1984 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1983 in television, other events of 1984, 1985 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 4 - Patricia Phoenix leaves Coronation Street for the second and final time as Elsie Tanner goes to live with old flame Bill Gregory in Portugal.
• January 9 - Clara Peller is featured in the "Where's the Beef?" commercial campaign for Wendy's for the first time.
• January 22 - Apple Computer launches its Apple Macintosh with its famous half-time Super Bowl commercial.
• January 28 - singer Michael Jackson's hair catches fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.
• August 31 - MuchMusic launches in Canada.
• September 1 - TSN launches in Canada.
• September 23 - British single TV drama play Threads premieres on BBC.
• December 28 - The American soap opera The Edge of Night airs its final episode (#7420).
• After several years off the air, Jeopardy! returns to television with a new host (Alex Trebek) in syndication.
• At the close of its 22nd season, Doctor Who is abruptly "rested" by BBC1 Controller Michael Grade. He intended to cancel the show outright, but the production office remained open and a much-changed 23rd season was broadcast in 1986. Many fans would conduct vocal protests over the next year, urging the BBC to bring the series back.

Debuts

• January 4 - Night Court premieres (1984-1992)
• March 19 - Kate and Allie premieres on CBS (1984-1989)
• July 30 - Santa Barbara premieres on NBC (1984-1993)
• September 16 - Punky Brewster premieres on NBC (1984-1986, 1987-1988)
• September 19 - Highway to Heaven premieres on NBC (1984-1989)
• September 20 - The Cosby Show debuts on NBC (1984-1992)
• September 20 - Who's the Boss? premieres on ABC (1984-1992)
• September 22 - Cover Up premieres (1984-1985)
• September 28 - Miami Vice premieres on NBC (1984-1989)
• September 30 - Murder, She Wrote, starring Hollywood veteran Angela Lansbury, premieres on CBS (1984-1996)
• September 30 - Tales from the Darkside premieres (1984-1988)
• October - The Bill premieres in the UK (1984-present)

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)
• Face the Nation (1954-present)
• The Tonight Show (1954-present)
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003)
• As the World Turns (1956-present)
• 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) (1963-1989, 1996, 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)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present)
• 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)
• The Price Is Right (1972-present)
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present)
• Match Game—Hollywood Squares Hour (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999)
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986)
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present)
• Derrick (1974-1998)
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present)
• Good Morning America (1975-present)
• 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)
• The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987)
• The Love Boat (1977-1986)
• 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)
• Benson (1979-1986)
• Knots Landing (1979-1993)
• 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)
• Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
• Solid Gold (1980-1988)
• 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)
• Simon & Simon (1981-1988)
• The Fall Guy (1981-1986)
• Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988)
• Cheers (1982-1993)
• Fame (1982-1987)
• Family Ties (1982-1989)
• Knight Rider (1982-1986)
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993)
• Newhart (1982-1990)
• Remington Steele (1982-1987)
• Silver Spoons (1982-1987)
• St. Elsewhere (1982-1988)
• The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992)
• Fraggle Rock (1983-1988)
• Loving (1983-1995)
• Mama's Family (1983-1984, 1986-1990)
• Press Your Luck (1983-1986)
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
• The A-Team (1983-1987)
• Tucker's Luck (UK) (1983-1985)
• Webster (1983-1989)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present)

Ending this year

• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984)
• The Edge of Night (1956-1984)
• Play for Today (UK) (1970-1984)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984)
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
• Tattletales (1974-1978, 1982-1984)
• Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984)
• Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)
• Real People (1979-1984)
• That's Incredible! (1980-1984)
• The Other 'Arf (UK) (1980-1984)
• The Young Ones (UK) (1982, 1984)
• The Dukes (1983-1984)

Births

• January 1 - Christina Vidal, actress.
• March 20 - Christy Carlson Romano, actress.
• March 28 - Nikki Sanderson, actress.
• April 8 - Kirsten Storms, actress.
• April 22 - Michelle Ryan, actress.
• June 13 - Phillip Van Dyke, voice actor ("Arnold" from Hey Arnold! in 1997-1999).
• September 23 - Anneliese van der Pol, actress.

Deaths

• March 1 - Jackie Coogan, actor, Uncle Fester in The Addams Family.
• March 24 - Sam Jaffe, actor, co-starred in Ben Casey.
• May 4 - Jack Barry, game show host.
• May 4 - Diana Dors, British actress.
• May 16 - Andy Kaufman, comedian.
• June 15 - Ned Glass, actor.
• October 18 - Jon-Erik Hexum, actor, accidentally shot himself on set of TV series Cover Up.