1991 in television

The year 1991 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.

Events

• January 14 - Wheel of Fortune moves back to NBC, before being ultimately cancelled by NBC on September 20, after a total 16 1/2 year run on daytime network television.
• February 15 - The COW ident is seen for the final time on BBC1, after six years in use, and the BBC2 'TWO' ident is seen for the final time after five years in use.
• February 16 - BBC1 and BBC2 receive new idents, both generated from laserdisc and featuring the BBC corporate logo introduced in 1986. BBC1 features a '1' encased in a globe, and BBC2 features eleven idents based around a numeral '2'.
• March 3 - In Los Angeles, California, Rodney King is severely beaten by Police Officers after leading them on a high speed chase and resisting arrest. The beating is captured on video by observers and portions of the tape are aired repeatedly on television in the US.
• April 5- Katie Couric is officially designated as co-host of the Today Show after substituting since February 1991.
• May 3- The final episode of Dallas airs.
• July 1- Court TV launches in the United States
• August 31 - NICAM stereo sound introduced on BBC Television.
• October 14 - BBC World Service Television begins broadcasting via satellite to Asia.
• October 16 - The ITV franchise auction results are announced and take effect starting midnight GMT on January 1, 1993.
• October - Cigar and pipe tobacco adverts are banned from UK television.
• December 25 - In an unusual move, the Royal Christmas Message is integrated into the first of the day's episodes of Coronation Street on ITV. Character Alf Roberts sat down in front of his television, 'watched' the speech in its entirety, and the episode resumed.
• Channel 5 begins broadcasting in Belize.
• The Museum of Broadcasting, now called The Paley Center for Media, moved into its new 17-story building, located a block from its previous location in New York City.
• First television sets with built-in closed-caption display are introduced in the United States.
• Britney Spears appears on Star Search.
• Minnie Pearl makes her final appearance on Hee Haw.
• Jennifer Lopez joins the cast as one of the Fly Girls on In Living Color, while future Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx and Korean American cast member Steve Park joins the cast this season. Shawn Wayans, the DJ for the show, is replaced by Twist.
• September 17 - Full House drops from the ABC's TGIF lineup, and airs on Tuesday nights until its cancellation in 1995.
• February 9, 1991 - Tim Meadows and Adam Sandler joins Saturday Night Live. Meadows joins Saturday Night Live until 2000, while Sandler departs five years prior.
• March 16, 1991 - A. Whitney Brown makes his final appearance on Saturday Night Live.
• November 16, 1991 - Ellen Cleghorne, Melanie Hutsell and Beth Cahill joins Saturday Night Live.
• December 8, 1991 - Tim Russert becomes moderator of Meet the Press a position he holds until his untimely death in 2008.

Debuts

• January 3 - The Brittas Empire premieres on BBC1 (1991–1997).
• January 5 - Blossom premieres on NBC (1991–1995)
• January 7 - The $100,000 Pyramid premieres in syndication and gives 3 players who go to the top of the pyramid return for a tournament of champion returns for $100,000 in cash hosted by John Davidson (1973-1988, 1991, 2002-2004).
• January 12 - Joking Apart premieres on BBC2 (1991, 1993).
• January 13 - Harry and the Hendersons premieres on First-run syndication (1991-1993).
• February 15 - Choujin Sentai Jetman premieres on TV-Asahi. (1991–1992).
• March 1 - Clarissa Explains it All premieres on Nickelodeon. (1991–1994).
• March 30 - Fast Friends premieres on BBC1 (1991).
• April 12 - The UK version of Finders Keepers premieres on ITV (1991-2006).
• April 26 - Dinosaurs premieres on ABC (1991–1994).
• April 30 - Big Break premieres on BBC1 (1991-2002).
• May 3 - Second Thoughts on ITV (1991–1994).
• May 11 - Sisters premieres on NBC (1991–1996).
• May 26 - The Red Green Show premieres on CBC Television (1991–2006).
• June 4 - C. Everett Koop, M.D. premieres on NBC (1991).
• August 11 -
  • Doug premieres on Nickelodeon (1991–1994, 1996–1999).
  • Rugrats premieres on Nickelodeon (1991–2005).
  • The Ren & Stimpy Show premieres on Nickelodeon (1991–1996).
• August 31 - The House of Eliott premieres on BBC1 (1991–1994).
• September 1 - Rupert premieres on YTV (1991-1997).
• September 3 - 2point4 children premieres on BBC1 (1991-1999).
• September 6 - Victor and Hugo premieres on ITV (1991-1992).
• September 7 - Back to the Future: The Animated Series premieres on CBS Saturday morning (1991-1993).
• September 8 - Darkwing Duck premieres on The Disney Afternoon (1991–1993)
• September 14 -
  • Super Mario World premieres on NBC (1991).
  • Where's Waldo? premieres on CBS (1991).
• September 16 - The Jenny Jones Show premieres on First-run syndication (1991-2003).
• September 17 -
  • Bottom (TV series) premieres on BBC2 (1991-1995).
  • Home Improvement premieres on ABC (1991–1999).
• September 20 - Step by Step premieres on ABC (1991–1998).
• September 23 - Baywatch starts a new life in first-run syndication (1989-1990, 1991-2001).
• September 26 - FBI: The Untold Stories premieres on ABC (1991-1993).
• September 26 - Get Your Own Back premieres on BBC1 (1991-2003).
• September 30 - The Jerry Springer Show premieres (syndicated, 1991–present).
• October 11 - Brum premieres on CBBC (1991-1996 & 2001)
• November 11 - Watt on Earth premieres on BBC1 (1991-1992).
• November 23 - Noel's House Party premieres on BBC1 (1991–1999).
• The Statler Brothers Show premieres on The Nashville Network (1991-1998).
• Adventures in Wonderland premieres on Disney Channel (1991-1995)

Television shows

1940s

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

1950s

• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
• Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992).
• 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).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• General Hospital (1963-present).
• Bewitched (1966-1972)
• Another World (1964-1999).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-2006).
• I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970)
• 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).

1970s

• All My Children (1970-present).
• Monday Night Football (1970-present).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• Emmerdale (UK) (1972-present).
• Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
• 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).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• 20/20 (1978-present).
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-2008).
• Knots Landing (1979-1993).
• Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
• Nightline (1979-present).
• This Old House (1979-present).

1980s

• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• What Now (1982-present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
• Cheers (1982-1993).
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993).
• The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992).
• Taggart, UK (1983-present)
• Loving (1983-1995).
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
• Mother and Son (Australia) (1984-1994).
• Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996).
• Night Court (1984-1992).
• Santa Barbara (1984-1993).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• The Cosby Show (1984-1992).
• Who's the Boss? (1984-1992).
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Growing Pains (1985-1992).
• MacGyver (1985-1992).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
• Sally (1985-2002).
• T-Bag and the Rings of Olympus and T-Bag's Christmas Turkey (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
• The Golden Girls (1985-1992).
• Designing Women (1986-1993).
• Double Dare (1986-1993).
• Hey Dad...! (Australia) (1986-1994).
• L.A. Law (1986-1994).
• Matlock (1986-1996).
• Perfect Strangers (1986-1993).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
• Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
• Beadle's About (UK) (1987-1996).
• ChuckleVision (UK) (1987-present).
• A Different World (1987-1993).
• 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-present).
• Unsolved Mysteries (1987-1998, 2001-2002, 2008-present).
• Fair City (1988-present).
• Home and Away (1988-present).
• This Morning (1988-present).
• America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
• The American Experience (1988-present).
• Red Dwarf (UK) (1988-1999).
• Children's Ward (UK) (1988-2000).
• Electric Circus (1988-2003).
• Empty Nest (1988-1995).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
• 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-present).
• The Adventures of Superboy (1988-1992).
• Acropolis Now (Australia) (1989-1992).
• Baywatch (1989-2001).
• Cops (1989-present).
• Family Matters (1989-1998).
• Fast Forward (Australia) (1989-1992).
• Inside Edition (1989-present).
• 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).
• The Big Gig (Australia) (1989-1992).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).

1990s

• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996)
• In Living Color (1990-1994).
• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• America's Funniest People (1990-1994)
• Blossom (1991-1995)
• Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999).
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000).
• Road to Avonlea (Canada) (1990-1996).
• The Crystal Maze (UK) (1990-1995).
• Rupert (1991-1997).
• The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (UK) (1984-1988, 1991-1994).
• They Came from Outer Space (USA, 1990-1991)
• Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991-1993)
• Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999)
• Rugrats (1991-2005)
• The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996)
• Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1991-1996).

Miniseries

• C. Everett Koop, M.D.
• Dark Season
• G.B.H. (UK)
• Switched at Birth

Ending this year

• January 25 - Generations (1989-1991).
• February 11 - About Face (1989-1991).
• February 12 - Kyattou Ninden Teyandee (1990-1991).
• April 12 - The US version of Fun House (1988-1991).
• May 3 - Dallas airs its final original episode on CBS. In the two-hour finale, J.R. is confronted by his guardian angel, who turns into the devil and tells him to kill himself. A gunshot rings out and the viewers don't know if he lived or died until the TV reunion movie JR Returns in 1996. (1978-1991).
• May 28 - thirtysomething (1987-1991).
• June 28 - Fast Friends (1991).
• July 22 - China Beach (1988-1991).
• July 27 - Amen (1986-1991).
• August 8 - TaleSpin (1990-1991)
• September 7 -
  • The Gummi Bears (1985-1991)
  • Dink, the Little Dinosaur (1989-1991)
• September 20 - The daytime version of Wheel of Fortune airs its last episode after being on television for over 17 years.
• October 7 - The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988-1991, but reruns will continue for several years).
• October 22 - The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991).
• November 3 - Bread (1986-1991).
• December 2 - Peter Pan and the Pirates (1990-1991).

Changes of network affiliation

January 14 - The daytime version of Wheel of Fortune moves once again to NBC after a year and a half on CBS, eventually leading to its ultimate canning several months later.

Births

• March 28 - Amy Bruckner, actress
• June 27 - Madylin Sweeten, actress
• July 12 - Erik Per Sullivan, actor

Deaths

• January 12 - Keye Luke, 86, character actor
• January 25 - Stanley Brock, 59, character actor
• February 3 - Harry Ackerman, 78, producer (Bewitched)
  • Nancy Kulp, 69, actress (Miss Jane Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies).
• February 6 - Danny Thomas, 77, actor (Make Room for Daddy)
• February 24 - George Gobel, 71, comedian.
• March 3 - Vance Colvig, Jr., 73, actor (Bozo the Clown on KTLA in Los Angeles)
• June 9 - Joe Hamilton, 62, producer (The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family), former husband of Carol Burnett and father of Carrie Hamilton.
• July 1 - Michael Landon, 54, actor, producer (Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and Highway to Heaven) .
• July 15 - Bert Convy, 57, game show host (Super Password).
• July 21 - Jasmine Bligh, 78, 1930s BBC Television Service announcer.
  • Theodore Wilson, 47, character actor (That's My Mama)
• July 23 - Candice Crowthford, 66, actress
• August 6 - Harry Reasoner, 68, news anchor.
• August 22 - Colleen Dewhurst, 67, actress (Murphy Brown, Anne of Green Gables).
• September 4 - Tom Tryon, 65, actor (Texas John Slaughter)
• September 7 - Ben Piazza, 57, actor (Dallas
• September 15 - John Hoyt, 85, actor (Gimme a Break!)
• October 9 - Thalmus Rasulala, 51, actor (Roots, What's Happening!!)
• October 11 - Redd Foxx, 68, comedian, star of Sanford and Son.
• October 24 - Gene Roddenberry, 70, creator of Star Trek.
• November 2 - Irwin Allen, 75, producer (Lost in Space)
• November 5 - Fred MacMurray, 83, actor on My Three Sons.