2003 in television: Information from Answers.com

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The year 2003 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 2003.

For the American TV schedule, see: 2003-04 United States network television schedule.

Events

January 19 - The WB hit series Charmed, which debut in 1998, reaches its 100th episode, which was rare for hour long dramas at that time.
February 9 - After a long delay, BBC Choice is replaced by BBC Three. The opening night is simulcast on BBC Two.
February 9-February 10 - ITV screens the controversial two-part drama The Second Coming, set around the return to Earth of Jesus Christ in modern-day Manchester.
February 16 - The 300th episode of The Simpsons airs the same night as the Married... with Children reunion special airs.
February 22 - After an absence of many years After Dark returns to British television.
Late February-March - Talk show host David Letterman is forced to take a few weeks off from his Late Show with David Letterman due to a bout of shingles (subsequent Top Ten Lists would occasionally have entries that poked fun at this). A string of celebrities guest host for Letterman while he's away including Bruce Willis, Regis Philbin, Will Ferrell and Elvis Costello.
February 24 - 19.43 million watch Coronation Street in the UK as Richard Hillman confesses to the murder of Maxine Peacock, the highest rated show of the year. [1]
February 24 to February 28 - Giant Robot Week airs on Cartoon Network, which includes 2 heavily edited episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion. This is the first attempt to air the series on network TV (it has never been aired on network TV prior to this date).
April 7 - Dragonball Z airs its final premiere episode on Cartoon Network. The series first aired on Toonami on August 31, 1998. DBZ ended but returned in 2005 with the first 65 episodes redubbed and uncut.
April 22 - On All My Children, Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) kisses Lena Kundera (Olga Sosnovska); this is the first lesbian kiss on American daytime television.
May 20 - The first "Cycle" of America's Next Top Model premiers.
June 28 - The game show Judgement Day premieres on ITV, hosted by Brian Conley. It is cancelled after two episodes due to very low ratings, the second quickest cancellation in UK TV history; the first was Heil Honey I'm Home! in 1990, cancelled after one episode.
September 5 - The much vaunted TV3 rival to RTÉ's The Late Late Show (Ireland), Eamon Dunphy's The Dunphy Show premieres and bombs, pulling in less than half the Late Late's viewership. The show is axed after December 12 after only 12 shows.
September 10 - In an effort to woo Star Trek fans into watching the latest series in the franchise, the producers of UPN's Enterprise launch a season-long story arc, the first time a full season of a Star Trek series has been devoted to one storyline. Three episodes into the new season, as a gesture to win back Trekkies, the series title is changed to the more traditional Star Trek: Enterprise.
September 24 - Jun Song is crowned the winner of the American version of Big Brother 4 and wins the $500,000 prize. Runner-Up Allison Irwin wins $50,000.
September 25 - The Daily Telegraph newspaper is first to announce the return of popular sci-fi drama series Doctor Who after a 14 year break.
September 29 - EastEnders brings Dirty Den back from the supposed dead after fourteen years.
October 4 - A live action version of the popular Sailor Moon franchise premieres on Japanese television. The show spreads around the world as fans of the Japanese anime of the same name post whole episodes of the program onto the Internet.
October 5 - Coronation Street shows its first gay kiss.
October 5 - Psychological illusionist Derren Brown controversially plays Russian roulette live on Channel 4, though with a slight delay allegedly in case the stunt went wrong.
October 23 - Longtime broadcaster on the BBC and ITN, and latterly news anchor on Sky News, Bob Friend retires.
November 4 - The NFL Network launches in America.
November 10 - The 4000th episode of Wheel of Fortune since the pairing of host and hostess Pat Sajak and Vanna White airs.
November 11 - BBC current affairs series Panorama, launched in 1953, becomes the first UK television show to reach its 50th anniversary on air.
November 14 - Gary Coleman, former star of Diff'rent Strokes, is one of many candidates for Governor of California in the gubernatorial recall election. He comes in 8th place. Another Hollywood star comes in first: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
November 23 - 40th anniversary of the first broadcast of Doctor Who in the UK. In the weeks leading up to this milestone, the BBC announces that a new series of Doctor Who -- the show last aired as a weekly program in 1989 -- will debut in 2005.

Debuts

January 17 - That's So Raven premieres on Disney Channel (2003-2007)
January 22 - Chappelle's Show premieres on Comedy Central (2003-2006).
January 23 – MythBusters premieres on Discovery Channel (2003–present).
January 24 – Penn & Teller: Bullshit! premieres on Showtime (2003–present).
February 1 - Winx Club premieres on Rai Due in Italy (2003-present), later introduced to the Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV) on June 19, 2004 (2004-present).
February 4 - Posh Nosh premieres on BBC Two (2003)
February 8 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres on Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV) (2003-present)
February 15 - Power Rangers: Ninja Storm premieres on ABC (2003)
February 21 - Da Ali G Show premieres on HBO (2003-2004)
February 24 - Animal Jam premieres on TLC (2003)
March 3 - Live Prayer premieres on UPN44 (2003 - present)
March 31 - American Chopper premieres on Discovery Channel (2003–present)
April 5 - Danny Phantom premieres on Nickelodeon in Australia (2003-2007), later introduced to the Nickelodeon on April 3, 2004 in United States (2004-2007).
April 6 - Sonic X premieres on TV Tokyo in Japan, later introduced to the Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV) on August 23 (2003-2006).
April 13 - MXC, an English-language redubbing of the Japanese series Takeshi's Castle, debuts on TNN as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (original episodes 2003–2007).
May 17 - Megaman NT Warrior, the English-language version of Rockman EXE, premieres on Kids' WB!.
May 18 - State of Play (UK), a six-part serial from Paul Abbott, begins its run on BBC One, concluding on June 22. A sequel is planned for 2006.
May 26 - Unscrewed with Martin Sargent premieres on TechTV (now G4TV (2003-2004).
June 2 - Train 48 premieres on the Global Television Network in Canada (2003-2005).
June 27 - Dead Like Me premieres on Showtime (2003-2005).
July 1 - Reno 911! premieres on Comedy Central (2003-2009).
July 8 - Big Brother 4 premieres on CBS (2000-present).
July 15 - Queer Eye for the Straight Guy premieres on Bravo (2003–2007).
July 22 - Nip/Tuck premieres on FX (2003-present).
August 1 - My Life as a Teenage Robot premieres on Nickelodeon (2003-present).
August 5 - The O.C. premieres on FOX (2003-2007).
August 23 - Duck Dodgers (TV series) premieres on Cartoon Network (2003-2005).
August 26 - Playmakers premieres on ESPN, and is cancelled on November 11.
August 29 - Cowboy U premieres on CMT (2003-present).
September 9 - Whoopi, with Whoopi Goldberg, premieres on NBC (2003-2004).
September 9 - Happy Family premieres on NBC (2003-2004).
September 9 - Starting Over premieres. (syndicated) (2003-2006).
September 11 - QI premieres on BBC in UK (2003-present).
September 13 - Romeo! premieres on Nickelodeon (2003-2006).
September 14 - Carnivàle premieres on HBO (2003-2005).
September 15 - Eve premieres on UPN (2003-2006).
September 16 - Little Britain premieres on BBC Three in UK (2003-2006).
September 16 - All of Us premieres on UPN (2003-2007)
September 18 - Threat Matrix premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
September 20 - Lilo and Stitch: The Series premieres on ABC Kids (2003-2006).
September 22 - Las Vegas premieres on NBC (2003-present).
September 22 - Two and a Half Men premieres on CBS (2003-present).
September 23 - I'm with Her premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
September 23 - NCIS premieres on CBS (2003-present).
September 23 - One Tree Hill premieres on the WB (2003-present).
September 26 - Hope and Faith premieres on ABC (2003-2006).
September 26 - Joan of Arcadia premieres on CBS (2003-2005).
September 26 - The Handler premieres on CBS (2003-2004).
September 28 - Cold Case premieres on CBS (2003-present).
September 28 - 10-8: Officers on Duty premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
October 1 - It's All Relative premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
October 1 - Karen Sisco premieres on ABC, and is cancelled on November 12 (2003-2004).
October 3 - Married to the Kellys premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
October 6 - The Big Break premieres on The Golf Channel (2003–present).
October 16 - Superstars returns to BBC One (1973-1985, 2003-2005).
October 26 - Viva La Bam premieres on MTV (2003-2005).
October 30 - Tru Calling premieres on FOX (2003-2005).
November 1 - Xiaolin Showdown premieres on Kids' WB! (2003-present).
November 1 - Dave the Barbarian premieres on Disney Channel in Australia (2003-2004), later introduced to the Disney Channel on January 23, 2004 (2004-2005).
November 2 - Arrested Development premieres on FOX (2003-2006).
November 7 - Star Wars: Clone Wars premieres on Cartoon Network (2003-2005).
November 7 - Dragonball GT premieres on Cartoon Network (2003-2005).
November 29 - All Grown Up!, a Rugrats spinoff, premieres on Nickelodeon (2003-2008).
December 8 - Battlestar Galactica premieres on Sky One in the UK (2003-present).

Television shows

See also 2003-04 United States network television schedule

1940s

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

1950s

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
I Love Lucy (1951-1957)
CBS Evening News (1952-present)
Guiding Light (1952-present).
The Today Show (1952-present).
Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
Face the Nation (1954-present).
The Tonight Show (1954-present).
As the World Turns (1956-present).
What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (1957-1960)
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 (1964-1972)
Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-2006).
The Munsters (1964-1966)
I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970)
Days of our Lives (1965-present).
Play School (1966-present).
The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
Shoten (Japan) (1966-present).
60 Minutes (1968-present).
One Life to Live (1968-present).
The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
Sesame Street (1969-present).

1970s

All My Children (1970-present).
Monday Night Football (1970-present).
All in the Family (1971-1979)
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).
Happy Days (1974-1984).
Arena (UK) (1975-present).
Good Morning America (1975-present).
The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
20/20 (1978-present).
Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
Nightline (1979-present).
This Old House (1979-present).

1980s

Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
CCTV New Year's Gala (China) (1982-present).
What Now (1982-present)
Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
Waratte Iitomo (Japan) (1982-present).
Taggart, UK (1983-present)
Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1978-1979, 1984-present).
The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
SportsCentre, Canada (1984–2001 as The Sports Desk, 2001–present with current title)
EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
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).
Cops (1989-present).
The Simpsons (1989-present).

1990s

1990-1993

Law & Order (1990-present).
America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991-1993)
Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999)
The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
The Red Green Show (1991-present).
Rugrats (1991-2004).
Dateline NBC (1992-present).
The Real World (1992-present).
Barney & Friends (1992-present).
Frasier (1993-2004).
Ricki Lake (1993-2004).
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
NYPD Blue (1993-present).
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
WWE RAW (1993-present).

1994-1996

All That (1994-2005)
ER (1994–2009)
Friends (1994–2004)
Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994–2004)
Time Team, UK (1994–present)
The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004)
JAG (1995–2005)
Modern Marvels (1995–present)
7th Heaven (1996–2007)
Arthur (1996-present)
The Daily Show (1996–present)
Dexter's Laboratory (1996–present)
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005)
Hannity & Colmes (1996–2009)
Hey Arnold! (1996–2004)
Judge Judy (1996–present)

1997-1999

The Crocodile Hunter (1997–2004)
Dream Team (UK) (1997–2007)
Family Affairs (UK) (1997–2005)
Johnny Bravo (1997–2003)
King of the Hill (1997–present)
Port Charles (1997–2003).
The Practice (1997–2004).
South Park (1997–present)
Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)
The Wonderful World of Disney (1997–present under current title; has regularly aired since 1954 with other titles)
Becker (1998-2004).
Call For Help (1998-2004).
Charmed (1998–2006)
The King of Queens (1998–2007)
The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005).
Sex and the City (1998-2004).
That '70s Show (1998-2006).
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK) (1998-present).
Will & Grace (1998-2006).
The Amanda Show (1999-2002)
Angel (1999-2004).
Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999-present).
Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
Judge Mathis (1999-present).
Judging Amy (1999-2005).
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present).
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999-2004).
The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999-2003)
Passions (1999-2007, 2007-2008).
Rocket Power (1999-2004).
Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape (1999-present).
The Sopranos (1999-present).
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present).
Tenacious D (1999-present).
Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2003)
Third Watch (1999-2005).
The West Wing (1999-2006).
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US) (1999-present).

2000s

2000

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).
The District (2000-2004).
Ed (2000–2004)
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (2000–2007)
Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006).
Survivor (2000-present).
This Week in Baseball (1977–1998, 2000–present)
The Weakest Link (UK) (2000-present).
Yes, Dear (2000-2006).

2001

24 (2001-present).
According to Jim (2001-present).
Adult Swim (2001-present).
Alias (2001-2006).
Braceface (2001-2006).
Fear Factor (2001-present).
Home Movies (1999, 2001-present).
JR Digs (Canada) (2001-present).
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-present).
Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004).
Lloyd in Space (2001-2004).
Mutant X (2001-2004).
My Wife and Kids (2001-present).
Pop Idol (UK) (2001-present).
Scrubs (2001-present).
Six Feet Under (2001-2005).
Smallville (2001-present).
Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005).
Living with Lydia (2001-2005)
The Amazing Race (2001-present).
The Bernie Mac Show (2001-2006).
The Fairly OddParents (2001-present).
The Guardian (2001-2004).
The Saturday Show (UK) (2001-present).

2002

8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (2002-2005).
Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002-2006).
All About Me (2002-2004)
American Dreams (2002-present).
American Idol: The Search for a Superstar (2002-present).
Codename: Kids Next Door (2002-2008).
CSI: Miami (2002-present).
Dick and Dom in da Bungalow (UK) (2002-2006).
The Dr. Phil Show (2002-present)
Hack (2002-2004).
Harry Hill's TV Burp (UK) (2002-present).
I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (UK) (2002-present).
Kim Possible (2002-2007).
Less Than Perfect (2002-present).
Life with Bonnie (2002-2004).
Spooks (UK) (2002-present).
The Bachelor (2002-present).
The George Lopez Show (2002-present).
The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (2002-2004).
The Osbournes (2002-present).
Without a Trace (2002-present).

Returning in 2003

The Newsroom (Canada) (1996-1997, 2003-2005).
Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks (United States) (2003-2004, 2005-2006)
Winx Club (Italy) (2003-present)

Ending this year

January 12 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe (2002-2003).
February 5 - The Legend of Tarzan (2001-2003)
February 23 - Oz (1997-2003)
March 21 - Farscape (1999-2003).
April - Clone High (2002-2003).
April 6 - Clocking Off (UK) (2000-2003).
April 7 - Dragonball Z ends its series finale "Goku's Next Journey" (1998-2003) but returns in 2005 broadcasting the first 65 episodes redubbed, uncut. DBZ still airs on Cartoon Network's Toonami as of November 2007,but DBZ's reruns on Toonami started in April 2007.
April 13 - My Big Fat Greek Life (2003).
April 24 - Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1997-2003).
April 25 - Fastlane (2002-2003).
April 26 - Cubix: Robots for Everyone (2001-2003).
April 27 - Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
May 7 - Stargate Infinity (2002-2003).
May 20 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
May 21 - The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002-2003).
May 28 - Dawson's Creek (1998-2003).
May 30 - Crossroads (UK) ends for the second time. The last episode reveals that the entire 2003 series had been a dream, and that the characters were actually working in a supermarket (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
June 2 - Even Stevens (2000-2003).
July 1 - Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"
July 14 - Digimon: Digital Monsters ends with its series finale End of the Line (1999-2003) but returns in 2007 as Digimon: Data Squad
August 8 - This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
August 10 - Futurama (1999-2003).Returns in 2008 for 16 episodes on Comedy Central.
August 16 - Just Shoot Me! (1997-2003).
October 3 - The ABC soap opera Port Charles, the spin-off of the popular General Hospital is cancelled due to low ratings after the show was nominated for its first Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series". It ended in a cliffhanger with characters Alison (Erin Hershey Presley) and Rafe (Brian Gaskill) getting married, Livvie (Kelly Monaco) and Caleb (Michael Easton) slept together and Jamal (Kiko Ellsworth) reveals that his girlfriend is a werewolf (1997-2003).
October 25 - X-Men: Evolution (2000-2003).
November 4 - Brookside (UK) (1982-2003).
November 11 - The Angry Beavers (1997-2003)
November 15 - Power Rangers: Ninja Storm (2003)
December 12 - Electric Circus (Canada) (1988-2003).
December 19 - Fifteen to One (1988-2003).
December 24 - Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).
December 25 - Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special Sleepless in Peckham).
December 27 - SMTV Live (UK) (1998-2003).
December 31 - Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (UK) (1984-2003)

Changes of Network Affiliation

Show	Moved from	Moved to
Grounded for Life	FOX	The WB
Robot Wars	BBC Two	Five
Family Rosary Crusade	ABS-CBN	Studio 23

Deaths

January 12 - Maurice Gibb, 53, actor/songwriter of the Bee Gees.
January 23 - Nell Carter, 54, actress, singer, of Gimme a Break.
February 27 - Fred Rogers, 74, TV's "Mister Rogers" of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
March 22 - Terry Lloyd, 50, news reporter, killed during Iraq War skirmish.
March 30 - Gaby Rado, 48, news reporter, accidental death while covering Iraq War.
April 2 - Pat Leavy, Hannah Finnegan in Fair City after being taken ill on set.
June 19 - Laura Sadler, 22 Sandy Harper in Holby City after falling from a balcony.
September 11 - John Ritter, 54, known mostly as Jack Tripper from Three's Company, but at the time was involved in the sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and the cartoon Clifford the Big Red Dog.
October 4 - James Forlong, 44, dismissed Sky News journalist accused of faking Iraq War report, commits suicide.
October 21 - Fred Berry, 52, actor (Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs on What's Happening!!).
October 27 - Rod Roddy, 66, announcer on Press Your Luck, Soap, and, most famously, The Price Is Right.
November 9 - Art Carney, 85, actor.
December 29 - Earl Hindman, 61, actor Wilson J. Wilson Jr. on Home Improvement
Don Taylor, 67, director.
Bob Monkhouse, 75, Comedian & Entertainer.

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2003 in television

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