1986 in American television
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1986 in American television
| List of years in American television: 1983 1984 1985 – 1986 – 1987 1988 1989 |
| 1986-87 United States network television schedule |
The year 1986 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1986.
For the American network television schedule, please see 1986-87 American network television schedule.
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Contents
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Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 6 | A Vicks Formula 44 cough medicine 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 25 | HBO's scrambling service begins. |
| January 28 | NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft disintegrates live on CNN. |
| February 9 | Helen Martin joins the cast of 227, after appearing every episode in the 1985–86 season, replacing Kia Goodwin, who was dropped from the cast after the first season, who portrayed Rose's (Alaina Reed) daughter, Tiffany, before written off the show initially in 1988. |
| 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. |
| March 9 | 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. |
| 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. |
| April 3 | Merv Griffin sells his company, Merv Griffin Enterprises to The Coca-Cola Company for $250,000,000. |
| April 21 | Geraldo Rivera hosts the live two-hour syndicated special The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault, famously coming up empty-handed. |
| April 27 | A man calling himself Captain Midnight jams HBO's signal to protest its monthly fee of $12.95. |
| May 10 | Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe marries actress Heather Locklear. |
| May 12 | NBC unveils its new Peacock logo. |
| May 16 | Bobby Ewing is revealed to be alive and showering in his ex-wife Pam's bathroom in the season finale of Dallas; in the September 26 season premiere, it was shown that the entire 1985–86 season was a dream of hers the night after they agreed to remarry. |
| May 22 | Cher calls David Letterman an "asshole" on the air during a taping of Late Night with David Letterman. |
| July 18 | A tornado is broadcast live on KARE TV in Minneapolis when the station's helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter. |
| August 15 | Rod Roddy becomes permanent announcer on the long-running CBS daytime game show The Price is Right replacing the deceased Johnny Olsen. |
| September 1 | 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. |
| Disney Channel, at the time a premium cable network, began broadcasting a 24-hour-a-day schedule. | |
| September 8 | Oprah Winfrey goes national. |
| September 17 | 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. |
| September 27 | On The Facts of Life, Charlotte Rae leaves the role of Mrs. Garrett (who marries her old friend Bruce Gaines, played by Robert Mandan) and is replaced by Cloris Leachman, who played Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett's sister. |
| October 9 | The Fox Broadcasting Company becomes the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network. |
| November 8 | Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman and Kevin Nealon join Saturday Night Live. |
| November 30 | The Disney Channel signs off for the last time. From 7 a.m. on December 1, 1986, the channel broadcasts 24 hours a day. |
Debuts
| Date | Show |
|---|---|
| January 5 | Blacke's Magic on NBC. |
| January 6 | Card Sharks on CBS |
| Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak on ABC | |
| January 18 | The Redd Foxx Show on ABC. |
| February 16 | Sidekicks on ABC |
| February 24 | You Again? on NBC |
| March 1 | The Hogan Family on NBC |
| March 5 | Fast Times on CBS |
| March 25 | Perfect Strangers on ABC |
| March 28 | Mr. Sunshine on ABC |
| May 28 | The Canned Film Festival in Syndication |
| September 6 | WWF Superstars of Wrestling in Syndication |
| The Flintstone Kids on ABC | |
| September 8 | Ghostbusters in Syndication |
| The Oprah Winfrey Show in Syndication | |
| SilverHawks in Syndication | |
| Superior Court in Syndication | |
| September 9 | The Wizard on CBS |
| September 10 | It's Garry Shandling's Show on Showtime |
| September 11 | Our House on NBC |
| September 13 | Easy Street on NBC |
| Kissyfur on NBC | |
| Pee-wee's Playhouse on CBS | |
| Teen Wolf on CBS | |
| The Real Ghostbusters on ABC | |
| Wildfire on CBS | |
| September 15 | Rambo: The Force of Freedom in Syndication |
| September 17 | Head of the Class on ABC |
| September 18 | Crime Story on NBC |
| L.A. Law on NBC | |
| September 19 | Starman on ABC |
| September 20 | The Ellen Burstyn Show on ABC |
| Heart of the City on ABC | |
| Life With Lucy on ABC | |
| September 22 | ALF on NBC |
| Zoobilee Zoo in Syndication | |
| Dennis the Menace in Syndication | |
| Together We Stand on CBS | |
| September 23 | Matlock on NBC. |
| Sledge Hammer! on ABC | |
| September 25 | Our World on ABC |
| September 26 | Kay O'Brien on CBS |
| September 27 | Amen on NBC |
| The New Mike Hammer on CBS | |
| September 28 | WWF Wrestling Challenge in Syndication |
| September 29 | Designing Women on CBS |
| October 1 | Better Days on CBS |
| October 6 | Double Dare on Nickelodeon. |
| My Sister Sam on CBS | |
| October 9 | The Late Show with Joan Rivers on FOX. |
| December 1 | The Cavanaughs on CBS |
| December 5 | Gung Ho on ABC |
Miniseries
- The Life and Loves of She-Devil
- Lost Empires
- The Great Bookie Robbery
- Shout, Story Of Johnny O'Keefe
- Cyclone Tracy
- Alice To Nowhere
- Robbery Under Arms
- A Fortunate Life
- The Challenge
- Sword Of Honour
- Lancaster-Miller Affair
- Dream West
- The Last Frontier
- North and South: Book II
- Sins
Television shows
1940s
- Meet the Press (1947—present)
- Candid Camera (1948—2004)
1950s
- Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
- Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
- American Bandstand (1952–1989)
- Guiding Light (1952–2009)
- The Today Show (1952–present)
- Face the Nation (1954–present)
- As the World Turns (1956–2010)
1960s
- Wide World of Sports (1961–1997)
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
- General Hospital (1963–present)
- Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963–1988, 2002–present)
- Another World (1964–1999)
- Days of our Lives (1965—present)
- 60 Minutes (1968— )
- One Life to Live (1968—present)
- Hee Haw (1969–1993)
- Sesame Street (1969—present)
1970s
1970-1975
- All My Children (1970—present)
- Monday Night Football (1970—present)
- NBC Nightly News (1970–present)
- Masterpiece Theatre (1971—present)
- Soul Train (1971–2006)
- The Merv Griffin Show (1972–1986)
- The Price Is Right (1972—present)
- The Young and the Restless (1973—present)
- Derrick (1974–1998)
- Nova (1974–present)
- Good Morning America (1975—present)
- Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
- Saturday Night Live (1975—present)
- The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour (1975–present)
- Wheel of Fortune, daytime version (1975—1991)
1976-1979
- The Joker's Wild (1977–1986)
- The Love Boat (1977–1986)
- ABC World News (1978–present)
- 20/20 (1978—present)
- Dallas (1978–1991)
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)
- Tic Tac Dough (1978–1986)
- Benson (1979–1986)
- CBS News Sunday Morning (1979–present)
- Knots Landing (1979–1993)
- The Facts of Life (1979–1988)
- Nightline (1979—present)
- SportsCenter (1979–present)
- This Old House (1979—present)
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979–1986)
1980s
1980
- Lou Dobbs Tonight (1980–2009)
- Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988)
- Mystery! (1980–present)
- Solid Gold (1980–1988)
1981
- College Basketball on CBS (1981–present)
- 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)
- This Week (1981–present)
1982
- America This Morning (1982–present)
- 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)
- Nature (1982–present)
- Newhart (1982–1990)
- Remington Steele (1982–1987)
- Silver Spoons (1982–1987)
- St. Elsewhere (1982–1988)
1983
- The A-Team (1983–1987)
- America Undercover (1983–present)
- American Masters (1983–present)
- Fraggle Rock (1983–1988)
- Frontline (1983–present)
- Loving (1983–1995)
- Press Your Luck (1983–1986)
- Riptide (1983–1986)
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983–1987)
- Star Search (1983-1995, 2003)
- Webster (1983–1989)
- Wheel of Fortune (1983—present)
1984
- Highway to Heaven (1984–1989)
- Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984—present)
- Kate and Allie (1984–1989)
- Miami Vice (1984–1989)
- Muppet Babies (1984–1991)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
- Night Court (1984–1992)
- Punky Brewster (1984–1988)
- Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
- Tales from the Darkside (1984–1988)
- The Cosby Show (1984–1992)
- Who's the Boss? (1984–1992)
1985
- 227 (1985–1990)
- Growing Pains (1985–1992)
- It's a Living (1980–1982, 1985–1989)
- Larry King Live (1985–present)
- MacGyver (1985–1992)
- Moonlighting (1985–1989)
- Mr. Belvedere (1985–1990)
- National Geographic Explorer (1985–present)
- Sally (1985–2002)
- The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
- The Twilight Zone (1959–1964, 1985–1988, 2002)
- What's Happening Now!! (1985–1988)
Returning this year
| Show | Last Aired | Previous Network | Retitled as/Same | New/Returning/Same Network | Returning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 to 5 | 1983 | ABC | Same | Syndication | September 13 |
| Hollywood Squares | 1984 | NBC | Same | Syndication | September 15 |
| Mama's Family | 1984 | NBC | Same | Syndication | September 26 |
Ending this year
| Date | Show | Debut |
|---|---|---|
| March 7 | Diff'rent Strokes | 1978 |
| April 4 | Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak | 1986 |
| April 19 | Benson | 1979 |
| May 2 | The Fall Guy | 1981 |
| May 23 | The All-New Let's Make a Deal | 1963 |
| The Joker's Wild | 1972 | |
| Tic Tac Dough | 1956 | |
| May 28 | T.J. Hooker | 1982 |
| June 6 | The Merv Griffin Show | 1972 |
| June 18 | Bertha | 1985 |
| August 8 | Knight Rider | 1982 |
| August 22 | Riptide | 1983 |
| September 4 | Trapper John, M.D. | 1979 |
| September 5 | The Love Boat | 1977 |
| September 26 | Press Your Luck | 1983 |
| December 5 | Ghostbusters | 1986 |
| December 26 | Rambo: The Force of Freedom | 1986 |
| Search for Tomorrow | 1951 | |
| The Canned Film Festival | 1986 |
Changes of network affiliation
- Silver Spoons moves from NBC to first-run syndication.
- The Wuzzles moves from CBS to ABC.
- Catchword moves from BBC One to BBC Two.
Births
- April 2 – Christopher Walberg, voice actor ("Stinky Peterson" from Nickelodeon's Hey Arnold! in 1996)
- April 3 – Amanda Bynes, actress
- May 17 – Tahj Mowry, actor
- May 24 - Mark Ballas, dancer,singer,songwriter
- June 11 – Shia LaBeouf, actor
- June 27 – Drake Bell, actor
- July 2 – Lindsay Lohan, actress
- September 16 – Kyla Pratt, actress
- November 10 – Josh Peck, actor
- November 18 – Joseph Ashton, voice actor ("Otto Rocket" from Nickelodeon's 1999 cartoon series Rocket Power)
Deaths
- January 14 – Donna Reed, 64, actress (The Donna Reed Show, Dallas)
- January 24 – Gordon MacRae, 64, actor, singer
- January 29 - Leif Erickson, American actor (The High Chaparral)
- May 28 – Don MacLaughlin, 78, longtime actor as Chris Hughes on As the World Turns
- June 14 – Marlin Perkins, 81, zoologist and longtime host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
- July 15 – Florence Halop, 63, actress (Mrs. Hufnagel on St. Elsewhere and Florence on Night Court)
- August 26 – Ted Knight, 62, actor (Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Henry on Too Close for Comfort)
- September 18 – Patricia Phoenix, 62, actress (Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street)
- October 25 - Forrest Tucker, American actor (F Troop)
- November 2 – Paul Frees, 66, voice actor (Boris Badenov on The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show; Ludwig von Drake on The Wonderful World of Disney and The 1st voice over for The Pillsbury Doughboy)
- December 2 – Desi Arnaz, 69, actor, musician (Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy)
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