1981 in American television

See also: 1980 in television, other events of 1981, 1982 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 20 - Comedian Andy Kaufman ruins sketches and starts a brawl live on the air during ABC's Fridays.
• April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli.
• August 1 - The MTV network debuts on Cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day.
• November - The Doctors airs its milestone 5000th episode.
• November 2 - American soap opera As the World Turns debuts a new opening sequence and theme song for the first time in its 25-year history.
• November 16 and November 17 - Luke and Laura's wedding on General Hospital becomes one of the most watched weddings in television history, second only to the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
• December 25 - Chuck Woolery leaves daytime version of Wheel of Fortune after a salary dispute with show producer and creator Merv Griffin. Chuck hosted for almost 7 years.
• December 28 - Pat Sajak takes over hosting duties on Wheel of Fortune for Chuck Woolery and holds that role to date.

Debuts

• November - Simon and Simon premieres on CBS (1981-1988)
• Dynasty premieres on ABC (1981-1989)
• Entertainment Tonight premieres in syndication (1981-present)
• Falcon Crest premieres on CBS (1981-1990)
• Gimme a Break premieres on NBC (1981-1987)
• Hill Street Blues premieres on NBC (1981-1987)
• SCTV Network 90, a repackaging of the Canadian series SCTV, debuts on NBC (1981-1983)
• The Fall Guy premieres (1981-1986)

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)
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983)
• Face the Nation (1954-present)
• The Tonight Show (1954-present)
• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984)
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
• 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)
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present)
• Dr Who (UK) (1963-1989)
• General Hospital (1963-present)
• The Doctors (1963-1982)
• Another World (1964-1999)
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003)
• 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)
• Hee Haw (1969-1993)
• 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)
• Old Grey Whistle Test (UK) (1971-1987)
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985)
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present)
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• The Price Is Right (1972-present)
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present)
• Match Game (1962-1969, 1973-1984, 1990-1991, 1998-1999)
• Schoolhouse Rock! (1973-1986)
• The Tomorrow Show (1973-1982)
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present)
• Derrick (1974-1998)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974-1984)
• Tiswas (UK) (1974-1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present)
• Barney Miller (1975-1982)
• 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)
• Superstars (UK) (1975-1985, 2003-present)
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present)
• The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
• Alice (1976-1985)
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present)
• Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
• Quincy, M.E. (1976-1983)
• Second City Television (SCTV) (Canada) (1976-1984)
• The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987)
• CHiPs (1977-1983)
• Fantasy Island (1977-1984)
• In Search of... (1977-1982)
• Lou Grant (1977-1982)
• The Love Boat (1977-1986)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)
• 20/20 (1978-present)
• 3-2-1 (UK) (1978-1987)
• Battle of the Planets (1978-1985)
• Dallas (1978-1991)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present)
• Mork and Mindy (1978-1982)
• Taxi (1978-1983)
• WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982)
• Benson (1979-1986)
• Disney's Wonderful World (1979-1981) ends on September 13 to resume on September 26 as Walt Disney
• 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)
• Archie Bunker's Place (1980-1983)
• Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)
• Fridays (1980-1982)
• It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989)
• Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
• Solid Gold (1980-1988)
• Texas (1980-1982)
• That's Incredible! (1980-1984)
• The Other 'Arf (UK) (1980-1984)
• Too Close for Comfort (1980-1986)

Ending this year

• The Mike Douglas Show (1961-1981)
• The Waltons (1972-1981)
• Match Game PM (1975-1981)
• Runaround (UK) (1975-1981)
• Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
• The Muppet Show (UK) (1976-1981)
• Eight Is Enough (1977-1981)
• Soap (1977-1981)

Changes of network affiliation

• Walt Disney moves from NBC to CBS

Births

• January 1 - Holly Willoughby, British television presenter
• June 5 - Jade Goody
• September 5 - Elize Du Toit, British actress

Deaths

• April 26 - Jim Davis, actor on Dallas (b. 1915)
• August 1 - Paddy Chayefsky, writer
• November 25 - Jack Albertson, actor