2001 in television

The year 2001 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 2001.

Events

• January 1 - Digital television officially begins in Australia
• January 18 - Channel 4 launches E4, a digital entertainment channel, at 8.15pm.
• January 22 - News at Ten returns to ITV, having been axed two years earlier. It is once again presented by Trevor McDonald.
• March 26 - WCW Monday Nitro airs it's final show from Panama City Beach, Florida with a simulcast with the WWF's (Now WWE's) Monday Night RAW television show, officially ending a six year ratings battle in professional wrestling known as the Monday Night Wars.
• June 18 - Luke and Laura Spencer, widely regarded as the soap opera pairing that helped coin the term "supercouple", signed divorce papers on General Hospital, dissolving their fictional two-decade union.
• July 11 - ONdigital is rebranded ITV Digital.
• August 5 - RHI Entertainment acquires The Jim Henson Company's half of Odyssey Network.
• August 11 - ITV in the UK changes its name to ITV1, due to the growing number of other ITV services, including ITV2, ITV Digital, and the ITV Sport Channel, which launches on the same day.
• September 1 - All four commercial television stations in Vancouver, British Columbia change network affiliations, the largest such change in a single market in television history.
• September 3 - Discovery Kids Canada launches in Canada.
• September 7 - BBC Canada, G4 Canada, Book Television and many other Canadian channels launches in Canada.
• September 8 - Fox airs the final episode of the game show Murder in Small Town X, in which New York City firefighter Angel L. Juarbe, Jr. won. Juarbe was killed on Sept. 11 during the collapse of the World Trade Center.
• September 11 - Viewers around the world witness a terrorist attack on the United States, and the collapse of the Twin Towers towers in New York City, live on television. Additionally, the ABC and NBC affiliates' broadcast towers are knocked out by the attacks, but New Yorkers can still view them on cable and satellite. Most broadcasters abandon regular programming - American networks for more than a week - and numerous major daily talk shows go off the air for several weeks until their hosts feel comfortable in returning to the airwaves.
  • The start of the 2001-2002 fall season in the US is delayed as a result of the attacks, with some shows such as The West Wing substituting special episodes dealing with the event in lieu of their originally scheduled season premieres. Some series, such as the military-themed JAG and New York-based Third Watch have to be retooled to encompass the aftermath of the attacks.
  • In addition, several planned series and events were cancelled; most notably, a mini-series planned for spring 2002, which would have united the cast of Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, dealing with a terrorist attack on New York City.
  • All four major US networks air America: A Tribute to Heroes a two-hour telethon to raise money for the families of those killed in the attacks.
  • Concert For New York: A Tribute To Heroes airs on VH1, with performances by Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Billy Joel and others. It raises funds for the families of those killed in the attacks.
  • Although they were first seen in 1952 and used by some television news programs ever since, continually scrolling news headlines along the bottom of the screen become commonplace after the Fox News Channel used it to allow viewers to keep track of the latest developments during the attacks.
• September 17 - The game show Card Sharks is revived with host Pat Bullard, but due to its dramatically different gameplay, it disappears after just 13 weeks.
• September 20 - Dr. Will Kirby is crowned the winner of Big Brother 2, which was delayed by the attacks of September 11, 2001. Runner-Up Nicole Nilson-Schafrich wins $50,000.
• November 5 - BBC 2W, a new digital channel for Wales, is launched.
• November 19 - BBC Two introduces a new set of four computer generated idents at 7.00am, replacing the previous set of over 20 (four of which dating back to 1991). ITV2 rebrands on the same day.
• November 30- The Series Finale of CG cartoon series ReBoot airs. Finishes on Cliffhanger.
• December 22 - The pilot for Harry Hill's TV Burp is aired on ITV1. The first full series is shown from November next year.
• December 25 - Only Fools and Horses returns for the first of three Christmas specials after previously ending in 1996. The special (If They Could See Us Now) gets 21.35 million viewers, the UK's highest rated show in both 2001 and the entire decade as of 2007.
• Canada rolls out dozens of new digital cable channels (see List of Canadian digital television channels for complete list).
• Canadian sports network TSN changes its logo to match with ESPN's though the N isn't slashed.

Debuts

• January 9 - The Mole premiers on ABC (2001-2004, 2008)
• January 10 - Grounded for Life premieres on Fox (2001-2005)
• January 12 - Lizzie McGuire premieres on Disney Channel (2001-2004).
• January 20 - The New Woody Woodpecker Show premieres on January 20 Bavariannoying / Kitchen Magician / Cheap Seats Woody (Season 2: 2000-2001)
• January 27 - The Zeta Project premieres on Kids' WB (2001-2002), later reruns to the Cartoon Network on 2003.
• February 3 - Lloyd In Space premieres on ABC (2001-2004).
• February 3 - Power Rangers: Time Force premieres on Fox (2001).
• March 4 - The Lone Gunmen premieres on Fox. The show was cancelled in May.
• March 28 - My Wife and Kids premieres on ABC (2001-2005).
• March 30 - The Fairly OddParents (2001-present) and Invader ZIM (2001-2006) premiere on Nickelodeon.
• April 4 - That's My Bush! premieres on Comedy Central. The show was cancelled in May.
• June 2 - Braceface premieres on Fox Family/ABC Family (2001-2006).
• June 3 - Six Feet Under premieres on HBO (2001-2005).
• June 11 - Fear Factor premieres on NBC (2001-2006).
• June 12 - Witchblade premieres on TNT (2001-2002)
• June 20 - JR Digs premieres on CHCH in Hamilton, Ontario as a paid advertisement (2001-present).
• July 5 - Big Brother 2 premieres on CBS (2000-present).
• July 7 - Ultraman Cosmos premieres on TBS in Japan (2001-2002).
• August 10- Samurai Jack debuts on Cartoon Network (2001-2004)
• August 11 - Cubix: Robots for Everyone premieres on Kids' WB! (2001-2003)
• August 20 - The US dub of Dragon Ball premieres on Cartoon Network (2001-2003).
• August 24 - Grim and Evil premieres on Cartoon Network (2001-present).
• September 2 - Adult Swim, a line-up on Cartoon Network, premieres on that channel (2001-present).
• September 3 - One on One premieres on UPN (2001-2006)
• September 5 - The Amazing Race premieres on CBS (2001-present).
• September 17 - The short-lived revival of Card Sharks premieres on syndication (2001-2002).
• September 22 - The Saturday Show premieres on BBC One (2001-2005).
• September 22 - What's with Andy? premieres on Teletoon (2001-2007)
• September 25 - The Guardian premieres on CBS (2001-2004).
• September 26 - Enterprise premieres on UPN. The show was run under this name for the first two seasons; then it was renamed Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005).
• September 29 - Yu-Gi-Oh! debuts on Kids' WB! (2001-2006), along with The Mummy: The Animated Series (2001-2003) and The Nightmare Room (2001-2002).
• September 30 - Alias premieres on ABC and CTV (2001-2006).
• September 30 - Law & Order: Criminal Intent premieres on NBC (2001-present).
• October 1 - Reba premieres on The WB (2001-2007)
• October 2 - Scrubs debuts on NBC (2001-2009).
• October 3 - According to Jim, starring James Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith, premieres on ABC (2001-2008).
• October 5 - Pop Idol premieres in the UK on ITV1; the talent contest becomes an international phenomenon as dozens of countries crown their own Idols (2001-2003).
• October 6 - Mutant X premieres (2001-2004).
• October 14 - Men, Women & Dogs premieres on The WB (2001)
• October 16 - Smallville premieres on the WB (2001-2009).
• October 22 - Pardon the Interruption premieres on ESPN (2001-present).
• November 2 - Sailor Moon R - The Movie: Promise Of The Rose premieres on Cartoon Network.
• November 6 - 24 premieres on Fox (2001-present).
• November 8 - Living with Lydia debuts on Channel 5 (Singapore)
• November 9 - Sailor Moon S - The Movie: Hearts In Ice premieres on Cartoon Network.
• November 14 - The Bernie Mac Show premieres on Fox (2001-2006).
• November 16 - Sailor Moon SuperS - The Movie: Black Dream Hole premieres on Cartoon Network.
• November 17 - Justice League premieres on Cartoon Network. (2001-2004)
• November 26 - Richard & Judy premieres on Channel 4. (2001-2008)
• November 29 - What Not to Wear premieres on BBC Two. (2001-2007)
• December 31 - Ransom Premieres on Movie Extra

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).

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 (1954-present).
• 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).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-2006).
• Days of our Lives (US)(1965-present).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• 60 Minutes (1968-present).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• 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).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Arena (UK) (1975-present).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• 20/20 (1978-present).
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
• Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
• Nightline (1979-present).
• This Old House (1979-present).

1980s

• Moneyline/Lou Dobbs Moneyline (1980–present)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• What Now (1982-present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
• Taggart, UK (1983-present)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1978-1979, 1984-present).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• Sally (1985-2002).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
• Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
• ChuckleVision (UK) (1987-present).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
• America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
• The American Experience (1988-present).
• Fair City (1988-present).
• Home and Away (1988-present).
• This Morning (1988-present).
• Electric Circus (Canada) (1988-2003).
• Cops (1989-present).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).

1990s

• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• Rugrats (1991-2004).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
• The Red Green Show (1991-present).
• Barney & Friends (1992-present).
• Dateline NBC (1992-present).
• The Real World (1992-present).
• Frasier (1993-2004).
• Ricki Lake (1993-2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
• NYPD Blue (1993-2005).
• The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
• The X-Files (1993-2002).
• WWF RAW (1993-present).
• All That (1994-2005)
• ER (1994-2009).
• Friends (1994-2004).
• Time Team (UK) (1994-present).
• Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
• JAG (1995-2005).
• Sesame Park (Canada) (1995-2002).
• The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004).
• 7th Heaven (1996-2008).
• Arthur (1996-present)
• Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003).
• Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005).
• Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).
• Judge Judy (1996-present).
• Spin City (1996-2002).
• The Daily Show (1996-present).
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
• Dharma & Greg (1997-2002).
• Family Affairs (UK) (1997-2005).
• Johnny Bravo (1997-2003).
• Just Shoot Me! (1997-2003).
• King of the Hill (1997-present).
• Port Charles (1997-2003).
• South Park (1997-present).
• Stargate SG-1 (1997-present).
• The Practice (1997-2004).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1997-2005).
• Becker (1998-2004).
• Call For Help (1998-2004).
• Charmed (1998-2006).
• Dawson's Creek (1998-2003).
• Sex and the City (1998-2004).
• SMTV Live (UK) (1998-2003).
• That '70s Show (1998-2006).
• The King of Queens (1998-2007).
• The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005).
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK) (1998-present).
• Will & Grace (1998-2006).
• Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999-present).
• Angel (1999-2004).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
• Family Guy (1999-2002, 2005-present).
• Farscape (1999-2003).
• Futurama (1999-2003).
• The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999-2003)
• Judge Mathis (1999-present).
• Judging Amy (1999-2005).
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present).
• Passions (1999-present).
• Rocket Power (1999-present).
• Roswell (1999-2002).
• Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape (1999-present).
• SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present).
• Tenacious D (1999-present).
• The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999-2004).
• The Sopranos (1999-2007).
• The West Wing (1999-2006).
• Third Watch (1999-2005)
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US) (1999-present).
• WWF SmackDown! (1999-present).
• 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001).

2000s

• As Told by Ginger (2000-present).
• Big Brother (2000-present).
• Boston Public (2000-2004).
• Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-present).
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-present).
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present).
• Dark Angel (2000-2002).
• Ed (2000-2004).
• Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006).
• Survivor (2000-present).
• The District (2000-2004).
• The Gavin Crawford Show (2000-2002).
• The Weakest Link (UK) (2000-present).
• Yes, Dear (2000-2006).
• Clocking Off (UK) (2000-2003).
• Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
• Home Movies (1999, 2001-present).
• Once and Again (1999-2002).
• Let's Bowl (1998, 2001-2002).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special If They Could See Us Now).
• The Honduran Suburbs (Jan 2001-Jul 2001)

Ending this year

• January 14 - The Jamie Foxx Show (1996-2001).
• March 4 - La Femme Nikita (1997-2001).
• March 7 - Bette (2000-2001).
• March 23 - Blockbusters (UK) (1983-93, 1994-95, 1997, 2000-01).
• March 21 - WCW Thunder (1998-2001)
• March 26 - WCW Monday Nitro (1995-2001) bought out by WWF.
• April 6 - The Norm Show (1999-2001).
• May 4 - Nash Bridges (1996-2001).
• May 11 - Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001).
• May 14 - Baywatch (1989-2001).
• May 14 - Moesha (1996-2001).
• May 16 - Two Guys and a Girl (1998-2001).
• May 19 - Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001).
• May 20 - The PJs (1999-2001).
• May 22 - 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996-2001).
• May 23 - Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001).
• June 22 - The Famous Jett Jackson (1998-2001).
• June 25 - Daria (1997-2001).
• July 3 - Masterchef (UK) (1990-2001).
• July 10 - The Geena Davis Show (2000-2001).
• July - 100% (UK) (1997-2001).
• August 31- Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968-2001).
• Teletubbies (UK) (1997-2001).
• Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998-2001, 2006-present).
• TV Funhouse (2000-2001).
• September 15 - Live & Kicking (1993-2001).
• September 28 - So Weird (1999-2001).
• WWF Superstars of Wrestling (1986-2001).
• November 1 Recess (TV series) (1997-2001).
• November 17 - Power Rangers: Time Force (2001).
• December 15 The New Woody Woodpecker Show 2nd season finale on December 15 The Twelve Lies of Christmas (Season 2: 2000-2001)

Changes of network affiliation

Notable TV movies and events

• April 30 - On Golden Pond, an adaptation of the play, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, working together for the first time since the film The Sound of Music, is aired live on CBS.
• August 11 - All Grown Up, the Rugrats 10th anniversary special. Nickelodeon's famed nicktoon tots turn 10.
• November 18 - The Facts of Life Reunion, reunion of cast members from the 1979-1988 NBC sitcom (though this movie aired on ABC).

Deaths

• January 1 - Ray Walston, 86, actor (My Favorite Martian )
• January 18 - Al Waxman, 65, actor (Lt. Samuels on Cagney & Lacey)
• February 20 - Bob Weiskopf, 86, writer (I Love Lucy)
• February 27 - Stan Margulies, 80, producer (Roots, The Thorn Birds)
• March 8 - Edward Winter, 63, actor
• March 12 - Morton Downey, Jr., 67, television personality
• March 15 - Ann Sothern, 92, actress (Private Secretary, My Mother the Car)
• March 21 - Norma MacMillan, 79, voice actor
• March 22 - William Hanna, 90, cofounder (with Joseph Barbera) of famous Hanna-Barbera animation studio
• April 11 - George Hersee, 76, BBC engineer who designed Test Card F
• April 15 - Joey Ramone, 49, actor/songwriter of the Ramones
• May 2 - Ted Rogers, 65, Comedian and host of 3-2-1
• May 12 - Perry Como, 88, singer, TV host
• May 19 - Pat Falken Smith, 75, soap opera writer
• May 22 - Whitman Mayo, 70, actor (Grady Wilson on Sanford and Son)
• May 31 - Arlene Francis, 93, actress and game show panelist (What's My Line?)
• June 2 - Imogene Coca, 92, actress and comedienne (Your Show of Shows)
• June 21 - Carroll O'Connor, 76, actor who played Archie Bunker on All in the Family
• August 3 - Christopher Hewett, 79, actor (Mr. Belvedere)
• August 4 - Lorenzo Music, 64, writer and actor who co-created The Bob Newhart Show and did the voices of Carlton the doorman on Rhoda and Garfield the cat in the animated version of Jim Davis comic character
• August 25 - Aaliyah, 22, singer
• September 11 - David Angell, 55, writer (Cheers, Frasier), killed in the World Trade Center attacks
• October 9 - Dagmar, 79, 1950's television sex symbol
• October 15 - Ralph Levy, 81, director
• October 17 - Jay Livingston, 86, songwriter (themes to Bonanza and Mister Ed)
• December 22 - Lance Loud, 50, member of the family documented in An American Family