With the 74th lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, the holiday season has officially started in New York. About the only celebrity missing last night when the tree was lit was Tracy Morgan who was lit up earlier this week. Al Roker and Ann Curry hosted the show starring Martina McBride, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Sting, Bette Midler and Lionel Richie. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin were there to plug their "30 Rock" show minus Tracy Morgan who was originally scheduled before his DUI arrest. The musical guests are all good ones in their own right but who programmed this show? It was a dirge. How about a little tempo next time folks???
The first tree lighting was performed by the construction people building Rockefeller Center almost three quarters of a century ago. A much simpler affair back then. It's only fitting that the taxi fares have gone up today ensuring that your holiday shopping will be a bit more expensive this season. I mean, this is New York, isn't it? Just yesterday we got good news though - the bus and subway fares will not increase the first of the year. Life is good...
We've got a link to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting last night, so ignore the 15-second ad, sit back and enjoy the 30,000 multi-colored lights on the 9-ton tree that will stand in all its glory until January 8th, 2007: http://video.ap.org/v/en-ap/v.htm?g=353C22A2-EA15-4377-9661-78540D332841&t=m3 ...
Timeline Memories...
- [1782] The United States and Britain sign preliminary peace articles in Paris, ending the Revolutionary War...
- [1956] Floyd Patterson KO's Archie Moore in the 5th round to become, at 21, the youngest heavyweight champion in history (Mike Tyson will break that record by 6 months when he becomes champ in 1986)...
- [1956] CBS-TV replays "Douglas Edwards and the News" 3 hours after it's received on the west coast. It's the world's 1st broadcast via videotape...
- [1971] ABC-TV airs "Brian's Song", the movie about the dying Chicago Bears' running back Brian Picolo and his friendship with star running back Gayle Sayers (and there's not a dry eye in the house)...
- [1979] Ted Koppel becomes anchor of "Nightly News on Iranian Hostages" (who came up with that title?) which morphs into "Nightline"...
- [1993] President Bill Clinton signs into law, the "Brady Bill" which requires a 5-day waiting period for purchasing guns...
- [1999] In an ominous sign of things to come, the opening of a 135 nation trade gathering in Seattle is disrupted by some 40,000 demonstrators who clash with police...
- [2001] For the 1st time in its history, McDonald's teams up with a retail partner on its Happy Meal promotions. Toys R Us provides plush figures from its Animal Alley (promotion in motion along with your indigestion)...
"Happy Trails": 1996] After performing on stage, Tiny Tim collapses and dies from congestive heart failure at 71...
#1 on this date: 1971] "Family Affair" - Sly & the Family Stone...
Released on this date: 1958] "16 Candles" - The Crests...1968] "Everyday People" - Sly & the Family Stone...1979] "The Wall" (LP) - Pink Floyd...
Guilty as charged: 1993] Richard Allen Davis is arrested after confessing to the abduction and murder of 12-year old Polly Klaas (Davis is on death row in San Quentin)...
Wedding Bells: 1940] Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz salsa down the aisle to a latin beat...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in each timeline]...
Commentary...
Len Zola of the New England Media Gang sends an interesting e-mail about the late Casey Coleman: "Don (Latullipe who worked with both Len and Ken Coleman at WHDH) tells me the son's nickname was bestowed by Ken who was often called upon to recite 'Casey At The Bat' at gatherings around town"...
Borrowing from the late Jimmy Cannon, one of the best writers ever: Nobody Asked Me But": To Michael Strahan, Plaxico Burress, Terrell Owens, Tom Coughlin, etc. etc. etc: If you don't want to be quoted or mis-quoted in the media, then SHUT UP and do your talking on the field!!! It keeps feeling better and better everyday to root for the Patriots. Thank heavens for Bill Belichick. Coach: may you and your team stay as quiet as you are to the media forever. To borrow from Oakland's Alvin Davis: "Just win baby"...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Clay (hand to mouth) Aiken (28), Sandra ("Grey's Anatomy") Oh (36), Ben Stiller (41), Billy Idol (51), Mandy Patinkin (54), Paul Stookey (69), Jimmy Bowen (69), Bill Walsh (75), G. Gordon Liddy (76), Dick Clark (77), Robert Guillaume (79) and Efrem Zimbalist Jr (88)...
Timeline Countdown: 15 days until Chanukah, 25 days until Christmas, 31 days until 2007, 38 days until the NFL playoffs and 66 (NBC) days until Super Bowl XLI...
...
