1970 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1969 in television, other events of 1970, 1971 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• September 1 - The last episode of the television sitcom I Dream of Jeannie airs on NBC. The show premiered on September 18, 1965.
• In a cliffhanger on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow, businessman Sam Reynolds is believed to be dead after he perished in Africa. One of the first "exotic" deaths for a soap opera character, it was in tune with actor Robert Mandan's wish to leave the show.
• Minnie Pearl makes her first appearance on Hee Haw.

Debuts

• January 5 - Soap opera All My Children premieres (1970-present)
• February 17 - McCloud pilot airs on NBC (1970-1977). The series becomes a regular show the following fall as part of Four in One
• September 12 - Josie and the Pussycats premieres (1970-1971)
• September 21 - Monday Night Football premieres (1970-present)
• Doomwatch debuts on BBC1 (1970-1972)
• The Flip Wilson Show premieres (1970-1974)
• Mary Tyler Moore Show premieres (1970-1977)
• The Odd Couple premieres (1970-1975)
• The Partridge Family premieres (1970-1974)
• Play for Today supercedes The Wednesday Play on BBC1. The anthology drama series lasts until 1984

Popular Television Shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present)
• Candid Camera (1948-present)
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971)
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988)
• Love of Life (1951-1980)
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986)
• American Bandstand (1952-1989)
• The Guiding Light (1952-present)
• The Today Show (1952-present)
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present)
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983)
• Face the Nation (1954-present)
• The Secret Storm (1954-1974)
• The Tonight Show (1954-present)
• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984)
• Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955-1976)
• Gunsmoke (1955-1975)
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003)
• As the World Turns (1956-present)
• Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956-1978)
• The Edge of Night (1956-1984)
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present)
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present)
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present)
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-present)
• Bonanza (1959-1973)
• Coronation Street (1960-present)
• My Three Sons (1960-1972)
• The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981)
• The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971)
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present)
• Z-Cars (UK) (1962-1978)
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present)
• General Hospital (1963-present)
• The Doctors (1963-1982)
• Another World (1964-1999)
• Bewitched (1964-1972)
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present)
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present)
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present)
• Green Acres (1965-1971)
• Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971)
• The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974)
• World of Sport (1965-1985)
• Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
• Family Affair (1966-1971)
• Play School (1966-present)
• That Girl (1966-1971)
• The Newlywed Game (1966-1974)
• Ironside (1967-1975)
• Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967-1973)
• Mannix (1967-1975)
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
• 60 Minutes (1968-present)
• Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
• Here's Lucy (1968-1974)
• Julia (1968-1971)
• Laugh-In (1968-1973)
• Magpie (UK) (1968-1980)
• Mayberry R.F.D. (1968-1971)
• One Life to Live (1968-present)
• The Mod Squad (1968-1973)
• Bright Promise (1969-1972)
• Hee Haw (1969-1993)
• Love, American Style (1969-1974)
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969-1976)
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) (1969-1974)
• Room 222 (1969-1974)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989)
• The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
• The Clangers (UK) (1969-1972)
• The Johnny Cash Show (1969-1971)
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979)
• Where the Heart Is (1969-1973)

Ending this year

• The Honeymooners (1952-1970)
• Petticoat Junction (1963-1970)
• Daniel Boone (1964-1970)
• Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964-1970)
• The Wednesday Play (UK) (1964-1970)
• Get Smart (1965-1970)
• I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970)
• The Flying Nun (1967-1970)

Births

• April 13 - Rick Schroder, actor
• February 25 - Julie Hesmondhaigh, actress
• August 23 - Jay Mohr, actor, comedian
• October 2 - Kelly Ripa, actress, television host
• November 23 - Zoe Ball, television presenter

Deaths

• April 23 - Herb Shriner, actor