1951 in television
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See also: 1950 in television, other events of 1951, 1952 in television and the list of 'years in television'.
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Events
- May 28 - The US Supreme Court upholds the FCC's approval of the CBS color television system.
- June 25 – CBS presents its first commercial color telecast with Arthur Godfrey, Ed Sullivan, and Faye Emerson.
- June - RCA demonstrates its new electronic color system.
- August 11 - The first baseball games televised in color, a double-header between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves.
- September 4 - The first live transcontinental television broadcast takes place in San Francisco, California from the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference.
- September 22 - The first live sporting event seen coast-to-coast, a college football game between Duke and the University of Pittsburgh, is televised on NBC.
- October 3 - The first live coast-to-coast network telecast of a World Series game.
- December 24 - The first televised opera written for television, Amahl and the Night Visitor, airs on NBC.
- Television broadcasts begin in Argentina.
- Television broadcasts begin in Peru.
- Ernie Kovacs' Time for Ernie and Ernie in Kovacsland television shows premiere. Kovacs pushes the limits of television technology with his use of camera tricks and special effects.
Debuts
- January 3 - Dragnet debuts on NBC (1951-1959).
- July 16 - What's My Line? debuts on BBC Television. It will be one of the top-rated programs for the rest of the decade and make a star of its host, Eamonn Andrews.
- September 3 - The first long-running soap opera, Search for Tomorrow, debuts at 12:30 p.m. on the CBS television network (1951-1986).
- September 24 - Love of Life premieres on CBS (1951-1980).
- October 15 - Television sitcom I Love Lucy debuts on CBS (1951-1957). The ground breaking show is produced on film, instead of being broadcast live. The show also makes Lucille Ball the worlds first major female television star. The show stars Lucille Ball with her real-life husband, Desi Arnaz.
- Television version of Amos & Andy (1951-1953).
- The Roy Rogers Show (1951-1957), debuts on NBC, starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
Television shows
- Muffin the Mule (1946-1955).
- Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960)
- Picture Page (UK) (1936-1939; 1946-1952)
- Cafe Continental (1947-1953).
- Author Meets the Critics (1947-1954).
- Juvenile Jury 91947-1954).
- Kukla, Fran and Ollie (1947-1957).
- Howdy Doody (1947-1960)
- Kraft Television Theater (1947-1958)
- Meet the Press (1947-present)
- Candid Camera (1948-present)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971) (in 1951 it was known as Toast of the Town)
- The Texaco Star Theater (1948-1953)
- Bozo the Clown (1949-present).
- Come Dancing (UK) (1949-1995)
- Martin Kane, Private Eye (1949-1954)
- The Goldbergs (1949-1955)
- The Voice of Firestone (1949-1963)
- Cisco Kid (1950-1956)
- The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958)
- The Jack Benny Show (1950-1965)
- Truth or Consequences (1950-1988)
- What's My Line (1950-1967)
- Your Hit Parade (1950-1959)
- Your Show of Shows (1950-1954)
Births
- January 7 - Helen Worth, British actress.
- January 12 - Rush Limbaugh, radio personality.
- February 15 - Jane Seymour, actress.
- February 16 - William Katt, actor.
- March 13 - Fred Berry, actor.
- April 21 - Tony Danza, actor.
- May 13 - Selina Scott, British television presenter.
- June 10 - Tress MacNeille, voice actress, Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures, The Simpsons.
- June 27 - Julia Duffy, actress.
- July 16 - Lorraine Chase, actress.
- July 17 - Lucie Arnaz, actress, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
- July 23 - Edie McClurg, actress.
- July 24 - Lynda Carter, Wonder Woman actress.
- August 3 - Jay North, child actor.
- August 5 - Jan Francis, actress.
- September 2 - Mark Harmon, actor.
- September 7 - Julie Kavner, actress, Rhoda, The Simpsons.
- September 26 - Robin Askwith, actor.
- October 18 - Pam Dawber, actress.
- December 4 - Patricia Wettig, actress.
- December 5 - Morgan Brittany, actress.