1971 in television
The year 1971 involved some significant events in television. Below is a list of notable TV-related events.
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Events
- January 1 – The final cigarette advertisements are televised in the United States, with the final one occurring during that evening's broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on NBC.
- January 3 – BBC Open University broadcasts begin in the UK.
- January 12 – CBS airs the first episode of All in the Family, with a disclaimer at the beginning of the program warning viewers about potentially offensive content. Within a year, it became television's most popular program, and started a trend toward realism in situation comedies.
- January 27 – Valerie Barlow is electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer, and then perishes in a house fire on Coronation Street.
- February 23 – The Selling of the Pentagon documentary airs on CBS.
- March 2 – On an All in the Family episode, Archie and Edith get brand new next-door neighbors—Michael and Gloria's best friend, Lionel Jefferson (played by Mike Evans) and his parents. The episode marks Isabel Sanford's first appearance as Louise Jefferson; George Jefferson would not be depicted on-screen until 1973 (by Sherman Hemsley).
- March 11 – ABC cancels The Lawrence Welk Show after sixteen years on the network. The show, however, returns to the airwaves in syndication in September, where it would run for another eleven years.
- April 3 – RTÉ launches Color television in Ireland with the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, held in Dublin.
- May – CBS debuts its schedule for the fall 1971 season, and cancels, in the words of Pat Buttram, "every show that had a tree in it", including Buttram's Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Mayberry R.F.D. Hee Haw was also canceled by CBS, but would continue production for the next two decades in syndication.
- April 4 - PBS airs Peter Paul and Mary's "The Song is Love" movie documentary, directed by the most unlikely of people, horror movie's Tobe Hooper.
- June 7 – The UK children's magazine show Blue Peter buries a time capsule in the grounds of BBC Television Centre, due to be opened on the first episode of the year 2000.
- August 1 - The much-acclaimed 6-hour BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII, starring Keith Michell as Henry, makes its U.S. premiere; CBS would air it over 6 consecutive Sundays through September 5.
- September 13 – U.S. network prime time programming shrinks as the original Prime Time Access Rule takes effect. NBC, unable to take advantage, immediately feels the pinch and fails to win any of the 1971–72 season's first thirteen weeks.
- October 2 – Soul Train debuts in syndication.
- October 21 – One-off drama Edna, the Inebriate Woman, starring Patricia Hayes, is shown by BBC One in its Play for Today slot.
- November – Top-rated As the World Turns loses the #1 slot in the daytime Nielsens for the first time since 1959.
- Michael Zaslow first appears as Roger Thorpe on The Guiding Light.
Programs
- 60 Minutes (1968–present)
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965–present, aired annually)
- All in the Family (1971–1979)
- ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961–1998)
- All My Children (1970–2011)
- American Bandstand (1952–1989)
- Another World (1964–1999)
- As the World Turns (1956–2010)
- Bewitched (1964–1972)
- Blue Peter (UK) (1958–present)
- Bonanza (1959–1973)
- Bozo the Clown (1949–present)
- Bright Promise (1969–1972)
- Candid Camera (1948–present)
- Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984)
- Charlie Brown's All-Stars (1966–1972, aired annually)
- Clangers (UK) (1969–1972)
- Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995)
- Coronation Street, UK (1960–present)
- Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
- Dad's Army (UK) (1968–1977)
- Days of Our Lives (1965–present)
- Death Valley Days (1952–1975)
- Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955–1976)
- Doctor Who, UK (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
- Doomwatch (UK) (1970–1972)
- Face the Nation (1954–present)
- Famous Jury Trials (1971–1972)
- Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present)
- General Hospital (1963–present)
- Grandstand (UK) (1958–2007)
- Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
- Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)
- Hee Haw (1969–1993)
- Here's Lucy (1968–1974)
- Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
- Ironside (1967–1975)
- It's Academic (1961–present)
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966–present, aired annually)
- Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present)
- Kimba the White Lion (1966–1967), re-runs
- Laugh-In (1968–1973)
- Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973)
- Love of Life (1951–1980)
- Love, American Style (1969–1974)
- Magpie (UK) (1968–1980)
- Mannix (1967–1975)
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976)
- Mary Tyler Moore (1970–1977)
- McCloud (1970–1977)
- Meet the Press (1947–present)
- The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (UK) (1969-1971)
- Mission: Impossible (1966–1973)
- Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)
- Monday Night Football (1970–present)
- Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) (1969–1974)
- Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963–1988, 2002–present)
- My Three Sons (1960–1972)
- One Life to Live (1968–2012)
- Opportunity Knocks, UK (1956–1978)
- Panorama, UK (1953–present)
- Password (1962–1967, 1971–1975, 1979–1982, 1984–1989, 2008–)
- Play for Today (UK) (1970–1984)
- Play School (1966–present)
- Professional Bowlers Tour (1962–1997)
- Room 222 (1969–1974)
- Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
- Sesame Street (1969–present)
- The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989)
- The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
- The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974)
- The Dick Cavett Show (1969–1974)
- The Doctors (1963–1982)
- The Doris Day Show (1968–1973)
- The Edge of Night (1956–1984)
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974)
- The Good Old Days, UK (1953–1983)
- The Guiding Light (1952–2009)
- The Late Late Show, Ireland (1962–present)
- The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–1982)
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981)
- The Mod Squad (1968–1973)
- The Money Programme (UK) (1966–present)
- The Newlywed Game (1966–1974)
- The Odd Couple (1970–1975)
- The Partridge Family (1970–1974)
- The Secret Storm (1954–1974)
- The Sky at Night (UK) (1957–present)
- The Today Show (1952–present)
- The Tonight Show (1954–present; 1962–92 as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1969–79 under this title)
- The World Tonight, Philippines (1962–present)
- This Is Your Life, UK (1955–2003)
- Tom and Jerry (1965–1972, 1975–1977, 1980–1982)
- Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006)
- Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
- What the Papers Say (UK) (1956–2008)
- What's My Line? (1968–1975, syndicated version)
- Where the Heart Is (1969–1973)
- World of Sport (UK) (1965–1985)
- Z-Cars, UK (1962–1978)
Debuts
- January 10 – Masterpiece Theatre on PBS (1971–)
- January 12 – All in the Family on CBS (1971–79)
- April 2 – The Return of Ultraman on TBS in Japan (1971–72)
- April 3 – Kamen Rider on MBS in Japan (1971–73)
- April 10 – The Two Ronnies on BBC1 in the UK (1971–87)
- June 19 - Parkinson on BBC1 (1971–82, 1987–88, 1998–2004, then on ITV from 2004–07)
- July 4 - The Cat in the Hat (TV special) on CBS (1971)
- August 1 – The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour on CBS (1971–74)
- September 11 –
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1971–72) and Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch (1971–74) both on CBS Saturday Morning.
- The Jackson 5ive (1971–73), The Funky Phantom (1971–72), and Lidsville (1971–73), all on ABC Saturday Morning.
- September 15 - Columbo (1971–78) as part of a rotation of detective shows on the NBC Mystery Movie
- September 17 –
- McMillan & Wife on NBC (1971–77)
- O'Hara, U.S. Treasury on CBS (1971–72)
- September 18 – The New Dick Van Dyke Show on CBS (1971–74)
- September 21 – The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 (1971–87)
- October 2 – Soul Train, the African-American equivalent to American Bandstand (1971–2006)
- October 10 – Upstairs, Downstairs in the UK on ITV (1971–75, 2010–)
- October 25 – The Electric Company, a skit-based children's program aimed at teaching reading skills, on PBS (1971–77)
Ending this year
| Date | Show | Debut |
|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Nancy | 1970 |
| March 4 | Family Affair | 1966 |
| March 19 | That Girl | 1966 |
| March 23 | Julia | 1968 |
| The Beverly Hillbillies | 1962 | |
| March 28 | Hogan's Heroes | 1965 |
| March 29 | Mayberry R.F.D. | 1968 |
| April 2 | Dark Shadows | 1966 |
| April 27 | Green Acres | 1965 |
| May 5 | The Johnny Cash Show | 1969 |
| June 6 | The Ed Sullivan Show | 1948 |
| July 24 | UFO (UK) | 1970 |
| October 22 | What's New | 1959 |
Changes of network affiliation
| Show | Moved from | Moved to |
|---|---|---|
| Hee Haw | CBS | Syndication |
| Lassie | ||
| Let's Make a Deal | ABC | |
| The Lawrence Welk Show | ||
| The Road Runner Show | CBS |
Births
| Date | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Suzanne Virdee | British regional newscaster (Midlands Today) |
| January 2 | Taye Diggs | American actor (Private Practice) |
| January 5 | Jayne Middlemiss | UK presenter (Orange Playlist) |
| January 7 | Kevin Rahm | American actor (Judging Amy, Desperate Housewives, Mad Men) |
| Jeremy Renner | American actor (The Unusuals) | |
| January 12 | Jay Burridge | UK presenter (SMart) |
| January 13 | Sarah Tansey | UK actress (Heartbeat) |
| January 14 | Yiolanda Koppel | UK presenter |
| January 15 | Regina King | American actress (227, Southland) |
| January 16 | Julia Ford | English actress |
| January 19 | Shawn Wayans | American actor (In Living Color, The Wayans Bros.) |
| January 20 | Pixie McKenna | Irish presenter (Embarrassing Bodies) |
| January 23 | Lorne Spicer | British presenter (Cash in the Attic) |
| January 25 | Ana Ortiz | American actress (Devious Maids, Home: Adventures with Tip and Oh) |
| January 26 | Dorian Gregory | American actor (Charmed) |
| February 1 | Michael C. Hall | American actor (Six Feet Under, Dexter) |
| Hynden Walch | American actress (Chalkzone, Teen Titans, Adventure Time, Teen Titans Go!) | |
| February 4 | Trent Dawson | American actor (As the World Turns) |
| February 9 | Sharon Case | American actress (The Young and the Restless) |
| February 12 | Scott Menville | American actor (Full House, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!) |
| February 13 | Galen Gering | American actor (Days of Our Lives) |
| February 15 | Alex Borstein | American actress and comedian (Mad TV, Family Guy) |
| February 16 | Amanda Holden | UK actress (Wild at Heart) |
| February 23 | Melinda Messenger | British presenter, model (Live from Studio Five) |
| February 25 | Sean Astin | American actor (Special Agent Oso, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and son of Patty Duke |
| March 2 | Lisa Lackey | Australian actress (Heroes) |
| March 4 | Shavar Ross | American actor (Diff'rent Strokes) |
| March 5 | Yuri Lowenthal | American voice actor (Ben 10) |
| March 9 | Emmanuel Lewis | American actor (Webster) |
| March 10 | Jon Hamm | American actor (Mad Men) |
| March 11 | Johnny Knoxville | American actor and host (Jackass) |
| March 13 | Tracy Wells | American actress (Mr. Belvedere) |
| March 16 | Alan Tudyk | American actor (Firefly, Dollhouse, Suburgatory), voice actor (Star vs. the Forces of Evil) |
| March 20 | Murray Bartlett | Australian actor (Guiding Light) |
| Alexander Chaplin | American actor (Spin City) | |
| March 22 | Keegan-Michael Key | American actor and comedian (Mad TV, Key & Peele, Playing House) |
| March 24 | Megyn Price | American actress (Grounded for Life, Rules of Engagement) |
| March 27 | Nathan Fillion | Canadian-American actor (Firefly, Two Guys and a Girl, Castle) |
| April 12 | Nicholas Brendon | American actor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Criminal Minds) |
| Shannen Doherty | American actress (Beverly Hills, 90210, Charmed) | |
| April 15 | Andrew Daly | American actor and comedian (Mad TV, Review) |
| April 18 | Fredro Starr | American rapper and actor (Moesha) |
| April 20 | Brody Hutzler | American soap opera actor |
| April 28 | Simbi Khali | American actress (Martin, 3rd Rock from the Sun) |
| Bridget Moynahan | American actress (Blue Bloods) | |
| May 1 | Shep | British dog actor (Blue Peter) (died 1987) |
| May 7 | Ivan Sergei | American actor (Charmed, Crossing Jordan) |
| May 12 | Jamie Luner | American actress (Just the Ten of Us, Melrose Place) |
| May 26 | Matt Stone | American writer and animator (South Park) |
| May 30 | John Ross Bowie | American actor (Speechless) |
| June 2 | Anthony Montgomery | American actor (Star Trek: Enterprise) |
| June 4 | Noah Wyle | American actor (ER, Falling Skies) |
| June 5 | Mark Wahlberg | American actor and producer (Entourage) |
| Emy Coligado | American actress (Malcolm in the Middle) | |
| June 8 | Mark Feuerstein | American actor (Prison Break, Royal Pains) |
| June 22 | Mary Lynn Rajskub | American actress (24) |
| June 25 | Angela Kinsey | American actress (The Office) |
| June 30 | Monica Potter | American actress (Parenthood) |
| July 1 | Julianne Nicholson | American actress (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) |
| Melissa Peterman | American actress (Reba) | |
| July 4 | Koko | American sign language gorilla |
| July 9 | Dani Behr | English presenter, actress (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!) |
| Scott Grimes | American actor (Party of Five, ER, American Dad!) | |
| July 12 | Kristi Yamaguchi | American professional ice skater (Dancing with the Stars winner) |
| July 15 | Jim Rash | American actor (Community) |
| July 20 | Sandra Oh | Canadian actress (Grey's Anatomy) |
| July 27 | Eric Martsolf | American actor and singer (Passions, Days of Our Lives) |
| July 29 | Bryan Dattilo | American actor (Days of Our Lives) |
| July 30 | Tom Green | Canadian comedian (The Tom Green Show) |
| Christine Taylor | American actress (Hey Dude) | |
| August 6 | Merrin Dungey | American actress (The King of Queens, Alias) |
| August 9 | Kate Sanderson | English presenter (Newsround) |
| August 10 | Justin Theroux | American actor (The Leftovers) |
| Angie Harmon | American actress (Law & Order, Rizzoli & Isles) | |
| August 12 | Michael Ian Black | American comedian and actor |
| Yvette Nicole Brown | American actress (Community) | |
| August 28 | Daniel Goddard | Australian actor (The Young and the Restless) |
| August 29 | Carla Gugino | American actress (Karen Sisco, Threshold) |
| September 1 | Ricardo Antonio Chavira | American actor (Desperate Housewives) |
| September 2 | Lisa Snowdon | British presenter (Britain's Next Top Model) |
| September 8 | Brooke Burke | Dancing with the Stars winner (season 7), co-host (seasons 10–17) |
| September 9 | Natasha Kaplinsky | British presenter (Strictly Come Dancing winner) |
| Eric Stonestreet | American actor (Modern Family) | |
| September 14 | Kimberly Williams | American actress (According to Jim) |
| September 15 | Josh Charles | American actor (Sports Night, The Good Wife) |
| September 16 | Amy Poehler | American actress (Saturday Night Live, The Mighty B!, Parks and Recreation) |
| September 17 | Bobby Lee | American actor and comedian (Mad TV) |
| September 18 | Jada Pinkett Smith | American actress (Gotham) |
| September 19 | Sanaa Lathan | American actress (The Cleveland Show) |
| September 21 | Alfonso Ribeiro | American actor and host (Silver Spoons, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, America's Funniest Home Videos) |
| Luke Wilson | American actor (Enlightened) | |
| September 25 | Jessie Wallace | British actress (EastEnders) |
| September 28 | Liza Walker | British actress (Teenage Health Freak) |
| September 30 | Jenna Elfman | American actress (Dharma & Greg) |
| October 5 | Samuel Vincent | Canadian voice actor (Edd on Ed, Edd n Eddy) |
| October 13 | Sacha Baron Cohen | British comedian (Da Ali G Show) |
| October 20 | Snoop Dogg | American rapper and actor (Doggy Fizzle Televizzle) |
| October 25 | Leslie Grossman | American actress (Popular, What I Like About You) |
| Craig Robinson | American actor and comedian (The Office) | |
| October 29 | Winona Ryder | American actress |
| November 2 | Meta Golding | Haitian-American actress (Criminal Minds) |
| November 5 | Corin Nemec | American actor (Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Stargate SG-1) |
| November 10 | John Roberts | American actor (Bob's Burgers) |
| November 17 | David Ramsey | American actor (Dexter, Arrow) |
| November 20 | Joel McHale | American actor (Community) |
| November 23 | Lisa Kushell | American comedian and actress (Mad TV) |
| Chris Hardwick | American comedian and actor (Back at the Barnyard, Talking Dead, Sanjay and Craig) | |
| November 24 | Lola Glaudini | American actress (The Sopranos, Criminal Minds) |
| November 25 | Christina Applegate | American actress (Married... with Children, Samantha Who?) |
| November 27 | Kirk Acevedo | American actor (Oz, Band of Brothers, Fringe, 12 Monkeys) |
| November 29 | Gena Lee Nolin | American actress and model (The Price is Right, Baywatch) |
| December 14 | Tia Texada | American actress (Third Watch, The Unit) |
| Michaela Watkins | American actress (Saturday Night Live, Trophy Wife, Casual) | |
| December 26 | Jared Leto | American actor (My So-Called Life) |
| December 30 | Chris Vance | English actor (Prison Break) |
Deaths
| Date | Name | Age | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11 | Philo Farnsworth | 64 | Television pioneer |
| March 16 | Bebe Daniels | 70 | Actress (42nd Street) |
| August 27 | Bennett Cerf | 73 | Publisher and game show panelist (What's My Line?) |
| December 12 | David Sarnoff | 80 | Television pioneer |
| December 30 | Melba Rae | 49 | Actress (Search for Tomorrow) |
| December 31 | Pete Duel | 31 | Actor (Alias Smith and Jones) |
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