Twitter might have had to just shut down for a couple of hours tonight in 1975.
“M.A.S.H” became the first show in the history of television to have one of it’s lead characters die a tragic death on the show’s third season finale, “Abyssinia, Henry.”
Lt. Colonel Henry Blake got word at the start of the episode that he had accumulated enough points to be rotated home and honorably discharged. The rest of the show had Blake saying his goodbyes to the rest of the staff at the 4077 MASH unit. The last scene of the episode had Radar entering the O.R. and delivering the shocking news.
In news that might have been just as shocking to those who were around for it, Caligula became emperor of Rome today in 37.
Even his bust had herpes.
It was today in 1992 that South Africa voted to end Apartheid.
Today in 1902, Enrico Caruso recorded 10 arias for the Gramophone Co, becoming the first artist to make a record. Tomorrow, 111 years and a day later, Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience” comes out. That seems about right.
“The Paper” came out today in 1994. Directed by Ron Howard and starring Michael Keaton, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close and Marisa Tomei, it got middling reviews. I remember liking it, but I’ve never seen it since. What the hell cable?
Happy 34th birthday to Adam Levine, who expertly used television to superstardom. I’m not going to rank Maroon 5 songs, but I’ll admit to liking this one.
— Bill Hubbell