1984 in American television

none May 2018 1984 In 1984, 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 2Oprah Winfrey takes over as host of WLS-TV's A.M. Chicago, which would serve as a forerunner to her nationwide, syndicated talk show. January 9Wendy's "Fluffy Bun" advertisement is first broadcast, which gains Clara Peller and her "Where's the beef?" catchphrase national fame.Something About Amelia, a story concerning incest, is broadcast by ABC. Glenn Close, Ted Danson, and Roxana Zal are the main actors.January 22During CBS's broadcast of Super Bowl XVIII, Apple Computer Company heralds the introduction of its Apple Macintosh personal computer with the advertisement "1984", the only time it is broadcast on national television.January 23Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan defeats The Iron Sheik to win his first World Wrestling Federation championship at Madison Square Garden; the match is televised by the MSG Network.January 26Andy Kaufman makes what turns out to be his final television appearance as host of The Top.January 27Michael Jackson's hair catches fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial.February 1Arts & Entertainment Network launches from the merger of ARTS and RCA's The Entertainment Channel. It originally broadcasts after kids' channel Nickelodeon signs off.Lifetime is launched from the merger of Hearst/ABC's Daytime and Viacom's Cable Health Network.In Bakersfield, California, CBS affiliate KPWR-TV changes its call letters to KGET, in preparation for an affiliation swap with NBC affiliate KERO-TV the following month.February 10NBC airs the made-for-television movie Little House: The Last Farewell. Serving to tie up loose ends to storylines on the main Little House on the Prairie series, The Last Farewell concerns Charles and Caroline deciding to visit Walnut Grove. They learn that a railroad tycoon actually holds the deed to the township, and he wants to take it over for his own financial gain. Despite their best efforts, the townspeople are unable to drive the businessman away. At a town meeting, John Carter offers a supply of explosives that he has. Each man takes a turn blowing up his own building in an emotional farewell to the town.The Last Farewell Summary http://www.tv.com/little-house-on-the-prairie/the-last-farewell/episode/86831/summary.html?tag=ep_guide;summary https://web.archive.org/web/20090915194552/http://www.tv.com/little-house-on-the-prairie/the-last-farewell/episode/86831/summary.html?tag=ep_guide;summary dead September 15, 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. July 17, 2010February 2017 of the 24 added minutes are utilized by ABC for the network television premiere of Superman II. Subsequent ABC airings of the longer version would be cut further for more advertising time. The full 146-minute extended cut was shown internationally, including in parts of Canada. As with the first film, Alexander and Ilya Salkind prepared a version for worldwide television release that re-inserted unused footage (in this case 24 minutes) into the film. It was through this extended version that viewers first caught a glimpse into the Superman II that might have happened had Richard Donner remained as director. In fact, a majority of the added footage was shot by Donner before Richard Lester became director.February 25Eddie Murphy participates in his final live episode as a cast member on NBC's Saturday Night Live. The remainder of his appearances for the season would only be in the form of previously recorded sketches. Murphy's final overall episode as a cast member would air on April 14.February 26KDRV in Medford, Oregon signs on as an ABC affiliate, giving the Medford market full-time access to all three networks for the first time.CBS airs the network broadcast television premiere of Star Wars.February 28At the 26th Grammy Awards telecast by CBS, Michael Jackson wins a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards.March 9-16One of Field Communications' last stations, WKBD-TV, is sold to Cox Enterprises.DeVine Lawrence On Top Of It: It's Official March 16, 1984 C1 Detroit Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-on-top-of-it-its-of/135451891/ January 19, 2026 Newspapers.com November 19, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231119212212/https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-on-top-of-it-its-of/135451891/ liveMarch 16Gary Plauché shoots and kills Jeff Doucet, who had kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and molested Plauché's son, Jody. The killing was captured on camera by a local news crew. Doucet was flown back from California to Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, also known as Ryan Field, to face trial. Doucet arrived and was led in handcuffs by police officers through the airport at around 9:30 p.m., where Plauché was waiting for Doucet with a gun. Plauché was friends with several high-ranking police officers in the Baton Rouge Police Department; while many people believed that these contacts told Plauché where and when Doucet would be arriving, it was actually an employee of the local ABC affiliate WBRZ-TV who gave Plauché the information. A news crew from WBRZ-TV was also waiting for Doucet and had set up their cameras to record his arrival. March 19Denver's ABC affiliate KBTV changes its name to KUSA-TV to reflect its status with USA Today.March 21New England Sports Network, initially known as NESN is initiated.March 25WNOL-TV, an independent station goes on the air in New Orleans.Wisehart Bob New TV station coming to the Crescent December 23, 1983 5:4 Times-Picayune https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-tv-station-coming-crescent/pkfrmsucndfazzwpkecciashrabgywuc_wma-gateway007_1679552482505 January 19, 2026 March 24, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230324064247/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-tv-station-coming-crescent/pkfrmsucndfazzwpkecciashrabgywuc_wma-gateway007_1679552482505 liveWisehart Bob WNOL TV signs on: New station lineup has Spock to 'Rocky' March 25, 1984 TV Focus 3 Times-Picayune https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wnol-tv-signs-new-station-lineup-has-spock-rocky/wigvduoykazmxihrsiqoobxeivicxzmo_wma-gateway013_1679552622765 January 19, 2026 March 24, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230324064247/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wnol-tv-signs-new-station-lineup-has-spock-rocky/wigvduoykazmxihrsiqoobxeivicxzmo_wma-gateway013_1679552622765 liveMarch 28Actress Jeanne Cooper has her own real life facelift procedure performed onscreen during an episode of the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. Cooper's character, Katherine Chancellor is written as having the exact same procedure performed.April 1Nickelodeon celebrates its 5th anniversary.April 7After being cancelled by ABC following its third season, Too Close for Comfort with the aid of Metromedia, is revived for the first-run syndicated market, where it would run for at least, an additional three seasons.AprilJohn Houlihan wins the Natural Triple Jackpot worth $26,550 on The Joker's Wild, the largest such win on the show.May 6Minneapolis/St. Paul religious station WFBT converts to a general entertainment station after the Beverly Hills Hotel Corporation bought out the station, changing the calls to KITN-TV.Shefchik Rick Robert Fransen to head new Channel 29 operation March 23, 1984 11A, 19A Saint Paul Dispatch https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/robert-fransen-head-new-channel-29-operation/eupjpzenbbvxnglwffsgokedotzuufml_ip-10-166-46-94_1721928006730 January 19, 2026 January 3, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260103092016/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/robert-fransen-head-new-channel-29-operation/eupjpzenbbvxnglwffsgokedotzuufml_ip-10-166-46-94_1721928006730 liveColeman Nick Hockey fans pay dearly to see Stars on Spectrum May 1, 1984 1C, Minneapolis Star and Tribune https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-hockey-fans-pay-dearly-to-s/175740297/ January 19, 2026 Newspapers.comMay 8Happy Days airs its series finale, "Passages". However, five additional episodes would air from the end of June on through the end of September. The last episode to be aired on ABC, "Fonzie's Spots", is actually #251 in chronological order.May 18Character Bobby Ewing finds himself in the crossfire as a rival tries to gun down his brother J.R. on the season finale of the CBS series Dallas.May 19CBS tapes the Michael Larson episodes of Press Your Luck in which Larson wins $110,237 cash and prizes. (The episodes, which are split into two parts, would air on June 8 and 11.)May 20The wedding between Steve Andropoulos and Betsy Stewart on As the World Turns attracts 20 million viewers. This makes it the second highest-rated hour in American daytime soap opera history behind Luke and Laura's 1981 wedding on General Hospital. June 23On a broadcast of NBC's Game of the Week between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg hits two crucial, game tying home runs off of Cardinals closer Bruce Sutter in both the bottom of the ninth and tenth innings. The Cubs would go on to win the game in eleven innings, by the score of 12–11. Bob Costas and Tony Kubek were on the call for what would soon become known as "The Sandberg Game".June 25Piedmont Triad station WJTM-TV changes its name to WNRW to honor the death of general sales manager William N. Rismiller in a shooting incident at its studios June 5.Williams Ed Gunman captive, hostage free after TV station 'apologizes' June 6, 1984 A1, A7 News & Record https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/gunman-captive-hostage-free-after-tv-station-apologizes/aldzzyxvppjrffdmcpqgctvevluyuile_wma-gateway009_1679119150871 January 19, 2026 March 22, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230322044204/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/gunman-captive-hostage-free-after-tv-station-apologizes/aldzzyxvppjrffdmcpqgctvevluyuile_wma-gateway009_1679119150871 liveJune 27The U.S. Supreme Court rules in NCAA v. Board of Regents of University of Oklahoma that the National Collegiate Athletic Association's television plan violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. As a result, individual schools and athletic conferences are free to negotiate contracts on their own behalf. Together with the growth of cable television, this ruling results in the explosion of broadcast options currently available. Beginning in 1984, the College Football Association sells a television package to ABC and CBS. The Big Ten and Pacific-10 conferences sell their own separate package to ABC.July 14In what became known as "Black Saturday", Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation takes over Superstation WTBS' Saturday evening time period once occupied by Georgia Championship Wrestling.July 17CBS broadcasts W*A*L*T*E*R, a television pilot for the third spin-off of M*A*S*H. The pilot stars Gary Burghoff, who reprises his M*A*S*H character Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly. Since the pilot is never picked up by CBS as a series, it is shown as a "CBS Special Presentation". It is shown once in the Eastern and Central time zones of the United States, but pre-empted on the West Coast by CBS News coverage of the Democratic National Convention. This is the only known broadcast of the pilot. http://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/walter/ W*A*L*T*E*R 2013-08-20 2005-02-15 Television Obscurities July 23MTV broadcasts the live World Wrestling Federation event "The Brawl to End It All" from Madison Square Garden in New York City, where Wendi Richter won the WWF Women's Championship from The Fabulous Moolah.July 28ABC begins their coverage of the Summer Olympic Games from Los Angeles. Jim McKay and Peter Jennings served as hosts for the opening ceremonies. This is to date, the final time that ABC would broadcast the Summer Olympics. All subsequent, American network television coverage of the Summer games would be handled by NBC.July 30The soap opera Santa Barbara debuts on NBC.Dallas/Ft. Worth independent station KNBN-TV changes its call letters to KRLD-TV after being bought out by Metromedia.Chapman Art New KRLD station represents new faces, designs and ideas July 26, 1984 9B Fort Worth Star-Telegram https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47436390/ January 19, 2026 Newspapers.com July 21, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210721063015/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/47436390/new-krld-station-represents-new-faces/ liveSeptember 9The Tyler-Longview market's lone television station KLTV finally receives competition when KLMG-TV (now Fox affiliateKLMG-TV will become Fox affiliate January 15, 1991 2-A Longview News-Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-klmg-tv-will-becom/47717542/ January 20, 2026 Newspapers.com November 25, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231125021459/https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-klmg-tv-will-becom/47717542/ live KFXK-TVCraddock Van Big changes in store as KLMG, Channel 51 switches to Fox March 29, 1991 1-C Longview News-Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-big-changes-in-sto/134813706/ January 20, 2026 Newspapers.com November 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231108040213/https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-big-changes-in-sto/134813706/ live) signs-on and takes KLTV's secondary CBS affiliation.Craddock Van New TV station causes unhappiness in Lufkin September 14, 1984 4-A Longview Morning Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-new-tv-station-cau/134812318/ January 20, 2026 Newspapers.com November 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231108040214/https://www.newspapers.com/article/longview-news-journal-new-tv-station-cau/134812318/ liveSeptember 10The game show Jeopardy! returns to television as a syndicated show with new host Alex Trebek.September 14Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler host the first MTV Video Music Awards at New York City's Radio City Music Hall, an event which included Madonna's performance of the song "Like a Virgin".September 16The two hour pilot episode of Miami Vice airs on NBC. This episode started developing the trademark Vice style.http://www.azcentral.com/ent/tv/articles/0209vice.html TV's 'Miami Vice' is still in fashion 2005-02-08 2008-01-13 Salas Randy A. Minneapolis Star Tribune www.azcentral.com Aspects of Miami Vice considered revolutionary lay in its music, cinematography, and imagery, which made large segments of each episode resemble a protracted music video.September 17The Transformers debuts in syndication.September 18The series finale of Three's Company airs on ABC following a three-episode story arc that also sets up the spin-off Three's a Crowd.September 20The Cosby Show debuts on NBC. Meanwhile, on ABC, the pilot episode for Who's the Boss? is also broadcast.September 24The game show Super Password premieres on NBC at 12:00 noon EST. The new version of the classic game show is one of the few shows to survive at a time period when many stations airs a local newscast, running for 4 1 2 years.CBS affiliate WJKA (now Fox affiliate WSFX-TVBass Tim Will become WSFX: WJKA switching affiliation from CBS to Fox Television April 15, 1994 1A, 4A Wilmington Morning Star https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/will-become-wsfx-wjka-switching-affiliation-cbs-fox-television/afpvlcuhtgrneltcrcwmvoqxdoxkktme_ip-10-166-46-124_1739481466972 January 20, 2026Cantwell Josiah WJKA switches to WSFX, cuts CBS for Fox September 20, 1994 6C Wilmington Morning Star https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wjka-switches-wsfx-cuts-cbs-fox/kapluhvmwnsrhecyrvjairtgoeuuwtwc_ip-10-166-46-73_1739481551613 January 20, 2026) in Wilmington, North Carolina signs-on the air, giving Wilmington in-market affiliates of all three commercial networks.Steelman Ben New station brings CBS-TV to Southeastern N.C. September 25, 1984 1B Wilmington Morning Star https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-station-brings-cbs-tv-southeastern-nc/skauvaetgrmfspruqcdlnwyjgmjzdwhu_ip-10-166-46-98_1739481128835 January 20, 2026September 27Kelsey Grammer makes his first appearance as Frasier Crane in the third-season premiere of Cheers on NBC.October 1Montana, the last state in the Union without its own PBS station, gains one when Montana PBS launches.Nickelodeon retires their silver pinball logo (although it would continue to be used in sign-offs until early 1985) and begins using the orange splat as their logo.American Movie Classics is initiated.October 6SIN broadcasts the final of the 7th National OTI-SIN Festival live from the Miami Jai-Alai Fronton in Miami.October 7President Reagan and former Vice President Walter Mondale participate in their first presidential debate.CPD: October 7, 1984 Debate Transcript https://www.debates.org/voter-education/debate-transcripts/october-7-1984-debate-transcript/ 2025-07-20 www.debates.orgOctober 8NBC broadcasts The Burning Bed, which features Farrah Fawcett as a woman who kills her abusive husband. The fact-based film is the highest-rated entertainment event of the 1984–1985 season.October 11Geraldine Ferraro becomes the first woman (and the only one until Sarah Palin in 2008) to participate in a presidential or vice presidential debate.October 12Tragedy strikes the CBS drama Cover Up. During filming for the seventh episode of the series, "Golden Opportunity," on Stage 17 of the 20th Century Fox lot, a scene is shot that calls for Mac Harper (Jon-Erik Hexum) to load bullets into a .44 Magnum handgun. Hexum is duly provided with a functional gun and blanks. The scene does not play as the director wanted it to in the master shot, causing a delay in filming. During the delay, Hexum, restless and impatient, begins playing around to lighten the mood. Unloading all but one (blank) round, Hexum spins the gun, and—simulating Russian roulette—puts the revolver to his right temple and pulls the trigger,Donnelley Paul Fade To Black: A Book Of Movie Obituaries Omnibus Press June 1, 2003 2 483 978-0711995123 apparently unaware of the danger. At a close enough range, the effect of the powder gasses is a small explosion, so although the paper wadding in the blank that Hexum discharged did not penetrate his skull, there was enough blunt force trauma to shatter a quarter-sized piece of his skull and propel the pieces into his brain, causing massive hemorrhaging.https://ew.com/article/1994/10/14/jon-erik-hexums-fatal-joke/ Jon-Erik Hexum's Fatal Joke October 14, 1994 Entertainment Weekly 2008-08-16https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E4DF1739F937A25753C1A962948260 Actor Wounds Himself On Set of TV Series October 14, 1984 The New York Times Hexum is then rushed to Beverly Hills Medical Center, undergoing five hours of surgery to repair his wounds. Six days later, on October 18, Hexum is declared brain dead at age 26. October 21Reagan and Mondale participate in their second and final presidential debate.CPD: October 21, 1984 Debate Transcript https://www.debates.org/voter-education/debate-transcripts/october-21-1984-debate-transcript/ 2025-07-20 www.debates.orgOctober 27Turner Broadcasting System initiates the Cable Music Channel in the U.S., only to end it one month later.November 10On PBS Sesame Street celebrates its 15th anniversary.November 12Theresa Saldana appears as herself in the NBC movie Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story, a retelling of her 1982 stabbing incident and its aftermath.December 8The final episode of Captain Kangaroo airs. This ends a 29-year run on CBS that made it the longest-running nationally broadcast children's television program of its day.December 15One year after officially departing the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live, Eddie Murphy returns to guest host. This would be Murphy's last appearance on the show (not counting a brief appearance during SNLs 40th Anniversary Special in 2015) until hosting again during the forty-fifth season in 2019. December 17George C. Scott plays Ebenezer Scrooge in a new version of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, broadcast by CBS.The ABC soap opera One Life to Live changes its opening sequence and theme song, which lasted until 1991.ABC purchases a majority stake of ESPN from Getty Oil Corp.KLDO-TV in Laredo, Texas signs-on as an ABC affiliate, giving Laredo in-market affiliates of all three commercial networks (it is now an Univision affiliate).December 28 On ABC, The Edge of Night ends its 28-year run. The soap opera started on CBS in 1956, moving to ABC in 1975.During an interview backstage at Madison Square Garden for the ABC newsmagazine 20/20, reporter John Stossel tells professional wrestler David Schultz that he thought pro wrestling was fake. Schultz responds by hitting Stossel in the head twice, knocking him to the floor each time.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: David Schultz, John Stossel 2006 WRESTLING IS FAKE (watch before commenting) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrX9Ca7LSyQ April 5, 2013 Youtube The attack attracts a large amount of media coverage and is later aired not only on 20/20, but also on other network outlets. ABC itself later reports receiving more than 1,000 calls from viewers inquiring about Stossel's health. Programs Debuting this year Date Title Network January 3 Riptide NBC January 4 Night Court January 6 Blue Thunder ABC January 20 The MasterNBC January 22 Airwolf CBS January 28 Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer March 6 a.k.a. Pablo ABC March 19 Kate and Allie CBS March 20 Shaping Up ABC March 31 Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Syndication April Video Music Box WNYC-TV April 4 Double Trouble NBC April 12 The Duck Factory April 14 My Little Pony Syndication June 4 Danger MouseNickelodeon July 2 Scrabble NBC July 13 Brothers Showtime July 30 Santa Barbara NBC September 5 Heathcliff Syndication September 7 Kids Incorporated September 8 Dragon's Lair ABC Mighty Orbots Turbo Teen Challenge of the GoBots Syndication September 10 Voltron: Defender of the Universe September 13 GlitterABC September 14 Hawaiian Heat September 15 Snorks NBCPink Panther and Sons The Get Along Gang CBS Muppet Babies Pole Position Pryor's Place September 16 E/R Miami ViceNBC Punky Brewster September 17 The Transformers Syndication September 18 Hunter NBC September 19 Highway to Heaven September 20 The Cosby Show Who's the Boss? ABC September 22 Cover Up CBS Hot PursuitNBC Finder of Lost LovesABC September 23 Paper Dolls September 25 Three's a Crowd September 26 It's Your Move NBC September 27 Partners in Crime September 30 Tales from the DarksideSyndication Murder, She Wrote CBS October 3 Charles in Charge October 7 Out of Control Nickelodeon October 8 Trivia TrapABC October 10 Dreams CBS October 26 V NBC December 30 Crazy Like a Fox CBS Resuming this year Title Final aired Previous network New title Returning network Date of returnPeople are Funny1960NBCSameSameMarch 24Showoffs1975ABCBody LanguageCBSJune 4Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids1981CBSSameSyndicationSeptember 1Jeopardy!1979NBCSeptember 10Let's Make a Deal1981SyndicationThe All-New Let's Make a DealSameSeptember 17Password Plus1982NBCSuper PasswordSeptember 24 Changing networks Show Moved from Moved toShowoffsABCCBSFat Albert and the Cosby KidsCBSSyndicationJeopardy!NBC Ending this year Date Title DebutMarch 10We Got It Made (returned in 1987)1983April 2AutomanApril 7Mama's Family (returned in 1986)April 10a.k.a. Pablo1984April 16Blue ThunderApril 27Masquerade1983April 30That's Incredible!1980May 15Oh Madeline1983May 19Fantasy Island1978May 22Hart to Hart1979May 28One Day at a Time1975June 1Tattletales1974June 2Whiz Kids1983June 14Lottery!July 4Real People1979July 11The Duck Factory1984July 27Hollywood Squares (returned in 1986)1966August 11Boone1983September 1MonchhichisThe Little Rascals1982Pac-ManRichie Rich1980Rubik, the Amazing Cube1983The LittlesSeptember 5Jennifer Slept HereSeptember 8The Flintstone Funnies1982September 18Three's Company1977September 24Happy Days1974November 10The Puppy's Further Adventures1982December 1The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast1974The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show1983December 8Captain Kangaroo1955Pole Position1984Pryor's PlaceDecember 11AfterMASH1983December 25Welcome to Pooh CornerDecember 25Paper Dolls1984December 28The Edge of Night1956December 28Hot Pursuit1984December 29Partners in Crime 1984 Entering syndication Show Seasons In Production SourceBenson5YesBroadcasting - Feb. 13, 1984Bizarre4YesFat Albert and the Cosby Kids7YesThe Greatest American Hero3NoHart to Hart5NoTrapper John, M.D.5YesVoyagers!1No Made-for-TV movies and miniseries V: The Final Battle Networks and services Launches Network Type Closure date Notes Source Sportsvue Cable television April 3 Home Team Sports Network Cable television April 4 American Christian Television System Cable television May 15 NetSpan Cable television June 19 American Movie Classics Cable television October 1 Cable Music Channel Cable television October 26 MGM/UA Premiere Network Cable television November 10 Conversions and rebrandings Old network name New network name Type Conversion Date Notes SourceThe Entertainment ChannelArts & Entertainment ChannelCable televisionFebruary 1Alpha Repertory Television ServiceArts & Entertainment ChannelCable and satelliteFebruary 1 Cable Health Network Lifetime Cable television February 1 Daytime and Lifetime Medical Television Lifetime Cable television February 1 Closures Network Type Closure date Notes Source Mobil Showcase Network Cable television Unknown Spotlight Cable television February 1 Cable Music Channel Cable television November 30 Television stations Station launches Date City of License/Market Station Affiliation Channel Notes/Ref. January 21 Santa Fe/Albuquerque, New Mexico KCHF 11 Religious independent January 28 Glenwood Springs, Colorado KCWS 3 Independent February 1 Indianapolis, Indiana WPDS-TV 59 Independent February 14 Fort Walton Beach, Florida WPAN 53 February 18 Nashville, Tennessee WCAY-TV 30 February 22 Green Bay, Wisconsin WSCO 14 Religious independent February 23 Lake Havasu City, Arizona K45AJ 45 Independent February 26 Medford, Oregon KDRV 12 ABC March 5 Greensboro, North Carolina WLXI 61 Independent March 7 Appleton/Green Bay, Wisconsin WBOU 32 March 25 New Orleans, Louisiana WNOL-TV 38 March 30 Seattle, Washington KQFB 20 April 1 Greenville, South Carolina (Spartanburg, South Carolina/Asheville, SC) WHNS 21 April 16 Concord, New Hampshire WNHT 21 April 17 Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas KLTJ 49 TBN May 5 El Paso, Texas KINT 26 Spanish independent May 12 San Angelo, Texas KIDY 6 Independent May 13 Decatur, Illinois (Champaign/Springfield, Illinois) WFHL 23 Religious independent June 1 Columbus, Ohio WTTE 28 Independent June 25 Harlingen/Brownsville/McAllen, Texas KLUJ-TV 44 June 29 Wenatchee, Washington KCWT-TV 27 July 5 Florence, South Carolina WGSE 43 July 8 New Orleans, Louisiana WLAE-TV 32 Educational independent July 10 Lake Havasu City, Arizona K25AL 25 TBN July 24 Hopkinsville, Kentucky W43AG 43 Independent July 31 Las Vegas, Nevada KRLR 21 Independent August Jacksonville, Illinois WJPT 14 PBS August 1 Hagerstown, Maryland WJAL 68 Independent Now licensed to Silver Spring, Maryland August 7 Burlington, North Carolina (Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina) WRDG 16 August 22 Chicago, Illinois W13BE 13 August 28 Lebanon-Nashville, Tennessee WJFB 66 September 9 Toccoa, Georgia WNEG 32 Tyler, Texas KLMG-TV 51 CBS September 10 Greenwood/Anderson, South Carolina WNEH 38 PBS Part of South Carolina Educational Television Jacksonville, Florida W10AX 10 The Box September 14 Hartford, Connecticut WTIC-TV 61 Independent September 23 Dayton, Ohio WRGT-TV 45 September 24 Wilmington, North Carolina WJKA 26 CBS October 1 Bozeman/Butte, Montana KUSM-TV 9 PBS Flagship of Montana PBS Kalamazoo, Michigan (Battle Creek/Grand Rapids, Michigan) WGVK 52 Macomb, Illinois WMEC 22 San Diego, California KTTY 69 Independent October 24 Miami, Florida W30AB 30 PBS Translator of WPBT October 31 Asheville, North Carolina (Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina) WASV 62 Independent Casper, Wyoming KFNB 20 ABC November Columbus, Georgia (Auburn, Alabama) WXTX 54 Independent November 24 Richmond, Virginia WVRN-TV 63 Religious independent November 30 Jackson, Mississippi WDBD 40 Independent December 2 Cotati, California KRCB 22 PBS December 3 Albany, New York WUSV 45 Independent December 15 Flint, Michigan WSMH 66 December 17 Laredo, Texas KLDO-TV 27 ABC December 18 K61CV 61 unknown December 24 Pensacola, Florida (Mobile, Alabama) WJTC 44 Independent December 31 Tucson, Arizona KDTU 18 Unknown date Billings, Montana K05HS 5 Daystar Minneapolis, Minnesota K58BS 58 TBN Network affiliation changes Date City of License/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. February 1 Bakersfield, California KGET-TV 17 CBS NBC Unknown date Cheyenne, Wyoming KYCU-TV 5 CBS ABC (primary) NBC (secondary) Births Date Name NotabilityJanuary 2Kristen HagerCanadian actress (Valemont, Being Human)January 4Robin SydneyActress (Drake & Josh)January 6Kate McKinnonActress (The Big Gay Sketch Show, Saturday Night Live) and comedianHilaria BaldwinPodcasterJanuary 11Eddie AlvarezMartial artistJanuary 19Nathan RueggerVoice actor (Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Histeria!)Mickey SumnerActressJanuary 24Ashley C. WilliamsActressJanuary 25Jay BriscoeAmerican professional wrestler (d. 2023)January 26 Layla KayleighEnglish-American television hostFebruary 1Lee Thompson YoungActor (The Famous Jett Jackson, Rizzoli & Isles) (d. 2013)Abbi JacobsonActressFebruary 3Matthew MoyActor (2 Broke Girls, Steven Universe)February 7Anna KooimanAnchorFebruary 8Cecily StrongActress (Saturday Night Live)February 11Aubrey O'DayAmerican singer and reality television personalityFebruary 14Matt BarrActorFebruary 15Josh ByrneActor (Step by Step)February 19Jennifer LahmersAnchorFebruary 20Trevor NoahSouth African comedian and actor (The Daily Show)Audra MaeSingerFebruary 24Wilson BethelActor (The Young and the Restless, Hart of Dixie)February 28Noureen DeWulfActressMelanie ChandraActressFebruary 29Mark FosterSingerMarch 2Trent GarrettActor (All My Children, Andi Mack) and modelMarch 4Sam MarinVoice actor (Regular Show)March 7Brandon T. JacksonActorNicole LapinAmerican television news anchorAlex SomersAmerican visual artistMarch 10Olivia WildeActress (House)March 12Jaimie AlexanderActress (Watch Over Me, Kyle XY, Blindspot)March 13Noel FisherCanadian actor (X-Men: Evolution, Shameless)March 14Liesel MatthewsActressMarch 16Carrie KemperWriterMarch 20 Justine EzarikYouTube personality and actress (Annoying Orange, iJustine)Christy Carlson RomanoActress (Even Stevens, Kim Possible) and singerMarch 25Katharine McPheeActress and singer (American Idol, Smash, Scorpion)March 26Sara Jean UnderwoodModel and TV host (Attack of the Show!)March 28Bill SwitzerCanadian-American actor (Mummies Alive!, Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension, Sabrina: The Animated Series, X-Men: Evolution)March 30Helena MattssonSwedish-American actress (666 Park Avenue)March 31Molly QerimAmerican television personalityApril 2Ashley PeldonActress (The Mommies) and sister of Courtney PeldonApril 3Chrissie FitActress (General Hospital, Milo Murphy's Law) April 5Marshall AllmanActor (Prison Break, True Blood)April 6Al MukadamCanadian actorApril 8 Taran Noah SmithActor (Home Improvement)Kirsten StormsActress (Days of Our Lives, Kim Possible, General Hospital)April 10Cara DeLiziaActress (So Weird)Mandy MooreActress (Tron: Uprising, Sheriff Callie's Wild West, High School USA!, This Is Us, Tangled: The Series) and singerApril 11Kelli GarnerActress (Pan Am)April 16Claire FoyEnglish actress (Upstairs Downstairs)April 18America FerreraActress (Independent Lens, Ugly Betty, The Good Wife, DreamWorks Dragons, Superstore) April 19Kelen ColemanActressApril 20Tim JoActor (Glory Daze, The Neighbors, This Is Us, For All Mankind, Reasonable Doubt) Harris WittelsComedian (d. 2015)April 21Shayna FoxVoice actress (The Oz Kids, Rocket Power, All Grown Up!)Desmin BorgesActorApril 22Michelle RyanBritish actress (Bionic Woman)April 23Jesse Lee SofferActor (As the World Turns, The Mob Doctor, Chicago P.D.)April 24Lindsey GortActressApril 25Jillian BellActressMelonie DiazActressApril 26Emily WickershamActress (NCIS)Ryan O'DonohueVoice actor (Recess, Batman Beyond)April 27Patrick StumpMusician (Fall Out Boy) and actor (Robot Chicken)April 29Firass DiraniAustralian actor (Power Rangers Mystic Force)Hallie JacksonAnchorTaylor ColeActress (Summerland)May 1Kerry BishéActressMay 3Morgan KibbyActress (100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd) and singerMay 4Cheryl BurkeHostMay 8Julia WhelanActress (Once and Again)Van RobichauxWriterMay 9Ezra KleinTV hostMay 12Clare BowenAustralian actress and singer (Nashville)May 13Ginger OrsiActress and singerMay 14Mark ZuckerbergAmerican media magnateMay 17Alejandro EddaMexican-American actor (Narcos: Mexico, Fear the Walking Dead)May 23Adam WylieActor (Picket Fences, Hey Arnold!, Pepper Ann, As Told by Ginger, American Dragon: Jake Long, Legion of Super Heroes, The Secret Saturdays, Jake and the Never Land Pirates)May 24Sarah HaganActress (Freaks and Geeks)May 27Darin BrooksActor (Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Blue Mountain State)May 29 Carmelo AnthonyNBA basketball playerKaycee StrohActress (High School Musical)May 30DeWanda WiseActressJune 1Megan GanzWriterJune 4Jillian MurrayActressJune 5Simon RichScreenwriterJune 6Antonia PrebbleNew Zealand actress (Power Rangers Mystic Force)Brandon Scott JonesActorJune 8Torrey DeVittoActress (Beautiful People, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, Chicago Med)June 10Betsy SodaroActressJune 13 Phillip Van DykeActor (Noah Knows Best, voice of Arnold on Hey Arnold! (1997–99))June 15 Wayne SermonMusicianJune 17John Gallagher Jr.ActorJune 18Ian Jones-QuarteyVoice actor and producer (OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes)Christopher RaglandEnglish actor (Thomas & Friends, The Amazing World of Gumball)June 19Paul DanoActorJune 20Kevin RyanActorJune 22Yassir LesterActorJune 26Aubrey PlazaActress (Parks and Recreation)June 27Emma LahanaNew Zealand actress (Power Rangers Dino Thunder)Khloé KardashianActress (Keeping Up with the Kardashians)June 30FantasiaSinger (American Idol, Fantasia for Real)Fantasia Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fantasia-mn0000795053 2023-11-27 AllMusic enFantasia – The Vogue https://thevogue.com/artists/fantasia/ 2023-11-27 enJuly 5Danay GarcíaCuban actress (Prison Break, Fear the Walking Dead)July 7Ross MalingerVoice actor (T.J. Detweiler on Recess (1997–98))July 8Alexis DzienaActress (Invasion, Entourage)July 10Kelly DowdleActress (American Crime Story)Aviva BaumannActressJuly 11Rachael TaylorAustralian actress (666 Park Avenue, Crisis, Jessica Jones)Serinda SwanCanadian actress (Breakout Kings, Graceland)Melanie PapaliaActressRob HeapsActorJuly 12Natalie MartinezActressJuly 19Andrea LibmanCanadian voice actress (Madeline, Dragon Tales, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic)Kaitlin DoubledayActress (Empire)July 20James MackayAustralian actor (Dynasty)July 21Paloma GuzmánActress (Pretty Little Liars, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Roswell, New Mexico)July 23Krysta RodriguezActressJuly 24LaTangelaActress (Taina)July 26Grace ByersActress (Empire)July 27Taylor SchillingActress (Mercy, Orange is the New Black)July 29J. Madison Wright MorrisActress (Earth 2) (d. 2006)Todd BosleyActorJuly 30Gabrielle ChristianActress (South of Nowhere)Gina RodriguezActress (Jane the Virgin, Carmen Sandiego)August 1Valery OrtizActress (South of Nowhere, What About Brian)August 2JD VancePoliticianAugust 3Emily BaldoniSwedish-American actressAugust 6James HolzhauerAmerican game show contestantAugust 7Joseph TrapaneseAmerican composerAugust 10Ryan EggoldActor (90210, The Blacklist)August 13Eme IkwuakorActorAugust 26Johnny Ray GillActorAugust 27Amanda FullerActress (Last Man Standing)August 28Sarah RoemerActress (The Event, Chosen)Michael GaleotaActor (The Jersey) (d. 2016)September 1Joe TrohmanAmerican musician (Fall Out Boy)Ludwig GöranssonMusicianSeptember 4Kyle MooneyActor and comedian (Saturday Night Live)September 5Annabelle WallisActress (Star Trek: Discovery)September 7Ben HollingsworthActorSeptember 13Baron CorbinPro wrestler2022-07-28 WWE Profile Page - Baron Corbin https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/17132220/wwe-profile-page-baron-corbin 2024-11-26 ESPN.com enSeptember 14Adam LambergActor (Lizzie McGuire)September 16Sabrina BryanActress, singer (The Cheetah Girls; Dancing with the Stars contestant [2 seasons])September 18Nina AriandaActressBrandon MaxwellDirectorSeptember 19Kevin ZegersCanadian actor (Gossip Girl)Lydia HearstActress and great-granddaughter of William Randolph HearstSeptember 22Laura VandervoortCanadian actress (Instant Star, V, Smallville, Bitten)September 23CariDee EnglishModel and actress (America's Next Top Model)Anneliese van der PolActress (That's So Raven, Raven's Home) and singerSeptember 24Matt KempAmerican professional baseball outfielderSeptember 25Zach WoodsActor (The Office, Silicon Valley)September 27Avril LavigneSinger and actressSeptember 30T-PainSinger and rapperOctober 1Beck BennettActor and comedian (Saturday Night Live)Josh BrenerActor (Glory Daze, The Big Bang Theory, Maron, Silicon Valley, Future-Worm!, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Sam SalettaActor (7th Heaven, Rocket Power)October 3Ashlee SimpsonActress, singer (7th Heaven, The Ashlee Simpson Show) and sister of Jessica SimpsonJessica Parker KennedyActress (Kaya, The Secret Circle, Black Sails) Chris MarquetteActor (Strong Medicine, The Mummy: The Animated Series, Fillmore!, Joan of Arcadia) Nick WrightAmerican sports television personalityOctober 4Glenn McMillanBrazilian actor (Power Rangers Wild Force) James Landry HébertAmerican actor (1883)Nathalie KelleyActressOctober 11Martha MacIsaacCanadian actress (1600 Penn)October 14Jason DavisVoice actor (Mikey Blumberg on Recess) (d. 2020)October 17Chris LowellActor (Veronica Mars, Private Practice)October 23Meghan McCainTelevision personalityOctober 24Ben GirouxActor (Henry Danger, Bunsen Is a Beast, Danger Force, Big Nate)October 25Katy PerrySinger, songwriter, and actress October 27Kelly OsbourneBritish singer, actress (The Osbournes, Chelsea Lately, The 7D) and daughter of Ozzy OsbourneEmilie UllerupDanish-Canadian actress (Sanctuary, Arctic Air)October 28Finn WittrockActor (All My Children, American Horror Story)November 12OmarionActorJorge MasvidalMixed martial artistJorge Masvidal (Welterweight) MMA Profile https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2500857/jorge-masvidal 2024-10-03 ESPN enNovember 16Kimberly J. BrownActress (Halloweentown, Vampire Princess Miyu, Guiding Light)November 21Lindsey HaunActress and singerJena MaloneActressNovember 22 Scarlett JohanssonActress (4-time host of Saturday Night Live)November 23 Lucas GrabeelActor (Halloweentown, High School Musical, Switched at Birth) and voice actor (Family Guy, DreamWorks Dragons, Sheriff Callie's Wild West, Elena of Avalor, Spirit Riding Free, Pinky Malinky)Jarah MarianoModelNovember 24Ulambayaryn ByambajavEntertainer (d. 2020)November 25Gaspard UllielActor (Moon Knight) (d. 2022)Marshall Alex January 19, 2022 Gaspard Ulliel, French Actor and 'Moon Knight' Star, Dies at 37 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/movies/gaspard-ulliel-dead.html live May 8, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220125212713/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/movies/gaspard-ulliel-dead.html January 25, 2022 November 28Mary Elizabeth WinsteadActress (Wolf Lake, The Returned, BrainDead, Mercy Street, Fargo)Trey SongzActorNovember 29Beatrice RosenActress (Cuts, Backstrom)December 4Lindsay FeltonActress (Thunder Alley, Caitlin's Way)December 10Tom HernNew Zealand actor (Power Rangers Dino Thunder)December 11Xosha RoquemoreAmerican actressDecember 12Gabrielle RuizAmerican actressDecember 14Jackson RathboneAmerican actorDecember 15Kirsty Lee AllanAustralian actressDecember 16Theo JamesActorDecember 17Shannon WoodwardActress (The Riches, Raising Hope, Westworld)December 19Erica O'KeithActress (Romeo!)December 20Bob MorleyActor (The 100)December 22Greg FinleyActor (The Secret Life of the American Teenager)December 25MiroBulgarian-American professional wrestlerDecember 30LeBron JamesNBA basketball player Deaths Date Name Age Notability February 16Kenny Williams69Game show announcer (The Hollywood Squares, High Rollers, Gambit)March 1 Jackie Coogan69actor (Uncle Fester on The Addams Family)March 24 Sam Jaffe93actor (Dr. Zorba on Ben Casey)March 31Caryl Ledner63Emmy-winning writer (Mary White)May 2Jack Barry66game show host/producer (The Joker's Wild)May 16 Andy Kaufman35comedian (Latka Gravas on Taxi)June 15 Ned Glass78actorAugust 8Richard Deacon63actor (Fred Rutherford on Leave It to Beaver, Mel Cooley on The Dick Van Dyke Show)September 17Richard Basehart70actor (Admiral Harriman Nelson on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea)September 24Neil Hamilton85actor (Commissioner Gordon on Batman)October 18 Jon-Erik Hexum26actor (gunshot wound from accident on set of TV series Cover Up)December 7Jeanne Cagney65actress See also 1984 in the United States List of American films of 1984 References 2 External links List of 1984 American television series at IMDb 1984