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1968 in television
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The year 1968 in television involved some significant events.
Below is a list of television-related events in 1968.
For the American TV schedule, see: 1968-69 American network television schedule.
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Encyclopedia
The year 1968 in television involved some significant events.
Below is a list of television-related events in 1968.
For the American TV schedule, see: 1968-69 American network television schedule.
Events
- January 20 - Game of the Century in college basketball between the University of Houston Cougars and the UCLA Bruins played at the Houston Astrodome. It was the first prime-time national broadcast of a college basketball game and paved the way for the CBS March Madness television coverage.
- January 27 - The Lennon Sisters make their final appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show.
- April 4 - James Brown appears on national television, in an attempt to calm feelings of anger in the United States following the assassination of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.
- April 8 - British singer Petula Clark appears on a US television special on NBC with Harry Belafonte as a guest. An innocent, affectionate gesture between the two during a song (Clark touched Belafonte on the arm) prompts concern from the show's sponsor (Chrysler Corporation) due to the difference in their races, but the scene is aired intact at Clark's insistence. The special airs to high ratings and marks the first time two different races share friendly bodily contact on American television.
- May 2 - The Israel Broadcasting Authority commences television broadcasts.
- May 4 - Mary Hopkin performs on the British TV show Opportunity Knocks. Hopkin catches the attention of model Twiggy, who recommends her to Beatle Paul McCartney. McCartney soon signs Hopkin to Apple Records.
- May 20 - Harlech (which became HTV in 1970) starts its dual service for Wales and the West Country, replacing the interim ITSWW, which had replaced TWW.
- October 14 - First live network transmission of video from inside a manned US space capsule in orbit ("Apollo 7") There were six such broadcasts during their eleven-day mission.
- October 21-25 - Joan Crawford makes a guest appearance for five episodes on the soap opera The Secret Storm, filling in for her ailing daughter, Christina. However, Joan slurs her lines and is obviously intoxicated during the tapings.
- November 17 - NBC breaks away from a pro football game to air a TV movie adaptation of Heidi, sparking furious protest.
- November 22 - William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols share the first interracial kiss on US television in the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren".
- December 3 - Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special airs on NBC, followed by a Brigitte Bardot special.
- Rosemary Prinz, one of the first big soap opera stars, leaves As the World Turns in a less-than-amicable departure.
- December 24 - Apollo 8 broadcasts to the Earth the message that there is a Santa Claus and later reads from Genesis.
- Nearly 200 million households now own television sets, 78 million of which are in the US.
Debuts
Television shows
1940s
1950s
1960s
- Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
- My Three Sons (1960-1972).
- Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
- It's Academic (1961-present).
- The Avengers (UK) (1961-1969).
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981).
- Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1961-July 1971).
- Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971).
- The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
- The Saint (UK) (1962-1969).
- Z-Cars (UK) (1962-1978).
- Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
- General Hospital (1963-present).
- Petticoat Junction (1963-1970).
- The Doctors (1963-1982).
- Another World (1964-1999).
- Bewitched (1964-1972).
- Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
- Daniel Boone (1964-1970).
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-1970).
- Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
- Peyton Place (1964-1969).
- The Wednesday Play (UK) (1964-1970).
- Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-2006).
- Days of our Lives (1965-present).
- Get Smart (1965-1970).
- Green Acres (1965-1971).
- Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971).
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970).
- The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974).
- Tom and Jerry (1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982).
- World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
- Dark Shadows (1966-1971).
- Family Affair (1966-1971).
- Play School (1966-present).
- Star Trek (1966-1969).
- That Girl (1966-1971).
- Mission: Impossible (1966-1973).
- The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
- The Newlywed Game (1966-1974).
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978).
- Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967-1969).
- The Flying Nun (1967-1970).
- Ironside (1967-1975).
- Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967-1973).
- Mannix (1967-1975).
- The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969).
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1971, became Mayberry RFD on September 23 of this year).
Ending this year
Births
- January 14 - LL Cool J, actor and rapper
- February 8 - Gary Coleman, actor
- February 28 - Wendi Peters, actress.
- March 29 - Lucy Lawless.
- April 24 - Stacy Haiduk.
- May 15 - Sophie Raworth, television presenter.
- August 9 - Gillian Anderson, British actress (born in the US).
- August 9 - Kate Sanderson, television presenter.
- August 25 - Rachael Ray, author, chef and television host.
- September 20 - Philippa Forrester, television presenter.
- September 25 - Ricki Lake, actress, game show, and talk show hostess
- September 25 - Will Smith, actor and rapper
- October 12 - Hugh Jackman, Australian actor
- December 3 - Brendan Fraser, American actor
Deaths
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