1986 in television

Table of contents

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

Events

January 28 - NASA's Space Shuttle Challenger spacecraft explodes, live on television.
February 11 - Culture Club lead singer Boy George appears on an episode of The A-Team
February 14 - Frank Zappa appears on an episode of the popular television series Miami Vice. Zappa portrays a crime boss named "Mr. Frankie".
February 22 - In honor of the 20th anniversary of The Monkees premiering on television, MTV broadcasts "Pleasant Valley Sunday," a 22-hour marathon of Monkees episodes.
May 10 - Tommy Lee of M�tley Cr�e marries actress Heather Locklear.
May 22 - Cher calls David Letterman an "A**hole" on the air during a taping of Late Night with David Letterman.
July 18 - A tornado is broadcast live on KARE TV in Minnesota when the station's helicopter pilot makes a chance encounter.
September 8 - A.M. Chicago changes its name to the Oprah Winfrey Show and premieres on national television
October - The FOX Broadcasting Company becomes the United States' fourth commercial broadcast television network.

ALF (1986-1990)
Amen (1986-1991)
Designing Women (1986-1993)
The Disney Sunday Movie (1986-1990) (revival of 1954-1983 series)
Matlock (1986-1995)
Pee-Wee's Playhouse (1986-1991)

Benson (1979-1986)
Diff'rent Strokes (1978-1986)
The Fall Guy (1981-1986)
Knight Rider (1982-1986)
Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986) (soap opera)
Trapper John, M.D (1979-1986)