1993 IN TELEVISION

The year '1993 in television' involved some significant events.
Below is a list of television-related events in 1993.
''For the American TV schedule, see: 1993-94 United States network television schedule.''

Contents

Events

Debuts

Television shows

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

Ending this year

Notable made for TV movies and events

Deaths

Events

★ January 1 - Carlton Television takes over the ITV London Weekday franchise at midnight, replacing Thames Television after 24 years. Additionally, Meridian Broadcasting takes over the South of England franchise from TVS, Westcountry Television takes over the South West England franchise from TSW, and GMTV takes over the breakfast television franchise from TV-am.

★ January 1 - The ITC removed the limit on the value of prizes which could be given away on ITV game shows in the UK (set at £6000 per episode since 1981), paving the way for the big money game shows of the late 90s and 2000s.

★ February 9 - Raven-Symone and Mo'Nique Imes joins the cast of ''Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'' on ABC.

★ February 10 - Oprah Winfrey interviews Michael Jackson during a prime time special. It is Jackson's first interview since a 1979 interview with Barbara Walters on ''20/20''.

★ February 26 - The ''Days of Our Lives'' nighttime special ''Night Sins'' airs on NBC.

★ March 6 - An IRA bomb scare at BBC Television Centre means the live Saturday night programme ''Noel's House Party'' cannot be shown. Instead, after a repeat of the previous years ''Noel's Christmas Presents'', host Noel Edmonds is forced to introduce a Tom and Jerry cartoon in its place, ''The Zoot Cat''.

★ March 26 - CBS broadcasts the last new episode of Family Feud with host Ray Combs. The show would go into reruns the following Monday until September 10.

★ April 12 - Actress Lisa Bonet files for divorce from Lenny Kravitz.

★ April 29 - An animated version of Barry White appears on an episode of ''The Simpsons''.

★ May 5 - Senior ''As the World Turns'' cast member Don Hastings hosts a memorial tribute to Douglas Marland, who died suddenly after a botched abdominal surgery procedure. Marland had won the show many Emmy Awards as well as critical acclaim during his eight-year tenure as Head Writer.

★ May 16 - Harnessing Peacocks a television movie starring Serena Scott Thomas is shown on ITV in the UK.

★ May 20 - The fourth season finale of Seinfeld features an hour-long episode with the story arc of the television pilot that Jerry and George wrote coming to fruition.

★ September 16 - Marc Wilmore, Reggie McFadden, Jay Leggett, Carol Rosenthal and Anne-Marie Johnson joins the cast of the final season of In Living Color.

★ October 1 - QVC UK launches in the United Kingdom, becoming the UK's first home shopping channel. The channel had originally launched in the United States in 1986. BSkyB Multichannels starts.

★ October 15- Jewelry TV launches in America as American Collectable Network, a home shopping network.

★ October 20 - Kirsty Wark debuts as anchor on BBC2's ''Newsnight''.

★ November 8 - The first advert for an undertakers is broadcast on British television, during an early evening episode of ''Take the High Road'' on ITV.

★ November 15- Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera joins the cast of ''The New Mickey Mouse Club''.

★ November 23 - 30th anniversary of the first broadcast of ''Doctor Who'' in the UK.

★ December 23 - BBC 2 broadcasts the ''Arena'' special "Radio Night", an ambitious simulcast with BBC Radio 4.

Debuts

★ January 1 - ''Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman'' premieres on CBS(1993-1998)

★ January 3 - '' premieres in syndication

★ January 8 - ''ZZZap!'' debuts on CiTV in the United Kingdom (1993-2001)

★ January 11- ''WWF Monday Night RAW'' debuts on the USA Network (1993-present).

★ January 18 - Scrabble (game show) returns for a 13 week trial with host Chuck Woolery (1993-1999).

★ January 31- '' premieres on NBC (1993-1999)

★ April 21 - ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' premieres on CBS(1993-2001)

★ August 28 - ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'' premieres (1993-1996).

★ March 8- ''Beavis and Butt-head'' begins airing on MTV (1993-1997).

★ March 11- ''Chef!'' premieres on BBC 1 (1993-1996)

★ August 29- ''Living Single ''premieres on Fox (1993-1996)

★ August 30- ''The Late Show with David Letterman'' premieres on CBS (1993-present).

★ September 10 - ''The X-Files'' premieres on FOX (1993-2002).

★ September 11 - '' premieres on NBC.

★ September 12- '' premieres on ABC (1993-1997).

★ September 12- ''seaQuest DSV'' premieres on NBC (1993-1996).

★ September 13- ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' premieres (1993-present).

★ September 13- ''Ricki Lake'' premieres (1993-2004).

★ September 16- ''Frasier'' premieres on NBC (1993-2004).

★ September 18- ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' premieres on ABC (1993-1994).

★ September 18- The short-lived ''Cro'' premieres on ABC (1993-1994).

★ September 18 - ''Two Stupid Dogs'' premieres on TBS (1993-1995)

★ September 21- The controversial ''NYPD Blue'' premieres on ABC (1993-2005).

★ September 24- ''Boy Meets World'' premieres on ABC. (1993-2000)

★ October 10 - ''Ryōri no tetsujin'', later to be known to English-speaking audiences as ''Iron Chef'', premieres on Fuji TV (1993-1999, with specials airing until 2002).

★ October 29 - '' premieres on CBS (1993-2001)

★ November 3- ''The Nanny'' premieres on CBS (1993-1999).

Television shows

1940s

★ ''Meet the Press'' (1947-present).

★ ''Candid Camera'' (1948-present).

★ ''Come Dancing'' (UK) (1949-1995).

1950s

★ ''Hallmark Hall of Fame'' (1951-present).

★ ''Guiding Light'' (1952-present).

★ ''The Today Show'' (1952-present).

★ ''Panorama'' (UK) (1953-present).

★ ''Face the Nation'' (1954-present).

★ ''The Tonight Show'' (1954-present).

★ ''This Is Your Life'' (UK) (1955-2003).

★ ''As the World Turns'' (1956-present).

★ ''What the Papers Say'' (UK) (1956-present).

★ ''The Sky at Night'' (UK) (1957-present).

★ ''Blue Peter'' (UK) (1958-present).

★ ''Grandstand'' (UK) (1958-2007).

1960s

★ ''Coronation Street'' (UK) (1960-present).

★ ''Four Corners'' (Australia) (1961-present).

★ ''It's Academic'' (1961-present).

★ ''The Late Late Show'' (Ireland) (1962-present).

★ ''General Hospital'' (1963-present).

★ ''Another World'' (1964-1999).

★ ''Top of the Pops'' (UK) (1964-2006).

★ ''Days of Our Lives'' (1965-present).

★ ''Play School'' (1966-present).

★ ''The Money Programme'' (UK) (1966-present).

★ ''60 Minutes'' (1968-present).

★ ''One Life to Live'' (1968-present).

★ ''Sesame Street'' (1969-present).

1970s

★ ''All My Children'' (1970-present).

★ ''Monday Night Football'' (1970-present).

★ ''Masterpiece Theatre'' (1971-present).

★ ''Soul Train'' (1971-present).

★ ''Emmerdale'' (UK) (1972-present).

★ ''Newsround'' (UK) (1972-present).

★ ''The Price Is Right'' (1972-present).

★ ''Last of the Summer Wine'' (UK) (1973-present).

★ ''The Young and the Restless'' (1973-present).

★ ''Derrick'' (1974-1998).

★ ''Wish You Were Here...?'' (UK) (1974-present).

★ ''Arena'' (UK) (1975–present).

★ ''Good Morning America'' (1975-present).

★ ''Jim'll Fix It'' (UK) (1975-1994).

★ ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975-present).

★ ''the fifth estate'' (Canada) (1975-present).

★ ''Wheel of Fortune'' (1975-present).

★ ''20/20'' (1978-present).

★ ''Grange Hill'' (UK) (1978-present).

★ ''Antiques Roadshow'' (UK) (1979-present).

★ ''Nightline'' (1979-present).

★ ''This Old House'' (1979-present).

1980s

★ ''Entertainment Tonight'' (1981-present).

★ ''What Now'' (1982-present)

★ ''Timewatch'' (UK) (1982-present)

★ ''Loving'' (1983-1995).

★ ''Jeopardy!'' (1964-1975, '1984-present').

★ ''Mother and Son'' (Australia) (1984-1994).

★ ''Murder, She Wrote'' (1984-1996).

★ ''The Bill'' (UK) (1984-present).

★ ''EastEnders'' (UK) (1985-present).

★ ''Neighbours'' (Australia) (1985-present).

★ ''Only Fools and Horses'' (UK) (1981-1983, '1985-1993', 1996-1997, 2001-2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special ''Fatal Extraction'').

★ ''Sally'' (1985-2002).

★ ''Hey Dad...!'' (Australia) (1986-1994).

★ ''L.A. Law'' (1986-1994).

★ ''Matlock'' (1986-1995).

★ ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' (1986-present).

★ ''Comic Relief'' (UK) (1986-present).

★ ''Casualty'' (UK) (1986-present).

★ ''Beadle's About'' (UK) (1987-1996).

★ ''ChuckleVision'' (UK) (1987-present).

★ ''Full House'' (1987-1995).

★ ''Inspector Morse'' (1987-2000).

★ ''Knightmare'' (UK) (1987-1994).

★ ''Married... with Children'' (1987-1997).

★ '' (1987-1994).

★ ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (1987-1996).

★ ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' (1987-present).

★ ''America's Most Wanted'' (1988-present).

★ ''The American Experience'' (1988-present).

★ ''Fair City'' (1988-present).

★ ''Home and Away'' (1988-present).

★ ''This Morning'' (1988-present).

★ ''Red Dwarf'' (UK) (1988-1999).

★ ''Children's Ward'' (UK) (1988-2000).

★ ''Electric Circus'' (1988-2003).

★ ''Empty Nest'' (1988-1995).

★ ''Family Feud'' (1976-1985, '1988-1995', 1999-present).

★ ''Garfield and Friends'' (1988-1995).

★ ''Murphy Brown'' (1988-1998).

★ ''Roseanne'' (1988-1997).

★ ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (1988-1999).

★ ''Baywatch'' (1989-2001).

★ ''Cops'' (1989-present).

★ ''Family Matters'' (1989-1998).

★ ''Maid Marian and her Merry Men'' (UK) (1989-1994).

★ ''Seinfeld'' (1989-1998).

★ ''Tales from the Crypt'' (1989-1996).

★ ''The Arsenio Hall Show'' (1989-1994).

★ ''The Simpsons'' (1989-present).

1990s

★ ''Major League Baseball on CBS'' (April 14, 1990-October 23, 1993).

★ ''In Living Color'' (1990-1994).

★ ''Law & Order'' (1990-present).

★ ''America's Funniest Home Videos'' (1990-present).

★ ''America's Funniest People'' (1990-1994)

★ ''One Foot in the Grave'' (UK) (1990-2000).

★ ''Road to Avonlea'' (Canada) (1990-1996).

★ ''The Crystal Maze'' (UK) (1990-1995).

★ ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'' (UK) (1984-1988, '1991-1994').

★ ''Doug'' (1991-1994, 1996-1999).

★ ''Home Improvement'' (1991-1999).

★ ''Rugrats'' (1991-2004).

★ ''Sisters'' (1991-1996).

★ ''The House of Eliott'' (UK) (1991-1994).

★ ''The Jerry Springer Show'' (1991-present).

★ ''The Red Green Show'' (Canada) (1991-present).

★ ''The X-Files'' (US) (1993-2002).

★ ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' (1991-1996).

★ ''Absolutely Fabulous'' (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).

★ ''Barney & Friends'' (1992-2002).

★ ''Shortland Street'' (NZ) (1992-present).

★ ''Dateline NBC'' (1992-present).

★ ''Mad About You'' (1992-1999).

★ ''Prime Time News'' (Canada) (1992-1995).

★ ''The Larry Sanders Show'' (1992-1998).

★ ''The Real World'' (1992-present).

★ ''Us Girls'' (1992-April 14, 1993).

★ ''Martin'' (1992-1997).

★ ''TriBeCa'' (1993).

Ending this year

★ January 15 - ''Santa Barbara'' (1984-1993).

★ February 16 - ''Count Duckula'' (UK) (1988-1993).

★ April 4 - ''Watching'' (UK) (1987-1993).

★ April 17 - ''Going Live!'' (UK) (1987-1993).

★ May 12 - ''The Wonder Years'' (1988-1993).

★ May 13 - ''Knots Landing'' (1979-1993).

★ May 20 - ''Cheers'' (Television sitcom) (1982-1993).

★ May 21 - ''Press Gang'' (UK) (1989-1993).

★ May 23 - ''Life Goes On'' (1989-1993).

★ May 24 - ''Designing Women'' (1986-1993).

★ June 4 - ''Blockbusters'' (UK) ('1983-93', 1994-95, 1997, 2000-01).

★ June 18 - ''Late Night with David Letterman'' (1982-1993) (Letterman moves to CBS, ).

★ June - ''Hee Haw'' (1969-1993).

★ July 9 - ''A Different World'' (1987-1993).

★ August 6 - ''Perfect Strangers'' (1986-1993).

★ October 23 - ''Major League Baseball on CBS'' (1990-1993)

★ ''Double Dare'' (1986-1993).

Notable made for TV movies and events

★ September 12 - ''seaQuest DSV'' - a two hour pilot episode starring Roy Scheider and Jonathan Brandis, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Irvin Kershner. It was hyped as "The Television Event of the Year" and was followed by a television series that lasted for three seasons on NBC.

★ December 6 - '' — a $12 million production of the classic stage musical, starring Bette Midler, airs on CBS.

Deaths

★ January 20 - Audrey Hepburn, actress .

★ March 6 - Douglas Marland, writer (''As the World Turns'').

★ March 12 - Ed Jurist, comedy writer (''Bewitched'')

★ March 17 - Helen Hayes, actress.

★ March 27 - Kate Reid, actress (Lillian Trotter on ''Dallas'')

★ April 1 - Jerry Hausner, actor (Jerry the agent on ''I Love Lucy'' and the voice of Waldo in the Mr. Magoo cartoons)

★ April 3 - Pinky Lee, comedian.

★ June 11 - Ray Sharkey, actor.

★ June 30 - George "Spanky" McFarland, actor (''Our Gang'' comedies).

★ July 2 - Fred Gwynne, actor (''The Munsters'', ''Car 54, Where Are You?'')

★ August 16 - Tom Fuccello, actor (Dave Culver on ''Dallas'')

★ September 4 - Hervé Villechaize, actor (Tattoo on ''Fantasy Island'')

★ September 12 - Raymond Burr, actor (''Perry Mason'')

★ October 12 - Leon Ames, actor.

★ October 25 - Vincent Price, actor.

★ November 21 - Bill Bixby, actor (''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'', ''The Incredible Hulk'').

★ November 28 - Garry Moore, Game show host and TV personality (''I've Got a Secret''). (b. 1915)

★ December 4 - Frank Zappa, 52, actor/songwriter.

★ December 16 - Moses Gunn, actor (''Good Times'').