1968 in television

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The year 1968 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 1968.

For the American TV schedule, see: 1968-69 American network television schedule.

Events

• January 20 – Houston defeats UCLA 71-69 at the Houston Astrodome in what is billed as "The Game of the Century". Syndicated by TVS, it is the first prime-time national broadcast of men's college basketball and helps pave the way for the sport's March Madness.
• January 27 – The Lennon Sisters make their final appearance on The Lawrence Welk Show.
• April 4 – James Brown appears on national television in an attempt to calm feelings of anger in the United States following the assassination of Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.
• April 2 – British singer Petula Clark appears on a US television special on NBC with Harry Belafonte as a guest. An innocent, affectionate gesture between the two during a song (Clark touched Belafonte on the arm) prompts concern from the show's sponsor (Chrysler Corporation) due to the difference in their races, but the scene is aired intact at Clark's insistence. The special airs to high ratings and marks the first time two different races share friendly bodily contact on American television.
• April 6 – The Eurovision Song Contest 1968 is held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. It's the first ESC to be televised in colour.
• May 2 – The Israel Broadcasting Authority commences television broadcasts.
• May 4 – Mary Hopkin performs on the British TV show Opportunity Knocks. Hopkin catches the attention of model Twiggy, who recommends her to Beatle Paul McCartney. McCartney soon signs Hopkin to Apple Records.
• May 20 – Harlech (which became HTV in 1970) starts its dual service for Wales and the West Country, replacing the interim ITSWW, which had replaced TWW.
• October 14 – First live network transmission of video from inside a manned United States space capsule in orbit ("Apollo 7") There were six such broadcasts during their eleven-day mission.
• October 21 – 25 – Joan Crawford makes a guest appearance for five episodes on the soap opera The Secret Storm, filling in for her ailing daughter, Christina. However, Joan slurs her lines and is obviously intoxicated during the tapings.
• November 17 – NBC breaks away from a pro football game to air a TV movie adaptation of Heidi, sparking furious protest.
• November 22 – William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols share the first interracial kiss on US television in the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren".
• December 3 – Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special airs on NBC, followed by a Brigitte Bardot special.
• December 24 – Apollo 8 broadcasts to the Earth, relaying a report that there is a Santa Claus and reading a passage from the Book of Genesis.

Also in 1968

• Rosemary Prinz, one of the first big soap opera stars, leaves As the World Turns in a less-than-amicable departure.
• Nearly 200 million households now own television sets, 78 million of which are in the US.

Debuts

• January 5 - Gardeners' World debuts on BBC1 in the UK (1968–present).
• January 22 – Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In debuts on NBC (1968–1973).
• February 19 – National Educational Television begins airing Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
• April – Audubon Wildlife Theatre debuts on CBC (1968–1974).
• May 18 – The Prisoner has its US premiere on CBS.
• July 15 – One Life to Live (created by Agnes Nixon) premieres on ABC (1968–present)
• July 30 – Magpie premieres on ITV in the UK (1968–1980).
• July 31 – Popular sitcom Dad's Army begins its nine-year run on BBC1 in the UK (1968–1977).
• September 14 – The Archie Show premieres on CBS Saturday Morning (1968–1969).
  • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour premieres on on CBS Saturday Morning (1968–1971;1975–1978).
• September 17 – Julia premieres on NBC (1968–1971).
• September 21 – Adam-12 premieres on NBC (1968–1975).
• September 22 – Land of the Giants premieres on ABC (1968–1970).
• September 23 – Here's Lucy premieres on CBS (1968–1974).
• September 24 – The Doris Day Show premieres on CBS (1968–1973).
  • The Mod Squad premieres on ABC (1968–1973).
  • 60 Minutes premieres (1968–present) on CBS.
• September 25 – Here Come the Brides premieres on ABC (1968–1970).
• September 26 – Hawaii Five-O premieres on CBS (1968–1980).
• September 29 – Fabeltjeskrant premieres on NOS (1968-1989).

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947–present).
• Candid Camera (1948–present).
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948–1971).
• Bozo the Clown (1949–present).
• Come Dancing (UK) (1949–1995).

1950s

• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988).
• Love of Life (1951–1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951–1986).
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present).
• American Bandstand (1952–1989).
• The Guiding Light (1952–2009).
• The Honeymooners (1952–1970).
• The Today Show (1952–present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953–present).
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953–1983).
• Face the Nation (1954–present).
• The Secret Storm (1954–1974).
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992).
• Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984).
• Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955–1976).
• Gunsmoke (1955–1975).
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955–1982).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955–2003).
• As the World Turns (1956–2010).
• Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956–1978).
• The Edge of Night (1956–1984).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956–present).
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957–present).
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958–present).
• Grandstand (UK) (1958–2007).
• Bonanza (1959–1973).

1960s

• Coronation Street (UK) (1960–present).
• My Three Sons (1960–1972).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961–present).
• It's Academic (1961–present).
• The Avengers (UK) (1961–1969).
• The Mike Douglas Show (1961–1981).
• Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1961 – July 1971).
• Match Game (1962–1969, 1973–1984, 1990–1991, 1998–1999).
• The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962–present).
• The Saint (UK) (1962–1969).
• Z-Cars (UK) (1962–1978).
• Doctor Who (UK) (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present).
• General Hospital (1963–present).
• Petticoat Junction (1963–1970).
• The Doctors (1963–1982).
• Another World (1964–1999).
• Bewitched (1964–1972).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964–1988, 2001–2003).
• Daniel Boone (1964–1970).
• Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964–1970).
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present).
• Peyton Place (1964–1969).
• The Wednesday Play (UK) (1964–1970).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964–2006).
• The Lucy Show" (1962-1968)
• "Here's Lucy' (1968-1974)
• Days of our Lives (1965–present).
• Get Smart (1965–1970).
• Green Acres (1965–1971).
• Hogan's Heroes (1965–1971).
• I Dream of Jeannie (1965–1970).
• The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974).
• Tom and Jerry (1965–1972, 1975–1977, 1980–1982).
• World of Sport (UK) (1965–1985).
• Dark Shadows (1966–1971).
• Family Affair (1966–1971).
• Play School (1966–present).
• Star Trek (1966–1969).
• That Girl (1966–1971).
• Mission: Impossible (1966–1973).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966–present).
• The Newlywed Game (1966–1974).
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978).
• Do Not Adjust Your Set (1967–1969).
• The Flying Nun (1967–1970).
• Ironside (1967–1975).
• Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1967–1973).
• Mannix (1967–1975).
• The Mothers-in-Law (1967–1969).
• The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967–1969).
• Spider-Man (1967–1970).
• The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1971, became Mayberry RFD on September 23 of this year).

Ending this year

• January 15 – The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964–1968).
• February 4 – The Prisoner (UK) (1967–1968).
• March 6 – Lost in Space (1965–1968).
• March 11 – The Lucy Show (1962–1968).
• March 14 – Batman (1966–1968).
• March 25 – The 58th and final episode of The Monkees airs on NBC.
• Armchair Theatre (UK) (1956–1968).
• The Bell Telephone Hour (1959–1968).
• The Stairlit Starways (1961_1968).
• The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968).
• The Mavis Bramston Show (Australia) (1964–1968).
• Ultra Seven (Japan) (1967–1968).

Births

• January 2 – Cuba Gooding, Jr., actor
• January 14 – LL Cool J, actor and rapper
• February 1 – Pauly Shore, actor and comedian
• February 8 – Gary Coleman, actor (d. 2010)
• February 28 – Wendi Peters, actress.
• March 29 – Lucy Lawless.
• April 24 – Stacy Haiduk.
• May 15 – Sophie Raworth, television presenter.
• July 24 – Kristin Chenoweth, actress and singer
• August 9 – Gillian Anderson, British actress (born in the US).
• August 9 – Kate Sanderson, television presenter.
• August 25 – Rachael Ray, author, chef and television host.
• September 20 – Philippa Forrester, television presenter.
• September 21 – Ricki Lake, actress, game show, and talk show hostess
• September 25 – Will Smith, actor and rapper
• October 12 – Hugh Jackman, Australian actor
• November 18 – Owen Wilson, actor
• December 2 – Brendan Fraser, American actor

Deaths

• April 4 – Martin Luther King, Jr., African American civil rights activist
• May 9 – Marion Lorne, actress (Aunt Clara on Bewitched).
• June 7 – Dan Duryea, actor
• October 13 – Bea Benaderet, actress (Kate on Petticoat Junction; the original voice of Betty Rubble on The Flintstones).