1983 in television

See also: 1982 in television, other events of 1983, 1984 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• February 28 - Over 125 million Americans tune in to watch the final episode of M*A*S*H.
• March 7 - The Nashville Network (TNN) begins broadcasting.
• April 18 - The Disney Channel is launched on American cable TV.
• September 5 - The half-hour Robert MacNeil Report changes its name to the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, becoming the first hour-long network news show.
• October 3 - During a live NBC news update, anchor Jessica Savitch appears incoherent; her speech is slurred and she deviates from her copy and ad-libs her report. Miss Savitch, dogged by rumors of drug abuse and instability, still has her contract renewed anyway.
• November 20 - An estimated 100 million people watch the controversial made-for-television movie The Day After, depicting the start of a nuclear war.
• November 23 - Today's episode of Sesame Street confronts the sensitive issue of death when Big Bird learns to grasp the concept as it relates to his late friend, Mr. Hooper.
• David Canary first premieres on All My Children.

Debuts

• January 22 - Mama's Family debuts on NBC (1983-1984, 1986-1990)
• January 23 - The A-Team debuts on NBC (1983-1987)
• February 5 - The Dukes debuts on CBS (1983-1984)
• September 16 - Webster debuts on ABC (1983-1989)
• October - Scarecrow and Mrs. King premieres (1983-1987)
• Fraggle Rock, a Jim Henson production, debuts on HBO (1983-1988)

Popular 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)
• 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)
• Dr Who (UK) (1963-1989)
• General Hospital (1963-present)
• Another World (1964-1999)
• 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)
• 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)
• The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971-1987)
• 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)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984)
• Fawlty Towers (UK) (1975-present)
• Good Morning America (1975-present)
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
• Ryan's Hope (1975-1989)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present)
• The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present), which adds a nighttime syndication version in addition to the network daytime show
• Alice (1976-1985)
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present)
• Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984)
• The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987)
• Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
• The Love Boat (1977-1986)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)
• Battle of the Planets (1978-1985)
• Dallas (1978-1991)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
• 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)
• 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)
• Simon and 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)
• Tattletales (1974-1978, 1982-1984)
• The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992)

Ending this year

• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
• Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
• CHiPs (1977-1983)
• Taxi (1978-1983)
• Archie Bunker's Place (1980-1983)
• SCTV Network 90 (US) (1981-1983)
• Square Pegs (1982-1983)

Cancelled, but eventually to return to the air

• September 24 - After 29 seasons, the Walt Disney anthology series goes off the air. It will be revived, however, from 1986 to 1990.

Changes of Network Affiliation

• Fame moves from NBC to first-run syndication
• Too Close for Comfort moves from ABC to first-run syndication.

Births

• May 1 - Jennifer Ellison, British actress and singer
• May 11 - Holly Valance, New Zealand born actress and singer
• December 12 - Mathew Valencia voice of Robin/Tim Drake

Deaths

• March 16 - Arthur Godfrey, television host
• July 29 - Raymond Massey, star of Dr. Kildare
• August 3 - Carolyn Jones, actress, Morticia in The Addams Family
• August 28 - Jan Clayton, actress
• August 29 - Simon Oakland, actor
• October 23 - Jessica Savitch, NBC news anchor, age 36
• November 22 - Michael Conrad, actor on Hill Street Blues
• November 28 - Christopher George, actor
• December 28 - William Demarest, actor, Uncle Charlie in My Three Sons