The infamous Waiting to Explode? segment premiered

November 17, 1992 –Dateline NBC aired a report titled Waiting to Explode? questioning the safety of some General Motors trucks, on this date. To try to ensure dramatic footage, the show’s producers allowed incendiary devices to be strapped to trucks for a crash-test demonstration. When GM discovered the setup, the carmaker sued NBC for defamationContinue reading “The infamous Waiting to Explode? segment premiered”

Star Wars Holiday Special premiered

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 viewers 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 “Star Wars Holiday Special premiered”

From the ACME legal Dept.

A brief announcement You can well appreciate that with the tense issues in Europe, the UN is busy with other things. But after exhaustive negotiations, I am permitted to state that there with be no holiday photograph of the people, for legal reasons, will be referred to as ‘the Cozza-Cordero siblings‘. Their legal representives wouldContinue reading “From the ACME legal Dept.”

Luke and Laura’s wedding

November 16, 1981 –One of the most-watched weddings in American television history, with over 30 million viewers, Luke Spencer and Laura Webber’s wedding on General Hospital premiered on ABC-TV on this date. (Try not to remember that this romance started with a rape.) Elizabeth Taylor, an avowed General Hospital fan, guest-starred in the wedding episodeContinue reading “Luke and Laura’s wedding”

The 1980 Floor Show premiered

November 16, 1969 –David Bowie appeared in his first TV special, 1980 Floor Show, broadcast on NBC’s Midnight Special, on this date. The show was a spectacular stage production that was filmed over three days, mostly at The Marquee Club, in Soho, London. It would be Bowie’s last performance as the Ziggy Stardust persona withContinue reading “The 1980 Floor Show premiered”

The Tide is High topped the charts

November 15, 1980 –The Blondie single, a cover version of the 1967 song written by Jamaican reggae star John Holt for his group The Paragons, The Tide Is High, hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts on this date. Debbie Harry and Chris Stein were both fans of the British ska revival band The Specials.Continue reading “The Tide is High topped the charts”

The first time they got their peanut butter and chocolate together

November 15, 1928 –Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, the round chocolate cups filled with a creamy peanut butter filling were first introduced by H. B. Reese, a former dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey on this date. Reese used Hershey’s chocolate for his confection. In 1956, his six sons took over the businessContinue reading “The first time they got their peanut butter and chocolate together”