1985 in television

See also: 1984 in television, other events of 1985, 1986 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1985-86 American network television schedule.

Events

*January 3 - The last 405-line transmitters are switched off in the UK.
*February 18 - BBC1 in the UK undergoes a major relaunch. At 5.35 p.m., the legendary mechanical "mirror globe" ident, in use in varying forms since 1969, is seen for the last time in regular rotation on national BBC1. Its replacement, the COW (Computer Originated World, a computer generated globe) debuts at 7pm. On the same day, computer-generated graphics replace magnetic weather maps on all BBC forecasts, and Terry Wogan's eponymous talk show is relaunched as a thrice-weekly live primetime programme. EastEnders launches the following day.
*March 2 - The NBC sitcom Gimme a Break! broadcasts an episode live.
*April 28 - In the UK, the World Snooker Championship Final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis draws BBC2's highest ever rating of 18.5 million viewers.
*May 10 - The first episode of Saturday Night's Main Event airs on NBC, the first time that professional wrestling had aired on network television since the 1950s.
*May 17 - The season finale of Dallas finds Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) on his deathbed after his crazed ex-sister in law runs him down in her car.
*July 31 - The War Game, made for the BBC's The Wednesday Play strand in 1965 but banned from broadcast at the time, is finally shown on television as part of BBC2's After the Bomb season.
*August 19 - David Letterman of NBC's Late Night interrupts The Today Show with a megaphone while both shows are on the air. Letterman leaned out the window of his building and announced "My name is Larry Grossman [then president of NBC News] and I'm not wearing any pants!". The Today Show was taping an interview several stories below.
*September 14 - In part one of a three-part season premiere on The Facts of Life, Edna's Edibles, the main focal point of the long-running series since 1983, was burned to the ground.
*November 17 - Kane & Abel, a miniseries based on the bestselling Jeffrey Archer novel debuts on CBS television.
*December 3 - Copacabana airs on U.S. television.
*December 8 - Lindenstraße, the first German soap opera, first airs on ARD.
*NBC becomes the first commercial television network to use satellite interconnection for its stations; as a result, it is the first station to discontinue use of chime intonations at the beginning of each telecast, to signal to the affiliates to start airing the network feed.
*Actress Courteney Cox uses the word "period" (in the physical sense) on U.S. television for the first time, in a commercial for Tampax brand tampons.
*Elmo, a new character for Sesame Street, is introduced.
*Douglas Marland starts his critically-acclaimed eight-year run writing for As the World Turns.
*Sábado Gigante moves from Chile to Univision studios in Miami, Florida.
*At the close of its 22nd season, Doctor Who is abruptly "rested" by BBC1 Controller Michael Grade. He intended to cancel the show outright, but the production office remained open and a much-changed 23rd season was broadcast in 986. Many fans would conduct vocal protests over the next year, urging the BBC to bring the series back.
*NBC becomes the first broadcast network in the U.S. to air its prime time programs in stereo.
*Jon Lovitz and Dennis Miller join Saturday Night Live.
The Key to Rebecca a television movie starring Season Hubley airs on U.S. television.

Debuts

*February 19 - EastEnders premieres on the BBC (1985â€" ).
*March 5 - Moonlighting premieres on ABC (1985â€"1989).
*March 15 - Mr. Belvedere, based on a series of three films starring Clifton Webb, premieres on ABC (1985â€"1990).
*March 18 - Neighbours premieres in Australia (1985â€" ).
*September 9 - The $100,000 Pyramid premieres in syndication and gives 3 players who go to the top of the pyramid return for a tournament of champion returns for $100,000 in cash hosted once again by Dick Clark (entertainer).
*September 14 - The Golden Girls premieres on NBC (1985â€"1992).
*September 14 - 227 premieres on NBC (1985â€"1990).
*September 24 - Growing Pains premieres on ABC (1985â€"1992).
*September 29 - MacGyver premieres on ABC (1985â€"1992).
*October 4 - The short-lived Misfits of Science premieres (1985).
*Edge of Darkness premieres (1985).
*Sally premieres (1985â€"2002).
*What's Happening Now