This Was Television On September 14
1985: NBC moves in to 227
Marla Gibbs, Regina King, and Jackée Harry starred as residents of a Washington, D.C. apartment building at the titular address. The sitcom ran for five seasons and is often best remembered for making Jackée a breakout star: she won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy in 1987, adopted her mononymous stage name, and left 227 after its fourth season for a failed spinoff pilot.
The success of 227 sparked a brief trend of TV shows named for addresses, including 21 Jump Street, Beverly Hills 90210, and the spectacularly unsuccessful variety hour Rawlins, WY P.O. Box 82301-5566. -A.D.
Also on September 14:
1965: Western-spoofing sitcom F Troop debuts on ABC. The Old West hijinks, centered on the motley military men of Fort Courage, entertained ABC audiences for two seasons.
1981: The People’s Court is in session. For the 12 years of the original version’s syndicated run, Judge Joseph Wapner was one of the most famous jurists in America.
Today’s Birthdays: Dan Cortese, MTV sportsman (45); Mary Crosby, Dallasite (53); Faith Ford, FYI reporter (48); Ben Garant, Statseman (42); Walter Koenig, ensign (76); Melissa Leo, Balmer police (52); Andrew Lincoln, walking alive (39); Callum Keith Rennie, Cylon (52); Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Belushi-adjacent (41).
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