Star Trek: The Next Generation” was the first of the “Star Trek” spin-off series following the original on NBC from 1966-69.