Tag Archives: comedy

This Day in History: ‘Donny & Marie’ TV Variety Show Premiered

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On Jan. 23, 1976, the Donny & Marie variety show premiered on ABC-TV. The series starred Pop singing siblings Donny and Marie Osmond.

Donny’s popularity first rose when he sang in a group with his older brothers and released such singles as “One Bad Apple” and “Down By The Lazy River.” He then went on to have a solo career and released hit songs like “Puppy Love” and “Go Away Little Girl.” Marie’s first hit song came at the age of 13 when she released the single “Paper Roses,” which reached #1 on the Billboard Country Music charts.

And the rest is HIStory and HERstory! 😀 🙂

’30 Rock’ Turns 10

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On Oct. 11, 2006, 30 Rock premiered on NBC-TV and introduced us to the likes of Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), Jack Donaghey (Alec Baldwin), Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) and other humorous characters. 📺 😆

Born On This Day: Carol Burnett

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite comediennes, actress Carol Burnett.

And today marks the 27th anniversary of the death of comedy legend Lucille Ball, who was a mentor and good friend to Burnett. In fact, every year, Ball would send flowers to Burnett on her birthday. Ball died the morning of April 26th and the flowers she sent to Burnett arrived the afternoon of her death.

This Day in History: ‘The Monkees’ Television Series Debuted

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The Monkees_directors chairs The Monkees-proper seating

Forty-nine years ago today, on Sept. 12, 1966, The Monkees comedy series debuted on NBC-TV. The series starred actors Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz, and musicians Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. The show was the creation of film director and producer Bob Rafelson, and film and TV producer Bert Schneider, whose production company Raybert Productions also produced the films Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show. The Monkees television show incorporated an element that (I believe) is lacking in today’s situation comedies, which is music (sorry, but Glee doesn’t count).

The Monkees lasted only two seasons and the band has toured subsequently since 1966. The Monkees became a band despite critics (I’m looking at you Jann Wenner, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, who Monkees fans believe is ‘holding the key’ so they aren’t inducted into the RRHOF) stating they weren’t a band. I’m pretty that if they’ve sold more than 75 million records worldwide and out-sold The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined during their peak (not to mention that the show won two Emmy Awards), then they ARE a real band!

🎤 🎸 🎶 🎵 📺