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1984 in American television
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This article is a list of television-related events during 1984 .
Events
Date Event January 2 January 9 *Something About Amelia*, a story concerning incest, is broadcast by ABC. Glenn Close, Ted Danson, and Roxana Zal are the main actors. January 22 January 23 January 26 January 27 February 1 Lifetime is launched from the merger of Hearst/ABC's Daytime and Viacom's Cable Health Network. In Bakersfield, California, CBS affiliate KPWR-TV changes its call letters to KGET, in preparation for an affiliation swap with NBC affiliate KERO-TV the following month. February 10 February 20 February 25 February 26 CBS airs the network broadcast television premiere of *Star Wars*. February 28 March 9-16 March 16 March 19 March 21 March 25 March 28 April 1 April 7 April May 6 May 8 May 18 May 19 May 20 June 23 June 25 June 27 July 14 July 17 July 23 July 28 July 30 Dallas/Ft. Worth independent station KNBN-TV changes its call letters to KRLD-TV after being bought out by Metromedia. September 9 September 10 September 14 September 16 September 17 September 18 September 20 September 24 CBS affiliate WJKA (now Fox affiliate WSFX-TV) in Wilmington, North Carolina signs-on the air, giving Wilmington in-market affiliates of all three commercial networks. September 27 October 1 Nickelodeon retires their silver pinball logo (although it would continue to be used in sign-offs until early 1985) and begins using the orange splat as their logo. American Movie Classics is initiated. October 7 October 8 October 11 October 12 October 21 October 27 November 10 November 12 December 8 December 15 December 17 The ABC soap opera *One Life to Live* changes its opening sequence and theme song, which lasted until 1991. ABC purchases a majority stake of ESPN from Getty Oil Corp. KLDO-TV in Laredo, Texas signs-on as an ABC affiliate, giving Laredo in-market affiliates of all three commercial networks (it is now an Univision affiliate). December 28 During an interview backstage at Madison Square Garden for the ABC newsmagazine *[20/20](20-20-american-tv-program)*, reporter John Stossel tells professional wrestler David Schultz that he thought pro wrestling was fake. Schultz responds by hitting Stossel in the head twice, knocking him to the floor each time. The attack attracts a large amount of media coverage and is later aired not only on *20/20*, but also on other network outlets. ABC itself later reports receiving more than 1,000 calls from viewers inquiring about Stossel's health.
Programs
Debuting this year
Date Title Network January 3 *Riptide* NBC January 4 *Night Court* January 6 *Blue Thunder* ABC January 20 *The Master* NBC January 22 *Airwolf* CBS January 28 *Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer* March 6 *a.k.a. Pablo* ABC March 19 *Kate and Allie* CBS March 20 *Shaping Up* ABC March 31 *Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous* Syndication April *Video Music Box* WNYC-TV April 4 *Double Trouble* NBC April 12 *The Duck Factory* April 14 *My Little Pony* Syndication June 4 *Danger Mouse* Nickelodeon July 2 *Scrabble* NBC July 13 *Brothers* Showtime July 30 *Santa Barbara* NBC September 5 *Heathcliff* Syndication September 7 *Kids Incorporated* September 8 *Dragon's Lair* ABC *Mighty Orbots* *Turbo Teen* *Challenge of the GoBots* Syndication September 10 *Voltron: Defender of the Universe* September 13 *Glitter* ABC September 14 *Hawaiian Heat* September 15 *Snorks* NBC *Pink Panther and Sons* *The Get Along Gang* CBS *Muppet Babies* *Pole Position* *Pryor's Place* September 16 *E/R* *Miami Vice* NBC *Punky Brewster* September 17 *The Transformers* Syndication September 18 *Hunter* NBC September 19 *Highway to Heaven* September 20 *The Cosby Show* *Who's the Boss?* ABC September 22 *Cover Up* CBS *Hot Pursuit* NBC *Finder of Lost Loves* ABC September 23 *Paper Dolls* September 25 *Three's a Crowd* September 26 *It's Your Move* NBC September 27 *Partners in Crime* September 30 *Tales from the Darkside* Syndication *Murder, She Wrote* CBS October 3 *Charles in Charge* October 7 *Out of Control* Nickelodeon October 8 *Trivia Trap* ABC October 10 *Dreams* CBS October 26 *V* NBC December 30 *Crazy Like a Fox* CBS
Resuming this year
Title Final aired Previous network New title Returning network Date of return *People are Funny* *Showoffs* *Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids* *Jeopardy!* *Let's Make a Deal* *Password Plus*
Changing networks
Show Moved from Moved to *Showoffs* ABC CBS *Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids* CBS Syndication *Jeopardy!* NBC
Ending this year
Date Title Debut March 10 *We Got It Made* (returned in 1987) 1983 April 2 *Automan* April 7 *Mama's Family* (returned in 1986) April 10 *a.k.a. Pablo* 1984 April 16 *Blue Thunder* April 27 *Masquerade* 1983 April 30 *That's Incredible!* 1980 May 15 *Oh Madeline* 1983 May 19 *Fantasy Island* 1978 May 22 *Hart to Hart* 1979 May 28 *One Day at a Time* 1975 June 1 *Tattletales* 1974 June 2 *Whiz Kids* 1983 June 14 *Lottery!* July 4 *Real People* 1979 July 11 *The Duck Factory* 1984 July 27 *Hollywood Squares* (returned in 1986) 1966 August 11 *Boone* 1983 September 1 *Monchhichis* *The Little Rascals* 1982 *Pac-Man* *Richie Rich* 1980 *Rubik, the Amazing Cube* 1983 *The Littles* September 5 *Jennifer Slept Here* September 8 *The Flintstone Funnies* 1982 September 18 *Three's Company* 1977 September 24 *Happy Days* 1974 November 10 *The Puppy's Further Adventures* 1982 December 1 *The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast* 1974 *The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show* 1983 December 8 *Captain Kangaroo* 1955 *Pole Position* 1984 *Pryor's Place* December 11 *AfterMASH* 1983 December 25 *Welcome to Pooh Corner* December 25 *Paper Dolls* 1984 December 28 *The Edge of Night* 1956 December 28 *Hot Pursuit* 1984 December 29 *Partners in Crime* 1984
Entering syndication
Show Seasons In Production Source *Benson* *Bizarre* *Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids* *The Greatest American Hero* *Hart to Hart* *Trapper John, M.D.* *Voyagers!*
Made-for-TV movies and miniseries
Networks and services
Launches
Network Type Closure date Notes Source Sportsvue Cable television April 3 Home Team Sports Network Cable television April 4 American Christian Television System Cable television May 15 NetSpan Cable television June 19 American Movie Classics Cable television October 1 Cable Music Channel Cable television October 26 MGM/UA Premiere Network Cable television November 10
Conversions and rebrandings
Old network name New network name Type Conversion Date Notes Source The Entertainment Channel Arts & Entertainment Channel Cable television February 1 Alpha Repertory Television Service Arts & Entertainment Channel Cable and satellite February 1 Cable Health Network Lifetime Cable television February 1 Daytime and Lifetime Medical Television Lifetime Cable television February 1
Closures
Network Type Closure date Notes Source Mobil Showcase Network Cable television Unknown Spotlight Cable television February 1 Cable Music Channel Cable television November 30
Television stations
Station launches
Date City of License/Market Station Affiliation Channel Notes/Ref. January 21 Santa Fe/Albuquerque, New Mexico KCHF 11 Religious independent January 28 Glenwood Springs, Colorado KCWS 3 Independent February 1 Indianapolis, Indiana WPDS-TV 59 Independent February 14 Fort Walton Beach, Florida WPAN 53 February 18 Nashville, Tennessee WCAY-TV 30 February 22 Green Bay, Wisconsin WSCO 14 Religious independent February 23 Lake Havasu City, Arizona K45AJ 45 Independent February 26 Medford, Oregon KDRV 12 ABC March 5 Greensboro, North Carolina WLXI 61 Independent March 7 Appleton/Green Bay, Wisconsin WBOU 32 March 25 New Orleans, Louisiana WNOL-TV 38 March 30 Seattle, Washington KQFB 20 April 1 Greenville, South Carolina (Spartanburg, South Carolina/Asheville, SC) WHNS 21 April 16 Concord, New Hampshire WNHT 21 April 17 Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas KLTJ 49 TBN May 5 El Paso, Texas KINT 26 Spanish independent May 12 San Angelo, Texas KIDY 6 Independent May 13 Decatur, Illinois (Champaign/Springfield, Illinois) WFHL 23 Religious independent June 1 Columbus, Ohio WTTE 28 Independent June 25 Harlingen/Brownsville/McAllen, Texas KLUJ-TV 44 June 29 Wenatchee, Washington KCWT-TV 27 July 5 Florence, South Carolina WGSE 43 July 8 New Orleans, Louisiana WLAE-TV 32 Educational independent July 10 Lake Havasu City, Arizona K25AL 25 TBN July 24 Hopkinsville, Kentucky W43AG 43 Independent July 31 Las Vegas, Nevada KRLR 21 Independent August Jacksonville, Illinois WJPT 14 PBS August 1 Hagerstown, Maryland WJAL 68 Independent Now licensed to Silver Spring, Maryland August 7 Burlington, North Carolina (Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina) WRDG 16 August 22 Chicago, Illinois W13BE 13 August 28 Lebanon-Nashville, Tennessee WJFB 66 September 9 Toccoa, Georgia WNEG 32 Tyler, Texas KLMG-TV 51 CBS September 10 Greenwood/Anderson, South Carolina WNEH 38 PBS Part of South Carolina Educational Television Jacksonville, Florida W10AX 10 The Box September 14 Hartford, Connecticut WTIC-TV 61 Independent September 23 Dayton, Ohio WRGT-TV 45 September 24 Wilmington, North Carolina WJKA 26 CBS October 1 Bozeman/Butte, Montana KUSM-TV 9 PBS Flagship of Montana PBS Kalamazoo, Michigan (Battle Creek/Grand Rapids, Michigan) WGVK 52 Macomb, Illinois WMEC 22 San Diego, California KTTY 69 Independent October 24 Miami, Florida W30AB 30 PBS Translator of WPBT October 31 Asheville, North Carolina (Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina) WASV 62 Independent Casper, Wyoming KFNB 20 ABC November Columbus, Georgia (Auburn, Alabama) WXTX 54 Independent November 24 Richmond, Virginia WVRN-TV 63 Religious independent November 30 Jackson, Mississippi WDBD 40 Independent December 2 Cotati, California KRCB 22 PBS December 3 Albany, New York WUSV 45 Independent December 15 Flint, Michigan WSMH 66 December 17 Laredo, Texas KLDO-TV 27 ABC December 18 K61CV 61 unknown December 24 Pensacola, Florida (Mobile, Alabama) WJTC 44 Independent December 31 Tucson, Arizona KDTU 18 Unknown date Billings, Montana K05HS 5 Daystar Minneapolis, Minnesota K58BS 58 TBN
Network affiliation changes
Date City of License/Market Station Channel Old affiliation New affiliation Notes/Ref. February 1 Bakersfield, California KGET-TV 17 CBS NBC Unknown date Cheyenne, Wyoming KYCU-TV 5 CBS ABC (primary) NBC (secondary)
Births
Date Name Notability January 2 January 4 January 6 Hilaria Baldwin January 11 January 19 Mickey Sumner January 24 January 25 January 26 February 1 Abbi Jacobson February 3 February 7 February 8 February 11 February 14 February 15 February 19 February 20 Audra Mae February 24 February 28 Melanie Chandra February 29 March 2 March 4 March 7 Nicole Lapin Alex Somers March 10 March 12 March 13 March 14 March 16 March 20 Christy Carlson Romano March 25 March 26 March 28 March 30 March 31 April 2 April 3 April 5 April 6 April 8 Kirsten Storms April 10 Mandy Moore April 11 April 16 April 18 April 19 April 20 Harris Wittels April 21 Desmin Borges April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25 Melonie Diaz April 26 Ryan O'Donohue April 27 April 29 Hallie Jackson Taylor Cole May 1 May 3 May 4 May 8 Van Robichaux May 9 May 12 May 13 May 14 May 17 May 23 May 24 May 27 May 29 Kaycee Stroh May 30 June 1 June 4 June 5 June 6 Brandon Scott Jones June 8 June 10 June 13 June 15 June 17 June 18 Christopher Ragland June 19 June 20 June 22 June 26 June 27 Khloé Kardashian June 30 July 5 July 7 July 8 July 10 Aviva Baumann July 11 Serinda Swan Melanie Papalia Rob Heaps July 12 July 19 Kaitlin Doubleday July 20 July 21 July 23 July 24 July 26 July 27 July 29 Todd Bosley July 30 Gina Rodriguez August 1 August 2 August 3 August 6 August 7 August 10 August 13 August 26 August 27 August 28 Michael Galeota September 1 Ludwig Göransson September 4 September 5 September 7 September 13 September 14 September 16 September 18 Brandon Maxwell September 19 Lydia Hearst September 22 September 23 Anneliese van der Pol September 24 September 25 September 27 September 30 October 1 Josh Brener Sam Saletta October 3 Jessica Parker Kennedy Chris Marquette Nick Wright October 4 James Landry Hébert Nathalie Kelley October 11 October 14 October 17 October 23 October 24 October 25 October 27 Emilie Ullerup October 28 November 12 Jorge Masvidal November 16 November 21 Jena Malone November 22 November 23 Jarah Mariano November 24 November 25 November 28 Trey Songz November 29 December 4 December 10 December 11 December 12 December 14 December 15 December 16 December 17 December 19 December 20 December 22 December 25 December 30
Deaths
Date Name Age Notability February 16 March 1 March 24 March 31 May 2 May 16 June 15 August 8 September 17 September 24 October 18 December 7
References
"The Last Farewell Summary" . CBS Interactive Inc. .(March 16, 1984). "On Top Of It: It's Official" . [[Detroit Free Press]] .
(December 23, 1983). "New TV station coming to the Crescent" . [[The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate .
(March 25, 1984). "WNOL TV signs on: New station lineup has Spock to 'Rocky'" . [[The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate .
(March 23, 1984). "Robert Fransen to head new Channel 29 operation" . [[Saint Paul Dispatch]] .
(May 1, 1984). "Hockey fans pay dearly to see Stars on Spectrum" . [[Minnesota Star Tribune .
(June 6, 1984). "Gunman captive, hostage free after TV station 'apologizes'" . News & Record .
(2005-02-15). "WA LT E*R" . Television Obscurities .
(July 26, 1984). "New KRLD station represents new faces, designs and ideas" . [[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] .
(January 15, 1991). "KLMG-TV will become Fox affiliate" . Longview News-Journal .
(March 29, 1991). "Big changes in store as KLMG, Channel 51 switches to Fox" . Longview News-Journal .
(September 14, 1984). "New TV station causes unhappiness in Lufkin" . Longview Morning Journal .
Salas, Randy A.. (2005-02-08). "TV's 'Miami Vice' is still in fashion" . www.azcentral.com .
(April 15, 1994). "Will become WSFX: WJKA switching affiliation from CBS to Fox Television" . [[Star-News .
(September 20, 1994). "WJKA switches to WSFX, cuts CBS for Fox" . Wilmington Morning Star .
(September 25, 1984). "New station brings CBS-TV to Southeastern N.C." . Wilmington Morning Star .
"CPD: October 7, 1984 Debate Transcript" .Donnelley, Paul. (June 1, 2003). "Fade To Black: A Book Of Movie Obituaries". Omnibus Press .
(October 14, 1994). "Jon-Erik Hexum's Fatal Joke" .
(October 14, 1984). "Actor Wounds Himself On Set of TV Series" . [[The New York Times]] .
"CPD: October 21, 1984 Debate Transcript" .(2006). "WRESTLING IS FAKE (watch before commenting)" . Youtube .
[http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1984/BC-1984-02-13.pdf Broadcasting - Feb. 13, 1984]
"Fantasia Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More" ."Fantasia – The Vogue" .(2022-07-28). "WWE Profile Page - Baron Corbin" .
"Jorge Masvidal (Welterweight) MMA Profile" .Marshall, Alex. (January 19, 2022). "Gaspard Ulliel, French Actor and 'Moon Knight' Star, Dies at 37" . [[The New York Times]] .
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