1985 In Television ,
Other Events Of 1986 ,
1987 In Television and the
List Of Years In Television .
''For the American network television schedule, please see 1986-87 American Network Television Schedule .''
- January 6 - A Vicks Formula 44 ad premieres, starring Peter Bergman from '' All My Children '', in which he told the viewing audience "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV." This phrase, first used in the early 1970s by Robert Young of '' Marcus Welby, M.D. '' fame, was subsequently parodied in many pop culture references.
- January 28 - NASA 's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft explodes, live on television.
- February 11 - Culture Club lead singer Boy George appears on an episode of '' The A-Team ''.
- February 14 - Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the popular television series '' Miami Vice ''. Zappa portrays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie".
- February 22 - In honor of the 20th anniversary of '' The Monkees '' premiering on television, MTV broadcasts "Pleasant Valley Sunday," a 22-hour marathon of Monkees episodes.
- February - On the Soap Opera '' Search For Tomorrow '', the entire town of Henderson is washed away in a flood. Lead character Joanne Tourneur's ( Mary Stuart ) motel is the only structure in town left standing.
- March 10 - The first advert for a Sanitary Towel is broadcast on British television, on Channel 4 .
- Spring - after four seasons, NBC cancels '' Remington Steele ''. This announcement results in series star Pierce Brosnan being named the newest actor to play James Bond . As a result of the media frenzy surrounding Brosnan's appointment, as well as the corresponding upswing in ''Steele's'' ratings, NBC reverses its decision and announces ''Steele'' will return midway through the 1986-87 season. This results in the Bond film producers withdrawing their offer to Brosnan, though he would reacquire the 007 role in 1995 .
- May 8 - NBC unveils its new Peacock logo.
- May 10 - Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe marries Actress Heather Locklear .
- May 16 - Bobby Ewing is revealed to be alive and showering in his wife Pam's bathroom in the season finale of '' Dallas '', in which it was shown that the entire 1985-86 season was a dream.
- May 22 - Cher calls David Letterman an "asshole" on the air during a taping of '' Late Night With David Letterman ''.
- June 18 - The original Rovers' Return sets are set ablaze on the British Soap Opera '' Coronation Street ''; in the story, the pub was gutted with owner Bet Lynch ( Julie Goodyear ) inside, sleeping.
- June - The Yorkshire Television ITV region becomes the first UK Terrestrial channel to broadcast 24 hours a day, initially simulcasting the Cable Music Video channel Music Box throughout the night. The other ITV regions gradually switch to 24 hour television over the next two years.
- July 18 - A Tornado is broadcast live on KARE TV in Minneapolis when the station's Helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter.
- September 2 - For one week, '' CBS Evening News '' anchor Dan Rather attempts to initiate the use of the word "Courage" as a slogan. The attempt is a failure, and is noticed by other members of the press.
- September 6 - Part One of '' The Trial Of A Time Lord '' is broadcast on BBC1 , marking the return to air of '' Doctor Who '' after an 18-month hiatus.
- October 9 - The Fox Broadcasting Company becomes the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network.
- December 25 - 30.15 million tune in to watch "Dirty" Dennis Watts hand wife Angie her divorce papers in '' EastEnders '', making it the highest rated episode of any soap in British television history.
- ABC becomes the second American station to discontinue use of chime intonations at the beginning of telecasts, as the network moves to satellite feed activation.
- On '' The Facts Of Life '', Charlotte Rae leaves the role of Mrs. Garrett and is replaced by Cloris Leachman , who played Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett's sister.
- Rod Roddy becomes the permanent announcer on the long-running CBS daytime game show The Price Is Right .
- '' Magnum, P.I. '' ( 1980 -1988).
- '' Solid Gold '' (1980-1988).
- '' Dynasty '' ( 1981 -1989).
- '' Entertainment Tonight '' (1981-present).
- '' Falcon Crest '' (1981-1990).
- '' Gimme A Break! '' (1981-1987).
- '' Hill Street Blues '' (1981-1987).
- '' Simon & Simon '' (1981-1988).
- '' Today's Special '' (Canada) (1981-1987).
- '' What Now '' (1982-present)
- '' Timewatch '' ( UK ) (1982-present)
- '' Cagney & Lacey '' ( 1982 -1988).
- '' Capitol '' (1982-1987).
- '' Cheers '' (1982-1993).
- '' Fame '' (1982-1987).
- '' Family Ties '' (1982-1989).
- ''Late Night with David Letterman'' (1982-1993).
- '' Newhart '' (1982-1990).
- '' Remington Steele '' (1982-1987).
- '' Silver Spoons '' (1982-1987).
- '' St. Elsewhere '' (1982-1988).
- '' The Journal '' (Canada) (1982- 1992 ).
- '' Fraggle Rock '' (1983-1988).
- '' Scarecrow And Mrs. King '' (1983-1987).
- ''The A-Team'' (1983-1987).
- '' Webster '' (1983-1989).
- '' The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes '' (UK) (, 1991-1994).
- '' Highway To Heaven '' ( 1984 -1989).
- '' Jeopardy! '' (1964-1975, ).
- '' Kate And Allie '' (1984-1989).
- ''Miami Vice'' (1984-1989).
- '' Mother And Son '' (Australia) (1984-1994).
- '' Murder, She Wrote '' (1984-1996).
- '' Night Court '' (1984-1992).
- '' Punky Brewster '' (1984-1988).
- '' Santa Barbara '' (1984-1993).
- '' Tales From The Darkside '' (1984-1988).
- '' The Bill '' (UK) (1984-present).
- '' The Cosby Show '' (1984-1992).
- '' Who's The Boss? '' (1984-1992).
- '' 227 '' ( 1985 -1990).
- ''EastEnders'' (UK) (1985-present).
- '' Growing Pains '' (1985-1992).
- '' It's A Living '' (1980-1982, ).
- '' MacGyver '' (1985-1992).
- '' Moonlighting '' (1985-1989).
- '' Mr. Belvedere '' (1985-1990).
- '' Neighbours '' (Australia) (1985-present).
- '' Only Fools And Horses '' (UK) (1981-1983, , 1996- 1997 , 2001-2003).
- '' Sally '' (1985- 2002 ).
- '' T-Bag Strikes Again '' (There were various T-Bag series between 1985 and 1992)
- '' The Golden Girls '' (1985-1992).
- '' The Twilight Zone '' ( 1959 -1964, , 2002).
- '' What's Happening Now!! '' (1985-1988).
- '' Loving '' (1983-1995).
- '' Mama's Family '' (1983-1984, ) (returning in Syndication after a two-year gap in production).
- ''Silver Spoons'' moves from NBC to first-run syndication.
- January 14 - Donna Reed , 64, actress.
- January 24 - Gordon MacRae , 64, actor, singer.
- May 28 - Don MacLaughlin , 78, longtime actor on ''As the World Turns''.
- July 15 - Florence Halop , 63, actress with roles on ''St. Elsewhere'' and ''Night Court''.
- August 26 - Ted Knight , 62, actor on '' The Mary Tyler Moore Show '' and '' Too Close For Comfort ''.
- November 2 - Paul Frees , 66, voice actor.
- December 2 - Desi Arnaz , 69, actor, musician famous for his role on '' I Love Lucy ''.
|
