Author Archives: dcaligari

September 21, 1897 –The New York Sun ran its famous editorial that answered a question from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon: “Is there a Santa Claus?“on this date. Obviously, times were different back then given that The New York Sun was printing an editorial about Christmas in September. (Christmas is in 95 days.)

September 21, 2001 – A benefit concert organized by the four major U.S. television networks in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, America: A Tribute to Heroes, aired on this date. The program was shown on 35 separate broadcast and cable networks simultaneously. Done in the style of a telethon, it featured aContinue reading “America: A Tribute to Heroes premiered”

September 21, 1998 – The landmark TV sitcom, Will & Grace, starring Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes, premiered on NBC TV on this date. John Barrowman was up for the role of Will Truman, but didn’t get it because he was “too straight“, and the role went to Eric McCormack. BarrowmanContinue reading “Will & Grace premiered”

January 21, 1970 –We all came to know that Phoebe Figalilly was a silly name when, Nanny and the Professor, starring Juliet Mills, Richard Long, David Doremus, Trent Lehman, and Kim Richards, first aired on ABC TV, on this date. This is one of the situation comedies to go into syndication with a total ofContinue reading “Nanny and the Professor premiered”

September 20, 1941 –The Looney Tunes cartoon Notes To You, directed by Friz Freleng and featuring Porky Pig and a proto-type of Sylvester the Cat premiered on this date. Porky’s home has the very latest cabinet radio. In the days before television, radio was the at home entertainment for Americans, and most of the songsContinue reading “Notes To You premiered”

September 20, 2011 – The comedy series, New Girl, starring Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone, Damon Wayans Jr., and Megan Fox debuted on Fox TV on this date. Damon Wayans Jr. was originally a cast member playing the character of Coach. Wayans was expecting his series, Happy Endings, to beContinue reading “New Girl premiered”

September 20, 1979 – The Sci Fi adventure series, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, starring Gil Gerard, and Erin Gray first aired on NBC TV on this date. Gil Gerard’s waistline flexed weekly, and even daily. Gerard was warned by producer Bruce Lansbury about feasting on the company’s “open all day” craft service buffet.Continue reading “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century premiered”

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. The holiday is a parody holiday invented in 1995 by John Baur (Ol’ Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap’n Slappy), of Corvallis, Oregon, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate. Nothing says Piracy (or the BritishContinue reading “Aaargh!”

September 19, 1970 –Reprise Records released Neil Young’s third studio album, After the Gold Rush, on this date. Initially, the album produced no major hits when it first came out and received a very negative review from Rolling Stone. Now the album has been seen as kicking off Young’s solo career, and was re-considered aContinue reading “After the Gold Rush went on sale”

September 19, 1975 –The British sitcom Fawlty Towers, created by John Cleese, and starring John Cleese, Connie Booth, Prunella Scales, and Andrew Sachs, first aired on BBC2 on this date. John Cleese says in his DVD commentary that Prunella Scales was so unlike the character she played, the harpy Sybil Fawlty, that they had troubleContinue reading “Fawlty Towers premiered”