This Was Television On November 3
1975: ABC says Good Morning America
Looking to compete against NBC’s a.m. institution Today, ABC launched a series called A.M. America in January 1975. When it failed to gain a foothold with audiences, the network turned to a news and entertainment program locally produced by Cleveland affiliate WEWS called The Morning Exchange. With that show as a model, ABC debuted Good Morning America and entrenched itself in the weekday morning landscape. Currently in its 37th season and approaching 10,000 episodes, GMA is one of the most successful series of its kind. -A.D.
Today’s Birthdays: Roseanne Barr, domestic goddess (60); Ken Berry, trooper (79); Jeremy Brett, super-sleuth (d. 1995); Jim Cummings, terror that flaps in the night (60); Peggy McCay, daytime player (82); Dennis Miller, Update anchor (59); Kevin Murphy, snarky robot (56); Lois Smith, character actress (82).
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