1980 in television (original) (raw)
See also: 1979 in television, other events of 1980, 1981 in television and the list of 'years in television'.
Events
- February 14 - Walter Cronkite announces his retirement from CBS Evening News.
- March 21 - On the season finale of the soap opera Dallas, the infamous character J.R. Ewing is shot by an unseen assailant leading to the catchphrase "Who Shot JR?"
- December 30 - After 26 years, the longest-running prime-time TV series Disney's Wonderful World is cancelled by NBC. It was picked up by CBS the next fall.
- The David Letterman Show debuts on NBC. Letterman's humor does not go over well with a morning audience, and the show is soon cancelled. Letterman would go on to host a late night show two years later.
- U.S. viewers get caught up in the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliff hanger on the soap opera series, Dallas, which is solved on a November 21 episode, drawing a record numbers of viewers.
Popular Television Shows
- Alice (1976-1985)
- All My Children (1970-present)
- Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983)
- Benson (1979-1986)
- Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
- Dallas (1978-1991)
- Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
- Disney's Wonderful World (1954-1983)
- Dr Who (1963-1989)
- The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
- Happy Days (1974-1984)
- The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
- Knots Landing (1979-1993)
- Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
- Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
- Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
- M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
- Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
- The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
- Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
- Sesame Street (1969-present)
- Soap premieres (1977-1981)
- Taxi (1978-1983)
- That's Incredible
- Three's Company (1977-1984)
- The Tonight Show (1954-present)
- WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982)
- The Waltons (1972-1981)
- Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
Ending this year
- Angie (1979-1980)
- Barnaby Jones (1973-1980)
- Love of Life (1951-1980)
- The Rockford Files (1974-1980)
Births
- October 17 - Justin Shenkarow, voice actor ("Harold Berman" from Hey Arnold)
Deaths
- January 29 - Jimmy Durante, actor, singer
- February 13 - David Janssen, actor
- March 5 - Jay Silverheels, actor
- April 29 - Alfred Hitchcock, film director and TV host