Our new tradition. We select four or five showbiz anniversaries and give you homework to go with them. It's our way too elaborate affirmation exercize because who doesn't need to keep their spirits up these days!?
Today's Four Anniversaries (May 9th) as Mood Boosters
2005/1987 The Zeéeee marries Kenny Chesney. Just four months later she seeks an anullment for "fraud" but then asks people not to theorize about what "fraud" means. Understandably no one obeys her and rumors explode. On this same day 18 years earlier, another much-gossiped about marriage that ends in weird bitchy rumors: Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers!
In honor of these odd affairs: have a self-deprecating laugh at a big relationship failure rather than being sad about it. We all stumble in love!
1992 Happy 25th anniversary to the finale of The Golden Girls after a super successful 7 year / 11 Emmys-winning run (one of the rare shows that managed to give one Emmy to each principle, like the entire industry pow-wowed as to who to vote for each time) These girls... Angels, all of them!
In their honor today: Hug your own angels. Quote Golden Girls liberally. Are you a Blanche, Rose, Dorothy or Sophia?
1958 Vertigo has its world premiere in San Francisco where it was shot and takes place. Initially a disappointment with audiences, Oscar, and critics... it is eventually named the greatest film of all time in 2012
In its honor today: Always remember that it's all fluid and temporary -- success, failure, identity. Just be your best self and let the chips fall where they may. Don't let anybody else decide who you are, Kim Novak, Kim Novak.
1917 Today is also the centennial of Fay Kanin, former AMPAS president (1979-1983) and Oscar nominee (Screenplay Teachers Pet). She wrote for film, stage, and tv in her long career which survived interruption by Hollywood's shameful blacklisting era.
In her honor today: Keep at it but evolve with the times
OTHER BIRTHDAYS TODAY
Glenda Jackson (two time Oscar winner), JM Barrie (Peter Pan author), Rosario Dawson (just praised!), Alan Bennett (Lady in the Van, Madness of King George), Amy Hill (wondrous comic supporting actress), Chris Zylka (The Leftovers, Ka-Boom), Chris Diamantopoulus (voice actor), Grace Gummer (Spawn o' Streep), James L Brooks (Oscar winning man behind Terms of Endearment and Broadcast News), and musician Billy Joel
OTHER ANNIVERSARIES TODAY
President Woodrow Wilson makes "Mother's Day" an official holiday (1914), the birth control pill is legalized (1960), Friday the 13th (1980) hits theaters popularizing the slasher 'kill all the teenagers' genre, Short Circuit (1986) and The Fifth Element (1997, see recent"Born Sexy Yesterday" post) also opened in theaters on May 9th.