The UK Reality Show “Shattered” Was Essentially A Sleep Deprivation Contest On TV
Twenty years ago today, Channel Four in the UK first aired "Shattered," a show where contestants tried to stay awake the longest to win a grand prize.
Alberto Manzi Convinced Italians That “It’s Never Too Late” To Learn
Today in 1924, the birthday of Alberto Manzi, who taught millions of Italian adults to read and write through a TV show.
An Urban Legend Says The Devil Took Over Everybody’s TV Screens In 1968
There’s an urban legend floating around the web that claims today in 1968, the television industry was briefly stopped in its tracks by the devil. We'll unpack this wild story.
On Live TV, The Show Must Go On, Even If A Cast Member Collapses And Dies
Live broadcasting is a place where a lot can go wrong. Like a 1950s broadcast in the UK in which a key actor in a live drama had a fatal heart attack mid-show.
Irna Phillips Brought The World Of Soap Operas To Life
Today in 1952, the first TV episode of the soap opera Guiding Light. It was one of many hit shows led by a writer and producer sometimes called the “queen of soaps,” Irna Phillips.
Guy Goma Became An Internet Expert By Accident On Live TV
Today in 2006, IT job candidate Guy Goma rose to the occasion when a BBC TV producer mistakenly brought him onto a live show to talk about the internet, even though they were actually supposed to interview a different Guy on the air.
When “WKRP” Thought Turkeys Could Fly For Thanksgiving
There aren't a lot of top-drawer Thanksgiving specials, but the "WKRP In Cincinnati" episode "Turkeys Away" may qualify. Here's some of the real life story that inspired the absolutely bonkers plot of the show.
Cop Rock, The Show Where Police Sang As They Solved Crimes
Today in 1990, the premiere of one of the most bewildering TV experiments of all time: Cop Rock. We'll explain how the show happened and why it didn't quite catch on.
George Jetson Has Just Been Born, According To The Internet
If you look really closely at the futuristic cartoon show’s backstory, the main character, George Jetson, may have just had his birthday.
The Time Geraldo Rivera Opened Al Capone’s Vault And Found A Whole Lot Of Nothing
Today in 1986, I was one of millions of people who watched Geraldo Rivera host the infamous live TV special "The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault." How did it come to be, and why did it go so far off course?