Writer of Pop Culture

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This Day in Pop Culture for December 30

On this day in pop culture history, “Let’s Make a Deal” first hit the airwaves, the first color TVs became available, and two Monkees were born.

December 30, 2020

2–3 minutes

1963: ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ Debuts

The goofy game show, Let’s Make a Deal has been on and off the air with multiple versions since 1963. The show’s first host, Monty Hall, already had a history of hosting games shows on the radio as well as TV. He developed, produced and starred in his own creation which premiered on NBC in 1963.

The concept of the show involved contestants pulled from the audience to serve as “traders” who would make deals with the host. They were usually given something of some value and then given the chance to trade it in for something hidden under a box or behind a huge door. Some of the trade-in items were worth much more than the first one or they could be considered a “zonk” that had little to no value at all.

After the game show moved to ABC in 1968 and a syndicated version debuted in 1971, the show ended its run in 1977. It was revived twice in 1980 and 1986 before NBC welcomed the show back in 1990. This time, the show was hosted by Bob Hilton who was fired due to low ratings. Monty Hall was called in to serve as a guest host but stuck around until it was cancelled in 1991.

In 2003, Billy Bush briefly served as host of a prime-time version of the show, but it ended after just three episodes. Then in 2009, CBS took a stab of reviving the daytime show where it continues today with host Wayne Brady. (Main Image: CBS)

1953: The First Color TV in America

After years of debates on what technology would be best to create color TV sets that would be practical in everyday consumer homes, the FCC and the National Television Systems Committee finally chose RCA’s CT-100. It went on sale on this day in 1953. The very first commercial color broadcast happened just two days later. Coverage of 1954’s Tournament of Roses Parade was the first television presentation to air in color even though most Americans only saw it in black and white. And for good reason. The average price of those early TV sets was around $1,175!

1942 & 1945: Two Monkees Are Born

Davy Jones and Michael Nesmith *(Wikimedia Commons)*

Two singers/actors from The Monkees TV show were born on this day. Michael Nesmith was born in 1942 and Davy Jones was born in 1945. As if that wasn’t odd enough, they both passed away in Nesmith was born in 1942 while Jones didn’t arrive until 1945.