Today in Broadcast History

The pioneering sci-fi series ‘The Outer Limits’ aired for the final time on ABC-TV. CBS-TV’s Ed Sulllivan Show featured songs by Mike Douglas and The Lettermen, with comedy by impressionist Frank Gorshin, and Vancouver’s Mimi Hines teamed with husband Phil Ford. After 15 years in the spot Terry Reid left the QM/FM morning show. Five years after he retired polls declared CBS anchorman emeritus Walter Cronkite to STILL be the ‘most trusted man in America.’ And America’s 6th national TV network UPN (Universal-Paramount Network) began telecasting. ALL the milestones for Jan. 16th INSIDE.

69 years ago today, NBC-TV aired the premiere ediition of the longrunning ‘Today Show,’ hosted by the legendary Dave Garroway (pictured). ‘The Bionic Woman’ starring Lindsay Wagner debuted on ABC-TV, while ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ started its run on CBS. One billion viewers worldwide watched the live TV special, ‘Elvis – Aloha from Hawaii.’ David Letterman announced his pending departure from NBC, and then 7 years later to the date underwent emergency open heart surgery. ALL the milestones for Jan. 14th INSIDE.

After more than 13 years on ABC-TV’s daytime schedule ‘Ryan’s Hope’ aired its final episode. The Canadian band Rush headlined a “Canada for Asia” tsunami-relief CBC telethon in Toronto. The ‘made-in Canada’ action series ‘La Femme Nikita’ debuted on the USA cable channel. The 100th episode of NYPD Blue aired on ABC. Samantha (Eliz. Montgomery) gave birth to baby Tabitha on ABC-TV’s ‘Bewitched.’ And we lost two luminaries of early CBC television as comedian Frank Shuster and news anchor Earl Cameron died. ALL the milestones for Jan. 13th INSIDE.

‘Sam ‘n’ Henry,’ the local Chicago series that set the pattern for the legendary national radio hit, ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy’ debuted on WGN. Another Chicago origination, the hit children’s puppet show ‘Kukla Fran & Ollie’ had its premiere on NBC-TV. The live-action (Pow! Zonk!) ‘Batman’ series debuted on ABC-TV. And ‘All in the Family’ episode 1 was seen on CBS, featuring TV’s first toilet flush. Happy Birthday to Rush Limbaugh, Howard Stern, and Christiane Amanpour! ALL the milestones for Jan. 12th INSIDE!

Victoria’s first radio station, then known as CFCT 1450, upped its power to 500 watts. Lloyd Bridges starred for the first time in his syndicated TV action hit “Sea Hunt.” 16 years later on this date, ‘Love American Style’ aired for the final time on ABC-TV. And 8 years later, CBC Television moved the National News up an hour to 10 pm, followed by ‘The Journal’ hosted by the incredible Barbara Frum (pictured). ALL the milestones for Jan. 11th INSIDE.

NBC-TV aired the pilot for a US version of a hit BBC satirical news show, ‘That Was the Week that Was,’ with David Frost hosting as he had in the UK. It quickly became a weekly series. Canada’s comedy team Wayne & Schuster guest-hosted on CBS-TV’s ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ and performed a Professor Von Gartner skit. The ethnic radio soap opera, ‘The Goldbergs,’ for 20 years a hit daytime strip, became a 30-minute weekly primetime TV show on CBS. And the first-ever episode of ‘Masterpiece Theatre’ aired on PBS, with Alistair Cooke (pictured) as on-screen host. ALL the milestones for the date INSIDE.

Eleven months before the sneak attack on Pearl Harbour, CBS demonstrated small screen color television. Clint Eastwood (pictured) began his ascent of the star ladder as the western series ‘Rawhide’ had its premiere on CBS-TV. NBC-TV debuted a future sitcom hit ‘3rd Rock from the Sun’; Pat Sajak became the latest challenger to Johnny Carson with a late night talk show on CBS-TV; The same network introduced “The Late Late Show” post midnight, hosted at first by Tom Snyder; And the ethnic sitcom ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’ debuted on CBC-TV. ALL the milestones for Jan. 9th INSIDE.

Edmonton’s adopted son Robert Goulet (pictured) made his US TV debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show” on CBS, singing “If Ever I Would Leave You.” The PBS children’s show headliner Mister Rogers was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And the NBC-TV drama series Providence, which introduced Melina Kanakaredes in her first TV lead role, made its debut. ALL milestones for Jan. 8th INSIDE.