See also:
1985 in television,
other events of 1986,
1987 in television and the
list of 'years in television'.
Events
- January 28 - NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft explodes, live on television.
- January - A Vicks Formula 44 ad premieres, starring Peter Bergman from All My Children, in which he told the viewing audience "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." This phrase, first used in the early 1970s by Robert Young of Marcus Welby, M.D. fame, was subsequently parodied in many pop culture references.
- February 11 - Culture Club lead singer Boy George appears on an episode of The A-Team.
- February 14 - Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the popular television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie".
- February 22 - In honor of the 20th anniversary of The Monkees premiering on television, MTV broadcasts "Pleasant Valley Sunday," a 22-hour marathon of Monkees episodes.
- February 26 - Dragon Ball premieres on Fuji TV.
- February - On the soap opera Search for Tomorrow, the entire town of Henderson is washed away in a flood. Lead character Joanne Tourneur's (Mary Stuart) motel is the only structure in town left standing.
- May 10 - Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe marries actress Heather Locklear.
- May 22 - Cher calls David Letterman an "asshole" on the air during a taping of Late Night with David Letterman.
- June 18 - The original Rovers' Return sets are set ablaze on the British soap opera Coronation Street; in the story, the pub was gutted with owner Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) inside, sleeping.
- July 18 - A tornado is broadcast live on KARE TV in Minnesota when the station's helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter.
- September 6 - Part One of Trial of a Time Lord is broadcast on BBC1, marking the return to air of Doctor Who after an 18-month hiatus.
- October - The Fox Broadcasting Company becomes the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network.
- ABC becomes the second American station to discontinue use of chime intonations at the beginning of telecasts, as the network moves to satellite feed activation.
- On The Facts of Life, Charlotte Rae leaves the role of Mrs. Garrett and is replaced by Cloris Leachman, who played Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett's sister.
Debuts
Television shows
- Meet the Press (1947-present)
- Candid Camera (1948-present)
- Truth or Consequences (1950-1988)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present)
- Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
- The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987)
- 20/20 (1978-present)
- 3-2-1 (UK) (1978-1987)
- Dallas (1978-1991)
- Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present)
- Knots Landing (1979-1993)
- The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
- You Can't Do That on Television (Canada) (1979-1990)
- Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
- Solid Gold (1980-1988)
- 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)
- Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988)
- Cheers (1982-1993)
- Fame (1982-1987)
- Family Ties (1982-1989)
- 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)
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983-1987)
- The A-Team (1983-1987)
- Webster (1983-1989)
- Highway to Heaven (1984-1989)
- Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present)
- Kate and Allie (1984-1989)
- Miami Vice (1984-1989)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
- Night Court (1984-1992)
- Punky Brewster (1984-1988)
- Santa Barbara (1984-1993)
- Tales from the Darkside (1984-1988)
- The Bill (UK) (1984-present)
- The Cosby Show (1984-1992)
- Who's the Boss? (1984-1992)
- 227 (1985-1990)
- EastEnders (UK) (1985-present)
- Growing Pains (1985-1992)
- It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989)
- MacGyver (1985-1992)
- Moonlighting (1985-1989)
- Mr. Belvedere (1985-1990)
- Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present)
- Sally (1985-2002)
- The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
- The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002)
- What's Happening Now!! (1985-1988)
- Loving (1983-1995)
- Mama's Family (1983-1984, 1986-1990) (returning in syndication after a two-year gap in production)
Ending this year
Changes of network affiliation
- Silver Spoons moves from NBC to first-run syndication
Births
Deaths
sv:TV-året 1986
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