1982 in American television

none February 2012 1982 In 1982, 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 1Cable News Network (CNN) initiates an associated channel, dubbed CNN2, that features a round-the-clock "news wheel" format. The channel would be renamed CNN Headline News a year later and is now known as HLN.The National Association of Broadcasters ends its long-standing Television Code in response to a Washington, D.C. circuit court ruling which declared parts of it unconstitutional.January 2American Playhouse on PBS member station WNET/Newark, New Jersey presents John Cheever's teleplay The Shady Hill Kidnapping, featuring George Grizzard, Polly Holliday, Judith Ivey, E. Katherine Kerr and Celeste Holm as The Celebrity.January 4Bryant Gumbel begins his 15-year stint as co-anchor of NBC's Today Show.ABC broadcasts a TV adaptation of The Elephant Man, with Philip Anglim and Kevin Conway reprising the roles they originated for the Broadway version of the story.In Panama City, Florida, NBC affiliate WMBB swaps affiliations with ABC affiliate WJHG-TV.January 10CBS televises the NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. In what would become one of the most iconic images in NFL history, San Francisco tight end Dwight Clark makes "The Catch" to enable the 49ers to defeat the Cowboys, 28–27, and go to their first ever Super Bowl. Vin Scully called the game alongside Hank Stram on television while Pat Summerall (who would do the play-by-play for Super Bowl XVI with John Madden two weeks later) called the game with Jack Buck for CBS Radio.January 23CBS Reports broadcasts The Uncounted Enemy: A Vietnam Deception, a documentary alleging a manipulation of intelligence estimates before the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. Retired Gen. William Westmoreland, the commander of U.S. military operations at the time of the alleged estimates, would file a libel suit against CBS believing the report described him unfairly.January 30The Golden Globe Awards air for the second consecutive year on CBS. The ceremony would soon become embroiled into controversy when actress Pia Zadora won that year's Golden Globe Award as Best New Star of the Year amid charges that her husband Meshulam Riklis had purchased the award with a promotional campaign that included Zadora's image presented prominently on Sunset Boulevard billboards,https://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=35&prgDate=01-20-2007&view=storyview Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! NPR 2007-01-20 2012-12-12 an appearance in Playboy magazine, and entertaining Golden Globe voters.Duke Alan Pia Zadora charged in fight with son over bedtime https://www.cnn.com/2013/06/03/showbiz/pia-zadora-arrest/index.html CNN Entertainment June 3, 2013 Cable News Network 31 March 2018Abramovitch Seth Golden Globes: Pia Zadora Defends Controversial Win, Insists Ex-Husband "Did Not Buy" Award https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-pia-zadora-defends-761222 The Hollywood Reporter January 8, 2015 The Hollywood Reporter 31 March 2018 After CBS decided to negate their broadcasting contract in light of the controversy, the Golden Globes would not be seen on broadcast network television again until 1996, when NBC picked them up. February 1Late Night with David Letterman debuts on NBC; Letterman's first guests are Bill Murray (who dances around to the song "Physical") and "Mr. Wizard" Don Herbert.Two months after new owners Pacific Media Corporation changed its call letters from KECC-TV, CBS affiliate KECY-TV in Yuma, Arizona leaves the network to join ABC. This will leave Yuma without a CBS affiliate for 3 years, until KECY-TV rejoins the network in 1985 (it is now a Fox affiliate).For the Record Broadcasting 78 November 16, 1981http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=51208&Callsign=KECY-TV Call Sign History FCC CDBS database July 20, 2016InterMedia Broadcasting 104 February 8, 1982February 3Singer Jermaine Jackson guest-features, as Tootie (Kim Fields) gets to meet the person she admires on a very special episode of the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life.February 7As part of a two-night event, ABC airs the network television broadcast premiere of Superman: The Movie.March 4The crime drama spoof Police Squad! premieres on ABC; though it only lasts 6 episodes (the last being broadcast July 8); the comedy would serve as the origin of the Frank Drebin character and the inspiration for the Naked Gun movie series.March 8Night of 100 Stars, a benefit for the Actors' Fund taped at Radio City Music Hall, is broadcast by ABC.March 26The soap opera series Search for Tomorrow is broadcast for the final time by CBS. NBC immediately purchases it and begins broadcasting it the following Monday.April 2John Chancellor anchors the NBC Nightly News for the final time, replaced on April 5 by the team of Roger Mudd and Tom Brokaw, a partnership that lasts 17 months.April 21Norman Lear purchases Avco Embassy Pictures and rechristens his TAT Communications Company as Embassy Television.WGXA in Macon, Georgia signs-on the air, giving the Macon market its first full-time ABC affiliate.Bills Steve New Macon TV station goes on air April 22, 1982 1B The Macon News https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168508/new-macon-tv-station-goes-on-air/ January 7, 2026 Newspapers.com April 21, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220421080224/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/100168508/new-macon-tv-station-goes-on-air/ liveWTTO in Birmingham, Alabama signs-on the air, giving the Birmingham market its first independent station.Herrmann Tom Christmas arrives for WTTO owners April 22, 1982 B6 Birmingham Post-Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98928679/christmas-arrives-for-wtto-owners/ January 7, 2026 Newspapers.com April 15, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220415072024/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98928679/christmas-arrives-for-wtto-owners/ liveMay 2The Weather Channel is begun in the U.S.https://weatherboy.com/weather-channel-celebrates-38th-birthday/ Weatherboy Team Meteorologist Weather Channel Celebrates 38th Birthday 2 May 2020 Weatherboy Isarithm LLC 10 September 2021May 6The CBS television network announces its plans for the 1982-83 TV season, which includes the cancellations of five series: House Calls, Lou Grant, Mr. Merlin, Nurse and WKRP in Cincinnati. A CBS spokesman said Lou Grant is being canceled "reluctantly" due to low ratings.https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/07/arts/cbs-canceling-lou-grant-wkrp.html Blau Eleanor CBS CANCELING 'LOU GRANT,' 'WKRP' 7 May 1982 The New York Times C32 21 September 2021May 15Danny DeVito hosts an episode of Saturday Night Live soon after Taxi is canceled after its fourth season. During the opening monologue, DeVito reads a letter supposedly from his mother asking God to forgive ABC for cancelling the show, adding that "but I'll understand if you don't." A filmed bit has him driving around New York looking morose until inspiration strikes, and he blows up the ABC building. In addition, the Taxi cast members are given an opportunity for closure, which up to that point had been denied for them due to the abrupt cancellation. The actors took their "final" bows during DeVito's opening monologue, only to have NBC (which aired SNL) pick up the show.May 17Actor Ed Asner, the president of the Screen Actors Guild and star of the Lou Grant television series, accuses the CBS network of cancelling his show for political reasons related to his stances on such issues as the Salvadoran Civil War.https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/18/arts/asner-calls-lou-grant-censored.html Blau Eleanor ASNER CALLS 'LOU GRANT' CENSORED 18 May 1982 The New York Times C9 21 September 2021May 22In Boston, Massachusetts, CBS affiliate WNAC-TV ceases operationsMcLean Robert A. WNAC boss to say goodby tonight May 21, 1982 71 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-wnac-boss-to-say-goodby/150477546/ January 7, 2026 Newspapers.com June 29, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250629055924/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-wnac-boss-to-say-goodby/150477546/ live due to improprieties by its parent company RKO General, having lost the license (as well as those of KHJ-TV and WOR-TV, both of which RKO temporarily retain on appeal) after General Tire admitted to a litany of corporate misconduct (including, among other things, committing financial fraud over illegal political contributions and bribes) as part of a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and RKO General withheld evidence from the FCC of General Tire's misconduct, and also failed to disclose evidence of accounting errors on its own part. Several hours later, New England Television begins operations of WNEV-TV (now independent station WHDH) on channel 7, retaining WNAC-TV's former CBS affiliation.Thomas Jack At Channel 7, an era ends, an era begins May 21, 1982 25, 26 The Boston Globe https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-at-channel-7-an-era-en/175520717/ January 7, 2026 Newspapers.com June 29, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250629110159/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-at-channel-7-an-era-en/175520717/ liveMay 24The Peanuts special A Charlie Brown Celebration premiered on CBS. Which it includes several stories with one or two-word titles, was later adapted for the Saturday morning series, The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, which premiered in 1983.May 27The series finale of Mork & Mindy entitled "The Mork Report" is broadcast on ABC. While it actually was not the final episode to be filmed, ABC still aired it last in hopes of giving the canceled series some proper closure.May 28At about 5:00 p.m., Joseph Billie Gwin, wanting to "prevent World War III", forces his way into the studios of Phoenix CBS affiliate KOOL-TV, fires a gunshot, takes 4 people hostage (holding one of them, cameraman Louis Villa, at close gunpoint), and demands national broadcasting time. Three hours later, Gwin releases 2 hostages, Jack Webb and Bob Cimino. At 9:30 p.m., with Gwin sitting next to him with a gun, KOOL anchor Bill Close reads a 20-minute statement; when finished, Close takes Gwin's gun and sets it on the table.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=luMPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3457,4049449&hl=en https://archive.today/20120711041203/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=luMPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3457,4049449&hl=en live 11 July 2012 Gunman forces TV anchorman to read message AP 29 May 1982 Google News The Free Lance–Star 12 23 September 2021https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WQgOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7050,6270801&dq=kool+tv&hl=en Gunman holds two in TV studio AP Nation/World 29 May 1982 Google News Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 3 23 September 2021https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wfgSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PvsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6677,5118241&dq=kool-tv&hl=en https://archive.today/20120715125337/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wfgSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PvsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6677,5118241&dq=kool-tv&hl=en live 15 July 2012 Gunman releases TV-station hostages The Associated Press 30 May 1982 Google News The Ledger 18A 23 September 2021American film critic Leonard Maltin makes his first appearance on the television news magazine Entertainment Tonight.http://web.knoxnews.com/advertising/worldsfair/timeline.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100101212405/http://web.knoxnews.com/advertising/worldsfair/timeline.html 1 January 2010 20th Anniversary of the 1982 World's Fair Timeline 2002 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. 9 September 2021Karl Michele What Celebrities Collect! Leonard Maltin: Movie Stills and Movie Memorabilia https://books.google.com/books?id=VGPjEqbpi68C&pg=PA52 Pelican Publishing Company Gretna, Louisiana 2006 52 1-58980-142-3 12 September 2021June 6The CBS affiliate in Orlando, WDBO-TV, changes its name to WCPX-TV.Holston Noel Call-letter change risky for station May 27, 1982 E-1 The Orlando Sentinel https://newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-call-letter-change/141567604/ January 8, 2026 Newspapers.com February 24, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240224214524/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-call-letter-change/141567604/ liveJuly 11ABC broadcasts the FIFA World Cup Final between Italy and West Germany from Madrid. It's the first time that the World Cup's final match is aired live on American television. July 13ABC broadcasts the Major League Baseball All-Star Game from Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It's the first time that the Mid-Summer's Classic is played outside of the United States.July 21The only episode of the sitcom Cass Malloy airs on CBS. Although not picked up as a regular series, it serves as the pilot for the 1987–1989 syndicated sitcom She's the Sheriff.July 29Professional wrestler Jerry Lawler slaps actor Andy Kaufman in the face on the NBC program Late Night with David Letterman; Kaufman responds by throwing coffee and shouting profanities at Lawler. The incident was later revealed to have been staged.August 8In Columbia, Missouri, NBC affiliate and University of Missouri-owned KOMU-TV swaps affiliations with ABC affiliate KCBJ-TV.KCBJ-TV will become local NBC affiliate July 27, 1982 6 Columbia Daily Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-kcbj-tv-will-beco/137132779/ January 8, 2026 Newspapers.com December 20, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231220192427/https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-kcbj-tv-will-beco/137132779/ live The swap would eventually be reversed in 1985.Brown Nate KOMU and KCBJ prepare for network switch December 4, 1985 12 Columbia Daily Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-komu-and-kcbj-pre/137085667/ January 23, 2026 Newspapers.com December 20, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231220192924/https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-komu-and-kcbj-pre/137085667/ liveTV networks' switch has explosive start December 30, 1985 10 Columbia Daily Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-tv-networks-swit/137089605/ January 23, 2026 Newspapers.com December 20, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231220192928/https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune-tv-networks-swit/137089605/ liveAugust 30Field Communications begins its liquidation by selling off WFLD to Metromedia.September 6After Tom Wopat and John Schneider quit the CBS action series The Dukes of Hazzard as a result of a contract dispute, their characters, Bo and Luke Duke, are written out of the series as joining a NASCAR team and are replaced by cousins Coy and Vance (played respectively by Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer). Bo and Luke—and Wopat and Schneider—would return to the series by season's end.September 11NBC resurrects Texaco Star Theater as a one-time special; however, instead of inviting Milton Berle, the man who hosted the original series during the 1950s, the special presents a salute to musicals.In Savannah, Georgia, NBC affiliate WSAV-TV swaps affiliations with ABC affiliate WJCL, citing ABC's stronger ratings. The swap would eventually be reversed in 1986.1982-06-21 Intermedia Broadcasting https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/82-OCR/1982-06-21-BC-OCR-Page-0066.pdf 2021-12-16September 12KNLC, a religious independent station in St. Louis goes on the air.September 13Mary Hart joins Entertainment Tonight as reporter and later co-host; she would fill the latter role until 2011.September 20USA Network begins 24-hour operations, featuring the debut of the USA Cartoon Express, cable television's first structured animation block.September 24On CBS, Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer make their first appearances as Coy and Vance Duke respectively on The Dukes of Hazzard. Cherry and Mayer are brought in to replace John Schneider (Bo Duke) and Tom Wopat (Luke Duke), who are absent for the first 18 episodes of Season 5 due to a dispute over royalties. September 25Saturday Night Live begins its 8th season on NBC, with host Chevy Chase and musical guest Queen. Among the new additions for this season include future Seinfeld actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who will stay for 3 years (1982–1985) as a featured player/regular cast member.September 30The pilot episode for Cheers airs on NBC.October 1Independent station KDOC-TV commences broadcasting in Los Angeles.Wong Herman After 14-Year Struggle, KDOC to Go on Air Friday September 25, 1982 V:1, 2 Los Angeles Times https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103409809/after-14-year-struggle-kdoc-to-go-on/ January 8, 2026 Newspapers.com June 9, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220609064653/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103409809/after-14-year-struggle-kdoc-to-go-on/ liveOctober 2Mary Jo Catlett replaces Nedra Volz on the NBC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, as the new housekeeper, Mrs. Pearl Gallagher. She will stay with the series until its conclusion in 1986.The CBS affiliate in Phoenix, KOOL-TV, changes its name to KTSP-TV.FCC gives green light to sale of Channel 10 September 1, 1982 25 Arizona Republic https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90630679/fcc-gives-green-light-to-sale-of/ January 8, 2026 Newspapers.com December 16, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211216060403/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90630679/fcc-gives-green-light-to-sale-of/ liveOctober 3During the National Football League players strike (on what would have been Week 5 of the season), CBS broadcasts four Division III football games using their regular NFL broadcast crews.October 4KMTR signs-on in Eugene, Oregon as an NBC affiliate. Due to NBC's persistent low ratings, the network's former affiliate KVAL-TV had been preempting NBC programming (with increasing regularity) in favor of programs from CBS (shared with ABC affiliate KEZI), forcing a frustrated NBC to seek a new station. With the move, KVAL-TV becomes a full-time CBS affiliate.October 6WFBT, a religious television station in Minneapolis/St. Paul goes on the air.Shefchik Rick BBC borrows theme from 'Mr. Chips' October 8, 1982 1B, 7B St. Paul Dispatch https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/bbc-borrows-theme-mr-chips/izkoynzsqbxnahrcialnlczkrjncvyxv_ip-10-166-46-154_1751580783472 January 8, 2026October 12Cindy Williams makes her final appearance as Shirley Finney on the ABC sitcom Laverne & Shirley. In March 1982, Williams became pregnant with her first child. In August 1982, two episodes into production of the series' eighth season, Williams would leave the show and file a $20 million lawsuit against Paramount after they demand that Williams work on her scheduled due date. The case is later settled out of court and Williams is released from her contract.http://www.today.com/popculture/cindy-williams-reveals-real-reason-she-left-laverne-shirley-t25226 Cindy Williams on why she left 'Laverne' in 'Shirley, I Jest' Ree Hines TODAY.com June 9, 2015 March 1, 2016 March 5, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305125802/http://www.today.com/popculture/cindy-williams-reveals-real-reason-she-left-laverne-shirley-t25226 liveOctober 22Susan Stafford departs as co-host of the NBC game show Wheel of Fortune to do humanitarian work. Auditions occur for her replacement, with Vanna White formally replacing Stafford on December 13. As of 2022, White remains the co-host of Wheel.October 23SIN broadcasts the final of the 5th National OTI-SIN Festival live from Miami.October 25The second season of Cagney & Lacey premieres on CBS with Sharon Gless now assuming the role of Det. Christine Cagney. Meg Foster portrayed Cagney in the first season. Foster was dismissed after the first six episodes because CBS deemed her too aggressive and too likely to be perceived as a lesbian by the viewers.https://www.tvguide.com/news/dont-wagers-66518/ I don't have any wagers, ... TV Guide News February 16, 2006 TV GuideNovember 13CBS broadcasts a world championship boxing match between Ray Mancini and Kim Duk-koo that results in Kim's death five days after the bout.November 18After originating as a four-hour long programming block on a channel known as Escapade in January 1982, the channel as a whole is officially relaunched as The Playboy Channel. November 20At the age of 7, Drew Barrymore becomes the youngest person to ever guest-host Saturday Night Live on NBC. As fate would have it, she ends up hosting the same episode that saw Andy Kaufman banned from ever performing on the show again.November 26Howard Cosell denounces professional boxing during the ABC broadcast of a WBC heavyweight championship bout between titleholder Larry Holmes and a clearly outmatched Randall "Tex" Cobb at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. Cosell, horrified over the brutality of the one-sided fight, said that if the referee did not stop the fight he would never broadcast a professional fight again.December 5Southwest Championship Wrestling becomes the first weekly wrestling program on the USA Network, airing Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. However, because of a particularly bloody match between Tully Blanchard and "Bruiser" Bob Sweetan (which USA refused to air), the inability of the promotion to keep paying USA the $7,000 per week to keep the time slot, and a monetary offer made to the cable channel by WWF owner Vince McMahon to replace Southwest Championship Wrestling with his own programming,KM : Reading Topic : swc on usa USA will end up canceling the program in September (in spite of the high ratings the show was garnering for the network), replacing it with WWF All American Wrestling.December 11ESPN broadcasts its first live college football game, simulcasting the Independence Bowl match-up between Kansas State University and the University of Wisconsin.TBS in association with Sports Productions, Inc. broadcasts a heavily anticipated college basketball match-up between the Virginia Cavaliers (led by Ralph Sampson) and Georgetown Hoyas (led by Patrick Ewing). TBS paid approximately US$600,000 for the broadcasting rights to the game that was called by Skip Caray and Abe Lemons.Eddie Murphy becomes the first and to date, only person to guest-host NBC's Saturday Night Live while still a cast member. Murphy's 48 Hours co-star Nick Nolte was originally supposed to host until he fell ill.December 27SuperStation WTBS debuts one of the first video game-themed TV series, Starcade.December 29Nastassja Kinski makes a puzzling appearance on the NBC program Late Night with David Letterman, seeming somewhat oblivious to the jokes and everything else that was going on around her and appearing with an unusual hair style Letterman describes as "looking like there was an owl perched on top of her head." (Letterman's second guest, John Candy, comes out with his own hair moussed up in a pile as a spoof of Kinski's hair.)Surround Sound is introduced for home use by Dolby.December 31Texas and The Doctors have their final episodes aired on NBC. Programs Debuting this year Date Show Network January 7 Fame NBC January 12 American Playhouse PBS January 16 King's Crossing ABC January 23 One of the Boys NBC February 1 Late Night with David Letterman March 6 Chicago Story March 3 The Kids of Degrassi StreetShowtime March 12 T.J. Hooker ABC March 17 Herbie the Matchmaker CBS March 19 The Phoenix ABC March 23 Joanie Loves Chachi Q.E.D.CBS March 25 Cagney & Lacey March 29 Capitol April 5 Report to Murphy April 14 Teachers Only NBC May 4 The Book of Lists CBS July 5 America This Morning ABC July 21 Cass Malloy CBS August 9 Filthy Rich September 1 Sewing with NancySyndication September 12 BlackstarCBS September 17 The Powers of Matthew Star NBC September 18 The Gary Coleman Show The Incredible Hulk Gilligan's Planet CBS Meatballs & Spaghetti Pandamonium September 19 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers September 20 Child's Play September 22 Family Ties NBC Tales of the Gold Monkey ABC September 24 Bring 'Em Back Alive CBS September 25 The Little Rascals ABC Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour Pac-Man The Scooby & Scrappy-Doo/Puppy Hour Silver Spoons NBC September 26 Knight Rider At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger EbertSyndication Matt Houston ABC Gloria CBS September 27 Square Pegs September 30 Cheers NBC October 1 Remington Steele October 2 The Devlin Connection October 3 Voyagers! October 4 CBS Morning News CBS October 6 Tucker's Witch October 10 Nature PBS October 14 It Takes Two ABC October 22 The Quest ABC October 25 Newhart CBS October 26 St. Elsewhere NBC October 26 Gavilan NBC October 29 The New Odd Couple ABC December 12 Powerhouse PBS December 27 Starcade TBS Resuming this year Show Last aired Previous network Return dateTattletales1978CBSJanuary 18 Ending this year Date Show DebutJanuary 8Behind the Screen1981January 15DarkroomMarch 1In Search of... (returned in 2002)1977March 6Spider-Man1981March 22Mr. MerlinMarch 26Password Plus (returned in 1984)1979April 7Shannon1981April 17The Lawrence Welk Show1955April 21WKRP in Cincinnati1978April 23Blockbusters1980FridaysMay 12The Incredible Hulk1977May 20Barney Miller1975May 21Strike Force1981May 27Mork & Mindy1978Bosom Buddies1980June 11It's a Living (returned in 1985)July 21Cass Malloy 1982July 30Lewis & Clark1981August 24McClain's LawSeptember 4The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show1980September 5Goldie Gold and Action Jack1981September 10Match Game (returned in 1990)1962September 11The Flintstone Comedy Show1980The Kwicky Koala Show1981September 12Code RedSeptember 13Lou Grant1977September 18Laverne & Shirley1981October 1Sunrise Semester1957December 18Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo1980December 25The Devlin Connection1982December 31Texas1980The Doctors1963 Changing networks Show Moved from Moved toSearch for Tomorrow CBS NBCTaxiABC Made-for-TV movies and miniseries Title Network Premiere dateCry for the StrangersCBSFebruary 11The Elephant ManABCJanuary 4A Woman Called Golda CBSApril 26Inside the Third Reich ABCMay 9Little Gloria... Happy at Last NBCOctober 24 Million Dollar Infield CBS February 2The Blue and the Gray (miniseries)CBS November 14The Executioner's SongNBCNovember 28, 29 Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source Daytime and Lifetime Medical Television Cable television March CNN2 Cable television January 1 California Music Channel Cable television March 1 The Weather Channel Cable and satellite May 2 Cable Health Network Cable television June Satellite News Channel Cable television June 21 Home Shopping Club Cable television September 20 Playboy TV Cable television November 18 Conversions and rebrandings Old network New network Type Conversion date Notes Source CNN2 Headline News Cable television August 9 Closures Network Type Closure date Notes Source CBS Cable Cable television December 17 Television stations Sign-ons Date City of License/Market Station Channel Affiliation Notes/Ref. February 14 Albany, Georgia WTSG-TV 31 Independent February 20 Richmond, Virginia WRLH-TV 35 March 6 Orlando, Florida WIYE 55 Religious ind. March 12 Mobile, Alabama (Pensacola, Florida) WPMI 15 Independent March 18 Grand Rapids/Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan WWMA-TV 17 March 22 Savannah, Georgia WTGS 28 April 4 Chicago, Illinois WBBS-TV 60 Spanish independent April 20 WPWR-TV 60 Independent April 21 Homewood, Alabama (Birmingham/Tuscaloosa, Alabama) WTTO 21 Independent Macon, Georgia WGXA 24 ABC April 23 Canton, Ohio WOAC 67 Independent May 5 Harlingen, Texas (Brownsville/McAllen, Texas) KZLN 60 PBS May 11 Richmond, Indiana/Dayton, Ohio WKOI-TV 43 TBN May 16 Opelika/Auburn, Alabama (Columbus, Georgia) WSWS-TV 66 Independent May 22 Boston, Massachusetts WNEV-TV 7 CBS June 1 Cape Girardeau, Missouri (Paducah, Kentucky/Harrisburg, Illinois) KBSI 23 Independent June 13 Lima, Ohio WTLW 44 Religious independent June 16 Inglis/Yankeetown/Lecanto/Gainesville, Florida W49AI 49 Independent Topeka, Kansas K06KZ 6 Now Fox affiliate KTMJ-CD on channel 43 July 1 Baltimore, Maryland WNUV 54 Independent July 5 Daytona Beach/Orlando, Florida WMOD 26 July 8 West Palm Beach, Florida WHRS-TV 42 PBS July 21 Victoria, Texas KAVU-TV 25 NBC July 30 Albany, New York WXXA-TV 23 Independent August 4 Dickinson, North Dakota KDSE 9 PBS Part of Prairie Public Television August 6 Cocoa/Orlando, Florida WTGL-TV 52 Independent September 5 Prescott/Phoenix, Arizona KUSK 7 September 10 Lander, Wyoming KOWY 7 CBS September 12 St. Louis, Missouri KNLC 24 Religious independent now a MeTV owned-and-operated station September 19 Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia WVAH-TV 11 Independent October 1 Anaheim/Los Angeles, California KDOC-TV 56 October 2 Centralia, Washington KCKA 15 PBS Satellite of KBTC-TV, Tacoma, Washington October 4 Eugene, Oregon KMTR 16 NBC October 6 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota WFBT 29 Independent October 16 Miami, Florida WDZL 39 October 17 West Palm Beach, Florida WFLX 29 October 18 Beattyville/Lexington, Kentucky WLJC-TV 65 Peoria, Illinois WBLN 43 October 24 Amarillo, Texas KJTV 14 October 31 Spokane, Washington KAYU-TV 28 November Bruce, Mississippi W07BN 7 November 7 Houston, Texas KTXH 20 November 16 Jacksonville/New Bern, North Carolina WUNM-TV 19 PBS Part of University of North Carolina Television November 24 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota KXLI 41Independent December 1 Lansing, Michigan WFSL-TV 47 December 5 Sandusky, Ohio WGGN 52 Religious independent December 12 Lake Charles, Louisiana KVHP 29 Independent December 23 Honolulu, Hawaii KSHO-TV 36 Network affiliation changes Date City of License/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. January 4 Panama City, Florida WJHG-TV 7 ABC NBC WMBB 13 NBC ABC February 1 Yuma, Arizona/El Centro, California KECY-TV 9 CBS ABC March 22 Waterbury/Hartford, Connecticut WTXX 20 NBC Independent August 8Columbia, MissouriKOMU8NBCABCKCBJ-TV17ABCNBCSeptember 11Savannah, GeorgiaWSAV-TV3NBCABCWJCL22ABCNBC October 4 Eugene, Oregon KVAL-TV 13 NBC CBS Sign-Offs Date City of license/Market Station Channel Affiliation Sign-on date Notes May 22 Boston, Massachusetts WNAC-TV 7 CBS June 21, 1948 Replaced with WNEV-TV."It's all over for RKO's WNAC-TV." Broadcasting, April 26, 1982, pp. 27–28. June 4 Hanover, New Hampshire WHED-TV 15 PBS April 11, 1968https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102249904/new-hampshire-public-television-channel/ March 23, 1982 1 Rich Barlow New Hampshire Public Television Channel 15 Going Dark June 4 Valley News West Lebanon, New Hampshire Newspapers.com May 21, 2022 Births Date Name Notability January 1Ben DomenechEditorDana DeLorenzoActress (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Ash vs Evil Dead)January 3Tricia DicksonVoice actress (Nickelodeon)January 5Allen EvangelistaActor (Zoey 101, The Secret Life of the American Teenager)Jessica ChaffinActressJanuary 7Lauren CohanActress (Supernatural, The Walking Dead)Eddie RedmayneActorJanuary 8Gaby HoffmannActressJanuary 10Josh Ryan EvansActor (Timmy on Passions) (d. 2002)January 13Ruth WilsonActressJanuary 16Birgitte Hjort SørensenActressJanuary 17David BlueActor (Stargate Universe)January 18Joanna NewsomActressJanuary 19 Jodie SweetinActress (Full House, Fuller House)Simone MissickActressJanuary 28Keltie KnightActressJanuary 29Adam LambertSinger, songwriter and actor (American Idol, Glee)Heidi MuellerActress (Passions)January 31Jon GabrusActor (CollegeHumor Originals)February 3Bridget ReganActress (Legend of the Seeker, Jane the Virgin, Agent Carter)February 6Alice EveActressFebruary 7Cory DoranCanadian actor (George of the Jungle, Jimmy Two-Shoes, Stoked, Pearlie, Wild Kratts, Total Drama, Rocket Monkeys)February 8Danny TamberelliActor (The Adventures of Pete & Pete, The Magic School Bus, All That, Fillmore!)February 10Lauren ScalaTelevision reporterFebruary 12Carter HaydenCanadian actor (Total Drama, Camp Lakebottom)February 17Brooke D'OrsayCanadian actress (6teen, Happy Hour)February 22Dichen LachmanActressFebruary 25Maria KanellisActressBert McCrackenSingerFebruary 28Diane MacedoAmerican news personalityMarch 1Alexis FieldsActress (Roc, Sister, Sister, Kenan & Kel, Moesha)March 2Ben RoethlisbergerAmerican football quarterbackMarch 3 Jessica BielActress (7th Heaven)Mercedes MasonActressMarch 10Thomas MiddleditchCanadian actor (Silicon Valley, Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero)March 11Lindsey McKeonActress (Saved by the Bell: The New Class, One Tree Hill)Robbie DaymondVoice actor (Breadwinners, Sailor Moon, Get Blake!, OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, Spider-Man, Pinky Malinky)Thora BirchActress (The Outer Limits)Mircea MonroeActressMarch 12Samm LevineAmerican actorLuis Gerardo MéndezActorMarch 14Kate MaberlyActressMarch 16Julie PaceAmerican journalistMarch 18Adam PallyAmerican actorCornelius Smith Jr.American actorMarch 19Amanda KlootsAmerican dancerMarch 20Nick BloodEnglish actor (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)Erica LuttrellVoice actress (The Magic School Bus, Dave the Barbarian, Steven Universe)March 21Santino FontanaAmerican actorMarch 22Constance WuActress (Fresh Off the Boat)March 24James Napier RobertsonNew Zealand actor (Power Rangers Dino Thunder)March 25Sean FarisActor (Life as We Know It, Pretty Little Liars)Jenny SlateActress, comedian (Saturday Night Live, Bob's Burgers, Star vs. the Forces of Evil, Muppet Babies)Alex MoffatActor, comedian (Saturday Night Live)Danica PatrickAmerican former professional racing driverMarch 26Joe AndersonActorMarch 28Flula BorgActorMarch 30Jason DohringActor (Veronica Mars)Kenric GreenActorMarch 31Anna Mae RoutledgeActressBrian Tyree HenryActorApril 1Taran KillamActor, comedian (The Amanda Show, Wild 'n Out, Mad TV, Saturday Night Live)Sam HuntingtonActorApril 3Cobie SmuldersCanadian actress (How I Met Your Mother) and modelApril 5Hayley AtwellEnglish actress (Agent Carter, Conviction) and singerApril 6Bret HarrisonActor (Grounded for Life, The Loop, Reaper, Breaking In)April 10Chyler LeighActress (Grey's Anatomy, Supergirl)Joanna ChristieActressApril 15Seth RogenCanadian-American actor, comedian (Freaks and Geeks, Saturday Night Live)April 16Gina CaranoAmerican actressApril 18Abigail HawkActressApril 19Ali WongAmerican actressApril 22Cassidy FreemanActress (Smallville, Longmire)April 24Kelly ClarksonSinger and actress (American Idol, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Voice)April 26Cedric SandersActorApril 27Katrina JohnsonActress (All That)April 28Harry Shum, Jr.Actor (Glee, Shadowhunters) April 30 Drew SeeleyCanadian-American actor (Glory Daze)Joseph PerrinoAmerican actorKirsten DunstActress (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Fargo)May 1Jamie DornanNorthern Irish actor (Once Upon a Time)May 2Poppy HarlowAmerican journalistMay 3Rebecca HallActressMay 4Charissa ThompsonTV hostMay 6Lindsay PulsipherActress (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, True Blood, The Beast)Tiffany CoyneModelMay 9Rachel BostonActress (American Dreams, Witches of East End)May 11Cory MonteithActor (Glee) (d. 2013)May 13Ana CabreraJournalistMay 14Anjelah JohnsonActress (Mad TV)May 15Alexandra BreckenridgeActress (Family Guy)May 16Tiya SircarActressMay 24Chaunté WayansActressMay 25Fryda WolffActress (The Owl House, Trolls: The Beat Goes On!)May 27Natalya NeidhartPro Wrestler (Total Divas)2021-05-24 WWE Profile - Natalya https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/17172877/wwe-profile-page-natalya 2024-08-27 ESPN.com enMay 28Alexa DavalosActress (Reunion, The Man in the High Castle)May 29Joanne BorgellaReality TV personality (American Idol (season 7), Made, Mo'Nique's Fat Chance)Grinberg Emanuella 2014-10-19 'American Idol' alum Joanne Borgella dies at 32 https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/19/showbiz/joanne-borgella-death/index.html 2024-12-17 CNN en (d. 2014)May 31Jonathan TuckerActorJune 2Jewel StaiteCanadian actress (Firefly, Stargate Atlantis)Whitney AbleActressJune 8Thomas HobsonActor (The Fresh Beat Band, That Girl Lay Lay)June 14Lawrence Saint-VictorActor (Guiding Light)June 16Missy PeregrymCanadian actress (Life as We Know It, Reaper, Rookie Blue)June 17Arthur DarvillEnglish actor (Legends of Tomorrow)June 19Michael YarmushActorJune 20Necar ZadeganActressJune 21Jussie SmollettActor (On Our Own, Empire, Underground)June 25Whit JohnsonAmerican journalistJune 29Lily RabeActress (American Horror Story)Colin JostActor, comedian (Saturday Night Live)June 30Lizzy CaplanActress (Related, The Class, Party Down, Masters of Sex)July 1Hilarie BurtonActress (One Tree Hill)July 4Michael SorrentinoTV personality (Jersey Shore)July 8Sophia BushActress (One Tree Hill, Chicago P.D.)Ariel HelwaniCanadian-American combat sports analystJuly 10Morgan OrtagusAmerican television commentatorJuly 13Aya CashAmerican actressJuly 18Ryan CabreraAmerican musicianJuly 19Jared PadaleckiActor (Gilmore Girls, Supernatural)July 20Percy Daggs IIIActor (Veronica Mars)July 22David FynnActorJuly 23Paul WesleyActor (American Dreams, The Vampire Diaries)Tom MisonEnglish actor (Sleepy Hollow)July 24Anna PaquinCanadian actress (True Blood)Elisabeth MossActress (The West Wing, Mad Men)Lauren Miller RogenActressJuly 25Brad RenfroActor (d. 2008)July 26Megan KetchActressJuly 28Tom PelphreyActor (Guiding Light, Iron Fist)July 29Allison MackActress (Smallville, Wilfred)July 30Martin StarrActor (Freaks and Geeks, Party Down, Silicon Valley)Yvonne StrahovskiActress (HeadLand, Chuck)Brandon ScottActor (This Is Us, Dead to Me, 13 Reasons Why)August 1Julia IoffeAmerican journalistAugust 3Aron StevensPro wrestlerAugust 6Romola GaraiActressAugust 7Abbie CornishActress (Outriders)Brit MarlingActress (Babylon, The OA)August 9Jes MacallanActress (Mistresses)August 10Katrina BeginActressVincent Rodriguez IIIActorAugust 11Amanda SudanoSingerAugust 12River ButcherActorAugust 13Sebastian StanActorAugust 16Todd HaberkornVoice actor (Ever After High, Ben 10)Cam GigandetActorAugust 17Mark SallingActor (Glee) (d. 2018)Jon LovettComedianAugust 19Erika ChristensenActress (Six Degrees, Parenthood) and singerMelissa FumeroActress (One Life to Live, Brooklyn Nine-Nine)August 20Meghan OryCanadian actress (Once Upon a Time)Jamil Walker SmithActor (Hey Arnold!, Waynehead, Stargate Universe)August 25Benjamin DiskinVoice actor (Hey Arnold!, Codename: Kids Next Door, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Stitch!, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Ultimate Spider-Man, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, Muppet Babies, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle)August 26John MulaneyActorAugust 27Leah McSweeneyAmerican television personalityAugust 29Echo KellumActor (Ben and Kate, Arrow, Sean Saves the World)September 1Zoe Lister-JonesActress (Delocated, Whitney, Friends with Better Lives, Life in Pieces)September 4Whitney CummingsComedian and actress (Whitney)September 5Hallie HaglundComedianSeptember 8ChumleeAmerican businessmanSeptember 10Bret IwanVoice actor (current voice of Mickey Mouse)Misty CopelandActressSeptember 13J. G. QuintelVoice actor (Regular Show)September 17Jillian MeleNews anchorSeptember 19Columbus ShortActorSeptember 20Jessica PimentelActressSeptember 22Katie LowesActressBillie PiperActressSeptember 23Alyssa SutherlandAustralian actress (Vikings)Pendleton WardVoice actor (Adventure Time)September 24Tom DegnanActorSeptember 27Anna CampActress (The Mindy Project)September 28Matt CohenActor (South of Nowhere)September 29Stephen "tWitch" BossActor (died 2022)September 30 Kieran CulkinActor (Long Live the Royals)Lacey ChabertActress (Party of Five, The Wild Thornberrys, Family Guy, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Young Justice, Transformers: Rescue Bots, Shimmer and Shine, The Lion Guard, Justice League Action)October 3Erik von DettenActor (Recess, Odd Man Out, So Weird, The Legend of Tarzan, Complete Savages)October 6Mike MitchellActorOctober 9Michael ArdenActorColin DonnellActor (Arrow, The Affair, Chicago Med)October 11Humphrey KerActorOctober 12Sarah SmythActressOctober 15 Lane ToranVoice actor (Arnold on Hey Arnold! (1996–97))Brandon Jay McLarenActorOctober 16Pippa BlackActressOctober 19Gillian JacobsActress (Community, Love) and singerOctober 20Katie FeatherstonActress (Paranormal Activity)October 28Michael Stahl-DavidActorOctober 30Clémence PoésyFrench actress (The Tunnel)November 1Michaela DietzActress (Steven Universe, Barney & Friends, The Ghost and Molly McGee)November 10Heather MatarazzoActressNovember 12 Anne HathawayActress (Get Real)November 14Laura RamseyActress (Hindsight)November 18Damon Wayans Jr.Actor (New Girl, Happy Endings, Happy Together)November 21Paul W. DownsActorRyan StarrReality TV personality (American Idol, The Surreal Life)Ryan Starr Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/ryan_starr 2024-02-24 Rotten Tomatoes enNovember 25Natalia Cordova-BuckleyMexican actress (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)Marci GonzalezReporter for CBS NewsNovember 26Jessica CamachoActressNovember 28Adam McArthurVoice actor (Star vs. the Forces of Evil)Alan RitchsonActorNovember 29Gemma ChanEnglish actress (Dates, Humans)Lucas BlackActor (American Gothic, NCIS: New Orleans)Eddie SpearsActorNovember 30Elisha CuthbertActress (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, 24, Happy Endings)December 2Streeter SeidellActorDecember 5Gabriel LunaActor (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)Alberto GuerraActorDecember 6C. J. ThomasonActorDecember 7Jesse JohnsonActorJack HustonActorDecember 8Nicki MinajSingerDecember 14Jesse GarciaActorDecember 15George O. Gore IIActor (New York Undercover, My Wife and Kids)December 16Zoe JarmanActressDecember 20David CookSinger (American Idol)December 21Tom PayneActorDecember 22Harry FordActorDecember 28Beau GarrettActressDecember 29Alison BrieActress and singer (Mad Men, Community, BoJack Horseman, GLOW)December 30Kristin KreukCanadian actress (Edgemont, Smallville, Beauty & the Beast)December 31Jermaine WilliamsActor (The Jersey) Deaths Date Name Age Notability January 1 Victor Buono43Actor (King Tut on Batman)January 5 Hans Conried64Actor (Make Room for Daddy, The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Dr. Seuss special)January 10 Paul Lynde55Actor (Bewitched), comedian (Hollywood Squares)January 18 Trent Lehman20Child actor (Nanny and the Professor)March 5 John Belushi33Comedian/Singer (Saturday Night Live)May 14 Hugh Beaumont73Actor (Ward Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver)July 21 Dave Garroway69Journalist and host (The Today Show)July 23Vic Morrow53Actor (Sgt. "Chip" Saunders on Combat!) killed by negligence of director John Landis on set of Twilight Zone: The MovieAugust 12Henry Fonda77ActorAugust 13 Joe E. Ross68Actor (Gunther Toody on Car 54, Where Are You?)October 18Bess Truman97First Lady of the United States and spouse of President Harry S. TrumanNovember 1James Broderick55Actor (Family) and father of Matthew BroderickNovember 4 Dominique Dunne22Actress (Poltergeist) murdered by abusive boyfriend, first victim of the "Poltergeist curse"December 7 Will Lee74Actor (Mr. Hooper on Sesame Street)December 22 Jack Webb62Actor, producer (Sgt. Joe Friday on Dragnet) See also 1982 in the United States List of American films of 1982 References 30em External links List of 1982 American television series at IMDb 1982