1968 in television

See also: 1967 in television, other events of 1968, 1969 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

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

Events

File:PetClark.jpg

The Petula Clark special "Petula" airs April 8, in color, on NBC. Guest star Harry Belafonte.

• 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 8 - 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 (Plymouth Motors) 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.
• May 2 - The Israel Broadcasting Authority commence 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 would soon sign Hopkin to Apple Records.
• October 14 - First live network transmission of video from inside a manned US 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 live broadcast.
• 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.
• Rosemary Prinz, one of the first big soap opera stars, leaves As the World Turns in a less-than-amicable departure.
• CBS uses a portable minicam for political convention coverage.
• December 24 - Apollo 8 broadcasts to the Earth the message that there is a Santa Claus and later reads from Genesis.
• Nearly 200 million households now own television sets, (78 million of which are in the US).

Debuts

• January 22 - Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In debuts on NBC (1968-1973).
• July 15 - One Life to Live (created by Agnes Nixon) premieres on ABC (1968-present).
• July 31 - Popular sitcom Dad's Army begins its nine-year run on BBC1 in the UK (1968-1977).
• September 26-Hawaii Five-O premieres (1968-1980).
• September - Here Come the Brides premieres on ABC (1968-1970).
• September - The Doris Day Show premieres on CBS (1968-1973).
• 60 Minutes premieres (1968-present).
• Here's Lucy premieres (1968-1974).
• Julia premieres (1968-1971).
• Magpie premieres in the UK (1968-1980).
• Mayberry R.F.D. premieres (1968-1971).
• The Mod Squad premieres (1968-1973).

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-present).
• 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-present).
• 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-present).
• 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 (1961-1969).
• 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-present).
• 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).
• 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 Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969).

Ending this year

• February - The Prisoner (UK) (1967-1968).
• March 25 - The 58th and final episode of The Monkees airs.
• Armchair Theatre (UK) (1956-1968).
• The Bell Telephone Hour (1959-1968).
• The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968).
• The Fulton Sheen Program (1961-1968).
• The Lucy Show (1962-1968).
• The Mavis Brampston Show (Australia) (1964-1968).
• Lost in Space (1965-1968).
• Batman (1966-1968).

Births

• February 8 - Gary Coleman.
• February 28 - Wendi Peters, actress.
• March 29 - Lucy Lawless.
• April 24 - Stacy Haiduk.
• May 15 - Sophie Raworth, television presenter.
• August 9 - Gillian Anderson, British actress (born in the US).
• August 9 - Kate Sanderson, television presenter.
• September 20 - Philippa Forrester, television presenter.

Deaths

• May 9 - Marion Lorne, actress (Aunt Clara on Bewitched).
• June 7 - Dan Duryea, actor
• October 13 - Bea Benaderet, actress (Kate on Petticoat Junction).