May 5, 2000
The final episode of Boy Meets World aired on ABC.
The television sitcom chronicles
the coming of age events and everyday life-lessons
of Cornelius "Cory"
Matthews (played
by Ben Savage). The show follows Cory and his friends
and family through seven seasons, from his middle school days as a
pre-pubescent child to his life in college as a married man. The show aired
from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the network's TGIF lineup. The entire series has since been released on DVD, as well
as on iTunes. A sequel titled Girl Meets World, focusing on Cory and his pre-teen daughter Riley,
began airing on Disney Channel on June 27, 2014.
May 8, 2010
Betty White becomes oldest
Saturday Night Live host.
White’s hosting gig came
about, in part, after hundreds of thousands of her fans signed onto a Facebook
campaign rallying for it.
Born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922, Betty Marion White attended high school in
Beverly Hills, California, before launching her career in radio and television, an industry still in its infancy at the time. She
was a pioneering TV talk show host and producer in the 1950s, and also
became a frequent celebrity panelist on TV game shows. In the 1970s, she played
the acerbic, man-hungry “happy homemaker” Sue Ann Nivens on Mary Tyler Moore’s
hit sitcom. Beginning in 1985, White co-starred as naïve, St. Olaf, Minnesota, native
Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls.” When the popular program ended in 1992,
White went on to guest-star in a long list of TV shows, often using her sweet,
wholesome appearance and sharp, sometimes raunchy, sense of humor to great
comedic effect.
In late December 2009, a 29-year-old fan started a Facebook campaign dubbed
“Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!” That March, after nearly half a million
fans had joined the campaign, it was confirmed White would host the show on May
8, 2011. Lorne Michaels, SNL’s Canadian-born creator and executive producer,
later said the show had tried to get White to host at least three times in
previous decades but was unable to make it work with her schedule.
“Saturday Night Live,” which debuted in October 1975, is known for its topical
parodies and impersonations, and for pushing boundaries with its sketches. The
show has introduced a long list of memorable characters and catchphrases that
have become part of pop-culture history. Over the years, it also has launched the
careers of such performers as Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Mike
Myers, Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, David Spade, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler and
Tina Fey. SNL features a different guest host and musical act each week.
Comedian George Carlin hosted the first-ever episode of SNL in 1975; that same
year, actress Candice Bergen was the first woman to host the program. In 1982,
7-year-old Drew Barrymore became the youngest person ever to host SNL.
As SNL’s eldest host, White earned generally glowing reviews, and the show,
which featured musical guest Jay-Z, drew its highest ratings in 18 months. The
octogenarian actress later won the seventh Emmy Award of her career for her SNL
appearance.
May 9, 1990
Sinead O'Connor and Nora Dunn refused to perform on Saturday Night Live after Andrew Dice Clay was named as host. When Andrew Dice Clay was scheduled as a host for the May 12, 1990 episode,
cast member Nora Dunn immediately announced to the press
that she was boycotting the show in protest. She stated the protest was in view
of Clay's perceived misogynistic, politically incorrect act, and did so without
informing Michaels, the cast, or most of the crew about her intent. The public
backlash was immediate; the selection of Clay was compared to the Holocaust by an audience member during an interview with
Michaels. Female members of the cast and crew were harassed by phone and
mail for sticking with the show, and metal detectors were installed at the show
to enhance security. NBC censors insisted that the episode be aired with a
delay to compensate for anything Clay might say on air. During the live
show, some audience members heckled Clay but were immediately removed by the
increased security detail. Dunn's contract was already coming to an end,
and with one episode left in the season, the staff voted against having her
take part in the final episode of the season and her contract was not
renewed. Sinéad O'Connor was scheduled to be the musical
guest for the episode, but she also boycotted the show because of Clay's
involvement, forcing the producers to find musical replacements.
May 5, 2000
The final episode of Boy Meets World aired on ABC.
May 8, 2010
Betty White becomes oldest
Saturday Night Live host.
May 9, 1990

Tony Figueroa