TVSquad

And now, another chapter in the continuing story of how old we really are . . .

Today marks the 25th anniversary of The Weather Channel. Are you feeling old yet?

The basic-cable network was launched on May 2nd, 1982 and received a lukewarm reception from viewers and industry people who felt that its amateurish geekiness would be its downfall. However, as it began to shed some of that amateurishness and nerdiness, the Atlanta-based network became a stalwart figure on cable.

Scott Leth of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, has written a piece on the history of the The Weather Channel which provides a lot of inside facts. For instance, only 1.5 million homes received the network when it was launched in 1982. Now, 93 million homes receive The Weather Channel. Only a hundred people worked for TWC when it launched. Now, the network boasts a staff of 800. Twelve staffers still remain from the original hundred, including on-air meteorologists Mark Mancuso and Bill Keneely.

In July I mentioned that this year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Luke and Laura tying the knot on General Hospital, a moment that garnered the largest audience in daytime television history. The eleventh annual ABC Super Soap Weekend at Walt Disney World and MGM Studios in Florida will honor the momentous occasion with a celebration hosted by Susan Lucci and will feature both Anthony Geary (Luke) and Genie Francis (Laura), as well as actors from General Hospital, All My Children and One Life to Live. The celebration is free with admission to the park, and includes a special appearance by Rosie O'Donnell as well as celebrity motorcades and autograph sessions. Geary has remained on the series, but Laura has been off the show until recently, returning briefly to reprise her original role.