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The year 1971 involved some significant events in television. Below is a list of notable TV-related events.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
- January 1 – The final cigarette advertisements are televised in the United States, with the final one occurring during that evening's broadcast of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on NBC.
- January 3 – BBC Open University broadcasts begin in the UK.
- January 12 – CBS airs the first episode of All in the Family, with a disclaimer at the beginning of the program warning viewers about potentially offensive content. Within a year, it became television's most popular program, and started a trend toward realism in situation comedies.
- January 27 – Valerie Barlow is electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer, and then perishes in a house fire on Coronation Street.
- February 23 – The Selling of the Pentagon documentary airs on CBS.
- March 2 – On an All in the Family episode, Archie and Edith get brand new next-door neighbors—Michael and Gloria's best friend, Lionel Jefferson (played by Mike Evans) and his parents. The episode marks Isabel Sanford's first appearance as Louise Jefferson; George Jefferson would not be depicted on-screen until 1973 (by Sherman Hemsley).
- March 11 – ABC cancels The Lawrence Welk Show after sixteen years on the network. The show, however, returns to the airwaves in syndication in September, where it would run for another eleven years.
- March 16 - CBS releases its schedule for the fall 1971 season, adding new shows with urban/suburban appeal and cancelling what Pat Buttram would later call "every show that had a tree in it," among them Buttram's Green Acres, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Mayberry R.F.D.[1][2] Two other victims of CBS' "rural purge," Lassie and Hee Haw, would continue in first-run syndication that fall.
- April 3 – RTÉ launches Color television in Ireland with the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, held in Dublin.
- April 4 - PBS airs Peter Paul and Mary's "The Song is Love" movie documentary, directed by the most unlikely of people, horror movie's Tobe Hooper.
- June 7 – The UK children's magazine show Blue Peter buries a time capsule in the grounds of BBC Television Centre; it would be unearthed on the first episode of the year 2000.[3]
- August 1 - The much-acclaimed 6-hour BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII, starring Keith Michell as Henry, makes its U.S. premiere; CBS would air it over 6 consecutive Sundays through September 5.
- September 13 – U.S. network prime time programming shrinks as the original Prime Time Access Rule takes effect. NBC, unable to take advantage, immediately feels the pinch and fails to win any of the 1971–72 season's first thirteen weeks.[citation needed]
- October 2 – Soul Train debuts in syndication.
- October 21 – One-off drama Edna, the Inebriate Woman, starring Patricia Hayes, is shown by BBC One in its Play for Today slot.
- November – Top-rated As the World Turns loses the #1 slot in the daytime Nielsens for the first time since 1959.
- Michael Zaslow first appears as Roger Thorpe on The Guiding Light.
- 60 Minutes (1968–present)
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965–present, aired annually)
- All in the Family (1971–1979)
- ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961–1998)
- All My Children (1970–2011)
- American Bandstand (1952–1989)
- Another World (1964–1999)
- As the World Turns (1956–2010)
- Bewitched (1964–1972)
- Blue Peter (UK) (1958–present)
- Bonanza (1959–1973)
- Bozo the Clown (1949–present)
- Bright Promise (1969–1972)
- Candid Camera (1948–2014)
- Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984)
- Charlie Brown's All-Stars (1966–1972, aired annually)
- Clangers (UK) (1969–1972)
- Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995)
- Coronation Street, UK (1960–present)
- Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
- Dad's Army (UK) (1968–1977)
- Days of Our Lives (1965–present)
- Death Valley Days (1952–1975)
- Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955–1976)
- Doctor Who, UK (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
- Doomwatch (UK) (1970–1972)
- Face the Nation (1954–present)
- Famous Jury Trials (1971–1972)
- Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present)
- General Hospital (1963–present)
- Grandstand (UK) (1958–2007)
- Gunsmoke (1955–1975)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
- Hawaii Five-O (1968–1980)
- Hee Haw (1969–1993)
- Here's Lucy (1968–1974)
- Hockey Night in Canada (1952–present)
- Ironside (1967–1975)
- It's Academic (1961–present)
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966–present, aired annually)
- Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present)
- Kimba the White Lion (1966–1967), re-runs
- Laugh-In (1968–1973)
- Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973)
- Love of Life (1951–1980)
- Love, American Style (1969–1974)
- Magpie (UK) (1968–1980)
- Mannix (1967–1975)
- Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976)
- Mary Tyler Moore (1970–1977)
- McCloud (1970–1977)
- Meet the Press (1947–present)
- The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (UK) (1969-1971)
- Mission: Impossible (1966–1973)
- Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)
- Monday Night Football (1970–present)
- Monty Python's Flying Circus (UK) (1969–1974)
- Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom (1963–1988, 2002–present)
- My Three Sons (1960–1972)
- One Life to Live (1968–2012)
- Opportunity Knocks, UK (1956–1978)
- Panorama, UK (1953–present)
- Password (1962–1967, 1971–1975, 1979–1982, 1984–1989, 2008–)
- Play for Today (UK) (1970–1984)
- Play School (1966–present)
- Professional Bowlers Tour (1962–1997)
- Room 222 (1969–1974)
- Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986)
- Sesame Street (1969–present)
- The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989)
- The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978)
- The Courtship of Eddie’s Father (1969-1972)
- The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974)
- The Dick Cavett Show (1969–1974)
- The Doctors (1963–1982)
- The Doris Day Show (1968–1973)
- The Edge of Night (1956–1984)
- The Flip Wilson Show (1970–1974)
- The Good Old Days, UK (1953–1983)
- The Guiding Light (1952–2009)
- The Late Late Show, Ireland (1962–present)
- The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–1982)
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981)
- The Mod Squad (1968–1973)
- The Money Programme (UK) (1966–present)
- The Newlywed Game (1966–1974)
- The Odd Couple (1970–1975)
- The Partridge Family (1970–1974)
- The Secret Storm (1954–1974)
- The Sky at Night (UK) (1957–present)
- The Today Show (1952–present)
- The Tonight Show (1954–present; 1962–92 as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson)
- The Wonderful World of Disney (1969–79 under this title)
- The World Tonight, Philippines (1962–present)
- This Is Your Life, UK (1955–2003)
- Tom and Jerry (1965–1972, 1975–1977, 1980–1982)
- Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006)
- Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
- What the Papers Say (UK) (1956–2008)
- What's My Line? (1968–1975, syndicated version)
- Where the Heart Is (1969–1973)
- World of Sport (UK) (1965–1985)
- Z-Cars, UK (1962–1978)
Debuts
- January 10 – Masterpiece Theatre on PBS (1971–)
- January 12 – All in the Family on CBS (1971–79)
- April 2 – The Return of Ultraman on TBS in Japan (1971–72)
- April 3 – Kamen Rider on MBS TV and NET in Japan (1971–73)
- April 10 – The Two Ronnies on BBC1 in the UK (1971–87)
- June 19 - Parkinson on BBC1 (1971–82, 1987–88, 1998–2004, then on ITV from 2004 to 2007)
- July 4 - The Cat in the Hat (TV special) on CBS (1971)
- August 1 – The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour on CBS (1971–74)
- September 11 –
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1971–72) and Help! It's the Hair Bear Bunch (1971–74) both on CBS Saturday Morning.
- The Jackson 5ive (1971–73), The Funky Phantom (1971–72), and Lidsville (1971–73), all on ABC Saturday Morning.
- September 15 - Columbo (1971–78) as part of a rotation of detective shows on the NBC Mystery Movie
- September 17 –
- McMillan & Wife on NBC (1971–77)
- O'Hara, U.S. Treasury on CBS (1971–72)
- September 18 – The New Dick Van Dyke Show on CBS (1971–74)
- September 19 – The Jimmy Stewart Show on NBC (1971–72)
- September 21 – The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 (1971–87)
- October 2 – Soul Train, the African-American equivalent to American Bandstand (1971–2006)
- October 10 – Upstairs, Downstairs in the UK on ITV (1971–75, 2010–)
- October 25 – The Electric Company, a skit-based children's program aimed at teaching reading skills, on PBS (1971–77)
T
Ending this year
| Date | Show | Debut |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Headmaster | 1970 |
| January 7 | Nancy | 1970 |
| February 24 | To Rome with Love | 1969 |
| March 4 | Family Affair | 1966 |
| March 19 | That Girl | 1966 |
| March 23 | Julia | 1968 |
| The Beverly Hillbillies | 1962 | |
| March 28 | Hogan's Heroes | 1965 |
| March 29 | Mayberry R.F.D. | 1968 |
| April 2 | Dark Shadows | 1966 |
| April 27 | Green Acres | 1965 |
| May 5 | The Johnny Cash Show | 1969 |
| June 6 | The Ed Sullivan Show | 1948 |
| July 24 | UFO (UK) | 1970 |
| October 22 | What's New | 1959 |
Changes of network affiliation
| Show | Moved from | Moved to |
|---|---|---|
| Hee Haw | CBS | Syndication |
| Lassie | ||
| Let's Make a Deal | ABC | |
| The Lawrence Welk Show | ||
| The Road Runner Show | CBS |
| Date | Name | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| January 2 | Taye Diggs | American actor (Private Practice) |
| January 7 | Kevin Rahm | American actor (Judging Amy, Desperate Housewives, Mad Men) |
| Jeremy Renner | American actor (The Unusuals) | |
| January 11 | Mary J. Blige | American singer and actress |
| Rachelle Wilkos | American television producer | |
| January 12 | Jay Burridge | UK presenter (SMart) |
| January 13 | Sarah Tansey | UK actress (Heartbeat) |
| January 15 | Regina King | American actress (227, Southland, The Boondocks) |
| January 16 | Jonathan Mangum | American actor |
| January 17 | "Silk" | American political conservative political commentator (Fox News, Newsmax TV) |
| January 19 | Shawn Wayans | American actor (In Living Color, The Wayans Bros.) |
| Heather Bambrick | Canadian jazz singer | |
| January 20 | Pixie McKenna | Irish presenter (Embarrassing Bodies) |
| January 24 | Kenya Moore | American actress |
| January 25 | Ana Ortiz | American actress (Devious Maids, Home: Adventures with Tip and Oh) |
| January 26 | Dorian Gregory | American actor (Charmed) |
| January 27 | Guillermo Rodriguez | American talk show personality |
| February 1 | Michael C. Hall | American actor (Six Feet Under, Dexter) |
| Hynden Walch | American actress (Chalkzone, Teen Titans, Adventure Time, Teen Titans Go!) | |
| February 3 | Jayne Middlemiss | UK presenter (Orange Playlist) |
| February 4 | Trent Dawson | American actor (As the World Turns) |
| February 6 | Brian Stepanek | American actor |
| February 8 | Susan Misner | American actress |
| February 9 | Sharon Case | American actress (The Young and the Restless) |
| February 12 | Scott Menville | American actor (Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, Captain Planet and the Planeteers) |
| February 13 | Galen Gering | American actor (Days of Our Lives) |
| February 15 | Alex Borstein | American actress and comedian (Mad TV, Family Guy) |
| February 16 | Amanda Holden | UK actress (Wild at Heart) |
| February 23 | Melinda Messenger | British presenter, model (Live from Studio Five) |
| February 25 | Sean Astin | American actor (Rudy, Special Agent Oso, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and son of Patty Duke |
| Jessica Yellin | American journalist | |
| February 27 | Charles Baker | American actor |
| March 2 | Lisa Lackey | Australian actress (Heroes) |
| March 4 | Shavar Ross | American actor (Diff'rent Strokes, Family Matters) |
| March 5 | Yuri Lowenthal | American voice actor (Ben 10, Legion of Super Heroes, Naruto, Bleach) |
| March 9 | Emmanuel Lewis | American actor (Webster) |
| Kinga Rusin | Polish news presenter | |
| March 10 | Jon Hamm | American actor (Mad Men) |
| March 11 | Johnny Knoxville | American actor, host and stunt performer (Jackass) |
| March 13 | Tracy Wells | American actress (Mr. Belvedere) |
| March 16 | Alan Tudyk | American actor (Firefly, Dollhouse, Suburgatory, Star vs. the Forces of Evil) |
| March 20 | Murray Bartlett | Australian actor (Guiding Light) |
| Alexander Chaplin | American actor (Spin City) | |
| March 22 | Keegan-Michael Key | American actor and comedian (Mad TV, Key & Peele, Playing House) |
| Will Yun Lee | American actor | |
| March 24 | Megyn Price | American actress (Grounded for Life, Rules of Engagement) |
| Tig Notaro | American actress | |
| March 25 | Randall Emmett | American film producer and television personality |
| March 27 | Nathan Fillion | Canadian-American actor (Firefly, Two Guys and a Girl, Castle) |
| April 7 | Tamala Edwards | American television news anchor and reporter |
| April 12 | Nicholas Brendon | American actor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Criminal Minds) |
| Shannen Doherty | American actress (Beverly Hills, 90210, Charmed) (d. 2024) | |
| April 14 | Faith Salie | American actress |
| April 15 | Andrew Daly | American actor and comedian (Mad TV, Review) |
| April 16 | Peter Billingsley | Actor |
| April 17 | Jim Acosta | American broadcast journalist |
| April 18 | Fredro Starr | American rapper and actor (Moesha) |
| April 20 | Brody Hutzler | American soap opera actor |
| April 28 | Simbi Khali | American actress (Martin, 3rd Rock from the Sun) |
| Bridget Moynahan | American actress (Blue Bloods) | |
| May 1 | Shep | British dog actor (Blue Peter) (d. 1987) |
| May 6 | Geneva Carr | American actress |
| May 7 | Ivan Sergei | American actor (Charmed, Crossing Jordan) |
| May 12 | Jamie Luner | American actress (Just the Ten of Us, Melrose Place) |
| May 14 | Deanne Bray | American actress |
| May 26 | Matt Stone | American writer and animator (South Park) |
| May 30 | John Ross Bowie | American actor (Speechless) |
| June 2 | Anthony Montgomery | American actor (Star Trek: Enterprise) |
| June 4 | Noah Wyle | American actor (ER, Falling Skies) |
| James Callis | English actor | |
| June 5 | Mark Wahlberg | American actor and producer (Entourage) |
| Emy Coligado | American actress (Malcolm in the Middle) | |
| June 7 | Brian Anderson | American sportscaster |
| June 8 | Mark Feuerstein | American actor (Prison Break, Royal Pains) |
| June 10 | Reinout Oerlemans | Actor |
| Taylor Armstrong | American television personality | |
| June 15 | Dana Bash | American journalist |
| Jake Busey | American actor | |
| June 16 | Tupac Shakur | American rapper and actor (d. 1996) |
| Eric Stangel | American writer | |
| June 22 | Mary Lynn Rajskub | American actress (24) |
| June 23 | Ron Corning | American television host |
| June 25 | Angela Kinsey | American actress (The Office) |
| June 28 | Benito Martinez | American actor |
| June 29 | Christina Chang | American actress |
| June 30 | Monica Potter | American actress (Parenthood) |
| July 1 | Julianne Nicholson | American actress (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) |
| Melissa Peterman | American actress (Reba) | |
| July 3 | Sway Calloway | American rapper |
| July 4 | Koko | American sign language gorilla (d. 2018) |
| July 5 | Sal Iacono | American comedian |
| July 7 | Christian Camargo | American actor |
| July 8 | Jason L. Riley | American conservative commentator |
| July 9 | Dani Behr | English presenter, actress (I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!) |
| Scott Grimes | American actor (Party of Five, ER, American Dad!) | |
| July 10 | Erika Jayne | American singer |
| July 12 | Kristi Yamaguchi | American professional ice skater (Dancing with the Stars winner) |
| July 15 | Jim Rash | American actor (Community) |
| July 16 | Corey Feldman | American actor |
| July 18 | Penny Hardaway | NBA basketball player |
| July 20 | Sandra Oh | Canadian actress (Grey's Anatomy) |
| July 23 | Steven D. Binder | Screenwriter |
| Alison Krauss | Singer | |
| Eugene Domingo | Actress | |
| July 24 | Patty Jenkins | American film director |
| July 26 | Chris Harrison | American TV host |
| Dan Harris | American journalist | |
| July 27 | Eric Martsolf | American actor and singer (Passions, Days of Our Lives) |
| July 29 | Bryan Dattilo | American actor (Days of Our Lives) |
| July 30 | Tom Green | Canadian comedian (The Tom Green Show) |
| Christine Taylor | American actress (Hey Dude) | |
| July 31 | Eve Best | Actress |
| August 2 | Sukanya Krishnan | American news anchor |
| August 6 | Merrin Dungey | American actress (The King of Queens, Alias) |
| August 9 | Kate Gerbeau | English presenter (Newsround) |
| August 10 | Justin Theroux | American actor (The Leftovers) |
| Fábio Assunção | Actor | |
| August 12 | Michael Ian Black | American comedian and actor |
| Yvette Nicole Brown | American actress (Community) | |
| Rebecca Gayheart | American actress | |
| August 14 | Rhonda Ross Kendrick | Actress |
| Raoul Bova | Actor | |
| August 20 | David Walliams | Actor |
| August 28 | Daniel Goddard | Australian actor (The Young and the Restless) |
| August 29 | Carla Gugino | American actress (Karen Sisco, Threshold) |
| Alex Young | American studio executive | |
| August 31 | Chris Tucker | American actor and comedian (Friday) |
| September 1 | Ricardo Antonio Chavira | American actor (Desperate Housewives) |
| September 2 | Lisa Snowdon | British presenter (Britain's Next Top Model) |
| Katt Williams | Stand-up comedian | |
| September 8 | Brooke Burke | Dancing with the Stars winner (season 7), co-host (seasons 10–17) |
| Martin Freeman | Actor | |
| David Arquette | Actor | |
| September 9 | Natasha Kaplinsky | British presenter (Strictly Come Dancing winner) |
| Eric Stonestreet | American actor (Modern Family) | |
| Henry Thomas | American actor | |
| September 14 | Kimberly Williams-Paisley | American actress (According to Jim) |
| September 15 | Josh Charles | American actor (Sports Night, The Good Wife) |
| Colleen O'Shaughnessey | American actress | |
| September 16 | Amy Poehler | American actress (Saturday Night Live, The Mighty B!, Parks and Recreation) |
| September 17 | Bobby Lee | American actor and comedian (Mad TV) |
| Nate Berkus | American television personality | |
| September 18 | Jada Pinkett Smith | American actress (Gotham) |
| September 19 | Sanaa Lathan | American actress (The Cleveland Show) |
| September 21 | Alfonso Ribeiro | American actor and host (Silver Spoons, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, America's Funniest Home Videos) |
| Luke Wilson | American actor (Enlightened) | |
| Anne-Marie Green | Anchor | |
| September 22 | Adam Ciralsky | American journalist |
| September 23 | Sean Spicer | Former White House Press Secretary (Dancing with the Stars, Newsmax TV) |
| September 25 | Jessie Wallace | British actress (EastEnders) |
| Brian Dunkleman | Actor | |
| September 27 | Amanda Detmer | American actress |
| September 28 | Liza Walker | British actress (Teenage Health Freak) |
| September 29 | Emily Spivey | American actress |
| September 30 | Jenna Elfman | American actress (Dharma & Greg) |
| October 1 | Andrew O'Keefe | Australian television presenter |
| October 1 | Chris Savino | Writer |
| October 5 | Samuel Vincent | Canadian voice actor (Edd on Ed, Edd n Eddy) |
| October 6 | Emily Mortimer | Actress |
| October 11 | Justin Lin | Director |
| October 13 | Sacha Baron Cohen | British comedian (Da Ali G Show) |
| Billy Bush | Television host | |
| October 20 | Snoop Dogg | American rapper and actor (Doggy Fizzle Televizzle) |
| Eddie Jones | NBA basketball player | |
| October 22 | Chris Licht | Producer |
| October 25 | Leslie Grossman | American actress (Popular, What I Like About You) |
| Craig Robinson | American actor and comedian (The Office) | |
| October 29 | Winona Ryder | American actress |
| November 2 | Meta Golding | Haitian-American actress (Criminal Minds) |
| November 5 | Corin Nemec | American actor (Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Stargate SG-1) |
| Dana Jacobson | American host and correspondent | |
| November 10 | John Roberts | American actor (Bob's Burgers) |
| November 12 | Rebecca Wisocky | American actress |
| November 15 | Jay Harrington | American actor |
| November 17 | David Ramsey | American actor (Dexter, Arrow) |
| November 20 | Joel McHale | American actor (Phineas and Ferb, Community) |
| November 21 | Michael Strahan | NFL football player and journalist |
| November 23 | Vin Baker | NBA basketball player |
| Lisa Kushell | American comedian and actress (Mad TV) | |
| Chris Hardwick | American comedian and actor (The X's, Back at the Barnyard, Talking Dead, Sanjay and Craig) | |
| November 24 | Lola Glaudini | American actress (The Sopranos, Criminal Minds) |
| November 25 | Christina Applegate | American actress (Married... with Children, Samantha Who?) |
| "Diamond" | American conservative political commentator (Fox News, Newsmax TV) (d. 2023) | |
| November 27 | Kirk Acevedo | American actor (Oz, Band of Brothers, Fringe, 12 Monkeys) |
| November 29 | Gena Lee Nolin | American actress and model (The Price is Right, Baywatch) |
| December 7 | Stephanie D'Abruzzo | American actress |
| December 14 | Tia Texada | American actress (Third Watch, The Unit) |
| Michaela Watkins | American actress (Saturday Night Live, Trophy Wife, Casual) | |
| Natascha McElhone | British actress | |
| December 25 | Justin Trudeau | Canadian politician[4] |
| December 26 | Jared Leto | American actor (My So-Called Life) |
| December 27 | Savannah Guthrie | American journalist |
| December 28 | Ana Navarro | Nicaraguan-American political commentator (ABC News, CNN, Telemundo, The View) |
| December 30 | Chris Vance | English actor (Prison Break) |
| Date | Name | Age | Notability |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11 | Philo Farnsworth | 64 | Television pioneer |
| March 16 | Bebe Daniels | 70 | Actress (42nd Street) |
| August 27 | Bennett Cerf | 73 | Publisher and game show panelist (What's My Line?) |
| December 12 | David Sarnoff | 80 | Television pioneer |
| December 30 | Melba Rae | 49 | Actress (Search for Tomorrow) |
| December 31 | Pete Duel | 31 | Actor (Alias Smith and Jones) |
- Keith Carradine – Bonanza
- Robert Carradine – Bonanza
- Chevy Chase – The Great American Dream Machine
- Max Gail – Ironside
- Anna Magnani – The Automobile
- Andrea Martin – The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour
- Sam Neill – The City of No
- Katey Sagal – The Failing of Raymond
- Mario Van Peebles – Crosscurrent
- James Woods – All the Way Home
- George Wyner – The Odd Couple
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