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1986 in television
See also:
1985 in television,
other events of 1986,
1987 in television and the
list of 'years in television'.
For the American network television schedule, please see 1986-87 American network television schedule.
Events
- January 28 - NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft explodes, live on television.
- January - A Vicks Formula 44 ad premieres, starring Peter Bergman from All My Children, in which he told the viewing audience "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." This phrase, first used in the early 1970s by Robert Young of Marcus Welby, M.D. fame, was subsequently parodied in many pop culture references.
- February 11 - Culture Club lead singer Boy George appears on an episode of The A-Team.
- February 14 - Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the popular television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie".
- February 22 - In honor of the 20th anniversary of The Monkees premiering on television, MTV broadcasts "Pleasant Valley Sunday," a 22-hour marathon of Monkees episodes.
- February 26 - Dragon Ball premieres on Fuji TV.
- February - On the soap opera Search for Tomorrow, the entire town of Henderson is washed away in a flood. Lead character Joanne Tourneur's (Mary Stuart) motel is the only structure in town left standing.
- May 8 - NBC unveils its new Peacock logo.
- May 10 - Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe marries actress Heather Locklear.
- May 22 - Cher calls David Letterman an "asshole" on the air during a taping of Late Night with David Letterman.
- June 18 - The original Rovers' Return sets are set ablaze on the British soap opera Coronation Street; in the story, the pub was gutted with owner Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) inside, sleeping.
- July 18 - A tornado is broadcast live on KARE TV in Minnesota when the station's helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter.
- September 2 - For one week, CBS News anchor Dan Rather attempts to initiate the use of the word "Courage" as a slogan. The attempt is a failure, and is noticed by other members of the press.
- September 6 - Part One of Trial of a Time Lord is broadcast on BBC1, marking the return to air of Doctor Who after an 18-month hiatus.
- September 26 - The 10th season premiere of Dallas finds Bobby Ewing alive, well, and having showered, and the events of the past year (including his death) apparently being a dream of his ex-wife Pamela's.
- October - The Fox Broadcasting Company becomes the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network.
- December - Millions tune in to watch "Dirty" Dennis Watts hand wife Angie her divorce papers in EastEnders.
- ABC becomes the second American station to discontinue use of chime intonations at the beginning of telecasts, as the network moves to satellite feed activation.
- On The Facts of Life, Charlotte Rae leaves the role of Mrs. Garrett and is replaced by Cloris Leachman, who played Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett's sister.
Debuts
Television shows
- Meet the Press (1947-present).
- Candid Camera (1948-present).
- Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
- American Bandstand (1952-1989).
- Guiding Light (1952-present).
- The Today Show (1952-present).
- Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
- Face the Nation (1954-present).
- The Tonight Show (1954-present).
- This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
- As the World Turns (1956-present).
- What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
- The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
- Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
- Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
- Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
- Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
- The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
- Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
- General Hospital (1963-present).
- Another World (1964-1999).
- Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
- Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
- Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
- Play School (1966-present).
- The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
- 60 Minutes (1968-present).
- One Life to Live (1968-present).
- Hee Haw (1969-1993).
- Sesame Street (1969-present).
- The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989).
- All My Children (1970-present).
- Monday Night Football (1970-present).
- Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
- Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987).
- Soul Train (1971-present).
- Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
- John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
- The Price Is Right (1972-present).
- Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
- The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
- Countdown (Australia) (1974-1987).
- Derrick (1974-1998).
- Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
- Good Morning America (1975-present).
- Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975-1994).
- Ryan's Hope (1975-1989).
- Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
- the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
- Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
- The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987).
- 20/20 (1978-present).
- 3-2-1 (UK) (1978-1987).
- Dallas (1978-1991).
- Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
- Knots Landing (1979-1993).
- The Facts of Life (1979-1988).
- You Can't Do That on Television (Canada) (1979-1990).
- Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988).
- Solid Gold (1980-1988).
- Dynasty (1981-1989).
- Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
- Falcon Crest (1981-1990).
- Gimme a Break! (1981-1987).
- Hill Street Blues (1981-1987).
- Simon & Simon (1981-1988).
- Today's Special (Canada) (1981-1987).
- Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988).
- Cheers (1982-1993).
- Fame (1982-1987).
- Family Ties (1982-1989).
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993).
- Newhart (1982-1990).
- Remington Steele (1982-1987).
- Silver Spoons (1982-1987).
- St. Elsewhere (1982-1988).
- The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992).
- Fraggle Rock (1983-1988).
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987).
- The A-Team (1983-1987).
- Webster (1983-1989).
- Highway to Heaven (1984-1989).
- Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
- Kate and Allie (1984-1989).
- Miami Vice (1984-1989).
- Mother and Son (Australia) (1984-1994).
- Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996).
- Night Court (1984-1992).
- Punky Brewster (1984-1988).
- Santa Barbara (1984-1993).
- Tales from the Darkside (1984-1988).
- The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
- The Cosby Show (1984-1992).
- Who's the Boss? (1984-1992).
- 227 (1985-1990).
- EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
- Growing Pains (1985-1992).
- It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989).
- MacGyver (1985-1992).
- Moonlighting (1985-1989).
- Mr. Belvedere (1985-1990).
- Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
- Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
- Sally (1985-2002).
- The Golden Girls (1985-1992).
- The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002).
- What's Happening Now!! (1985-1988).
- Loving (1983-1995).
- Mama's Family (1983-1984, 1986-1990) (returning in syndication after a two-year gap in production).
Ending this year
Changes of network affiliation
- Silver Spoons moves from NBC to first-run syndication.
Births
Deaths
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