2001 in American television

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The year 2001 in television involved some significant events. Below is a list of television-related events in 2001.

Events

Date	Event
January 1	Digital television officially begins in Australia
	All of HBO's children shows move to HBO Family.
January 18	Channel 4 launches E4, a digital entertainment channel, at 8.15pm.
January 22	News at Ten returns to ITV, having been axed two years earlier. It is once again presented by Trevor McDonald.
March 26	WCW Monday Nitro airs its final show from Panama City Beach, Florida with a simulcast with the WWF's (Now WWE's) Monday Night RAW television show, officially ending a six year ratings battle in professional wrestling known as the Monday Night Wars.
June 18	Luke and Laura Spencer, widely regarded as the soap opera pairing that helped coin the term "supercouple", signed divorce papers on General Hospital, dissolving their fictional two-decade union.
July 11	ONdigital is rebranded ITV Digital.
August 5	RHI Entertainment acquires The Jim Henson Company's half of Odyssey Network.
August 11	ITV in the UK changes its name to ITV1, due to the growing number of other ITV services, including ITV2, ITV Digital, and the ITV Sport Channel, which launches on the same day.
September 1	All four commercial television stations in Vancouver, British Columbia change network affiliations, the largest such change in a single market in television history.
September 3	Discovery Kids Canada launches in Canada.
September 7	BBC Canada, G4 Canada, TV Land Canada and many other Canadian channels launches in Canada.
September 8	Fox airs the final episode of the game show Murder in Small Town X, in which New York City firefighter Ángel Juarbe, Jr. won. Juarbe was killed on Sept. 11 during the collapse of the World Trade Center.
September 11	Viewers around the world witness a terrorist attack on the United States, and the collapse of the Twin Towers towers in New York City, live on television. Additionally, the ABC and NBC affiliates' broadcast towers are knocked out by the attacks, but New Yorkers can still view them on cable and satellite. Most broadcasters abandon regular programming – American networks for more than a week – and numerous major daily talk shows go off the air for several weeks until their hosts feel comfortable in returning to the airwaves.
September 17	The game show Card Sharks is revived with host Pat Bullard, but due to its dramatically different gameplay, it disappears after just 13 weeks. Also, WWF Raw Is War/WWF War Zone becomes just WWF Raw due to the terrorist attacks of September 11.
September 20	Dr. Will Kirby is crowned the winner of Big Brother 2, which was delayed by the attacks of September 11, 2001. Runner-Up Nicole Nilson-Schafrich wins $50,000.
September 21	All four major US networks air America: A Tribute to Heroes a two-hour telethon to raise money for the families of those killed in the attacks.
September 24	The start of the 2001–2002 fall season in the US is delayed as a result of the attacks, with some shows such as The West Wing substituting special episodes dealing with the event in lieu of their originally scheduled season premieres. Some series, such as the military-themed JAG and New York-based Third Watch have to be retooled to encompass the aftermath of the attacks.
Late September	Although they were first seen in 1952 and used by some television news programs ever since, continually scrolling news headlines along the bottom of the screen become commonplace after the Fox News Channel used it to allow viewers to keep track of the latest developments during the attacks.
October 20	Concert For New York: A Tribute To Heroes airs on VH1, with performances by Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Billy Joel and others. It raises funds for the families of those killed in the attacks.
November 5	BBC 2W, a new digital channel for Wales, is launched.
November 19	BBC Two introduces a new set of four computer generated idents at 7.00am, replacing the previous set of over 20 (four of which dating back to 1991). ITV2 rebrands on the same day.
November 30	The Series finale of CG cartoon series ReBoot airs. Finishes on Cliffhanger.
December 22	The pilot for Harry Hill's TV Burp is aired on ITV1. The first full series is shown from November next year.
December 25	Only Fools and Horses returns for the first of three Christmas specials after previously ending in 1996. The special (If They Could See Us Now) gets 21.35 million viewers, the UK's highest rated show in both 2001 and the entire decade as of 2007.
	In addition, several planned series and events were cancelled; most notably, a mini-series planned for spring 2002, which would have united the cast of Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, dealing with a terrorist attack on New York City.
	Canada rolls out dozens of new digital cable channels (see List of Canadian digital television channels for complete list).
	Canadian sports network TSN changes its logo to match with ESPN's though the N isn't slashed.

Debuts

Date	Debut
January 9	The Mole premiers on ABC (2001–2004, 2008)
January 10	Grounded for Life premieres on Fox (2001–2005)
January 12	Lizzie McGuire premieres on Disney Channel (2001–2004).
January 13	Disney's House of Mouse premieres on ABC (2001–2002).
January 20	The New Woody Woodpecker Show premieres on January 20 Bavariannoying / Kitchen Magician / Cheap Seats Woody (Season 2: 2000–2001)
January 27 and 22	The Zeta Project premieres on Kids' WB (2001–2002), later reruns to the Cartoon Network on 2003.On the 22nd, The Book of Pooh preimeres on Playhouse Disney (2001–2003)
February 3	Lloyd in Space premieres on ABC (2001–2004).
February 3	Power Rangers: Time Force premieres on Fox (2001).
February 18	Hyakujuu Sentai Gaoranger premieres on TV Asahi (2001–2002)
March 4	The Lone Gunmen premieres on Fox (2001).
March 28	My Wife and Kids premieres on ABC (2001–2005).
March 30	The Fairly OddParents (2001–present) and Invader Zim (2001–2006) premiere on Nickelodeon.
April 4	That's My Bush! premieres on Comedy Central. The show was cancelled in May.
June 2	Braceface premieres on Fox Family/ABC Family (2001–2006).
June 3	Six Feet Under premieres on HBO (2001–2005).
June 8	Time Squad premieres on Cartoon Network (2001-2003).
June 11	Fear Factor premieres on NBC (2001–2006).
June 12	Witchblade premieres on TNT (2001–2002)
June 20	JR Digs premieres on CHCH in Hamilton, Ontario as a paid advertisement (2001–present).
July 5	Big Brother 2 premieres on CBS (2000–present).
July 7	Ultraman Cosmos premieres on TBS in Japan (2001–2002).
July 28	Cinema Insomnia premieres on KXTV ABC News10 in Sacramento, California (2001–present).
August 10	Samurai Jack debuts on Cartoon Network (2001–2004)
August 11	Cubix: Robots for Everyone premieres on Kids' WB (2001–2003)
August 20	The US dub of Dragon Ball premieres on Cartoon Network (2001–2003).
August 24	Grim & Evil premieres on Cartoon Network (2001–2002).
September 2	Adult Swim, a line-up on Cartoon Network, premieres on that channel (2001–present).
September 3	Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat premieres on PBS (2001–2002).
September 3	One on One premieres on UPN (2001–2006).
September 5	The Amazing Race premieres on CBS (2001–present).
September 17	The short-lived revival of Card Sharks premieres on syndication (2001–2002).
September 22	The Saturday Show premieres on BBC One (2001–2005).
September 22	What's with Andy? premieres on Teletoon (2001–2007)
September 25	The Guardian premieres on CBS (2001–2004).
September 26	Enterprise premieres on UPN. The show was run under this name for the first two seasons; then it was renamed Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005).
September 29	Yu-Gi-Oh! debuts on Kids' WB (2001–2006), along with The Mummy: The Animated Series (2001–2003) and The Nightmare Room (2001–2002).
September 30	Alias premieres on ABC and CTV (2001–2006).
September 30	Law & Order: Criminal Intent premieres on NBC (2001–present).
October 1	Reba premieres on The WB (2001–2007)
October 2	Scrubs debuts on NBC (2001–2010).
October 3	According to Jim, starring James Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith, premieres on ABC (2001–2008).
October 5	Pop Idol premieres in the UK on ITV1; the talent contest becomes an international phenomenon as dozens of countries crown their own Idols (2001–2003).
October 6	Mutant X premieres (2001–2004).
October 14	Men, Women & Dogs premieres on The WB (2001)
October 16	Smallville premieres on the WB (2001–present).
October 22	Pardon the Interruption premieres on ESPN (2001–present).
November 2	Sailor Moon R – The Movie: Promise Of The Rose premieres on Cartoon Network.
November 5	Sooty premieres on ITV1 (2001–2004).
November 6	24 premieres on Fox (2001–2010).
November 8	Living with Lydia debuts on Channel 5 (Singapore)
November 9	Sailor Moon S – The Movie: Hearts In Ice premieres on Cartoon Network.
November 14	The Bernie Mac Show premieres on Fox (2001–2006).
November 16	Sailor Moon SuperS – The Movie: Black Dream Hole premieres on Cartoon Network.
November 17	Justice League premieres on Cartoon Network. (2001–2004)
November 26	Richard & Judy premieres on Channel 4. (2001–2008)
November 29	What Not to Wear premieres on BBC Two. (2001–2007)
December 31	Ransom Premieres on Movie Extra

Television shows

1940s

Meet the Press (1947–present).
Candid Camera (1948–2004).

1950s

Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present).
Guiding Light (1952–2009).
The Today Show (1952–present).
Face the Nation (1954–present).
The Tonight Show (1954–present).
As the World Turns (1956–2010).

1960s

It's Academic (1961–present).
General Hospital (1963–present).
Days of our Lives (US)(1965–present).
Washington Week (1967–present).
60 Minutes (1968–present).
One Life to Live (1968–present).
Sesame Street (1969–present).

1970s

All My Children (1970–present).
Monday Night Football (1970–present).
NBC Nightly News (1970–present).
Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present).
Soul Train (1971–present).
The Price Is Right (1972–present).
The Young and the Restless (1973–present).
Nova (1974–present).
Good Morning America (1975–present).
Saturday Night Live (1975–present).
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (1975–present).
Wheel of Fortune (1975–present).
20/20 (1978–present).
Antiques Roadshow (UK) (1979–present).
Nightline (1979–present).
This Old House (1979–present).

1980s

Lou Dobbs Tonight (1980–2009)
Entertainment Tonight (1981–present).
Nature (1982–present).
What Now (1982–present)
Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1978–1979, 1984–present).
Larry King Live (1985–2010).
National Geographic Explorer (1985–present).
Sally (1985–2002).
The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986–present).
The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present).
48 Hours (1988–present).
America's Most Wanted (1988–present).
American Experience (1988–present).
Fair City (1988–present).
Home and Away (1988–present).
Live with Regis (1988–present).
This Morning (1988–present).
America's Funniest Home Videos (1989–present)
Baywatch (1989–2001).
Cops (1989–present).
Inside Edition (1989–present).
Primetime (1989–present).
The Simpsons (1989–present).

1990s

Law & Order (1990–2010).
Outside the Lines (1990–present).
Sunday Night Baseball (1990–present).
Breakfast with the Arts (1991–2007).
Charlie Rose (1991–present).
Rugrats (1991–2004).
The Jerry Springer Show (1991–present).
The Red Green Show (1991–2005).
American Justice (1992–present).
Barney & Friends (1992–present).
Dateline NBC (1992–present).
Real Sex (1992–present).
The Real World (1992–present).
Up to the Minute (1992–present).
World News Now (1992–present).
Diagnosis: Murder (1993–2001).
Frasier (1993–2004).
Ricki Lake (1993–2004).
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993–2009).
NYPD Blue (1993–2005).
Late Show with David Letterman (1993–present).
The X-Files (1993–2002).
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001).
WWF Raw (1993–present).
All That (1994–2005)
ER (1994–2009).
Friends (1994–2004).
Touched by an Angel (1994–2003).
JAG (1995–2005).
Modern Marvels (1995–present).
Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001).
The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004).
3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001).
7th Heaven (1996–2008).
Arthur (1996–present).
Blue's Clues (1996–2006)
Boxing After Dark (1996–present).
The Daily Show (1996–present).
Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003).
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005).
Hey Arnold! (1996–2004).
The Jamie Foxx Show (1996–2001).
Judge Judy (1996–present).
Moesha (1996–2001)
Nash Bridges (1996–2001).
The O'Reilly Factor (1996–present).
Spin City (1996–2002).
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003).
Dharma & Greg (1997–2002).
Johnny Bravo (1997–2004).
Just Shoot Me! (1997–2003).
King of the Hill (1997–2009).
Port Charles (1997–2003).
Recess (TV series) (1997–2001).
South Park (1997–present).
Stargate SG-1 (1997–present).
The Practice (1997–2004).
The Wonderful World of Disney (1997–2005).
Becker (1998–2004).
Call for Help (1998–2004).
CatDog (1998–2004).
Charmed (1998–2006).
City Confidential (1998–present).
Cold Case Files (1998–present)
Comedy Central Presents (1998–present)
Dawson's Creek (1998–2003).
The King of Queens (1998–2007).
Movie Surfers (1998–present).
NFL on CBS (1956–1994, 1998–present)
Sex and the City (1998–2004).
SMTV Live (UK) (1998–2003).
That '70s Show (1998–2006).
The Famous Jett Jackson (1998–2001).
Pokemon (1998–present).
The Powerpuff Girls (1998–2005).
True Life (1998–present).
Will & Grace (1998–2006).
Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999–present).
Angel (1999–2004).
Family Feud (1976–1985, 1988–1995, 1999–present).
Family Guy (1999–2002, 2005–present).
Farscape (1999–2003).
Futurama (1999–2003).
The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999–2003)
Judge Mathis (1999–present).
Judging Amy (1999–2005).
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present).
Passions (1999–present).
Rocket Power (1999–2004).
Roswell (1999–2002).
Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape (1999–present).
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present).
Tenacious D (1999–present).
Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999–2002).
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999–2004).
The Sopranos (1999–2007).
The West Wing (1999–2006).
Third Watch (1999–2005)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999–present).
WWF SmackDown! (1999–present).

2000s

As Told by Ginger (2000–present).
Between the Lions (2000–present)
Big Brother (2000–present).
Boston Public (2000–2004).
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000–2002).
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–present).
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–present).
Dark Angel (2000–2002).
Dora the Explorer (2000–present).
Ed (2000–2004).
Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006).
Survivor (2000–present).
The District (2000–2004).
The Gavin Crawford Show (2000–2002).
Yes, Dear (2000–2006).
Home Movies (1999, 2001–present).
Once and Again (1999–2002).
Let's Bowl (1998, 2001–2002).
The Honduran Suburbs (Jan 2001 – Jul 2001)

Ending this year

Date	Show	Debut
Unknown	The Lone Gunmen	2001
January 14	The Jamie Foxx Show	1996
March 4	La Femme Nikita	1997
March 7	Bette	2000
March 23	Blockbusters (UK)	2000
March 21	WCW Thunder	1998
March 26	WCW Monday Nitro bought out by WWF.	1995
March 31	Spider-Man Unlimited	1999
April 6	The Norm Show	1999
May 4	Nash Bridges	1996
May 11	Diagnosis: Murder	1993
May 14	Baywatch	1989
May 14	Moesha	1996
May 16	Two Guys and a Girl	1998
May 19	Walker, Texas Ranger	1993
May 20	The PJs	1999
May 22	3rd Rock from the Sun	1996
May 23	Star Trek: Voyager	1995
June 22	The Famous Jett Jackson	1998
July 3	Masterchef (UK)	1990
July 10	The Geena Davis Show	2000
August 31	Mister Rogers' Neighborhood	1968
June 1	Oh Yeah! Cartoons	1998
Unknown	The Big Help	1994
Unknown	TV Funhouse	2000
September 15	Live & Kicking	1993
September 28	So Weird	1999
Unknown	WWF Superstars of Wrestling	1986
November 1	Recess (TV series)	1997
November 11	The Angry Beavers	1997
November 17	Power Rangers: Time Force	2001
December 15	The New Woody Woodpecker Show 2nd season finale on December 15 The Twelve Lies of Christmas	2000

Changes of network affiliation

Show	Moved from	Moved to
American High	Fox	PBS
Buffy the Vampire Slayer	The WB	UPN
Roswell	The WB	UPN
Home Movies	UPN	Cartoon Network
National Geographic Explorer	CNBC	MSNBC
Candid Camera	CBS	PAX
Blankety Blank	BBC One	ITV

Notable TV movies and events

April 29 – On Golden Pond, an adaptation of the play, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, working together for the first time since the film The Sound of Music, is aired live on CBS.
August 11 – All Grown Up!, the Rugrats 10th anniversary special. Nickelodeon's famed nicktoon tots turn 10.
November 18 – The Facts of Life Reunion, reunion of cast members from the 1979–1988 NBC sitcom (though this movie aired on ABC).

Deaths

January 1 – Ray Walston, 86, actor (My Favorite Martian )
January 18 – Al Waxman, 65, actor (Lt. Samuels on Cagney & Lacey)
February 20 – Bob Weiskopf, 86, writer (I Love Lucy)
February 27 – Stan Margulies, 80, producer (Roots, The Thorn Birds)
March 8 – Edward Winter, 63, actor
March 12 – Morton Downey, Jr., 67, television personality
March 15 – Ann Sothern, 92, actress (Private Secretary, My Mother the Car)
March 21 – Norma MacMillan, 79, voice actor
March 22 – William Hanna, 90, cofounder (with Joseph Barbera) of famous Hanna-Barbera animation studio
April 11 – George Hersee, 76, BBC engineer who designed Test Card F
April 15 – Joey Ramone, 49, actor/songwriter of the Ramones
May 2 – Ted Rogers, 65, Comedian and host of 3-2-1
May 12 – Perry Como, 88, singer, TV host
May 19 – Pat Falken Smith, 75, soap opera writer
May 22 – Whitman Mayo, 70, actor (Grady Wilson on Sanford and Son)
May 31 – Arlene Francis, 93, actress and game show panelist (What's My Line?)
June 2 – Imogene Coca, 92, actress and comedienne (Your Show of Shows)
June 21 – Carroll O'Connor, 76, actor who played Archie Bunker on All in the Family
August 3 – Christopher Hewett, 79, actor (Mr. Belvedere)
August 4 – Lorenzo Music, 64, writer and actor who co-created The Bob Newhart Show and did the voices of Carlton the doorman on Rhoda and Garfield the cat in the animated version of Jim Davis comic character
August 25 – Aaliyah, 22, singer
September 3 - Thuy Trang, 27, actress (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
September 11 – David Angell, 55, writer (Cheers, Frasier), killed in the World Trade Center attacks
October 9 – Dagmar, 79, 1950s television sex symbol
October 15 – Ralph Levy, 81, director
October 17 – Jay Livingston, 86, songwriter (themes to Bonanza and Mister Ed)
December 22 – Lance Loud, 50, member of the family documented in An American Family
December 26 - Nigel Hawthorne, 72, actor (Yes, Prime Minister)