Online Encyclopedia
Categories: 1980s | 1983
1983 in television
See also: 1982 in television, other events of 1983, 1984 in television and the list of 'years in television'.
Contents |
Events
- February 28 - Over 125 million Americans tune in to watch the final episode of M*A*S*H.
- March 7 - The Nashville Network (TNN) begins broadcasting.
- April 18 - The Disney Channel is launched on American cable TV.
- May 11 - Peter Adamson makes his last appearance as Len Fairclough on Coronation Street.
- September 5 - The half-hour Robert MacNeil Report changes its name to the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, becoming the first hour-long network news show.
- October 3 - During a live NBC news update, anchor Jessica Savitch appears incoherent; her speech is slurred and she deviates from her copy and ad-libs her report. Miss Savitch, dogged by rumors of drug abuse and instability, still has her contract renewed anyway.
- October 12 - Doris Speed makes her last appearance as Annie Walker on Coronation Street.
- November 20 - An estimated 100 million people watch the controversial made-for-television movie The Day After, depicting the start of a nuclear war.
- November 23 - Today's episode of Sesame Street confronts the sensitive issue of death when Big Bird learns to grasp the concept as it relates to his late friend, Mr. Hooper.
- David Canary first premieres on All My Children.
Debuts
- January 22 - Mama's Family debuts on NBC (1983-1984, 1986-1990)
- January 23 - The A-Team debuts on NBC (1983-1987)
- February 5 - The Dukes debuts on CBS (1983-1984)
- June 27 - Loving premieres on ABC (1983-1995)
- September 16 - Webster debuts on ABC (1983-1989)
- October - Scarecrow and Mrs. King premieres (1983-1987)
- Fraggle Rock, a Jim Henson production, debuts on HBO (1983-1988)
- Tucker's Luck , a spinoff of Grange Hill, premieres in the UK (1983-1985)
Popular television shows
- Meet the Press (1947-present)
- Candid Camera (1948-present)
- Truth or Consequences (1950-1988)
- Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986)
- 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)
- Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984)
- This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003)
- As the World Turns (1956-present)
- The Edge of Night (1956-1984)
- 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)
- The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present)
- Dr Who (UK) (1963-1989)
- General Hospital (1963-present)
- Another World (1964-1999)
- Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present)
- Days of Our Lives (1965-present)
- World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985)
- Play School (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)
- Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984)
- Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present)
- Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987)
- Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985)
- 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)
- Match Game—Hollywood Squares Hour (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999)
- Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986)
- The Young and the Restless (1973-present)
- Derrick (1974-1998)
- Happy Days (1974-1984)
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984)
- Fawlty Towers (UK) (1975-present)
- Good Morning America (1975-present)
- One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
- Ryan's Hope (1975-1989)
- Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
- Superstars (UK) (1975-1985, 2003-present)
- the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present)
- The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
- Wheel of Fortune (1975-present), which adds a nighttime syndication version in addition to the network daytime show
- Alice (1976-1985)
- Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present)
- Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984)
- The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987)
- Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
- The Love Boat (1977-1986)
- Three's Company (1977-1984)
- 20/20 (1978-present)
- 3-2-1 (UK) (1978-1987)
- Battle of the Planets (1978-1985)
- Dallas (1978-1991)
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
- Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present)
- Benson (1979-1986)
- Knots Landing (1979-1993)
- Real People (1979-1984)
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)
- The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986)
- You Can't Do That on Television (Canada) (1979-1990)
- Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
- Solid Gold (1980-1988)
- That's Incredible! (1980-1984)
- The Other 'Arf (UK) (1980-1984)
- Too Close for Comfort (1980-1986)
- Dynasty (1981-1989)
- Entertainment Tonight (1981-present)
- Falcon Crest (1981-1990)
- Gimme a Break! (1981-1987)
- Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)
- Simon and Simon (1981-1988)
- The Fall Guy (1981-1986)
- Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988)
- Cheers (1982-1993)
- Fame (1982-1987)
- Family Ties (1982-1989)
- Knight Rider (1982-1986)
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993)
- Newhart (1982-1990)
- Remington Steele (1982-1987)
- Silver Spoons (1982-1987)
- St. Elsewhere (1982-1988)
- Tattletales (1974-1978, 1982-1984)
- The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992)
Ending this year
- The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983)
- M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
- Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
- Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
- Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
- CHiPs (1977-1983)
- Taxi (1978-1983)
- Archie Bunker's Place (1980-1983)
- SCTV Network 90 (US) (1981-1983)
- Square Pegs (1982-1983)
Cancelled, but eventually to return to the air
- September 24 - After 29 seasons, the Walt Disney anthology series goes off the air. It will be revived, however, from 1986 to 1990.
Changes of Network Affiliation
- Fame moves from NBC to first-run syndication
- Too Close for Comfort moves from ABC to first-run syndication.
Births
- May 1 - Jennifer Ellison, British actress and singer
- May 11 - Holly Valance, New Zealand born actress and singer
- December 12 - Mathew Valencia voice of Robin/Tim Drake
Deaths
- March 16 - Arthur Godfrey, television host
- July 29 - Raymond Massey, star of Dr. Kildare
- August 3 - Carolyn Jones, actress, Morticia in The Addams Family
- August 28 - Jan Clayton , actress
- August 29 - Simon Oakland , actor
- October 23 - Jessica Savitch, NBC news anchor, age 36
- November 22 - Michael Conrad, actor on Hill Street Blues
- November 28 - Christopher George , actor
- December 28 - William Demarest , actor, Uncle Charlie in My Three Sons
Categories: 1980s | 1983
Last updated: 11-05-2004 21:49:05