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Home > 1981 in television
See also: 1980 in television,
other events of 1981,
1982 in television and the
list of 'years in television'.
1 Events
- January 20 - Comedian Andy Kaufman ruins sketches and starts a brawl live on the air during ABC's Fridays.
- April 11 - Van Halen's lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen marries actress Valerie Bertinelli.
- August 1 - The MTV network debuts on cable television, playing music videos 24 hours a day.
- NovemberNovember is also the letter N in the NATO phonetic alphabet. November is the eleventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 30 days. From the Latin novem for " nine". It was originally the ninth month of the year in the early Roman calendar, w - The DoctorsThe Doctors was a soap opera which aired on NBC from April 1, 1963 to December 31, 1982. There were 5280 episodes produced, with the 5000th episode airing in November 1981. Originally, The Doctors was not supposed to be a conventional soap opera. It first airs its milestone 5000th episode.
- November 2November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. Events 676 Donus becomes Pope. 1772 American Revolutionary War: Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren form the first Committee of Correspondence. - American soap operaTIME cover devoted to soap operas: Dated January 12, 1976, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes of Days of Our Lives are featured with the headline "Soap Operas: Sex and suffering in the afternoon". A soap opera or daytime serial is an ongoing, episodic wo As the World TurnsNovember 2003. As the World Turns (ATWT is the second longest-running American television soap opera, airing each weekday on CBS. It debuted on Monday, April 2, 1956 at 1:30 in the afternoon. Before this show (and The Edge of Night which premiered on the debuts a new opening sequence and theme song for the first time in its 25-year history.
- November 16November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 45 days remaining. Events 534 A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published. 1384 Hedwig is crowned King of Poland, although she is a woman. and November 17 - Luke and Laura's wedding on General Hospital becomes one of the most watched weddings in television history, second only to the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
- December 25 - Chuck Woolery leaves daytime version of Wheel of Fortune after a salary dispute with show producer and creator Merv Griffin. Chuck hosted for almost 7 years.
- December 28 - Pat Sajak takes over hosting duties on Wheel of Fortune for Chuck Woolery and holds that role to date.
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