13 random things that happened on this day, September 20th, in showbiz history...
1941 The Porky Pig short "Notes to You" was released. It's sometimes credited with introducing Sylvester the Cat but that's erroneous. The confusion probably stems from the fact that this short was remade as "Back Alley Uproar" seven years later with Sylvester, by then an official character who looks not unlike this cat, and Elmer Fudd in the roles.
1975 "Fame" hits #1 in the US, the first David Bowie record to do so...
1984 "The Cosby Show" premieres on NBC. It will be an instant smash hit and run for 8 seasons.
Charles Dance and Meryl Streep in "Plenty"
1985 Plenty premieres in US theaters, 10 days after its festival debut in Toronto. It grosses only $6 million in its run, becoming one of Meryl Streep's least successful movies. It was entirely eclipsed by the blockbuster success of Out of Africa a few months later. It was also that rarity for a Streep movie in that its only awards attention went to her co-stars. John Gielgud and Tracey Ullman were both BAFTA nominated and Gielgud took the NYFCC and NSFC prizes for Best Supporting Actor, though sadly Oscar ignored him.
1987 The 39th Prime Time Emmy Awards are held in Pasadena. (That's right this Emmy ceremony will share an an anniversary day with tonight's ceremony). The Golden Girls and LA Law were the series winners. Rue McLanahan won Best Comedy Actress for The Golden Girls (a prize that show would win thrice consecutively, one for each of the leads). Meanwhile Michael J Fox, Bruce Willis, Sharon Gless, John Larroquette, Jackée Harry, Dabney Coleman, Piper Laurie, and Gena Rowlands were among the other acting winners.
1991 Rambling Rose and The Fisher King both open in limited release. Later they both snag two acting nominations at the Oscars. We recently discussed both of these films on the Smackdown podcast.
1996 First Wives Club opens at #1 becoming the 11th highest grossing movie of its year (and the second highest grossing movie of the year with a female in the leading roles, topped only by Glenn Close in 101 Dalmatians so it was a good year for women of a certain age). Sadly talk of a sequel reuniting Goldie, Bette, and Diane never materializes.
1997 Mariah Carey's "Honey" spends its second week at #1. The music video goes for a James Bond vibe. Speaking of which. How excited are you about No Time to Die?
2002 The Banger Sisters starring Susan Sarandon and Goldie Hawn opens in theaters (and #2 at the box office) . Goldie Hawn will later receive her ninth and final Golden Globe nomination for the role. Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away arrives in limited release and will become the only non-American* movie to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar, which the Academy usually reserves for either Pixar or Disney films. (* Wallace & Gromit was a co-production for the UK and the US)
2003 TV stars Megan Mullaly (then 44) and Nick Offerman (then 32) marry. Happy 17th anniversary to the still-happy still-hilarious couple. Two years ago they released a bestselling book about their relationship "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told" that made the bestseller list.
2009 The 61st Emmys are held in Los Angeles. 30 Rock (season 3) and Mad Men (season 2) win the series prizes while Bryan Cranston, Toni Collette, Alec Baldwin, Glenn Close, Jon Cryer, Kristin Chenoweth, and Cherry Jones are amoung the acting winners. Remember how adorable Chenoweth's shocked speech was for Pushing Daisies? Will anyone tonight be as shocked about their good fortune? Who will win tonight, do you think?
2013 Denis Villeneuve's mystery thriller Prisoners opens in movie theaters. Underrated!
Today's Birthday Suit
The one and only Sophia Loren turns 86 years old today. She's won of the 100 oldest living Oscar nominees or winners. She was also the first actor, male or female, to receive an Oscar for a non-English language performance (Two Women, 1961). That she was already a major star in Hollywood by that time surely helped her break that barrier.
Other Actors Born on this day: Jonas Nay (30), Aldis Hodge (34), Jon Bernthal (44), Moon Bloodgood (45), Asia Argento (45), Kristen Johnson (53), Maggie Cheung (56), Debbi Morgan (64), Angela Mao (70), Sophia Loren (86) and Haya Harareet (89) from Ben-Hur who is one of the oldest living screen actors; Other showbiz people born on this day: Director Ryan Fleck (44), Diva Michelle Visage (52), Author George RR Martin (72); Gone but not forgotten: Oscar nominated actress Patricia Collinge (Little Foxes) born on this day in 1892, Oscar nominee Rachel Roberts (This Sporting Life) born on this day in 1928, and Emmy nominee Anne Meara (Archie Bunker's Place) born on this day in 1929.