1993 in television - Definition and Overview

See also: 1992 in television, other events of 1993, 1994 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• February 10 - Oprah Winfrey interviews Michael Jackson during a prime time special. It is Jackson's first interview since a 1979 interview with Barbara Walters on 20/20.
• February 26 - The Days of Our Lives nighttime special Night Sins airs on NBC.
• April 12 - Actress Lisa Bonet files for divorce from Lenny Kravitz.
• April 29 - An animated version of Barry White appears on an episode of The Simpsons.
• May 5 - Senior As the World Turns cast member Don Hastings hosts a memorial tribute to Douglas Marland, who died suddenly after a botched abdominal surgery procedure. Marland had won the show many Emmy Awards as well as critical acclaim during his eight-year tenure as Head Writer.
• October 3 - Sinéad O'Connor stirs up controversy when she rips up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live.
• Jay Leno becomes the new host for NBC's The Tonight Show.

Debuts

• August 28 - Mighty Morphin Power Rangers premieres (1993-1996).
• Beavis and Butt-head begins airing on MTV (1993-1997).
• Frasier premieres on NBC (1993-2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien premieres (1993-present).
• The controversial NYPD Blue premieres on ABC (1993-present).
• The Late Show with David Letterman premieres on CBS (1993-present).
• The Nanny premieres on CBS (1993-1999).
• The X-Files premieres on FOX (1993-2002).

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)
• 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)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present)
• Loving (1983-1995)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996)
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present)
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present)
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present)
• Sally (1985-2002)
• L.A. Law (1986-1994)
• Matlock (1986-1995)
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present)
• 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)
• Roseanne (1988-1997)
• Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988-1999)
• Baywatch (1989-2001)
• Cops (1989-present)
• Family Matters (1989-1998)
• 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)
• One Foot in the Grave (UK) (1990-2000)
• Road to Avonlea (Canada) (1990-1996)
• Doug (1991-1994, 1996-1999)
• Home Improvement (1991-1999)
• Rugrats (1991-2004)
• Sisters (1991-1996)
• The House of Eliott (UK) (1991-1994)
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present)
• The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991-1996)
• Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003)
• Barney & Friends (1992-2002)
• Dateline NBC (1992-present)
• Mad About You (1992-1999)
• Prime Time News (Canada) (1992-1995)
• The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
• The Real World (1992-present)

Ending this year

• May 20 - the television sitcom, Cheers ends an 11-year run on NBC (1982-1993).
• Hee Haw (1969-1993).
• Knots Landing (1979-1993).
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993) (though Letterman moves to CBS).
• Santa Barbara (1984-1993).
• Designing Women (1986-1993).
• Double Dare (1986-1993).
• Perfect Strangers (1986-1993).
• Press Gang (UK) (1989-1993).
• A Different World (1987-1993).
• The Wonder Years (1988-1993).
• Life Goes On (1989-1993).
• Joking Apart (1991, 1993)

Notable made for TV movies and events

• December 6 - Gypsy — a $12 million production of the classic stage musical, starring Bette Midler, airs on CBS.

Deaths

• January 20 - Audrey Hepburn, actress .
• March 6 - Douglas Marland, writer (As the World Turns).
• June 30 - George "Spanky" McFarland, actor.
• November 21 - Bill Bixby, television actor.
• December 4 - Frank Zappa, 42, actor/songwriter.