An institution for more than 20 years, in 2002 the future of the series was cast in doubt when ABC executives attempted to hire David Letterman away from CBS for a talk show to replace "Nightline". Letterman stayed at CBS and the show was saved.
Evolved out of a series of nightly updates after Iranian revolutionaries stormed the United States embassy in Tehran and held the staff hostage (1979 - 1981).
In the episode commemorating the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson entering the major leagues, L.A. Dodger executive Al Campanis ended his own career by stating that African-Americans lacked "some of the necessities" to be major league managers.