1981 in television

See also: 1980 in television, other events of 1981, 1982 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1981-82 American network television schedule.

Events

*January 20 - Comedian Andy Kaufman ruins sketches and starts a brawl live on the air during ABC's Fridays.
*March 9 - Walter Cronkite resigns as head anchor of the CBS Evening News and is succeeded by Dan Rather.
*March 21 - After 7-years starring in Doctor Who, Tom Baker makes his final appearance as the 4th Doctor in Part 4 of Logopolis. Peter Davison makes his first appearance as the 5th Doctor at the conclusion of that story.
*April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries One Day at a Time actress Valerie Bertinelli.
*July 27 - In a specially timed event by the show's writers, Ken Barlow marries Deirdre Langton on Coronation Street, just two days before the real-life wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. The wedding of Ken and Deirdre is watched by over 24 million viewers in Britain, beating the Royal wedding in the ratings.
*August 1 - The MTV network debuts on cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day.
*November - The Doctors airs its milestone 5000th episode.
*November 2 - American soap opera As the World Turns 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 hosts his last episode of Wheel of Fortune after a salary dispute with show producer and creator Merv Griffin. Pat Sajak takes over as host the next Monday, the 28th; Sajak hosts Wheel to this day.

Debuts

*January 5 - Triangle debuts in the UK (1981-1983).
*January 12 - Dynasty premieres on ABC (1981-1989).
*January 15 - Hill Street Blues premieres on NBC (1981-1987).
*March - The Greatest American Hero premieres on ABC.
*May 16 - SCTV Network 90, a repackaging of the Canadian series SCTV, debuts on NBC (1981-1983).
*September 14 - Entertainment Tonight premieres in syndication (1981-present).
*September 15 - Only Fools and Horses premieres in the UK (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
*September 15 - Seeing Things premieres (1981-1987).
*September 26 - Game for a Laugh premieres in the UK (1981-1986).
*October 28 - The Fall Guy premieres on ABC (1981-1986).
*October 29 - Gimme a Break premieres on NBC (1981-1987).
*November 24 - Simon & Simon premieres on CBS (1981-1988).
*December 4 - Falcon Crest premieres on CBS (1981-1990).
The Kids of Degrassi Street premieres in Canada (1981-1985)
Postman Pat premieres in the UK (1981, 1996, 2004-present).
Today's Special premieres in Canada (1981-1987).

Miniseries

Family Reunion, starring Bette Davis
The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Starring Simon Jones
A Town Called Alice

Television shows

1940s

Meet the Press (1947-present).
Candid Camera (1948-present).
Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995)

1950s

Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
American Bandstand (1952-1989).
Guiding Light (1952-present).
The Today Show (1952-present).
Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983).
Face the Nation (1954-present).
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992).
Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984).
The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982).
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)

1960s

Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
It's Academic (1961-present).
The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
General Hospital (1963-present).
The Doctors (1963-1982).
Another World (1964-1999).
Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985).
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)

1970s

All My Children (1970-present).
Monday Night Football (1970-present).
Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984).
Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987).
Soul Train (1971-present).
Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985).
Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972-1984).
John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
M*A*S*H (1972-1983).
The Price Is Right (1972-present).
Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986).
Superstars (UK) (1973-1985, 2003-2005).
The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982).
The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
Countdown (Australia) (1974-1987).
Derrick (1974-1998).
Happy Days (1974-1984).
Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983).
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984).
Tiswas (UK) (1974-1982).
Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
Arena (UK) (1975–present).
Barney Miller (1975-1982).
Good Morning America (1975-present).
Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975-1994).
One Day at a Time (1975-1984).
Ryan's Hope (1975-1989).
Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
The Don Lane Show (Australia) (1975-1983).
the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
The Jeffersons (1975-1985).
Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
Alice (1976-1985).
Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983).
Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (UK) (1976-1982).
Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983).
Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984).
The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987).
CHiPs (1977-1983).
Fantasy Island (1977-1984).
In Search of... (1977-1982).
Lou Grant (1977-1982).
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).
Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).
Taxi (1978-1983).
WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982).
Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983).
Benson (1979-1986).
Disney's Wonderful World (1979-1981) ends on September 13 to resume on September 26 as Walt Disney
Knots Landing (1979-1993).
Real People (1979-1984).
Tales of the Unexpected (UK) (1979-1985, 1987-1988).
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).
Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
Nightline (1979-present).
This Old House (1979-present).

1980s

Bosom Buddies (1980-1982).
Fridays (1980-1982).
It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989).
Kingswood Country (Australia) (1980-1984).
Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988).
Solid Gold (1980-1988).
Texas (1980-1982).
That's Incredible! (1980-1984).
The Other 'Arf (UK) (1980-1984).
Tom and Jerry (1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982).
Too Close for Comfort (1980-1986).

Ending this year

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-1981).
Charlie's Angels (1976-1981).
Eight is Enough (1977-1981).
Match Game PM (1975-1981).
The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981).
The Muppet Show (UK) (1976-1981).
Runaround (UK) (1975-1981).
Soap (1977-1981).
The Waltons (1972-1981).

Changes of network affiliation

Walt Disney moves from NBC to CBS.
The Goodies moves from the BBC to ITV

Births

*January 1 - Holly Willoughby, British television presenter.
*February 17 - Paris Hilton, heiress and television personality in the United States.
*April 28 - Jessica Alba, US actress.
*June 5 - Jade Goody, UK actress.
*September 5 - Elize Du Toit, British actress.
*September 8 - Jonathan Taylor Thomas, US actor.
*November 8 - Azura Skye, US actress.
*December 2 - Britney Spears, singer, originally appeared on a version of the Mickey Mouse Club in the US.
*December 3 - Brian Bonsall, US actor.

Deaths

*April 26 - Jim Davis, actor (Jock Ewing) on Dallas (b. 1909).
*June 9 - Allen Ludden, game show host.
*August 1 - Paddy Chayefsky, writer.
*November 25 - Jack Albertson, actor.