1983 in American television
The year 1983 in television involved some significant events.
| List of years in American television: |
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| 1982–83 United States network television schedule |
| 1983–84 United States network television schedule |
| List of American television programs currently in production |
Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 1 | After episode 410 of Soul Train was broadcast this day, the series goes on hiatus for Don Cornelius's brain surgery. Original episodes return on April 30 after Cornelius returns from his convalescence. |
| January 3 | Plinko is added as a pricing game on the CBS game show The Price Is Right; it will go on to become one of the most popular of the show's games. Also on this date, three new game shows debut on rival NBC: $ale of the Century, Just Men! and Hit Man. The two latter shows will leave the air after 13 weeks, whereas $ale (a revival of the hit NBC game show of the late 1960s-early 1970's) will go on to have a six-year run. |
| January 8 | The NFL playoffs begin on CBS and NBC, who televised the NFC and AFC playoff games respectively. Because a players' strike reduced the regular season from 16 to only 9 games, the National Football League created a special 16-team playoff format (dubbed the "Super Bowl Tournament", where division standings were ignored and eight teams from each conference were seeded 1–8 based on their regular season records), just for this year. As a further consequence of the strike, this marked the first (and currently only) time that NFL playoff games were regionally televised across the United States instead of nationwide. |
| February 5 | The first part of a special two-part episode of Diff'rent Strokes called "The Bicycle Man", in which Arnold and Dudley encounter a pedophile (played by Gordon Jump), is broadcast on NBC. It is notable for starting the trend of very special episodes. |
| February 6-13 | ABC broadcasts the epic miniseries The Winds of War, based on the novel by Herman Wouk. It is seen in part or in total by 140 million viewers, making it the most watched miniseries at the time. |
| February 13 | Marvin Gaye performs a soulful rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the NBA All-Star Game at The Forum in Los Angeles. VH1 would later use it as the first very first video when they premiered on January 1, 1985. And when CBS broadcast their final NBA telecast at the end of the 1990 NBA Finals, they played Gaye's 1983 rendition of the anthem during the closing credits. |
| February 23 | PBS broadcasts The Operation, a live telecast of an actual open-heart surgery. |
| February 28 | More than 125 million Americans watch the 251st and final episode of M*A*S*H on CBS, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen". |
| March 6 | Country Music Television (CMT) begins in the United States. |
| The first televised USFL football game (Los Angeles Express vs. New Jersey Generals) is broadcast by ABC. The Express would ultimately win the game, 20-15. | |
| March 7 | The Nashville Network (TNN) (known later as The National Network and Spike TV; now known as Paramount Network) begins broadcasting. |
| March 10 | MTV broadcasts the video of Michael Jackson's song "Billie Jean" for the first time. The video is the first by a black artist to gain great airplay on MTV, and is credited with helping the album Thriller, in which the song is included, become the best-selling album of all time. |
| March 19 | US First Lady Nancy Reagan makes a special appearance on an episode of the NBC comedy Diff'rent Strokes, beginning her Just Say No anti-drug campaign. |
| March 20 | NBC broadcasts the TV movie Special Bulletin, a fictional—yet realistic—depiction of a TV network's coverage of a nuclear terrorism threat in Charleston, South Carolina. The movie is an early collaboration between Edward Zwick (who directed) and Marshall Herskovitz (who wrote the teleplay); both men would create and produce thirtysomething later in the 1980s. |
| April 4 | Archie Bunker's Place broadcasts its last original episode as CBS cancels the series after four seasons (and without a proper series finale), ending Carroll O'Connor's run as Archie Bunker, which began during 1971 with All in the Family. |
| April 9 | Vin Scully makes his debut as NBC's new lead play-by-play announcer for their Major League Baseball telecasts (a role that he would maintain through the 1989 season). Scully's first broadcast for NBC is a game between Montreal and Los Angeles. |
| April 12 | David Canary makes his first appearance on the ABC soap opera All My Children. |
| April 18 | The Disney Channel is initiated on American cable TV. |
| April 21 | WTWC-TV in Tallahassee, Florida signs on, giving the Tallahassee market its first full-time NBC affiliate. |
| May 6 | A fire at Southfork threatens the lives of the Ewings on the season finale of the CBS drama series Dallas. |
| May 16 | The concert special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is broadcast by NBC; Michael Jackson, after a performance with The Jackson Five, provides the centerpiece highlight by performing, to "Billie Jean", his "moonwalk" dance for the first time on television. |
| May 22 | CBS introduces a new theme music (composed by Allyson Bellink and mostly consisting of an uptempo series of four notes and three bars each) for their coverage of the NBA. It uses a primitive-computer generated introduction (created by Bill Feigenbaum) of the NBA arenas (similar to the Boston Garden) until the 1989 Playoffs and later revived the second theme beginning in the 1989 Finals.[1] |
| May 29 | WVSB-TV in West Point, Mississippi signs on, giving the Tupelo market its first full-time ABC affiliate. |
| June 16 | Pope John Paul II arrives in his native Poland, with ABC and NBC broadcasting his arrival live (CBS, hampered by budget reductions of its news division, broadcasts The Price is Right instead). |
| June 20 | KLDH (now KTKA-TV) in Topeka, Kansas signs on, giving the Topeka market its first full-time ABC affiliate. |
| June 23 | Whitney Houston makes her national television debut when she performs on The Merv Griffin Show. |
| August 4 | The cast of NBC's series Search for Tomorrow is forced to do a live show for the first time since the program began using videotape format during 1967 due to the loss of both the regular transmission tape and a backup. |
| August 22 | In Fargo, North Dakota, ABC affiliate KTHI-TV (now KVLY-TV) swaps affiliations with long-time NBC affiliate WDAY-TV and its semi-satellite in Grand Forks, WDAZ-TV. |
| August 30 | Though the station is still regarded as profitable, Field Enterprises closes down WKBS-TV/Burlington, New Jersey-Philadelphia after failing to find a buyer. |
| September 5 | PBS's series The MacNeil/Lehrer Report becomes The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, the first American network news program to expand from a half-hour to one hour in length. |
| Tom Brokaw becomes the sole main anchor of the NBC Nightly News, ending a 17-month stint co-anchoring the broadcast with Roger Mudd. | |
| Peter Jennings becomes sole anchorman of ABC's newscast World News Tonight, after the death of Frank Reynolds two months earlier. | |
| Pam Long becomes co-main writer of the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. | |
| September 5 | During the first half of a broadcast of Monday Night Football between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, Howard Cosell refers to Washington wide-receiver Alvin Garrett as a "little monkey". Cosell's remarks immediately ignites a racial controversy and plays a key factor in his departure from the Monday Night Football booth following the 1983 NFL season. |
| September 8 | The comedy series We Got it Made debuts, the first new series on NBC's autumn list to premiere—and the start of one of the least successful new autumn show rosters for a network in history, as none of the series would survive a 2nd season (the other series being Manimal, Jennifer Slept Here, Mr. Smith, Bay City Blues, The Yellow Rose, Boone, For Love and Honor and The Rousters). |
| September 12 | The animated G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero mini-series based on the toys of the same name debuts in syndication. Another miniseries airs the following year, with an ongoing show premiering in 1985. |
| September 17 | The Peanuts gang get their very own Saturday morning cartoon series with The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show on CBS. |
| Alvin and the Chipmunks premieres on NBC. | |
| September 19 | The nighttime syndicated edition of the NBC daytime game show Wheel of Fortune premieres. The show is only picked up by 59 markets and is shut out of the top 3 markets. However, by late 1984, the show will overtake Family Feud as the number one show in syndication. As of today, it continues to be the number one show in syndication. |
| Press Your Luck premieres on CBS; the game show would end its run on September 26, 1986. | |
| September 27–29 | NBC broadcasts Live... and in Person, a live variety special program broadcast during 3 nights. Sandy Gallin is host, and performers include Neil Diamond, Liberace, Linda Ronstadt, and the cast of A Chorus Line. |
| October 3 | During a live NBC news update, anchor Jessica Savitch appears incoherent, slurring her speech, deviating from her copy and ad-libbing her report. Savitch, dogged by rumors of drug abuse and instability, still has her contract renewed, but drowns in a car accident three weeks later. |
| October 6 | The rock band R.E.M. made its television debut on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman. |
| October 10 | Adam, a TV-movie about the mysterious disappearance of Adam Walsh, makes its world premiere on NBC. The broadcast ends with a series of missing children's photographs and descriptions, along with a telephone number viewers could call to provide information on their disappearances. |
| October 30 | Mackenzie Phillips makes her final appearance as Julie Cooper Horvath on One Day at a Time. |
| November 20 | An estimated 100 million people watched the controversial made-for-TV movie The Day After on ABC, depicting the start of a nuclear war. |
| November 24 | Sesame Street on PBS dealt with the sensitive issue of death when Big Bird learns the concept as it relates to his late friend, Mr. Hooper (Will Lee, the actor who played Mr. Hooper, died of a heart attack in November 1982). |
| Jim Crockett Promotions produces the inaugural Starrcade event on closed-circuit television around the Southern United States. Predating the World Wrestling Federation's (later WWE) first WrestleMania event by two years, Starrcade would soon become Jim Crockett Promotions and later World Championship Wrestling's premiere, flagship event. | |
| December 2 | The epic (nearly 14 minutes) music video for Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is broadcast for the first time. It will become the most often repeated and famous music video of all time and increase Jackson's own popularity and the sales of the record album Thriller. |
| December 21 | Gerald Ford, Betty Ford and Henry Kissinger make cameo appearances on ABC's Dynasty.[2] |
Programs
- 20/20 (1978–present)
- 60 Minutes (1968–present)
- Alice (1976–1985)
- All My Children (1970–2011)
- American Bandstand (1952–1989)
- Another World (1964–1999)
- As the World Turns (1956–2010)
- Battle of the Planets (1978–1985)
- Benson (1979–1986)
- Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988)
- Candid Camera (1948–2004)
- Capitol (1982–1987)
- Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984)
- Cheers (1982–1993)
- CHiPs (1977–1983)
- Dallas (1978–1991)
- Days of Our Lives (1965–present)
- Derrick (1974–1998)
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
- Dynasty (1981–1989)
- Entertainment Tonight (1981–present)
- Face the Nation (1954–present)
- Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
- Fame (1982–1987)
- Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999–present)
- Family Ties (1982–1989)
- Fantasy Island (1977–1984)
- Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1984)
- General Hospital (1963–present)
- Gimme a Break! (1981–1987)
- Good Morning America (1975–present)
- Guiding Light (1952–2009)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
- Happy Days (1974–1984)
- Hart to Hart (1979–1984)
- Hee Haw (1969–1992)
- High Performance (1983)
- Hill Street Blues (1981–1987)
- Knight Rider (1982–1986)
- Knots Landing (1979–1993)
- Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993)
- Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983)
- Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983)
- Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988)
- M*A*S*H (1972–1983)
- Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
- Match Game–Hollywood Squares Hour (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999)
- Meet the Press (1947–present)
- Monday Night Football (1970–present)
- Newhart (1982–1990)
- Nightline (1979–present)
- One Day at a Time (1975–1984)
- One Life to Live (1968–2012)
- Quincy, M.E. (1976–1983)
- Real People (1979–1984)
- Remington Steele (1982–1987)
- Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
- Saturday Night Live (1975–present)
- Schoolhouse Rock! (1973–1986)
- Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
- Sesame Street (1969–present)
- Silver Spoons (1982–1987)
- Simon & Simon (1981–1988)
- Solid Gold (1980–1988)
- Soul Train (1971–2006)
- St. Elsewhere (1982–1988)
- Tattletales (1974–1978, 1982–1984)
- Taxi (1978–1983)
- That's Incredible! (1980–1984)
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–1985)
- The Edge of Night (1956–1984)
- The Facts of Life (1979–1988)
- The Fall Guy (1981–1986)
- The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
- The Love Boat (1977–1986)
- The P.T.L. Club (1976–1987)
- The Price Is Right (1972–present)
- The Today Show (1952–present)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992 [overall series 1954–present])
- The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
- This Old House (1979–present)
- Three's Company (1977–1984)
- Too Close for Comfort (1980–1986)
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979–1986)
- Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
- Wheel of Fortune (1975–1991) which adds a nighttime syndicated version in addition to the network daytime show
Debuting this year
Returning this year
| Show | Last aired | Network | Retitled as/Same | New network/Same | Return date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sale of the Century | 1973 | NBC | Same | Same | January 3 |
| Dream House | 1970 | April 4 | |||
| Battlestars | 1981 | The New Battlestars | |||
| The Paper Chase | 1979 | CBS | Same | Showtime | April 15 |
| Second Chance | 1977 | ABC | Press Your Luck | CBS | September 19 |
Ending this year
| Date | Show | Debut |
|---|---|---|
| February 3 | The Greatest American Hero | 1981 |
| February 28 | M*A*S*H | 1972 |
| March 21 | Little House on the Prairie | 1974 |
| April 1 | Hit Man | 1983 |
| Just Men! | ||
| April 10 | Gloria | 1982 |
| April 12 | Ace Crawford, Private Eye | 1983 |
| April 29 | Baby Makes Five | |
| May 10 | Laverne & Shirley | 1976 |
| May 14 | Wizards and Warriors | 1983 |
| May 24 | Joanie Loves Chachi | 1982 |
| May 31 | Bring 'Em Back Alive | |
| June 1 | Tales of the Gold Monkey | |
| June 6 | Love, Sidney | 1981 |
| June 15 | Small & Frye | 1983 |
| June 24 | Second City Television/SCTV Network 90 | 1981 |
| July 7 | The Crystal Cube | 1983 |
| July 17 | CHiPs | 1977 |
| July 20 | Taxi | 1978 |
| September 5 | The All New Popeye Hour | |
| Quincy, M.E. | 1976 | |
| September 10 | Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends | 1981 |
| September 12 | Square Pegs | 1982 |
| September 18 | Father Murphy | 1981 |
| September 21 | Archie Bunker's Place | 1979 |
| September 24 | Walt Disney anthology series (returned in 1986) | 1954 |
| October 8 | The Incredible Hulk | 1982 |
| October 29 | The Dukes | 1983 |
| November 5 | Pac-Man | 1982 |
| November 15 | Bay City Blues | 1983 |
| December 16 | Mr. Smith | |
| December 27 | Just Our Luck |
Changing networks
| Show | Moved from | Moved to |
|---|---|---|
| SCTV | NBC | Cinemax |
| Fame | Syndication | |
| Too Close for Comfort | ABC | |
| Second Chance | CBS | |
| Candid Camera | Syndication | NBC |
| The Paper Chase | CBS | Showtime |
Made-for-TV movies and miniseries
| Title | Network | Premiere date |
|---|---|---|
| Kennedy | NBC | November 20 (5 episodes) |
| Malibu | ABC | January 23 |
| The Thorn Birds | ABC | March 27 (4 episodes) |
| The Winds of War | ABC | February 6 (7 episodes) |
| V | NBC | May 1 (2 episodes) |
Television stations
Station launches
Stations changing network affiliation
| Market | Date | Station | Channel | Prior affiliation | New affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 7 | Fargo/Grand Forks, North Dakota | WDAY-TV WDAZ-TV |
6 8 |
NBC | ABC |
| KTHI-TV | 11 | ABC | NBC | ||
| April 3 | Green Bay, Wisconsin | WFRV-TV | 5 | NBC | ABC |
| WLUK-TV | 11 | ABC | NBC | ||
| August 31 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | WSBA-TV | 43 | CBS | Independent |
| April 3 | Marquette, Michigan | WJMN-TV | 3 | NBC | ABC |
Station closures
| Date | Market | Station | Channel | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 30 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | WKBS-TV | 48 | Independent |
Births
Deaths
| Date | Name | Age | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 4 | Karen Carpenter | 32 | Singer and drummer (The Carpenters) |
| March 9 | Faye Emerson | 65 | Actress (Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town) |
| March 16 | Arthur Godfrey | 79 | Host (Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts) |
| July 20 | Frank Reynolds | 53 | ABC news journalist |
| July 29 | Raymond Massey | 86 | Actor (Dr. Gillespie on Dr. Kildare) |
| August 3 | Carolyn Jones | 53 | Actress (Morticia on The Addams Family) |
| August 28 | Jan Clayton | 66 | Actress (Ellen Miller on Lassie) |
| August 29 | Simon Oakland | 68 | Actor (Baa Baa Black Sheep) |
| October 23 | Jessica Savitch | 36 | NBC news anchor |
| November 14 | Junior Samples | 57 | Comedian (Hee Haw) |
| November 22 | Michael Conrad | 58 | Actor (Sgt. Phil Esterhasz on Hill Street Blues) |
| November 28 | Christopher George | 52 | Actor (Sgt. Sam Troy on The Rat Patrol) |
| December 28 | Dennis Wilson | 39 | Singer-songwriter (The Beach Boys) and brother of Brian Wilson |
| William Demarest | 91 | Actor (Uncle Charley on My Three Sons) |
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References
- NBA on CBS
- Also Starring Gerald Ford – Entertainment Weekly. Accessed 2009-07-27. Archived 2009-07-29.
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