1986 in television

From Free net encyclopedia

For the American network television schedule, please see 1986-87 American network television schedule.

1 Events
2 Debuts
3 Miniseries
4 Television shows
- 4.1 1940s
- 4.2 1950s
- 4.3 1960s
- 4.4 1970s
- 4.5 1980s
5 Ending this year
6 Changes of network affiliation
7 Births
8 Deaths

[edit]

Events

January 6 - A Vicks Formula 44 ad premieres, starring Peter Bergman from All My Children, in which he told the viewing audience "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." This phrase, first used in the early 1970s by Robert Young of Marcus Welby, M.D. fame, was subsequently parodied in many pop culture references.
January 28 - NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft explodes, live on television.
February 11 - Culture Club lead singer Boy George appears on an episode of The A-Team.
February 14 - Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the popular television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie".
February 22 - In honor of the 20th anniversary of The Monkees premiering on television, MTV broadcasts "Pleasant Valley Sunday," a 22-hour marathon of Monkees episodes.
February - On the soap opera Search for Tomorrow, the entire town of Henderson is washed away in a flood. Lead character Joanne Tourneur's (Mary Stuart) motel is the only structure in town left standing.
March 10 - The first advert for a sanitary towel is broadcast on British television, on Channel 4.
Spring - after four seasons, NBC cancels Remington Steele. This announcement results in series star Pierce Brosnan being named the newest actor to play James Bond. As a result of the media frenzy surrounding Brosnan's appointment, as well as the corresponding upswing in Steele's ratings, NBC reverses its decision and announces Steele will return midway through the 1986-87 season. This results in the Bond film producers withdrawing their offer to Brosnan, though he would reacquire the 007 role in 1995.
May 8 - NBC unveils its new Peacock logo.
May 10 - Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe marries actress Heather Locklear.
May 16 - Bobby Ewing is revealed to be alive and showering in his wife Pam's bathroom in the season finale of Dallas, in which it was shown that the entire 1985-86 season was a dream.
May 22 - Cher calls David Letterman an "asshole" on the air during a taping of Late Night with David Letterman.
June 18 - The original Rovers' Return sets are set ablaze on the British soap opera Coronation Street; in the story, the pub was gutted with owner Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) inside, sleeping.
June - The Yorkshire Television ITV region becomes the first UK terrestrial channel to broadcast 24 hours a day, initially simulcasting the cable music video channel Music Box throughout the night. The other ITV regions gradually switch to 24 hour television over the next two years.
July 18 - A tornado is broadcast live on KARE TV in Minneapolis when the station's helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter.
September 2 - For one week, CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather attempts to initiate the use of the word "Courage" as a slogan. The attempt is a failure, and is noticed by other members of the press.
September 6 - Part One of The Trial of a Time Lord is broadcast on BBC1, marking the return to air of Doctor Who after an 18-month hiatus.
October 9 - The Fox Broadcasting Company becomes the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network.
December 25 - 30.15 million tune in to watch "Dirty" Dennis Watts hand wife Angie her divorce papers in EastEnders, making it the highest rated episode of any soap in British television history.
ABC becomes the second American station to discontinue use of chime intonations at the beginning of telecasts, as the network moves to satellite feed activation.
On The Facts of Life, Charlotte Rae leaves the role of Mrs. Garrett and is replaced by Cloris Leachman, who played Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett's sister.
Rod Roddy becomes the permanent announcer on the long-running CBS daytime game show The Price is Right.

[edit]

Debuts

January - Hey Dad...! premieres in Australia (1986-1994).
January 3- the revival of Card Sharks premires with host Bob Eubanks with replaces Body Language (game show) on CBS.
February 2 - The Disney Sunday Movie (1986-1988) (revival of 1954-1983 series).
February 26 - Dragon Ball premieres on Fuji TV in Japan.
March 25 - Perfect Strangers premieres on ABC (1986-1993).
April 25 - Comic Relief (UK) premieres on BBC One (1986-present).
September 6 - Casualty (UK) premieres on BBC One (1986-present).
September 8 - A.M. Chicago changes its name to The Oprah Winfrey Show and premieres on national television (1986-present).
September 13 - Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986-1991) on CBS.
September 15 - L.A. Law premieres on NBC (1986-1994).
September 15 - the 1st true revival of The Hollywood Squares (1986-1989) premires with host John Davidson.
September 22 - ALF (1986-1990) on NBC.
September 23 - Matlock (1986-1995) on NBC.
September 23 - Sledge Hammer! (1986-1988) on ABC.
September 27 - Amen (1986-1991) on NBC.
September 29 - Designing Women (1986-1993) on CBS.
October 6 - Double Dare (1986-1993) on Nickelodeon.

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Miniseries

November 16-December 21 - The Singing Detective (UK) on BBC One.
Dream West
The Last Frontier
North and South: Book II

[edit]

Television shows

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1940s

Meet the Press (1947-present).
Candid Camera (1948-present).
Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).

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1950s

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
American Bandstand (1952-1989).
Guiding Light (1952-present).
The Today Show (1952-present).
Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
Face the Nation (1954-present).
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992).
This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
As the World Turns (1956-present).
What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).

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1960s

Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
It's Academic (1961-present).
The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
General Hospital (1963-present).
Another World (1964-1999).
Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
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).

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1970s

All My Children (1970-present).
Monday Night Football (1970-present).
Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987).
Soul Train (1971-present).
Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
The Price Is Right (1972-present).
Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
Countdown (Australia) (1974-1987).
Derrick (1974-1998).
Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
Arena (UK) (1975–present).
Good Morning America (1975-present).
Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975-1994).
Ryan's Hope (1975-1989).
Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987).
20/20 (1978-present).
3-2-1 (UK) (1978-1987).
Dallas (1978-1991).
Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
Knots Landing (1979-1993).
The Facts of Life (1979-1988).
You Can't Do That on Television (Canada) (1979-1990).
Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
Nightline (1979-present).
This Old House (1979-present).

[edit]

1980s

Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988).
Solid Gold (1980-1988).
Dynasty (1981-1989).
Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
Falcon Crest (1981-1990).
Gimme a Break! (1981-1987).
Hill Street Blues (1981-1987).
Simon & Simon (1981-1988).
Today's Special (Canada) (1981-1987).
What Now (1982-present)
Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988).
Capitol (1982-1987).
Cheers (1982-1993).
Fame (1982-1987).
Family Ties (1982-1989).
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).
Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987).
The A-Team (1983-1987).
Webster (1983-1989).
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (UK) (1984-1988, 1991-1994).
Highway to Heaven (1984-1989).
Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
Kate and Allie (1984-1989).
Miami Vice (1984-1989).
Mother and Son (Australia) (1984-1994).
Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996).
Night Court (1984-1992).
Punky Brewster (1984-1988).
Santa Barbara (1984-1993).
Tales from the Darkside (1984-1988).
The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
The Cosby Show (1984-1992).
Who's the Boss? (1984-1992).
227 (1985-1990).
EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
Growing Pains (1985-1992).
It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989).
MacGyver (1985-1992).
Moonlighting (1985-1989).
Mr. Belvedere (1985-1990).
Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
Sally (1985-2002).
T-Bag Strikes Again (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
The Golden Girls (1985-1992).
The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002).
What's Happening Now!! (1985-1988).
Loving (1983-1995).
Mama's Family (1983-1984, 1986-1990) (returning in syndication after a two-year gap in production).