1982 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1981 in television, other events of 1982, 1983 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• March 4 - The short-lived Police Squad! airs on ABC (last episode was shown on July 8).
• March 26 - The final episode of the soap opera Search for Tomorrow airs on CBS. NBC picks it up immediately; the first new episode of the serial airs on the network March 29.
• April 2 - John Chancellor signs off for the last time on the NBC Nightly News.
• April 9 - The season finale of Dallas finds J.R. Ewing's longtime enemy Cliff Barnes fighting for his life after a suicide attempt.
• July 28 - Comedian Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler Jerry Lawler get into an on-air fight during an interview on the Late Night with David Letterman show. The event was later revealed to be a hoax.
• October 10 - Boys from the Blackstuff premieres on BBC2 (last episode was shown on November 7).
• October 22 - Susan Stafford leaves Wheel of Fortune to work on humanitarian work. Auditions take place for who will replace her.
• November 1 - S4C, the first Welsh language TV service is launched.
• November 2 - Channel 4 starts broadcasting in the UK.
• December 13 - Vanna White takes over hosting roles for Susan Stafford on Wheel of Fortune; a role she holds as of 2005.
• December 29 - A puzzling appearance by Nastassja Kinski on Late Night with David Letterman. Kinski appears with an unusual hair style, which Letterman described as "looking like there was an owl perched on top of her head". Kinski seemed to be somewhat oblivious to the jokes and everything else that was going on around her. The show's second guest, comedian John Candy, came out with his hair moussed up in a pile.
• Surround Sound is introduced for home use by Dolby.

Debuts

• January 7 - Fame, adapted from the 1980 film of the same name, premieres on NBC (1982-1987)
• February 2 - Late Night with David Letterman debuts on NBC after The Tonight Show (1982-1993)
• March 25 - Cagney & Lacey premieres on CBS (1982-1988)
• September 22 - Family Ties debuts on NBC (1982-1989)
• September 25 - Silver Spoons premieres on NBC (1982-1987)
• September 26 - Knight Rider premieres on NBC (1982-1986)
• September 27 - Square Pegs premieres on CBS (1982-1983)
• September 30 - Cheers debuts on NBC (1982-1993)
• October 1 - Remington Steele premieres on NBC (1982-1987)
• October 19 - St. Elsewhere premieres on NBC (1982-1988)
• October 25 - Newhart premieres on CBS (1982-1990)
• The Journal premieres on CBC (1982-1992)
• The Tube premieres on Channel Four in the UK (1982-1987)
• The Young Ones premieres on the BBC (1982, 1984)

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present)
• Candid Camera (1948-present)
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988)
• 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)
• 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 Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present)
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1984, 1986-1989, 2005-present)
• General Hospital (1963-present)
• 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)
• One Life to Live (1968-present)
• Hee Haw (1969-1993)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• The Benny Hill Show (UK) (1969-1989)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• Monday Night Football (1970-present)
• Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984)
• 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)
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present)
• Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999)
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986)
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present)
• Derrick (1974-1998)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984)
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present)
• Good Morning America (1975-present)
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
• 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)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
• Alice (1976-1985)
• 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 P.T.L. Club (1976-1987)
• CHiPs (1977-1983)
• Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
• The Love Boat (1977-1986)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)
• 20/20 (1978-present)
• 3-2-1 (UK) (1978-1987)
• Battle of the Planets (1978-1985)
• Dallas (1978-1991)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present)
• Taxi (1978-1983)
• Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983)
• Benson (1979-1986)
• Knots Landing (1979-1993)
• Real People (1979-1984)
• The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)
• The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
• Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986)
• You Can't Do That on Television (Canada) (1979-1990)
• It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989)
• Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
• Solid Gold (1980-1988)
• That's Incredible! (1980-1984)
• The Other 'Arf (UK) (1980-1984)
• Too Close for Comfort (1980-1986)
• Dynasty (1981-1989)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present)
• Falcon Crest (1981-1990)
• Gimme a Break! (1981-1987)
• Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)
• SCTV Network 90 (US) (1981-1983)
• Simon & Simon (1981-1988)
• The Fall Guy (1981-1986)
• Walt Disney (1981-1983)
• Tattletales (1974-1978, 1982-1984)

Ending this year

• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982).
• The Doctors (1963-1982).
• The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982).
• Tiswas (UK) (1974-1982).
• Barney Miller (1975-1982).
• In Search of... (1977-1982).
• Lou Grant (1977-1982).
• Mork & Mindy (1978-1982).
• WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982).
• Bosom Buddies (1980-1982).
• Fridays (1980-1982).
• Texas (1980-1982).

Changes of network affiliation

• Search for Tomorrow moves from CBS to NBC; in the final CBS episode, Travis and Liza's boat blows up in a fiery explosion off the coast of St. Kitts and Nevis.

Births

• January 1 - Fearne Cotton, British television presenter
• January 19 - Jodie Sweetin, US actress
• March 3 - Jessica Biel, US actress
• March 11 - Thora Birch, US actress
• July 17 - Brooke Kinsella, UK actress
• October 15 - Toran Caudell, voice actor ("Arnold" from Hey Arnold! in 1996-1997 and "Wolfgang" in 1997)

Deaths

• January 1 - Victor Buono, actor.
• January 5 - Hans Conried, actor.
• January 10 - Paul Lynde, actor and comedian known for his work on Bewitched and Hollywood Squares.
• January 18 - Trent Lehman, a former child actor on Nanny and the Professor, suicide.
• March 5 - John Belushi, actor.
• May 15 - Hugh Beaumont, actor on Leave It to Beaver.
• July 21 - Dave Garroway, journalist, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
• December 7 - Will Lee, actor who played Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street.
• December 23 - Jack Webb, actor, producer, best known for Dragnet.