Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Can history repeat at 30 Rock ???

Tina Fey is the latest in a long line of "Saturday Night Live" alums to venture into a solo career and interestingly she has chosen the address of SNL to use as her show title. "30 Rock" debuts tonight and whether planned or not, there's another connection between her show and her alma mater - the debut date...

The signature line of "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night" was heard for the first time on October 11th, 1975. George Carlin hosted that first show, wacky Andy Kaufman did his famous lip-synch to the "Mighty Mouse" theme, we saw the "Not Ready for Prime-Time Players" dressed like bees, a short film by Albert Brooks, an adult version of Jim Henson's puppets and music from Janis Ian and Billy Preston. The original cast members were Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Garrett Morris. Bill Murray would replace Chevy in 1977...

"Saturday Night Live" was not a hit in its first season but would develop into a television phenomenon in season 2. We wish the talented Tina Fey good luck with "30 Rock" but things have changed since 1975 and she won't have a season 2 unless she has numbers from her first show on... Ten Timeline Memories... [1939] President Franklin D. Roosevelt is presented with a letter from Albert Einstein that urges him to develop the U.S. atomic program rapidly (evidently FDR listened)... [1967] The Red Sox beat the Cardinals 8-4 in game 6 of the World Series as Yaz, Reggie Smith & Rico Petrocelli (who hit 2) hit back-to-back-to-back home runs at Fenway (I was happy to be in attendance for that one)... [1968] Apollo 7 is launched with Wally Schirra, Don Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard. This was the 1st time, live television broadcasts were received from orbit... [1971] Hugh Downs leaves the "Today Show" and "Concentration". He will later resurface as host of ABC's "20/20" ("We're in touch...so you be in touch") (I always loved that line)... [1975] The Islanders' Bryan Trottier gets his 1st career hat trick (3 goals in one game). "Trots" becomes a Hockey Hall of Famer in 1997 and is back with the Isles as an executive of player personnel... [1984] American Kathryn D. Sullivan aboard the Challenger, becomes the 1st woman to walk in space... [1991] Law professor Anita Hill accuses Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment (who didn't follow this bizarre but often humerous coverage ?)... [1992] Bush, Clinton and Perot conduct the 1st 3-way presidential debate which resembled a 3-ring circus at times... [1999] The Red Sox advance to the ALCS with a 12-8 win over the Indians when injured Pedro Martinez (sound familiar ?) doesn't give up a hit in 6 innings of relief. Troy O'Leary hits a grand slam and a 3-run homer in the win... [2002] Former President Jimmy Carter wins the Nobel Peace Prize... #1 on this date: 1966] "Reach Out, I'll Be There" - Four Tops...1976] "Disco Duck" - Rick Dees (Dees, smartly kept his day job)... Wedding Bells: 1975] Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham tie the knot and then, each others necks in knots... [To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]... Commentary... Congratulations to Google for doing that massive deal to acquire You Tube. So now, You Tube has ties with NBC and Google. Good move by Ma Google... My question is this - why will the Yankees play better baseball for Joe Torre next year than they did this year ??? Ya think Steinbrenner was looking at the polls supporting Torre ??? Let's Go Mets... "Happy Birthday...happy birthday": Luke Perry (40), Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez (41) (okay, sure), Joan Cusack (44), Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (45), Daryl Hall (58), Roy Scheider (71) and Elmore Leonard (81)... Timeline Countdown: 11 days until the World Series, 81 days until 2007 and 87 days until the NFL playoffs... ...