2004 in American television

See also: 2003 in television, other events of 2004, and the list of 'years in television'.

Overview

Reality television was again popular.

Events

General Electric, owner of NBC, purchases Universal Studios from Vivendi, leaving all six US broadcast networks part of a company which also owns a film studio
February 9 - Kerry McFadden wins ITV's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
May 15 - Jimmy Fallon makes his last appearance as a cast member of Saturday Night Live on its season finale
May 17 - NBC announces new schedule
May 18 - ABC and The WB announce new schedules
May 19 - CBS announces new schedule
May 20 - Fox and UPN announce new schedules
June 2 - a contestant on Jeopardy!, Ken Jennings of Salt Lake City, Utah, begins a long and ongoing (as of August) run as champion
June 4- Kitten Pinder is evicted from the Big Brother house, shouting against the Queen and the aristocracy on the way out.
June 16- In the UK, Big Brother is taken off air as the housemates threaten to kill each other.

Debuts

January 7 - The Apprentice premieres on NBC
January 17 - Astro Boy premieres on Kids WB
The First Family premieres on ABC
January 22 - Corner Gas debuts on CTV
Richie Rich: The TV Series premieres on WB
March 28 - Maori Television starts broadcasting in New Zealand
April 3 - Danny Phantom premieres on Nick
TV Tokyo premieres a couple of shows during the first week of April, Dan Doh! and Keroro on April 2, Gagcro and Zuukoke on April 4, Amdriver on April 5, Syuratoki on April 6, Aqua Kids on April 7, and Kenran on April 8
April 17, Toonami moves from 5PM to 7PM (primary time) and extends by 4 hours from two to six.
Miguzi introduces and premieres on Cartoon Network during the old Toonami time slot (5PM-7PM primary time)
June 16 - Quintuplets premieres on the Fox network.
September 3 - Green Wing premieres on Channel 4.
September 22 - Lost on ABC

Television Shows

10-8 (2003-2004)
20/20 (1978-present)
24 (2001-present)
7th Heaven (1994-present)
8 Simple Rules... (2002-present)
According To Jim (2001-present)
Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002-present)
Alias (2001-present)
All My Children (1970-present)
American Dreams (2002-present)
American Idol: The Search For A Superstar (2002-present)
Arrested Development (2003-present)
As Told By Ginger - (2000-present)
Bachelor, The (2002-present)
Becker (1998-2004)
Bernie Mac (2001-present)
Big Brother (1999-present)
Boston Public (2000-2004)
Braceface (2001-present)
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-present)
Chappelle's Show (2003-present)
Cold Case (2003-present)
Cops (1989-present)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2001-present)
CSI: Miami (2002-present)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present)
Daily Show, The (1996-present)
District, The (2000-2004)
Dragonall GT (2003-present) on Toonami
Ed (2000-2004)
E.R. (1994-present)
Eve (2003-present)
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-present)
Fairly Odd Parents, The (2001-present)
Fear Factor (2001-present)
Frasier (1993-2004)
Friends (1994-2004)
General Hospital (1963-present)
George Lopez (2002-present)
Guardian, The (2001-2004)
Hack (2002-2004)
Handler, The (2003-2004)
Happy Family (2003-2004)
Hey Arnold! (1996-present)
Hope and Faith (2003-2004)
I'm With Her (2003-2004)
It's All Relative (2003-2004)
JAG (1995-present)
Jeopardy! (1984-present)
Joan of Arcadia (2003-present)
Judging Amy (2001-present)
Karen Sisco (2003-2004)
Kim Possible (2002-present)
King of Queens (1998-present)
King of the Hill (1997-present)
Las Vegas (2003-present)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present)
Late Show with David Letterman, The (1993-present)
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-present)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present)
Law & Order (1990-present)
Less Than Perfect (2002-present)
Life With Bonnie (2002-2004)
Lilo and Stitch: The Series (2003-present)
Malcolm in the Middle (2000-present)
Married to the Kellys (2003-2004)
Monday Night Football (1970-present)
My Wife and Kids (2001-present)
Navy: NCIS (2003-present)
Nip/Tuck (2003-present)
NYPD Blue (1993-present)
O.C., The (2003-present)
Osbournes, The (2002-present)
Real World, The (1992-present)
Rocket Power (1999-present)
Rugrats (1991-2004)
Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
Scrubs (2001-present)
Sesame Street (1969-present)
Shocking Behavior: Caught On Tape (1999-present)
Simpsons, The (1989-present)
Smallville (2001-present)
Sopranos, The (1999-present)
South Park (1997-present)
Spongebob Squarepants (1999-present)
Survivor (2000-present)
That '70s Show (1998-present)
Third Watch (1999-present)
Threat Matrix (2003-2004)
Tonight Show, The (1954-present)
Two and a Half Men (2003-present)
Two and a Half Men (2003-present)
West Wing, The (1999-present)
Wheel of Fortune (1975-present
Whoopi (2003-2004)
Will & Grace (1998-present)
Without a Trace (2002-present)
Wonderful World of Disney, The (1997-present)
Yes, Dear (2000-present)

Ending this year

Births

Deaths

January 2 - Lynn Cartwright, 76, US actor
January 19 - Jerry Nachman, 57, MSNBC editor-in-chief
January 23 - Bob Keeshan, 76, US actor, "Captain Kangaroo"
January 27 - Jack Paar, 85, Tonight Show host
January 29 - Mary-Ellis Bunim, 57, producer and co-creator of The Real World
February 23 - Carl Anderson, 58, US actor
February 24 - John Randolph, 88, American actor
March 7 - Paul Winfield, 62, Emmy-winning actor
March 8 - Robert Pastorelli, 50, actor on Murphy Brown
March 17 - J. J. Jackson, 62, former MTV VJ
March 26 - Jan Sterling, 82, US actor
March 27 - Art James, 74, game show host and announcer
March 28 - Sir Peter Ustinov, 82, British actor
March 30 - Alistair Cooke, 95, BBC broadcaster and transatlantic commentator
March 30 - Hubert Gregg, 89, BBC broadcaster
April 1 - Carrie Snodgress, 57, character actress
May 9 - Alan King, comedian
May 17 - Tony Randall, actor and star of television version of The Odd Couple
May 21 - Gene Wood, 78, announcer of Family Feud and other US game shows
July 9 - Isabel Sanford, 86, actress most famous for her role on The Jeffersons, from natural causes
July 28 - Eugene Roche, 75, actor with recurring roles on Soap and many other series