1981 in television: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

See also: 1980 in television, other events of 1981, 1982 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 20 - Comedian Andy Kaufman ruins sketches and starts a brawl live on the air during ABC's Fridays.
• April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli
• August 1 - The MTV network debuts on Cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day
• November 2 - American soap opera As the World Turns debuts a new opening sequence and theme song for the first time in its 25-year history.
• November 16 and November 17 - Luke and Laura's wedding on General Hospital becomes one of the most watched weddings in television history, second only to the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.

• Dynasty premieres on ABC (1981-1989)
• Entertainment Tonight premieres in syndication (1981-present)
• Falcon Crest premieres on CBS (1981-1990)
• Gimme a Break premieres on NBC (1981-1987)
• Hill Street Blues premieres on NBC (1981-1987)
• SCTV Network 90, a repackaging of the Canadian series SCTV, debuts on NBC (1981-1983)

• Alice (1976-1985)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• Archie Bunker's Place (1979-1983)
• Barney Miller (1975-1982)
• Dallas (1978-1991)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
• Dr Who (1963-1989)
• The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-1985)
• 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)
• The Love Boat (1977-1986)
• Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)
• One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
• Real People (1979-1984)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• 60 Minutes (1968-present)
• Taxi (1978-1983)
• That's Incredible (1980-1984)
• Three's Company (1977-1984)
• The Tonight Show (1954-present)
• Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986)
• WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-1982)
• Walt Disney (1954-1983, formerly Disney's Wonderful World)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)

• Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
• Eight is Enough (1977-1981)
• The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
• Soap (1977-1981)
• The Waltons (1972-1981)

• Walt Disney moves from NBC to CBS

• January 1 - Holly Willoughby, British television presenter
• June 5 - Jade Goody
• September 5 - Elize Du Toit, British actress

• April 26 - Jim Davis, actor on Dallas (born 1915)
• August 1 - Paddy Chayefsky, writer
• November 25 - Jack Albertson, actor