1980 in American television

none 1980 In 1980, television in the United States saw a number of significant events, including the debuts, finales, and cancellations of television shows; the launch, closure, and rebranding of channels; changes and additions to network affiliations by stations; controversies, business transactions, and carriage disputes; and the deaths of individuals who had made notable contributions to the medium. Events Date EventJanuary 1In Dayton, Ohio, the decade begins with an affiliation swap between NBC affiliate WDTN and ABC affiliate WKEF-TV; the swap is reversed in 2004.January 15Brandon Tartikoff, who will turn around the fortunes of the third-place NBC television network during the 1980s, becomes chief of programming for the network at the age of 31, when he is named as the new President of NBC Entertainment."NBC Names New Programming Chief", Atlanta Constitution, January 16, 1980, p7-BJanuary 25Black Entertainment Television launches in the United States as a block of programming on the USA Network; it won't be until 1983 that BET becomes a full-fledged channel.February 1After 29 years on the air, the soap opera Love of Life airs its 7,316th and last episode on CBS.February 3Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours, a two-part six-hour retrospective of Bob Hope's more than 30 years of entertaining at military bases and hospitals in the U.S. and abroad, airs on NBC.February 4On CBS, The Young and the Restless airs its first one-hour long episode.February 8Eric Braeden makes his first appearance as Victor Newman on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless.February 11CBS broadcasts a very special episode of the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati about the real life deadly gate-rushing incident that occurred at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati on December 3, 1979 prior to a performance by The Who.February 14On CBS, Walter Cronkite announces his retirement from the CBS Evening News, which takes effect in March 1981.February 22ABC Sports announcer Al Michaels delivers his now immortal line "Do you believe in miracles?! Yes!" in the closing moments of the Winter Olympic medal-round men's ice hockey game between the United States team and the heavily favored Soviet team. February 24Polly Holliday makes her final appearance as Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry on Alice. Holliday would continue playing Flo in the character's own spin-off, which aired on CBS for two seasons.March 3The controversial television show That's Incredible!, which showcases people performing dangerous stunts, premieres on the ABC network in the U.S. and begins a five-season run. It is hosted by John Davidson, Fran Tarkenton, and Cathy Lee Crosby. Criticized as a copy of the popular NBC show Real People"What's 'Incredible' is this: ABC copycats took so long", by Sherry Stern, Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), March 3, 1980, p6C or the 1950s series You Asked for It the series captures its time slot on the first evening. As syndicated critic Peter J. Boyer notes about the stunts, the series opener is "a filmed feature on some guy who works with bees" who "let a bee sting him for the cameras, as everyone on stage gushed 'That's incredible!'". Boyer adds "No one within microphone range offered 'That's Stupid!'""That's not incredible, that's stupid", The Home News (New Brunswick, NJ), March 10, 1980, p12March 5Beyond Westworld premieres on CBS but runs for only three episodes before being canceled."Series bites dust in three weeks", Akron (O.) Beacon Journal, March 30, 1980, p27 In its final showing on March 19, it finishes 69th out of 69 shows in the Nielsen ratings."CBS gaining ground on ABC in ratings", Austin (TX) American-Statesman, March 30, 1980, p29 It was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards, for art direction and for makeup."'Lou Grant', 'MASH', Emmy Nominees", August 8, 1980, pVI-16March 16The first regularly scheduled use of closed captioning on American network television occurs on ABC, with captions of spoken dialogue added to programming received through a decoding unit attached to a standard TV set.Gannon, Jack. 1981. Deaf Heritage–A Narrative History of Deaf America, Silver Spring, MD: National Association of the Deaf, pp. 384–387 (PDF https://web.archive.org/web/20120424042033/http://saveourdeafschools.org/Deaf_Heritage_by_Jack_Gannon_pages_384-387.pdf 2012-04-24 ) The first broadcast to use it was the 1977 movie Semi-Tough.March 21On the season finale of Dallas on CBS, J. R. Ewing is shot by an unseen assailant, leading to the catchphrase "Who shot J.R.?".March 24The late night ABC News program The Iran Crisis–America Held Hostage is officially rechristened as Nightline.March 24WCGV-TV signs on the air as an independent station in Milwaukee. It went on to affiliate first with Fox in 1987, then to UPN in 1995 and finally MyNetworkTV in 2006. It was shut down in 2018.Jende Bryon http://my24milwaukee.com/station/my-news/channel-rescan-needed-january-8th-for-antenna-users Channel Rescan Needed January 8th for Antenna Users January 16, 2026 my24milwaukee.com December 9, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171209100315/http://my24milwaukee.com/station/my-news/channel-rescan-needed-january-8th-for-antenna-users liveMarch 31In Jacksonville, Florida, NBC affiliate WTLV, in search of stronger programming, swaps affiliations with ABC affiliate WJKS.Montoro Dave TV's big switch December 19, 1979 E-1, E-2 The Florida Times-Union https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tvs-big-switch/yumbowjxgnqxqltmxrufyiolyhewfcbs_ip-10-166-46-84_1723510009711 January 16, 2026 September 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240919175557/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tvs-big-switch/yumbowjxgnqxqltmxrufyiolyhewfcbs_ip-10-166-46-84_1723510009711 live The swap will be reversed in 1988.McAlister Nancy Big TV swap moved up to Easter Day March 7, 1988 C-5 The Florida Times-Union https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/big-tv-swap-moved-easter-day/zrvmtkaeyklljwtqxspjcykzejljahrw_ip-10-166-46-114_1731604886665 January 16, 2026 December 31, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20251231164507/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/big-tv-swap-moved-easter-day/zrvmtkaeyklljwtqxspjcykzejljahrw_ip-10-166-46-114_1731604886665 liveApril 1Boston television station WNAC-TV airs a fake news bulletin at the end of the 6 o'clock news which reports that Great Blue Hill in Milton, Massachusetts, had become an erupting volcano, and presents a report "complete with film of flowing lava, burning houses and edited remarks from President Jimmy Carter and Governor Edward J. King"."'Yuk-Yuk News' (on Ch.7, folks) no joke in Milton"], Boston Globe, April 2, 1980, p1 Though intended as an April Fool's Day joke, the fake news bulletin on Channel 7 is believed by many of the residents of Milton, and the city's police department receives more than 100 calls from panicked viewers. The executive producer of the 6 o'clock news, Homer Cilley, is fired by the WNAC station for "his failure to exercise good news judgment" and for violating Federal Communications Commission rules about showing stock footage without identifying it as such."Fired for April Fooling", AP report in Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent, April 3, 1980, p1April 5Hawaii Five-O airs its series finale on CBS. April 7The Oldest Living Graduate, a live drama on NBC, is broadcast; the first such program on the network since 1962. The production is aired from Southern Methodist University and stars Henry Fonda, George Grizzard, and Cloris Leachman.April 9The Madison Square Garden Sports Network is officially rechristened as the USA Network.April 11WMDT in Salisbury, Maryland signs on, giving the Delmarva Peninsula market its first full-time ABC affiliate.Messick Kent Shore Will Soon Have 2 Television Stations December 23, 1979 D1 The Sunday Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-shore-will-soon-have-2-t/124137768/ January 16, 2026 Newspapers.com December 21, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241221182855/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-shore-will-soon-have-2-t/124137768/ live It also takes WBOC-TV's secondary NBC affiliation,Leonard Tom WMDT-TV: New Salisbury Station Will Soon Be On The Air March 30, 1980 D1 The Sunday Times https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-wmdt-tv-new-salisbury-s/59369135/ January 16, 2026 Newspapers.com leaving WBOC-TV as a full-time CBS affiliate.April 19Actor Strother Martin guest hosts an episode of NBC's Saturday Night Live in what turns out to be his final television appearance prior to his death on August 1, 1980.April 20An alert television viewer in Ojai, California, watching golf's MONY Tournament of Champions on TV, calls the Professional Golfers Association after seeing that golfer Tom Watson had broken one of the rules of the sport by giving advice to another player, Lee Trevino."Watson Gives Advice, Then Takes Penalty— He Is Assessed Two Strokes but Wins Anyway", Los Angeles Times, April 21, 1980, III-1 Despite being penalized with the addition of strokes to his score, Watson win the 72-hole tournament and its prize of $54,000. Afterward, Watson, who co-authored the United States Golf Association rules manual, jokes later, "I hope that man in Ojai got his information from my book."April 25Aspiring writer and cartoonist Matt Groening is published for the first time when his comic strip Life in Hell is printed in an alternative weekly newspaper, the Los Angeles Reader."Bart Simpson's Real Father: Recalling the Fear and Absurdity of Childhood, Matt Groening Has Created a Cartoon Sitcom More Human Than Most Live-Action Shows", by Joe Morgenstern, Los Angeles Times, April 30, 1980 Groening's strip attracts the attention of TV producer James L. Brooks, who asks Groening to adapt his comic strip characters to animation for segments of Brooks's production of The Tracey Ullman Show in 1987. Rather than surrendering ownership of his comic strip, Groening sketches out a different set of characters who would be featured, starting in 1990, on a fully-animated comedy, The Simpsons.April 29The NFL draft is televised for the first time on ESPN.May 1Henry Levin, dies of a heart attack while directing the NBC television film, Scout's Honor.May 6Ron Howard (Richie Cunningham) and Donny Most (Ralph Malph) leave the cast of ABC's Happy Days as regulars, following the episode "Ralph's Family Problem". When Happy Days returns in the fall, Henry Winkler (The Fonz) is given top billing in the opening credits.The NBC television network announces that it will not telecast the 1980 Summer Olympics from Moscow."NBC won't televise Olympics", Tucson (AZ) Citizen, May 6, 1980, p1 Edgar H. Griffiths, Chairman of NBC's parent company, RCA says at a meeting of RCA stockholders, "NBC will not be televising the Olympics because the U.S. team will not be participating, because this is not in accord with the policy of the president of the United States." NBC had spent US$70,000,000 for rights to and preparation for the broadcast. Even after insurance pays for most of the loss, the company still loses $22,000,000.May 10Al Franken delivers his "A Limo for a Lame-O" commentary on Saturday Night Live. During the Weekend Update segment, Franken attacked network president Fred Silverman for NBC's poor showing in the Nielsen ratings during his tenure.May 11The Return of the King, an animated adaptation of the third and final volume of The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, airs on ABC after a legal challenge filed by the Tolkien Estate and Fantasy Films was settled.Solomon Charles Lawsuit Threatened Showing of 'Return of the King' June 16, 2020 https://www.newspapers.com/image/385277116 subscription Los Angeles Times May 10, 1980 Part II 5, 10 Newspapers.comMay 16In game six of the 1980 NBA World Championship Series, Los Angeles Lakers rookie Magic Johnson scores 42 points and pulls down 15 rebounds to lead his team to a 123-107 victory over the host Philadelphia 76ers to clinch the franchise's first championship in eight years. CBS gives affiliates the option of televising the game live at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific or showing it on tape-delay after the late local news at 11:35 p.m. Eastern and Pacific/10:35 p.m. Central and Mountain. No affiliates in the Eastern and Central time zones outside of Philadelphia air the game live (an independent station in Atlanta shows it live); many in the Pacific time zone outside Los Angeles do, including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Reno, Sacramento, San Francisco and Seattle.May 22Popular talk show host Phil Donahue and television actress Marlo Thomas marry."Phil Donahue and 'that girl' tie the knot", Oregon Statesman (Salem OR), May 23, 1980, p88May 24NBC airs The Not Ready For Prime Time Players' final episode on Saturday Night Live, after five seasons.CBS broadcasts game six of the Stanley Cup FinalThe Sports Industry and Collective Bargaining https://books.google.com/books?id=OQGCAAAAMAAJ&q=1980+Stanley+Cup+Finals+on+CBS Paul D. Staudohar Paul D. Staudohar 140 1989 ILR Press 9780875461519 between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders.Goring Finds His Paradise Francis Rosa Boston Globe 1 May 18, 1980Scorecard http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Scorecard+-+06.16.80+-+SI+Vault&expire=&urlID=431272542&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1123518%2Findex.htm&partnerID=289881 Jerry Kirshenbaum Sports Illustrated Time Inc. June 16, 1980 The Saturday afternoon game is the first full American network telecast of an NHL game since game five of the 1975 Stanley Cup Final aired on NBC, and the last NHL game on American network television until NBC televises the 1990 All-Star Game.Around the NHL The Washington Post March 29, 1989'American Sportsman' makes strong comeback Rachel Shuster USA Today Gannett Company 3C March 29, 1989June 1The Cable News Network (CNN) begins broadcasting.June 9Independent Network News, an expansion of New York City's WPIX primetime newscast, premieres as a syndicated television evening news program for U.S. television stations that aren't affiliated with ABC, CBS or NBC.Still another news group May 5, 1980 37–38 Broadcasting https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/BC%201980%2005%2005.pdf January 16, 2026 September 22, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220922091824/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/BC%201980%2005%2005.pdf live On January 12, 1987, it will re-brand itself as USA Tonight,Daley Steve INN to feature a new approach January 9, 1987 5:5 Chicago Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100605835/inn-to-feature-a-new-approach/ January 16, 2026 Newspapers.com April 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220428012047/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100605835/inn-to-feature-a-new-approach/ live that will run for ten years until June 23, 1990.June 20Hollywood Squares presents its 3,536th and final network telecast on NBC, ending a 14-year daytime run; it remains the second-longest-running daytime game show in the network's history, behind the original 1958–73 run of Concentration. Two other NBC game shows, High Rollers and Chain Reaction, end their runs on this date as well.Vanna White makes her first appearance on a game show via The Price Is Right on CBS, in which she was among the first four contestants.The Price Is Right (American game show) CBS June 20, 1980 8 186 enieISImBYae8 Vanna White on The Price Is Right (1980) She did not make it onstage, but the clip of her running to Contestants' Row was rebroadcast as part of The Price Is Right 25th Anniversary Special in August 1996-Lw_YsccLEU The Price Is Right's 25th Anniversary Special (08/23/1996) and also was featured on the special broadcast Game Show Moments Gone Bananas. June 23The David Letterman Show debuts on NBC. Letterman's humor does not go over well with a morning audience, and the show is canceled in October. Letterman would stay at NBC and go on to host a late night show on the network two years later.June 30The ABC game show Family Feud moves from airing at 11:30 am ET to 12:00 noon. It is one of the few network daytime shows to survive at noon, a time slot where many stations preempt network fare for local news broadcasts.July 12QUBE, a cable-television system in Columbus, Ohio with an interactive media channel that allows viewer participation, sponsors a football game where the viewers are given the opportunity to decide the plays. In the game, a semi-pro football exhibition between the visiting Racine Gladiators of Wisconsin and the Columbus Metros, viewers are offered five choices for offensive plays (rush up the middle, rush to one side, and short, medium and long passes) and three defensive plays (straight defense, blitz or team choice). Metros coach Hal Dyer is required to follow whichever option receive the highest tabulated number of viewer responses "Name the Play: TV Makes Arm-Chair Quarterbacks Into Coaches", Miami Herald, July 11, 1980, pF-1 Roughly 5,000 of QUBE's 30,000 subscribers participated, and although the Metros took a 7 to 0 lead before the game was interrupted by a thunderstorm, they lost to the Gladiators, 10 to 7."5,000 coaches— Armchair quarterbacks call 'em through computer in Columbus", by Sheldon Oeker, Akron (O.) Beacon Journal, July 14, 1980, pA-1July 21At 2:00 am EST, the actors unions SAG and AFTRA launch a three-month strike against television and movie studios; they would be joined by musicians' union AFM a few days after. The primary reason was for residuals in new home media outlets, such as videocassettes, and in emerging cable television. The strike is the first time both unions went on strike at the same time, greatly delaying US networks' fall seasons by several weeks.July 22The U.S. Federal Communications Commission votes, 4 to 3, to eliminate rules that has limited the number of cable television channels that a local cable provider can provide its customers. The FCC also revokes its rules of syndication exclusivity which prohibits a cable provider from showing a syndicated program if a local TV station is carrying the same program."Decision by FCC Could Increase Cable TV Shows", Los Angeles Times, July 23, 1980, p1August 1Ending a failed experiment, the NBC soap opera Another World airs its last regularly scheduled ninety-minute episode. The show returns to sixty minutes on August 4, allowing room for a spin-off, Texas, based around Beverlee McKinsey's Another World character, Iris Cory Carrington.The 24/7 cable movie network Cinemax launches.August 28Joan Lunden makes her debut as co-host of ABC's Good Morning America alongside David Hartman. Lunden, who was succeeding Sandy Hill, would remain on the program through 1997.September 1In Atlanta, Georgia, long-time NBC affiliate WSB-TV swaps affiliations with ABC affiliate WXIA-TV, citing a stronger affiliation (at the time, NBC is in last place among the three major networks). Over the summer, in preparation for the switch, both stations had conducted an experiment unusual for a market Atlanta's size: WXIA-TV aired NBC's daytime programs in the morning and ABC's afternoon programs, and vice versa for WSB-TV.September 7The Primetime Emmy Awards air on NBC. In a show of support for the ongoing strike by SAG, AFTRA, and AFM, 51 of the 52 nominated performers boycotted the event.http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-strike18dec18,0,34482.story Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien to return to the air Jan. 2 Matea Gold Maria Elena Fernandez and Richard Verrier Los Angeles Times 2007-12-18 Powers Boothe was the only nominated actor to attend.September 15–19The five–part historical drama miniseries Shōgun is broadcast on NBC.September 20Ken Osmond a Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer and former child television actor who portrayed Eddie Haskell on Leave It to Beaver, survives being struck by five bullets while in a foot chase after a suspected car thief. Osmond is protected from four of the bullets by his bullet-resistant vest, with the fifth bullet ricocheting off his belt buckle."Ex-TV Actor Saved By Bulletproof Vest", The New York Times, September 20, 1980, p. 45September 21SAG and AFTRA come to a tentative agreement with studios to end the actors strike. Voting on the agreement within both unions took place throughout the next few weeks, being ratified by October 23.October 8, 1980 Striking musicians picketed seven major studios again Wednesday as... https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/10/08/Striking-musicians-picketed-seven-major-studios-again-Wednesday-as/5592339825600/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20210908041341/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/10/08/Striking-musicians-picketed-seven-major-studios-again-Wednesday-as/5592339825600/ September 8, 2021 January 1, 2025 United Press International enThe first 1980 United States presidential debate was held, including the first (and only until 1992) independent candidate to participate, John B. Anderson.CPD: September 21, 1980 Debate Transcript https://www.debates.org/voter-education/debate-transcripts/september-21-1980-debate-transcript/ 2025-07-20 www.debates.orgSeptember 25A settlement is reached in the 67-day long strike by U.S. film and television actors, allowing production to begin again on TV shows.Actors and Producers Reach Tentative Pact The New York Times September 26, 1980 A1September 28The PBS documentary Cosmos, hosted by legendary astronomer Carl Sagan, premieres. It deals with scientific topics like biology, chemistry, and linguistics, but primarily focuses on astronomy, Sagan's field of study.October 4Bob Costashttps://www.cooperstowncred.com/hall-famer-bob-costas-greatest-game-calls/ HALL OF FAMER BOB COSTAS' GREATEST GAME CALLS Bodig Chris July 27, 2018 Cooperstown Credhttp://sabrmedia.org/databases/network-tv-broadcasts/searchable-network-tv-broadcasts/ https://web.archive.org/web/20190418133744/http://sabrmedia.org/databases/network-tv-broadcasts/searchable-network-tv-broadcasts/ dead 2019-04-18 SEARCHABLE NETWORK TV BROADCASTS sabrmedia.org makes his debut calling Major League Baseball games for NBC. It was a backup game (the primary game involved the Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos) involving the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers from Yankee Stadium.October 11SIN broadcasts the final of the 3rd National OTI-SIN Festival live from Miami.October 20Piedmont Triad independent station WGNN-TV changes its name to WJTM-TVKenion Jerry Ch. 45 Changes Format October 27, 1980 A12 Greensboro Daily News https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/ch-45-changes-format/mznanuxhxpnwttobrjrodxrloieilebl_wma-gateway003_1679329965859 January 17, 2026 March 22, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230322034927/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/ch-45-changes-format/mznanuxhxpnwttobrjrodxrloieilebl_wma-gateway003_1679329965859 live following its purchase by TVX Broadcast Group,Kenion Jerry Channel 45 To Seek More Viewers Under New Owners September 4, 1980 D-1, D-4 Greensboro Daily News https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-45-seek-more-viewers-under-new-owners/oatlaoewjydkcfdgbqkdevkmgzdjyzpn_wma-gateway011_1679329821945 January 17, 2026 March 22, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230322041942/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-45-seek-more-viewers-under-new-owners/oatlaoewjydkcfdgbqkdevkmgzdjyzpn_wma-gateway011_1679329821945 live to avoid confusion with WGN-TV.October 26KOKI-TV signs on the air as an independent station in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Averill David City's Newest TV Station Begins Broadcasting Today October 26, 1980 B-10 Tulsa World https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-citys-newest-tv-station-beg/114402988/ February 20, 2026 Newspapers.com liveOctober 28Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter participate in their sole presidential debate. It was the most watched presidential debate until 2016.November 2The CBS comedy Archie Bunker's Place begins its season with the episode "Archie Alone", in which Archie Bunker grieves over the death of wife Edith (prompted by Jean Stapleton's departure from the series). Carroll O'Connor's performance in this episode earns him a Peabody Award.November 11Comedian Ted Knight, known previously as part of the supporting cast The Mary Tyler Moore Show, becomes the star of his own situation comedy with the premiere of Too Close for Comfort on ABC. After three seasons on ABC, the show has three more seasons as a syndicated TV series until Knight's death from cancer in 1986.November 15Saturday Night Live premiers its sixth season on NBC with a new cast and new writers under the reins of Lorne Michaels' replacement Jean Doumanian, to widespread negative reviews.November 18Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Barbara, Louise and Irlene Mandrell) makes its debut on NBC, with a special guest appearance by Dolly Parton. The show was the last variety show on network TV with over 40 million viewers.The start of Season 6 of the ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley sees the titular characters relocating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Burbank, California after losing their brewery jobs.Suzanne Somers makes her final "full" appearance in an episode of the ABC sitcom Three's Company. Her remaining seven appearances would be cameos in the episode's closing tag in which Chrissy would call from her parents' home in Fresno to speak with Jack or Janet, who would sometimes fill Chrissy in on what happened in the episode.November 19CBS bans a controversial Brooke Shields Calvin Klein Jeans ad because, according to CBS, the commercial was ‘too suggestive.’ The ad featured the 15-year-old Shields saying: ‘You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.’Nancy McKeon makes her debut as Jo Polniaczek in the Season 2 premiere of the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life on NBC.November 20Donna Mills makes her first appearance as the villainous Abby Cunningham on the CBS prime time soap opera Knots Landing.November 21The mystery of "Who Shot J.R.?" is solved on Dallas; the revelation that Sue Ellen Ewing's sister Kristin Shepard (played by Mary Crosby) was responsible draws a record number of viewers.November 22Eddie Murphy made his first Saturday Night Live appearance, appearing in a non-speaking role in the sketch "In Search Of The Negro Republican".WPDE-TV in Florence, South Carolina signs on,Benson Ray S. C. broadcasters welcome new baby November 15, 1980 TV Weekly 4 The Columbia Record https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99587126/s-c-broadcasters-welcome-new-baby/ January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com April 12, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220412060757/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99587126/s-c-broadcasters-welcome-new-baby/ live giving the Pee Dee market its first full-time ABC affiliate.McLaurin Preston 'I Do! I Do!' Act II comes full circle September 20, 1979 1-D Sun-News https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99587061/i-do-i-do-act-ii-comes-full-circle/ January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com April 12, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220412060749/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99587061/i-do-i-do-act-ii-comes-full-circle/ liveFYI today September 8, 1980 13-D The Columbia Record https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99587007/fyi-today/ January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com April 12, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220412060752/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99587007/fyi-today/ liveNovember 27The situation comedy Bosom Buddies, the first major role for actors Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari, premieres ABC. The premise of the show, about two single men at an advertising agency "disguising themselves as women in order to live in the one apartment they could afford" in New York City requires Hanks and Scolari to be "in drag" during the sequences when they are at home at an all-female hotel.November 30Tanya Roberts joins the cast of ABC's Charlie's Angels (replacing the departed Shelley Hack) for what would be its final season.December 1Bravo, a cable television network acquired in 2001 by NBC, is launched in the United States as a channel "devoted exclusively to the performing arts", starting at 8:00 in the evening with its own news program, Bravo Magazine, followed by a tribute to composer Aaron Copland. Initially, Bravo's programming is available only on Sundays and Mondays, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m."ABC joins cable market with new art programs", by Kay Gardella, in Daily News (New York), December 3, 1980, p37"Cable Industry Plans Performing Arts Show", by Dan Lewis, Albuquerque (NM) Journal, November 28, 1980, pH-22December 8On ABC, Howard Cosell announces the murder of former Beatle John Lennon in the closing seconds of a Monday Night Football game between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. NBC also reports the murder of Lennon, interrupting The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for a news bulletin.December 11Tom Selleck's detective TV series Magnum, P.I., set in Hawaii, makes its debut on CBS with a two-hour pilot, to replace the spot vacated by Hawaii Five-O. One critic opines that the series is "a formula cops-and-robbers job that promises little excitement" and adds that "the plodding premiere episode of 'Magnum'... looked like it had lain in the sun too long.""'Scrooges' At Network Have Yet To Drop Axes On New Fall Shows", by Richard Zoglin, Atlanta Constitution, December 11, 1980, p25-B Selleck's combination of action and humor carried the show, which ran for eight seasons and 162 episodes.December 20NBC Sports broadcasts the New York Jets 24–17 season-ending victory over the Miami Dolphins without announcers, the only time that has ever been done with an NFL game.December 24WVGA in Valdosta, Georgia signs-on the airPrescott Bill City's First Network TV Station Starts Programs December 26, 1980 1A The Valdosta Daily Times https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117483930/citys-first-network-tv-station-starts-p/ January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com January 29, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230129055201/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117483930/citys-first-network-tv-station-starts/ live and targets the neighboring Albany market, giving that market its first full-time ABC affiliate.Valdosta's First TV Station Will Affiliate With ABC July 2, 1979 1 The Valdosta Daily Times https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117483571/valdostas-first-tv-station-will-affilia/ January 17, 2026 Newspapers.com January 29, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230129061929/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117483571/valdostas-first-tv-station-will/ liveDecember 30After 26 years on the air, 20 of which were on NBC, the network announces that the long-running anthology Disney's Wonderful World will not be on its fall 1981 schedule; however, the show will be picked up by CBS. Programs Debuting this year Date Show Network January 6 SkagNBC January 14 3-2-1 ContactPBS Chain ReactionNBC January 22 Goodtime GirlsABC January 27 Galactica 1980ABC February 5 Mystery!PBS March 1 Pink LadyNBC March 3 That's Incredible!ABC March 4 The Big ShowNBC March 5 Beyond WestworldCBS March 11 United StatesNBC March 15 Sanford March 22 Me and Maxx The Tim Conway ShowCBS March 24 Flo The Stockard Channing Show April 10 Top Rank BoxingESPN April 11 FridaysABC May 5 America's Top 10SyndicationJune 1 MoneylineWTBS/CNN TBS Evening News June 26 Nobody's PerfectABC August 4 TexasNBC August 9 That's My LineCBS August 21 Games People PlayNBC September 6 LivewireNickelodeon The Tom and Jerry Comedy ShowCBSSeptember 13 The Lone RangerABC Solid GoldSyndication September 28 CosmosPBS October 4 HeathcliffABC Thundarr the Barbarian October 27 BlockbustersNBC Gambit Ladies' ManCBS October 30 It's a LivingABC October 31 I'm a Big Girl Now November 8 Richie Rich Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo November 11 Too Close for Comfort November 12 EnosCBS November 18 Barbara Mandrell & the Mandrell SistersNBC November 27 Bosom BuddiesABC November 29 Breaking Away December 6 Freebie and the BeanCBS Secrets of Midland Heights December 10 Number 96 December 11 Magnum, P.I. Ending this year Date Show Debut January 3Spider-Woman1979 January 5A New Kind of FamilyScooby-Doo and Scrappy-DooJanuary 10The Rockford Files1974February 1Love of Life1951February 29Make Me Laugh (returned in 1997)1958March 26The Ultraman1979April 5Hawaii Five-O1968April 30Hello, Larry1979 June 20 Chain Reaction (returned in 1986)1980High Rollers (returned in 1987)1974June 25Family 1976June 27Pyramid (returned in 1981)1973 August 28Nobody's Perfect1980 September 4Barnaby Jones1973 October 23 Angie1979 Armchair Thriller1978 Dinah!1974 Magpie1968 Made-for-TV movies and miniseries Premiere date Title Network April 15–16 Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones CBS May 11 The Return of the King ABC May 19 The Scarlett O'Hara War NBC September 15 Shogun (miniseries) October 31 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source CNN Cable television June 1, 1980 Big 3 network contracts in place it would not be until October 1987 when the first CNN & Headline News contracts were prepared & issued to domestic broadcast stations in all 50 United States by Turner Program Services (subsidiary, syndication unit). Cinemax Cable television August 1 ACSN - The Learning Channel Cable television October Bravo Cable and satellite December 8 Kraft Golden Showcase Network Cable and satellite Unknown Conversions and rebrandings Old network New network Type Conversion date Notes Source Madison Square Garden Sports Network USA Network Cable television April 9 Closures There are no closures for Cable and satellite television channels in this year. Television stations Station launches Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/Ref. January 25 Minot, North Dakota KSRE 6 PBS Part of Prairie Public Television January 27 Rochester, New York WUHF 31 Independent January 28 Cincinnati, Ohio WBTI-TV 64 Independent February 14 Owensboro, Kentucky WKOH 31 PBS Part of Kentucky Educational Television as a repeater of WKLE/Lexingtonhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/70459938/ November 27, 2025 KET's Channel 31 will go on air today February 14, 1980 Messenger-Inquirer 2C January 10, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230110051057/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/70459938/kets-channel-31-will-go-on-today/ live February 22 Denver, Colorado KBDI-TV 12 PBS February 29 Lafayette, Louisiana KADN 15 Independent (primary) CBS (secondary, per program) March 20 Milwaukee, Wisconsin WCGV-TV 24 Independent April 11 Salisbury, Maryland WMDT 47 ABC (primary) NBC (secondary) May 4 Willow Grove/Reading, Pennsylvania WTVE 51 Independent June 1 Bemidji, Minnesota KAWE 9 PBS Part of Lakeland Public Television July 28 Dickinson, North Dakota KQCD-TV 7 NBC (primary) ABC (secondary) Semi-satellite of KFYR-TV/Bismarck August 1 Jacksonville, Florida WXAO-TV 47 Independent August 12 Casper, Wyoming KCWY-TV 14 CBS August 23 Flint, Michigan WFUM 28 PBS September 8 Spartanburg, South Carolina (Florence/Greenville, South Carolina) WRET-TV 49 PBS Part of South Carolina ETV September 22 Eau Claire/La Crosse, Wisconsin WXOW 19 ABC September 29 Washington, D.C. WHUT 32 PBS October 6 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas KTXA-TV 21 Independent October 15 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma KAUT-TV 43 Independent October 26 Tulsa, Oklahoma KOKI-TV 23 Independent November 7 Greenville/Greenwood, Mississippi WXVT 15 CBS November 16 Mountain View, Arkansas KEMV 6 PBS Part of the Arkansas Educational Television Network November 22 Florence, South Carolina WPDE-TV 15 ABC November 26 Hardin/Billings, Montana KOUS-TV 4 NBC December 24 Valdosta/Albany, Georgia WVGA 44 ABC December 30 Green Bay, Wisconsin WGBA-TV 26 Independent Network affiliation changes Date City of License/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. January 1 Dayton, Ohio WDTN 2 NBC ABC WKEF 22 ABC NBC March 31 Jacksonville, Florida WJKS 17 ABC NBC WTLV 12 NBC ABC September 1 Atlanta, Georgia WSB-TV 2 NBC ABC WXIA-TV 11 ABC NBC Station closures Date Market Station Channel Affiliation November Saipan, TTPI WSZE-TV 10 CBS, ABC, NBC Births Date Name NotabilityJanuary 4Greg CipesVoice actor (Codename: Kids Next Door, Teen Titans, Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, Ben 10, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, Fish Hooks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teen Titans Go!)June Diane RaphaelActress (Burning Love, NTSF:SD:SUV, Grace and Frankie)Erin CahillActressD'Arcy CardenActressJanuary 7Brandi HittFormer reporter and anchor for ABC 7 in Los AngelesJanuary 10Sarah ShahiActress (The L Word, Fairly Legal, Person of Interest)January 16Lin-Manuel MirandaActorJanuary 17Zooey DeschanelActress (New Girl) and singerMaksim ChmerkovskiyChoreographerJanuary 18Jason SegelActor (Freaks and Geeks, How I Met Your Mother)EstelleBritish singer and voice actress (Steven Universe, Steven Universe Future)January 19Luke MacfarlaneCanadian actor (Brothers & Sisters)January 20Philippe Cousteau Jr.American oceanographerJanuary 22Christopher MastersonActor (Malcolm in the Middle)January 28Nick CarterActor (House of Carters) and singer (Backstreet Boys)January 30Wilmer ValderramaActor (That '70s Show, Handy Manny)January 31James AdomianActor (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Mad TV, WordGirl, Conan, Future-Worm!)April Lee HernándezAmerican television actressClarissa WardBritish-American television journalist and correspondentFebruary 8William Jackson HarperActorFebruary 9Margarita LevievaRussian-born actress (Vanished, Revenge, Allegiance)February 11Matthew LawrenceActor (Drexell's Class, Brotherly Love, Boy Meets World) February 12Sarah LancasterActress (Saved by the Bell: The New Class, Chuck)Christina RicciActress (Pan Am)February 17Jason RitterActor (Joan of Arcadia, The Class, Parenthood, Gravity Falls) and son of John RitterFebruary 21Justin RoilandVoice actor (Fish Hooks, Adventure Time, Rick and Morty)February 25Chris KnowingsActor (Taina)Christy KnowingsActress (All That)February 27Brandon BeemerActor (Days of Our Lives)February 29Peter ScanavinoActor (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)Taylor TwellmanTelevision commentatorPatrick CôtéBoxerMarch 2Rebel WilsonActressMarch 3Katherine WaterstonEnglish actress (Boardwalk Empire)March 7Laura PreponActress (That '70s Show, Orange is the New Black)March 9Matthew Gray GublerActor (Criminal Minds)March 12John-Paul LavoisierActor (One Life to Live)March 17Reed TimmerStorm chaserMarch 20Mikey DayActor and comedian (Kath and Kim, The Jay Leno Show, Saturday Night Live)March 21Guru SinghActorMarch 22Melissa PaullActress (Mad TV)Joshua JohnsonAmerican journalistMarch 25Tinsel KoreyActressMarch 26Margaret BrennanJournalistMarch 29Chris D'EliaActorMarch 31Kate MicucciActress (The Big Bang Theory, Raising Hope, Steven Universe, Scooby-Doo, Milo Murphy's Law, DuckTales)Ari MelberTV hostApril 1Bijou PhillipsActress (Raising Hope) and singerRandy OrtonWWE wrestlerApril 2Bobby BonesAmerican radio and television personalityApril 4Michael BellisarioActorApril 7Melanie MerkoskyActressApril 8Katee SackhoffActress (Battlestar Galactica, Longmire)Bill EnglishActorApril 9Rachel SpecterActressApril 10Jasika NicoleActressKasey KahneRace car driverApril 13Kelli GiddishActressApril 14Claire CoffeeActress (General Hospital, Franklin & Bash, Grimm, Chelsey and Kelsey)April 15Arian MoayedActorApril 17Nicholas D'AgostoActor (Masters of Sex, Gotham)Alaina HuffmanCanadian actress (Smallville, Stargate Universe, Supernatural) April 21Griffin HouseMusician Tony Romo Color commentator (NFL on CBS)April 23David LarsenActorApril 24Austin NicholsActor (One Tree Hill)Reagan Gomez-PrestonActress (The Parent 'Hood, Love, Inc, The Cleveland Show, Steven Universe)April 25Geoff Bennett Journalist (PBS NewsHour)April 26Jordana BrewsterActress (As the World Turns, Dallas)Channing TatumActorDarris LoveActor (The Secret World of Alex Mack)April 29Damien Dante WayansActorApril 30Sam HeughanActorMay 2Ellie KemperActress (The Office, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and comedianMay 3Mozhan MarnòActressMay 17Daniel MoncadaActorMay 19Drew FullerActor (Charmed, Army Wives)May 23Chris GethardActorMay 27Ben FeldmanActor (Superstore)May 30Remy MaRapperJenna LeeAmerican journalistMay 31Andy HurleyAmerican musician (Fall Out Boy)June 1Arthur GourounlianDancerJune 6Pete HegsethHostJune 10Jessica DiCiccoVoice actress (The Buzz on Maggie, Loonatics Unleashed, The Emperor's New School, The Mighty B!, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil, Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, The Loud House, Future-Worm!, It's Pony)June 15Christopher CastileActor (Step by Step, Hey Arnold!)Cara ZavaletaModelJune 18David GiuntoliActor (Grimm, A Million Little Things)Lindsay ShookusProducerKevin BishopActorJune 19Lauren Lee SmithCanadian actress (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Mutant X)Teddy DunnActorNeil Brown Jr.ActorJune 20Tika SumpterSinger and actressJune 23Melissa RauchActress (The Big Bang Theory)Heath FreemanActor (died 2021)Matias VarelaActorBlair HerterTV personalityJune 24Minka KellyActress (Friday Night Lights, Charlie's Angels, Almost Human)June 25Shannon LucioActress (The O.C., Prison Break)June 26Casey DeSantisJournalist and TV show hostJune 27Ben BocqueletWriterJuly 1Fortune FeimsterComedianAlex BlaggWriterJuly 3Olivia MunnTV host and actress (Attack of the Show!, The Daily Show, The Newsroom)July 4Carrie KeaganTV host and actressJuly 5Pauly DAmerican television personalityJuly 10Nick SchifrinJournalist (PBS NewsHour)Jessica SimpsonSinger and actress (Fashion Star)Jeremy Ray ValdezActor (Drake & Josh)July 12Kristen ConnollyActress (House of Cards, The Whispers, Zoo)July 18Kristen BellActress (Veronica Mars, The Good Place, Gossip Girl, House of Lies)July 19Chris SullivanActor (This Is Us)Josh FademActorMark WebberActorJuly 20Gisele BündchenBrazilian modelJuly 21Sprague GraydenActressJuly 27Jessi CombsTelevision personality (died 2019)Dolph ZigglerWWE wrestlerJuly 29Rachel MinerActress (Guiding Light, Californication)July 30April BowlbyActress (Two and a Half Men, Drop Dead Diva, Doom Patrol)August 3Hannah SimoneBritish-born Canadian actress (New Girl)August 6Monique GandertonCanadian actressAugust 8Michael UrieActor (Ugly Betty)August 9Texas BattleActor (The Bold and the Beautiful)Stephen SchneiderActorAugust 10Aaron StatonActorAugust 11Merritt WeverActressAugust 12Maggie LawsonActress (It's All Relative, Crumbs, Psych, Back in the Game)Dominique SwainActress (Lolita, Totally Awesome)August 13Veronica de la CruzAnchorAugust 18Sarah SpainAmerican sports reporterAugust 19Aaron HorvathDirectorAdam CampbellActorAugust 21Jon LajoieActorJohn BrothertonActorAugust 24Rachael CarpaniAustralian actress (McLeod's Daughters, Against the Wall)August 26Macaulay CulkinActor (Robot Chicken)Jim BeanzActorAugust 28Carly PopeCanadian actress (Popular)September 8Eric HutchinsonSingerSeptember 6Daniel WohlComposerTehmina SunnyActressSeptember 7J. D. PardoActorSeptember 9Michelle WilliamsActress (Dawson's Creek)September 13Ben SavageActor (Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World)September 17Jill LatianoActressSeptember 21Autumn ReeserActress (The O.C., Valentine, No Ordinary Family)Aleksa PalladinoActressBrianna KeilarCNN reporterSeptember 23Aubrey DollarActressSeptember 25Jeremiah BitsuiActorT.I.ActorSeptember 28Patti MurinActressSeptember 29Zachary LeviActor (Chuck, Heroes Reborn, Tangled: The Series, Alias Grace)Chrissy MetzActress (This Is Us)Darragh EnnisQuizzerNick ViallActorSeptember 30Toni TrucksActressOctober 1Sarah DrewActress (Daria, Everwood, Grey's Anatomy) and singerOctober 4Morgan SpectorActorOctober 6Jenny WadeActressAndrew KeoghanMusicianOctober 8Nick CannonActor (All That, The Nick Cannon Show, America's Got Talent)The MizActorOctober 13AshantiSinger and actressOctober 15Brandon Jay McLarenCanadian actor (Power Rangers S.P.D.)October 16Jeremy JacksonActor and singer (Baywatch)October 17Angel ParkerActress (Lab Rats, Runaways)Nicholas BritellComposerJustin ShenkarowActor (Eerie, Indiana, Picket Fences, Life with Louie, Hey Arnold!, Recess, Lloyd in Space)October 18Erin DeanActress (The Journey of Allen Strange)Natasha RothwellActressOctober 19Katja HerbersActressOctober 20Niall MatterActorOctober 21Kim KardashianActress (Keeping Up with the Kardashians)October 23Robert BelushiActorOctober 24Casey WilsonActress (Happy Endings, The Hotwives, Marry Me)October 29Michele BoydActress (The Guild, Team Unicorn)Ben FosterActorOctober 30Sarah CarterActress (Shark, Falling Skies)October 31Samaire ArmstrongActress (The O.C., Resurrection)Eddie Kaye ThomasActor (Brutally Normal, American Dad!, Scorpion)November 2Brittany IshibashiActressNovember 4Emme RylanActress (Guiding Light, General Hospital, The Young and the Restless)November 5Luke HemsworthAustralian actor (Neighbours, Westworld)November 9Vanessa LacheyActressNovember 12Ryan GoslingActor (Breaker High, Young Hercules)Gustaf SkarsgårdActorChristopher CantwellFilmmakerNovember 13Monique ColemanActress (High School Musical)November 17Isaac HansonSinger (Hanson)November 18Mathew BayntonActorNovember 20Tony LaubachStorm chaserNovember 25Valerie AzlynnActress (Sullivan & Son)November 26Jessica BowmanActress (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)November 29Jason GriffithVoice actor (Sonic X)Janina GavankarActressDecember 1Angelique BatesActress (All That)December 3Anna ChlumskyActress (Veep)Jenna Dewan TatumDancer and actress (American Horror Story)December 4James Francis GintyActorDecember 5Tamara FeldmanActress (Gossip Girl)Jessica ParéActressDecember 8Shakina NayfackActressDecember 9Simon HelbergActor (The Big Bang Theory, Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil)December 10Kate ReindersActress (Work It, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series)Alberto ZeniActorDecember 18Christina AguileraSinger and child actress (Mickey Mouse Club, The Voice)December 19Marla SokoloffActress (The Practice, Big Day The Fosters)Jake GyllenhaalActorDecember 22Chris CarmackActor (The O.C., Nashville)December 23Rory O'MalleyActorDecember 24Tony DokoupilAmerican broadcast journalistDecember 27Elizabeth RodriguezActress (New York Undercover, All My Children Orange Is the New Black, Power, Grimm, Fear the Walking Dead)December 28Vanessa FerlitoActress (Graceland)December 30Eliza DushkuActress (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Tru Calling, Dollhouse, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.)Jazmyn SimonActress Deaths Date Name Age NotabilityJanuary 29Jimmy Durante86Actor (The Jimmy Durante Show)February 13David Janssen48Actor (The Fugitive, Harry O, O'Hara, U.S. Treasury)February 27George Tobias78Actor (Abner Kravitz on Bewitched)March 5Jay Silverheels67Actor (Tonto on The Lone Ranger)April 29Alfred Hitchcock80Film director, host of (Alfred Hitchcock Presents)June 12Milburn Stone75Actor ("Doc" on Gunsmoke)June 23Babette Henry65Television director (Buck Rogers, That Wonderful Guy)"Passings". The Los Angeles Times. June 30, 1980. p. 18."Obituaries: Babette Kiebert". Monrovia News-Post. June 26, 1980. p. 22.July 31Bobby Van51Game show host and panelist (Match Game, Tattletales, Showoffs, Make Me Laugh)August 14Dorothy Stratten20Actress, Playboy modelSeptember 3Duncan Renaldo76Romanian-born actor (The Cisco Kid)September 12Lillian Randolph81Actress (Amos 'n' Andy)November 7Steve McQueen50Actor (Josh Randall on Wanted: Dead or Alive)December 8John Lennon40Musician (The Beatles), co-hosted The Mike Douglas Show for a week See also 1980 in the United States List of American films of 1980 References 2 External links List of 1980 American television series at IMDb 1980