1983 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.
• David Canary first premieres on All My Children
• September 5 - The half-hour Robert MacNeil Report changes its name to the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, becoming the first hour-long network news show.
• September 24 - After 29 seasons, the Walt Disney anthology series goes off the air. It will be revived, however, from 1986 to 1990.
• 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.

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).

Popular television shows

• Alice (1976-1985)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• Cheers (1982-1993)
• Dallas (1978-1991)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
• Dr Who (1963-1989)
• Dynasty (1981-1989)
• The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
• Falcon Crest (1981-1990)
• Family Ties (1982-1989)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• Hill Street Blues (1981-1987)
• Knots Landing (1979-1993)
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• St. Elsewhere (1982-1988)
• That's Incredible (1980-1984)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)
• The Tonight Show (1954-present)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)

Ending this year

• Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983)
• CHiPs (1977-1983)
• Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• Quincy (1976-1983)
• Taxi (1978-1983)
• Walt Disney (1954-1983, but will be revived)

Births

Deaths

• March 16 - Arthur Godfrey, television host
• July 29 - Raymond Massey, star of Dr Kildare
• August 3 - Carolyn Jones, actress
• 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

Referenced By