1984 in television

The year 1984 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1984.

Events

• January 2 - RTL Television launched a second programme, this one in German. This is the first privately-owned German-language competition for ARD and ZDF.
• January 4 - Patricia Phoenix left Coronation Street for the second and final time as Elsie Tanner went to live with old flame Bill Gregory in Portugal.
• January 9 - Clara Peller was featured in the "Where's the Beef?" commercial campaign for Wendy's for the first time.
• January 22 - Apple Computer launched its Apple Macintosh with its famous half-time Super Bowl commercial (this was the only airing).
• January 23 - Hulk Hogan defeats The Iron Sheik to win his first World Wrestling Federation championship at Madison Square Garden; the match was televised on the MSG Network.
• January 27 - Michael Jackson's hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
• February 7 - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is declared the biggest-selling album of all-time, cited as selling 47-100 million copies, by the Guinness Book of World Records.
• February 28 - Michael Jackson wins a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards, for the hugely successful album, "Thriller": Best R&B Song, Best R&B Male Vocal Performance, Best Pop Male Vocal Performance, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Producer of the Year, Best Album for Children and Best Rock Male Vocal Performance.
• March 16 - Peter Davison's last serial as the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who, 'The Caves of Androzani', finished; Colin Baker became the Sixth Doctor in the same episode.
• May 18 - Bobby Ewing found himself in the crossfire as a rival tries to gun down his brother J.R. on the season finale of Dallas.
• May 19 - CBS taped the Michael Larson episodes of Press Your Luck in which Larson won $110,237 in cash and prizes.
• August 31 - MuchMusic launched in Canada.
• September 1 - TSN launched in Canada.
• September 1 - The Children's Channel launched in the UK
• September 7 - Singer Diana Ross is dressed as a moonman at the first annual MTV Video Music Awards.
• September 10 - Jeopardy! returned to television with a new host (Alex Trebek) in syndication.
• September 23 - British single TV drama play Threads first aired on BBC Two.
• October 1 - Montana, the last state in the Union without its own PBS station, finally launches Montana PBS.
• October 27 - The short-lived music channel, Cable Music Channel launches in the United States. it aired for only one month.
• Prime Minister Bob Hawke and opposition leader Andrew Peacock participated in the first televised Australian Federal Election debate.
• ABC purchased a majority stake of the ESPN networks and franchises.
• January 9 - Glenn Close, Ted Danson, and Roxana Zal starred in a powerful, sensitive look at incest in Something About Amelia on ABC.

Debuts

• January 4 - Night Court premieres on NBC (1984–1992).
• January 16 - Mother and Son premieres on ABC in Australia (1984–1994).
• January 22 - Airwolf premieres on CBS (1984-1987).
• January 28 - Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer premieres on CBS (1984-1985).
• February 4 - Choudenshi Bioman premieres on TV-Asahi (1984-1985).
• February 26 - Spitting Image premieres on ITV (1984-1996).
• March 19 - Kate and Allie premieres on CBS (1984–1989).
• April 1984 - Video Music Box premieres on WNYC-TV.
• April 9 - Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends premieres on ITV in the UK (1984-present).
• April 24 - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes premieres on ITV in the UK (1984–1988, 1991–1994).
• July 2 - Scrabble premieres on NBC hosted by Chuck Woolery (1984–1990, 1993).
• July 30 - Santa Barbara premieres on NBC (1984–1993).
• August 13 - Call to Glory premieres on ABC (1984-1985)
• September 1 - The main news program of Canada's newly launched TSN, SportsDesk, airs for the first time. In 2001, after ESPN takes a minority stake in TSN, the program takes its current name of SportsCentre.
• September 7 - Kids Incorporated premieres in SYN for the first two seasons, then The Disney Channel airs the rest of later seasons (1984-1993).
• September 10 - Jeopardy! premieres in SYN, now hosted by Alex Trebek (1984-present).
• September 15 - Jim Henson's Muppet Babies premieres on CBS's Saturday morning line-up (1984—1992).
• September 16 - Punky Brewster premieres on NBC (1984–1986, 1987–1988).
• September 17 -
  • Transformers debut with you mini-serie More than meets the eye.
  • Let's Make a Deal returns with all new shows and Monty Hall continues as host.

• September 19 - Highway to Heaven premieres on NBC (1984–1989).
• September 20 -
  • The Cosby Show debuts on NBC (1984–1992).
  • Who's the Boss? premieres on ABC (1984–1992).
• September 22 - Cover Up premieres on CBS (1984–1985).
• September 24 - Super Password premieres on NBC hosted by Bert Convy (1984–1989)
• September 28 - Miami Vice premieres on NBC (1984–1990).
• September 30 - Murder, She Wrote, starring Hollywood veteran Angela Lansbury, premieres on CBS (1984–1996).
• Tales from the Darkside (syndicated, 1984–1988).
• October 8 - Trivia Trap premieres on ABC (1984–1985).
• The Gillies Report premieres on ABC in Australia (1984–1985).

Miniseries

• Celebrity
• Fatal Vision
• V: The Final Battle
• Bodyline
• Waterfront
• Eureka Stockade
• The Last Bastion

Television shows

1940s

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

1950s

• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
• Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
• American Bandstand (1952–1989)
• Guiding Light (1952–present)
• Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
• The Today Show (1952–present)
• Panorama, UK (1953–present)
• Face the Nation (1954–present)
• The Tonight Show (1954–present, with the full title usually including the host's name)
• 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 (1958–2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street, UK (1960–present)
• ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961–1998)
• Four Corners, Australia (1961–present)
• It's Academic (1961–present)
• The Late Late Show, Ireland (1962–present)
• Professional Bowlers Tour (1962–1997)
• The World Tonight, Philippines (1962–present)
• Doctor Who, UK (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
• General Hospital (1963–present)
• Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963–1988, 2002–present)
• Another World (1964–1999)
• Crossroads, UK (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006)
• 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)
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)
• One Life to Live (1968–present)
• Hee Haw (1969–1993)
• Sesame Street (1969–present)
• The Benny Hill Show, UK (1969–1989)

1970s

• All My Children (1970–present)
• Monday Night Football (1970–present)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
• Whistle Test (UK) (1971–1987)
• Soul Train (1971–2006)
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972–1985)
• 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)
• Match Game—Hollywood Squares Hour (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999)
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973–1986)
• Superstars (UK) (1973–1985, 2003–2005)
• 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)
• The Jeffersons (1975–1985)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975–present)
• Alice (1976–1985)
• Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999–present)
• The P.T.L. Club (1976–1987)
• The Love Boat (1977–1986)
• This Week in Baseball (1977–1998, 2000–present)
• 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) (1978–2008)
• Benson (1979–1986)
• Knots Landing (1979–1993)
• Tales of the Unexpected (UK) (1979–1985, 1987–1988)
• 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)
• Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979–present)
• Nightline (1979–present)
• SportsCenter (1979–present)
• This Old House (1979–present)

1980s

• Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988)
• Moneyline (1980–present)
• Solid Gold (1980–1988)
• Too Close for Comfort (1980–1986)
• Dynasty (1981–1989)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981— )
• Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
• Gimme a Break! (1981–1987)
• Hill Street Blues (1981–1987)
• Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats (1984-1987)
• Inspector Gadget (1983-1986)
• Simon & Simon (1981–1988)
• The Fall Guy (1981–1986)
• Today's Special (Canada) (1981–1987)
• What Now (1982— )
• Timewatch (UK) (1982— )
• Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988)
• Capitol (1982–1987)
• Cheers (1982–1993)
• Fame (1982–1987)
• Family Ties (1982–1989)
• Knight Rider (1982–1986)
• 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)
• Taggart, UK (1983-present)
• Fraggle Rock (1983–1988)
• Loving (1983–1995)
• Mama's Family (1983–1985, 1986–1990)
• Press Your Luck (1983–1986)
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983–1987)
• The A-Team (1983–1987)
• Tucker's Luck (UK) (1983–1985)
• Webster (1983–1989)
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984— )
• The Jetsons (1962–1963, 1984–1985, 1987)
• Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends(1984— )

Ending this year

• Australia You're Standing In It (Australia) (1983–1984)
• Captain Kangaroo (October 3, 1955–December 8, 1984)
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (September 13, 1973–December 1, 1984)
• The Edge of Night (April 2, 1956–December 28, 1984)
• Fantasy Island (January 14, 1978–May 19, 1984)
• Happy Days (January 15, 1974–July 12, 1984)
• Hart to Hart (August 25, 1979-May 22, 1984)
• Kingswood Country (Australia) (January 30, 1980–September 1, 1984)
• One Day at a Time (December 16, 1975–May 28, 1984)
• The Other 'Arf (UK) (May 30, 1980–March 30, 1984)
• Play for Today (UK) (October 15, 1970–August 1, 1984)
• Real People (April 18, 1979–July 4, 1984)
• Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (September 21, 1976–July 17, 1984)
• Tattletales (February 18, 1974–March 31, 1978, January 18, 1982–June 1, 1984)
• That's Incredible! (March 17, 1980–April 30, 1984)
• Three's Company (March 15, 1977–September 18, 1984)
• Whiz Kids (October 5, 1983 – June 2, 1984)
• The Young Ones (UK) (November 9, 1982 - June 19, 1984)

Births

• January 2 - Bryony Afferson, actress
• February 24 - Patrick John Kennedy, Irish politician and only elected member of an ancient royal house
• March 20 - Christy Carlson Romano, actress
• March 28 - Nikki Sanderson, actress
• April 8 - Taran Noah Smith, actor (Home Improvement)
• April 22 - Michelle Ryan, actress
• May 29 - Carmelo Anthony, American basketball player
• June 13 - Phillip Van Dyke, voice actor ("Arnold" from Hey Arnold! in 1997-1999)
• September 23 - Anneliese van der Pol, actress
• November 22 - Scarlett Johansson, American actress
• December 30 - LeBron James, American basketball player

Deaths

• March 1 - Jackie Coogan, actor, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family
• March 24 - Sam Jaffe, actor, co-starred as Dr. Zorba in Ben Casey
• March 31 - Jack Howarth, actor, Albert Tatlock in Coronation Street (1960-1984)
• May 4 - Jack Barry, game show host/producer
• May 4 - Diana Dors, British actress
• May 16 - Andy Kaufman, comedian, played Latka Gravas on Taxi
• June 15 - Ned Glass, actor
• August 27 - Bernard Youens, actor, Stan Ogden in Coronation Street (1964-1984)
• October 18 - Jon-Erik Hexum shot himself in a freak accident on the set of the TV series Cover Up