1988 in television

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The year 1988 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1988.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1988-89 United States network television schedule.

Events

• February 5 - Comic Relief airs its Red Nose Day fundraiser on BBC1.
• February 26 - Tom Hardy marries Simone Ravelle on General Hospital. It is a milestone for the genre as it is the first interracial wedding between two characters on American daytime television.
• April - The Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, west go on strike. The strike lasted until August and delays the beginning of the fall season by a month.
• April 28 - ITV in the UK broadcasts Death on the Rock, a hugely controversial episode of Thames Television's This Week current affairs strand, investigating Operation Flavius, which resulted in the SAS killing three members of the IRA in Gibraltar.
• May 1 - Magnum PI comes to an end with a two-part episode, thus Tom Selleck went off in the distance with his red Ferrari for the last time on CBS
• May 13 - J.R. Ewing pushes Nicholas Pierce over the railing of his high-rise office building, and Sue Ellen is so enraged that she fires three shots at him, on the season finale of Dallas.
• May 16 - The youth strand DEF II is launched on BBC2 in the UK.
• July 4 - The hit game show Family Feud returns to the air after a 3 year hiatus. Ray Combs is the new host, replacing original host Richard Dawson.
• July 19 - The Bill broadcasts the first episode of its fourth season and switches to a year-round serial format.
• September 1 - Children's cable network YTV launches in Canada.
• October 4 - Following in Cher's footsteps, actress Shirley MacLaine calls David Letterman an "asshole", on the air during a taping of Late Night.
• October 27 - The last of Harding Lemay's "comeback" episodes air on Another World. In the final minutes of the episode, Australian actress Carmen Duncan took over the role of the legendary bitch Iris Cory Wheeler, after the role had been vacated for many years by Beverlee McKinsey.
• November 3 - Talk show host Geraldo Rivera's nose is broken during a taping of his show, when a fight erupts on the set between guests. The theme of the episode was "Young Hate Mongers" and the fight originated between white supremacist Tom Metzger and civil rights activist Roy Innis.
• The song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" experiences a surge in popularity sparked by television commercials featuring claymation raisin figures. The California Raisins version of the song peaks at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart is the focus of a sex scandal, and later admits to being with prostitutes and steps down from his television ministry.
• The Young and the Restless tops the daytime ratings (deposing longtime winner General Hospital), starting an unbeaten streak of #1 victories that still continue to this day.
• Ana Alicia's character, Melissa Agretti, dies in a house fire on Falcon Crest.
• After rejecting an offer to join CBS News, Peter Mansbridge replaces Knowlton Nash as anchor of CBC Television's The National.
• A young Countess Vaughn joins the cast of 227 as Alexandria DeWitt, a young 11-year old talented college student, whom the Jenkins' have as a houseguest for a year.
• Future Grammy Award-winning recording artist Lauryn Hill (The Fugees frontwoman) makes her television debut on Showtime at the Apollo as a contestant on Amateur Night, where a 13-year-old Hill sung "Who's Lovin' You" by Motown star Smokey Robinson, and gets booed by the audience.
• Tichina Arnold (of Martin and Everybody Hates Chris fame) joins the cast for the final season of Ryan's Hope on ABC.

Debuts

• January 4 - Fifteen to One premieres on Channel 4 (1988-2003).
• January 11 - T. and T. (1988–1990).
• January 16 - Home and Away airs its pilot episode and begins the series proper the following night
• January 19 - 48 Hours (1988— ).
• January 29 - Richmond Hill launches on Network 10, Australia but is cancelled in October (1988-1989)
• January 31 - The Wonder Years premieres on ABC (1988–1993).
• February 7 - America's Most Wanted debuts (1988— ).
• February 15 - Red Dwarf debuts in the UK (1988–1999).
• February 16 - The Comedy Company debuts on 0-10 Network in Australia (1988–1990).
• February 20 - You Bet! premieres on ITV (1988-1997).
• February 27 - Choujuu Sentai Liveman premieres on TV-Asahi (1988-1989)
• March 6 - In the Heat of the Night, based on the 1967 movie, premieres on NBC (1988-1994).
• April 26- China Beach premieres on ABC (1988-1991)
• June 8 - The Movie Game premieres on BBC One (1988-1995).
• July 4 - Family Feud makes a comeback on CBS at 10:00 am EDT with host Ray Combs and announcer Gene Wood following its cancellation from ABC daytime 3 years earlier (1988-1993). A syndicated version (1988-1995) premieres in the fall.
• July 19 - The UK version of Wheel of Fortune premieres on ITV (1988-2001).
• August 6 - Yo! MTV Raps premieres on MTV (1988-1995).
• August 31 – Les Arènes de l'info, later to be known as Les Guignols de l'info, premieres on Canal+ (1988–present).
• September 3 - Motormouth premieres on ITV in the UK (1988-1992).
• September 5 - The US version of Fun House premieres on first-run syndication (1988-1991).
• September 6 - Count Duckula premieres on ITV in the UK (1988-1993).
• September 10 - A Pup Named Scooby Doo premieres on ABC (1988-1991)
• September 10 - The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh premieres on ABC (1988-1991)
• September 16 - The popular Canadian dance music series Electric Circus debuts on MuchMusic (1988–2003).
• September 17 - Garfield and Friends, a Saturday morning cartoon series based on the popular comic strip character, debuts on CBS (1988–1995).
• September 23 - The UK version of Whose Line Is It Anyway? premieres on Channel 4 (1988-1998).
• October 1 - The Danish version of Wheel of Fortune premieres on TV2 (1988-2001).
• October 3 - This Morning debuts (1988— ).
• October 4 - The American Experience (1988— ).
• October 8 - Empty Nest, a spinoff of The Golden Girls, premieres on NBC (1988–1995).
• October 16 - The Kids in the Hall premieres on CBC Television.
• October 17 - Playbus premieres on BBC (1988-1997)
• October 18 - Roseanne premieres (1988–1997).
• October 27 - Paradise premieres on CBS (1988-1991).
• November 14 - Murphy Brown premieres (1988–1998).
• November 24 - Mystery Science Theater 3000 has its TV premiere on KTMA TV 23 (1988–1999). The show moved to the Comedy Channel in 1989.
• December 18 - Whose Line Is It Anyway? pilots on BBC 2. (This episode was used in season 1, episode 13.)
• Children's Ward, a popular children's series produced by Granada Television, begins its long run on the ITV network in the UK (1988–2000).
• The Adventures of Superboy (1988–1992).
• The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley (1988).

Miniseries

• Dadah is Death
• War and Remembrance

Television shows

1940s

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

1950s

• 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 host's name typically added at the end of the title)
• 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)
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present)
• It's Academic (1961–present)
• Wide World of Sports (1961–1997)
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962–present)
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963–1989, 1996, 2005— )
• General Hospital (1963–present)
• Another World (1964–1999)
• Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-2006)
• 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)

1970s

• All My Children (1970— )
• Monday Night Football (1970— )
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971— )
• Soul Train (1971— )
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972— )
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972— )
• The Price Is Right (1972— )
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973— )
• The Young and the Restless (1973— )
• Derrick (1974–1998)
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974— )
• Arena (UK) (1975— )
• Good Morning America (1975— )
• Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975–1994)
• Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
• Saturday Night Live (1975— )
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975— )
• Wheel of Fortune (1975— )
• This Week in Baseball (1977–1998, 2000–present)
• 20/20 (1978— )
• Dallas (1978–1991)
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978—2008)
• Knots Landing (1979–1993)
• 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

• Moneyline (1980–present; known as Lou Dobbs Moneyline 2001–2003 and Lou Dobbs Tonight since 2003)
• Dynasty (1981–1989)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981— )
• Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
• What Now (1982— )
• Timewatch (UK) (1982— )
• Cheers (1982–1993)
• Family Ties (1982–1989)
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993)
• Newhart (1982–1990)
• The Journal (Canada) (1982–1992)
• Taggart, UK (1983-present)
• Loving (1983–1995)
• Webster (1983–1989)
• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (UK) (1984–1988, 1991–1994)
• Highway to Heaven (1984–1989)
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984— )
• Kate and Allie (1984–1989)
• Miami Vice (1984–1989)
• Mother and Son (Australia) (1984–1994)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
• Night Court (1984–1992)
• Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
• SportsDesk, Canada (1984–present; known as SportsCentre since 2001)
• The Bill (UK) (1984— )
• The Cosby Show (1984–1992)
• Who's the Boss? (1984–1992)
• 227 (1985–1990)
• EastEnders (UK) (1985— )
• 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— )
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996–1997, 2001–2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special Dates)
• Sally (1985–2002)
• Turn on to T-Bag and T-Bag's Christmas Cracker (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
• The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
• The Twilight Zone (1959–1964, 1985–1988, 2002)
• ALF (1986–1990)
• Amen (1986–1991)
• Designing Women (1986–1993)
• Double Dare (1986–1993)
• Hey Dad...! (1986–1994)
• L.A. Law (1986–1994)
• Mama's Family (1983–1984, 1986–1990)
• Matlock (1986–1996)
• Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1991)
• Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)
• The Disney Sunday Movie (1986–1988) ends on September 11 to resume as The Magical World of Disney (1988–1990) on October 9
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986— )
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986— )
• Casualty (UK) (1986— )
• Beadle's About (UK) (1987–1996)
• ChuckleVision (UK) (1987— )
• A Different World (1987–1993)
• Full House (1987–1995)
• Going Live! (1987–1993)
• Inspector Morse (1987–2000)
• Knightmare (UK) (1987–1994)
• Married... with Children (1987–1997)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987–1996)
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987— )
• The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1990)
• thirtysomething (1987–1991)
• Unsolved Mysteries (1987-1998, 2001-2002, 2008-present).
• Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999— )

Ending this year

• January 30 - Hi-de-Hi! (1980-1988)
• February 12 - Sledge Hammer! (1986–1988)
• March 11 - Play School (1964-1988)
• March 26 -
  • What's Happening Now!! (1985–1988)
  • Dennis the Menace (1986-1988)
• May 1 - Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988)
• May 2 - Jem (1985-1988)
• May 3 - Hotel (1983-1988)
• May 7 - The Facts of Life (1979–1988)
• May 13 - Tales of the Unexpected (UK) (1979–1985, 1987–1988)
• May 16 - Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988)
• May 25 - St. Elsewhere (1982–1988)
• May 27 - Punky Brewster (1984–1988)
• July 23 -
  • Tales from the Darkside (1984–1988)
  • Solid Gold (1980–1988)
• August 28 - Get Fresh (1986-1988).
• September 3 -
  • Dennis the Menace (1986-1988)
  • The Flintstone Kids (1986-1988)
• October 27 - Beat the Teacher (1984-1988)
• December 1 - Button Moon (1980–1988)
• December 24 - 3-2-1 (UK) (1978–1988)

• Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963–1988, 2002–present)
• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)

Births

• February 20 - Rihanna, singer
• March 28 - Lacey Turner, actor
• April 10 - Haley Joel Osment, actor
• May 5 - Brooke Hogan, actress
• August 26 - Evan Ross, actor
• August 27 - Alexa Vega, actress
• September 24 - Kyle Sullivan, actor
• November 15 - Zena Grey, actress

Deaths

• February 1 - Heather O'Rourke, actress from Poltergeist and Happy Days, age 12
• March 10 - Andy Gibb, 30, actor/songwriter of the Bee-Gees
• April 5 - Alf Kjellin, 68, actor, director.
• May 15 - Andrew Duggan, 64, character actor.
• May 18 - Daws Butler, prolific voice actor whose work included The Jetsons and several animated TV commercials.
• May 27 - Florida Friebus, 78, actress (The Bob Newhart Show).
• July 9 - Barbara Woodhouse, 78, dog trainer (Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way)
• July 21 - Jack Clark, 67, game show announcer.
• July 25 - Judith Barsi, 10, American child actress
• July 31 - Trinidad Silva, 38, actor (Jesus Martinez on Hill Street Blues), in a car accident
• September 11 - John Sylvester White, 78, actor (Welcome Back, Kotter).
• September 20 - Roy Kinnear, 54, actor/comedian.
• September 29 - Charles Addams, 76, cartoonist whose macabre drawings inspired The Addams Family.
• October 11 - Wayland Flowers, 58, puppeteer (Madame's Place), from AIDS.
• October 31 - John Houseman, 86, actor (The Paper Chase, Silver Spoons)
• December 6 - Timothy Patrick Murphy, 29, actor (Dallas), from AIDS
• December 12 - Dick Clair, television comedy writer, who asked to be cryogenically frozen
• December 20 - Max Robinson, ABC News correspondent, from AIDS
• December 27 - Jess Oppenheimer, comedy writer who created I Love Lucy