July 20: This Day in TV History

[Stanislav]

Just a few random TV related events that happened on July 20. Discuss or comment as you please……

1938: Actress Diana Rigg (The Avengers) is born (as Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg) in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England.

1958: William "Billy" Mays (spokesman for OxiClean, Orange Glo, et. al.) is born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. [Sarcasm ON] Lovers of loud, pushy, obnoxious commercials celebrate his birthday as a festive holiday. [Sarcasm OFF]

1969: At 10:56 pm EDT, man first sets foot on the moon as Neil Armstrong steps onto the lunar surface from the Lunar Module Eagle. Ghostly, almost dream-like black-and-white live video of the historic event from about 240,000 miles away (talk about yer “TV-DX!”) is viewed by an estimated 600 million viewers worldwide.

1983: ABC journalist Frank Reynolds dies of bone cancer, aged 59.

1985: The short-lived ABC sitcom Hail to the Chief is cancelled after just 7 episodes. Despite starring Patty Duke, and featuring other TV veterans such as Ted Bessell, Dick Shawn, and Herschel Bernardi in the cast, the show never catches on with viewers.

1988: The Hogan Family (formerly Valerie’s Family, formerly Valerie) airs its last original episode. Despite the early departure of original star Valerie Harper, and all the name changes, the show had managed to stick around and draw respectable ratings for six seasons.

(Just a little featurette I hope to do as time permits…..don’t expect it every single day. It’s an entirely random selection based on a quick Net search, and is not meant to be comprehensive. So, don’t post nasty messages about “you forgot THIS” or “how could you not mention THAT?” Do so, and I’ll just take my keyboard and go home…..)

 

[azumanga]

1988: The Hogan Family (formerly Valerie’s Family, formerly Valerie) airs its last original episode.

Actually, this was 1991. 1988 was when it became "The Hogan Family".

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

1988: The Hogan Family (formerly Valerie’s Family, formerly Valerie) airs its last original episode.

Actually, this was 1991. 1988 was when it became "The Hogan Family".

"The Hogan Family" also had a network switch for its last season (after its first 5 seasons from 1986-90 on NBC), as it spent the 1990-91 season on CBS (who moved the show originally from its treasured Monday night slot during its NBC years to Saturday nights).

 

[KML0224]

If I'm not mistaken, didn't The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air with Will Smith end up taking that time slot in 1990? As for Billy Mays, it's sad he missed his 51st birthday. Lastly, when you're talking about the moon landing, you have to mention Walter Cronkite being overjoyed at what he was seeing. He died just days before the 40th anniversary. Damn! R.I.P. Billy and Walter.

 

[radioman148]

>>1969: At 10:56 pm EDT, man first sets foot on the moon as Neil Armstrong steps onto the lunar surface from the Lunar Module Eagle. Ghostly, almost dream-like black-and-white live video of the historic event from about 240,000 miles away (talk about yer “TV-DX!”) is viewed by an estimated 600 million viewers worldwide.>>

And those of us that are old enough remember exactly where we were when this happened.

 

[mleach]

As for Billy Mays, it's sad he missed his 51st birthday.

There is actually a "last" pic of Billy Mays. Some college student was on that US Airways flight and managed to take a pic of Billy Mays as he was walking around the plane just before take-off. I think he was either on his way or coming back from the rest room.

Of course the student had sold the pic to the National Enquier which in turned was published last week.

Myself..I would have given that pic to the Mays family. I guess this is another example of "money talks".

 

[radioman148]

As for Billy Mays, it's sad he missed his 51st birthday.

There is actually a "last" pic of Billy Mays. Some college student was on that US Airways flight and managed to take a pic of Billy Mays as he was walking around the plane just before take-off. I think he was either on his way or coming back from the rest room.

Of course the student had sold the pic to the National Enquier which in turned was published last week.

Myself..I would have given that pic to the Mays family. I guess this is another example of "money talks".

Unfortunately that's the way the world works.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

1954: Actress Moira Harris, whose TV appearances include guest starring roles in "The Equalizer" and "Crime Story" is born 100 miles northeast of me in Pontiac, IL.

 

[AH3RD]

1983: ABC journalist Frank Reynolds dies of bone cancer, aged 59.

Actually, it was hepatitis-induced liver failure.

 

[BobbyNBC10]

Frank died the same day NBC announced that it was breaking up the Nightly News team of Tom Brokaw and Roger Mudd. Brokaw would anchor Nightly News until 2004. Roger Mudd would stay at NBC News until 1987 ,anchoring election and convention coverage, news specials ,Meet The Press and the news magazine 1986 with his old CBS friend Connie Chung.

Also, I remember reading once about ABC sportscaster Howard Cosell being disappointed that he did not get Frank Reynold's chair. It went to Peter Jennings instead, and Max Robinson the Chicago anchor, would move to do news briefs and weekend news before going to WMAQ-Tv NBC 5 Chicago in 1984.