It was on this date, eight years ago, that TV history was made.  What was this historic moment, you ask?  Well, here’s the scene just a few seconds earlier:

That’s right, today is the anniversary of NIPPLEGATE, the moment when Janet Jackson’s right Jackson was briefly exposed, causing our nation to immediately crumble into chaos.

 It was a landmark moment in broadcast history, one with legal and social consequences felt to this day.  And, just like all the big, important moments, I missed it completely.

 HOW, you ask?  Because I was busy watching this:

Background: February 1^st also marked the debut of the LINGERIE BOWL, a game to be played between two teams of scantily-clad ladies who may or may not be trained athletes.  It ran as a Pay Per View that aired during the real Superbowl’s halftime show.

 As it happened, one of the hosts of the Superbowl party I attended was, well, he was the kind of guy who would order the Lingerie Bowl on Pay Per View.  And so, as halftime approached with the score 14-10, I had a choice:  Stay upstairs and watch a sure-to-be-awful halftime show with Jessica Simpson, Kid Rock, and Nelly?  Or head downstairs and watch the PPV?  Curiosity alone made me check it out.

Yeah…  curiosity.

While we were downstairs watching the game (this will shock you, but the caliber of play was fairly poor) when all of a sudden we heard a loud ‘WHOA!!!!!’ coming from everyone upstairs.  When we joined them, we heard all about the unbelievable thing that had just happened.  NUDITY!!!  On NATIONAL TELEVISION!!! 

Nudity that I missed, of all things, because I was trying to ogle attractive women.  I’m not sure if that’s exactly how Karma works, but it feels like it.

Coming tomorrow - more Superbowl halftime commentary!

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You never really know when the REALLY big laughs come.  And afterwards, it's hard to even explain them.  Inevitably, it's a perfect convergence of moment and sensibility, unrepeatable.

This clip of a news reporter's shot being interrupted had me HOWLING, all alone, in the studio.  To set it up any further would ruin it.  Enjoy.

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Who doesn't love 'This Day In History' tidbits?  They may be something of a cliche in newspapers or morning shows, but there's a reason for that - they're usually interesting.  Like this one for today:

On this day in 1835, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) became the first U.S. president to be targeted by an assassin.

Yes, a man named Richard Lawrence was convinced he was the rightful King Of England, and The Man wasn't going to hold him down anymore.  He pulled a gun on Jackson, which misfired.  But there's more!

Jackson, who was 67 at the time, repeatedly clubbed Lawrence with his walking cane...

Bystanders joined in, wrestling Lawrence to the ground and disarming him. One of them was Rep. Davy Crockett of Tennessee.

That's right.  Just remember as you're standing in line for coffee today, or taking out the trash later tonight, that it was a day just like today when THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BEAT UP AN ATTACKER WITH HELP FROM A LEGENDARY FOLK HERO.  The past rules.

JACKSON ESCAPES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT JAN. 30, 1835

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Here, see if you can solve this puzzle:

man, is this Wheel Of Fortune tool ever getting a workout today.

Today, America's most trusted non-Trebek game show host made a startling confession.  per TMZ:

Pat made the confession during an interview with Dan Le Batard -- claiming in the old days, he would down "two, three, or six" margaritas at a Mexican joint near NBC studios during the show's 2-hour dinner break ... before heading back to finish taping.

According to Pat, Vanna was also guilty of drinking on the job -- but they've since stopped the mid-show imbibing tradition.

Wow, old WOF reruns on Game Show Network just got INTERESTING.  Is this a drunk episode?  Did he slur?  Did Vanna have to double-clutch that 'W'?  I can't wait to catch one.

Let's all celebrate with this 1989 Pat Sajak Show clip, featuring jokes about Princess Fergie, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and a round of polite applause worthy of a church recital.

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