1991 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1990 in television, other events of 1991, 1992 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• August 31 - NICAM stereo sound introduced on BBC Television.
• September 20 - The daytime version of Wheel of Fortune airs its last episode after being on television for over 17 years.
• October 16 - The ITV franchise auction results are announced and take effect starting midnight GMT on January 1, 1993.
• October - BBC World Service Television begins broadcasting via satellite to Asia.
• Channel 5 begins broadcasting in Belize.
• The Museum of Broadcasting, now called the Museum of Television and Radio, moved into its new 17-story building, located a block from its previous location in New York City.
• First television sets with bulit-in closed-caption display are introduced in the United States.
• Lampsis premieres in Greece on ANT1 (1991-present).
• In Los Angeles, California, Rodney King is severely beaten by Police Officers after leading them on a high speed chase and resisting arrest. The beating is captured on video by observers and portions of the tape are aired repeatedly on television in the US.
• Britney Spears appears on Star Search.
• Minnie Pearl makes her final appearance on Hee Haw.

Debuts

• August 31 - The House of Eliott premieres in the UK (1991-1994).
• August - The Ren & Stimpy Show premieres (1991-1996).
• Doug premieres (1991-1994, 1996-1999).
• Home Improvement premieres (1991-1999).
• Joking Apart premieres (1991, 1993).
• Rugrats premieres (1991-2004).
• Sisters premieres (1991-1996).
• The Jerry Springer Show premieres (1991-present).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present)
• Candid Camera (1948-present)
• 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)
• General Hospital (1963-present)
• Another World (1964-1999)
• 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)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• Monday Night Football (1970-present)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present)
• Soul Train (1971-present)
• Emmerdale (UK) (1972-present)
• 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)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
• 20/20 (1978-present)
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present)
• Knots Landing (1979-1993)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present)
• Cheers (1982-1993)
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993)
• The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992)
• Loving (1983-1995)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
• Night Court (1984-1992)
• Santa Barbara (1984-1993)
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present)
• The Cosby Show (1984-1992)
• Who's the Boss? (1984-1992)
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present)
• Growing Pains (1985-1992)
• MacGyver (1985-1992)
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present)
• Sally (1985-2002)
• The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
• Designing Women (1986-1993)
• Double Dare (1986-1993)
• L.A. Law (1986-1994)
• Matlock (1986-1995)
• Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present)
• A Different World (1987-1993)
• Full House (1987-1995)
• Inspector Morse (1987-2000)
• Married... with Children (1987-1997)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present)
• Children's Ward (UK) (1988-2000)
• Empty Nest (1988-1995)
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present)
• Garfield and Friends (1988-1995)
• Murphy Brown (1988-1998)
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999)
• Roseanne (1988-1997)
• The Wonder Years (1988-1993)
• Baywatch (1989-2001)
• Cops (1989-present)
• Family Matters (1989-1998)
• Life Goes On (1989-1993)
• Press Gang (UK) (1989-1993)
• Seinfeld (1989-1998)
• Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996)
• The Arsenio Hall Show (1989-1994)
• The Simpsons (1989-present)
• In Living Color (1990-1994)
• Law & Order (1990-present)
• Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999)
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000)
• Road to Avonlea (Canada) (1990-1996)

Ending this year

• May 3 - After 13 years, one month, and one day and 357 episodes, the long-running prime-time soap opera Dallas airs its final original episode on CBS (1978-1991).
• Amen (1986-1991).
• Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986-1991).
• thirtysomething (1987-1991).

Changes of network affiliation

July 17 - The daytime version of Wheel of Fortune moves once again to NBC after two and a half years on CBS, eventually leading to its ultimate canning several months later.

Deaths

• February 3 - Nancy Kulp, actress on The Beverly Hillbillies.
• February 24 - George Gobel, comedian.
• July 1 - Michael Landon, actor, producer.
• July 15 - Bert Convy, game show host.
• August 6 - Harry Reasoner, news anchor.
• August 22 - Colleen Dewhurst, actress.
• October 11 - Redd Foxx, comedian, star of Sanford and Son.
• October 24 - Gene Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek.
• November 5 - Fred MacMurray actor on My Three Sons.