1971 in television

The year 1971 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1971.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1971-72 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 1 – The final cigarette advertisements are televised in the United States, with the final one occurring during that evening's broadcast of The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson on NBC.
• January 3 – BBC Open University broadcasts begin in the UK.
• January 12 – CBS airs the first episode of All in the Family, with a disclaimer at the beginning of the program warning viewers about potentially offensive content. Within a year, it became television's most popular program, and started a trend toward realism in situation comedies.
• January 27 – Valerie Barlow is electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer, and then perishes in a house fire on Coronation Street.
• February 23 – The Selling of the Pentagon documentary airs on CBS.
• March 2 – On an All in the Family episode, Archie and Edith get brand new next-door neighbors—Michael and Gloria's best friend, Lionel Jefferson (played by Mike Evans) and his parents. The episode marks Isabel Sandford's first appearance as Louise Jefferson; George Jefferson would not be depicted on-screen until 1973 (by Sherman Hemsley).
• March 11 – ABC cancels The Lawrence Welk Show after sixteen years on the network. The show, however, returns to the airwaves in syndication in September, where it would run for another eleven years.
• April 3 – RTÉ launches Color television in Ireland with the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, held in Dublin.
• May – CBS debuts its schedule for the fall 1971 season, and cancels, in the words of Pat Buttram, "every show that had a tree in it," including Buttram's Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Mayberry R.F.D.. Hee Haw was also canceled by CBS, but would continue production for the next two decades in syndication.
• June 7 – The UK children's magazine show Blue Peter buries a time capsule in the grounds of BBC Television Centre, due to be opened on the first episode of the year 2000.
• August 1 - The much-acclaimed 6-hour BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII, starring Keith Michell as Henry, makes its U.S. premiere; CBS would air it over 6 consecutive Sundays through September 5.
• September 13 – U.S. network prime time programming shrinks as the original Prime Time Access Rule takes effect. NBC, unable to take advantage, immediately feels the pinch and fails to win any of the 1971–72 season's first thirteen weeks.
• October 21 – One-off drama Edna, the Inebriate Woman, starring Patricia Hayes, is shown by BBC One in its Play for Today slot.
• November – Top-rated As the World Turns loses the #1 slot in the daytime Nielsens for the first time since 1959.
• Michael Zaslow first appears as Roger Thorpe on The Guiding Light.

Debuts

• January 10 – Masterpiece Theatre debuts on PBS (1971–present).
• January 12 – All in the Family premieres on CBS (1971–1979).
• April 3 – Kamen Rider premieres on MBS in Japan (1971–1973).
• April 10 – The Two Ronnies debuts on BBC1 in the UK (1971–1987).
• April 21 – The Return of Ultraman debuts on TBS in Japan. (1971–1972)
• September 11 – Sabrina, the Teenage Witch premieres on CBS Saturday Morning (1971–1972).
• September 11 – Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch premieres on CBS Saturday Morning (1971–1974).
• September 11 – The Jackson 5ive premieres on ABC Saturday Morning (1971–1973).
• September 11 – The Funky Phantom premieres on ABC Saturday Morning (1971–1972).
• September 11 – Lidsville premieres on ABC Saturday Morning (1971–1973).
• September 17 – McMillan & Wife (1971–1977);
• September 21 – The Old Grey Whistle Test premiered on BBC2 (1971–1987).
• October 2 -Soul Train, the African-American equivalent to American Bandstand, premieres (1971–2006).
• October 10 – Upstairs, Downstairs debuts in the UK on ITV (1971–1975, 2010–present).
• October 25 – The Electric Company, a skit-based children's program aimed at teaching reading skills, premieres on PBS (1971–1977).
• September 18 – The New Dick Van Dyke Show premieres on CBS (1971–1974).
• August 1 – The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour premieres on CBS (1971–1974).
• NBC Mystery Movie premieres (1971–1977) as a wheel show featuring:
  • McCloud (premiered in 1970);
  • Columbo (1971–1978).

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947–present).
• Candid Camera (1948–present).
• Bozo the Clown (1949–present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995).

1950s

• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
• Love of Life (1951–1980)
• Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
• American Bandstand (1952–1989)
• Death Valley Days (1952–1975)
• The Guiding Light (1952–2009)
• Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
• The Today Show (1952–present)
• Panorama, UK (1953–present).
• The Good Old Days, UK (1953–1983).
• Face the Nation (1954–present).
• The Secret Storm (1954–1974).
• The Tonight Show (1954–present; 1962–1992 as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson)
• Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984).
• Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955–1976).
• Gunsmoke (1955–1975).
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–1982).
• This Is Your Life, UK (1955–2003).
• As the World Turns (1956–2010).
• Opportunity Knocks, UK (1956–1978).
• The Edge of Night (1956–1984).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956–2008).
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957–present).
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958–present).
• Grandstand (UK) (1958–2007).
• Bonanza (1959–1973).

1960s

• Coronation Street, UK (1960–present).
• My Three Sons (1960–1972).
• ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961–1998)
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present).
• It's Academic (1961–present).
• The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981).
• The Late Late Show, Ireland (1962–present).
• Password (1962–1967, 1971–1975, 1979–1982, 1984–1989, 2008–)
• Professional Bowlers Tour (1962–1997)
• The World Tonight, Philippines (1962–present)
• Z-Cars, UK (1962–1978).
• Doctor Who, UK (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present).
• The Doctors (1963–1982).
• General Hospital (1963–present)
• Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963–1988, 2002–present)
• Another World (1964–1999).
• Bewitched (1964–1972).
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965–present, aired annually).
• It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966–present, aired annually).
• Charlie Brown's All-Stars (1966–1972, aired annually).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006).
• Days of our Lives (1965–present).
• The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974).
• Tom and Jerry (1965–1972, 1975–1977, 1980–1982)
• World of Sport (UK) (1965–1985).
• Mission: Impossible (1966–1973).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966–present).
• The Newlywed Game (1966–1974).
• Play School (1966–present).
• Ironside (1967–1975).
• Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973).
• Mannix (1967–1975).
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978).
• 60 Minutes (1968–present).
• Dad's Army (UK) (1968–1977).
• The Doris Day Show (1968–1973).
• Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980).
• Here's Lucy (1968–1974).
• Laugh-In (1968–1973).
• Magpie (UK) (1968–1980).
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)
• The Mod Squad (1968–1973).
• One Life to Live (1968–present).
• The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989).
• The Brady Bunch (1969–1974).
• Bright Promise (1969–1972).
• The Dick Cavett Show (1969–1974)
• Hee Haw (1969–1993).
• Love, American Style (1969–1974).
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976).
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) (1969–1974).
• Room 222 (1969–1974).
• Sesame Street (1969–present).
• Clangers (UK) (1969–1972).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969–1979 under this title)
• What's My Line? (1968–1975, syndicated version).
• Where the Heart Is (1969–1973).

1970s

• All My Children (1970–present).
• Doomwatch (UK) (1970–1972).
• Famous Jury Trials (1971–1972).
• Mary Tyler Moore (1970–1977).
• McCloud (1970–1977).
• Monday Night Football (1970–present).
• Play for Today (UK) (1970–1984).
• The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974).
• The Odd Couple (1970–1975).
• The Partridge Family (1970–1974).

Ending this year

• January 17 – The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969–1971).
• March 23 – Julia (1968–1971).
• March 29 – Mayberry R.F.D. (formerly The Andy Griffith Show, 1960–1971).
• April 2 – Dark Shadows (1966–1971).
• April 27 – Green Acres (1965–1971).
• May 5 – The Johnny Cash Show (1969–1971).
• June 6 – The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971).
• July 4 – Hogan's Heroes (1965–1971).
• July 24 – UFO (UK) (1970–1971).
• September 7 – The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).
• September 9 – Family Affair (1966–1971).
• September 10 – That Girl (1966–1971).
• October 22 – What's New (1959–1971); this was the show The Electric Company replaced on the PBS schedule.

Changes of network affiliation

• The Lawrence Welk Show moves from ABC to first-run syndication.
• Hee Haw, from CBS to first-run syndication.

Births

• January 1 – Suzanne Virdee, British regional TV newscaster.
• January 5 – Jayne Middlemiss, UK television presenter.
• January 6 – Charlie Neil, British regional TV weather reader.
• January 7 – Gillian Lacey-Solymar, television presenter
• January 12 – Jay Burridge, UK television presenter
• January 13 – Sarah Tansey, UK actress.
• January 14 – Yiolanda Koppel, UK television presenter
• January 15 – Regina King, American actress.
• January 16 – Julia Ford, English actress
• January 18 – Wendy Elsmore, television presenter.
• January 19 – Shawn Wayans, American actor
• January 20 – Pixie McKenna, Irish television presenter
• January 21 – Amy Lame
• January 22 – Dawn Harper, British television presenter
• January 23 – Lorne Spicer, British television presenter
• February 15 – Alex Borstein, Actress/comedian.
• February 16 – Amanda Holden.
• February 23 – Melinda Messenger, British television presenter and model.
• February 25 – Sean Astin, American actor.
• March 2 – Lisa Lackey, Australian actress
• March 4 – Shavar Ross, American actor.
• March 9 – Emmanuel Lewis, American actor.
• March 11 – Johnny Knoxville, American actor/host.
• April 12 – Shannen Doherty, American actress.
• May 26 – Matt Stone, American writer/animator.
• June 5 – Mark Wahlberg, American actor
• June 16 – 2Pac, rapper (died 1996)
• July 9 – Dani Behr, television presenter and actress.
• July 12 – Kristi Yamaguchi, Professional ice skater
• July 30 – Tom Green, comedian.
• August 9 – Kate Sanderson
• August 10 – Angie Harmon, American actress.
• September 2 – Lisa Snowdon
• September 8 – Brooke Burke.
• September 9 – Natasha Kaplinsky, British television presenter.
• September 21 – Alfonso Ribeiro, American actor.
  • Luke Wilson, American actor.
• September 25 – Jessie Wallace, British actress.
• September 28 – Liza Walker, British actress.
• September 30 – Jenna Elfman, American actress.
• October 13 – Sacha Baron Cohen, British comedian.
• October 20 – Snoop Dogg, American rapper.
• October 29 – Winona Ryder, American actress.
• November 5 – Corin Nemec, American actor.
• November 25 – Christina Applegate, American actress.
• December 5 – Justine Kerrigan, British actress.
• December 26 – Jared Leto, American actor/ musician.

Deaths

• March 11 – Philo Farnsworth, 64, television pioneer.
• March 15 – Bebe Daniels, 70, actress.
• December 12 – David Sarnoff, 80, television pioneer.
• December 30 – Melba Rae, 49, soap opera actress (Search for Tomorrow).