Author Archives: dcaligari

May 21, 1980 –George Lucas didn’t have enough money (the first time). He produces a sequel to his highly successful Star Wars film, which somehow is Part V (don’t ask or someone will go to great lengths to explain it all to you.) The Empire Strikes Back opened nationwide on this date. The film contains,Continue reading “The Empire Strikes Back premiered”

May 21, 1992 –Bette Midler, the last scheduled guest, sang a touching impromptu duet with Johnny Carson, on the Tonight Show, on this date. This penultimate show was immediately recognized as a television classic, and Midler would win an Emmy Award for her role in it.

May 21, 1982 – The technically clever parody of and a homage to film noir, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, directed, and co-written by Carl Reiner and starring Steve Martin, Rachel Ward, Carl Reiner, and a boat load of actors from the ‘40s, opened in the US on this date. Final film of legendary costumeContinue reading “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid premiered”

May 21, 1917 –One of the World’s Greatest Actors, Raymond Burr was born on this date. In celebration, may I suggest purchasing a small container of the fabulous nipple rouge bearing this man’s name. This year, ‘Bruised Plum‘.

Today is International Tea Day. Tea Day first got its start in 2004 when it was celebrated in New Delhi. It grew over the years and by 2019 the day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Drinking tea is less likely to produce a ‘caffeine crash’ than drinking coffee. This is because theContinue reading “The reading of tea leaves is called tasseography”

May 20, 1946 –Cherilyn Sarkisian, pop singer-songwriter, Academy Award, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards and a People’s Choice Award winner was born on this date. Wig manufacturer’s everywhere celebrate this day as an international holiday.

May 20, 1967 –BBC disc jockey Kenny Everett gave the official preview of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band on the radio show Where It’s At, broadcast on the BBC Light Program on this date. He was unable to play the final track A Day in the Life, which the BBC had banned a dayContinue reading “First inklings of Sgt. Pepper”

May 20, 1982 – The last episode of the series Barney Miller aired on this date. The producers were approached during the run of the series about doing a feature film based on the show using the regular cast members. The film was never made.

May 20, 2015 –Dave said his final goodnight when Late Night With David Letterman aired the last new episode (episode no. 4,261 – the 6,028th episode on late night television,) on this date. For weeks, just about every writer on staff prepped for what would be said by 10 different celebrities, delivering one line aContinue reading “Dave signs off Late Night one last time”

May 20, 1989 –I’d much rather be a woman than a man. Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they’re the first to be rescued off sinking ships. Gilda Radner, Emmy Award winning American comedienne and actress, best known for her five years as part of the original cast of the NBC comedyContinue reading “Gilda Radner”