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
Debuts
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).
The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983).
Face the Nation (1954 -present).
The Tonight Show (1954-present).
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).
Coronation Street (UK) (1960 -present).
Four Corners (Australia ) (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).
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).
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).
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).
Superstars (UK) (1975-1985, 2003-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).
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).
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).
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 (1940 -1958, 1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982 ).
Too Close for Comfort (1980-1986).
Ending this year
Changes of network affiliation
Walt Disney moves from NBC to CBS.
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
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