2003 in television: Wikis

Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles.

Encyclopedia

Updated live from Wikipedia, last check: May 29, 2012 04:29 UTC (53 seconds ago)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of years in television (table)
… 1993 ^. 1994 ^. 1995 ^. 1996 ^. 1997 ^. 1998 ^. 1999 … 2000 2001 2002 -2003- 2004 2005 2006 … 2007 ^. 2008 ^. 2009 ^. 2010 ^. 2011 ^. 2012 ^. 2013 … In radio: 2000 2001 2002 -2003- 2004 2005 2006 In film: 2000 2001 2002 -2003- 2004 2005 2006
Related time period or subjects
… 2000 ^. 2001 ^. 2002 - 2003 - 2004 ^. 2005 ^. 2006 … … 1970s ^. 1980s ^. 1990s -2000s- 2010s ^. 2020s ^. 2030s … 20th century ^. 21st century ^. 22nd century …
Art ^. Archaeology ^. Architecture ^. Literature ^. Music ^. Science +...

The year 2003 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 2003.

For the American TV schedule, see: 2003-04 United States network television schedule.

Events

Date	Event
January 19	The WB hit series Charmed, which debut in 1998, reaches its 100th episode, which was rare for hour long dramas at that time.
February 9	After a long delay, BBC Choice is replaced by BBC Three. The opening night is simulcast on BBC Two.
February 9	ITV screens the controversial two-part drama The Second Coming, set around the return to Earth of Jesus Christ in modern-day Manchester.
February 16	The 300th episode of The Simpsons airs the same night as the Married... with Children reunion special airs.
February 22	After an absence of many years After Dark returns to British television.
Late February	Talk show host David Letterman is forced to take a few weeks off from his Late Show with David Letterman due to a bout of shingles (subsequent Top Ten Lists would occasionally have entries that poked fun at this). A string of celebrities guest host for Letterman while he's away including Bruce Willis, Regis Philbin, Will Ferrell and Elvis Costello.
February 24	19.43 million watch Coronation Street in the UK as Richard Hillman confesses to the murder of Maxine Peacock, the highest rated show of the year. [1]
February 24	Giant Robot Week airs on Cartoon Network, which includes 2 heavily edited episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion. This is the first attempt to air the series on network TV (it has never been aired on network TV prior to this date).
April 7	Dragonball Z airs its final premiere episode on Cartoon Network. The series first aired on Toonami on August 31, 1998. DBZ ended but returned in 2005 with the first 65 episodes redubbed and uncut.
April 22	On All My Children, Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) kisses Lena Kundera (Olga Sosnovska); this is the first lesbian kiss on American daytime television.
May 20	The first "Cycle" of America's Next Top Model premieres.
June 28	The game show Judgement Day premieres on ITV, hosted by Brian Conley. It is cancelled after two episodes due to very low ratings, the second quickest cancellation in UK TV history; the first was Heil Honey I'm Home! in 1990, cancelled after one episode.
September 5	The much vaunted TV3 rival to RTÉ's The Late Late Show (Ireland), Eamon Dunphy's The Dunphy Show premieres and bombs, pulling in less than half the Late Late's viewership. The show is axed after December 12 after only 12 shows.
September 10	In an effort to woo Star Trek fans into watching the latest series in the franchise, the producers of UPN's Enterprise launch a season-long story arc, the first time a full season of a Star Trek series has been devoted to one storyline. Three episodes into the new season, as a gesture to win back Trekkies, the series title is changed to the more traditional Star Trek: Enterprise.
September 24	Jun Song is crowned the winner of the American version of Big Brother 4 and wins the $500,000 prize. Runner-Up Allison Irwin wins $50,000.
September 25	The Daily Telegraph newspaper is first to announce the return of popular sci-fi drama series Doctor Who after a 14 year break.
September 29	EastEnders brings Dirty Den back from the supposed dead after fourteen years.
October 4	A live action version of the popular Sailor Moon franchise premieres on Japanese television. The show spreads around the world as fans of the Japanese anime of the same name post whole episodes of the program onto the Internet.
October 5	Coronation Street shows its first gay kiss.
October 5	Psychological illusionist Derren Brown controversially plays Russian roulette live on Channel 4, though with a slight delay allegedly in case the stunt went wrong.
October 23	Longtime broadcaster on the BBC and ITN, and latterly news anchor on Sky News, Bob Friend retires.
November 4	The NFL Network launches in America.
November 10	The 4000th episode of Wheel of Fortune since the pairing of host and hostess Pat Sajak and Vanna White airs.
November 11	BBC current affairs series Panorama, launched in 1953, becomes the first UK television show to reach its 50th anniversary on air.
November 14	Gary Coleman, former star of Diff'rent Strokes, is one of many candidates for Governor of California in the gubernatorial recall election. He comes in 8th place. Another Hollywood star comes in first: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
November 23	40th anniversary of the first broadcast of Doctor Who in the UK. In the weeks leading up to this milestone, the BBC announces that a new series of Doctor Who – the show last aired as a weekly program in 1989 – will debut in 2005.

Debuts

Date	Debut
January 17	That's So Raven premieres on Disney Channel (2003–2007)
January 22	Chappelle's Show premieres on Comedy Central (2003–2006).
January 23	MythBusters premieres on Discovery Channel (2003–present).
January 24	Penn & Teller: Bullshit! premieres on Showtime (2003–present).
February 1	Winx Club premieres on Rai Due in Italy (2003–present), later introduced to the Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV) on June 19, 2004 (2004–present).
February 4	Posh Nosh premieres on BBC Two (2003)
February 8	Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres on Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV) (2003–present)
February 15	Power Rangers: Ninja Storm premieres on ABC (2003)
February 21	Da Ali G Show premieres on HBO (2003–2004)
February 24	Animal Jam premieres on TLC (2003)
March 3	Live Prayer premieres on UPN44 (2003 – present)
March 31	American Chopper premieres on Discovery Channel (2003–present)
April 5	Danny Phantom premieres on Nickelodeon in Australia (2003–2007), later introduced to the Nickelodeon on April 3, 2004 in United States (2004–2007).
April 6	Sonic X premieres on TV Tokyo in Japan, later introduced to the Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV) on August 23 (2003–2006).
April 13	MXC, an English-language redubbing of the Japanese series Takeshi's Castle, debuts on TNN as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (original episodes 2003–2007).
May 17	Megaman NT Warrior, the English-language version of Rockman EXE, premieres on Kids' WB!.
May 18	State of Play (UK), a six-part serial from Paul Abbott, begins its run on BBC One, concluding on June 22. A sequel is planned for 2006.
May 26	Unscrewed with Martin Sargent premieres on TechTV (now G4TV (2003–2004).
June 2	Train 48 premieres on the Global Television Network in Canada (2003–2005).
June 27	Dead Like Me premieres on Showtime (2003–2005).
July 1	Reno 911! premieres on Comedy Central (2003–2009).
July 8	Big Brother 4 premieres on CBS (2000–present).
July 15	Queer Eye for the Straight Guy premieres on Bravo (2003–2007).
July 22	Nip/Tuck premieres on FX (2003–present).
August 1	My Life as a Teenage Robot premieres on Nickelodeon (2003–present).
August 5	The O.C. premieres on Fox (2003–2007).
August 23	Duck Dodgers (TV series) premieres on Cartoon Network (2003–2005).
August 26	Playmakers premieres on ESPN, and is cancelled on November 11.
August 29	Cowboy U premieres on CMT (2003–present).
September 9	Whoopi, with Whoopi Goldberg, premieres on NBC (2003–2004).
September 9	Happy Family premieres on NBC (2003–2004).
September 9	Starting Over premieres. (syndicated) (2003–2006).
September 11	QI premieres on BBC in UK (2003–present).
September 13	Romeo! premieres on Nickelodeon (2003–2006).
September 14	Carnivàle premieres on HBO (2003–2005).
September 15	Eve premieres on UPN (2003–2006).
September 16	Little Britain premieres on BBC Three in UK (2003–2006).
September 16	All of Us premieres on UPN (2003–2007)
September 18	Threat Matrix premieres on ABC (2003–2004).
September 20	Lilo and Stitch: The Series premieres on ABC Kids (2003–2006).
September 22	Las Vegas premieres on NBC (2003–present).
September 22	Two and a Half Men premieres on CBS (2003–present).
September 23	I'm with Her premieres on ABC (2003–2004).
September 23	NCIS premieres on CBS (2003–present).
September 23	One Tree Hill premieres on the WB (2003–present).
September 26	Hope and Faith premieres on ABC (2003–2006).
September 26	Joan of Arcadia premieres on CBS (2003–2005).
September 26	The Handler premieres on CBS (2003–2004).
September 28	Cold Case premieres on CBS (2003–present).
September 28	10-8: Officers on Duty premieres on ABC (2003–2004).
October 1	It's All Relative premieres on ABC (2003–2004).
October 1	Karen Sisco premieres on ABC, and is cancelled on November 12 (2003–2004).
October 3	Married to the Kellys premieres on ABC (2003–2004).
October 6	The Big Break premieres on The Golf Channel (2003–present).
October 16	Superstars returns to BBC One (1973–1985, 2003–2005).
October 26	Viva La Bam premieres on MTV (2003–2005).
October 30	Tru Calling premieres on Fox (2003–2005).
November 1	Xiaolin Showdown premieres on Kids' WB! (2003–present).
November 1	Dave the Barbarian premieres on Disney Channel in Australia (2003–2004), later introduced to the Disney Channel on January 23, 2004 (2004–2005).
November 2	Arrested Development premieres on Fox (2003–2006).
November 7	Star Wars: Clone Wars premieres on Cartoon Network (2003–2005).
November 7	Dragonball GT premieres on Cartoon Network (2003–2005).
November 29	All Grown Up!, a Rugrats spinoff, premieres on Nickelodeon (2003–2008).
December 8	Battlestar Galactica premieres on Sky One in the UK (2003–present).

Television shows

See also 2003-04 United States network television schedule

1940s

Meet the Press (1947–present).

1950s

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
Guiding Light (1952–2009)
Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
The Today Show (1952–present)
Kōhaku Uta Gassen, Japan (1953–present)
NHK Nodojiman, Japan (1953–present)
Panorama, UK (1953–present)
Face the Nation (1954–present)
The Tonight Show (1954–present)
The Wonderful World of Disney (1954–present under various titles)
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 (1958–2007)

1960s

Coronation Street (UK) (1960–present).
Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present).
It's Academic (1961–present).
Biography (1962–present)
The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962–present).
General Hospital (1963–present).
Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006).
Days of our Lives (1965–present).
Play School (1966–present).
The Money Programme, UK (1966–present)
Shoten, Japan (1966–present)
Washington Week (1967–present)
60 Minutes (1968–present).
One Life to Live (1968–present).
Sesame Street (1969–present).

1970s

All My Children (1970–present).
Monday Night Football (1970–present)
NBC Nightly News (1970–present)
Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
Soul Train (1971–2006)
Emmerdale (UK) (1972–present).
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).
Nova (1974–present)
Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974–present).
Arena (UK) (1975–present).
Good Morning America (1975–present).
Saturday Night Live (1975–present).
the fifth estate (Canada) (1975–present).
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (1975–present).
The Victory Garden (1975–present).
Wheel of Fortune (1975–present)
Austin City Limits (1976–present)
Live from Lincoln Center (1976–present)
Inside the NFL (1977–present)
20/20 (1978–present)
Grange Hill, UK (1978–2008)
The South Bank Show, UK (1978–present)
Antiques Roadshow, UK (1979–present)
CBS News Sunday Morning (1979–present)
Nightline, US (1979–present)
Nightly Business Report (1979–present)
SportsCenter (1979–present)
The Sunday Game, Ireland (1979–present)
This Old House (1979–present)

1980s

Lou Dobbs Tonight (1980–2009)
Mystery! (1980–present)
Entertainment Tonight (1981–present).
This Week (1981–present).
America This Morning (1982–present).
CCTV New Year's Gala, China (1982–present)
Nature (1982–present)
Timewatch, UK (1982–present)
Waratte Iitomo, Japan (1982–present)
What Now New Zealand (1982–present)
American Masters (1983–present).
America Undercover (1983–present).
Frontline (1983–present).
Taggart, UK (1983–present)
The Bill, UK (1984–present)
Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1978–1979, 1984–present).
SportsCentre, Canada (1984–present)
EastEnders, UK (1985–present)
Neighbours, Australia (1985–present)
Comic Relief (UK) (1986–present).
Casualty (UK) (1986–present).
The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986–present).
The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present).
ChuckleVision (UK) (1987–present).
The American Experience (1988–present).
America's Most Wanted (1988–present).
Fair City, Ireland (1988–present)
Home and Away, Australia (1988–present)
Les Guignols de l'info, France (1988–present)
This Morning (1988–present)
COPS (1989–present)
Domingão do Faustão (Brazil) (1989–present).
Inside Edition (1989–present)
The New Yankee Workshop (1989–present)
Primetime (1989–present)
The Simpsons (1989–present)

1990s

1990–1993

America's Funniest Home Videos (1990–present).
Australia's Funniest Home Videos (Australia) (1990–2007, 2008–present).
Law & Order (1990–present).
Sunday Night Baseball (1990–present).
Breakfast with the Arts (1991–2007).
The Jerry Springer Show (1991–present).
The Red Green Show (1991–present).
Rugrats (1991–2004).
American Justice (1992–present).
Barney & Friends (1992–present).
Dateline NBC (1992–present).
Real Sex (1992–present).
Shortland Street (NZ) (1992–present).
The Real World (1992–present).
Up to the Minute (1992–present).
World News Now (1992–present).
Frasier (1993–2004).
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993–2009).
NYPD Blue (1993–2005).
Power Rangers (1993–2009).
Ricki Lake (1993–2004).
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993–present)
WWE Monday Night RAW (1993–present)

1994–1996

Autopsy (1994–present)
All That (1994–2005)
ER (1994–2009)
Extra (1994–present)
Friends (1994–2004)
Globe Trekker (1994–present)
Inside the Actors Studio (1994–present)
NFL on Fox (1994–present)
Room 101 (UK) (1994–2007)
Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994–2004)
Time Team, UK (1994–present)
Touched by an Angel (1994–2003)
Dinner and a Movie (1995–present)
The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004)
JAG (1995–2005)
The Late Late Show (1995–present)
MADtv (1995–2009)
Modern Marvels (1995–present)
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (1995–present)
7th Heaven (1996–2007)
Access Hollywood (1996–present)
Arthur (1996–present)
Blues Clues (1996–2006)
The Daily Show (1996–present)
Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2004)
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005)
Hannity & Colmes (1996–2009)
Hey Arnold! (1996–2004)
Judge Judy (1996–present)

1997–1999

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
The Crocodile Hunter (1997–2004)
Dream Team (UK) (1997–2007)
Family Affairs (UK) (1997–2005)
Johnny Bravo (1997–2004)
Just Shoot Me! (1997–2003)
King of the Hill (1997–present)
Oz (1997–2003).
Port Charles (1997–2003).
The Practice (1997–2004).
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1997–2003)
South Park (1997–present)
Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)
The Wonderful World of Disney (1997–present under current title; has regularly aired since 1954 with other titles)
Becker (1998–2004).
Call For Help (1998–2004).
CatDog (1998–2004).
Charmed (1998–2006)
Dawson's Creek (1998–2003)
The King of Queens (1998–2007)
Movie Surfers (1998–present)
The Powerpuff Girls (1998–2005).
Sex and the City (1998–2004).
That '70s Show (1998–2006).
Total Request Live (1998–present)
True Life (1998–present)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK) (1998–present).
Will & Grace (1998–2006).
Angel (1999–2004).
Early Today (1999–present).
Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999–present).
Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999–present).
Futurama (1999–2003)
Judge Mathis (1999–present).
Holby City (1999–present)
Judging Amy (1999–2005).
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present).
Making the Video (1999–present)
The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999–2003)
Passions (1999–2007, 2007–2008).
Rocket Power (1999–2004).
Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape (1999–present).
The Sopranos (1999–2007).
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present).
Tenacious D (1999–present).
Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999–2003)
Third Watch (1999–2005).
The West Wing (1999–2006).
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US) (1999–present).

2000s

2000

Aqua Teen Hunger Force (2000–present).
As Told by Ginger (2000–2004)
Big Brother (2000–present)
Boston Public (2000–2004)
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–present)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–present)
Dora The Explorer (2000–present)
Ed (2000–2004)
Even Stevens (2000–2003)
Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)
Girlfriends (2000–2008)
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law (2000–2007)
Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006)
MTV Cribs (2000–present).
Survivor (2000–present)
This Week in Baseball (1977–1998, 2000–present)
The Weakest Link, UK (2000–present)
Trading Spaces (2000–present)
Yes, Dear (2000–2006)

2001

24 (2001–present).
According to Jim (2001–present).
Adult Swim (2001–present).
Alias (2001–2006).
Braceface (2001–2006).
Crossing Jordan (2001–2007).
Fear Factor (2001–2006).
Great Hotels (2001–present).
Home Movies (1999, 2001–present).
How It's Made (2001–present).
JR Digs (Canada) (2001–present).
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–present).
Lizzie McGuire (2001–2004).
Lloyd in Space (2001–2004).
Mutant X (2001–2004).
My Wife and Kids (2001–present).
Pop Idol (UK) (2001–present).
Reba (2001–2007).
Scrubs (2001–present).
Six Feet Under (2001–2005).
Smallville (2001–present).
Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005).
Living with Lydia (2001–2005)
The Amazing Race (2001–present).
The Bernie Mac Show (2001–2006).
The Fairly OddParents (2001–present).
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (2001–2007).
The Guardian (2001–2004).
The Saturday Show (UK) (2001–present).

2002

American Idol (2002–present).
Biker Build-Off (2002–present).
Codename: Kids Next Door (2002–2008).
Crank Yankers (2002–2005, 2007–present).
CSI: Miami (2002–present).
Cyberchase (2002–present).
Def Poetry (2002–present).
Degrassi: The Next Generation (2002–present).
The Dr. Phil Show (2002–present)
Extreme Makeover (2002–2007).
George Lopez (2002–2007).
Harry Hill's TV Burp (UK) (2002–present).
I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (UK) (2002–present).
Kim Possible (2002–2007).
Last Call with Carson Daly (2002–present).
Lingo (2002–present).
Monk (2002–present).
Most Haunted (2002–present).
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963–1988, 2002–present).
NBA on ABC (2002–present).
NBA on TNT (2002–present).
NOW (2002–present).
Spooks (UK) (2002–present).
That's So Raven (2002–2007).
The Bachelor (2002–present).
The Dead Zone (2002–2007).
The Shield (2002–present).
The Wire (2002–present).
Without a Trace (2002–2009).

Returning in 2003

The Newsroom (Canada) (1996–1997, 2003–2005).

Ending this year

Date	Show	Debut
January 12	Andy Richter Controls the Universe	2002
February 5	The Legend of Tarzan	2001
February 10	Clone High	2002
February 23	Oz	1997
February 25	Clifford the Big Red Dog	2000
March 21	Farscape	1999
April 6	Clocking Off (UK)	2000
April 7	Dragonball Z	1998
April 13	My Big Fat Greek Life	2003
April 24	Sabrina, the Teenage Witch	1997
April 25	Fastlane	2002
April 26	Cubix: Robots for Everyone	2001
April 27	Touched by an Angel	1994
May 7	Stargate Infinity	2002
May 20	Buffy the Vampire Slayer	1997
May 21	The Twilight Zone	2002
May 28	Dawson's Creek	1998
May 30	Crossroads (UK)	2001
June 2	Even Stevens	2000
July 1	Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon"	2003
July 14	Digimon: Digital Monsters	1999
August 8	This Is Your Life (UK)	1955
August 10	Futurama	1999
August 16	Just Shoot Me!	1997
October 3	Port Charles	1997
October 25	X-Men: Evolution	2000
November 4	Brookside (UK)	1982
November 11	The Angry Beavers	2003
November 15	Power Rangers: Ninja Storm	2003
December 12	Electric Circus (Canada)	1988
December 19	Fifteen to One	1988
December 24	Absolutely Fabulous (UK)	2001
December 25	Only Fools and Horses (UK)	2001
December 27	SMTV Live (UK)	1998
December 31	Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (UK)	1984

Changes of Network Affiliation

Show	Moved from	Moved to
Grounded for Life	Fox	The WB
Robot Wars	BBC Two	Five
Family Rosary Crusade	ABS-CBN	Studio 23

Deaths

January 12 – Maurice Gibb, 53, actor/songwriter of the Bee Gees.
January 23 – Nell Carter, 54, actress, singer, of Gimme a Break.
February 27 – Fred Rogers, 74, TV's "Mister Rogers" of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
March 22 – Terry Lloyd, 50, news reporter, killed during Iraq War skirmish.
March 30 – Gaby Rado, 48, news reporter, accidental death while covering Iraq War.
April 2 – Pat Leavy, Hannah Finnegan in Fair City after being taken ill on set.
June 19 – Laura Sadler, 22 Sandy Harper in Holby City after falling from a balcony.
September 11 – John Ritter, 54, known mostly as Jack Tripper from Three's Company, but at the time was involved in the sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and the cartoon Clifford the Big Red Dog.
October 4 – James Forlong, 44, dismissed Sky News journalist accused of faking Iraq War report, commits suicide.
October 21 – Fred Berry, 52, actor (Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs on What's Happening!!).
October 27 – Rod Roddy, 66, announcer on Press Your Luck, Soap, and, most famously, The Price Is Right.
November 9 – Art Carney, 85, actor.
December 29 – Earl Hindman, 61, actor Wilson J. Wilson Jr. on Home Improvement
Don Taylor, 67, director.
Bob Monkhouse, 75, Comedian & Entertainer.

Categories: 2003 in television

The Full Wiki

Search:

More info on 2003 in television

Related topics