1978 in television

Table of contents

1 Events
2 Debuts
3 Popular Television Shows
4 Ending this year
5 Births
6 Deaths

Events

January 28 - The Doobie Brothers make a guest appearance on the television show What's Happening.
February 22 - The Police appear in a television commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum
April 22 - The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on Saturday Night Live. The duo of Jake & Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) was introduced by Paul Shaffer (as Don Kirschner) and performed "Hey Bartender".
April 26 - Ringo Starr's, Ringo, a musical version of The Prince and the Pauper airs on American television. Starr's fellow former Beatle George Harrison provides the narration.
November 17 - The Star Wars Holiday Special airs on CBS. The special gives fans their first glimpse of Boba Fett, a character from the upcoming Star Wars sequel.
The Beatles spoof, The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash airs on television.
Steve Martin performs the original "King Tut" on Saturday Night Live. The song is later released as a single and becomes a hit for the comedian.
April 16-April 19 - Holocaust (miniseries), starring James Wood and Meryl Streep first aired on NBC.

Dallas premieres on CBS (1978-1991)
Diff'rent Strokes premieres on NBC (1978-1986)
Mork & Mindy premieres on ABC (1978-1982)
Taxi premieres on ABC (1978-1983)
WKRP in Cincinnati premieres on CBS (1978-1982)

Alice (1976-1985)
All In The Family (1971-1979)
Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)
Dr Who (1963-1989)
Happy Days (1974-1984)
Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
The Jeffersons (1975-1985)
Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
One Day at a Time (1975-1984)
Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
Sesame Street (1969-present)
Soap (1977-1981)
The Tonight Show (1954-present)
The Waltons (1972-1981)
Three's Company (1977-1984)
What's Happening (1976-1979)
Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
The Wonderful World of Disney (1954-1983)

The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
Maude (1972-1978)
Rhoda (1974-1978)
Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978)