1959 in television

See also: 1958 in television, other events of 1959, 1960 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1959–60 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 26 – The science-fiction serial Quatermass and the Pit concludes on BBC Television in the UK with 11 million viewers for the final episode, a recent BBC record.
• April 24 – The Your Hit Parade television series, which has been on the air since 1935, airs its last episode.
• Hanna Barbera's first television cartoon, Huckleberry Hound premieres.
• Fall – Scandals involving rigged network quiz shows create havoc within the US television industry.

Debuts

• October 2 – Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone debuts on CBS (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002).
• October – Hawaiian Eye premieres on ABC (1959-1963).
• Bonanza premieres (1959-1973).
• Face to Face debuts on BBC Television.
• Juke Box Jury premieres (1959-1967, 1979, 1989-1990).
• The Bell Telephone Hour premieres (1959-1968).

Television shows

• Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960).
• Howdy Doody (1947-1960).
• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).
• The Voice of Firestone (1949–1963).
• The Jack Benny Show (1950-1965).
• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988).
• What's My Line (1950–1967).
• Love of Life (1951-1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
• American Bandstand (1952-1989).
• The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966).
• The Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Honeymooners (1952-1970).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• This Is Your Life (US) (1952-1961).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Brighter Day (1954-1962).
• The Milton Berle Show (1954–1967).
• The Secret Storm (1954-1974).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• Zoo Quest (UK) (1954–1964).
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962).
• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984).
• Cheyenne (1955–1962).
• Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955-1976).
• Gunsmoke (1955-1975).
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• Armchair Theatre (UK) (1956-1968).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• Hancock's Half Hour (1956–1962).
• Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956-1978).
• The Edge of Night (1956–1984).
• The Gale Storm Show, Oh! Susanna (1956–1960).
• The Price Is Right (1956–1965).
• The Steve Allen Show (1956–1960).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
• Leave It to Beaver (1957-1963).
• The Army Game (UK) (1957–1961).
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
• Peter Gunn (1959–1961).
• The Donna Reed Show (1958–1966).
• Walt Disney Presents (1958–1961).

Ending this year

• Your Hit Parade (1950–1959).
• Dragnet (1951–1959).
• Mickey Mouse Club (1955–1959).
• Quatermass and the Pit (UK) (1958–1959).

Births

• April 24 – Paula Yates, television presenter.
• August 16 – Laura Innes, actress.
• October 25 – Nancy Cartwright, voice actress ("Bart Simpson").
• December 30 – Tracey Ullman, actress and comedian.