This Was Television On November 12
1969: The first appearance of Fat Albert
The Cosby Kids and their titular, corpulent leader made their TV debut in the NBC primetime special Hey, Hey, Hey, It’s Fat Albert. Bill Cosby, coming off his starmaking role in the Peacock’s espionage series I Spy, co-created the special based on his stand-up comedy material. The stories of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, inspired by the comic’s own childhood, continued as an Emmy-nominated regular series beginning in 1972. -A.D.
Today’s Birthdays: Ryan Gosling, Mousketeer (32); Tamala Jones, M.E. (38); Sam Lloyd, hospital attorney (49); Al Michaels, sportscaster (68); Megan Mullally, socialite (54); Wallace Shawn, teacher (69); Rhonda Shear, insomniac (58);
This Was Television 
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