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The year 1981 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television
Television

Television is a widely used telecommunication mass-media for transmitting and receiving moving , either monochrome or color, usually accompanied by sound....
-related events in 1981.

For the American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 TV schedule, see: 1981-82 American network television schedule.








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The year 1981 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television
Television

Television is a widely used telecommunication mass-media for transmitting and receiving moving , either monochrome or color, usually accompanied by sound....
-related events in 1981.

For the American
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 TV schedule, see: 1981-82 American network television schedule.

Events

  • January 13 - Colour television was introduced in Israel
    Israel

    Israel officially the State of Israel , is a country in the Middle East located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area....
    .
  • February 20 - Comedian
    Comedian

    A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain members of an audience, primarily by making them laughter. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy....
     Andy Kaufman
    Andy Kaufman

    Andrew Geoffrey Kaufman was an United States entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself one....
     ruins sketches and starts a brawl live on the air during ABC's Fridays.
  • March 6 - After a 19-year run, Walter Cronkite
    Walter Cronkite

    Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. is a retired United States Broadcast journalism, best known as anchorman for the The CBS Evening News for 19 years ....
     resigns as head anchor of The CBS Evening News and is succeeded the following Monday
    Monday

    Monday is the day of the week between Sunday and Tuesday....
     by Dan Rather
    Dan Rather

    Daniel Irvin "Dan" Rather, Jr. is a journalist and former news presenter for the CBS Evening News and is now managing editor and anchor of a television news magazine, Dan Rather Reports, on the cable channel HDNet....
    .
  • March 21 - After an unprecedented seven years starring in Doctor Who
    Doctor Who

    Doctor Who is a British Science fiction on television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien Time travel known as "Doctor " who travels in his space and time-ship, the TARDIS, which normally appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s police box....
    , Tom Baker
    Tom Baker

    Thomas Stewart "Tom" Baker is an England actor and comedian. He is best known for playing the Fourth Doctor of Doctor from 1974 to 1981 in Doctor Who, and for narrating Little Britain....
     makes his final appearance as the Fourth Doctor
    Fourth Doctor

    The Fourth Doctor is the name given to the fourth Doctor #Changing faces of the fictional character known as Doctor in the long-running BBC Science fiction on television series Doctor Who....
     in Part 4 of Logopolis
    Logopolis

    Logopolis is a list of Doctor Who serials in the United Kingdom science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from February 28 to March 21, 1981....
    . Peter Davison
    Peter Davison

    Peter Davison is an England actor, best known for his roles as Tristan Farnon in the television version of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small and the Fifth Doctor of Doctor in Doctor Who, which he played from 1982 to 1984....
     makes his first appearance as the Fifth Doctor
    Fifth Doctor

    The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth Doctor #Changing faces of the fictional character known as Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC Science fiction on television series Doctor Who....
     at the conclusion of that story.
  • April 11 - Van Halen
    Van Halen

    Van Halen is a hard rock band formed in in 1972. They enjoyed success from the release of their Van Halen in 1978. As of 2007 Van Halen has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide and have had the most number one hits on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart....
    's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen
    Eddie Van Halen

    Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen , is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and music producer, most famous as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen....
     marries One Day at a Time
    One Day at a Time

    One Day at a Time was a long-running United States situation comedy on the CBS network that aired from December 16, 1975 to May 28, 1984. It portrayed Ann Romano, a divorced mother, played by Bonnie Franklin, her two teenage daughters Julie and Barbara Cooper and Schneider, their building superintendent ....
     actress
    Actor

    An actor or actress is a person who acting in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio programming in that capacity....
     Valerie Bertinelli
    Valerie Bertinelli

    Valerie Anne Bertinelli is an United States actress, best known for her role as Bonnie Franklin's daughter, Barbara Cooper Royer, on the long-running television program One Day at a Time....
    .
  • July 27 - In a specially timed event by the show's writers, Ken Barlow marries Deirdre Langton on Coronation Street
    Coronation Street

    Coronation Street is an award-winning soap opera created by Tony Warren. It is one of the longest-running television programmes in the United Kingdom, first broadcast on 9 December 1960, made by Granada Television and broadcast in all regions of ITV almost throughout its existence....
    , just two days before the real-life wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales
    Charles, Prince of Wales

    The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the eldest child of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, making him heir apparent, equally and separately, to the thrones of Commonwealth realm....
     and Lady Diana Spencer
    Diana, Princess of Wales

    Diana, Princess of Wales, was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. Their sons, Princes Prince William of Wales and Prince Henry of Wales , are second and third Line of succession to the British throne of the British monarchy and fifteen other Commonwealth Realms....
    . The wedding of Ken and Deirdre is watched by over 24 million viewers in Britain
    United Kingdom

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
    , beating the Royal wedding in the ratings.
  • August 1 - The MTV
    MTV

    MTV is an United States cable television network based in Media of New York City. Launched on August 1, 1981, the original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJ ....
     network debuts on cable television
    Cable television

    Cable television is a system of providing television to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through fixed optical fibers or coaxial cables as opposed to the over-the-air method used in traditional television broadcasting in which a television antenna is required....
    , playing music videos 24 hours a day.
  • November - The Doctors airs its milestone 5000th episode.
  • November 2 - American soap opera
    Soap opera

    A soap opera is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in Serial format on television or radio. Programs described as soap operas have existed as an entertainment long enough for audiences to recognize them simply by the term soap....
     As the World Turns
    As the World Turns

    As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that airs each weekday on CBS.Set in the fictional town of Oakdale , the show debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956 at 1:30pm Eastern Time Zone....
     debuts a new opening sequence and theme song for the first time in its 25-year history.
  • November 16 and November 17 - Luke and Laura's wedding on General Hospital becomes one of the most watched weddings in American television history, second only to the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
  • December 25 - Chuck Woolery
    Chuck Woolery

    Charles Herbert "Chuck" Woolery is an United States game show host. He has had long-running tenures hosting several different game shows. He was the original host of Wheel of Fortune from 1975 to 1981, the original incarnation of Love Connection from 1983 to 1994, and Scrabble from 1984 to 1990 ....
     hosts his last episode of Wheel of Fortune after a salary dispute with show producer and creator Merv Griffin
    Merv Griffin

    Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an United States television host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway theatre....
    . Pat Sajak
    Pat Sajak

    Pat Sajak , born Patrick Leonard Sajdak on October 26, 1946, is a television personality, former weather forecasting and a former talk show host, best known as the host of the United States television game show, Wheel of Fortune ....
     takes over as host the next Monday, the 28th. He hosts the daytime Wheel till 1989.; Sajak hosts the nighttime Wheel to this day.
  • June 30 - Fred Silverman
    Fred Silverman

    Fred Silverman is an United States television executive and producer. He worked as an executive at CBS, American Broadcasting Company and NBC, and was responsible for bringing to television such programs as the series Scooby-Doo , All in the Family , The Waltons , and Charlie's Angels , as well as the miniseries Roots a...
     is fired as president of NBC, after failing to improve that network's third-place standing, and is replaced by Grant Tinker
    Grant Tinker

    Grant A. Tinker is the former chairman and CEO of NBC from 1981 to 1986, co-founder of MTM Enterprises, and television producer. Tinker is the former husband of television actress, Mary Tyler Moore and also known as "the man who saved NBC"....
    .
  • Berlinda Tolbert
    Berlinda Tolbert

    Berlinda Tolbert is an American actress best known as Jenny Willis Jefferson on The Jeffersons.She also appeared in the film Harlem Nights....
     and Michael Jonas Evans makes their final appearance as Lionel
    Lionel Jefferson

    Lionel Jefferson is a supporting character from the hit television programs All in the Family and The Jeffersons. He is the son of George Jefferson and Louise Jefferson....
     and Jenny Willis Jefferson in the seventh (1980-1981) year, of The Jeffersons
    The Jeffersons

    The Jeffersons is an United States situation comedy that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of List of The Jeffersons episodes produced by Tandem Productions from 1975-1982 and Embassy Television from 1982-1985....
    , also departing with Tolbert and Evans, Paul Benedict
    Paul Benedict

    'Paul Benedict' was an United States actor who made numerous appearances in television and movies beginning in the 1960s. He is probably best recognized for his roles as The Number Painter on the PBS children's show Sesame Street, and as the quirky England neighbor "List of The Jeffersons supporting characters" on the CBS sitcom The Jeff...
     makes his final appearance as the British
    England

    native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
     neighbor of George
    George Jefferson

    George Jefferson is a fictional character played by Sherman Hemsley in United States television sitcoms All in the Family and its spin-off The Jeffersons ....
     and Louise
    Louise Jefferson

    Louise Jefferson was a supporting character, portrayed by Emmy Award-winning actress Isabel Sanford, who appeared first on the television series All in the Family....
    , Harry Bentley, Benedict returns to the series in 1983
    1983 in television

    The year 1983 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1983.For the American TV schedule, see: 1983-84 United States network television schedule....
    .
  • November 9 - CBS cancels The Incredible Hulk, permanently.
  • July 4 - Showtime
    Showtime

    Showtime is a Pay TV brand used by a number of channels and platforms around the world, but primarily refers to a group of channels in the United States....
     ends its part-time status and inaugurates a 24/7 schedule.
  • December 31 - Colour television is introduced Turkey
    Turkey

    Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in southwest Asia and Thrace in the Balkans region of Southern Europe....
    , it will go full-time in 1984.
  • During the course of the year, all soap operas produced by Proctor and Gamble change title sequences and theme songs. Another World
    Another World

    Another World may refer to:* Another World , a soap opera which aired on NBC from 1964 to 1999* " Another World", the theme song to the aforementioned TV series, sung by Gary Morris and Crystal Gayle...
    , The Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow
    Search for Tomorrow

    Search for Tomorrow is a TV soap opera which started airing on Monday, September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS, its original broadcaster, on Friday, March 26, 1982, with NBC picking it up on the following Monday, March 29, 1982....
    , and The Edge of Night
    The Edge of Night

    The Edge of Night is a long-running American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then aired on American Broadcasting Company from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984....
     all have new title sequences.


Debuts

  • January 5 - Triangle
    Triangle (TV series)

    Triangle was a BBC television soap opera in the early 1980s, set aboard a North Sea ferry which sailed a triangular route between Felixstowe, Amsterdam and Gothenburg....
     debuts on BBC1 (1981-1983).
  • January 12 - Dynasty
    Dynasty (TV series)

    Dynasty is an United States prime time television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989....
     premieres on ABC (1981-1989).
  • January 15 - Hill Street Blues
    Hill Street Blues

    Hill Street Blues is a serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. It is currently being aired on AmericanLife TV Network on Sunday nights in the United States, and on weekday afternoons on digital network More 4 in the United Kingdom....
     premieres on NBC (1981-1987).
  • February 7 - Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan
    Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan

    , translated into English language as Solar Squadron Sun Vulcan, is the fifth installment in Toei Company's Super Sentai tokusatsu television series....
     premieres on TV-Asahi (1981-1982).
  • March 18 - The Greatest American Hero
    The Greatest American Hero

    The Greatest American Hero is an United States TV series which aired for three seasons from 1981 in television to 1983 in television on American Broadcasting Company....
     premieres on ABC (1981-1983).
  • April 8 - Dr. Slump
    Dr. Slump

    is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. The title was serialized in Shueisha's anthology comic Weekly Shonen Jump from 1980 to 1984, eventually compiled into 18 tankobon....
     premieres on Fuji TV (1981-1986)
  • May 16 - SCTV Network 90
    Second City Television

    Second City Television was a Canada television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's The Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984....
    , a repackaging of the Canadian
    Canada

    Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
     series SCTV, debuts on NBC (1981-1983).
  • September 12 - The Smurfs premieres on NBC (1981-1990)
  • September 14 - Entertainment Tonight
    Entertainment Tonight

    Entertainment Tonight is a daily television entertainment news show that is Television syndication by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world....
     premieres in syndication
    Television syndication

    In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows to multiple individual stations, without going through a broadcast network....
     (1981-present).
  • September 15 - Only Fools and Horses
    Only Fools and Horses

    Only Fools and Horses is a United Kingdom television situation comedy, created and written by John Sullivan , and made and broadcast by the BBC....
     premieres on BBC1 (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
  • September 15 - Seeing Things
    Seeing Things

    Seeing Things was a Canada comedy-drama Mystery fiction television series which originally aired on CBC Television from 1981 to 1987. It was also seen in Europe, South Africa, Singapore, Australia and the United States....
     premieres on CBC (1981-1987).
  • September 26 - Game for a Laugh
    Game for a Laugh

    Game For A Laugh was a popular United Kingdom TV light entertainment show which ran for 58 editions between 26 September 1981 and 23 November 1985, made by London Weekend Television for the ITV network....
     premieres on ITV (1981-1986).
  • October 7 - Mr. Merlin
    Mr. Merlin

    Mr. Merlin was a 1981 in television?1982 sitcom starring Barnard Hughes as Merlin the wizard, disguised as Max Merlin, a mechanic in modern-day San Francisco....
     premieres on CBS (1981-1982).
  • October 28 - The Fall Guy
    The Fall Guy

    The Fall Guy was an United States television program produced for American Broadcasting Company and originally broadcast from 1981 in television to 1986 in television....
     premieres on ABC (1981-1986).
  • October 29 - Gimme a Break premieres on NBC (1981-1987).
  • November 24 - Simon & Simon
    Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon is a 1980s detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker....
     premieres on CBS
    CBS

    CBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American radio network and television network. The name is derived from the initials of Columbia Broadcasting System, its former legal name....
     (1981-1989).
  • December 4 - Falcon Crest
    Falcon Crest

    Falcon Crest is an United States primetime television soap opera which aired on the CBS network for nine seasons, from December 4, 1981 to May 17, 1990....
     premieres on CBS (1981-1990).
  • The Kids of Degrassi Street
    The Kids of Degrassi Street

    The Kids of Degrassi Street is a Canadian children's Television program which aired from 1982 to 1986, and is the first in the Degrassi series, about...
     premieres on CBC (1981-1985)
  • Postman Pat
    Postman Pat

    Postman Pat is a United Kingdom stop-motion animated television series children's television series first produced by Woodland Animations. It is aimed at pre-school children, and concerns the adventures of Pat Clifton, a postman in the fictional village of Greendale ....
     premieres on BBC1 (1981, 1996, 2004-present).
  • Today's Special
    Today's Special

    Today's Special is a children's television show produced by Clive VanderBurgh at TVOntario from 1982 to 1987. It also ran on Nickelodeon and the Faith and Values Channel as well as many PBS stations throughout the United States....
     premieres on TV Ontario (1981-1987).


Miniseries

  • Family Reunion, starring Bette Davis
    Bette Davis

    Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theatre. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres; from contemporary crime films to historical film and period piece and occasional comedy, though her greatest successes were h...
  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV series)

    The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, was a BBC television adaptation of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy broadcast in January and February 1981 on BBC Two....
    , starring Simon Jones
    Simon Jones

    Simon Jones may refer to:*Simon Jones , British actor *Simon Jones , Welsh cricketer who plays for England*Simon Jones , British musician, member of The Verve...
     and David Dixon
    David Dixon

    David Dixon is an England actor and screenwriter. He was born in the Nightingale Maternity Home, Derby, near his father's shop in 94 London Road and brought up there before the family moved to 14 St....
  • A Town Like Alice
    A Town Like Alice

    A Town Like Alice is a novel by the England author Nevil Shute. It tells the story of Jean Paget; as a prisoner of war in Malaya during World War II and then her return to Malaya after the war where she discovers something that leads her on the search for romance and to a small outback community in Australia where she sets out to turn it...
    , starring Helen Morse
    Helen Morse

    Helen Morse is an Australian actress who has appeared in films, on television, and on stage.Morse was born in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex, England....
     and Bryan Brown
    Bryan Brown

    Bryan Neathway Brown Order of Australia is an Australian actor....
  • Brideshead Revisited
    Brideshead Revisited

    Brideshead Revisited, The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder is a novel by the English writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1945....
    , including Anthony Andrews
    Anthony Andrews

    Anthony Andrews is an England actor, best known for his role in Brideshead Revisited playing the doomed Sebastian Flyte, winning an Emmy for his performance....
    , Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons

    Jeremy John Irons is an England film, television and stage actor. He has won an Academy Award, a Tony Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards....
     and Sir Laurence Olivier


Television shows


1940s

  • Meet the Press
    Meet the Press

    Meet the Press is a weekly Television in the United States news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the List of longest running U.S. television series television show in worldwide broadcasting history, having made its television debut on November 6, 1947....
     (1947-present).
  • Candid Camera
    Candid Camera

    Candid Camera was a hidden camera television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947....
     (1948-present).
  • Come Dancing
    Come Dancing

    Come Dancing was a BBC TV ballroom dancing competition show that ran on and off from 1949 to 1998, becoming one of television's longest-running shows....
     (UK) (1949-1995)

1950s

  • Truth or Consequences
    Truth or Consequences

    Truth or Consequences was an American Game show, originally hosted on NBC radio by Ralph Edwards and later on television by Edwards , Jack Bailey , Bob Barker , Bob Hilton and Larry Anderson ....
     (1950-1988).
  • Search for Tomorrow
    Search for Tomorrow

    Search for Tomorrow is a TV soap opera which started airing on Monday, September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS, its original broadcaster, on Friday, March 26, 1982, with NBC picking it up on the following Monday, March 29, 1982....
     (1951-1986).
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame
    Hallmark Hall of Fame

    Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on United States television. It has had a historically long run, beginning in 1951 and still continuing today....
     (1951-present).
  • American Bandstand
    American Bandstand

    American Bandstand is a television show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, hosted from 1957 until its final season by Dick Clark , who also served as producer....
     (1952–1989)
  • Guiding Light
    Guiding Light

    Guiding Light is an United States television program credited by the Guinness World Records as being the longest-running soap opera in production and the longest running drama in television and radio history....
     (1952–present)
  • Hockey Night in Canada
    Hockey Night in Canada

    Hockey Night in Canada is a Broadcasting of National Hockey League games in Canada, produced by CBC Sports. Hockey Night consistently remains one of the highest-Bureau of Broadcast Measurement programs on Canadian television....
     (1952–present)
  • The Today Show (1952–present)
  • Panorama
    Panorama (TV series)

    Panorama is the longest-running current affairs documentary film series in the world. Launched on 11 November 1953 on BBC One, it focuses on investigative journalism....
     (UK) (1953-present).
  • The Good Old Days
    The Good Old Days

    The Good Old Days was a popular BBC television light entertainment programme which ran from 1953 to 1983.It was recorded live at the Leeds City Varieties and recreated an authentic atmosphere of the Victorian era–Edwardian period music hall with songs and sketches of the era performed by present-day performers in the style of the...
     (UK) (1953-1983).
  • Face the Nation
    Face the Nation

    Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer is an United States Sunday-morning interview shows which premiered on the CBS television network on November 7, 1954....
     (1954-present).
  • The Tonight Show
    The Tonight Show

    The Tonight Show is a long-running American late-night talk show and variety show airing on NBC whose The Tonight Show with Jay Leno has been hosted by Jay Leno since 1992....
     (1954–present; full title has generally included the host's name)
  • Captain Kangaroo
    Captain Kangaroo

    Captain Kangaroo was a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the United States television network CBS from 1955 until 1984....
     (1955-1984).
  • The Lawrence Welk Show
    The Lawrence Welk Show

    The Lawrence Welk Show is a musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The original episodes were aired in either a local, network, or syndicated capacity for more than 30 years; rerun episodes are still being broadcast in the United States for the most part by PBS stations in the form of new programs each of which inc...
     (1955-1982).
  • This Is Your Life
    This Is Your Life

    This Is Your Life was a Documentary film series hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards. It originally aired in the United States from 1952 to 1961, and again in 1972 on NBC....
     (UK) (1955-2003).
  • As the World Turns (1956-present).
  • The Edge of Night
    The Edge of Night

    The Edge of Night is a long-running American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then aired on American Broadcasting Company from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984....
     (1956-1984).
  • What the Papers Say
    What the Papers Say

    What The Papers Say is the second longest-running programme on United Kingdom television after the sky at night,bbc_series)]]. It is a review programme of stories published in British newspapers....
     (UK) (1956-present).
  • The Sky at Night
    The Sky at Night

    The Sky at Night is a monthly television programme on astronomy produced by the BBC. The show has had the same permanent presenter, Sir Patrick Moore, from its first airing on 24 April 1957, making it the longest-running programmes with the same presenter in television history....
     (UK) (1957-present).
  • Blue Peter
    Blue Peter

    Blue Peter is a long-running BBC television programme for children. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC Channel....
     (UK) (1958-present).
  • Grandstand
    Grandstand (BBC)

    Grandstand was a United Kingdom television sport programme, and was one of the BBC's longest running sports shows, alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year....
     (UK) (1958-2007)


1960s

  • Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
  • Four Corners (Australia
    Australia

    Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
    ) (1961-present).
  • It's Academic
    It's Academic

    For the Australian version, see It's Academic .It's Academic is a Television academic Quizbowl for high school students, currently airing on three NBC affiliates in Washington, D.C....
     (1961-present).
  • The Late Late Show
    The Late Late Show

    The Late Late Show is the world's longest-running Talk show and officially the flagship television programme of Republic of Ireland broadcasting company Radio Telef?s ?ireann....
     (Ireland
    Republic of Ireland

    Ireland is an Island country in north-western Europe. The modern Sovereignty state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned by the British on 3 May 1921....
    ) (1962-present).
  • Doctor Who
    Doctor Who

    Doctor Who is a British Science fiction on television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien Time travel known as "Doctor " who travels in his space and time-ship, the TARDIS, which normally appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s police box....
     (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
  • General Hospital (1963-present).
  • The Doctors (1963-1982).
  • Another World
    Another World (TV series)

    Another World is a television soap opera that ran on the NBC network from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It was created by legendary serial creator Irna Phillips along with William J....
     (1964-1999).
  • Crossroads
    Crossroads (TV series)

    Crossroads was a United Kingdom television soap opera set in a fictional motel near Birmingham, England. Originally broadcast on the commercial television ITV television network between 1964 and 1988, it was produced by Associated TeleVision until the end of 1981 and then by Central Independent Television....
     (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
  • Top of the Pops
    Top of the Pops

    Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a long-running United Kingdom UK Singles Chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006....
     (UK) (1964-2006).
  • Days of our Lives
    Days of our Lives

    Days of our Lives is an United States soap opera, which has aired nearly every weekday since November 8, 1965 on the NBC network in the United States, and has since been syndicated to many countries around the world....
     (1965-present).
  • World of Sport
    World of Sport (UK TV series)

    World of Sport was a United Kingdom television sport anthology programme which ran on ITV between January 2,1965 and September 28, 1985 in response to competition from Grandstand ....
     (UK) (1965-1985).
  • Play School (1966-present).
  • The Money Programme
    The Money Programme

    The Money Programme is a finance and business affairs television programme on BBC2.It was first broadcast on 5 April 1966 and presented by "commentators" William Davis , Erskine Childers and Joe Roeber....
     (UK) (1966-present).
  • 60 Minutes
    60 Minutes

    or 60 Minutes 60 Minutes is an United States investigative television newsmagazine on United States television, which has run on CBS News since 1968....
     (1968-present).
  • One Life to Live
    One Life to Live

    One Life to Live is an American soap opera which has been broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company television network since July 15, 1968....
     (1968-present).
  • Hee Haw
    Hee Haw

    Hee Haw was a television variety show, initially co-hosted by musicians Buck Owens and Roy Clark and featuring country music and humor with fictional, rural "Kornfield Kounty" as a backdrop....
     (1969-1993).
  • Sesame Street
    Sesame Street

    Sesame Street is an Television in the United States educational children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both edutainment....
     (1969-present).
  • The Benny Hill Show
    The Benny Hill Show

    The Benny Hill Show is a British Comedy television show starring Benny Hill and various comedy character actors. It was produced by Thames Television from 1969 to 1989 and was broadcast in over 140 countries....
     (UK) (1969-1989)


1970s

  • All My Children
    All My Children

    All My Children, sometimes abbreviated by fans and the press as AMC, is an United States soap opera and drama television series that has been broadcast Monday through Friday on the American Broadcasting Company television network since January 5, 1970, and the daily episode also airs weeknights on SOAPnet....
     (1970-present).
  • Monday Night Football
    Monday Night Football

    Monday Night Football is a live television broadcast of the National Football League. Originally airing on the American Broadcasting Company network from 1970 NFL season to 2005 NFL season, Monday Night Football was the second longest running prime time show on United States of America broadcast network television and one of the hig...
     (1970-present).
  • Play for Today
    Play for Today

    Play for Today was a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC One from 1970 to 1984. Over three hundred original plays, most between an hour and ninety minutes in length, were transmitted during the fourteen-year period the series aired, and it is by far the most famous programme of its type t...
     (UK) (1970-1984).
  • Masterpiece Theatre
    Masterpiece Theatre

    Masterpiece is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH-TV. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service on January 10, 1971, making it America's longest-running weekly primetime drama series....
     (1971-present).
  • Old Grey Whistle Test
    Old Grey Whistle Test

    The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC Two television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music....
     (UK) (1971-1987).
  • Soul Train
    Soul Train

    Soul Train was a syndicated, music-related television program. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by rhythm and blues, soul music, and Hip hop music artists, although jazz musicians and gospel music singers have also appeared....
     (1971-present).
  • Are You Being Served?
    Are You Being Served?

    Are You Being Served? was a long-running British sitcom broadcast from 1972 to 1985. It was set in the men's and women's department of Grace Brothers, a large, fictional London store....
     (UK) (1972-1985).
  • Emmerdale Farm
    Emmerdale

    Emmerdale, known as Emmerdale Farm until 1989, is a United Kingdom soap opera that has aired on ITV since 1972. It is set in the fictional village of Emmerdale in West Yorkshire, England, and was created by Kevin Laffan, with Keith Richardson serving as Executive Producer since 1986 and Anita Turner as Series Producer from Janu...
     (UK) (1972-present).
  • Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids
    Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids

    Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids is an list of animated television series created, produced, and hosted by comedian Bill Cosby, who also lent his voice to a number of characters, including the titular one....
     (1972-1984).
  • John Craven's Newsround
    Newsround

    Newsround is a BBC children's news programme, which has run continuously since 4 April 1972, and was one of the world's first television news magazines aimed specifically at children....
     (UK) (1972-present).
  • M*A*S*H
    M*A*S*H (TV series)

    M*A*S*H is an United States television series developed by Larry Gelbart, adapted from the 1970 in film feature film MASH . The series is a medical drama/black comedy that was produced by 20th Television Fox for CBS....
     (1972-1983).
  • The Price Is Right
    The Price Is Right

    The Price Is Right is an United States television game show that is currently owned by the FremantleMedia subsidiary of the RTL Group. It was originally created by Bob Stewart for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions in the United States in 1956, and was significantly revamped by them in 1972....
     (1972-present).
  • Last of the Summer Wine
    Last of the Summer Wine

    Last of the Summer Wine is a United Kingdom situation comedy written by Roy Clarke that is broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973....
     (UK) (1973-present).
  • Match Game
    Match Game

    Match Game was an United States television game show featuring contestants attempting to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions....
     (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
  • Schoolhouse Rock!
    Schoolhouse Rock!

    Schoolhouse Rock! is a series of animated musical educational short films that aired during Saturday morning children's programming on U.S. television network American Broadcasting Company....
     (1973-1986).
  • Superstars (UK) (1973-1985, 2003-2005).
  • The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982).
  • The Young and the Restless
    The Young and the Restless

    The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera, first broadcast on CBS on March 26, 1973. It was created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, who set their show in a Genoa City of Genoa City, Wisconsin, a town near their annual vacation home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin....
     (1973-present).
  • Countdown (Australia) (1974-1987).
  • Derrick
    Derrick (TV series)

    Derrick is a Germany TV series produced by Telenova Film- und Fernsehproduktion in association with ZDF, ORF and SRG SSR id?e suisse between 1974 and 1998 about Detective Chief Inspector Stephan Derrick and his loyal assistant Inspector Harry Klein , who solve murder cases in Munich and surroundings ....
     (1974-1998).
  • Happy Days
    Happy Days

    Happy Days is an Television in the United States television sitcom that originally aired from 1974 in television to 1984 in television on American Broadcasting Company....
     (1974-1984).
  • Little House on the Prairie
    Little House on the Prairie (TV series)

    Little House on the Prairie is an United States one-hour dramatic television program that aired on the NBC network from September 11, 1974, to March 21, 1983, bumping the long-running Adam-12 series to Tuesday nights....
     (1974-1983).
  • The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984).
  • Tiswas
    Tiswas

    Tiswas was a Saturday morning children's United Kingdom TV show which ran from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982 and produced for the ITV network by Associated TeleVision....
     (UK) (1974-1982).
  • Wish You Were Here...?
    Wish You Were Here...?

    Wish You Were Here...? was a United Kingdom television show that was first broadcast in 1974 on ITV. It was a series of 30 minute shows about travel and holidays....
     (UK) (1974-present).
  • Arena (UK) (1975–present).
  • Barney Miller
    Barney Miller

    Barney Miller is a sitcom television series set in a New York City Police in Greenwich Village that ran from January 23, 1975 to May 20, 1982 on American Broadcasting Company....
     (1975-1982).
  • Good Morning America
    Good Morning America

    Good Morning America is an Daytime Emmy Awards breakfast television talk show that is broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company television network, debuting on November 3, 1975....
     (1975-present).
  • Jim'll Fix It
    Jim'll Fix It

    Jim'll Fix It was a long-running British television show, broadcast by the BBC....
     (UK) (1975-1994).
  • One Day at a Time (1975-1984).
  • Ryan's Hope
    Ryan's Hope

    Ryan's Hope is an United States soap opera, revolving around the trials and tribulations of a large Irish American family in New York City. It aired from July 7, 1975 to January 13, 1989 on American Broadcasting Company....
     (1975-1989).
  • Saturday Night Live
    Saturday Night Live

    Saturday Night Live is a weekly late-night 90-minute American sketch comedy/variety show filmed in New York City. It made its debut on October 11, 1975....
     (1975-present).
  • The Don Lane Show (Australia) (1975-1983).
  • the fifth estate
    The fifth estate

    the fifth estate is a Canada television newsmagazine, which airs on the English language television network of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation....
     (Canada) (1975-present).
  • The Jeffersons
    The Jeffersons

    The Jeffersons is an United States situation comedy that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of List of The Jeffersons episodes produced by Tandem Productions from 1975-1982 and Embassy Television from 1982-1985....
     (1975-1985).
  • Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
  • Alice
    Alice (TV series)

    Alice is an United States television Situation comedy series which ran from August 31, 1976 to July 2, 1985 on CBS. The series was based on the 1974 film, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore....
     (1976-1985).
  • Family Feud
    Family Feud

    Family Feud is a U.S. television game show that pits two families against each other in a contest to name the most popular responses to a survey-type question posed to 100 people....
     (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
  • Laverne & Shirley
    Laverne & Shirley

    Laverne & Shirley was an United States television series situation comedy that ran on American Broadcasting Company from 1976 to 1983. It starred Penny Marshall as Laverne De Fazio and Cindy Williams as Shirley Feeney, roommates who, as the series began, worked in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin brewery....
     (1976-1983).
  • Multi-Coloured Swap Shop
    Multi-Coloured Swap Shop

    Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, more commonly known simply as Swap Shop, was a UK children's television programme. It was broadcast on Saturday mornings on BBC1 for 146 episodes in six series between 1976 and 1982....
     (UK) (1976-1982).
  • Quincy, M.E.
    Quincy, M.E.

    Quincy, M.E. is a United States television series from Universal Studios that aired from October 3, 1976, to September 5, 1983, on NBC. It starred Jack Klugman as Dr....
     (1976-1983).
  • Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984).
  • The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987).
  • CHiPs
    CHiPs

    CHiPs is an United States television drama series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977 to June 17, 1983....
     (1977-1983).
  • Fantasy Island
    Fantasy Island

    Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related United States fantasy television series, both originally airing on the American Broadcasting Company television network....
     (1977-1984).
  • In Search of... (1977-1982).
  • Lou Grant (1977-1982).
  • The Love Boat
    The Love Boat

    The Love Boat is an United States television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the American Broadcasting Company from 1977 in television until 1986 in television....
     (1977–1986)
  • This Week in Baseball
    This Week in Baseball

    This Week in Baseball is a weekly television program, originally designed to show highlights of the previous week's Major League Baseball action....
     (1977–1998, 2000–present)
  • Three's Company
    Three's Company

    Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from 1977 in television to 1984 in television on American Broadcasting Company. It is a remake of the British sitcom Man About the House....
     (1977–1984)
  • 20/20
    20/20

    20/20 is an United States television newsmagazine broadcast on American Broadcasting Company since June 6, 1978. Created by ABC News executive Roone Arledge, the show was designed similarly to CBS's 60 Minutes but focuses more on human interest stories than international and political subjects....
     (1978-present).
  • 3-2-1
    3-2-1

    3-2-1 was a popular United Kingdom game show, made by Yorkshire Television for ITV. It ran for ten years, between 29 July 1978 and 24 December 1988....
     (UK) (1978-1987).
  • Battle of the Planets
    Battle of the Planets

    Battle of the Planets is the United States dub of the 1972 in television television anime known as Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. Of the 105 original Gatchaman episodes, 85 were used in the Battle of the Planets adaptation, produced by Sandy Frank Entertainment....
     (1978-1985).
  • Dallas
    Dallas (TV series)

    Dallas is a long-running United States prime-time television program soap opera that originally ran from 1978 to 1991. It revolved around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries....
     (1978-1991).
  • Diff'rent Strokes
    Diff'rent Strokes

    Diff'rent Strokes is an United States television program that aired on the National Broadcasting Company television network from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on American Broadcasting Company from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986....
     (1978-1986).
  • Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
  • Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).
  • Taxi
    Taxi (TV series)

    Taxi is an United States Situation comedy that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on American Broadcasting Company, and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC....
     (1978-1983).
  • WKRP in Cincinnati
    WKRP in Cincinnati

    WKRP in Cincinnati is an United States situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling radio broadcasting in Cincinnati, Ohio....
     (1978-1982).
  • Archie Bunker's Place
    All in the Family

    All in the Family is an United States situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971 to April 8, 1979....
     (1979-1983).
  • Benson
    Benson (TV series)

    Benson is an American television situation comedy which aired from September 13, 1979 to April 19, 1986 on American Broadcasting Company. The series was a spinoff from the the soap opera parody Soap ....
     (1979-1986).
  • Disney's Wonderful World (1979-1981) ends on September 13 to resume on September 26 as Walt Disney
  • Knots Landing
    Knots Landing

    Knots Landing is an United States primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27 1979 to May 13 1993 on CBS. Set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles in California, the show centered around the lives of four married couples residing in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle....
     (1979-1993).
  • Real People
    Real People

    Real People was an NBC reality television series that aired from 1979 in television to 1984 in television, on Wednesday and then Sunday nights....
     (1979-1984).
  • Tales of the Unexpected
    Tales of the Unexpected (TV series)

    Tales Of The Unexpected is a United Kingdom television series that originally aired between 1979 and 1988, made by Anglia Television for ITV....
     (UK) (1979-1985, 1987-1988).
  • The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985).
  • The Facts of Life
    The Facts of Life (TV series)

    The Facts of Life is an United States sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979 to September 13, 1988. A spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, the series' original premise focused on the character, Edna Garrett , as she becomes housemother to seven girls at the fictional Eastland School, a pres...
     (1979-1988).
  • Trapper John, M.D.
    Trapper John, M.D.

    Trapper John, M.D. is an United States television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH , about a lovable doctor who became a mentor, father figure, who also runs a teaching hospital in San Francisco, California....
     (1979-1986).
  • You Can't Do That on Television
    You Can't Do That on Television

    You Can't Do That on Television was a Canada television program. It first aired as a local program in early 1979 in television before turning national later that same year and, subsequently, international in 1981 in television....
    , Canada (1979-1990)
  • Antiques Roadshow
    Antiques Roadshow

    Antiques Roadshow is a United Kingdom human interest television show in which antiques appraisals travel to various regions of the United Kingdom and appraise antiques brought in by local residents....
    , UK (1979-present).
  • Nightline (1979–present)
  • SportsCenter
    SportsCenter

    SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of United States cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979....
     (1979–present)
  • This Old House
    This Old House

    This Old House is an United States home improvement magazine and television series which is aired on the United States public broadcast network Public Broadcasting Service that follows remodeling projects of houses over a number of weeks....
     (1979–present).


1980s

  • Bosom Buddies
    Bosom Buddies

    Bosom Buddies is an United States Situation comedy starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari created by Robert L. Boyett, Thomas L. Miller and Chris Thompson....
     (1980-1982).
  • Fridays (1980-1982).
  • It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989).
  • Kingswood Country
    Kingswood Country

    Kingswood Country was an Australian sitcom that screened from 1980 to 1984 on the Seven Network. The series started on 30 January 1980 and was a spin-off from a sketch on comedy program The Naked Vicar Show that had featured Ross Higgins as a blustering bigot....
     (Australia) (1980-1984).
  • Magnum, P.I.
    Magnum, P.I.

    Magnum, P.I. is an United States television show starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a fictional private investigator living in Oahu, Hawaii....
     (1980-1988)
  • Moneyline
    Lou Dobbs Tonight

    Lou Dobbs Tonight is an editorial commentary and discussion program on CNN, anchored by Lou Dobbs, who is also its Editor In Chief. The hour-long show is aired live on evenings every weekday, and repeated later at night on Headline News and in the very early morning hours on the mother network....
     (1980–present; now Lou Dobbs Tonight)
  • Solid Gold
    Solid Gold (TV series)

    Solid Gold was an United States Broadcast syndication television series which aired from 1980 to 1988, usually on Saturday in the early evening time slot....
     (1980-1988).
  • Texas
    Texas (TV series)

    Texas was a daytime soap opera which aired on NBC Daytime from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. Created by John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington, and Paul Rauch, the show was a spinoff of Another World ....
     (1980-1982).
  • That's Incredible!
    That's Incredible!

    That's Incredible! was a reality television show that ran on the American Broadcasting Company television network from 1980 in television to 1984 in television....
     (1980-1984).
  • The Other 'Arf
    The Other 'Arf

    The Other 'Arf was a British television situation comedy series that ran from 1980 - 1984. It starred John Standing as upper class Conservative politician Charles Latimer, MP, who begins a relationship with working class cockney Lorraine Watts ....
     (UK) (1980-1984).
  • Tom and Jerry
    Tom and Jerry (MGM)

    Tom and Jerry is a series of animated theatrical short subject created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that centered on a never-ending rivalry between a housecat and a mouse whose chases and battles often involved comic violence....
     (1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982).
  • Too Close for Comfort
    Too Close for Comfort (TV series)

    Too Close for Comfort is an United States television sitcom which ran on the American Broadcasting Company network and in Broadcast syndication from 1980 to 1986....
     (1980-1986).
  • Hyakuju-Oh Golion (Lion Force Voltron
    Voltron

    Voltron is a series of animated television series, the first of which was titled Voltron: Defender of the Universe. There has since been a second series, made in the 1990s using Computer generated imagery techniques....
    )     (Japan) (1981-1982)
  • Dr. Slump and Arale-chan
    Dr. Slump

    is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. The title was serialized in Shueisha's anthology comic Weekly Shonen Jump from 1980 to 1984, eventually compiled into 18 tankobon....
     (Japan) (1981-1986)
  • Anime Oyako Gekijo (Superbook
    Superbook

    Superbook, also known as , is an anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Productions in Japan in conjunction with the Christian Broadcasting Network in the United States....
    )     (Japan) (1981-1982)


Ending this year

  • April 16 - Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
    Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)

    Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an United States science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series was developed by Glen A....
     (1979-1981).
  • April 20 - Soap (1977-1981).
  • August 19 - Charlie's Angels
    Charlie's Angels

    Charlie's Angels is a Television program about three women who work for a private investigator agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men....
     (1976-1981).
  • August 20 - The Waltons
    The Waltons

    The Waltons is an United States television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 Spencer's Mountain, starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara....
     (1972-1981).
  • August 29 - Eight is Enough
    Eight Is Enough

    Eight Is Enough is an United States television comedy-drama series which ran on American Broadcasting Company from March 15, 1977 until August 29, 1981....
     (1977-1981).
  • September 13 - Match Game PM
    Match Game

    Match Game was an United States television game show featuring contestants attempting to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions....
     (1975-1981).
  • October 23 - Card Sharks
    Card Sharks

    Card Sharks was an United States television game show created by Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Although various changes were made to the game's format throughout its run, the core format remained the same....
     on NBC (1978-1981, 1986-1987, 1986-1989, 2001-2002)
  • The Mike Douglas Show
    The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show was an United States daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that ran from 1961 to 1982....
     (1961-1981).
  • The Muppet Show
    The Muppet Show

    The Muppet Show is a television program featuring a cast of The Muppets, which was produced by Jim Henson and his team from Sesame Street....
     (UK) (1976-1981).
  • Runaround (UK) (1975-1981).


Changes of network affiliation

  • Walt Disney moves from NBC to CBS.
  • The Goodies
    The Goodies

    :For information about the television series, see The Goodies The Goodies are a trio of United Kingdom comedians , who created, wrote, and starred in a surrealism British television comedy series called The Goodies during the 1970s and early 1980s combining sketch comedy and situation comedy....
     moves from the BBC to ITV
    ITV

    ITV is a public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom television network of British television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC....


Births

  • January 22 - Beverley Mitchell
    Beverley Mitchell

    Beverley Ann Mitchell is an American actress and country music singer. She is best known for her role as Reverend Lucy Camden-Kinkirk on the television series 7th Heaven....
    , actress 7th Heaven
    7th Heaven

    7th Heaven is an Emmy Awards-nominated United States drama television program, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on Monday August 26, 1996, on the WB Television Network, the first time that the WB aired Monday night programming, and was originally broadcast from 1996-2007....
  • January 31 - Justin Timberlake
    Justin Timberlake

    Justin Randall Timberlake is an United Statesn pop music singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. He has won six Grammy Awards as well as an Emmy Award....
    , singer and actor, originally appeared on a version of the Mickey Mouse Club
    Mickey Mouse Club

    The Mickey Mouse Club was a long-running United States variety show television show that began in 1955, produced by The Walt Disney Company and televised by the American Broadcasting Company, featuring a regular but ever-changing cast of teenage performers....
     in the US.
  • February 8 - Ralf Little
    Ralf Little

    Ralf Alistair J.B. Little is an English people actor, writer and footballer, working mainly on television. He is perhaps best known for playing Anthony Royle, the son in the series The Royle Family, Jonny Keogh in the first six series of sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Danny in Massive ....
    , Actor
  • February 10 - Holly Willoughby
    Holly Willoughby

    Holly Marie Willoughby is an England television presenter, known for her work in presenting children's TV and reality TV. In 2006, she won a BAFTA and was chosen to present Dancing on Ice, a highly popular UK celebrity talent show, shown on ITV which drew in an average of 8.9m million viewers in the most recently concluded series....
    , British television presenter.
  • February 17 - Paris Hilton
    Paris Hilton

    Paris Whitney Hilton is an United States socialite, celebutante, heiress, Model , media personality, singer and occasional actress.She is known for her appearance in a 1 Night in Paris in 2004, her appearance on the television series The Simple Life, her several minor film roles , her 2004 tongue-in-cheek autobiography, her 2006 album...
     heiress and television personality in the United States
    United States

    The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
    .
  • April 28 - Jessica Alba
    Jessica Alba

    Jessica Marie Alba is an United States television and film actor. She began her television and movie appearances at age 13 in Camp Nowhere and The Secret World of Alex Mack ....
    , US actress.
  • May 5 - Danielle Fishel
    Danielle Fishel

    Danielle Christine Fishel is a Malta-United States actress who is best known for her role as Characters of Boy Meets World#Topanga Lawrence-Matthews on the 1990s TV sitcom Boy Meets World....
    , actress.
  • June 25 - Sheridan Smith
    Sheridan Smith

    Sheridan Smith is an English people actress.She is known for playing List of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps characters#Janet Keogh n.C3.A9e Smith in the BBC sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, in which Janet is the girlfriend, then wife, and finally widow of List of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps ch...
    , UK actress.
  • August 7 - Dan Griffin
    Dan Griffin

    Daniel Joseph Griffin is a radio personality and local celebrity from Morehead, Kentucky, Kentucky. He is a graduate of the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University....
    , television producer.
  • August 25 - Rachel Bilson
    Rachel Bilson

    Rachel Sarah Bilson is an United States actress. After growing up in a California show business family, she made her television debut in 2003 and subsequently became well-known for playing Summer Roberts on the prime time drama series The O.C. Bilson made her film debut in the 2006 film The Last Kiss, appeared as Lou on the NBC sho...
    , actress
  • September 3 - Fearne Cotton
    Fearne Cotton

    Fearne Cotton is an England presenter known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon....
    , British television presenter.
  • September 5 - Elize Du Toit
    Elize Du Toit

    Elize du Toit is a United Kingdom actor best known for playing the role of Izzy Davies in the Channel 4 Soap Opera Hollyoaks from 2000 to 2004, with a brief return in 2007....
    , British actress.
  • September 8 - Jonathan Taylor Thomas
    Jonathan Taylor Thomas

    Jonathan Taylor Thomas is an American actor, former child actor, and teen idol. He is well known for his role of middle child Randy Taylor on the sitcom Home Improvement and as the voice of the young Simba in Walt Disney Pictures's The Lion King....
    , US actor/comedian (Disney's Home Improvement
    Home Improvement

    Home Improvement is an situation comedy starring Tim Allen, which aired 1991 to 1999. The show was created by Matt Williams , Carmen Finestra and David MacFadzean....
    )
  • October 11 - Zachery Ty Bryan
    Zachery Ty Bryan

    Zachery Tyler Bryan is an American actor best known for his role as Brad Taylor on the American sitcom Home Improvement ....
    , US actor/comedian (also Disney's Home Improvement
    Home Improvement

    Home Improvement is an situation comedy starring Tim Allen, which aired 1991 to 1999. The show was created by Matt Williams , Carmen Finestra and David MacFadzean....
    )
  • November 8 - Azura Skye
    Azura Skye

    Azura Skye is an American actress known for her role as 'Jane' in the two season TV Show Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane and for her appearance as Cassie Newton in the seventh season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer ....
    , US actress.
  • December 2 - Britney Spears
    Britney Spears

    'Britney Jean Spears' is a Grammy Awards-winning American pop music singer, dancer, actress, and glamour model.Raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Louisiana, Spears first appeared on national television in 1992 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The New Mickey Mouse Club#199...
    , singer, originally appeared on a version of the Mickey Mouse Club
    Mickey Mouse Club

    The Mickey Mouse Club was a long-running United States variety show television show that began in 1955, produced by The Walt Disney Company and televised by the American Broadcasting Company, featuring a regular but ever-changing cast of teenage performers....
     in the US.


Deaths

  • April 26 - Jim Davis
    Jim Davis (actor)

    Marlin "Jim" Davis , was an American actor, best known for his role as Jock Ewing in the CBS prime-time soap Dallas , a role which he held up until his death in April 1981....
     (b. 1909), actor (Jock Ewing) on Dallas
    Dallas (TV series)

    Dallas is a long-running United States prime-time television program soap opera that originally ran from 1978 to 1991. It revolved around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries....
  • June 9 - Allen Ludden
    Allen Ludden

    Allen Ludden was an United States television presenter and game show host. He was born Allen Packard Ellsworth in Mineral Point, Wisconsin....
     (b. 1917), game show host
  • August 1 - Paddy Chayefsky
    Paddy Chayefsky

    Sidney Aaron Chayefski known as Paddy Chayefsky was an acclaimed dramatist and novelist who made a transition from the Golden Age of Television in the 1950s to a successful career as a playwright and screenwriter....
     (b. 1923), writer
  • November 25 - Jack Albertson
    Jack Albertson

    Jack Albertson was an United States character actor dating to vaudeville. A comedian, dancer, singer, and musician, Albertson is perhaps best known for his role as Grandpa Joe in the 1971 version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory....
     (b. 1907), actor