1997: CBS Presents 'Mario Puzo's The Last Don'
On this day in 1997, CBS presented the first installment of the miniseries Mario Puzo's The Last Don.
Based on the same-name novel by Puzo, author of The Godfather, it starred Danny Aiello as a mob boss attempting to lead, protect and control his family and create legitimate investments in Las Vegas and Hollywood. The cast included Joe Mantegna, Daryl Hannah, Jason Gedrick, Penelope Ann Miller, Robert Wuhl, Kirstie Alley, Christopher Meloni, Dennis Boutsikaris, David Marciano and k.d. lang.
The Last Don was the top-rated miniseries of 1997. A sequel, The Last Don II, was presented the following year.