1989 in television

The year 1989 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1989.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1989-90 United States network television schedule.

Events

• January 9 - Pat Sajak leaves Wheel of Fortune for a CBS late night talk show while remaining on the nighttime version. His daytime hosting role will be taken by Rolf Benirschke, then by Bob Goen when Wheel switches networks from NBC to CBS.
• February 5 - The world's first commercial DBS system, Sky Television, goes on air in the United Kingdom.
• February 20 - Jane Wyman is rushed to the hospital, after suffering from diabetes and liver ailment.
• February 23 - Leslie Grantham makes his last appearance in EastEnders as Den Watts for fourteen years.
• May 18 - Donna Mills makes her final regular appearance as villainess Abby on Knots Landing.
• May 19 - Sue Ellen plans to reveal a tell-all movie on J.R. Ewing, and hopes to make him "the laughingstock of Texas," in the season finale of Dallas.
• June 22 - John Craven signs off for the last time on the UK children's news programme John Craven's Newsround. The show continues under the name Newsround.
• July 31 - Canadian cable television network CBC Newsworld is launched.
• September 29 - Susan Sullivan's character, Maggie Gioberti Channing, is killed off on the season premiere of Falcon Crest.
• September 30 - NBC airs its final edition of the Major League Baseball Game of the Week (before the package moves over to CBS). Bob Costas and Tony Kubek call the action from Toronto's SkyDome, as the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Baltimore Orioles to clinch the American League Eastern Division Title.
• October 4 - Jeremy Paxman makes his first appearance as presenter of BBC2's Newsnight.
• October 6 - Jane Wyman is already on medical leave from Falcon Crest, when her character, Angela Channing, is in a coma.
• December 6 - The last episode of the original run of Doctor Who, 'Survival' (part three) is broadcast on BBC1. This marks the end of Sylvester McCoy's era as the Seventh Doctor.
• December 8 - Alan Bradley is run over by a Blackpool tram on Coronation Street, getting the programme's biggest ever audience at 26.93 million viewers, a record that remains to this day.
• December 18 - A seldom-seen 1956 Christmas special episode of I Love Lucy re-airs on CBS.
• December 29 - Deirdre Barlow confronts her husband Ken on Coronation Street before infamously throwing him out, ending their decade-long television marriage.
• David Spade, and Mike Myers join the cast of Saturday Night Live.
• Cliff and Nina Warner marry one another for the fourth (and seemingly final) time on All My Children, a record that has not been matched in the soap world.
• The ABT (Australian Broadcasting Tribunal) declares Nine Network executive Alan Bond "not a fit and proper person to own a television licence."

Debuts

• January 3 -
  • The Arsenio Hall Show (1989–1994) premieres in syndication. His first musical guest is Luther Vandross.
  • Babar premieres on NTV/HBO (Canada) (1989-present).
• January 5 -
  • Dooby Duck's Disco Bus premieres on BBC (UK) (1989-1992).
  • Desmond's premieres on Channel 4 (UK) (1989-1994).
• January 8 - Agatha Christie's Poirot premieres on ITV in the UK.
• January 9 -
  • The Pat Sajak Show (1989-1990) debuts on CBS.
  • The newsmagazine series Inside Edition premieres in syndication.
• January 16 - Press Gang, a comedy/drama aimed at teenagers, begins its run on the ITV network in the UK (1989–1993).
• January 24 - E Street begins a successful 4 year run on Network 10, Australia. (1989-1993)
• January 29 - Shining Time Station premieres on PBS (1989-1993)
• February 7 - TOTP2 makes its debut on Sky Channel
• February 18 - Woof! makes its debut on ITV (1989-1997)
• February 24 - The UK version of Fun House premieres on ITV (1989-1999)
• February 25 - Kousoku Sentai Turboranger premieres on TV-Asahi (1989-1990).
• February 28 -
  • Coach premieres on ABC (1989-1997)
  • The Big Gig premieres on the ABC in Australia (1989–1992).
• March 5 - Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers premieres on Disney Channel, later to move into first-run syndication (1989-1993).
• March 11 - COPS premieres on Fox, which shows footage shot in real life situations with US police officers (1989—present).
• March 13 - The Labours of Erica British sitcom starring Brenda Blethyn premieres on ITV in the UK.
• March 16 - Mike and Angelo premieres on ITV (UK) (1989-2000).
• March 26 - Quantum Leap premieres on NBC (1989-1993).
• March 27 - Generations premieres on NBC.
• April 3 - The Channel Four Daily premieres on Channel 4 (1989-1992)
• April 9 - Rolf's Cartoon Club premieres on ITV (1989-1993)
• April 12 - Fast Forward premieres on commercial television in Australia (1989–1992).
• April 18 -
  • Dragonball Z premieres on Fuji TV in Japan (1989–1995).
  • Rescue 911 premieres on CBS (1989-1996).
• April 24 - The New Mickey Mouse Club premieres on Disney Channel (1989-1994)
• May 20 - That's Show Business premieres on BBC1 (1989–1996).
• June 4 - McGee and Me! premieres (1989-1992).
• June 10 - Tales from the Crypt premieres on HBO (1989–1996).
• July 5 - The Seinfeld Chronicles premieres on NBC. The show would later be retitled Seinfeld and become one of the most popular sitcoms in television history (1989–1998).
• August 9 - Acropolis Now premieres on the Seven Network in Australia (1989–1992).
• August 20 - Saved By The Bell premieres on NBC in prime time. The show was moved to Saturday mornings after three episodes, where it became perhaps the most popular teen sitcom of all-time. (1989-1993)
• September 8 - Challenge Anneka premieres on BBC1 (1989–1995)
• September 12 - Life Goes On premieres on ABC (1989–1993).
• September 16 -
  • American Gladiators premieres in syndication (1989-1996)
  • Dink, the Little Dinosaur premiers on CBS. (1989-1991)
• September 18 - Fair City premieres on RTÉ One (Ireland) (1989-present)
• September 18 - Alien Nation premiers on Fox (1989-1990).
• September 19 - Doogie Howser, M.D. premieres on ABC (1989-1993).
• September 22 -
  • Baywatch premieres on NBC (1989–1990, 1991-2001).
  • Family Matters premieres on ABC (1989–1998).
• October 30 - That's Entertainment premieres on TVB Pearl
• November 6 - About Face premieres on ITV (1989–1991).
• November 8 - Byker Grove premieres on BBC1 (1989-2006).
• November 16 - Maid Marian and her Merry Men premieres on BBC1 (1989–1994).
• November 26 - America's Funniest Home Videos premieres on ABC with Full House star Bob Saget as host.
• December 17 - The Simpsons premieres on Fox with a special Christmas episode (1989— ). The characters had first appeared two years earlier as a segment on The Tracey Ullman Show. The regular run begins January 14, 1990.

Television shows

1940s

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

1950s

• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951— )
• Guiding Light (1952— )
• The Today Show (1952— )
• Panorama (UK) (1953— )
• Face the Nation (1954— )
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955–2003)
• As the World Turns (1956— )
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956— )
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957— )
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958— )
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (UK) (1960— )
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961— )
• It's Academic (1961— )
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963–1989, 1996, 2005— )
• General Hospital (1963— )
• Another World (1964–1999)
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-2006)
• Days of our Lives (1965— )
• Play School (1966— )
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966— )
• 60 Minutes (1968— )
• One Life to Live (1968— )
• Hee Haw (1969–1993)
• Sesame Street (1969— )

1970s

• All My Children (1970— )
• Monday Night Football (1970— )
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971— )
• Soul Train (1971— )
• Emmerdale (UK) (1972— )
• 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)
• Saturday Night Live (1975— )
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975— )
• Wheel of Fortune (1975— )
• 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— )
• Nightline (1979— )
• This Old House (1979— )

1980s

• Entertainment Tonight (1981— )
• Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
• What Now (1982— )
• Timewatch (UK) (1982— )
• Cheers (1982–1993)
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993)
• Newhart (1982–1990)
• The Journal (Canada) (1982–1992)
• Taggart, UK (1983-present)
• Loving (1983–1995)
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984— )
• Mother and Son (Australia) (1984–1994)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
• Night Court (1984–1992)
• Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
• 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)
• MacGyver (1985–1992)
• Mr. Belvedere (1985–1990)
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985— )
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996–1997, 2001–2003)
• Sally (1985–2002)
• T-Bag and the Revenge of the T-Set and T-Bag's Christmas Carol (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
• The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
• ALF (1986–1990)
• Amen (1986–1991)
• Casualty (UK) (1986— )
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986— )
• Designing Women (1986–1993)
• Double Dare (1986–1993)
• Hey Dad...! (Australia) (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 Oprah Winfrey Show (1986— )
• A Different World (1987–1993)
• Beadle's About (UK) (1987–1996)
• ChuckleVision (UK) (1987— )
• Full House (1987–1995)
• Dink, the Little Dinosaur (1989-1991)
• 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).
• America's Most Wanted (1988— )
• The American Experience (1988— )
• Red Dwarf (UK) (1988–1999)
• Fair City (1988— )
• Home and Away (1988— )
• This Morning (1988— )
• 48 Hours (1988— )
• The Adventures of Superboy (1988–1992)
• Children's Ward (UK) (1988–2000)
• Empty Nest (1988–1995)
• Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999— )
• Garfield and Friends (1988–1995)
• Babar (1989-1991)
• Murphy Brown (1988–1998)
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
• Roseanne (1988–1997)
• The Comedy Company (Australia) (1988–1990)
• T. and T. (1988–1990)
• The Magical World of Disney (1988–1990)
• The Wonder Years (1988–1993)
• Electric Circus (1988–2003)
• Juke Box Jury (1959–1967, 1979, 1989–1990)
• Quantum Leap (1989–1993)
• Lonesome Dove (miniseries on CBS)

Ending this year

• January 14 - Snorks (1984-1989).
• January 21 - Simon & Simon (1981–1989).
• March 9 - Webster (1983–1989).
• March 18 - It's a Living (1980–1982, 1985–1989).
• March 19 - Creepy Crawlies (1987-1989).
• March 24 -
  • $ale of the Century (1983–1989).
  • Super Password (1984–1989).
• March 31 - Card Sharks (1978–1981, 1986–1989, 1986-1987, 2001-2002).
• May 1 - The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1955–1989).
• May 10 - Dynasty (1981–1989).
• May 14 -
  • Family Ties (1982–1989).
  • Moonlighting (1985–1989).
• May 21 - Miami Vice (1984–1989).
• May 22 - Kate and Allie (1984–1989).
• August 4 - Highway to Heaven (1984–1989).
• October 5 - Sonda (Poland) (1977-1989).
• October 7 - American Bandstand (1952–1989).
• October 9 - Major League Baseball on NBC (1947–1989).
• October 28 - The Sharon Cuneta Show (1983-1989).
• November 3 - The Phone Home Game (1983-1989) from The Price Is Right.
• December 2 - The Smurfs (1981-1989)
• December 6 - After 26 seasons, the original run of Doctor Who comes to an end on BBC1 with the broadcasting of episode three of the final serial, Survival. Following a one-off television movie in 1996, the show resumed in spring 2005 (1963–1989, 1996, 2005— ).
• December 23 - TOTP2 (1989) on Sky One
• Pinwheel (1977–1989)

Changes of network affiliation

Births

• January 3 - Alex D. Linz, American actor
• February 7 - Louisa Lytton, British actress
• March 25 - Alyson Michalka, American actress
• April 18 - Alia Shawkat, American actress
• May 5 - Chris Brown, American singer and actor
• June 18 - Renee Olstead, American actress
• July 23 - Daniel Radcliffe, English actor
• August 19 - Lil' Romeo, American rapper and actor
• August 21 - Hayden Panettiere, American actress, model, and singer
• October 1 - Brie Larson, American actress
• October 17 - Derek J Nash, American model
• December 7 - Basia A'Hern, Anglo-Australian actress
• December 22 - Jordin Sparks, American singer
• December 28 - Mackenzie Rosman, American actress

Deaths

• February 5 - Joe Raposo, 51, composer (various songs from Sesame Street and The Electric Company, as well as the Three's Company theme song)
• April 26 - Lucille Ball, 77, actress, comedian (I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy)
• May 1 - Douglass Watson, 68, soap opera actor (Mac on Another World)
• May 20 - Gilda Radner, 42, actress, comedian (Saturday Night Live)
• July 3 - Jim Backus, 76, actor (Thurston Howell on Gilligan's Island and voice of Mr. Magoo)
• July 10 - Mel Blanc, 81, voice actor who voiced Bugs Bunny and countless other characters
• July 18 - Rebecca Schaeffer, 21, actress (My Sister Sam)
• September 17 - Jay Stewart, 71, announcer of Let's Make a Deal and other game shows, (suicide)
• October 4 - Graham Chapman, 48, comedian (Monty Python's Flying Circus), one day before the 20th anniversary of that show's premiere.