Today is September 27th, 2004

Today is the birthday of musician, actor and singer Michael Lee Aday. We know him better as Meat Loaf. He has had several hit songs and has played in several films. Most notably, he played Eddie the motorcycle rider in the Rocky Horror Picture Show in 1975. He was born in 1947

Also, Wilford Brimley was born on this date in 1924. He has played in over 60 feature films. His movie career started in 1969, playing a small role in the John Wayne film entitled “True Grit”.

For you baseball fans out there, you might be interested to know that today is the birthday of former Philadelphia Phillies 3rd baseman and Baseball Hall Of Fame Member Mike Schmidt.

With Election Day being just over 1 month away, all of us are being bombarded with the familiar Donkey and Elephant icons on billboards, television commercials and bumper stickers. All of us know that these two animals are the symbols for the Democratic and Republican parties, but did you know that a political cartoonist in the early 1870’s popularized the use of these symbols of American politics. That cartoonist was named Thomas Nast. He was born on this date in 1840. He also created the modern image of the hefty, jolly old man that we call Santa Claus.

And finally..

You may have seen in the news today that Jay Leno has announced that he will retire as host of the Tonight Show at the end of his current contract. The 5-year contract will end in the year 2009 and NBC has announced that Conan O’Brien will take his place.

O’Brien will follow in the footsteps of some of the most recognized and successful TV personalities of the past 50 years. Of course, Johnny Carson hosted the same show for some 30 years, starting in 1962. During the years before Ed McMahon’s deep rumbling voice announced Johnny’s impending presence on the stage, the likes of Steve Allen, Ernie Covacs, Jack Lescoulie, Joey Bishop and Jack Paar each had their turn at hosting the Tonight Show.

The show that we now call “The Tonight Show” was originally called simply “Tonight!”. NBC, at a loss to find something to fill the 11:30 pm time slot, decided to air a program that would be focused toward the older viewing audience that was likely to tune in at such a late hour. The simple name of “Tonight” was intended to be complementary to the NBC morning news program that was and still is, called “Today”.

The original show was hosted by funnyman Steve Allen and lasted for 3 years. He would entertain the audience by singing, playing music and performing comedy sketches. But his signature act was playing piano.

Steve Allen also had help hosting the show from a man named Ernie Covacs. Although the two alternated hosting the show, it was Steve Allen who had invented the talk show format as we know it today. He introduced the familiar set of a desk and a couch and he focused his show on guest interviews with celebrities of Hollywood and Pop Culture. That same format is still used today by nearly every talk show on television. Steve Allan started it all in the early 1950’s on the Tonight show on NBC.

After Steve Allen moved on, the show was briefly renamed “Tonight, America After Dark.” During these three months, the show was hosted by Jack Lescoulie.

Jack Paar would then try his hand at hosting the Tonight Show. Paar’s conversationalist style was quite different from Steve Allen’s comedy and musical routines. Nonetheless, he was well received by his audience. However, after five years, he would step down.

Next, it was Johnny Carson’s turn. He hosted the show for 3 decades, from 1962 until 1992. He reinforced further the tradition of late-night talk shows starting with a monologue from the host and having the familiar desk, couch, a bandleader, and an announcer. Carson’s easy-going, friendly personality was just what the doctor prescribed to help America unwind, laugh and relax throughout the Cold War, the civil rights turmoil of the 60’s and 70’s, the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam war. Carson would retire in 1992 after 30 years of filling the nations late-night airwaves with laughter.

Jay Leno has set behind the desk during the 12 years since Carson’s retirement. Today, he announced that his tenure behind the desk will end in the year 2009.

Through all of the different hosts the show has had over the years, one theme has stayed constant and has been the model of nearly all talk shows in television history. It is the customary image of the host setting behind a desk with guests setting on a couch to his right.

Today is the 50th anniversary of that tradition. That’s right, it was on this date, September 27th, exactly 50 years ago today that the very first episode of the “Tonight” show hit the airwaves and changed late-night television forever.

And those are just a few of the things that have occurred on this day in history.