1987 in television

See also: 1986 in television, other events of 1987, 1988 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

For the American network television schedule, please see 1987–88 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 22 – R. Budd Dwyer shoots and kills himself at a televised press conference. The decision by some broadcasters to air the footage leads to a debate over boundaries in journalism.
• January–February – PBS broadcasts the critically-acclaimed Eyes on the Prize series.
• April 19 – Matt Groening's The Simpsons debuts as a series of short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show.
• May – The sitcom Mr. Belvedere is canceled after three seasons. Heavy backlash causes ABC executives to rethink the decision and bring the show back. Since the fall programming schedules were already written, Mr. Belvedere does not premiere until late October.
• November 11 – On As the World Turns, Lily Walsh loses her virginity to Dusty Donovan. The storyline was a subject of controversy (see Martha Byrne for more).
• November 13 – Sonny and Cher reunite for a performance on Late Night with David Letterman.
• November 22 – During a showing of the Doctor Who story Horror of Fang Rock, Chicago PBS station WTTW-TV Channel 11 is interrupted for eighty-eight seconds by a pirate television transmitter overriding the station's transmission signal to broadcast a video of himself in a Max Headroom mask being spanked. This incident has subsequently gained a degree of cult myth about it.
• CBS becomes the last American network to cease a chime intonation at the beginning of telecasts; satellite feeds have made the tones obsolete (their job was to signal to the affiliates to start airing the network feed in sync with everyone else).
• Televangelist Jim Bakker is involved in a sex scandal, which causes him to step down as the host of The P.T.L. Club.
• In spite of initial network objections, Bob Barker, host of The Price is Right, ceases dying his hair brown and allows it to appear as its natural white on TV. He does this as a protest against the way animals are used to make the products.
• Genie Francis, of General Hospital fame, starts a new soap role as Diana Colville on Days of Our Lives, which she will play until 1989.
• 227 star Jackée Harry changes her name to "Jackée," which she goes by until 1994.

Debuts

• March 23 – The Bold and the Beautiful premieres (1987-present).
• April 5 – Married... with Children premieres (1987-1997).
• April 5 – The Tracey Ullman Show premieres (1987-1990).
• September 7 – Knightmare premieres on ITV (1987–1994).
• September 22 – Full House premieres (1987-1995).
• September 24 – A Different World premieres (1987-1993).
• September 29 – thirtysomething premieres (1987-1991).
• October – Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) debuts in first-run syndication. A long-sought-after revival of the 1960s Star Trek: The Original Series, TNG would run for seven successful seasons and would launch one of the most successful series of programs in television history. Four consecutive series would run for the next 18 years, until the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise on May 13, 2005.
• December 10 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres (1987-1996).
• Inspector Morse premieres on ITV (1987-2000).

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995).
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
• American Bandstand (1952-1989).
• Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• 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).
• Another World (1964-1999).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001-2003).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
• 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).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• Emmerdale Farm (UK) (1972-present).
• John Craven's Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
• Derrick (1974-1998).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Jim'll Fix It (UK) (1975–1994).
• Ryan's Hope (1975–1989).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• 20/20 (1978-present).
• Dallas (1978–1991).
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
• Knots Landing (1979-1993).
• The Facts of Life (1979–1988).
• You Can't Do That on Television (Canada) (1979–1990).
• Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988).
• Solid Gold (1980–1988).
• Dynasty (1981-1989).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• Falcon Crest (1981–1990).
• Simon & Simon (1981–1988).
• Cagney & Lacey (1982-1988).
• Cheers (1982–1993).
• Family Ties (1982–1989).
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993).
• Newhart (1982–1990).
• St. Elsewhere (1982–1988).
• The Journal (Canada) (1982-1992).
• Fraggle Rock (1983–1988).
• Loving (1983–1995).
• Webster (1983–1989).
• Highway to Heaven (1984-1989).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984-present).
• Kate and Allie (1984–1989).
• Miami Vice (1984–1989).
• Mother and Son (Australia) (1984–1994).
• Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996).
• Night Court (1984–1992).
• Punky Brewster (1984–1988).
• Santa Barbara (1984–1993).
• Tales from the Darkside (1984–1988).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• The Cosby Show (1984–1992).
• Who's the Boss? (1984–1992).
• 227 (1985-1990).
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Growing Pains (1985–1992).
• It's a Living (1980–1982, 1985–1989).
• MacGyver (1985–1992).
• Moonlighting (1985–1989).
• Mr. Belvedere (1985–1990).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996-1997, 2001–2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special The Frog's Legacy).
• Sally (1985-2002).
• The Golden Girls (1985–1992).
• The Twilight Zone (1959-1964, 1985–1988, 2002).
• What's Happening Now!! (1985–1988).
• ALF (1986-1990).
• Amen (1986–1991).
• Designing Women (1986–1993).
• Double Dare (1986–1993).
• Hey Dad...! (Australia) (1986–1994).
• L.A. Law (1986–1994).
• Mama's Family (1983–1984, 1986–1990).
• Matlock (1986–1995).
• Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1991).
• Perfect Strangers (1986–1993).
• The Disney Sunday Movie (1986–1988).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).

Ending this year

• March 20 – Capitol (1982–1987).
• October – The Jetsons (1962–1963, 1984–1985, 1987).
• Whistle Test (UK) (1971–1987).
• Countdown (Australia) (1974–1987).
• The P.T.L. Club (1976-1987).
• 3–2–1 (UK) (1978–1987).
• Gimme a Break! (1981–1987).
• Hill Street Blues (1981–1987).
• Today's Special (Canada) (1981–1987).
• Fame (1982–1987).
• Remington Steele (1982–1987).
• Silver Spoons (1982–1987).
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1983–1987).
• The A-Team (1983–1987).

Made for television movies

• Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story.

Changes of network affiliation

• Punky Brewster, formerly an NBC series, resumes after a 1-year production hiatus in first-run syndication.
• Webster moves from ABC to first-run syndication.

Births

• March 9 – Lil' Bow Wow, rapper.
• September 28 – Hilary Duff, actress (Lizzie McGuire) and singer.

Deaths

• February 22 – David Susskind, commentator and producer.
• March 21 – Dean Paul Martin, actor on Misfits of Science and son of Dean Martin.
• May 4 – Cathryn Damon, actress on Soap and Webster.
• June 24 – Jackie Gleason, comedian.
• August 6 – Quinn Martin, producer.
• September 22 – Dan Rowan, comedian, co-host of Laugh-In.