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2004 in American television
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In American television during 2004 notable events included television series debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel initiations.
Events
January
Date
Event
7
19
22
*The Apprentice*, a reality show franchise produced by Mark Burnett involving a test of skill to be 'hired' into a company, which was hosted by businessman Donald Trump (who would later become the nation's president in [2016](2016-united-states-presidential-election)), premieres its first episode. David Gould would be the first person fired.
British children's television series *Boohbah* (made by Ragdoll Productions who also made *Teletubbies*) premieres in the US on PBS Kids.
*Who Wants to Be a Millionaire* aired a spin-off of *Who Wants to Be a Super Millionaire* which offered its biggest cash prize in a game show history of $10,000,000. Only one contestant, Robert Essig, won at least $1,000,000 during the run, and no contestants won the top prize of $10,000,000.
February
Date
Event
1
11
14
22
Super Bowl XXXVIII airs on CBS, featuring the halftime show controversy occurring during a performance "Rock Your Body" by Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake over indecency. The incident went viral and gave way to the rise of the term, "wardrobe malfunction"; in the wake of the incident, the Federal Communications Commission strengthened its rules concerning certain types of indecency, while Jackson was temporarily blacklisted from Viacom, CBS' parent company, along with other music websites, as well as having her invitation revoked for the then-upcoming [Grammy Awards ceremony](46th-annual-grammy-awards).
After 23 years, TBS quits using the superstation moniker.
The *True Hollywood Stories* sketch featuring Rick James and Charlie Murphy first airs on *Chappelle's Show*.
Jetix was introduced on Toon Disney and ABC Family, making it the first trade-name to be introduced as an anime-based block.
*Sex and the City* broadcasts its last episode on HBO, "An American Girl in Paris, Part Deux."
March
Date
Event
1
4
8
15
18
On CBS, *The Price Is Right* broadcasts its 6,000th episode.
PBS launched the HD network for the purpose of offering high definition and widescreen content 24 hours per day, seven days per week onto most PBS stations.
Rich Fields debuts as the new announcer for *The Price is Right*, a role he would hold until the end of Season 38.
Tiffany is named the new host of BET's *The Center*. Young Sir, who has been filling in since Amerie left last fall, takes over as the new host of *BET.com Countdown*.
In Casper, Wyoming, independent station/Pax TV affiliate KTWO-TV (having lost NBC to KCWY in September of last year) finally becomes an ABC affiliate after ABC's outgoing affiliate KFNB reaches an agreement with KTWO-TV ending its affiliation three months earlier than scheduled. KFNB then becomes a Fox affiliate, while sister station K26ES (now KWYF-LD) elevates its secondary UPN affiliation to full-time status.
Game Show Network began making the switch to their new rebranding, GSN.
The 57th episode of *The Powerpuff Girls* "See Me, Feel Me, Gnomey" airs in Canada on YTV, having been banned in the United States due to religious controversy.
April
Date
Event
1
4
5
12
16
Nickelodeon celebrates its 25th anniversary.
The *Sesame Street* primetime special "The Street We Live On" premieres on PBS.
The Australian soap *Neighbours* returns to U.S. television for the first time since 1991, on Oxygen.
KLSB-TV in Nacogdoches, Texas, a satellite station of NBC affiliate KETK-TV, separates from its parent station to become a CBS affiliate, returning CBS to the Tyler-Longview market for the first time since KLMG-TV became Fox affiliate KFXK-TV in April 1991. The next day, the Federal Communications Commission approves KLSB-TV's call letter change to the current KYTX.
C-SPAN aired a press conference being held in the White House Rose Garden in which President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke about the war in Iraq and other issues. The event was far more watched than almost any other C-SPAN broadcast of the year, getting "shockingly high" Nielsen ratings. A similar broadcast on March 27 of the previous year was similarly widely viewed.
May
Date
Event
6
9
11
13
15
26
27
28
*Friends* ends its run after 10 years, broadcasting the last episode, "The Last One", on NBC. A spinoff, *Joey*, debuts on NBC the following season.
In CBS, season two contestant Amber Brkish proposed to season four contestant Rob Mariano before naming the former the "Sole Survivor" in the inaugural *All-Stars* season. Four days later, season seven contestant Rupert Boneham was also awarded the $1 million prize after voted for the most popular contestant in the *America's Tribal Council* special aired four days later.
NBCUniversal is founded by General Electric and Vivendi Universal.
*Frasier* broadcasts its last episode on NBC, "Goodnight, Seattle".
Jimmy Fallon makes his last appearance as a cast member of NBC's *Saturday Night Live*, for its season finale. The episode was hosted by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen with a musical performance of J-Kwon.
Fantasia Barrino wins the third season of Fox's *American Idol*. This series also marked the first time it topped viewerships in the television ratings of this season.
Fox announced the cancellation of television special *Seriously, Dude, I'm Gay*, which was intended to air on June 7, 2004. The cancellation followed intense media backlash, such as from GLAAD, over the special's portrayal of gay men; the network attributed the cancellation to "creative reasons".
TechTV merges with G4 to form G4techTV, one of the most controversial mergers of television history as less than a year later, the merged network becomes G4 once again.
June
Date
Event
2
7
10
11
14
18
Ken Jennings of Salt Lake City, Utah, begins a long run as *Jeopardy!* champion.
ABC broadcasts its [final](2004-stanley-cup-finals) NHL game for 17 years, which also turns out to be the last one before the [lockout](2004-05-nhl-lockout) that canceled the league's 2004–05 season. Through ESPN, the network resumes airing NHL games in the [2021-22 season](2021-22-nhl-season).
TBS reintroduces its *Very Funny* campaign.
Major networks cover the state funeral of Ronald Reagan.
The Wild Thornberrys ends with the episode "Eliza Unplugged".
Cartoon Network unveils a new logo for the first time in 11 years and a new branding that involve various animated characters living around a realistic CGI-themed city. The new branding known as "CN City", replaced the previous Powerhouse branding which had been in use for the past 7 years.
Rodney Dangerfield (who appeared more than seventy times as a guest on *The Tonight Show*) makes his final appearance as a talk show guest on CBS' *The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn*. He died on October 5.
July
Date
Event
22
24
27
30
Documentary miniseries *The Staircase* is premiered in an abbreviated version as a special two-hour presentation of ABC's *Primetime Thursday*.
The infamous fight between Jason Varitek and Alex Rodriguez occurs during a Red Sox-Yankees game on Fox. That same night, the Red Sox came back with a two-run walk-off homer by Bill Mueller against closer Mariano Rivera.
During the [Democratic National Convention](2004-democratic-national-convention), Illinois [Senate candidate](2004-united-states-senate-election-in-illinois) (and future president) Barack Obama delivers the [keynote address](2004-democratic-national-convention-keynote-address). The speech is widely praised and is credited for [his victory four years later](2008-united-states-presidential-election).
Rocket Power ends with its two-part finale "The Big Day"
August
Date
Event
1
9
13
15
27
28
30
Rugrats aired its last episode titled "Hurricane Alice".
David Muir resigns as co-anchor of *World News Now* on ABC and is replaced by Ron Corning.
The animated comedy series *Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends* premieres on Cartoon Network starring Grey DeLisle as the voice of Frankie Foster, Keith Ferguson as the voice of Bloo and others.
In Charlottesville, Virginia, NBC affiliate WVIR-TV, long the only commercial station in its market, receives competition for the first time ever when WCAV signs-on as a CBS affiliate. Shortly thereafter, WCAV adds WVAW-LP as an ABC affiliate.
Craig Kilborn ends his five-year run as host of *The Late Late Show*.
PBS Kids Bookworm Bunch ended.
ABC affiliate WDTN in Dayton, Ohio swaps affiliations with NBC affiliate WKEF, reversing a swap that took place in 1980.
September
Date
Event
4
5
11
12
19
21
22
24
28
30
A series premiere promo for the Canadian animated series *Atomic Betty*, which is set to premiere on sister cable network Cartoon Network on September 17, accidentally airs on Kids' WB during the split screen credits of the *Pokémon: Advanced* episode "A Poké-Block Party".
British preschooler's program *Thomas & Friends* comes to PBS Kids as a stand-alone program with Michael Brandon taking over as the narrator.
Higglytown Heroes, created by George Evelyn, Holly Huckins, Denis Morella, Kent Redeker, and Jeff Ulin, airs on Playhouse Disney.
In Chicago, independent station WCIU drops Kids' WB. The city's WB affiliate WGN-TV, which had previously declined the block in favor of newscasts and sitcoms, picks up the block, and thus clears the entire WB schedule for the first time.
The [56th Primetime Emmy Awards](56th-primetime-emmy-awards) are given out on ABC.
Drew Daniel is the winner of the U.S. version of *Big Brother 5* on CBS. Runner-Up Michael "Cowboy" Ellis wins $50,000.
The pilot episode of *Lost* airs on ABC.
Kathleen Herles announces her retirement as voice of Dora on *Dora the Explorer*. Her final episode, "Dora Saves the Mermaids", would not air until November 2007.
Longtime veteran Marcy Walker makes her final appearance on the ABC soap opera *All My Children* after two decades of being affiliated with the program.
President Bush and Senator John Kerry participate in the first of the [2004 presidential debates](2004-united-states-presidential-debates) moderated by Jim Lehrer.
October
Date
Event
2
5
8
11
13
15
20
27
29
Amy Poehler succeeds Jimmy Fallon as Tina Fey's co-anchor of NBC's *Saturday Night Live*s *Weekend Update* skit, making the first *Weekend Update* female duos.
Nickelodeon and its affiliated channels begin debuting special educational programming, Worldwide Day of Play, after the Let's Just Play campaign.
Gwen Ifill moderates the 2004 Vice Presidential debate between Vice President Cheney and Senator John Edwards at Case Western Reserve University.
Charles Gibson moderates the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis.
PBS Kids debuts a programming block targeted at children aged 6–10 entitled PBS Kids Go!, with new shows *Maya & Miguel* and an *Arthur* spinoff, *Postcards from Buster* premiering.
Bob Schieffer of CBS News moderates the final presidential debate at Arizona State University.
Comedian Jon Stewart makes an appearance on *Crossfire* with Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala and calls the show out for "partisan hackery".
Game 7 of the [ALCS](2004-american-league-championship-series) is broadcast on Fox. The [Boston Red Sox](2004-boston-red-sox-season) reverse-sweep the [New York Yankees](2004-new-york-yankees-season) and become the first and (to date) only team in MLB history to come back from being down 3-0 in a playoff series.
The [Boston Red Sox](2004-boston-red-sox-season) win the [World Series](2004-world-series) title for the first time since [1918](1918-world-series), with a total of 86 years. They swept the 105-win [St. Louis Cardinals](2004-st-louis-cardinals-season) in four games. Sox closer Keith Foulke made the final out for underhanding the ball to Doug Mientkiewicz at first base after a grounder by Edgar Rentería (who coincidentally wore Babe Ruth's number 3). This officially marked the end of the Curse of the Bambino.
The fifth and final aired episode of *Dr. Vegas* aired on CBS. This marked the last time that Amy Adams appeared as a regular cast member on a television series, before returning many years later with *Sharp Objects*.
November
Date
Event
1
7
8
9
10
19
23
30
*The Young and the Restless* broadcasts its 8,000th episode on CBS.
*Dallas* airs a third TV movie, *Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork*, on CBS.
Young Sir resigns as host of *BET.com Countdown* and is replaced by recording artist Ray J.
Tiffany resigns as host of BET's *The Center* and is replaced by Julissa.
*Sesame Street* celebrates its 35th anniversary.
*Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi* premieres on Cartoon Network with Janice Kawaye starring as Ami Onuki and Grey DeLisle, previously voicing Frankie Foster in *Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends* as Yumi Yoshimura.
Longtime CBS News anchor and manager editor Dan Rather announces he will step down in March.
After seventy-four consecutive wins, Ken Jennings finally loses on *Jeopardy!*, to competitor Nancy Zerg. Jennings' final cash winnings total is $2,522,700 making him the richest winner of American television history.
December
Date
Event
2
15
16
29
Tom Brokaw resigns as anchorman of *NBC Nightly News* and is replaced by Brian Williams.
CNN's financial news channel, CNNfn, is ended.
*All My Children* broadcasts its 9,000th episode.
Canada's
Rogers Media buys remaining 20% ownership of Rogers Sportsnet from Fox.
General Electric, owner of NBC, purchases Universal Studios from Vivendi, leaving all six U.S. broadcast networks part of a company which also owns a movie studio.
For the first time in its history, Nielsen Media Research, the official American television ratings service, began counting original shows on pay television premium channels in its prime-time ratings. At the time, most of these were broadcast by competitors HBO and Showtime, but Starz has since begun producing original shows.
Programs
Debuts
Date
Debut
Network
January 7
*The Apprentice*
NBC
January 11
*Drake & Josh*
Nickelodeon
January 14
*Seven Little Monsters*
PBS Kids
January 18
*Whoopi's Littleburg*
Nick Jr.
*The L Word*
Showtime
January 19
*Boohbah*
PBS Kids
*My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance*
Fox
January 21
*'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave*
MTV
January 23
*Dave the Barbarian*
Disney Channel
January 26
*The Koala Brothers*
Playhouse Disney
January 28
*College Hill*
BET
February 14
*Power Rangers Dino Thunder*
ABC Family
March 1
*Forever Eden*
Fox
March 3
*Kingdom Hospital*
ABC
March 4
*Pimp My Ride*
MTV
March 5
*The Help*
The WB
March 7
*Nickelodeon Splat!*
Nickelodeon
March 9
*Cracking Up*
Fox
March 10
*Game Over*
UPN
March 12
*Touching Evil*
USA
*Playing It Straight*
Fox
*Wonderfalls*
March 16
*Century City*
CBS
March 17
*The Stones*
March 19
*The D.A.*
ABC
March 21
*Deadwood*
HBO
*Animal Face-Off*
Discovery Channel
April 2
*The Big House*
ABC
April 3
*Danny Phantom*
Nickelodeon
April 7
*The Swan*
Fox
April 12
*Peep and the Big Wide World*
Discovery Kids
April 13
*Showbiz Moms & Dads*
Bravo
April 28
*Shorties Watchin' Shorties*
Comedy Central
May 1
*Megas XLR*
Cartoon Network
May 17
*Superstar USA*
The WB
*On the Cover*
PAX TV
*Colonial House*
PBS
May 27
*Pepsi Smash*
The WB
June 1
*Summerland*
The WB
*Wanna Come In?*
MTV
June 2
*BBQ with Bobby Flay*
Food Network
June 3
*Come to Papa*
NBC
June 4
*TNA iMPACT!*
Fox Sports Net
June 8
*The Jury*
Fox
*Blow Out*
Bravo
June 14
*North Shore*
Fox
*The Casino*
*Next Action Star*
NBC
June 16
*Quintuplets*
Fox
*Method & Red*
*The Ashlee Simpson Show*
MTV
June 18
*Phil of the Future*
Disney Channel
June 20
*Fatherhood*
Nick at Nite
July 1
*Trading Spouses*
Fox
July 6
*Seconds From Disaster*
National Geographic Channel
July 12
*I Love the '90s*
VH1
July 16
*Stargate Atlantis*
Sci Fi
July 18
*Entourage*
HBO
July 21
*Rescue Me*
FX
July 22
*Studio 7*
The WB
July 28
*Amish in the City*
UPN
July 29
*Blue Collar TV*
The WB
July 30
*O'Grady*
The N
July 31
*Justice League Unlimited*
Cartoon Network
August 1
*Stroker and Hoop*
Adult Swim
August 2
*Balderdash*
PAX TV
August 4
*The Player*
UPN
August 10
*Blue's Room*
Nick Jr.
August 13
*Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends*
Cartoon Network
August 21
*Brandy & Mr. Whiskers*
Disney Channel
August 30
*The Jane Pauley Show*
Syndication
August 31
*Curious Buddies*
Nick Jr.
*Father of the Pride*
NBC
September 1
*Hawaii*
September 7
*Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends*
Nick Jr.
September 9
*Joey*
NBC
*Medical Investigation*
September 11
*The Batman*
Kids' WB
*Da Boom Crew*
September 12
*Jack & Bobby*
The WB
*Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide*
Nickelodeon
*Unfabulous*
September 13
*A Place of Our Own*
PBS
*Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan*
National Geographic Channel
*The Insider*
Syndication
*The Tony Danza Show*
*The Benefactor*
ABC
*LAX*
NBC
*Higglytown Heroes*
Playhouse Disney
September 16
*Video Mods*
MTV
September 17
*Atomic Betty*
Cartoon Network
September 18
*Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!*
Jetix
September 20
*Listen Up*
CBS
*Second Time Around*
UPN
September 21
*Rodney*
ABC
September 22
*CSI: NY*
CBS
*The Mountain*
The WB
*Veronica Mars*
UPN
*Lost*
ABC
September 24
*Complete Savages*
*Dr. Vegas*
CBS
September 26
*Clubhouse*
*Wife Swap*
ABC
September 28
*Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County*
MTV
September 29
*Kevin Hill*
UPN
October 2
*Darcy's Wild Life*
Discovery Kids
*Austin Stevens: Snakemaster*
Animal Planet
*Faith Under Fire*
PAX TV
October 3
*Boston Legal*
ABC
*Desperate Housewives*
*Cold Turkey*
PAX TV
October 4
*Model Citizens*
October 5
*BET Style*
BET
*Wanda Does It*
Comedy Central
*Second Verdict*
PAX TV
October 6
*Ghost Hunters*
Sci Fi
*Proof Positive*
*World Cup Comedy*
PAX TV
October 7
*Drew Carey's Green Screen Show*
The WB
*Life as We Know It*
ABC
October 11
*The Backyardigans*
Nick Jr.
*Maya & Miguel*
PBS Kids Go!
*Postcards From Buster*
October 18
*Battlestar Galactica*
Sci Fi
October 19
*The Biggest Loser*
NBC
*He's a Lady*
TBS
October 24
*You've Got a Friend*
MTV
October 25
*Battle for Ozzfest*
October 27
*Center of the Universe*
CBS
*Drawn Together*
Comedy Central
November 3
*Nanny 911*
Fox
November 5
*Cartoon Alley*
TCM
November 7
*Perfect Hair Forever*
Adult Swim
*Huff*
Showtime
*My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss*
Fox
November 8
*ToddWorld*
Ready Set Learn! on TLC and Discovery Kids
November 8
*[$25 Million Dollar Hoax](25-million-dollar-hoax)*
NBC
November 9
*The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best*
Fox
November 14
*Tom Goes to the Mayor*
Adult Swim
November 15
*Date My Mom*
MTV
November 16
*House*
Fox
November 19
*Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi*
Cartoon Network
November 29
*Family Face Off: Hollywood*
Nick at Nite
December 1
*Project Runway*
Bravo
December 15
*Big Man on Campus*
The WB
December 18
*W.I.T.C.H.*
Jetix
Returning this year
Show
Last aired
Previous network
New/Same network
Returning
*House of Mouse*
*Thomas & Friends*
*Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat*
*Teletubbies*
*Little Bear*
Ending this year
Date
Show
Channel
Debut
Status
January 16
*He-Man and the Masters of the Universe*
Cartoon Network
2002
Cancelled
January 23
*Fillmore!*
Toon Disney
January 25
*[10-8: Officers on Duty](10-8-officers-on-duty)*
ABC
2003
January 28
*Becker*
CBS
1998
January 29
*Threat Matrix*
ABC
2003
January 30
*Boston Public*
Fox
2000
*The Handler*
CBS
2003
February 3
*Sabrina's Secret Life*
DIC Kids Network
2003
February 6
*Jake 2.0*
UPN
*Ed*
NBC
2000
*Little Bill*
Nickelodeon
1999
February 7
*Scout's Safari*
Discovery Kids
2002
February 12
*All About the Andersons*
The WB
2003
February 14
*Lizzie McGuire*
Disney Channel
2001
February 22
*Sex and the City* (returned in 2021 as *And Just Like That...*)
HBO
1998
Ended
February 27
*Lloyd in Space*
Toon Disney
2001
Cancelled
February 29
*The Weekenders*
2000
March 3
*'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave*
MTV
2004
March 13
*Hack*
CBS
2002
March 17
*The Mullets*
UPN
2003
March 20
*The Tracy Morgan Show*
NBC
March 25
*The Chris Isaak Show*
Showtime
2001
April 1
*Stripperella*
Spike
2003
April 2
*Game Over*
UPN
2004
April 4
*Home Movies*
Adult Swim
2001
April 6
*It's All Relative*
ABC
2003
April 9
*The D.A.*
2004
*Life with Bonnie*
2002
April 12
*Space Ghost Coast to Coast* (returned in 2006)
Cartoon Network
1994
April 14
*Karen Sisco*
ABC
2003
April 16
*The Help*
The WB
2004
April 20
*Happy Family*
NBC
2003
*Whoopi*
NBC
April 22
*Like Family*
The WB
April 23
*Married to the Kellys*
ABC
April 24
*WWE Confidential*
TNN/Spike TV
2002
April 27
*I'm with Her*
ABC
2003
April 28
*Rolie Polie Olie*
Playhouse Disney
1998
April 29
*The Jamie Kennedy Experiment*
The WB
2002
April 30
*Living It Up! with Ali & Jack*
Syndication
2003
May 1
*The District*
CBS
2000
May 4
*The Guardian*
2001
May 6
*Friends* (returned in 2021 as *Friends: The Reunion*)
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