1971 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1970 in television, other events of 1971, 1972 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 3 - BBC Open University broadcasts begin in the UK.
• June 6 - The Ed Sullivan Show goes off the air.
• September 7 - The last episode of The Beverly Hillbillies is aired (the first episode debuted on September 26, 1962).
• November - Top-rated As the World Turns loses the #1 slot in the daytime Nielsens for the first time since 1959.
• The Selling of the Pentagon documentary airs on CBS.
• Michael Zaslow first appears as Roger Thorpe on The Guiding Light.

Debuts

• January 10 - Masterpiece Theatre debuts on PBS (1971-present).
• January 12 - All in the Family premieres (1971-1979).
• October 2 - Soul Train, the African-American equivalent to American Bandstand, premieres (1971-present).
• The New Dick Van Dyke Show premieres (1971-1974).
• The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour premieres (1971-1974).
• NBC Mystery Movie premieres (1971-1977) as a wheel show featuring:
  • McCloud (premiered in 1970);
  • McMillan and Wife (1971-1977);
  • Columbo (1971-1978);
  • Old Grey Whistle Test (premiered in the UK) (1971-1987).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present)
• Candid Camera (1948-present)
• 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 (UK) (1960-present)
• My Three Sons (1960-1972)
• The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981)
• 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)
• The Dean Martin Show (1965-1974)
• World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985)
• Play School (1966-present)
• 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)
• Laugh-In (1968-1973)
• Magpie (UK) (1968-1980)
• 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. (1969-1973)
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) (1969-1974)
• Room 222 (1969-1974)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• The Benny Hill Show (1969-1989)
• The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
• The Clangers (UK) (1969-1972)
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979)
• Where the Heart Is (1969-1973)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• Doomwatch (UK) (1970-1972)
• Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977)
• McCloud (1970-1977)
• Monday Night Football (1970-present)
• Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984)
• The Flip Wilson Show (1970-1974)
• The Odd Couple (1970-1975)
• The Partridge Family (1970-1974)

Ending this year

• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971)
• The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971)
• Green Acres (1965-1971)
• Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971)
• Dark Shadows (1966-1971)
• Family Affair (1966-1971)
• That Girl (1966-1971)
• Julia (1968-1971)
• Mayberry R.F.D. (1968-1971)
• The Johnny Cash Show (1969-1971)
• Josie and the Pussycats premieres (1970-1971)

Changes of network affiliation

• The Lawrence Welk Show moves from ABC to first-run syndication.

Births

• January 1 - Tess Daly, British television presenter.
• January 5 - Jayne Middlemiss, British television presenter.
• January 6 - Charlie Neil, British regional TV weather reader.
• January 9 - Liza Walker, British actress.
• February 16 - Amanda Holden.
• February 23 - Melinda Messenger, British television presenter and model.
• March 9 - Emmanuel Lewis.
• March 23 - Gail Porter, television presenter.
• July 7 - Dani Behr, television presenter and actress.
• July 17 - Peta Brady, actress.
• August 7 - Melanie Sykes, British television presenter.
• September 9 - Natasha Kaplinsky, British television presenter.
• September 8 - Brooke Burke.
• September 13 - Louise Lombard, British actress.
• September 25 - Jessie Wallace, British actress.
• October 19 - Kacey Ainsworth, British actress.
• November 25 - Christina Applegate.
• December 5 - Justine Kerrigan, British actress.

Deaths

• March 15 - Bebe Daniels.
• December 30 - Melba Rae, soap opera actress (Search for Tomorrow).