1984 in television.html



The year 1984 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1984.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1984-85 United States network television schedule.

Events

• January 2 - RTL Television launched a second programme, this one in German.
• January 4 - Patricia Phoenix left Coronation Street for the second and final time as Elsie Tanner went to live with old flame Bill Gregory in Portugal.
• January 9 - Clara Peller was featured in the "Where's the Beef?" commercial campaign for Wendy's for the first time.
• January 22 - Apple Computer launched its Apple Macintosh with its famous half-time Super Bowl commercial (this was the only airing).
• January 28 - Michael Jackson's hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
• March 16 - Peter Davison's last serial as the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who, 'The Caves of Androzani', finished; Colin Baker became the Sixth Doctor in the same episode.
• May 18 - Bobby Ewing found himself in the crossfire as a rival tries to gun down his brother J.R. on the season finale of Dallas.
• May 19 - CBS taped the Michael Larson episodes of Press Your Luck in which Larson won $110,237 in cash and prizes.
• August 31 - MuchMusic launched in Canada.
• September 1 - TSN launched in Canada.
• September 1 - The Childrens Channel launched in the UK
• September 10 - Jeopardy! returned to television with a new host (Alex Trebek) in syndication.
• September 23 - British single TV drama play Threads premiered on BBC.
• Prime Minister Bob Hawke and opposition leader Andrew Peacock participated in the first televised Australian Federal Election debate.
• Batibot premiered on GMA in the Philippines as Sesame!.
• ABC purchased a majority stake of the ESPN networks and franchises.
• January 9 - Glenn Close, Ted Danson, and Roxana Zal starred in a powerful, sensitive look at incest in Something About Amelia on ABC.

Debuts

• January 4 - Night Court premieres on NBC (1984–1992).
• January 16 - Mother and Son premieres on ABC in Australia (1984–1994).
• January 22 - Airwolf premieres on CBS (1984-1987).
• January 28 - Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer premieres on CBS (1984-1985).
• February 4 - Choudenshi Bioman premieres on TV-Asahi (1984-1985).
• February 26 - Spitting Image premieres on ITV (1984-1996).
• March 19 - Kate and Allie premieres on CBS (1984–1989).
• April 1984 - Video Music Box premieres on WNYC-TV.
• April 9 - Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends premieres on ITV in the UK (1984-present).
• April 24 - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes premieres on ITV in the UK (1984–1988, 1991–1994).
• July 2 - Scrabble premieres on NBC hosted by Chuck Woolery (1984–1990, 1993).
• July 30 - Santa Barbara premieres on NBC (1984–1993).
• August 13 - Call to Glory premieres on ABC (1984-1985)
• September 10 - Jeopardy! premieres in SYN, now hosted by Alex Trebek (1984-present).
• September 15 - Jim Henson's Muppet Babies premieres on CBS's Saturday morning line-up (1984—1992).
• September 16 - Punky Brewster premieres on NBC (1984–1986, 1987–1988).
• September 17 -
  • Let's Make a Deal returns with all new shows and Monty Hall continues as host.

• September 19 - Highway to Heaven premieres on NBC (1984–1989).
• September 20 -
  • The Cosby Show debuts on NBC (1984–1992).
  • Who's the Boss? premieres on ABC (1984–1992).
• September 22 - Cover Up premieres on CBS (1984–1985).
• September 24 - Super Password premieres on NBC hosted by Bert Convy (1984–1989)
• September 28 - Miami Vice premieres on NBC (1984–1990).
• September 30 - Murder, She Wrote, starring Hollywood veteran Angela Lansbury, premieres on CBS (1984–1996).
• Tales from the Darkside (syndicated, 1984–1988).
• October 8 - Trivia Trap premieres on ABC (1984–1985).
• The Gillies Report premieres on ABC in Australia (1984–1985).

Miniseries

• Celebrity
• Fatal Vision
• V: The Final Battle
• Bodyline
• Waterfront
• Eureka Stockade
• The Last Bastion

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947— )
• Candid Camera (1948— )
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995)

1950s

• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
• Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951— )
• American Bandstand (1952–1989)
• Guiding Light (1952— )
• The Today Show (1952— )
• Panorama (UK) (1953— )
• Face the Nation (1954— )
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955–2003)
• As the World Turns (1956— )
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956— )
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957— )
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958— )
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (UK) (1960— )
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961- ).
• It's Academic (1961— )
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963–1989, 1996, 2005— )
• General Hospital (1963— )
• Another World (1964–1999)
• Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-2006)
• Days of our Lives (1965— )
• World of Sport (UK) (1965–1985)
• Play School (1966— )
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966— )
• 60 Minutes (1968— )
• One Life to Live (1968— )
• Hee Haw (1969–1993)
• Sesame Street (1969— )
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969–1989)

1970s

• All My Children (1970— )
• Monday Night Football (1970–2005)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971— )
• Whistle Test (UK) (1971–1987)
• Soul Train (1971— )
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972–1985)
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972— )
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972— )
• The Price Is Right (1972— )
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973— )
• Match Game—Hollywood Squares Hour (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999)
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973–1986)
• Superstars (UK) (1973–1985, 2003–2005)
• The Young and the Restless (1973— )
• Countdown (Australia) (1974–1987)
• Derrick (1974–1998)
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974— )
• Arena (UK) (1975— )
• Good Morning America (1975— )
• Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975–1994)
• Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
• Saturday Night Live (1975— )
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975— )
• The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975— )
• Alice (1976–1985)
• Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999— )
• The P.T.L. Club (1976–1987)
• The Love Boat (1977–1986)
• 20/20 (1978— )
• 3-2-1 (UK) (1978–1987)
• Battle of the Planets (1978–1985)
• Dallas (1978–1991)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978— )
• Benson (1979–1986)
• Knots Landing (1979–1993)
• 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— )
• Nightline (1979— )
• This Old House (1979— )

1980s

• Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988)
• Solid Gold (1980–1988)
• Too Close for Comfort (1980–1986)
• Dynasty (1981–1989)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981— )
• Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
• Gimme a Break! (1981–1987)
• Hill Street Blues (1981–1987)
• Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats (1984-1987)
• Inspector Gadget (1983-1986)
• Simon & Simon (1981–1988)
• The Fall Guy (1981–1986)
• Today's Special (Canada) (1981–1987)
• What Now (1982— )
• Timewatch (UK) (1982— )
• Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988)
• Capitol (1982–1987)
• 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)
• The Journal (Canada) (1982–1992)
• Fraggle Rock (1983–1988)
• Loving (1983–1995)
• Mama's Family (1983–1985, 1986–1990)
• Press Your Luck (1983–1986)
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983–1987)
• The A-Team (1983–1987)
• Tucker's Luck (UK) (1983–1985)
• Webster (1983–1989)
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984— )
• The Jetsons (1962–1963, 1984–1985, 1987)
• Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends(1984— )

Ending this year

• Australia, You're Standing in It (Australia) (1983–1984)
• Captain Kangaroo (1955–December 8, 1984)
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974–1984)
• The Dukes (1983–1984)
• The Edge of Night (1956–December 28, 1984)
• Fantasy Island (1977–August 18, 1984)
• Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–August 1984)
• Happy Days (1974–July 12, 1984)
• Hart to Hart (1979-May 1984)
• Kingswood Country (Australia) (1980–September 1984)
• One Day at a Time (1975–September 2, 1984)
• The Other 'Arf (UK) (1980–1984)
• Play for Today (UK) (1970–1984)
• Real People (1979–July 4, 1984)
• Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976–1984)
• Tattletales (1974–1978, 1982–June 1, 1984)
• That's Incredible! (1980–April 30, 1984)
• Three's Company (1977–September 18, 1984)
• Whiz Kids (1983 – June 2, 1984)
• The Young Ones (UK) (1982, 1984)

Births

• January 2 - Bryony Afferson, actress
• February 24 - Patrick John Kennedy, Irish politician and only elected member of an ancient royal house
• March 20 - Christy Carlson Romano, actress
• March 28 - Nikki Sanderson, actress
• April 8 - Taran Noah Smith, actor
• April 22 - Michelle Ryan, actress
• May 29 - Carmelo Anthony, American basketball player
• June 13 - Phillip Van Dyke, voice actor ("Arnold" from Hey Arnold! in 1997-1999)
• September 23 - Anneliese van der Pol, actress
• November 22 - Scarlett Johansson, American actress
• December 30 - LeBron James, American basketball player

Deaths

• March 1 - Jackie Coogan, actor, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family
• March 24 - Sam Jaffe, actor, co-starred as Dr. Zorba in Ben Casey
• May 4 - Jack Barry, game show host/producer
• May 4 - Diana Dors, British actress
• May 16 - Andy Kaufman, comedian, played Latka Gravas on Taxi
• June 15 - Ned Glass, actor
• October 18 - Jon-Erik Hexum shot himself in a freak accident on the set of the TV series Cover Up