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The year 1981 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1981.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1981-82 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 13 – Colour television was introduced in Israel.
• February 20 – Comedian Andy Kaufman ruins sketches and starts a brawl live on the air during ABC's Fridays.
• March 6 – After a 19-year run, Walter Cronkite resigns as head anchor of The CBS Evening News and is succeeded the following Monday by Dan Rather.
• March 21 – After an unprecedented seven years starring in Doctor Who, Tom Baker makes his final appearance as the Fourth Doctor in Part 4 of Logopolis. Peter Davison makes his first appearance as the Fifth Doctor at the conclusion of that story.
• 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 hosts his last episode of Wheel of Fortune after a salary dispute with show producer and creator Merv Griffin. Pat Sajak takes over as host the next Monday, the 28th. He hosts the daytime Wheel till 1989.; Sajak hosts the nighttime Wheel to this day.
• June 30 – Fred Silverman is fired as president of NBC, after failing to improve that network's third-place standing, and is replaced by Grant Tinker.
• Berlinda Tolbert and Michael Jonas Evans makes their final appearance as Lionel and Jenny Willis Jefferson in the seventh (1980–1981) year, of The Jeffersons, also departing with Tolbert and Evans, Paul Benedict makes his final appearance as the British neighbor of George and Louise, Harry Bentley, Benedict returns to the series in 1983.
• November 9 – The cast and crew had begun work on episodes for The Incredible Hulk (TV series) fifth season on CBS when the network's head of programming, Harvey Shepherd, delivered a surprise blow: despite maintaining solid ratings, The Incredible Hulk (TV series) was to be canceled immediately. Author Frank Garcia, while interviewing Johnson, learned that CBS executive Harvey Shepherd disliked "The Incredible Hulk" and felt that there "wasn't a full season left in it", thus putting an end to David Banner's struggles. Producer Kenneth Johnson tried to convince Sheppard to buy six additional episodes so that CBS could have a half-season of new episodes but he declined. The series was canceled so suddenly that Johnson never had a chance to film an INCREDIBLE HULK series finale which would feature David on trial for the murder of Elaina Marks. Several scripts including "David Banner, RIP", and "Killer On Board" never went before the cameras to become small-screen Hulk adventures. The notice came so quickly and so suddenly that Johnston and Corea were unable to film a proposed two hour finale in which David was brought to trial for the murder of Elaina Marks. Production officially halted in the summer of 1981.
• July 4 – Showtime ends its part-time status and inaugurates a 24/7 schedule.
• December 31 – Colour television is introduced Turkey, it will go full-time in 1984.
• During the course of the year, all soap operas produced by Proctor and Gamble change title sequences and theme songs. Another World, Guiding Light, Search for Tomorrow, and The Edge of Night all have new title sequences.

Debuts

• January 5 – Triangle debuts on BBC1 (1981–1983).
• January 12 – Dynasty premieres on ABC (1981–1989).
• January 15 – Hill Street Blues premieres on NBC (1981–1987).
• February 7 – Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan premieres on TV-Asahi (1981–1982).
• March 18 – The Greatest American Hero premieres on ABC (1981–1983).
• April 8 – Dr. Slump premieres on Fuji TV (1981–1986)
• May 16 – SCTV Network 90, a repackaging of the Canadian series SCTV, debuts on NBC (1981–1983).
• September 12 – The Smurfs premieres on NBC (1981–1990)
• September 14 – Entertainment Tonight premieres in syndication (1981 onwards).
• September 15 – Only Fools and Horses premieres on BBC1 (1981–2003).
• September 15 – Seeing Things premieres on CBC (1981–1987).
• September 16 – Postman Pat premieres on BBC One (1981 onwards).
• September 26 – Game for a Laugh premieres on ITV (1981–1986).
• October 7 – Mr. Merlin premieres on CBS (1981–1982).
• 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 (1981–1989).
• December 4 – Falcon Crest premieres on CBS (1981–1990).
• The Kids of Degrassi Street premieres on CBC (1981–1985)
• Today's Special premieres on TV Ontario (1981–1987).

Miniseries

• Family Reunion, starring Bette Davis
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, starring Simon Jones and David Dixon
• A Town Like Alice, starring Helen Morse and Bryan Brown
• Brideshead Revisited, including Anthony Andrews, Jeremy Irons and Laurence Olivier

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947–present).
• Candid Camera (1948–present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995)

1950s

• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986).
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present).
• American Bandstand (1952–1989)
• Guiding Light (1952–present)
• Hockey Night in Canada (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; full title has generally included the host's name)
• 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) (1958–2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (UK) (1960–present).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present).
• It's Academic (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) (1964–2006).
• 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)

1970s

• 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).
• Superstars (UK) (1973–1985, 2003–2005).
• 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).
• Arena (UK) (1975–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).
• 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).
• Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (UK) (1976–1982).
• 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)
• This Week in Baseball (1977–1998, 2000–present)
• 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) (1978–2008).
• 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).
• Tales of the Unexpected (UK) (1979–1985, 1987–1988).
• 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)
• Antiques Roadshow, UK (1979–present).
• Nightline (1979–present)
• SportsCenter (1979–present)
• This Old House (1979–present).

Ending this year

• March 25 – Ultraman 80 (Japan) (1980–1981).
• April 16 – Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981).
• April 20 – Soap (1977–1981).
• August 19 – Charlie's Angels (1976–1981).
• August 20 – The Waltons (1972–1981).
• August 29 – Eight is Enough (1977–1981).
• September 13 – Match Game PM (1975–1981).
• October 23 – Card Sharks on NBC (1978–1981, 1986–1987, 1986–1989, 2001–2002)
• The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981).
• The Muppet Show (UK) (1976–1981).
• Runaround (UK) (1975–1981).

Changes of network affiliation

• Walt Disney moves from NBC to CBS.
• The Goodies moves from the BBC to ITV

Births

• January 22 – Beverley Mitchell, actress 7th Heaven
• January 28 – Elijah Wood, actor
• January 31 – Justin Timberlake, singer and actor, originally appeared on a version of the Mickey Mouse Club in the US.
• February 8 – Ralf Little, Actor
• February 10 – Holly Willoughby, British television presenter.
• February 17 – Paris Hilton heiress and television personality in the United States.
• April 28 – Jessica Alba, US actress.
• May 5 – Danielle Fishel, actress.
• June 25 – Sheridan Smith, UK actress.
• August 7 – Dan Griffin, television producer.
• August 25 – Rachel Bilson, actress
• September 3 – Fearne Cotton, British television presenter.
• September 4 – Beyonce Knowles, singer and actor. Destiny's Child
• September 5 – Elize Du Toit, British actress.
• September 8 – Jonathan Taylor Thomas, US actor/comedian (Home Improvement)
• October 9 – Zachery Ty Bryan, US actor/comedian (Home Improvement)
• November 8 – Azura Skye, US actress.
• December 2 – Britney Spears, singer, originally appeared on a version of the Mickey Mouse Club in the US.

Deaths

• April 26 – Jim Davis (b. 1909), actor (Jock Ewing) on Dallas
• June 9 – Allen Ludden (b. 1917), game show host
• August 1 – Paddy Chayefsky (b. 1923), writer
• November 25 – Jack Albertson (b. 1907), actor