1977 in television

See also: 1976 in television, other events of 1977, 1978 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Table of contents

1 Events 2 Debuts 3 Popular Television Shows 4 Births 5 Deaths

Events

• January 23-30 - American Broadcasting Company broadcasts the mini series Roots, which sets television ratings records.
• February 4 - American Bandstand celebrates its 25th anniversary on television with an special hosted by Dick Clark. An "all-star band" made up of Chuck Berry, Seals & Crofts, Gregg Allman, Junior Walker, Johnny Rivers, the Pointer Sisters, Charlie Daniels, Doc Severenson, Les McCann, Donald Byrd, Chuck Mangione and three members of Booker T and the MGs perform "Roll Over Beethoven."
• May 10 - South Africa has television service for the first time.
• Chevy Chase leaves the cast of Saturday Night Live to make movies. Chase is replaced by Bill Murray.
• Don Novello first appeared on Saturday Night Live until 1987.

Debuts

• Three's Company premieres (1977-1984)
• Soap premieres (1977-1981)

Popular Television Shows

• Alice (1976-1985)
• All in the Family (1971-1979)
• All My Children (1970-present)
• The Bob Newhart Show (1972-1978)
• The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978)
• Charlie's Angels(1976-1981)
• Dr Who (1963-1989)
• General Hospital (1963-present)
• Happy Days (1974-1984)
• Hawaii Five-O (1968-1980)
• Land of the Lost (1974-1977)
• Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982)
• Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
• Little House on the Prairie (1974-1983)
• Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977)
• M*A*S*H (1972-1983)
• The Muppet Show (1976-1981)
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present)
• Sesame Street (1969-present)
• Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978)
• The Tonight Show (1954-present)
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present)
• The Waltons (1972-1981)
• What's Happening (1976-1979)
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1954-1983)

Births

Deaths

• January 28 - Burt Mustin, actor
• February 28 - Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, comedian
• August 16 - Elvis Presley, musician
• August 19 - Groucho Marx, comedian, television host
• August 22 - Sebastian Cabot, actor
• August 29 - Jean Hagen, actress
• October 14 - Bing Crosby, singer