Milton Berle

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

On this date in 1948, funny man Milton Berle became the permanent host of NBC's musical-variety series "The Texaco Star Theatre." The one-hour show that aired Tuesday evenings became one of the first big small screen hits and earned Berle the nickname "Mr. Television." 

When the series ended in 1956, the show was known as "The Milton Berle Show."  

Photo of Berle courtesy of AP.