The year 1990 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1990.
For the American TV schedule, see: 1990-91 United States network television schedule.
Debuts
Television shows
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
- Entertainment Tonight (1981— )
- What Now (1982— )
- Timewatch (UK) (1982— )
- Cheers (1982–1993)
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993)
- The Journal (Canada) (1982–1992)
- Loving (1983–1995)
- Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984— )
- Mother and Son (Australia) (1984–1994)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
- Night Court (1984–1992)
- Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
- The Bill (UK) (1984— )
- The Cosby Show (1984–1992)
- Who's the Boss? (1984–1992)
- EastEnders (UK) (1985— )
- Growing Pains (1985–1992)
- MacGyver (1985–1992)
- Neighbours (Australia) (1985— )
- Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996–1997, 2001–2003)
- Sally (1985–2002)
- T-Bag and the Pearls of Wisdom and T-Bag's Christmas Ding Dong (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
- The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
- Amen (1986–1991)
- Designing Women (1986–1993)
- Double Dare (1986–1993)
- Hey Dad...! (Australia) (1986–1994)
- L.A. Law (1986–1994)
- Matlock (1986–1996)
- Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1991)
- Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)
- The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986— )
- Comic Relief (UK) (1986— )
- Casualty (UK) (1986— )
- A Different World (1987–1993)
- Beadle's About (UK) (1987–1996)
- ChuckleVision (UK) (1987— )
- Full House (1987–1995)
- Going Live! (UK) (1987–1993)
- Inspector Morse (1987–2000)
- Knightmare (UK) (1987–1994)
- Married... with Children (1987–1997)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987–1996)
- The Bold and the Beautiful (1987— )
- thirtysomething (1987–1991)
- Unsolved Mysteries (1987-1998, 2001-2002, 2008-present).
- America's Most Wanted (1988— )
- The American Experience (1988— )
- Fair City (1988— )
- Home and Away (1988— )
- This Morning (1988— )
- Red Dwarf (UK) (1988–1999)
- Children's Ward (UK) (1988–2000)
- Empty Nest (1988–1995)
- Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999— )
- Garfield and Friends (1988–1995)
- Murphy Brown (1988–1998)
- Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
- Roseanne (1988–1997)
- The Wonder Years (1988–1993)
- 48 Hours (1988— )
- The Adventures of Superboy (1988–1992)
- Electric Circus (1988–2003)
- Acropolis Now (Australia) (1989–1992)
- Baywatch (1989–2001)
- Cops (1989— )
- Family Matters (1989–1998)
- Fast Forward (Australia) (1989–1992)
- Inside Edition (1989— )
- Life Goes On (1989–1993)
- Maid Marian and her Merry Men (UK) (1989–1994)
- Press Gang (UK) (1989–1993)
- Seinfeld (1989–1998)
- Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996)
- The Arsenio Hall Show (1989–1994)
- About Face (1989–1991)
- The Big Gig (Australia) (1989–1992)
- The Simpsons (1989— )
- Match Game (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999)
Ending this year
Cancelled, but eventually to return on air
Changes of network affiliation
Births
Deaths
- January 2 - Alan Hale, Jr., actor (Skipper Jonas Grumby on Gilligan's Island)
- January 9 - Northern Calloway, actor (David on Sesame Street)
- January 18 - Rusty Hamer, former child actor (Make Room For Daddy), suicide
- February 15 - Jack Fletcher, character actor
- March 24 - Ray Goulding, comedian, half of the comedy team Bob and Ray.
- May 10 - Susan Oliver, actress
- May 16 - Jim Henson, puppeteer
- May 21 - Franklyn Seales, actor (Dexter on Silver Spoons), AIDS
- May 25 - Vic Tayback, actor (Mel Sharples on Alice)
- June 2 - Jack Gilford, actor
- July 7 - Bill Cullen, game show host
- July 8 - Howard Duff, actor
- October 26 - William S. Paley, founder and longtime head of CBS
- November 3 - Mary Martin, actress/singer
- November 27 - David White, actor (Larry Tate on Bewitched)
- December 2 - Bob Cummings, actor
- December 28 - Kiel Martin, actor (Officer J.D. LaRue on Hill Street Blues)
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