1978 in television

Events

• January 28 - The Doobie Brothers make a guest appearance on the television show What's Happening!.
• February 22 - The Police appear in a television commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum
• April 22 - The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on Saturday Night Live. The duo of Jake & Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) was introduced by Paul Shaffer (as Don Kirschner) and performed "Hey Bartender".
• April 26 - Ringo Starr's, Ringo, a musical version of The Prince and the Pauper airs on American television. Starr's fellow former Beatle George Harrison provides the narration.
• November 17 - The Star Wars Holiday Special airs on CBS. The special gives fans their first glimpse of Boba Fett, a character from the upcoming Star Wars sequel.
• The Beatles spoof, The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash airs on television.
• Steve Martin performs the original "King Tut" on Saturday Night Live. The song is later released as a single and becomes a hit for the comedian.
• April 16-April 19 - Holocaust (miniseries), starring James Wood and Meryl Streep first aired on NBC.

Debuts

• Dallas premieres on CBS (1978-1991)
• Diff'rent Strokes premieres on NBC (1978-1986)
• Mork & Mindy premieres on ABC (1978-1982)
• Taxi premieres on ABC (1978-1983)
• WKRP in Cincinnati premieres on CBS (1978-1982)

Popular Television Shows

• Alice (1976-1985)
• All In The Family (1971-1979)
• Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
• Dr Who (1963-1989)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
• The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
• Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
• Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• Soap (1977-1981)
• The Tonight Show (1954-present)
• The Waltons (1972-1981)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)
• What's Happening!! (1976-1979)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1954-1983)

Ending this year

• The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
• Maude (1972-1978)
• Rhoda (1974-1978)
• Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978)

Births

Deaths

• February 28 - Zara Cully, actress then-currently appearing on The Jeffersons
• March 18 - Peggy Wood, actress
• April 22 - Will Geer, actor
• June 29 - Bob Crane, actor, murdered

Referenced By