Chronology of Television

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URL: http://kpolsson.com/television/

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.


1975

January 1
  • The ABC TV network airs the last The Dick Cavett Show in the USA. (The show returns on CBS in August.) [179.247]
January 6
  • Wheel Of Fortune debuts on NBC-TV. [1]
  • ABC-TV debuts early morning news and information TV show A.M. America, with Bill Beutel and Stephanie Edwards. [1] [457]
January 13
  • The NBC TV network begins airing The Smothers Brothers Show 60-minute comedy TV show in the USA. [179.903]
January 16
  • The NBC TV network airs the last Ironside TV show in the USA. 120 episodes aired over eight years. [179.473]
January 17
  • ABC debuts TV show Baretta, starring Robert Blake. [457]
January 18
  • The Jeffersons spin-off from All in the Family premieres on CBS. [1] [457]
January 23
  • ABC-TV premieres comedy Barney Miller, starring Hal Linden and Abe Vagoda. [1] [457]
January 24
  • Hot l Baltimore situation comedy premieres on ABC TV. [1]
February 26
  • First televised kidney transplant (Today Show). [1]
March 1
  • CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 17th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
    • Record of the Year: Olivia Newton-John for "I Honestly Love You";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Olivia Newton-John for "I Honestly Love You";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for "Fulfillingness' First Finale";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: Paul McCartney and Wings for "Band On The Run";
    • Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Marvin Hamlisch for "The Entertainer";
    • Best Rhythm and Blues Song: Stevie Wonder for "Living For The City".
    [1] [457] [1338]
March 7
  • ABC airs the final episode of The Odd Couple TV show in the US. [457]
April 30
  • ABC airs the pilot episode of the TV show Starsky and Hutch. [457]
May 17
  • NBC pays US$5 million for rights to show Gone with the Wind one time. [1]
May 19
  • In Los Angeles, California, the 27th Annual Emmy Awards (primetime programming) are presented.
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy: Laurence Olivier for Love Among the Ruins
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Robert Blake for Baretta
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Tony Randall for The Odd Couple
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series: Peter Falk for the Columbo series of The NBC Mystery Movie
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Jean Marsh for Upstairs, Downstairs
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy: Katharine Hepburn for Love Among the Ruins
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series: Jessica Walter for Amy Prentiss
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Valerie Harper for Rhoda
    • Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music: Jack Albertson for Cher
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Special: Anthony Quayle for QB VII
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Will Geer for The Waltons
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Drama Series: Patrick McGoohan for Columbo: By Dawn's Early Light
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Edward Asner for Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Betty White for Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music: Cloris Leachman for Cher
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Special: Juliet Mills for QB VII
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Corby for The Waltons
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series: Zohra Lampert for episode Queen of the Gypsies of Kojak and Cloris Leachman for episode Phyllis Whips Inflation of Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: Dave Powers for The Carol Burnett Show
    • Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: Gene Reynolds for episode O.R.. of M*A*S*H
    • Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: Bill Bain for episode A Sudden Storm of Upstairs, Downstairs
    • Outstanding Directing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy: George Cukor for Love Among the Ruins
    • Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special: Bill Davis for An Evening with John Denver
    • Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction: Ernie Buttelman, Jim Angel, Jim Balden, Ron Brooks, and Art LaCombe for The Missiles of October
    • Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Original Teleplay: James Costigan for Love Among the Ruins
    • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: Ed Simmons, Gary Belkin, Roger Beatty, Arnie Kogen, Bill Richmond, Gene Perret, Rudy De Luca, Barry Levinson, Dick Clair, and Jenna McMahon for The Carol Burnett Show
    • Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series: Howard Fast for episode The Ambassador of Benjamin Franklin
    • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special: Bob Wells, John Bradford, Cy Coleman for Shirley MacLaine: If They Could See Me Now
    • Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Adaptation: David W. Rintels for Clarence Darrow
    • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: Ed Weinberger and Stan Daniels for episode Mary Richards Goes to Jail of Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming for a Series: Richard C. Glouner for Columbo: Playback
    • Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming for a Special: David M. Walsh for Queen of the Stardust Ballroom
    • Outstanding Individual Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design - For a Single Episode of a Comedy, Drama or Limited Series: Charles Lisanby and Robert Checchi for episode The Ambassador of Benjamin Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievemnet in Art Direction or Scenic Design - For a Single Episode of a Comedy-Variety or Music Series or a Comedy-Variety or Music Special: Robert Kelly and Robert Checchi for Cher
    • Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design: Guy C. Verhille for The Legend of Lizzie Borden and Margaret Furse for Love Among the Ruins
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film or Tape Sound Mixing: Marshall King for The American Film Institute Salute to James Cagney
    • Outstanding Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Special: Byron 'Buzz' Brandt and Irving Rosenblum for QB VII and John A. Martinelli for The Legend of Lizzie Borden
    • Outstanding Achievement in Video Tape Editing: Gary Anderson and Jim McElroy for Judgment: The Court Martial of Lieutenant William Calley
    • Outstanding Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Series - For a Single Episode of a Comedy Series: Douglas Hines for episode An Affair To Forget of Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Series - For a Single Episode of a Drama Series: Donald R. Rode for episode Mirror, Mirror On The Wall of Petrocelli
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing: Marvin I. Kosberg, Richard Burrow, Milton C. Burrow, Jack Milner, Ron Ashcroft, James Ballas, Josef von Stroheim, Jerry Rosenthal, William Andrews, Edward L. Sandlin, David M. Horton, Alvin Kajita, Tony Garber, and Jeremy Hoenack for QB VII
    • Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music: An Evening with John Denver
    • Outstanding Classical Music Program: Profile in Music: Beverly Sills Festival
    • Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Special: Jerry Goldsmith for QB VII
    • Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series: The Carol Burnett Show
    • Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series: Billy Goldenberg for episode The Rebel of Benjamin Franklin
    • Outstanding Drama Series: Upstairs, Downstairs
    • Outstanding Limited Series: Benjamin Franklin
    • Outstanding Special - Drama or Comedy: The Law
    • Outstanding Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts: Edie Panda for episode The Ambassador of Benjamin Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design: Phill Norman for QB VII
    • Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement: Masterpiece Theatre and The American Film Institute Salute to James Cagney
    • Outstanding Comedy Series: Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Children's Special: Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
    • Outstanding Achievement in Choreography: Marge Champion for Queen of the Stardust Ballroom
    • Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design - For a Dramatic Special or Feature Length Film Made for Television: Carmen Dillon and Tessa Davies for Love Among the Ruins
    [1] [219]
May 26
  • The NBC TV network airs the last The Smothers Brothers Show TV show in the USA. [179.903]

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July 4
  • The ABC TV network airs the last The Odd Couple TV show in the USA. [179.732]
July 7
  • TV soap opera Ryan's Hope premieres. [1] [457]
July 10
  • NBC-TV debuts the Gladys Knight & the Pips TV series. [457]
August 10
  • CBS-TV debuts the Manhattan Transfer variety show. [457]
August 16
  • The CBS TV network begins airing the The Dick Cavett Show 60-minute discussion/variety TV show in the USA. [179.247]
August 27
  • The CBS TV network airs the last Mannix TV show in the USA. A total of 194 episodes aired. [179.614]
September 1
  • CBS airs the last Gunsmoke TV show. A total of 633 episodes were broadcast over twenty years. [179.403] [457]
September 6
  • The CBS TV network airs the last The Dick Cavett Show in the USA. [179.247]
September 9
  • ABC airs the first episode of TV show Welcome Back, Kotter. [457]
September 10
  • ABC airs the first episode of TV show Starsky and Hutch. [457]
September 16
  • CBC TV debuts the newsmagazine The Fifth Estate in Canada. [457]
October 11
  • Debut of late-night comedy TV show Saturday Night Live, with George Carlin as the first guest host. [1] [457]
November 3
  • ABC-TV first broadcasts morning TV show Good Morning America, with hosts David Hartman and Nancy Dussault. [1] [457]
November 26
  • The Canadian Radio-Television Commission orders Canadian TV cable companies to black out identical US programs available on Canadian television at the same time. [457]
December 13
  • First time Saturday Night Live TV show uses a time delay (Richard Pryor hosts). [1]
December 16
  • CBS TV debuts the sitcom One Day at a Time. [1] [457]

1976

January 1
  • NBC Television replaces the 20-year old 'peacock' logo with a new abstract capital "N". [1] [457]
January 2
  • The 100th episode of US TV show "Sanford and Son" airs. [457]
January 5
  • MacNeil-Lehrer Report premieres on PBS. [1]
January 14
  • ABC debuts The Bionic Woman TV show, starring Lindsay Wagner. [1] [457]
January 16
  • ABC-TV premieres the one-hour music variety show Donny and Marie, hosted by brother and sister team, Donny and Marie Osmond. [1] [457]
January 27
  • TV sitcom Laverne and Shirley, spin-off from Happy Days, premieres on ABC TV. [1] [457]
February 1
  • ABC TV premieres the mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. [1] [457]
  • The CBS TV network resumes airing The Sonny and Cher Show 60-minute variety TV show in the USA, despite their real-life divorce. [1] [179.906]
February 2
  • ABC airs the 60-minute special The Honeymooners Second Honeymoon. [1] [179.442]
  • Rich Little Show debuts on NBC-TV. [1]
February 19
  • CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 18th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
    • Record of the Year: Captain and Tennille for "Love Will Keep Us Together";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Janis Ian for "At Seventeen";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Paul Simon for "Still Crazy After All These Years";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: The Eagles for "Lyin' Eyes";
    • Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Van McCoy for "The Hustle";
    • Best Rhythm and Blues Instrumental Performance: Silver Convention for "Fly, Robin, Fly";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Linda Ronstadt for "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: Willie Nelson for "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group: Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge for "Lover Please".
    [1] [457] [1339]
May 11
  • The ABC TV network airs the last Marcus Welby, M.D. TV show in the USA. 172 episodes aired. [1] [179.619] [457]
May 17
  • In Los Angeles, California, the 28th Annual Emmy Awards (primetime programming) are presented, hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and John Denver.
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special: Anthony Hopkins for The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case
    • Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series: Edward Asner for Rich Man, Poor Man
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Peter Falk for the Columbo series
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jack Albertson for Chico and the Man
    • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series: Hal Holbrook for Lincoln
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Special: Susan Clark for Babe
    • Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series: Kathryn Walker for episode John Adams, Lawyer of The Adams Chronicles
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Michael Learned for The Waltons
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series: Rosemary Harris for Notorious Woman
    • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Mary Tyler Moore for Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Anthony Zerbe for Harry O
    • Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music: Chevy Chase for Saturday Night Live
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Comedy or Drama Special: Ed Flanders for A Moon for the Misbegotten
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Ted Knight for Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Comedy or Drama Series: Gordon Jackson for episode The Beastly Hun of Upstairs, Downstairs
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Betty White for Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Comedy or Drama Series: Fionnula Flanagan for Rich Man, Poor Man
    • Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Variety or Music: Vicki Lawrence for The Carol Burnett Show
    • Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Ellen Corby for The Waltons
    • Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Comedy or Drama Special: Rosemary Murphy for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork: Leonard Chumbley, Walter Edel, John Feher, and Steve Zink for The Adams Chronicles
    • Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: Gene Reynolds for episode Welcome to Korea of M*A*S*H
    • Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series: David Greene for Rich Man, Poor Man
    • Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction: Seiji Ozawa for Central Park in the Dark/A Hero's Life
    • Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: Dave Wilson for Saturday Night Live
    • Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction: Bill Klages, Lon Stucky for Mitzi and a Hundred Guys and John Freschi for Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20's
    • Outstanding Directing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy: Daniel Petrie for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Directing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special: Dwight Hemion for Steve and Eydie: Our Love Is Here to Stay
    • Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Original Teleplay: James Costigan for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: Anne Beatts, Chevy Chase, Al Franken, Tom Davis, Lorne Michaels, Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Michael O'Donoghue, Herbert Sargent, Tom Schiller, Rosie Shuster, and Alan Zweibel for Saturday Night Live
    • Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series: Sherman Yellen for episode John Adams, Lawyer of The Adams Chronicles
    • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Special: Jane Wagner, Lorne Michaels, Ann Elder, Christopher Guest, Earl Pomerantz, Jim Rusk, Lily Tomlin, Rod Warren, and George Yanok for The Lily Tomlin Special
    • Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Adaptation: David W. Rintels for Fear on Trial
    • Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series: David Lloyd for episode Chuckles Bites The Dust of Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming for a Special: Paul Lohmann, Edward R. Brown for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming for a Series: Harry L. Wolf for episode Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow of Baretta
    • Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design - Single Episode of a Comedy, Drama or Limited Series: Tom H. John, John A. Wendell, and Wes Laws for Beacon Hill
    • Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design - Single Episode of a Comedy-Variety or Music Series or a Comedy-Variety or Music Special: Raymond Klausen, Robert Checchi for Cher
    • Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Special: Joe I. Tompkins for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for Music-Variety: Bob Mackie for Mitzi... Roarin' in the 20's
    • Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama or Comedy Series: Jane Robinson and Jill Silverside for episode Recovery of Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing: Don J. Bassman, Donald F. Johnson for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing: Dave Williams for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Series - For a Single Episode of a Comedy Series: Stanford Tischler and Fred W. Berger for episode Welcome to Korea of M*A*S*H
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Series - For a Single Episode of a Drama or Limited Series: Samuel E. Beetley and Ken Zemke for episode The Quality of Mercy of Medical Story
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Special: Michael Kahn for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievement in Video Tape Editing for a Series: Girish Bhargava, Manford Schorn for The Adams Chronicles
    • Outstanding Achievement in Video Tape Editing for a Special: Nick Giordano for Alice Cooper: The Nightmare
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing - For a Single Episode of a Regular or Limited Series: Doug Grindstaff, Al Kajita, Marvin I. Kosberg, Hans Newman, Leon Selditz, Richard Friedman, Stan Gilbert, Hank Salerno, Larry Singer, and William Andrews for episode The Quality of Mercy of Medical Story
    • Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Editing - For a Special Program: Charles L. Campbell, Lawrence E. Neiman, Colin C. Mouat, Larry Carow, Donald L. Warner Junior, John W. Singleton, Thomas McMullen, Joe Divitale, Carl Kress, John Kline, and John Hanley for The Night That Panicked America
    • Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series: Saturday Night Live
    • Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series: Alex North for Rich Man, Poor Man
    • Outstanding Special - Comedy-Variety or Music: Gypsy in My Soul
    • Outstanding Individual Achievement in Special Musical Material: Ken Welch, Mitzie Welch, and Arthur Malvin for Cinderella Gets It On of The Carol Burnett Show
    • Outstanding Classical Music Program: Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic of Great Performances
    • Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Special: Jerry Goldsmith for Babe
    • Outstanding Special - Drama or Comedy: Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences: Norman Sunshine for Addie and the King of Hearts
    • Outstanding Individual Achievement in Daytime Programming: Rene Lagler, Richard Harvey for Dinah!
    • Outstanding Comedy Series: Mary Tyler Moore
    • Outstanding Children's Special: Huckleberry Finn and You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown
    • Outstanding Drama Series: Police Story
    • Outstanding Achievement in Make-Up: Del Armstrong and Michael Westmore for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Limited Series: Upstairs, Downstairs
    • Special Classification of Outstanding Program and Individual Achievement: Bicentennial Minutes, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
    • Outstanding Individual Achievement in Any Area of Creative Technical Crafts: Don Sahlin, Kermit Love, Caroly Wilcox, John Lovelady, and Rollin Krewson for Sesame Street and Jean Burt Reilly and Billy Laughridge for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Outstanding Edited Sports Series: ABC's Wide World of Sports
    • Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming: Bud Nolan and Jim Cookman for Bound for Freedom
    • Outstanding Individual Achievement in Religious Programming: Joseph J.H. Vadala for A Determining Force
    • Outstanding Achievement in Choreography: Tony Charmoli for Gypsy in My Soul
    • Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design - Dramatic Special or Feature Length Film Made for TV: Jan Scott and Antony Mondello for Eleanor and Franklin
    • Special Award - Outstanding Achievement in Engineering: Eastman Kodak - For the development of Eastman Ektachrome Video News and Sony Corporation - For the U-matic video cassette concept
    • Citation - Outstanding Achievement in Engineering: Tektronix - For leadership in development of of equipment verifying television transmission performance in the vertical interval.
    [1] [220]
June 7
  • NBC debuts the NBC Nightly News program, with John Chancellor and David Brinkley. [457]
June 14
  • The Gong Show TV show premieres on syndicated TV. [1] [457]
July 12
  • The TV game show Family Feud premieres with Richard Dawson as the host. [457]
August 30
  • Tom Brokaw becomes news anchor of the Today Show. [1]
September 20
  • ABC-TV debuts the Captain and Tennille Show. [457]
September 23
  • NBC begins airing the Baa Baa Black Sheep TV show. [457]
September 28
  • CBS airs the 100th episode of TV show M*A*S*H. [457]
September 29
  • CBS-TV debuts TV sitcom show Alice. [457]
October 3
  • NBC airs the first episode of TV show Quincy M.E. as a 90-minute movie entitled Go Fight City Hall -- to the Death!. [457]
October 16
  • CBS airs the 100th episode of The Bob Newhart Show. [457]
October 28
  • The 200th episode of TV show Hawaii Five-O airs. [457]
November 1
  • CBS airs the 100th episode of Maude TV show. [457]
November 7
  • NBC TV airs film Gone With the Wind on television for the first time, becoming highest-rated TV show to date, with 65 percent of all viewers watching. [1] [457]
December 1
  • Sex Pistols use profanity on TV, gets them branded as "rotten punks". [1]
December 17
  • Superstation WTBS in Atlanta goes national. [1]
December 18
  • ABC TV debuts series Wonder Woman. [1] [457]
December 31
  • NBC airs the last episode of the TV soap Somerset after a six-year run. [1] [457]

1977

January 15
  • The Coneheads debut on Saturday Night Live. [1]
January 23
  • ABC premieres miniseries Roots. [457]
January 27
  • First broadcast of Roots mini-series on ABC TV. [1]
January 30
  • The eighth (and final) part of the mini-series Roots becomes the most-watched US TV entertainment show to date. [1] [457]
February 7
  • The 100th episode of US TV show Barnaby Jones airs. [457]
February 20
  • CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 19th Annual Grammy Awards. Some winners:
    • Record of the Year: George Benson for "This Masquerade";
    • Album of the Year: Stevie Wonder for "Songs In The Key Of Life";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Linda Ronstadt for "Hasten Down The Wind";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Stevie Wonder for "Songs In The Key Of Life";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: Chicago for "If You Leave Me Now".
    [457] [1340]
March 2
  • Future The Tonight Show host Jay Leno debuts with host Johnny Carson. [1]
March 15
  • ABC-TV airs the first episode of TV show Eight is Enough. [1] [457]
  • ABC airs the first episode of TV show Three's Company. [457]
  • US House of Representatives begin 90-day test of televising its sessions. [1]
March 18
  • The CBS TV network airs the last The Sonny and Cher Show TV show in the USA. [179.906]
March 19
  • Last episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show is broadcast. [457]
March 25
  • NBC airs the final episode of Sanford and Son TV show. [457]
May 15
  • NBC airs the special 90-minute show The Father Knows Best Reunion. [179.317]
May 25
  • Brady Bunch Hour last airs on ABC-TV. [1]
September 5
  • The NBC TV network airs the first Laugh-In 60-minute variety TV show in the USA. [179.550]
September 13
  • First TV "viewer discretion warning" - Soap. [1]
September 16
  • 90-minute pilot of TV show Logan's Run premieres. [1]
September 23
  • Cheryl Ladd replaces Farrah Fawcett on TV show Charlie's Angels. [1]
September 24
  • American Broadcasting Company begins airing the TV series The Love Boat in the USA. Two Princess Cruises ships are used on the show: Island Princess and Pacific Princess. (The TV show helps growth of the cruise vacation industry. The show runs for ten seasons, ending in 1987.) [67.30] [74] [457]
October 17
  • Canada begins regular live TV coverage of Parliament. [1]

1978

January 18
  • CBS airs the 100th episode of Good Times TV show. [457]
January 28
  • ABC TV debuts the Fantasy Island TV show, starring Ricardo Montalban. [1] [457]
February 7
  • The TV pilot movie Mork & Mindy airs. [457]
February 18
  • CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 20th Annual Grammy Awards.
    • Record of the Year: The Eagles for "Hotel California";
    • Album of the Year: Fleetwood Mac for "Rumours";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Barbra Streisand for "Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen)";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: James Taylor for "Handy Man";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group: Bee Gees for "How Deep Is Your Love";
    • Best Pop Instrumental Recording: John Williams for "Star Wars";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Crystal Gayle for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: Kenny Rogers for "Lucille".
    [457] [1341]
March 2
  • TV show Dallas premieres on CBS (as a five week mini-series). [1] [457]
March 6
  • The 100th episode of TV show The Six Million Dollar Man airs. [457]
March 30
  • NBC airs the final episode of Police Woman TV show. [457]
April 1
  • CBS airs the final episode of The Bob Newhart Show. [457]
April 6
  • NBC airs the final episode, number 37, of Black Sheep Squadron. [457]
April 22
  • CBS airs the final episode of TV show Maude. [457]
May 8
  • ABC TV airs The Stars Salute Israel at 30. [1]
May 13
  • The final episode of US TV show Bionic Woman airs. [457]
May 18
  • The final episode of US TV show Baretta airs. [457]
June 6
  • ABC-TV debuts the newsmagazine 20/20. [457]
August 14
  • French TV announces a rating of "0" for a program about an Armenian's woman's 40th birthday. [1]
September 12
  • ABC airs the first episode of TV show Taxi. [1] [457]
September 14
  • ABC-TV airs the first show of the TV series Mork and Mindy, starring Robin Williams as Mork. [457]
September 17
  • ABC TV debuts TV sci-fi adventure Battlestar Galactica, starring Lorne Greene. [457]
September 18
  • CBS TV debuts the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. [457]
September 25
  • Giuseppe Verdi's opera Otello makes its first appearance on Live from the Met, in a complete production of the opera starring Jon Vickers. This is the first complete television broadcast of the opera in the U.S. since the historic 1948 broadcast. [841]
October 14
  • The first-ever TV movie originating from a series airs, Rescue from Gilligan's Island. [1] [457]
November 3
  • NBC TV airs the first episode of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. [457]
December 1
  • The last episode of the new Mickey Mouse Club TV show airs. [6]
  • NBC airs the 100th episode of TV show The Rockford Files. [457]

1979

January 3
  • The 100th episode of The Jeffersons airs on CBS. [457]
January 14
  • The Dukes of Hazzard TV show premieres on CBS-TV. [457] (January 26 [1])
January 28
  • CBS airs the 200th episode of TV show All In The Family. [457]
February 4
  • CBS TV airs the TV comedy show Co-Ed Fever, and the show is immediately cancelled. [1] [457]
February 18
  • Miniseries Roots: The Next Generations premieres on ABC TV. [1]
February 19
  • CBS live telecasts the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences presentation of the 21st Annual Grammy Awards.
    • Record of the Year: Billy Joel for "Just The Way You Are";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: Anne Murray for "You Needed Me";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Barry Manilow for "Copacabana (At The Copa)";
    • Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus: The Bee Gees for "Saturday Night Fever";
    • Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Female: Donna Summer for "Last Dance";
    • Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male: George Benson for "On Broadway";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Dolly Parton for "Here You Come Again";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: Willie Nelson for "Georgia On My Mind";
    • Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group: Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson for "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys".
    [1] [457] [1342]
February 26
  • CBS TV debuts the sitcom Flatbush. (The show is cancelled after three episodes.) [457]
February 28
  • Mr Ed, TV show talking horse, dies. [1]
March 4
  • CBS airs the 200th episode of US TV show All in the Family. [1] [457]
  • The 100th episode of US TV show The Waltons airs. [457]
March 15
  • ABC airs the 100th episode of TV show Barney Miller. [457]
March 19
  • C-SPAN first begins broadcasting the US House of Representitives. [1] [5]
April 8
  • CBS airs the 204th and last episode of All In The Family. [1] [457]
April 18
  • NBC debuts the TV show Real People. [457]
April 29
  • ABC airs the final episode of the original Battlestar Galactica TV show. [457]
May 5
  • The 300 episode of the Soul Train TV show airs in the US. [457]
May 15
  • ABC airs the final episode of Starsky and Hutch TV show. [457]
June 8
  • ABC TV airs the final episode of TV show Welcome Back, Kotter. [457]
August 1
  • CBS TV airs the last episode of Good Times. [457]
September 2
  • The NBC TV network airs the last episode of The Wonderful World of Disney. [6]
September 7
  • In the USA, the Entertainment Sports Programming Network, known as ESPN, broadcasts for the first time. [457] [840]
September 9
  • The NBC TV network begins airing the TV show Disney's Wonderful World. [6]
September 22
  • ABC airs the first episode of TV show Hart to Hart. [457]
September 26
  • 1984 summer Los Angeles Olympic coverage sold to ABC for US$225 million. [1]
November 8
  • ABC-TV begins airing a new late-night news program, The Iran Crisis: America Held Hostage. (The program evolves into Nightline hosted by Ted Koppel in March 1980.) [1] [457]
December 27
  • CBS-TV debuts evening soap Knots Landing. [1] [129] [457]
December 29
  • Bulgaria issues a postage stamp marking the 25th anniversary of Bulgarian television. [700.1193]

End of 1975-1979. Next: 1980.

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Last updated: 2023 December 20.
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