1973 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1972 in television, other events of 1973, 1974 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 14 - Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii television special is seen around the world by more than 1 billion viewers.
• March 13 - The Bait, a television crime thriller movie starring Donna Mills as hero police officer Tracy Fleming, airs on US television.
• March 21 - Are You Being Served? begins first regular series (pilot aired September 8, 1972).
• April 16 - Paul McCartney's first television special, James Paul McCartney airs. The special includes performances by McCartney and Wings.
• October 8 - Patricia Phoenix leaves the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after thirteen years, when she felt that specific length of time was enough to play one character continuously.
• November - Julie on Sesame Street airs.
• Opening of CBGB's.
• Large-screen projection color TVs hit the market.

Debuts

• January 4 - Last of the Summer Wine pilot episode, first series begins on November 12 (1973-present)
• January 6 - Schoolhouse Rock! premieres (1973-1986)
• January 28 - Barnaby Jones premieres on CBS (1973-1980)
• March 26 - The Young and the Restless premieres on CBS (1973-present)
• July 2 - Match Game is revived by CBS with the significantly changed rules (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999)
• Kojak premieres (1973-1978)
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-1978)
• The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982)

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)
• Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present)
• 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)
• 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)
• Mannix (1967-1975)
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
• 60 Minutes (1968-present)
• Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
• Here's Lucy (1968-1974)
• Magpie (UK) (1968-1980)
• One Life to Live (1968-present)
• Hee Haw (1969-1993)
• Love, American Style (1969-1974)
• Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969-1976)
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974)
• Room 222 (1969-1974)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989)
• The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• 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)
• All in the Family (1971-1979)
• Columbo (1971-1978)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present)
• McMillan and Wife (1971-1977)
• Soul Train (1971-present)
• The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971-1974)
• Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987)
• The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour (1971-1974)
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985)
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present)
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present)
• Kung Fu (1972-1975)
• Maude (1972-1978)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• Sanford and Son (1972-1977)
• The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
• The Price Is Right (1972-present)
• The Waltons (1972-1981)

Ending this year

• Bonanza (1959-1973)
• Love Is a Many Splendored Thing (1967-1973)
• Laugh-In (1968-1973)
• The Mod Squad (1968-1973)
• Where the Heart Is (1969-1973)
• Bridget Loves Bernie (1972-1973)
• Runaround (1972-1973)

Births

• January 31 - Portia De Rossi, actress.
• October 3 - Neve Campbell, actress.
• November 5 - Danniella Westbrook, actress.