Author Archives: dcaligari

September 30, 1960 – The first prime-time animated series aimed at adults, The Flintstones, premiered on ABC-TV on this date. Fred and Wilma Flintstone were the first animated married couple ever shown on American television in the same bed together. They have been mistaken as the first couple ever shown in bed together on anyContinue reading “The first time we all Yabba Dabba Do’ed”

September 30, 1995 –Mariah Carey’s megahit Fantasy went to No. 1 and stayed there for several months on this date. This was Mariah’s 9th #1 hit in the US. It was also only the second single to debut at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The first was You Are Not Alone by Michael Jackson.

September 29, 1960 – We were all welcomed into the Douglas household when My Three Sons, starring another of TV favorite alcoholic dads, Fred McMurray, premiered on ABC on this date. The show was originally going to be named The Fred MacMurray Show, but Fred MacMurray didn’t like the idea.

September 29, 1969 – Paramount Television’s anthology comedy series Love, American Style, first aired on ABC-TV on this date. This series had more direct and indirect spin-offs than any other American television series. The following series can trace their roots back to this show: Barefoot in the Park, Wait Till Your Father Gets Home, HappyContinue reading “Love American Style premiered”

September 29, 1991 – MTV debuts Nirvana’s video for their single Smells Like Teen Spirit on this date, giving most Americans their first look at the band. A little over a month later, the song is #1 on the Hot 100. The girls who played the cheerleaders in the video were originally supposed to beContinue reading “… Entertain us …”

September 28, 1967 –Gladys Knight & the Pips‘ single, (written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records,) I Heard It Through the Grapevine was released on this date. Along with Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone, Barrett Strong considers this the best song he wrote with Norman Whitfield. Other hits they wrote together includeContinue reading “I Heard It Through the Grapevine dropped”

September 28, 1987 – Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered on CBS-TV with the episode Encounter at Farpoint on this date. The original version of the Starfleet uniform was very uncomfortable for the actors and actresses, leading to a change of design from one-piece to a two-piece outfit in season three. Although the new uniformsContinue reading “We continued to go where no person has gone before”

September 28, 1980 –Billions and billions of brilliant moments on TV are about to be aired – Carl Sagan’s 13 part Cosmos premiered on PBS. The filming of the series lasted one year during which Carl Sagan and his production team traveled around the world, filming in places like India, Egypt, Italy, Cambodia, France, Alaska,Continue reading “We explored the Cosmos for the first time”

September 28, 1961 –Viewers got to spend time with the Baxter’s and their wise-cracking maid when Hazel premiered on CBS-TV on this date The house where Hazel and the Baxters lived was also used as the home of Gidget Lawrence and her father on the 1965 TV sitcom Gidget. It also served as the homeContinue reading “Hazel premiered”

September 28, 1963 –Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales cartoon debuts on CBS-TV on this date. This show was produced at the same animation studio as The Bullwinkle Show and other Jay Ward cartoons. Many of the same animators who had previously worked on some of the Jay Ward cartoons, worked on this.