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November 18, 1983 – The small film that has become a holiday classic, A Christmas Story, directed by Bob Clark, (based on the writings of Jean Sheppard,) and starring Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, and Peter Billingsley, premiered on this date Darren McGavin ad-libbed the profane rants while fighting with the furnace. He said he speaksContinue reading “A new Christmas classic”

November 18, 1992 –The Seinfeld episode, The Contest premiered on this date. It was a controversial episode which later won an Emmy and was named the number one episode of all time by TV Guide magazine. This episode was based on a real-life “contest” that Larry David had with friends of his which lasted severalContinue reading “Are you still Master of your domain?”

While not as famous as the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), The Collins Dictionary has been naming their word of the year since 2013. This year they have chosen Vibe coding as the 2025 Word of the Year. ‘Vibe coding’, as defined by defined Collins Dictionary is ‘characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude’. IContinue reading “Find me someone who’s used this word”

November 17, 1978 –The two-hour Star Wars Holiday Special aired for the first and only time on CBS on this date. (I must strongly warn readers not to attempt to watch the entire special in one seating – stronger men have been driven to drink and drugs for less.) George Lucas famously tried (and failed)Continue reading “Even George Lucas didn’t have enough money”

November 17, 1933 –…Gentlemen, Chicolini here may talk like an idiot, and look like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you: he really is an idiot. I implore you, send him back to his father and brothers, who are waiting for him with open arms in the penitentiary. I suggest that we give himContinue reading “Hail, hail Freedonia. Land of the great and free!”

November 17, 1951 –… Slight pause while I adjust my accoutrements. Another in the series of Daffy and Porky buddy flicks, Drip-Along Daffy, opened on this date. The wanted poster for Nasty Canasta, offering a $5 million reward for his dead body (not “wanted dead or alive”; just “dead”), lists his crimes as “rustler, bandit,Continue reading “Probably didn’t have his iron today”

November 17, 2003 –Let It Be… Naked, a stripped-down version of The Beatles‘ Let It Be album, was released on this date. Phil Spector produced the original, and the new release removed his lavish strings and other accoutrements. Rather than being a straightforward remixing project, Let It Be… Naked contained a number of significant differencesContinue reading “Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner …”

November 17, 1997 –An all-star rendition of Lou Reed’s 1972 song Perfect Day featuring Reed, Elton John, David Bowie, Tammy Wynette, Joan Armatrading and several other stars, is released as a single in the UK, with proceeds going to the BBC’s Children In Need charity. The effort was organized by the BBC, which put togetherContinue reading “Oh it’s such a perfect day”

November 17, 1968 –NBC preempted the final 1:05 from a very close Jets-Raiders NFL football game with the TV movie Heidi. Two touchdowns were scored during this missing time. Sports fans everywhere applaud and understand the network’s decision. Oops!

November 16, 1974 –John Lennon’s song Whatever Gets You Thru the Night hits #1 on the Billboard charts on this date. With this song, John Lennon became the last of the Beatles to hit #1 US in their respective post-Beatles careers. By this time Paul McCartney had hit #1 three times, and George Harrison andContinue reading “It’s your money or your life”