By Tatiana Ponil
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
Richard Karn (born Richard Karn Wilson; February 17, 1956) is an American actor, author and former game show host. He starred as Al Borland in the ABC series Home Improvement and as Fred Peters in the Hulu series Pen15. Karn was also the fourth host of Family Feud from 2002 to 2006.
In 1989, Karn’s wife, Tudi, convinced him to move to Los Angeles. Karn found a place for them to live by managing an apartment complex, catering events at a Jewish synagogue on the side. After receiving a traffic citation, Karn attended a traffic school and sat beside an agent who told him about casting for the new television show Home Improvement. The role of Al Borland had already been given to Stephen Tobolowsky, but when taping was scheduled, Tobolowsky was busy with another movie and the role had to be recast. Karn was a guest star in the pilot episode but became a regular cast member when the show was picked up by the network.
In 2002, Karn replaced Louie Anderson as the fourth individual to host the game show Family Feud. He left Family Feud in 2006 and was replaced by John O’Hurley.
In 2002, Karn made an appearance in The Strokes‘ music video for “Someday“, which featured segments of the band on a fictional showing of Family Feud against the band Guided by Voices.
On October 6, 2008, Karn replaced Patrick Duffy as host of Game Show Network‘s Bingo America. He also served as a substitute host on GSN Radio.
Karn did commercials for Orchard Supply Hardware in the 1990s.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Though this day is commonly called Presidents’ Day, the federal holiday is still called “Washington’s Birthday,” contrary to popular belief. It is one of eleven permanent holidays established by Congress. George Washington’s actual birthday is February 22, but we observe federal holidays on Mondays (in this case, the third Monday of February). To complicate matters, Washington was actually born on February 11 in 1731 because the country switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar during his lifetime (something most of Europe had done in 1582). As a result of this calendar reform, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. Those born between January 1 and March 25, as Washington was, also had to add one year to be in sync with the new calendar. By the time Washington became president in 1789, he celebrated his birthday on February 22 and listed his year of birth as 1732. Upon entering office, Washington was not convinced that he was the right man for the job. He wrote, “My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit, who is going to the place of his execution.” Fortunately for the young country, he was wrong. Learn more facts and folklore about Presidents’ Day.
Question of the Day
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- Arcangelo Corelli (composer) –
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher (author) –
- Marjorie Lawrence (opera singer) –
- Michiaki Takahashi (virologist best know for inventing first chickenpox vaccine ) –
- Rene Russo (actress) –
- Richard Karn (actor, game show host) –
- Michael Jordan (basketball player) –
- Jerry O’Connell (actor) –
- Jason Ritter (actor) –
- Paris Hilton (heiress) –
- Ed Sheeran (musician) –
Died
- Geronimo (Chiricahua Apache leader) –
- Wilfred Laurier (8th Prime Minister of Canada) –
- Lee Strasberg (actor and director) –
- Thelonious Monk (jazz pianist) –
- Rush Limbaugh (American radio personality and writer) –
Events
- Myles Standish appointed commander of Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts –
- Tie broken: Thomas Jefferson to be U.S. president; Aaron Burr, Vice President –
- Baron Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun patented draisine (bicycle precursor) –
- Confederate H. L. Hunley was first submarine to sink a warship (USS Housatonic) –
- Columbia, South Carolina, burned by Union Army (U.S. Civil War) –
- First sardines canned in Maine –
- The National Congress of Mothers, later known as the PTA, founded –
- Marcel Duchamp’s painting, Nude Descending a Staircase, outraged viewers –
- First publication of Newsweek magazine –
- Elvis Presley awarded his first gold album for Elvis”“ –
- 9-pound 6-ounce chain pickerel caught near Homerville, Georgia –
Weather
- McIntosh, South Dakota, recorded a low temperature of -58 degrees F –
- The temperature dipped to -60F in Esker, Labrador –
- Record low of 60 degrees below zero F, Labrador –
- Blizzard dumped more snow in Boston than any other storm in the state’s history— including the Blizzard of 1978—Logan International Airport measured 27.5 inches –
COURTESY www.almanac.com
