Author Archives: dcaligari

Japanese people traditionally eat at KFC for Christmas dinner. Although the percentage of christian people in Japan is less than 2%, every Christmas, kids and grown-ups head to the closest KFC to enjoy some fried chicken – the closest food to turkey that you can get in Japan. It’s all thanks to a successful “KentuckyContinue reading “I guess everybody loves the Colonel”

December 19, 1987 –The Pet Shop Boys had their third UK No.1 single with their version of Always On My Mind, on this date. The duo had performed a version of Always on My Mind on Love Me Tender, an TV special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, their performance was so well-receivedContinue reading “Always On My Mind topped the charts”

December 19, 1971 –The pilot for the hit family series The Waltons, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story premiered on CBS-TV on this date. Earl Hamner’s two children Scott and Carrie are in the film as two of the children listening to the missionary lady. Carrie is the short-dark-haired girl in a home-made hat and ScottContinue reading “The first time we met the Waltons”

December 19, 2014 –After 2,058 episodes, Craig Ferguson ended his time as the host of The Late Late Show on CBS TV, on this date. In the cold open, Ferguson performed Dead Man Fall’s song Bang Your Drum accompanied by Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick (plus dog Lily), Jack Black, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Carell,Continue reading “Final appearance of Craig Ferguson”

Here’s a rather rude song from a rather elderly British gentleman: Oh Mr. Idle, what are we going to do with you?

Hanging stockings started by accident – Legend has it we hang stockings by the chimney with care because one year a poor widowed man didn’t have enough money for his three daughters’ dowries, making it difficult for them to marry. Generous old St. Nick dropped a bag of gold down their chimney one night andContinue reading “More Christmas trivia”

December 18, 1961 –Based on an African song called Mbube (Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds)– The Tokens’ single, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, was No. 1 song on the Billboard Charts, on this date. Solomon Linda recorded the song in Johannesburg, South Africa after being discovered by a talent scout. The chanting was mostly improvised,Continue reading “The Lion Sleeps Tonight topped the charts”

Liberty and Prosperity New Jersey was the third state admitted to the Union, on this date in 1787. It was the first state to sign the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. It derives its name from the isle of Jersey, just off England’s shore (and also near Britain). The official state bird of NewContinue reading “47 shoes stores line Route 22”

December 18, 1956 –To Tell the Truth, originally known as Nothing But The Truth debuted on CBS-TV, on this date. (This is the pilot episode. The actual first episode, hosted by Bud Collyer, appeared to be lost.) The show was produced each week by a crew of 94 people.

December 18, 1989 – An I Love Lucy Christmas episode, nicknamed “The Lost Episode” because it was not included in the syndication package, was shown for first time in over 30 years on this date. The Christmas episode was not included in the usual syndication package because of its holiday theme and because it mostlyContinue reading “It took awhile for this to be seen again”