Author Archives: dcaligari

This is dedicated to all of the actors who had to die so this film could be made so cheaply Demand Euphoria!

November 30, 2004 –Ken Jennings’ reign as Jeopardy! champion ended when he lost his 75th game to challenger Nancy Zerg, on this date. The clue: Most of this firm’s 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only four months a year.  Nancy Zerg, who was in second place with $10,000, revealed her response: H&R Block.  Her $4,401Continue reading “Ken Jennings lost”

November 30, 1971 –The TV movie that makes ‘real men‘ weep unabashedly, Brian’s Song debuted on ABC-TV on this date. While it was not mentioned in the film for reasons of delicacy on prime time TV, Brian Piccolo had a metastasized version of testicular cancer (“testicle” was a censored word). He underwent multiple, extremely painfulContinue reading “Brian’s Song premiered”

November 30, 1977 –Bing Crosby’s last Christmas special premiered on this date. The program was recorded in September, and Crosby died that October. The show is remembered for Crosby’s unusual duet with David Bowie, where they sing a modified version of Little Drummer Boy, with Bowie singing the new Peace On Earth lyrics composed byContinue reading “Crosby/ Bowie duet”

Demand Euphoria!

November 29, 1975 –Silver Convention’s single Fly, Robin, Fly hits #1 on the Billboard Charts for the first of three weeks. The disco tune has very few lyrics because the German group can’t speak English. This was the first #1 US hit with a species of bird in the title. Rockin’ Robin – both theContinue reading “Fly, Robin, Fly topped the charts”

November 29, 1944 –The first open heart surgery was performed at Johns Hopkins hospital, on this date. A surgical fix for a fetal heart defect, tetralogy of Fallot or blue baby syndrome, was first performed at Johns Hopkins by surgeon Alfred Blalock and Vivien Thomas, a black assistant who actually perfected the procedure. Thomas’ contributionContinue reading “Vivien Thomas”

Merriam-Webster has announced its Word of the Year for 2022: Gaslighting. Merriam-Webster defines gaslighting as “the act or practice of grossly misleading someone especially for one’s own advantage.” Merriam-Webster noted, “2022 saw a 1740% increase in lookups for gaslighting, with high interest throughout the year.” So now you know.

November 29, 1950 –Jean Cocteau’s beautifully lyrical, Orpheus, opened in the US on this date. Both Marlene Dietrich and Greta Garbo were approached about playing the mysterious Princess. Both declined.

November 29, 1945 –Remarkable for it frank portrayal of alcoholism (for it’s day), The Lost Weekend, opened in Los Angeles on this date. Billy Wilder claimed the liquor industry offered Paramount Pictures $5 million not to release the film; he also suggested that he would have accepted had they offered it to him personally.