2001 in American television

Events

• January 18 - Channel 4 launches E4, a digital entertainment channel, at 8.15pm.
• January 22 - News at Ten returns to ITV, having been axed two years earlier. It is once again presented by Trevor McDonald.
• June 18 - Luke and Laura Spencer, widely regarded as the soap opera pairing that helped coin the term "supercouple", signed divorce papers on General Hospital, dissolving their fictional two-decade union.
• July 11 - ONdigital is rebranded ITV Digital.
• August 11 - ITV in the UK changes its name to ITV1, due to the growing number of other ITV services, including ITV2, ITV Digital, and the ITV Sport Channel, which launches on the same day.
• September 1 - All four commercial television stations in Vancouver, British Columbia change network affiliations, the largest such change in a single market in television history.
• September 7 - BBC Canada launches in Canada.
• September 11 - Viewers around the world witness a terrorist attack on the United States, and the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City, live on television. Additionally, the ABC and NBC affiliates' broadcast towers are knocked out by the attacks, but New Yorkers can still view them on cable. Most broadcasters abandon regular programming - American networks for more than a week - and numerous major daily talk shows go off the air for several weeks until their hosts feel comfortable in returning to the airwaves.
  • The start of the 2001-2002 fall season in the US is delayed as a result of the attacks, with some shows such as The West Wing substituting special episodes dealing with the event in lieu of their originally scheduled season premieres. Some series, such as the military-themed JAG and New York-based Third Watch have to be retooled to encompass the aftermath of the attacks.
  • In addition, several planned series and events were cancelled; most notably, a mini-series planned for spring 2002, which would have united the cast of Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, dealing with a terrorist attack on New York City.
  • Concert For New York: A Tribute To Heroes airs on VH1, with performances by Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Billy Joel and others. It raises funds for the families of those killed in the attacks.
  • Continually scrolling news headlines along the bottom of the screen become a standard feature on CNN and other news broadcasters after they are used to great affect during coverage of the attacks.
• November 5 - BBC 2W, a new digital channel for Wales, is launched.
• November 19 - BBC Two introduces a new set of four computer generated idents at 7.00am, replacing the previous set comprised of over 20 (four of which dating back to 1991). ITV2 rebrands on the same day.
• December 22 - The pilot for Harry Hill's TV Burp is aired on ITV1. The first full series is shown from November next year.
• Canada rolls out hundreds of new digital cable channels (see List of Canadian digital television channels for complete list).
• Canadian sports network TSN changes its logo to match with ESPN's though the N is not slashed.

Debuts

• January 10 - Grounded for Life premieres on FOX (2001-2005)
• January 12 - Lizzie McGuire premieres on Disney Channel (2001-2004).
• February 3 - Lloyd In Space premieres on ABC (2001-2004).
• March 28 - My Wife and Kids premieres on ABC (2001-2005).
• March 30 - The Fairly OddParents (2001-present) and Invader ZIM (2001-2003) premiere on Nickelodeon.
• April 4 - That's My Bush! premieres on Comedy Central. The show was cancelled in May.
• June 2 - Braceface premieres on ABC Family (2001-present).
• June 3 - Six Feet Under premieres on HBO (2001-2005).
• June 11 - Fear Factor premieres on NBC (2001-present).
• June 20 - JR Digs premieres on CHCH in Hamilton, Ontario as a paid advertisement (2001-present).
• August 24 - Grim and Evil premieres on Cartoon Network (2001-present).
• September 2 - Adult Swim, a line-up on Cartoon Network, premieres on that channel (2001-present).
• September 5 - The Amazing Race premieres on CBS (2001-present).
• September 22 - The Saturday Show premieres on BBC One (2001-present).
• September 25 - The Guardian premieres on CBS (2001-2004).
• September 26 - Enterprise premieres on UPN. The show was run under this name for the first two seasons; then it was renamed Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005).
• September 29 - Yu-Gi-Oh debuts on The WB (2001-2006).
• September 30 - Alias premieres on ABC and CTV (2001-present).
• September 30 - Law & Order: Criminal Intent premieres on NBC (2001-present).
• October 2 - Scrubs debuts on NBC (2001-present).
• October 3 - According to Jim, starring James Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith, premieres on ABC (2001-present).
• October 5 - Pop Idol premieres in the UK on ITV1; the talent contest becomes an international phenomenon as dozens of countries crown their own Idols (2001-2003).
• October 6 - Mutant X premieres (2001-2004).
• October 16 - Smallville premieres on the WB (2001-present).
• November 6 - 24 premieres on FOX (2001-present).
• November 14 - The Bernie Mac Show premieres on FOX (2001-present).
• November 17 - Justice League premieres on Cartoon Network.

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-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).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
• It's Academic (1961-present).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• General Hospital (1963-present).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (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).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Arena (UK) (1975-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).
• Antiques Road Show (UK) (1979-present).
• Nightline (1979-present).
• This Old House (1979-present).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• What Now (1982-present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• Sally (1985-2002).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
• Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
• Chucklevision (UK) (1987-present).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
• America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
• The American Experience (1988-present).
• Fair City (1988-present).
• Home and Away (1988-present).
• This Morning (1988-present).
• Cops (1989-present).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).
• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• Rugrats (1991-2004).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
• The Red Green Show (1991-present).
• Barney & Friends (1992-2002).
• Dateline NBC (1992-present).
• The Real World (1992-present).
• Frasier (1993-2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
• NYPD Blue (1993-present).
• The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
• The X-Files (1993-2002).
• WWF RAW (1993-present).
• ER (1994-present).
• Friends (1994-2004).
• Time Team (UK) (1994-present).
• Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
• JAG (1995-present).
• Sesame Park (Canada) (1995-2002).
• The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004).
• 7th Heaven (1996-present).
• Dexter's Laboratory (1996-present).
• Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005).
• Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).
• Judge Judy (1996-present).
• Spin City (1996-2002).
• The Daily Show (1996-present).
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
• Dharma & Greg (1997-2002).
• Family Affairs (UK) (1997-2005).
• Johnny Bravo (1997-present).
• Just Shoot Me (1997-2003).
• King of the Hill (1997-present).
• South Park (1997-present).
• Stargate SG-1 (1997-present).
• The Practice (1997-2004).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1997-present).
• Becker (1998-2004).
• Call For Help (1998-2004).
• Charmed (1998-present).
• Dawson's Creek (1998-2003).
• Sex and the City (1998-2004).
• SMTV Live (UK) (1998-2003).
• That '70s Show (1998-present).
• The King of Queens (1998-present).
• The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2004).
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK) (1998-present).
• Will & Grace (1998-present).
• Angel (1999-2004).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
• Family Guy (1999-2002, 2005-present).
• Farscape (1999-2003).
• Futurama (1999-2003).
• Judge Mathis (1999-present).
• Judging Amy (1999-present).
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present).
• Passions (1999-present).
• Rocket Power (1999-present).
• Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape (1999-present).
• SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present).
• Tenacious D (1999-present).
• The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999-2004).
• The Sopranos (1999-present).
• The West Wing (1999-present).
• Third Watch (1999-present).
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (US) (1999-present).
• As Told by Ginger (2000-present).
• Boston Public (2000-2004).
• Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-present).
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-present).
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present).
• Ed (2000-2004).
• Malcolm in the Middle (2000-present).
• Survivor (2000-present).
• The District (2000-2004).
• The Gavin Crawford Show (2000-2002).
• The Weakest Link (UK) (2000-present).
• Yes, Dear (2000-present).
• Clocking Off (UK) (2000-2003).
• Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
• Home Movies (1999, 2001-present).
• Let's Bowl (1998, 2001-2002).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special If They Could See Us Now).

Ending this year

• February 14 - The Wheezer Bros. (1995-2001). The last four episodes were not shown until 2004.
• March 26 - Wcw Monday Nitro (1995-2001)
• March 7 - Bette (2000-2001).
• May 14 - Baywatch (1989-2001).
• May 23 - Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001).
• June 25 - Daria (1997-2001).
• July - 100% (1997-2001).
• Disney's One Saturday Morning (1997-2001).
• Teletubbies (UK) (1997-2001).
• CatDog (1998-2001).
• Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998-2001, 2006-present).

Changes of network affiliation

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from The WB to UPN.
• Roswell, from The WB to UPN.
• Home Movies, from UPN to Cartoon Network.

Notable TV movies and events

• April 30 - On Golden Pond, an adaptation of the play, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, working together for the first time since the film The Sound of Music, is aired live on CBS.

Deaths

• March 12 - Morton Downey, Jr., 67, television personality.
• March 21 - Norma MacMillan, 79, voice actor.
• March 22 - William Hanna, 90, cofounder (with Joseph Barbera) of famous Hanna-Barbera animation studio.
• April 11 - George Hersee, 76, BBC engineer who designed Test Card F.
• April 15 - Joey Ramone, 49, actor/songwriter of the Ramones.
• June 21 - Carroll O'Connor, 76, actor who played Archie Bunker on All in the Family.
• August 4 - Lorenzo Music, 64, writer and actor who co-created The Bob Newhart Show and did the voices of Carlton the doorman on Rhoda and Garfield the cat in the animated cartoon Garfield and Friends.