1978 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1977 in television, other events of 1978, 1979 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 28 - The Doobie Brothers make a guest appearance on the television show What's Happening!!.
• February 22 - The Police appear in a television commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum.
• March 7–April 11 - Dennis Potter's groundbreaking drama serial Pennies From Heaven airs on BBC1.
• April 16–April 19 - Holocaust (miniseries), starring James Woods and Meryl Streep first aired on NBC.
• April 22 - The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on Saturday Night Live. The duo of Jake & Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) was introduced by Paul Shaffer (as Don Kirschner) and performed "Hey Bartender".
• April 26 - Ringo Starr's, Ringo, a musical version of The Prince and the Pauper airs on American television. Starr's fellow former Beatle George Harrison provides the narration.
• September - The soap opera As the World Turns is #1 in the daytime Nielsen ratings for the 20th and final consecutive year; no other serial has been at the top of the ratings for such an unbeaten yearly streak.
• November 17 - The Star Wars Holiday Special airs on CBS. The special gives fans their first glimpse of Boba Fett, a character from the upcoming Star Wars sequel.
• The Beatles spoof, The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash airs on television.
• Steve Martin performs the original "King Tut" on Saturday Night Live. The song is later released as a single and becomes a hit for the comedian.
• Abarembo Shogun premieres on the Asahi television network in Japan (1978-2003).

Debuts

• February 8 - Grange Hill premieres on BBC TV in the UK (1978-present).
• April 3 - Dallas premieres on CBS (1978-1991).
• June - 20/20 premieres (1978-present).
• September 17 - Battlestar Galactica premieres on ABC (1978-1979).
• September 18 - WKRP in Cincinnati premieres on CBS (1978-1982).
• September - Battle of the Planets premieres (1978-1985).
• November 3 - Diff'rent Strokes premieres on NBC (1978-1986).
• 3-2-1 starts on ITV in the United Kingdom (1978-1987).
• Mork & Mindy premieres on ABC (1978-1982).
• Taxi premieres on ABC (1978-1983).

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)
• 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 Tonight Show (1954-present)
• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984)
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003)
• As the World Turns (1956-present)
• 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)
• 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)
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present)
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present)
• World of Sport (UK) (1965-1985)
• Play School (1966-present)
• 60 Minutes (1968-present)
• Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
• Magpie (UK) (1968-1980)
• One Life to Live (1968-present)
• Hee Haw (1969-1993)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989)
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1969-1979)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• Monday Night Football (1970-present)
• Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984)
• All in the Family (1971-1979)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present)
• Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987)
• Soul Train (1971-present)
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985)
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present)
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• The Price Is Right (1972-present)
• The Waltons (1972-1981)
• Barnaby Jones (1973-1980)
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present)
• Match Game '78 (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999)
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986)
• The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982)
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present)
• Derrick (1974-1998)
• Good Times (1974-1979)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984)
• The Rockford Files (1974-1980)
• Tiswas (UK) (1974-1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present)
• Barney Miller (1975-1982)
• Good Morning America (1975-present)
• King of Kensington (Canada) (1975-1980)
• Match Game PM (1975-1981)
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
• Runaround (UK) (1975-1981)
• Ryan's Hope (1975-1989)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• Superstars (UK) (1975-1985, 2003-present)
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present)
• The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
• Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
• Alice (1976-1985)
• Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present)
• Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
• Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
• Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984)
• The Muppet Show (UK) (1976-1981)
• The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987)
• What's Happening!! (1976-1979)
• CHiPs (1977-1983)
• Eight Is Enough (1977-1981)
• Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
• In Search of... (1977-1982)
• Lou Grant (1977-1982)
• Soap (1977-1981)
• The Love Boat (1977-1986)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)

Ending this year

• Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956-1978).
• Z-Cars (UK) (1962-1978).
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978).
• Columbo (1971-1978).
• Maude (1972-1978).
• The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978).
• Kojak (1973-1978).
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-1978).
• Chico and the Man (1974-1978).
• Rhoda (1974-1978).
• Tattletales (1974-1978, 1982-1984).
• Baretta (1975-1978).
• Pop Quest (UK) (1975-1978).
• The Sweeney (UK) (1975-1978).
• The Bionic Woman (1976-1978).

Births

• January 3 - Daryn Jones, entertainment personality in Canada.
• February 7 - Ashton Kutcher, US actor.
• April 13 - Kyle Howard, US actor.
• April 22 - Manu Intiraymi, US actor.
• June 2 - Nikki Cox, US actor.
• June 10 - Shane West, US actor.
• June 13 - Ethan Embry, US actor.
• June 27 - Anna Kumble, British television presenter.
• July 1 - Hillary Tuck, US actor.
• July 9 - Linda Park, US actor (born in Korea).
• July 19 - Topher Grace, US actor.
• August 7 - Cirroc Lofton, US actor.
• October 9 - Randy Spelling, US actor.
• December 18 - Katie Holmes, US actor.

Deaths

• February 28 - Zara Cully, US actor, then-currently appearing on The Jeffersons.
• March 18 - Peggy Wood, US actor.
• April 22 - Will Geer, US actor.
• June 29 - Bob Crane, US actor, murdered.