1989 in American television


In 1989, television in the United States saw a number of significant events, including the debuts, finales, and cancellations of television shows; the launch, closure, and rebranding of channels; changes and additions to network affiliations by stations; controversies, business transactions, and carriage disputes; and the deaths of individuals who had made notable contributions to the medium.

Programs

Debuting this year

The following is a list of shows that premiered in 1989.
DateTitleNetwork
January 3The Arsenio Hall ShowSyndication
January 7BordertownCBN Family Channel
January 7USA Up All NightUSA Network
January 9Inside EditionSyndication
January 9The Pat Sajak ShowCBS
January 18A Fine RomanceABC
January 20Father Dowling MysteriesNBC
January 21Dolphin CoveCBS
January 21NightingalesNBC
January 23Couch PotatoesSyndication
January 24Studio 5-BABC
January 28A Man Called HawkABC
January 28Long Ago and Far AwayPBS
January 29Shining Time StationPBS
February 3UnsubNBC
February 28CoachABC
March 1Hard Time on Planet EarthCBS
March 7Anything but LoveABC
March 11COPSFox
March 20HeartlandCBS
March 20Live-InCBS
March 25MenABC
March 26Quantum LeapNBC
March 27GenerationsNBC
April 2Total PanicNickelodeon
April 3Top CardTNN
April 5The Robert Guillaume ShowABC
April 10Nearly DepartedNBC
April 13Dream StreetNBC
April 14The Jim Henson HourNBC
April 18Rescue 911CBS
April 18Have FaithABC
April 22Jesse HawkesCBS
May 1Think Fast!Nickelodeon
June 4McGee and Me!Syndication
June 4Shannon's DealNBC
June 10Tales from the CryptHBO
July 5SeinfeldNBC
July 10Knight & DayeNBC
July 14Hey DudeNickelodeon
August 3Primetime LiveABC
August 12Comic Strip LiveFox
August 17FMNBC
August 20Saved by the BellNBC
August 28Open HouseFox
September 2G.I. Joe: A Real American HeroSyndication
September 4Eureeka's CastleNick Jr.
September 4The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!Syndication
September 5The Joan Rivers ShowSyndication
September 9American GladiatorsSyndication
September 9Captain N: The Game MasterNBC
September 9The Karate KidNBC
September 9BeetlejuiceABC
September 9The Byron Allen ShowSyndication
September 113rd DegreeSyndication
September 12Chicken SoupABC
September 12Life Goes OnABC
September 13WolfCBS
September 16The California Raisin ShowCBS
September 16Dink, the Little DinosaurCBS
September 16Island SonCBS
September 16Rude Dog & the DweebsCBS
September 16Teen SummitBET
September 16Ring RaidersSyndication
September 16Camp CandyNBC
September 17Sister KateNBC
September 17Major DadCBS
September 18Alien NationFox
September 18Everyday with Joan LundenSyndication
September 18Hard CopySyndication
September 18The Famous Teddy ZCBS
September 18The People Next DoorCBS
September 20Top of the HillCBS
September 20A Peaceable KingdomCBS
September 20Doogie Howser, M.D.ABC
September 20The Young RidersABC
September 20The Nutt HouseNBC
September 22BaywatchNBC
September 22HardballNBC
September 22Family MattersABC
September 22Free SpiritABC
September 22SnoopsCBS
September 23Saturday Night with Connie ChungCBS
September 24BookerFox
September 24HomeroomABC
October 2Make the GradeNickelodeon
October 13Mancuso, F.B.I.NBC
November 26America's Funniest Home VideosABC
November 30Ann JillianNBC
December 3True BlueNBC
December 17The SimpsonsFox
December 18First BusinessSyndication

Television debuts