In every episode of Seinfeld there is a…
In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
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TV Facts
TV facts and facts about television: screens, shows, and the living room after the set arrived.
43 facts on this shelf
Why we sometimes are unaware, or at least alter-awared
Have you ever been so absorbed in a book or tv that you weren't aware of somebody entering or leaving the room? This is one of many definitions of a trance state
Where did the toilet make it's first appearance on tv?
The first toilet ever seen on television was on "Leave It To Beaver".
Seinfeld delivered more than consistent laughs
In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere... usually in Jerry's living room.
Whatever happened to channel 1?
In the 1940s, the FCC assigned television's Channel 1 to Mobile Services (two-way radios in taxicabs, for instance) but did not re-number the other channel assignments. That's why your TV set has channels 2 and up, but no channel 1.
The first toilet on TV
The first toilet ever seen on television was on "Leave It To Beaver".
What's on channel 1?
In the 1940s, the FCC assigned television's Channel 1 to Mobile Services (two-way radios in
taxicabs, for instance) but did not re-number the other channel assignments. That's why your TV
set has channels 2 and up, but no channel 1.
Fun fact about the lyrics to The Flinstones
In the theme song from "The Flintstones" the line after "Let's ride with the family down the street" is "Through the courtesy of Fred's two feet."
What was the first cartoon built around a line of toys?
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was the first cartoon built around a line of toys.
The cosby show
The Cosby Show was the #1 American TV show from 1985-1990 following Dynasty and preceding Roseanne which took over #1 in 1990.
What famous sports movie starred a Golden Retriever?
A Golden Retriever named Buddy starred in the 1997 movie "Air Bud" as a dog who plays basketball. Before that he appeared as Comet on the TV sitcom "Full House."
Which pop star owns Scottish Fold cats?
Taylor Swift owns two Scottish Folds named Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson, after TV characters from "Grey's Anatomy" and "Law & Order: SVU."
How many people watched the first Moon landing on TV?
An estimated 600 million people around the world watched the Apollo 11 Moon landing on TV, one of the largest audiences in history at the time.
Who first demonstrated television?
Scottish inventor John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of television in London in 1926, using a mechanical system.
Who invented electronic television?
Philo Farnsworth demonstrated the first fully electronic television system in 1927, and he said he came up with the idea at age 14 while plowing a field.
What was the iconoscope?
Vladimir Zworykin developed the iconoscope, an early electronic camera tube for television.
When was the word "television" coined?
The word "television" was coined in 1900 by Constantin Perskyi at a conference in Paris.
What did RCA use as an early TV test image?
In 1928, RCA used a Felix the Cat doll as an early TV test image.
What was the first TV commercial?
The first official TV commercial was a Bulova watch ad that aired in 1941 and cost about $9.
What was the first TV remote control?
The first TV remote, Zenith's "Lazy Bones" from 1950, was connected to the TV by a wire.
When was color TV standardized in the US?
The US adopted a standard for color television in 1953.
When was the first televised presidential debate?
The first televised US presidential debate was between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960.
When did the US switch to digital TV?
The US switched from analog to digital TV broadcasting on June 12, 2009.
What was the Battle of the Sexes?
In 1973's "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match, Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in front of a huge TV audience.
Why did table tennis balls get bigger?
Table tennis balls grew from 38mm to 40mm in 2000 to slow the game down and make it easier to watch on TV.
What is the "Pope's revenge"?
When sunlight hits the ball of Berlin's TV Tower, it reflects in the shape of a cross, which Berliners nicknamed the "Pope's revenge."
How many people watched the "Friends" finale?
About 52.5 million people in the US watched the "Friends" series finale in 2004, one of the most-watched TV episodes of the 2000s.
What was "Friends" originally going to be called?
Before settling on "Friends," the show's working titles included "Insomnia Cafe" and "Friends Like Us."
What was the "Seinfeld" pilot called?
The "Seinfeld" pilot was called "The Seinfeld Chronicles," and it tested so poorly that the show almost didn't get picked up.
What is the longest-running American scripted primetime series?
"The Simpsons" is the longest-running American scripted primetime TV series.
How did "The Simpsons" start?
"The Simpsons" started in 1987 as short cartoons on "The Tracey Ullman Show."
What did Time magazine name the best TV series of the 20th century?
Time magazine named "The Simpsons" the best TV series of the 20th century.
How did "I Love Lucy" change TV production?
"I Love Lucy" helped pioneer filming with three cameras in front of a live audience, which preserved episodes on film and made reruns possible.
How many people watched Lucy give birth on TV?
About 44 million people watched the 1953 "I Love Lucy" episode in which Little Ricky is born, more than watched President Eisenhower's inauguration the next day.
Who was the first woman to run a major TV studio?
Lucille Ball became the first woman to run a major TV studio when she took over Desilu Productions.
Was Sofía Vergara the highest-paid TV actress?
Sofía Vergara was named the highest-paid TV actress by Forbes for several years in a row.
What was "M*A*S*H" based on?
The "M*A*S*H" TV series was based on Robert Altman's 1970 film, which was adapted from a novel by Richard Hooker.
Why was there no laugh track in the operating room scenes?
"M*A*S*H" didn't use a laugh track during operating room scenes.
Who was the only main actor from the "M*A*S*H" movie to play the same role on TV?
Gary Burghoff, who played Radar, was the only main actor to play the same role in both the "M*A*S*H" movie and TV series.
How many people watched the Beatles' first US TV appearance?
About 73 million Americans watched the Beatles' first live appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" on February 9, 1964.
What was the first toy advertised on TV?
Mr. Potato Head was the first toy advertised on TV, in 1952.
How did the hole-card camera change poker?
The hole-card camera, which lets TV viewers see players' hidden cards, helped make poker a popular TV sport.
Did Stephen Hawking appear on TV shows?
Stephen Hawking appeared on "The Simpsons" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation."