2003 in television

From Freepedia

This is a list of television-related events in 2003.

Related year entries:

List of years in film 2002 in film 2003 in film 2004 in film

List of years in home video 2002 in home video 2003 in home video 2004 in home video

List of years in television 2002 in television 2003 in television 2004 in television

Contents 1 Events 2 Debuts 3 Television shows 4 Ending this year 5 Changes of Network Affiliation 6 Deaths

Events

• February 9 - After a long delay, BBC Choice is replaced by BBC Three. The opening night is simulcast on BBC Two.
• February 9 & 10 - ITV1 screens the controversial two-part drama The Second Coming, set around the return to Earth of Jesus Christ in modern-day Manchester.
• February 16 - The 300th episode of The Simpsons airs.
• Late February–March - Talk show host David Letterman is forced to take a few weeks off from his Late Show with David Letterman due to a bout of shingles (subsequent Top Ten Lists would occasionally have entries that poked fun at this). A string of celebrities guest host for Letterman while he's away including Bruce Willis, Regis Philbin, Will Ferrell and Elvis Costello.
• April 22 - On All My Children, Bianca Montgomery (Eden Riegel) kisses Lena Kundera (Olga Sosnovska); this is the first lesbian kiss on American daytime television.
• July 14 - Digimon ends with its series finale End of the Line.
• August - Playmakers premieres; cancelled in November
• September 29 - EastEnders brings Dirty Den back from the supposed dead after over a decade.
• September - The much vaunted TV3 rival to RTÉ's The Late Late Show (Ireland), Eamon Dunphy's The Dunphy Show bombs, pulling in less than half the Late Late's viewership. The show is axed in December after only 15 shows.
• September - In an effort to woo Star Trek fans into watching the latest series in the franchise, the producers of UPN's Enterprise launch a season-long story arc, the first time a full season of a Star Trek series has been devoted to one storyline. Three episodes into the new season, as a gesture to win back Trekkers, the series title is changed to the more traditional Star Trek: Enterprise.
• October 3 - The ABC soap opera Port Charles, the spin-off of the popular General Hospital was cancelled due to low ratings after the show was nominated for its first Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Drama Series". It ended in a cliffhanger with characters Alison (Erin Hershey Presley) and Rafe (Brian Gaskill) getting married, Livvie (Kelly Monaco) and Caleb (Michael Easton) slept together and Jamal (Kiko Ellsworth) reveals that his girlfriend is a werewolf.
• October 4 - A live action version of the popular Sailor Moon franchise premieres on Japanese television. The show spreads around the world as fans of the Japanese anime of the same name post whole episodes of the program onto the Internet.
• October 5 - Coronation Street shows its first gay kiss.
• October 23 - Longtime broadcaster on the BBC and ITN, and latterly news anchor on Sky News, Bob Friend retires.
• November 10 - The 4000th episode of Wheel of Fortune since the pairing of host and hostess Pat Sajak and Vanna White airs.
• November 11 - BBC current affairs series Panorama, launched in 1953, becomes the first UK television show to reach its 50th anniversary on air.
• Gary Coleman, former star of Diff'rent Strokes, is one of many candidates for Governor of California in the gubernatorial recall election. He comes in 8th place. Another Hollywood star comes in first: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• November 23 - 40th anniversary of the first broadcast of Doctor Who in the UK. In the weeks leading up to this milestone, the BBC announces that a new series of Doctor Who -- the show last aired as a weekly program in 1989 -- will debut in 2005.

Debuts

• January 22 - Chappelle's Show premieres (2003-2005).
• April - Sonic X premieres on TV Tokyo in Japan, later introduced to the Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV) on September 6 (2003-present).
• May 18 - State of Play (UK), a six-part serial from Paul Abbott, begins its run on BBC One, concluding on June 22. A sequel is planned for 2006.
• May 26 - Unscrewed with Martin Sargent premieres on TechTV (now G4TV (2003-2004).
• June 27 - Dead Like Me premieres (2003-present).
• July 15 - Queer Eye for the Straight Guy premieres (2003-present).
• July 22 - Nip/Tuck premieres (2003-present).
• August 1 - My Life as a Teenage Robot premieres on Nickelodeon (2003-present).
• August 5 - The O.C. premieres on FOX (2003-present).
• September 9 - Whoopi, with Whoopi Goldberg, premieres on NBC (2003-2004).
• September 14- Carnivàle premieres on HBO (2003-2005).
• September 14 - Lilo and Stitch: The Series premieres on ABC Kids (2003-present).
• September 15 - Eve premieres (2003-present).
• September 22 - Las Vegas premieres on NBC (2003-present).
• September 22 - Two and a Half Men premieres on CBS (2003-present).
• September - Cold Case premieres on CBS (2003-present).
• September - Happy Family premieres on NBC (2003-2004).
• September - Hope and Faith premieres on ABC (2003-present).
• September - I'm with Her premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
• September - Joan of Arcadia premieres on CBS (2003-2005).
• September - Navy NCIS premieres on CBS (2003-present).
• September - One Tree Hill premieres on the WB (2003-present).
• September - The Handler premieres on CBS (2003-2004).
• September - Threat Matrix premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
• October 1 - It's All Relative premieres (2003-2004).
• October - Karen Sisco premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
• October - Married to the Kellys premieres on ABC (2003-2004).
• November 7 - Star Wars: Clone Wars premieres on Cartoon Network (2003-2005).
• November - All Grown Up!, a Rugrats spinoff, premieres on Nickelodeon (2003-present).
• November - Xiaolin Showdown premieres on Kids' WB! (2003-present).
• December 8 - Battlestar Galactica premieres on Sky One in the U.K. (2003-present).
• 10-8: Officers on Duty premieres (2003-2004).
• Arrested Development premieres (2003-present).
• Reno 911! premieres (2003-present).
• Romeo! premieres on Nickelodeon (2003-present).
• Superstars returns to BBC1 (1973-1985, 2003-2005).
• Train 48 (Global Television Network in Canada)

Television shows

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951-present).
• Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
• The Sky at Night (UK) (1957-present).
• Blue Peter (UK) (1958-present).
• Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
• Coronation Street (UK) (1960-present).
• Four Corners (Australia) (1961-present).
• It's Academic (1961-present).
• The Late Late Show (Ireland) (1962-present).
• General Hospital (1963-present).
• Top of the Pops (UK) (1964-present).
• Days of Our Lives (1965-present).
• Play School (1966-present).
• The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
• 60 Minutes (1968-present).
• One Life to Live (1968-present).
• Sesame Street (1969-present).
• All My Children (1970-present).
• Monday Night Football (1970-present).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971-present).
• Soul Train (1971-present).
• Emmerdale (UK) (1972-present).
• Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
• The Price Is Right (1972-present).
• Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (1973-present).
• The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
• Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (1974-present).
• Arena (UK) (1975–present).
• Good Morning America (1975-present).
• Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
• the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
• Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
• 20/20 (1978-present).
• Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
• Antiques Road Show (UK) (1979-present).
• Nightline (1979-present).
• This Old House (1979-present).
• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• What Now (1982-present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1984-present).
• The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
• EastEnders (UK) (1985-present).
• Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986-present).
• Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
• Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
• Chucklevision (UK) (1987-present).
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987-present).
• America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
• The American Experience (1988-present).
• Fair City (1988-present).
• Home and Away (1988-present).
• This Morning (1988-present).
• Cops (1989-present).
• The Simpsons (1989-present).
• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• Rugrats (1991-2004).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
• The Red Green Show (1991-present).
• Dateline NBC (1992-present).
• The Real World (1992-present).
• Frasier (1993-2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
• NYPD Blue (1993-present).
• The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
• WWE RAW (1993-present).
• ER (1994-present).
• Friends (1994-2004).
• JAG (1995-present).
• The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004).
• 7th Heaven (1996-present).
• Dexter's Laboratory (1996-present).
• Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005).
• Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).
• Judge Judy (1996-present).
• The Daily Show (1996-present).
• Johnny Bravo (1997-present).
• King of the Hill (1997-present).
• South Park (1997-present).
• Stargate SG-1 (1997-present).
• The Practice (1997-2004).
• The Wonderful World of Disney (1997-present).
• Becker (1998-2004).
• Call For Help (1998-2004).
• Charmed (1998-present).
• Sex and the City (1998-2004).
• That '70s Show (1998-present).
• The King of Queens (1998-present).
• The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2004).
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK) (1998-present).
• Will & Grace (1998-present).
• Angel (1999-2004).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
• Judge Mathis (1999-present).
• Judging Amy (1999-present).
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present).
• Passions (1999-present).
• Rocket Power (1999-present).
• Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape (1999-present).
• SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present).
• Tenacious D (1999-present).
• The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999-2004).
• The Sopranos (1999-present).
• The West Wing (1999-present).
• Third Watch (1999-present).
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (US) (1999-present).
• As Told by Ginger (2000-present).
• Boston Public (2000-2004).
• Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-present).
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000-present).
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present).
• Ed (2000-2004).
• Malcolm in the Middle (2000-present).
• Survivor (2000-present).
• The District (2000-2004).
• The Weakest Link (UK) (2000-present).
• Yes, Dear (2000-present).
• 24 (2001-present).
• According to Jim (2001-present).
• Adult Swim (2001-present).
• Alias (2001-present).
• Braceface (2001-present).
• Fear Factor (2001-present).
• Home Movies (1999, 2001-present).
• JR Digs (Canada) (2001-present).
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-present).
• Lizzie McGuire (2001-2004).
• Lloyd in Space (2001-2004).
• Mutant X (2001-2004).
• My Wife and Kids (2001-present).
• Pop Idol (UK) (2001-present).
• Scrubs (2001-present).
• Six Feet Under (2001-2005).
• Smallville (2001-present).
• Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005).
• The Amazing Race (2001-present).
• The Bernie Mac Show (2001-present).
• The Fairly OddParents (2001-present).
• The Guardian (2001-2004).
• 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (2002-present).
• Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002-present).
• American Dreams (2002-present).
• American Idol: The Search for a Superstar (2002-present).
• Codename: Kids Next Door (2002-present).
• CSI: Miami (2002-present).
• Hack (2002-2004).
• I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (UK) (2002-present).
• Kim Possible (2002-present).
• Less Than Perfect (2002-present).
• Life with Bonnie (2002-2004).
• Spooks (UK) (2002-present).
• The Bachelor (2002-present).
• The George Lopez Show (2002-present).
• The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (2002-2004).
• The Osbournes (2002-present).
• Without a Trace (2002-present).
• The Newsroom (Canada) (1996-1997, 2003-2004).

Ending this year

• April 6 - Clocking Off (UK) (2000-2003).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
• Just Shoot Me (1997-2003).
• Port Charles (1997-2003).
• Dawson's Creek (1998-2003).
• Farscape (1999-2003).
• X-Men: Evolution (2000-2003).
• Futurama (1999-2003).
• Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special Sleepless in Peckham).
• Stargate: Infinity (2002-2003).
• Digimon: Digital Monsters (1999-2003)

Changes of Network Affiliation

• Grounded for Life, from FOX to The WB.

Deaths

• January 12 - Maurice Gibb, 53, actor/songwriter of the Bee Gees.
• January 23 - Nell Carter, actress, singer, of Gimme a Break.
• February 27 - Fred Rogers, TV's "Mister Rogers" of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
• March 22 - Terry Lloyd, news reporter, killed during Iraq War skirmish.
• March 30 - Gaby Rado, news reporter, accidental death while covering Iraq War.
• April 2 - Pat Leavy, Hannah Finnegan in Fair City after being taken ill on set.
• August 3 - Neil Gormet.
• September 11 - John Ritter, known mostly as Jack Tripper from Three's Company, but at the time was involved in the sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter and the cartoon Clifford the Big Red Dog.
• October 4 - James Forlong, dismissed Sky News journalist accused of faking Iraq War report, commits suicide.
• October 21 - Fred Berry, 52, actor (Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs on What's Happening!!).
• October 27 - Rod Roddy, announcer on Press Your Luck, Soap, and, most famously, The Price Is Right.
• November 9 - Art Carney.