Today in History: Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Television
CBS sitcom “Filthy Rich,” starring Dixie Carter and Delta Burke pre-“Designing Women,” debuted in 1982. Set in Memphis, the series satirized then prime-time soap operas like “Dallas” and “Dynasty”…Peter Jennings became the sole anchor and senior editor of “World News Tonight” on ABC in 1983… romantic historical drama “Outlander” launched on Starz in 2014. The series that stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan has run for five seasons, to date, and was renewed for two additional seasons…Crime drama “Mr. Mercedes“, based on Stephen King‘s novel trilogy centered on Detective Bill Hodges, debuted on DirecTV’s Audience Network in 2017. The series, which was developed by David E. Kelley and had starred Brendan Gleeson, produced 30 episodes across three seasons… Also in 2017 was the series finale of NBC sitcom “The Carmichael Show“, which aired for three shortened seasons…The third and final season of comedy-drama “GLOW” was released on Netflix in 2019. The 80’s-set fictionalization of the ladies’ wrestling association starred Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin and Marc Maron.

Music:
Single “Just to See You Smile” was released by Tim McGraw in 1997. It was named the Billboard Song of the Year.

News:
Smokey Bear debuted as the spokesman for fire prevention for US Forest Service (named after NYC fireman Smokey Joe Martin) in 1944…Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States in 1974 and Vice President Gerald Ford took the oath of office to take his place as the 38th US President.

Sports:
Satchel Paige was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1971.

Celebrity Birthdays:
Comedian David Steinberg is 81; actor Sam Elliott is 79; singer Barbara Mason is 76; actress Melanie Griffith is 66; actress Amanda Bearse (“Married…With Children”) is 65; fashion designer Michael Kors is 64; “Today” co-host Hoda Kotb is 59; actor Pat Petersen (“Knots Landing”) is 57; actress Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”) is 55; actor Eric Bana (“Star Trek,” ″The Hulk”) is 55; news correspondent Chris Cuomo is 53; actor Thomas Lennon (“The Odd Couple,” ″Reno 911!”) is 53; singer Juanes is 51; actress Liz Vassey (“CSI,” ″All My Children”) is also 51; actor Kevin McKidd (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 50; actress Rhona Mitra (“Nip/Tuck,” “Boston Legal”) is 48; actress Jessica Capshaw (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Practice”) is 47; actress Ashley Johnson (“The Help”) is 40; actress Anna Kendrick (“Pitch Perfect,” ″Twilight”) is 38.

Did You Know?:
“Filthy Rich” was created by Linda Bloodworth (before her marriage to Harry Thomason) and was originally conceived and produced as an hour show. After CBS insisted it be retooled into a half-hour, the network agreed to an initial summer run. When it returned in the fall, Forrest Tucker replaced Slim Pickens, who had passed away that summer, as Big Guy Beck.