1997 in American television

none September 2017 1997 In American television in 1997, notable events included television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel initiations, closures, and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and disputes. Events Date EventJanuary 1The TV Parental Guidelines, a television rating system, a system similar to the one used for motion pictures, goes into effect.The Emergency Alert System comes into effect and replaces the Emergency Broadcast System.January 3Bryant Gumbel anchors his last Today show on NBC. The following Monday, Matt Lauer takes over alongside Katie Couric until he was fired 20 years later in November 2017.January 12King of the Hill set to series premiere on Fox.January 22New World Communications is acquired by Fox. The deal makes 10 New World-owned stations that affiliated with Fox as a result of the 1994 United States broadcast TV realignment network O&O's.January 26Fox broadcasts its first Super Bowl, making it the last of the big four networks to air a Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers defeat the New England Patriots 35–21 in a game that gives Fox its highest ratings to date.February 1The final affiliation switch resulting from the 1994–96 United States broadcast TV realignment takes place when Allbritton Communications (owners of WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., one of the strongest ABC affiliates in the country) converts WB affiliate WBSG in Brunswick, Georgia, into a semi-satellite of new sign-on WJXX in Orange Park, Florida, which assumes the ABC affiliation for the Jacksonville market. Former ABC affiliate WJKS promptly discontinues its news operation and assumes the WB affiliation from WBSG.February 9On Fox, The Simpsons airs the episode "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". With this episode, The Simpsons surpasses The Flintstones as the longest-running primetime animated series in terms of episodes aired.February 23Schindler's List makes its network television debut on NBC. The film is broadcast virtually unedited and is the first telecast to receive a TV-M (now TV-MA) rating under the TV Parental Guidelines that had been established earlier in the year.February 26Various ABC characters appeared with Las Vegas settings in the shows Grace Under Fire, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, and Ellen.February 28After 23 years, the game show Wheel of Fortune retires their old trilon puzzle board and replaces it with a new touch screen puzzle board.March 17The programming block Toonami debuts on Cartoon Network.March 23The 13th annual WrestleMania event airs on pay-per-view. While the event as a whole receives mixed reviews, the submission match between Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin, in which both wrestlers switch alignments, is highly praised, being called one of the greatest matches in wrestling history, and has been cited by some as the beginning of the Attitude Era.Jon Robinson Top 20 Matches in WrestleMania History https://uk.sports.ign.com/articles/775/775590p20.html December 25, 2010 February 21, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110221103650/https://uk.sports.ign.com/articles/775/775590p20.html deadApril 6Disney Channel changes its network branding and presents the cable television premiere of the 1995 Disney animated film Pocahontas. The film would have its network television premiere on ABC one year later. Disney Channel continues to convert from subscription television to a basic cable channel.April 13Extreme Championship Wrestling broadcasts its first ever pay-per-view dubbed "Barely Legal".April 19The 1997 Kids' Choice Awards air on Nickelodeon, hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. Television winners included Home Improvement (for "Favorite TV Show"), Tim Allen (of Home Improvement for "Favorite TV Actor"), Tia and Tamera Mowry (of Sister, Sister for "Favorite TV Actress") and Rugrats (for "Favorite Cartoon"). A half-hour sneak preview of The Angry Beavers follows the ceremony.April 25CBS broadcasts a reunion film featuring the surviving cast of The Dukes of Hazzard, which originally aired on the network from 1979 to 1985. This proved to be Denver Pyle's final performance before his death on Christmas Day, 1997.Denver Pyle; Uncle in 'Dukes of Hazzard' https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-28-me-2938-story.html July 16, 2017 Los Angeles Times December 28, 1997April 30The Ellen episode "The Puppy Episode" is broadcast on ABC, showing for the first time the revelation of a main character as a homosexual.May 7–9CBS broadcasts a two part miniseries that reunites the cast of the prime time soap opera Knots Landing, which originally ran on the network from 1979–1993.May 9Bob Saget hosts his final regular episode of America's Funniest Home Videos on ABC, with the other cast members of Full House, minus The Olsen Twins. The $100,000 season finale (his final episode) aired nine days later on May 18. June 6Farrah Fawcett makes a bizarre appearance on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman. Fawcett tells long, rambling stories without a purpose, fails to understand simple questions, and gets easily distracted by things like blinking lights on the set.June 21The Professional Bowlers Tour ends after 36 years on ABC. CBS assumes the rights to the tour and will televise several events over the next two years.June 30In Seattle, KIRO-TV (CBS) and KSTW (UPN) reverse their 1995 network affiliation swap.July 8KONG-TV, Seattle's independent station goes on the air.Fox broadcasts the Major League Baseball All-Star Game from Cleveland, marking the first time that the network would broadcast the midsummer classic.July 14–16Cartoon Network launches the "Cartoon Cartoons" brand with the debut of three animated series, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel, as well as the season two premiere of Dexter's Laboratory.July 15A tribute episode of Another World is broadcast on NBC in honor of Victoria Wyndham's 25 years with the program.July 24George Harrison appears on a VH-1 special to promote his friend Ravi Shankar's album Chants of India. This would prove to be Harrison's final television appearance. August 13South Park premieres on Comedy Central.August 31WFFF-TV in Burlington, Vermont, signs-on the air, giving the Burlington/Plattsburgh market its first full-time Fox affiliate (prior to this, Fox programming was seen on a secondary basis on CBS affiliate WCAX-TV).Fybush Scott You Drive 1100 Miles And What Do You Get? http://www.bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-970904.html August 28, 2016 North East RadioWatch September 4, 1997September 3Jeri Ryan makes her first appearance as Seven of Nine on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager.September 5Joan Lunden makes her final appearance as co-anchor for ABC's Good Morning America, after being on the program since 1980. Lunden would be succeeded by Lisa McRee.September 6The big three television networks, Fox, and cable networks CNN, E!, Fox News and MSNBC all broadcast the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; more than 33 million viewers at home watched this special.Top of the Week: Funeral for a princess September 15, 1997 16 Broadcasting & Cable https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-09-15.pdf January 4, 2026 March 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210308023905/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-09-15.pdf liveSeptember 8KDAF-TV gives up the rights on Fox Kids to KDFI, as KDFW airs news, talk shows, paid/real estate and E/I-complaint programming instead of the block (KDFI also airs said programs, as well as Fox programs, just in case for local news emergencies and sports preemptions).September 13ABC revamps its Saturday morning cartoon schedule, and adds more new series from parent company Disney to become Disney's One Saturday Morning. This, along with many other programming, was delayed one week from its originally planned debut as a result of the aforementioned Princess Diana funeral.September 14The 49th Primetime Emmy Awards presentation was broadcast on CBS.September 19After several years of being a part of ABC's successful "TGIF" sitcom programming block, Family Matters and Step by Step switch to CBS to form the basis of the "CBS Block Party", a direct competitor to TGIF. Both series, as well as the Block Party, would be cancelled after one season.September 25ER produces a live episode for its fourth season premiere on NBC.October 5The World Wrestling Federation event Badd Blood: In Your House is broadcast on pay-per-view. Not only is the event notable for featuring the promotion's first-ever Hell in a Cell match, which pitted The Undertaker against Shawn Michaels and saw the debut of Undertaker's storyline brother Kane, it marked the last time that Vince McMahon would be featured as the chief broadcaster of the commentating team for a pay-per-view event. According to WWE, the Montreal Screwjob, which took place at Survivor Series 1997, is considered the beginning of the Attitude Era.https://www.wwe.com/inside/wwefeaturepage/attitude-era A special look at the Attitude Era WWE Thus, Badd Blood: In Your House was the last WWF PPV of the New Generation Era.October 20Arthur begins its second season on PBS with Fred Rogers from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood guest starring.October 25Chris Farley guest hosts NBC's Saturday Night Live in what would turn out to be his final television appearance before his death on December 18, 1997.Under Wraps, the first Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) by Disney Channel, is broadcast.October 26Game 7 of the World Series is broadcast on NBC. The Florida Marlins defeat the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first baseball wild card team to win the world championship. This was the first World Series that NBC would broadcast in its entirety since 1988. NBC aired only Games 2-3 and the decisive sixth game of the 1995 World Series, while ABC aired the other three and a seventh game had it been necessary.November 2A third production of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's version of Cinderella is aired on ABC. This version, featuring Brandy Norwood and Whitney Houston, is produced by ABC's parent company The Walt Disney Company (which released its own version of the story as an animated movie 1950).November 6The NBC discussion show Meet the Press celebrates its 50th anniversary.November 7A crossover event featuring Salem in a time ball with Sabrina appeared on all four TGIF shows around that time, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Boy Meets World, You Wish, and Teen Angel.November 9During a pay-per-view broadcast of the World Wrestling Federation's Survivor Series, then-WWF Champion Bret Hart loses his title to Shawn Michaels. The finish is mired in controversy when WWF chairman Vince McMahon, who had been sitting at ringside, orders Earl Hebner, the assigned referee, to end the match as Michaels is holding Hart in Hart's own finishing maneuver, the Sharpshooter, even though Hart had not submitted. The incident becomes known as the Montreal Screwjob and will mark the final appearance of Hart on WWE television until 2010.http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1997/mainevent/ WWE Championship Match: Shawn Michaels def. Bret "Hit Man" Hart to become new WWE Champion World Wrestling Entertainment November 9, 1997 March 2, 2015November 17Rick Rude becomes the only person to appear on both USA Network's Raw and TNT's Monday Nitro on the same night. Whereas the Raw that aired that night was pre-recorded six days in advanced, Rude appeared on a live edition of Nitro about an hour earlier. November 29The Emergency Broadcast System is replaced by the Emergency Alert System and it continues to this day.December 8WVIT becomes an NBC O&O for the second time, and Paramount Stations Group had purchased WLWC and WWHO, dropping off newscasts, although Paramount had to run these two as a WB affiliate until 2000, while getting UPN to secondary status.December 15World Wrestling Federation chairman Vince McMahon announces the introduction of the Attitude Era (a term used by WWF for its adult-oriented programming) on Raw Is War, during a segment entitled "The Cure for the Common Show". The WWF Attitude's scratch logo also makes its on-screen debut within the episode, replacing the New Generation's block logo.December 24TNT and TBS broadcast "24 Hours of A Christmas Story", consisting of 12 consecutive airings of the 1983 film from the evening of Christmas Eve to the evening of Christmas Day.https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-1224-tvhighlights-20171224-story.html TV This Week, Dec. 24-30: 'A Christmas Story' marathon and more Matt Cooper Los Angeles Times December 22, 2017 Los Angeles Times December 28World Championship Wrestling's fifteenth annual Starrcade event airs on pay-per-view. The main event would see Sting defeat Hollywood Hogan to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Overall, this would become the highest grossing pay-per-view in WCW history. Programs Debuts Date Show NetworkJanuary 1 Cooking LiveFood NetworkJanuary 4 Lost on EarthUSA NetworkJanuary 6 Sunset BeachNBCJanuary 7 OrleansCBSJanuary 8 Chicago SonsNBCJanuary 9 Antiques RoadshowPBSJanuary 12 King of the HillFoxJanuary 13 La Femme NikitaUSA Network The New Adventures of Robin HoodTNTJanuary 19 Emeril LiveFood NetworkFebruary 7 The Chris Rock ShowHBOFebruary 24 Earth's FuryThe Learning ChannelFebruary 28 Crisis CenterNBCMarch 2 The Country Mouse and the City Mouse AdventuresHBOMarch 3 DariaMTV PaulyFox Spy GameABCMarch 4 Just Shoot Me!NBC The PracticeABCMarch 5ArsenioTemporarily YoursCBSMarch 6Prince StreetNBCMarch 10 Buffy the Vampire SlayerThe WBMarch 18 Social StudiesUPNMarch 22 LawlessFoxApril 1 Religion & Ethics NewsweeklyPBS Viva VarietyComedy CentralApril 2 Smart GuyThe WBApril 9 Pacific PalisadesFoxApril 10 Fired UpNBCApril 12 GunABC Leaving L.A.April 14 ¡Despierta América!UnivisionApril 15 Soul ManABCApril 19 Nightmare Ned The Angry BeaversNickelodeon Power Rangers TurboFox KidsMay 16 Todd McFarlane's SpawnHBOMay 25 Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionFoxJune 2 Port CharlesABCJune 6 Life... and StuffCBSJune 7 CNN NewsStandCNN Perversions of ScienceHBOJuly 7 Figure It OutNickelodeonJuly 11 Spicy CityHBOJuly 12 OzJuly 14 RoarFox Johnny BravoCartoon NetworkJuly 15 Cow and Chicken I Am WeaselJuly 21 Mission GenesisSci-Fi ChannelJuly 27 Stargate SG-1ShowtimeJuly 28 Win Ben Stein's MoneyComedy CentralAugust 4 USA HighUSA NetworkAugust 11 The ViewABCAugust 13 South ParkComedy CentralAugust 17 Behind the MusicVH1 The World's Funniest!FoxAugust 25 Good NewsUPNAugust 26 Head over Heels HitzSeptember 1 101 Dalmatians: The SeriesSyndication Fox News WatchFox News Channel MTV LiveMTV Pensacola: Wings of GoldUSA Network Extreme DinosaursSyndicationSeptember 6 ClickSyndication City GuysNBCSeptember 7 Alright AlreadyThe WB The Tom Show Popular Mechanics for KidsSyndicationSeptember 8 Ally McBealFoxSeptember 11 Between Brothers 413 Hope St.September 12 Ninja Turtles: The Next MutationFox Kids Police Academy: The SeriesSyndicationSeptember 13 Pepper AnnABCRecess Science Court The Crayon BoxSyndication The Legend of Calamity JaneKids' WB The New Batman Adventures The New Batman/Superman Adventures The Weird Al ShowCBS Wheel 2000 Fudge The New Ghostwriter MysteriesSeptember 14 Going Wild with Jeff CorwinDisney ChannelSeptember 15 Breaker HighUPN George & LeoCBS The Gregory Hines Show Michael Hayes The Mr. Men ShowSyndicationSeptember 18 CrackerABC Nothing SacredSeptember 19 The VisitorFox MeegoCBSSeptember 20The New Adventures of ZorroSyndicationSeptember 22 TimecopABC The Ink and Paint Club Disney Channel Brooklyn SouthCBSSeptember 23 Dellaventura Hiller and DillerABCSeptember 24 Public Eye with Bryant GumbelCBS Dharma & GregABC Built to LastNBC The Tony Danza ShowSeptember 25 Veronica's Closet Union SquareSeptember 26 Teen AngelABC You WishSeptember 27 Soldier of Fortune, Inc.Syndication Total SecurityNBCSeptember 28 JennyNBCSeptember 29 The Big GarageTLCOctober 1 AmpMTV Daily News LiveCSN Philadelphia SportsDay SportsNite SportsRise Wimzie's HousePTVOctober 4 The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance PoliceFox Kids Fame L.A.SyndicationOctober 6 Earth: Final Conflict Team Knight Rider The EdgeCNBCOctober 8 WorkingNBCOctober 10 Raging PlanetDiscovery ChannelOctober 11 C-16: FBIABC Men in Black: The SeriesKids' WBOctober 17 PlayersNBC Cartoon Sushi MTVOctober 20 Bear in the Big Blue HouseDisney Channel Channel Umptee-3Kids' WBOctober 21 Over the TopABCNovember 1 SleepwalkersNBCNovember 4 Autoline DetroitWTVS Cartoon SushiMTV Enjoying Everyday LifeSyndication My Classic CarTNNNovember 8 The Journey of Allen StrangeNickelodeonNovember 28 Tenacious DHBO Milestone episodes and anniversaries Show Network Episode # Episode title Episode airdate Source Jeopardy! Syndication 3,000th episode "Show #3000" September 26June 2025 Returning this year Show Last aired Previous network New title New network ReturnedRugrats1994NickelodeonSameSameAugust 23The People's Court1993SyndicationSeptember 8Batman: The Animated Series1995FoxThe New Batman AdventuresKids' WBSeptember 13Muppets Tonight1996ABCSameDisney ChannelThe Wonderful World of DisneyDisney ChannelABCSeptember 28 Ending this year Date Show DebutJanuary 1Kung Fu: The Legend Continues 1993January 3Small Talk1996January 17Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series1996January 27Ned & Stacey1995Space Cases1996January 31Wait 'til You Have KidsFebruary 15Gargoyles1994February 22C Bear and Jamal1996Road RoversFebruary 24SavannahMarch 8The Mouse and the MonsterMarch 15Dangerous MindsMarch 16WWF on MSG Network1976March 26What a Cartoon! (returned in 2000)1995March 28The CityMarch 30Life with Roger1996April 2Lost on Earth1997EZ Streets1996April 4Dragon Flyz1996Crisis Center1997April 7PaulyApril 10OrleansApril 12The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat1995April 14Relativity1996April 16The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestApril 23 Arsenio1997May 1Martin1992May 13Homeboys in Outer Space1996May 14Coach1989Street Fighter1995May 16Baywatch NightsMay 17Waynehead 1996May 18Brotherly Love1995May 19 The Cape1996 Goode BehaviorInkMay 20The Burning ZoneRoseanne (returned in 2018)1988May 21Wings1990May 22Moloney1996May 30Caryl & Marilyn: Real FriendsMay 31Dark SkiesGun1997June 1Freakazoid!1995June 9Married... with Children1987June 14Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman1993June 17Deadly Games1995June 21Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys1996June 25PearlMTV Sports1992June 27Dave's World1993July 2Chicago Sons1997July 18Life... and StuffJuly 22Edgewise1996July 30Pacific Palisades1997August 1Eek! The Cat1992August 9Nightmare Ned1997August 18The Site1996August 22Pappyland1993Spicy City1997August 29The Disney Afternoon1990August 30Hangin' with Mr. Cooper1992The Mask: Animated Series1995September 1Kino's Storytime1992September 5The Gordon Elliott Show1994September 6DuckmanSeptember 7Family Challenge1995September 20X-Men (returned in 2024)1992September 26Lamb Chop's Play-AlongSeptember 27The Legend of Calamity Jane1997October 5Remember This?1996October 12The Big EasyOctober 24Meego1997October 28Head over Heels November 4Over the TopNovember 11Hitz November 16Aaahh!!! Real Monsters1994November 19Built to Last1997November 23The Incredible Hulk 1996November 24Power Rangers Turbo1997November 25Mummies Alive! November 28The Grind 1992Beavis and Butt-head (returned in 2011)1993December 4 Eagle Riders1996Extreme Ghostbusters 1997December 6Beakman's World1992The Magic School Bus1994December 10 The Tony Danza Show1997December 12Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?1996December 15Johnny Bravo (returned in 1999)1997December 17Men Behaving Badly1996December 21Weinerville 1993December 24Extreme Dinosaurs 1997December 26Shopping Spree 1996December 27Hee Haw1969 Made-for-TV movies Title Network Date of airingMiss Evers' Boys HBO February 2212 Angry Men Showtime August 17 Northern Lights Disney Channel August 23 Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story CBS September 28 Under Wraps Disney Channel October 25Don King: Only in America HBO November 15What the Deaf Man Heard CBS November 23 Miniseries Title Network PremiereThe Shining ABC April 27Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac CBS May 7/9The Last Don May 11Richmond Ray 1997-05-11 The Last Don https://variety.com/1997/tv/reviews/the-last-don-1117437039/ 2024-01-07 Variety en-USThe Odyssey NBC May 18Rough RidersTNT July 20George Wallace August 24 Shows changing networks Show Moved from Moved to JAG NBC CBSUnsolved Mysteries Family MattersABC Step by StepMuppets TonightDisney ChannelThe Naked Truth NBC Clueless UPN Sweet Valley High Syndication Sliders FoxSci-Fi ChannelMystery Science Theater 3000Comedy CentralPolitically IncorrectABCThe Wonderful World of DisneyDisney Channel Batman: The Animated Series Fox Kids Kids' WBDexter's Laboratory TBS/Cartoon Network Cartoon NetworkBabylon 5PTENTNT Entering syndication this year {|class="wikitable" |-! Show || Seasons || In Production || Source |- |Boy Meets World||4||rowspan="1"|Yes|| |- |Due South||3||rowspan="1"|Yes|| |- |Frasier||4|| rowspan="1" 1 |Yes|| |- |Grace Under Fire||4|| rowspan="1" 1 |Yes|| |- |Living Single||4|| rowspan="1" 1 |Yes|| |- |NYPD Blue||4|| rowspan="1" 1 |Yes|| |- |Walker, Texas Ranger||5|| rowspan="1" 1 |Yes|| |- |The X-Files||4|| rowspan="1" 1 |Yes|| |} Networks and services Launches Network Type Launch date Notes Source Fox Sports West 2 Cable and satellite January 27 BET Movies: Starz! (3) Cable and satellite February 1 CBS Eye on People Cable and satellite March 31 CBS Eye on People launches in 2 million homes with fourteen original programs supplied by CBS News, including live talk show Off 10th, 60 Minutes More, and 48 Hours Later. The channel received low carriage, and was later sold to Discovery Communications before being closed. Fox Sports Detroit Cable and satellite September 17 In 1997, News Corporation it would launch a Fox Sports network in Michigan, and won a surprise bid for local cable television rights to Detroit Pistons games. Fox Sports Detroit then acquired broadcast rights to Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers games from competitor Pro-Am Sports System, and launched on September 17 for the NHL and MLB seasons. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia Cable television October 1 Fox Sports World Cable and satellite November 1 Conversions and rebrandings Old network name New network name Type Conversion Date Notes SourceEncore+Plex: Encore 1Cable and satelliteJanuary 1Plex: Encore 1 replaced both Encore+, and Intro Television, which showed sampler blocks of different cable networks. Like Encore+, Plex aired programs from a different Encore multiplex channel each day. Plex rebranded as MoviePlex in October. Closures NetworkTypeEnd dateNotesSourcesNewSportCable and satelliteJuly 9NewSport, a 24-hour sports news channel owned by Rainbow Programming Holdings, had struggled to receive carriage throughout its run, receiving only 10 million subscribers at its peak. NewSport's slow growth compared to competitor ESPNews resulted in Rainbow closing NewSport on July 9.PRISMCable televisionOctober 1SportsChannel PhiladelphiaCable and satelliteOctober 1Pro-Am Sports SystemCable and satelliteNovember 1In 1997, Fox/Liberty Networks won an unexpected bid for the local cable television rights to Detroit Red Wings games from Pro-Am Sports System, then announced plans to launch a regional sports network to compete with PASS. Fox Sports Detroit won a bid for broadcast rights to the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Tigers contracts on August 26. On August 30, PASS owner Post-Newsweek sold its remaining Tigers and Pistons contracts and sportscaster John Keating's contract to Fox Sports Detroit before its launch, then shut down Pro-Am Sports System at midnight on November 1, 1997. Network One Over-the-air multicast November 13 Television stations Station launches Date City of license/Market Station Channel Affiliation January 4 Eagle River/Rhinelander/Wausau, Wisconsin WYOW 34 ABC January 24 Vero Beach/West Palm Beach, Florida W10CI 10 January 27 Union City, Tennessee W41CD 41 Independent February 7 San Luis Obispo, California KTAS 33 Univision February 9 Orange Park/Jacksonville, Florida WJXX 25 ABC February 18 Laredo, Texas K15EZ 15 TBN Enlace USA March 2 Worthington, Minnesota KSMN 15 PBS (part of Pioneer Public Television) March 7 Fajardo, Puerto Rico WRUA 34 Religious independent (satellite of WECN) March 13 New York City W22BM 22 The Box March 17 Bryan, Texas K12ON 12 Telemundo March 18 Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas KAZD 55 Independent March 24 Snyder/Abilene, Texas KPCB 17 God's Learning Channel March 27 Ely, Nevada KENV 10 NBC April 14 Providence, Rhode Island(New Bedford, Massachusetts) WLWC 28 UPN/The WB May Bozeman, Montana KWYB-LP 28 ABC May 3 Cedar Rapids, Iowa KTVC 48 inTV May 16 Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands WATU 23 UPN June 5 Paducah, Kentucky WDKA 49 UPN July 8 Everett/Seattle, Washington KONG 16 Independent July 17 Cheyenne, Wyoming K26ES (translator of KLWY/Casper) 26 Fox August McAllen, Texas K28FL 28 Spanish independent August 13 Lewiston/Portland, Maine WPME 35 UPN August 31 Burlington, Vermont/Plattsburgh, New York WFFF-TV 44 Fox September 15 Columbia, South Carolina WQHB 63 UPN/The WB September 20 Gainesville, Florida WGFL 28 The WB/UPN September 20 Crossville/Knoxville, Tennessee WBXX-TV 20 The WB Gainesville, Florida WGFL 53 October 24 Yuma, Arizona (El Centro, California) KESE-LP 35 Telemundo October 30 Pahrump, Nevada K41CQ 41 Independent November 21 Ellensburg, Washington K39DM 39 Trinity Broadcasting Network December 1 Little Rock, Arkansas KVUT 42 inTV Twentynine Palms, California KVMD 31 America One Unknown date Del Rio, Texas KTRG 28 Independent Guayama, Puerto Rico WIDP 46 Religious independent Maryville/Milwaukee, Wisconsin WWRS-TV 52 TBN San Juan, Puerto Rico WDZE 51 Independent Twin Falls, Idaho K45FK 14 Independent Stations changing network affiliation Market Date Station Channel Prior affiliation New affiliation Campbellsville, Kentucky January 1 WGRB 34 FOX The WB Charleston, South Carolina January 6 WMMP 36 The WB UPN Jacksonville, Florida February 9 WJKS-TV 17 ABC The WBSeattle-Tacoma, Washington June 30 KIRO-TV 7 UPN CBS KSTW 11 CBS UPNBinghamton, New York October 23 WBGH-CA 8 Independent NBC Births Date Name NotabilityJanuary 7Kyle StangerEnglish actor (Lumpy on My Friends Tigger & Pooh)January 9Lauryn McClainActressJanuary 11Cody SimpsonAustralian actor January 17Jake PaulBoxer and actor (Bizaardvark)Jazzy WilliamsActress (WITS Academy)January 21Jeremy ShadaActor (Incredible Crew), Voice actor (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Adventure Time)January 24Jonah BoboVoice actor (Austin on The Backyardigans)Dylan Riley SnyderActor (Kickin' It)February 7Matthew GumleyVoice actor (Benny on Dora the Explorer (2008–14))February 9Kathryn NewtonActress (Gary Unmarried, Supernatural, Halt and Catch Fire) February 10Chloë Grace MoretzActress (My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Carrie, The 5th Wave) February 12Shane BaumelVoice actor (Tipo on The Emperor's New School) February 26Aidan GouldActorFebruary 27Erica HuangVoice actress (June on Little Einsteins)March 2Becky GActress and singerAguila Justino 2014-09-11 9. Becky G: 21 Under 21 (2014) https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/becky-g-21-under-21-2014-6251181/ 2024-09-05 Billboard en-USMarch 3Camila CabelloSingerMarch 11Matreya FedorCanadian actress (Mr. Young)March 16Tyrel Jackson WilliamsActor (The Backyardigans, Lab Rats)March 18Ciara BravoActress (Big Time Rush, Red Band Society, Second Chance)April 5Dominik MysterioPro wrestler2020-08-29 WWE Profile: Dominik Mysterio https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/29768294/wwe-profile-page-dominik-mysterio 2025-07-14 ESPN.com enApril 8Evan MockActor (Gossip Girl)Sadie CalvanoActress (Mom)April 15Maisie WilliamsEnglish actress (Game of Thrones)April 16Tiarnie CouplandAustralian actress (Worst Year of My Life Again)April 24Autumn WendelActress (Every Witch Way)May 9Zane HuettActor (Desperate Housewives)May 21Kevin QuinnActor (Bunk'd)May 30Jake ShortActor (A.N.T. Farm, Mighty Med, Lab Rats: Elite Force, All Night)June 5Denisea WilsonActress (Every Witch Way)June 11Sadie RobertsonActressJune 16Jack PerryPro wrestler and son of Luke Perry2024-03-20 Jack Perry https://www.thesportster.com/tag/jungle-boy/ 2024-10-02 TheSportster enJune 17KJ ApaNew-Zealand actor (Riverdale)June 20Maria LarkActress (Medium)June 21Rebecca BlackSingerJune 26Jacob ElordiAustralian actor (Euphoria)July 2Jackson OdellActor that appeared in The Goldbergs, iCarly, and Modern Family (d. 2018)July 4Daniela NievesVenezuelan-American Actress (Every Witch Way, WITS Academy)July 7Gatlin GreenActress (Heroes Reborn) July 13Leo HowardActor (Kickin' It, Shake It Up) July 20Billi BrunoActress (According to Jim) July 22Field CateActor (Pushing Daisies)August 2Austin TheoryPro wrestler2022-11-28 WWE Profile Page: Austin Theory https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/29202013/theory 2025-07-14 ESPN.com enAugust 5Olivia HoltActress (Kickin' It, I Didn't Do It, Cloak & Dagger)Adam IrigoyenActor (Shake It Up)August 10Kylie JennerActress (Keeping Up with the Kardashians)August 11Alexander MartellaActorAugust 16Piper CurdaActress (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, A.N.T. Farm, I Didn't Do It)August 19Marcello HernándezStand-up comedian (Saturday Night Live)August 24Karoline LeavittWhite House Press SecretaryLeach Maddison 2025-01-29 This 27-year-old woman just made history in the White House https://www.9news.com.au/world/karoline-leavitt-donald-trump-white-house-press-secretary-who-is-she-everything-to-know-explainer/af810283-6579-4f21-adc1-71bdbf96b7e5 2025-04-23 www.9news.com.auAugust 25Bryana SalazActress (Best Friends Whenever) and singerAugust 28Emilia McCarthyCanadian actress (Max & Shred)September 7Dean-Charles ChapmanEnglish actor (Game of Thrones)September 12Sydney SweeneyActress (Everything Sucks!, Euphoria)September 16Elena KampourisActressOctober 6Michael J. WoodardSinger (American Idol, Majors & Minors) and voice actor (I Heart Arlo)Bronson Fred 2018-04-16 'American Idol': Get to Know the First Half of the Top 14 https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/american-idol-top-14-contestants-8342065/ 2024-12-19 Billboard en-USOctober 7Kira KosarinActress (The Thundermans)October 8Bella ThorneActress (Shake It Up, Famous in Love) and singerOctober 10Grace RolekVoice actress (Steven Universe, Steven Universe Future)October 23Zach CallisonVoice actor (Sofia the First, Steven Universe, Steven Universe Future)October 24Kendall Ryan SandersActor (Every Witch Way)Arthur GunnSinger (American Idol)When did Arthur Gunn's first album release? https://genius.com/artists/Arthur-gunn/q/first-album 2024-02-19 GeniusBron BreakkerPro wrestler2025-07-11 Bron Breakker https://www.thesportster.com/tag/bron-breakker/ 2025-07-14 TheSportster enOctober 25Tyler AlvarezActor (Every Witch Way)October 26Rhenzy FelizActor (Runaways)October 28Sierra McCormickActress (A.N.T. Farm)Joy-Anna ForsythActress (19 Kids and Counting, Counting On) and television personalityOctober 29Brynna DrummondCanadian voice actressOctober 31Sydney ParkActress (Instant Mom, Spirit Riding Free)Holly TaylorActressNovember 1Alex WolffActor (The Naked Brothers Band) and singerMax BurkholderActor (My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Parenthood)November 3Carson RowlandActor (I Am Frankie)November 6Jamal RobertsSinger, American Idol season 23 winnerComiter Jordana May 19, 2025 Who Won 'American Idol'? All About Season 23 Champion Jamal Roberts (Who Auditioned 3 Times!) https://people.com/all-about-american-idol-winner-jamal-roberts-11737380 2025-12-13 People.com enNovember 8Christina RobinsonActor (Dexter)November 12Ryan CargillActor (WITS Academy)November 14George SearEnglish actor (Love, Victor)November 26Aubrey JosephActor (Cloak & Dagger) and rapperLuka SabbatActor and model (Grown-ish)December 5Maddie PoppeSinger, American Idol season 16 WinnerDecember 11Taylor HicksonActress (Motherland: Fort Salem)December 15Maude ApatowActress (Euphoria) Deaths Date Name Age NotabilityJanuary 18Adriana Caselotti80Voice actress (Snow White)February 6 Ernie Anderson73Voice actor and announcer (The Carol Burnett Show)February 26 David Doyle67Actor (Bosley on Charlie's Angels and voice of Grandpa Lou Pickles on Rugrats)March 15 Gail Davis71Actress (Annie on Annie Oakley)April 15 Don Bexley87Actor (Bubba on Sanford and Son)May 4 Alvy Moore75Actor (Hank Kimball on Green Acres)May 11 Howard Morton71Character actor (Officer Ralph Simpson on Gimme a Break!)May 18Bridgette Andersen21ActressMay 24Edward Mulhare74Actor (Captain Gregg on The Ghost & Mrs. Muir and Miles on Knight Rider)June 8 Reid Shelton72Actor (1st & Ten: The Championship)June 14 Richard Jaeckel70Actor (Baywatch, Spenser for Hire)June 24Brian Keith75Actor (Uncle Bill on Family Affair)July 1Robert Mitchum79ActorJuly 2James Stewart89ActorJuly 4 Charles Kuralt62Journalist (CBS News Sunday Morning)August 27 Brandon Tartikoff48President of NBCAugust 31 Princess Diana36 Princess of WalesSeptember 9 Burgess Meredith89Actor (The Penguin on Batman)September 17 Red Skelton84Comedian (The Red Skelton Show)October 5Brian Pillman35Professional wrestler October 9 Arch Johnson75Character actor (Camp Runamuck)October 16 Audra Lindley79Actress (Mrs. Roper on Three's Company)October 24 Don Messick71Voice actor (Scooby-Doo)October 30 Sydney Newman80Producer (The Avengers, Doctor Who)November 25 Charles Hallahan54Actor (Hunter)December 18 Chris Farley33Comedian (Saturday Night Live)December 24Toshiro Mifune77Japanese actorDecember 25 Denver Pyle77Actor (Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard)December 31Michael LeMoyne Kennedy39American socialite and son of Robert F. Kennedy Television debuts James Gandolfini – GunNatasha Henstridge – The Outer LimitsNick Offerman – ERRebecca Romijn – FriendsOctavia Spencer – 413 Hope St.Jason Sudeikis – Alien Avengers IIWanda Sykes – The Chris Rock ShowPaz Vega – Menudo es mi padreGoran Visnjic – Olujne tisine 1895-1995Shea Whigham – Ghost StoriesRainn Wilson – One Life to Live'' References 1997 External links List of 1997 American television series at IMDb Category:1990s in American television