#OnThisDay in 1975: 𝙃𝙊𝙏 𝙇 𝘽𝘼𝙇𝙏𝙄𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙀 debuted on ABC-TV.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒅.
That content warning preceded each episode of this half-hour sitcom created by Norman Lear; based on the play 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙩 𝙡 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 by Lanford Wilson. The show was set in the fictional Hotel Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland, and the title reflected the run-down hotel's neon sign, which had a burned-out "E". It is impossible to separate this show from its controversial elements, which included two prostitutes as main characters, one of whom was an undocumented immigrant, and first gay couple as regular series characters on American television. It was the first show on ABC to have a regular content warning as well as the first sitcom to do so.

Despite the controversy, the network supported the show with a full publicity campaign. The cast included hotel desk clerk Bill (James Cromwell), young hotel manager Clifford Ainsley (Richard Masur), and the two prostitutes, April Green and Suzy Marta Rocket, (Conchata Ferrell and Jeannie Linero). George and Gordon were a gay couple (Lee Bergere and Henry Calvert), shady philosopher Charles Bingham (Al Freeman Jr.), daffy waitress Millie (Gloria LeRoy), and eccentric Mrs. Bellotti (Charlotte Rae) who had a never-seen psychotic son Moose rounded out the cast of characters. Storylines included Suzy's wedding plans, Millie's new boyfriend, a rent increase, and a deportation threat to Suzy. Other plots focused on the relationship of the gay couple, George and Gordon, and a possible romance between April and Bill.

The show was the first failure for Norman Lear after a streak of hit shows, finishing 69th out of 84 shows. 13 episodes were videotaped at KTTV Studios before a live studio audience.
#OnThisDay