Today in Nerd History | September 17

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred on September 17th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

M*A*S*H

On September 17, 1972, MASH premiered. This comedy-drama follows the lives and adventures of a group of doctors and nurses working in a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War.

Nerdy Fact: The show’s creators and producers did not want a laugh track, but CBS insisted on having one. They compromised by removing the laughter during the operating room scenes, and making it quieter as the seasons progressed. In the U.K., the BBC omitted the laugh track entirely.

Photo Credit: Newshub

Tool Time

On September 17, 1991, Home Improvement premiered. This popular American sitcom starred Tim Allen as a handyman and host of a home improvement show, who often gets into trouble with his family and his quirky co-workers.

Nerdy Fact: Richard Karn, who played Al, got the part because of a moving violation. He met an agent at a traffic school who told him about Home Improvement.

Photo Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo e-Reader

On September 17, 2002, The Nintendo e-Reader released in the US. This device plugged into the Game Boy Advance and allowed you to play games and access extra features by scanning special cards with dot codes on them.

Nerdy Fact: The e-reader was only successful in Japan, where it had many exclusive cards and games. It was discontinued in North America in early 2004 due to low popularity.

Photo Credit: Backstage

Greendale: You’re Already Accepted

On September 17, 2009, Community premiered. This hilarious and clever sitcom parodies various genres and tropes of film and television, while also exploring the dynamics of a diverse group of misfits who form a study group at a community college.

Nerdy Fact: The show has several crossover references with Cougar Town, another sitcom that Abed is a fan of. Abed appears as an extra in one episode of Cougar Town, and Busy Philipps and Dan Byrd from Cougar Town appear as extras in one episode of Community.

Photo Credit: Game Informer

GTA V

On September 17, 2013, Grand Theft Auto V released. This highly acclaimed and popular action-adventure game lets you explore and experience the vast and vibrant world of Los Santos and Blaine County, where you can engage in various criminal activities, heists, missions, and online multiplayer modes.

Nerdy Fact: The map size of GTA V is double the size of real-life Manhattan.

Photo Credit: Tyla

“NINE-NINE!”

Also on September 17, 2013, Brooklyn Nine-Nine premiered. This hilarious and award-winning comedy series follows the adventures and misadventures of a team of quirky detectives and their stern captain in the 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.

Nerdy Fact: The show was almost canceled by Fox in 2018, but NBC saved it after a huge fan outcry on social media. Some celebrities who tweeted in support of the show include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Hamill, Guillermo del Toro, and Seth Meyers.

Photo Credit: Previews World

Spider-Gwen

On September 17, 2014, Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 made her first appearance in Edge of Spider-Verse #2. She is an alternate universe version of Gwen Stacy who became Spider-Woman after being bitten by a radioactive spider.

Nerdy Fact: Gwen is a drummer in a band called The Mary Janes, led by her friend Mary Jane Watson. The band’s name is a reference to Peter Parker’s love interest in the main Marvel universe.

Photo Credit: India Today

Squid Game

On September 17, 2021, Squid Game premiered. This South Korean survival drama television series became a global phenomenon. It tells the story of 456 people who are invited to play a series of deadly children’s games for a chance to win a huge cash prize, while also exposing the harsh possibilities of unchecked inequality and capitalism.

Nerdy Fact: The phone number on the business card that invites the players to join the game is also real, and it belongs to a real person who was not involved in the production. The owner of the phone number received thousands of calls from curious fans who wanted to participate in the game, and he asked Netflix to change the number or compensate him for his inconvenience.

Today in Nerd History is produced by Radio Matt & Deidra for Rise & Shine, Nerds, LTN’s official Nerdy Morning News Show.