2002 in television

This is a list of television-related events in 2002.

Events

• January 25 - Bloody Sunday, a television drama based on the events of the controversial Bloody Sunday incident in Northern Ireland in 1972 airs on ITV1 in the UK.
• February 3 - Super Commercials: A Mental Engineering Special airs on PBS stations reaching 85% of the U.S. after Super Bowl XXXVI; reportedly the best coverage yet achieved by a former public access television program.
• February 11 - Two new BBC childrens channels, CBeebies (aimed at children under 6) and CBBC (aimed at children aged 6-13) launch.
• March 2 - BBC Knowledge in the UK ceases transmission, the first BBC channel to permanently close.
• March 2 - BBC Four launches in the UK, replacing BBC Knowledge. The opening night is simulcast on BBC Two.
• March 17 - Wrestlemania 18 invades the Toronto's Skydome when 68,227 fans see Wrestlemania X8 which was headlined by The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan.
• March 27 - ITV Digital placed into administration. Most subscription channels cease broadcasting on the network on May 1.
• March 29 - At 2.10am, the last Balloon ident is shown on BBC One, and with it, the last time the globe is used as the channel's symbol (having been used since 1963). Its replacement, the 'Rhythm & Movement' idents, premiere at 9am.
• April 17 - General Hospital airs its milestone 10,000th episode.
• May - One Life to Live airs a full week of episodes broadcast live from the ABC New York studios.
• May 6- WWF RAW becomes WWE RAW following a name change from World Wrestling Federation to World Wrestling Entertainment earlier in day.
• June 3 - Sailor Moon returns to Cartoon Network at 3:30pm EST/PST after a year of the network not showing the program.
• June 7 - Kim Possible has its first three episodes aired on Disney Channel.
• June 16 - The Dead Zone premieres on USA Network. It was the highest-rated cable series debut in television history.
• July 5 - Cartoon Network stops airing the popular anime Sailor Moon, this is the last time the network or any other network in the US has aired the series.
• September 14 - Fox Kids, then owned by ABC Family, leaves Fox and is replaced by the Fox Box (now known as 4Kids TV).
• September 14 - Cartoon Network shows Sailor Moon SuperS - The Movie: Black Dream Hole again, this is the last Sailor Moon feature aired in states, as of 2006.
• September 16 - Channel 5 in the UK rebrands itself to Five, and drops its Digital On-screen Graphic.
• October 5 - The programming strand Discovery Kids on NBC launches on NBC.
• October 28 - In England and Wales, ITV1 drops regional identification from most programmes and adopts a unified branding of just ITV1. The names for the London (Carlton and LWT), West (HTV West) and Wales (HTV Wales) are dropped altogether, and replaced with ITV1 London, ITV1 West of England and ITV1 Wales respectively, though the names continue to appear elsewhere.
• October 30 - Warren Zevon is featured on the Late Show with David Letterman as the only guest for the entire hour. Zevon performs several songs and talks in length about being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer.
• October 30 - Longtime castmember Hunter Tylo's character, Dr. Taylor Hamilton Forrester, is killed off the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, which is seen worldwide.
• December - Talk show host David Letterman, Paul Shaffer and a stage hand from the Late Show with David Letterman, Biff Henderson, spend Christmas in Afghanistan with the United States and international military forces stationed in the country.
• December 15 - Animation for The Simpsons changes from cel animation to digital ink and paint.
• Fox News Channel overtakes CNN as the #1 cable TV news service in the US.
• Alter and Tempo, the Greek speaking channels switches much of family/children's programming.
• Kirby: Right Back at Ya, Ultimate M.U.S.C.L.E., and Ultraman Tiga debut on Fox Box.

Debuts

• January 13 - The Jamie Kennedy Experiment premieres (2002-2004).
• March 5 - The Osbournes reality show premieres on MTV (2002-2005).
• March 8 - All About Me premieres on BBC One (2002-2004)
• March 25 - The Bachelor premieres on ABC (2002-present).
• March 27 - The George Lopez Show premieres on ABC (2002-present).
• April 15 - Whammy! - The All-New Press Your Luck, an updated version of the 1983-1986 game show Press Your Luck, hosted by E! star and Hollywood Showdown host Todd Newton.
• May 4 - Guinevere Jones debuts on YTV. It ends on December 7.
• May 13 - Spy drama Spooks/MI-5 debuts on BBC1 (2002-present).
• June 18 - American Idol: The Search for a Superstar premieres on FOX. The show is based on the 2001 British ITV1 program, Pop Idol (2002-present).
• June 7 - Kim Possible premieres on Disney Channel (2002-2005).
• July 12 - Monk premieres on USA Network (2002-present).
• July 20 - Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius premieres on Nickelodeon (2002-present).
• August 25 - I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! premieres on ITV1 in the UK (2002-present).
• August 31 - Dick and Dom in da Bungalow premieres on the CBBC Channel in the UK (2002-2006).
• August 31 - InuYasha premieres on Cartoon Network in the US (2002-Present).
• September 15 - ABC Kids debuts as a replacement of Disney's One Saturday Morning (2002-present).
• September 15 - Stargate: Infinity premieres on the Fox Box (2002-2003).
• September 16- Everwood premieres on The WB
• September 17 - Life with Bonnie premieres on ABC (2002-2004).
• September 17 - 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter premieres on ABC (2002-2005).
• September 18 - The Twilight Zone returns to TV, this time on UPN (1959-1964, 1985-1988, 2002-2003).
• September 23 - CSI: Miami premieres on CBS (2002-present).
• September 26 - Without a Trace premieres on CBS (2002-present).
• September 27 - Hack premieres on CBS (2002-2004).
• September 29 - American Dreams premieres on NBC (2002-2005).
• October 1 - Less Than Perfect premieres on ABC (2002-present).
• October 20 - Great Britons debuts on BBC2.
• November 14 - The first series of Harry Hill's TV Burp debuts on ITV1, having premiered with a broadcast pilot the previous year (2002-present).
• December 6 - Codename: Kids Next Door premieres on Cartoon Network (2002-present).

Television shows

See also 2002-03 United States network television schedule

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).

1950s

• 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).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• 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)

1960s

• 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) (1964-2006).
• 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).

1970s

• 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 Roadshow (UK) (1979-present).
• Nightline (1979-present).
• This Old House (1979-present).

1980s

• Entertainment Tonight (1981-present).
• What Now (1982-present)
• Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
• Jeopardy! (1964-1975, 1978-1979, 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).
• Electric Circus (Canada) (1988-2003).
• Cops (1989-present).
• The Simpsons (1989-present)

1990s

• Law & Order (1990-present).
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
• Rugrats (1991-2004).
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
• The Red Green Show (Canada) (1991-2006).
• Dateline NBC (1992-present).
• The Real World (1992-present).
• Frasier (1993-2004).
• Ricki Lake (1993-2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
• NYPD Blue (1993-2005).
• The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
• WWE RAW/WWE RAW Zone (1993-present).
• ER (1994-present).
• Friends (1994-2004).
• Time Team (UK) (1994-present).
• Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
• JAG (1995-present).
• The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004).
• 7th Heaven (1996-2006).
• Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003).
• Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005).
• Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).
• Judge Judy (1996-present).
• The Daily Show (1996-present).
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
• Family Affairs (UK) (1997-2005).
• Johnny Bravo (1997-present).
• Just Shoot Me (1997-2003).
• King of the Hill (1997-2006).
• 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).
• Dawson's Creek (1998-2003).
• Sex and the City (1998-2004).
• SMTV Live (UK) (1998-2003).
• That '70s Show (1998-2006).
• The King of Queens (1998-present).
• The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2004).
• Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK) (1998-present).
• Will & Grace (1998-2006).
• Angel (1999-2004).
• Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999-present).
• Farscape (1999-2003).
• Futurama (1999-2003).
• Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999-present).
• Judge Mathis (1999-present).
• Judging Amy (1999-2005).
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present).
• Passions (1999-present).
• Rocket Power (1999-present).
• (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).

2000s

• 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).
• Clocking Off (UK) (2000-2003).
• 24 (2001-present).
• Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003).
• According to Jim (2001-present).
• Adult Swim (2001-present).
• Alias (2001-2006).
• Braceface (2001-present).
• Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003).
• Enterprise (2001-2005).
• 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).
• Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003) (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special Strangers on the Shore).
• Pop Idol (UK) (2001-present).
• Scrubs (2001-present).
• Six Feet Under (2001-2005).
• Smallville (2001-present).
• The Amazing Race (2001-present).
• The Bernie Mac Show (2001-present).
• The Fairly OddParents (2001-2006).
• The Guardian (2001-2004).
• The Saturday Show (UK) (2001-present).
• That '80s Show (2002-2002)

Ending this year

• April 30 - Spin City (1996-2002).
• April 30 - Dharma & Greg (1997-2002).
• May 19 - The X-Files (1993-2002).
• May 22 - Sally (1985-2002).
• December 10 - Invader Zim (2001-2002).
• December 18 - Rescue Heroes (1999-2002).
• Barney & Friends (1992-2002).
• Sesame Park, a Canadian spin-off of the American show Sesame Street, is cancelled due to low ratings, after more than three decades of airing on the CBC (1995-2002, the show was run as Sesame Street prior to 1995).
• The Gavin Crawford Show (2000-2002).
• Let's Bowl (1998, 2001-2002).
• Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)
• Tama and Friends (2001-2002, 2004-present)
• Pokémon (Japan) (1997-2002)
• Computer Chronicles (1983-2002).
• Card Sharks (1978-1981, 1986-1989, 1986-1987, 2001-2002)

Cancelled, but eventually to return to the air

• Family Guy (1999-2002, 2005-present)

Changes of network affiliation

• Power Rangers: Ninja Storm moves to ABC Kids from Fox Kids.
• Digimon moves to UPN from Fox Kids.

Deaths

• January 13 - Ted Demme, 37, film and television director.(Blow, Beautiful Girls).
• February 22 - Chuck Jones, 89, animator.
• February 24 - Mel Stewart, 72, character actor whose TV roles included All in the Family and Scarecrow and Mrs. King.
• February 27 - Spike Milligan, 83, comedian.
• February 28 - Mary Stuart, 75, soap opera actress who starred as Jo in the entire 35-year run of Search for Tomorrow.
• March 15 - Sylvester (Pat) Weaver, 93, longtime president of NBC, credited with creating The Today Show and The Tonight Show.
• March 27 - Milton Berle, 93, comedian, actor.
  • - Dudley Moore, 66, comedian, actor.
• April 2 - Jack Kruschen, 80, character actor who had a recurring role on Webster.
• April 16 - Robert Urich, 55, actor.
• May 24 - Susie Garrett, 72, actress (Betty Johnson) on Punky Brewster, sister of Marla Gibbs.
• June 5 - Dee Dee Ramone, 49, actor/songwriter of the Ramones.
• September 14 - LaWanda Page, 81, comedian, actress (Aunt Esther) on Sanford & Son.
• September 28 - Whitney Blake, 76, actress on Hazel, co-creator of One Day at a Time, and mother of Meredith Baxter.
• October 3 - Bruce Paltrow, 58, producer (St. Elsewhere).
• October 13 - Keene Curtis, 79, actor who had a recurring role on Cheers.
• October 20 - Barbara Berjer, 82, most known for her roles as Claire Cassen Shea on As the World Turns, Barbara Norris Thorpe on Guiding Light, and Bridget Connell on Another World.
• December 3 - Glen Quinn, 32, actor (Mark on Roseanne)
• December 5 - Roone Arledge, 71, sports producer.

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