1981 in television

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

For the American network television schedule, please see 1981–82 American network television schedule.

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 One Day at a Time actress Valerie Bertinelli.
• July 27 – In a specially timed event by the show's writers, Ken Barlow marries Deirdre Langton on Coronation Street, just two days before the real-life wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. The wedding of Ken and Deirdre is watched by over 24 million viewers in Britain, beating the Royal wedding in the ratings.
• 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 American 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

• January 12 – Dynasty premieres on ABC (1981-1989).
• January 15 – Hill Street Blues premieres on NBC (1981-1987).
• May 16 – SCTV Network 90, a repackaging of the Canadian series SCTV, debuts on NBC (1981-1983).
• September 14 – Entertainment Tonight premieres in syndication (1981-present).
• September 15 – Only Fools and Horses premieres in the UK (1981–1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003).
• October 28 – The Fall Guy premieres on ABC (1981-1986).
• October 29 – Gimme a Break premieres on NBC (1981–1987).
• November 24 – Simon & Simon premieres on CBS (1981-1988).
• December 4 – Falcon Crest premieres on CBS (1981-1990).
• Postman Pat premieres in the UK (1981, 1996, 2004-present).
• Today's Special premieres in Canada (1981–1987).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).
• 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).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963-1989, 1996, 2005-present).
• 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).
• The Money Programme (UK) (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).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• Are You Being Served? (UK) (1972-1985).
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
• Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1984).
• 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).
• Countdown (Australia) (1974-1987).
• 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).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975-1994).
• One Day at a Time (1975–1984).
• Ryan's Hope (1975–1989).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• Superstars (UK) (1975–1985, 2003-present).
• The Don Lane Show (Australia) (1975–1983).
• 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 & Mindy (1978–1982).
• Taxi (1978–1983).
• WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982).
• Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983).
• 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).
• Bosom Buddies (1980-1982).
• Fridays (1980–1982).
• It's a Living (1980–1982, 1985–1989).
• Kingswood Country (Australia) (1980–1984).
• Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988).
• Solid Gold (1980–1988).
• Texas (1980–1982).
• That's Incredible! (1980–1984).
• The Other 'Arf (UK) (1980–1984).
• Tom and Jerry (1965–1972, 1975–1977, 1980–1982).
• 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).
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981).

Changes of network affiliation

• Walt Disney moves from NBC to CBS.

Births

• January 1 – Holly Willoughby, British television presenter.
• February 17 – Paris Hilton, heiress and television personality in the United States.
• April 28 – Jessica Alba, US actress.
• June 5 – Jade Goody, UK actress.
• September 5 – Elize Du Toit, British actress.
• September 8 – Jonathan Taylor Thomas, US actor.
• November 8 – Azura Skye, US actress.
• December 2 – Britney Spears, singer, originally appeared on a version of the Mickey Mouse Club in the US.
• December 3 – Brian Bonsall, US actor.

Deaths

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