1993 in American television

The following is a list of events affecting American television in 1993. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes.

Events

Debuts

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947–present).

1950s

• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present).
• Guiding Light (1952–2009).
• The Today Show (1952–present).
• Face the Nation (1954–present).
• The Tonight Show (1954–present).
• As the World Turns (1956–2010).

1960s

• General Hospital (1963–present).
• Another World (1964–1999).
• Days of our Lives (1965–present).
• Play School (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)
• NBC Nightly News (1970–present)
• Masterpiece (1971–present)
• Soul Train (1971–2006).
• The Price Is Right (1972–present)
• The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
• Derrick (1974–1998).
• Nova (1974–present)
• Good Morning America (1975–present).
• The McNeil/Lerher Newshour (1975–present)
• Saturday Night Live (1975–present)
• The Victory Garden (1975–present)
• Austin City Limits (1976–present)
• Live from Lincoln Center (1976–present)
• Inside the NFL (1977–present)
• 20/20 (1978–present).
• ABC World News (1978–present)
• CBS News Sunday Morning (1979–present)
• Knots Landing (1979-1993).
• Nightline, US (1979–present)
• Nightly Business Report (1979–present)
• SportsCenter (1979–present)
• This Old House (1979–present).

1980s

1980-1985

• Lou Dobbs Tonight (1980-2009).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981–present).
• Cheers (1982-1993).
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993).
• Loving (1983–1995).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present).
• Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996).
• Sally (1985–2002).

1986

• Designing Women (1986-1993).
• L.A. Law (1986–1994).
• Matlock (1986–1995).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-2011).
• Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)

1987

• A Different World (1987-1993)
• Inspector Morse (1987–2000).
• 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).

1988

• America's Most Wanted (1988–present).
• The American Experience (1988–present).
• Empty Nest (1988–1995).
• Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999–present).
• Garfield and Friends (1988–1995).
• Murphy Brown (1988–1998).
• Roseanne (1988–1997).
• The Wonder Years (1988-1993).
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988–1999).

1989

• Baywatch (1989–2001).
• Cops (1989–present).
• Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989-1993).
• Family Matters (1989–1998).
• Life Goes On (1989-1993).
• Seinfeld (1989–1998).
• Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996).
• The Arsenio Hall Show (1989–1994).
• The Simpsons (1989–present).

1990s

1990

• In Living Color (1990–1994).
• Law & Order (1990–2010).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990–present).
• America's Funniest People (1990–1994)
• Northern Exposure (1990–1995).
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990–1996)
• Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1995)

1991

• Doug (1991–1994, 1996–1999).
• Home Improvement (1991–1999).
• Rugrats (1991–1994, 1997-2004).
• Sisters (1991–1996).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991–present).
• The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991–1996).
• Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991-1995).

1992

• Barney & Friends (1992–present).
• California Dreams, (1992–1996).
• Dateline NBC (1992–present).
• Hearts Afire (1992-1995).
• Love & War (1992-1995).
• Mad About You (1992–1999).
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998).
• The Real World (1992–present).
• Us Girls (1992–1993).
• Martin (1992–1997).

Notable made for TV movies and events

• September 12 – seaQuest DSV – a two hour pilot episode starring Roy Scheider and Jonathan Brandis, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Irvin Kershner. It was hyped as "The Television Event of the Year" and was followed by a television series that lasted for three seasons on NBC.
• December 6 – Gypsy — a $12 million production of the classic stage musical, starring Bette Midler, airs on CBS.

Returning this year

Ending this year

Births

Deaths

• January 20 – Audrey Hepburn, actress.
• January 27 – André the Giant, wrestler.
• March 6 – Douglas Marland, writer (As the World Turns).
• March 12 – Ed Jurist, comedy writer (Bewitched)
• March 17 – Helen Hayes, actress.
• March 27 – Kate Reid, actress (Lillian Trotter on Dallas)
• April 1 – Jerry Hausner, actor (Jerry the agent on I Love Lucy and the voice of Waldo in the Mr. Magoo cartoons)
• April 3 – Pinky Lee, comedian.
• June 11 – Ray Sharkey, actor.
• June 30 – George "Spanky" McFarland, actor (Our Gang comedies).
• July 2 – Fred Gwynne, actor (The Munsters, Car 54, Where Are You?)
• August 16 – Tom Fuccello, actor (Dave Culver on Dallas)
• September 4 – Hervé Villechaize, actor (Tattoo on Fantasy Island)
• September 12 – Raymond Burr, actor 76 (Perry Mason)
• October 12 – Leon Ames, actor.
• October 25 – Vincent Price, actor.
• November 21 – Bill Bixby, actor (My Favorite Martian, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, The Incredible Hulk) and director (Blossom).
• November 28 – Garry Moore, Game show host and TV personality (I've Got a Secret). (b. 1915)
• December 4 – Frank Zappa, 52, actor/songwriter.
• December 16 – Moses Gunn, actor (Good Times).