Original run on ABC television: January 23, 1975 to May 20, 1982
Sixty-eight percent of all TV sets in the U.S. were tuned to CBS-TV, as
Lucy Ricardo, of "I Love Lucy," gave birth to a baby boy, "Little Ricky".
The episode, "Lucy Goes to the Hospital", had actually been filmed on
November 14, 1952. Twelve hours before the broadcast of the episode,
Lucille Ball, actually gave birth to Desi Arnaz, Jr. by cesarean section.
Desi Arnaz, Jr. (born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV) is 62 today.
In 2013, Guinness World Records awarded Betty White with having
the longest television career for a female entertainer. She was Sue
Ann Nivens on Mary Tyler Moore on CBS from 1973 to 1977 and
The Golden Girls on NBC from 1985 to 1992. In 2009, she received
the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award and in May of 2010,
Betty White became the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live
on NBC.
Original run on NBC: January 14, 1972 to March 25, 1977
The series Sanford and Son is considered NBC’s answer to CBS‘s All in
the Family. It has been hailed as the precursor to many other African
American sitcoms. It was a ratings hit throughout its six-season run. In
2007, Time magazine included the show on their list of the "100 Best
TV Shows of All Time".