Today in Nerd History | September 22

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 22nd in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Decider

DID I DO THAT?

In 1989, Family Matters premiered. This sitcom follows the lives and adventures of the Winslow family, an African-American middle class family living in Chicago, and their nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel, who often causes trouble with his inventions and antics.

Nerdy Fact: Steve Urkel was only supposed to appear in one episode, but he became so popular that he became the main character of the show. He even had his own cereal, doll, and catchphrase: “Did I do that?”

Photo Credit: Variety

*CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP*

In 1994, Friends premiered. This sitcom follows the lives, loves, and laughs of six friends in their 20s and 30s who live in New York City.

Nerdy Fact: Joey’s PIN number for his ATM card was 5639, which spells out JOEY on a phone keypad.

Photo Credit: Sky Sports

AUSTIN V. McMAHON

In 1997, Stone Cold Steve Austin interrupted Mr. McMahon, who was delivering a speech on WWE Monday Night Raw. The confrontation ended in Stone Cold delivering his signature move, the Stone Cold Stunner, to his boss, officially kicking off their legendary rivalry. This occurred in Madison Square Garden, the spiritual home of WWE.

Nerdy Fact: The feud helped WWE win the ratings war against WCW, which had been dominating the Monday night slot for 83 weeks. Austin and McMahon’s segments drew huge numbers of viewers, and WWE eventually surpassed WCW in April 1998. The feud also boosted WWE’s merchandise sales, live attendance, and pay-per-view buys.

Photo Credit: Observer

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In 2004, LOST premiered. This is a show about a group of plane crash survivors who struggle to survive and uncover the secrets of a mysterious island, while also dealing with their own pasts and destinies.

Nerdy Fact: The pilot episode of the show was the most expensive in TV history at the time, costing between $10 and $14 million. The average cost of an episode was $4 million. The high cost led to the firing of Lloyd Braun, the ABC head who conceived and greenlit the show.

Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes

GOTHAM

In 2014, Gotham premiered. This series tells the story of how a young detective named Jim Gordon tries to fight crime and corruption in a city that is home to the future Batman and his enemies.

Nerdy Fact: Gotham has a unique visual style that combines elements of different eras and genres, such as noir, steampunk, horror, and sci-fi. The show’s production designer described it as “a mash-up of 75 years of Batman history”.

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