Tag: tbs

National TV Dinner Day is observed annually on September 10th. In 1953, C.A. Swanson & Sons changed the prepackaged meal business forever. Introducing the TV Dinner revolutionized frozen food.

In 1962, Swanson stopped using the name TV Dinner. However, in the United States, the term remains synonymous with any prepackaged dinner purchased frozen from a store and heated at home.

Amazon Basics Classic TV Dinner Folding Tray with Storage Rack, Natural - Set of 4 Trays — Amazon Basics Classic TV Dinner Folding Tray with Storage Rack, Natural – Set of 4 Trays

Casual Home 5 Piece Tray Table Set, Espresso — Amazon Basics Classic TV Dinner Folding Tray with Storage Rack, Natural – Set of 4 Trays

The first Swanson TV Dinner consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, peas, and sweet potatoes. Originally, Swansons made the tray of aluminum. They separated each food item into individual compartments, too. At home, the cook heated the dinner in the oven. The cooking time was usually 25 minutes. Today, nearly all frozen food trays can be cooked in the microwave or a conventional oven.

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When Swanson’s first sold TV dinners, they priced them at 98 cents. In the first year, production estimates reached 5,000 dinners. To their surprise, Swanson far exceeded that amount. In the first year, they sold more than 10 million of them.

TV Dinner Facts

1960 – Swanson added desserts to a new four-compartment tray.
1964 – Night Hawk name originated from the Night Hawk steak houses that operated in Austin, Texas, from 1939 through 1994. The original diners were open all night, catering to the late-night crowd. The restaurants produced the first frozen Night Hawk TV dinner in 1964.
1969 – The first TV breakfasts were marketed. Great Starts Breakfasts and breakfast sandwiches followed later.
1973 – Swanson markets the first Hungry-Man dinners. The meals included larger portions of its regular dinner products.
1986 – Microwave-oven safe trays debut on the market.
1986 – The Smithsonian Institute inducted the original Swanson TV Dinner tray into the Museum of American History.

Much has changed since the original TV Dinner. They also remain a popular choice for a fast and convenient meal, fun to eat in front of the TV!

Looking for something to watch? Check out some of my favorites here.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalTVDinnerDay

Get out a TV dinner, pop it in the microwave or oven, and enjoy! Use #NationalTVDinnerDay to post on social media.

Paragon Microwave Food Storage Tray Containers - 3 Section/Compartment Divided Plates W/Vented Lid, Set of 6 — Paragon Microwave Food Storage Tray Containers – 3 Section/Compartment Divided Plates W/Vented Lid, Set of 6

Ez Prepa [20 Pack] 32oz 3 Compartment Meal Prep Containers with Lids - Bento Box - Plastic - Stackable, Reusable, Microwaveable & Dishwasher Safe — Paragon Microwave Food Storage Tray Containers – 3 Section/Compartment Divided Plates W/Vented Lid, Set of 6

On October 15th, National I Love Lucy Day celebrates one of television’s all-time greatest shows; I Love Lucy.

I Love Lucy, an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley made its debut on October 15, 1951. The program created a new television experience with the first filmed and scripted program performed before a live audience. The studio literally knocked a hole in a concrete wall creating room for theater seating inviting the once-banned fans to see the stars perform – for free! The new format and I Love Lucy won five Emmy Awards and received numerous nominations.

I Love Lucy: The Complete Series
#ILoveLucyDay — I Love Lucy: The Complete Series

I Love Lucy Collage Key Chain Coin Purse
#ILoveLucyDay — I Love Lucy: The Complete Series

In four of its six seasons, I Love Lucy was the most-watched show in the United States. The sitcom was a world of television firsts. It even ended on a first. The I Love Lucy show became the first to end its run at the top of the Nielsen ratings. In 2002, TV Guide ranked the sitcom as television’s 2nd greatest show of all time, and in 2007 it landed on TIME Magazine’s “100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME” list.

Was Lucille Ball in movies?

Lucy was contracted with RKO Radio Pictures at the beginning of her career, performing in numerous films. While her early roles were often uncredited, she also starred in several films such as The Affairs of Annabel and Next Time I Marry. She is also known for her radio and television performances, including the radio program My Favorite Husband.

In 1929, Ball began her modeling career which soon led to a Broadway performance under the stage name Diane Belmont. Lucy and Desi married on November 30, 1940. They were married nearly 20 years when they divorced on May 4, 1960. In 1961, Lucy married Gary Morton.

HOW TO OBSERVE I LOVE LUCY DAY

There are so many ways to celebrate this day.

Experience the flavor of I Love Lucy by cooking recipes from The I Love Lucy Cookbook.
Test your knowledge of the sitcom by reading the I Love Lucy Book of Trivia.
Lucille Ball knew how to turn a phrase. Read more in The Quotable I Love Lucy.
Watch a documentary or your favorite episodes.
Dress up as the iconic comedian and bring some humor to those around you.

Share your favorite Lucy antics and use #ILoveLucyDay to post on social media.