1990 in television

The year 1990 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1990.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1990-91 United States network television schedule.

Events

• January 2 - All My Children airs its 20th anniversary special. The characters Joe and Ruth Martin sit down with Erica Kane, her mother Mona, and Phoebe Wallingford as they go through scrapbook pictures which segue into memorable clips from the show's past twenty years.
• January 21 - MTV Unplugged premieres on cable television with musical guest, Squeeze.
• February 17 - Aerosmith appears in the Saturday Night Live sketch Wayne's World, where they perform the Wayne's World theme song.
• March 25 - British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) launches on cable in the UK, a rival to Sky Television (which launched in February 1989).
• March - On All My Children, actress Debbi Morgan, one-half of the first black supercouple, leaves the role of Angie Baxter Hubbard.
• March 30 - Rush Limbaugh guest hosts The Pat Sajak Show and his controversial comments on abortion and affirmative action create a stir that causes the audience to be removed from the studio.
• April 1 - CBS fires prominent sportscaster Brent Musburger, with the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship the following day being his last assignment for the network. Musburger signed with ABC Sports later in the year.
• April 12 - All three major American networks (ABC, NBC and CBS) simulcast Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue, a TV special warning kids about the danger of drugs.
• April 29 - BSB launches on satellite television.
• April 30 - The long-lost pilot film to I Love Lucy airs on CBS as a special.
• May 11 - A trick backfires on J.R. when his enemy conspires to trap him inside an insane asylum on the season finale of Dallas.
• 7 June–16 July - The Cruise of Deception storyline airs on Days of our Lives.
• June 27 - Genie Francis, in an attempt to shed her image as Laura Spencer, starts playing her third soap role, as Irishwoman Ceara Connor on All My Children which she will remain for two years until 1992.
• July 7 - In Rome, at the evening of the 1990 FIFA World Cup soccer the Three Tenors sing together for the first time. The event is broadcast live on television and watched worldwide by millions of people. Highlight is Luciano Pavarotti's performance of "Nessun Dorma" from Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot.
• August 24 - Indonesian private with commercial television Surya Citra Televisi (SCTV) began broadcasting.
• October 15 - Legislation is signed into United States law requiring closed captioning decoders in all large color TVs manufactured after July 1, 1993.
• November 2 - BSB merges with Sky Television, becoming British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB).
• CBS starts airing its daytime lineup in stereo sound, after competition from NBC and ABC necessitated the change in standard.
• Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and Julia Sweeney join Saturday Night Live.

Debuts

• January 1 - Mr Bean premieres on ITV (1990-1995)
• January 4 - One Foot in the Grave premieres on BBC1 in the UK (1990–2000).
• January 17 - Ching Roi Ching Lan premieres on BBTV Channel 7 in Thailand (1990–present).
• January 20 - Saturday Disney premieres on Seven Network of Australia
• February 5 - Supermarket Sweep first revival premieres on Lifetime Television (1990–1995).
• February 1 - Kyattou Ninden Teyandee (1990-1991)
• February 9 - The Bradys premieres on CBS (1990)
• February 15 - The Crystal Maze premieres on Channel 4 in the UK (1990–1995).
• February 28 - Spatz premieres on ITV (1990-1992).
• March 2 - Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman premieres on TV-Asahi (1990-1991)
• May 5 - TaleSpin premieres on the Disney Afternoon (1990-1994)
• April 8 - Twin Peaks premieres on ABC (1990-1991).
• April 15 - In Living Color premieres on Fox (1990–1994).
• April 16 - You've Been Framed premieres on ITV (1990-present).
• April 19 - Wings premieres on NBC (1990-1997)
• June 15 - Art Attack premieres on ITV (1990-2007).
• June 28 - Waiting for God premieres on BBC One (1990-1994).
• July 2 - Masterchef debuts on BBC1 in the UK.
• July 12 - Northern Exposure premieres on CBS (1990-1995)
• July 15 - Match Game returns for one season on American Broadcasting Company with host Ross Shafer.
• July 21 - Stars in Their Eyes premieres on ITV (1990-2006).
• August 9 - Drop the Dead Donkey premieres on Channel 4 in the UK (1990-1998).
• August 23 - Ferris Bueller premieres on NBC (1990–1991).
• September 2 - Parker Lewis Can't Lose premieres on Fox (1990–1993).
• September 3 - The Challengers premieres with host Dick Clark.
• September 3 - Rosie and Jim premieres on CITV (1990-2003)
• September 7 - DEA premieres on Fox (1990-1991).
  • Fox Kids debuts. (1990-2002)
  • The Disney Afternoon debuts. (1990-1997)
  • Tom and Jerry Kids premieres on Fox (1990-1993)
• September 8 - America's Funniest People premieres on ABC (1990-1994).
• September 10 -
  • The Joker's Wild returns with host Pat Finn.
  • Tic-Tac-Dough returns with host Patrick Wayne.
  • Trump Card premieres with host Jimmy Cefalo.
  • Quiz Kids Challenge premieres with host Jonathan Prince.
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premieres on NBC (1990–1996).
• September 13
  • Law & Order premieres on NBC (1990— ).
  • Babes, a sitcom about a trio of overweight siblings, debut on Fox (1990-1991).
• September 14 - Tiny Toon Adventures premieres on Fox (1990-1992).
• September 16 - America's Funniest Home Videos premieres on ABC (1990— ).
• September 20 - The Flash premieres on CBS (1990-1991).
• September 23 - Dream On premieres on Fox Broadcasting Company (1990-1996).
• September 26 - The poorly received Cop Rock premieres on television, TV's first (and last) musical police drama.
• September 28 - Have I Got News for You debuts on BBC2 in the UK.
• September 30 - Heil Honey I'm Home! premieres on Galaxy on BSB as a "long-lost" 1950s US sitcom featuring Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun getting used to a Jewish couple moving in next door. The controversy that followed meant that it became the first and, to this date, only UK television show to be cancelled after one episode.
• October 4 -
  • Beverly Hills, 90210 premieres on Fox (1990-2000)
  • Uncle Jack premieres on BBC One (1990-1993)
• October 29 - Keeping Up Appearances premieres on BBC One (1990-1995).
• November 3 - The NBA on NBC debuts with the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Spurs in San Antonio (1990–2002).

NOTE: All five syndicated game shows that premiered in September 1990 only lasted one season.

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947— )
• Candid Camera (1948— )
• 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).
• 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)
• Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979— )
• Nightline (1979— )
• This Old House (1979— )

1980s

• Entertainment Tonight (1981— )
• What Now (1982— )
• Timewatch (UK) (1982— )
• Cheers (1982–1993)
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993)
• The Journal (Canada) (1982–1992)
• Loving (1983–1995)
• Taggart, UK (1983-present)
• 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)
• EastEnders (UK) (1985— )
• Growing Pains (1985–1992)
• MacGyver (1985–1992)
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985— )
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996–1997, 2001–2003)
• Sally (1985–2002)
• T-Bag and the Pearls of Wisdom and T-Bag's Christmas Ding Dong (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
• The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
• Amen (1986–1991)
• Designing Women (1986–1993)
• Double Dare (1986–1993)
• Hey Dad...! (Australia) (1986–1994)
• L.A. Law (1986–1994)
• Matlock (1986–1996)
• Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1990)
• Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986— )
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986— )
• Casualty (UK) (1986— )
• A Different World (1987–1993)
• Beadle's About (UK) (1987–1996)
• ChuckleVision (UK) (1987— )
• Full House (1987–1995)
• Going Live! (UK) (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— )
• thirtysomething (1987–1991)
• America's Most Wanted (1988— )
• The American Experience (1988— )
• Fair City (1988— )
• Home and Away (1988— )
• This Morning (1988— )
• Red Dwarf (UK) (1988–1999)
• Children's Ward (UK) (1988–2000)
• Empty Nest (1988–1995)
• Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999— )
• Garfield and Friends (1988–1995)
• Murphy Brown (1988–1998)
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999)
• Roseanne (1988–1997)
• The Wonder Years (1988–1993)
• 48 Hours (1988— )
• The Adventures of Superboy (1988–1992)
• Electric Circus (1988–2003)
• Acropolis Now (Australia) (1989–1992)
• Baywatch (1989–2001)
• Cops (1989— )
• Family Matters (1989–1998)
• Fast Forward (Australia) (1989–1992)
• Inside Edition (1989— )
• Life Goes On (1989–1993)
• Maid Marian and her Merry Men (UK) (1989–1994)
• Press Gang (UK) (1989–1993)
• Seinfeld (1989–1998)
• Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996)
• The Arsenio Hall Show (1989–1994)
• About Face (1989–1991)
• The Big Gig (Australia) (1989–1992)
• The Simpsons (1989— )
• Match Game (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999)

Ending this year

• March 12 - Mama's Family (1983–1984, 1986–1990)
• March 23 - Scrabble (1984-1990, 1993)
• March 24 - ALF (1986–1990)
• April 9 - The Labours of Erica (1989-1990)
• April 13 - The Pat Sajak Show (1989-1990)
• May 6 - 227 (1985–1990)
• May 7 - Alien Nation (1989-1990)
• May 17 - Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
• May 21 - Newhart (1982–1990)
• May 25 - You Can't Do That on Television (Canada: 1979–1990 and United States: 1981–1990)
• May 26 -
  • The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1990)
  • T. and T. (1988–1990)
• June 14 - The NBA on CBS (1973–1990)
• July 8 - Mr. Belvedere (1985–1990)
• August 25 - The Smurfs (1981-1990)
• November 10 - Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986-1990)
• November 11 - The Comedy Company (Australia) (1988–1990)
• November 28 - Duck Tales (1987-1990)
• December 29 - Muppet Babies (1984-1990)

Cancelled, but eventually to return on air

• The Magical World of Disney (1988–1990)
• Baywatch (1991-2001)

Changes of network affiliation

• The Major League Baseball Game of the Week debuts on CBS (April 14) after spending 25 years on NBC.
• The Gummi Bears moves from ABC to first-run syndication.
• The Hogan Family moves from NBC to CBS until 1991, when it got cancelled due to low ratings.

Births

• January 30 - Jake Thomas, actor
• March 23 - Luke Tarsitano, actor (Fudge)
• April 23 - Matthew Underwood, actor
• May 1 - Caitlin Stasey, actress
• October 22 - Jonathan Lipnicki, actor

Deaths

• January 2 - Alan Hale, Jr., actor (Skipper Jonas Grumby on Gilligan's Island)
• January 9 - Northern Calloway, actor (David on Sesame Street)
• January 18 - Rusty Hamer, former child actor (Make Room For Daddy), suicide
• February 15 - Jack Fletcher, character actor
• March 24 - Ray Goulding, comedian, half of the comedy team Bob and Ray.
• May 10 - Susan Oliver, actress
• May 16 - Jim Henson, puppeteer
• May 21 - Franklyn Seales, actor (Dexter on Silver Spoons), AIDS
• May 25 - Vic Tayback, actor (Mel Sharples on Alice)
• June 2 - Jack Gilford, actor
• July 7 - Bill Cullen, game show host
• July 8 - Howard Duff, actor
• October 26 - William S. Paley, founder and longtime head of CBS
• November 3 - Mary Martin, actress/singer
• November 27 - David White, actor (Larry Tate on Bewitched)
• December 2 - Bob Cummings, actor
• December 28 - Kiel Martin, actor (Officer J.D. LaRue on Hill Street Blues)