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1997 in American television

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In American television in 1997, notable events included television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel initiations, closures, and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and disputes.

Events

DateEventJanuary 1January 3January 12January 22January 26February 1February 9February 23February 26February 28March 17March 23April 6April 13April 19April 25April 30May 9June 6June 21June 30July 8July 14–16July 15July 24August 13August 31September 3September 5September 6September 8September 13September 14September 19September 25October 5October 20October 25October 26November 2November 6November 7November 9November 17November 29December 8December 15December 24December 28
The television rating system, a system similar to the one used for motion pictures, goes into effect.
The Emergency Alert System comes into effect and replaces the Emergency Broadcast System.
Bryant Gumbel anchors his last Today show on NBC. The following Monday, Matt Lauer takes over alongside Katie Couric until he was fired 20 years later in November 2017.
King of the Hill set to series premiere on Fox.
New World Communications is acquired by Fox. The deal makes 10 New World-owned stations that affiliated with Fox as a result of the 1994 United States broadcast TV realignment network O&O's.
Fox broadcasts its first Super Bowl, making it the last of the big four networks to air a Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers defeat the New England Patriots 35–21 in a game that gives Fox its highest ratings to date.
The final affiliation switch resulting from the 1994–96 United States broadcast TV realignment takes place when Allbritton Communications (owners of WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., one of the strongest ABC affiliates in the country) converts WB affiliate WBSG in Brunswick, Georgia, into a semi-satellite of new sign-on WJXX in Orange Park, Florida, which assumes the ABC affiliation for the Jacksonville market. Former ABC affiliate WJKS promptly discontinues its news operation and assumes the WB affiliation from WBSG.
On Fox, The Simpsons airs the episode "The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show". With this episode, The Simpsons surpasses The Flintstones as the longest-running primetime animated series in terms of episodes aired.
Schindler's List makes its network television debut on NBC. The film is broadcast virtually unedited and is the first telecast to receive a TV-M (now TV-MA) rating under the TV Parental Guidelines that had been established earlier in the year.
Various ABC characters appeared with Las Vegas settings in the shows Grace Under Fire, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, and Ellen.
After 23 years, the game show Wheel of Fortune retires their old trilon puzzle board and replaces it with a new touch screen puzzle board.
Toonami debuts on Cartoon Network.
The 13th annual WrestleMania event airs on pay-per-view. While the event as a whole receives mixed reviews, the submission match between Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin is highly praised, being called one of the greatest matches in wrestling history, and has been cited by some as the beginning of the Attitude Era.
Disney Channel changes its network branding and presents the cable television premiere of Pocahontas. The film would have its network television premiere on ABC one year later. Disney Channel continues to convert from subscription television to a basic cable channel.
Extreme Championship Wrestling broadcasts its first ever pay-per-view dubbed "Barely Legal".
The 1997 Kids' Choice Awards air on Nickelodeon, hosted by Rosie O'Donnell. Television winners included Home Improvement (for "Favorite TV Show"), Tim Allen (of Home Improvement for "Favorite TV Actor"), Tia and Tamera Mowry (of Sister, Sister for "Favorite TV Actress") and Rugrats (for "Favorite Cartoon"). A half-hour sneak preview of The Angry Beavers follows the ceremony.
CBS broadcasts a reunion film featuring the surviving cast of The Dukes of Hazzard, which originally aired on the network from 1979 to 1985. This proved to be Denver Pyle's final performance before his death on Christmas Day, 1997.
The Ellen episode "The Puppy Episode" is broadcast on ABC, showing for the first time the revelation of a main character as a homosexual.
Bob Saget hosts his final regular episode of America's Funniest Home Videos on ABC, with the other cast members of Full House, minus The Olsen Twins. The $100,000 season finale (his final episode) aired nine days later on May 18.
Farrah Fawcett makes a bizarre appearance on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman. Fawcett tells long, rambling stories without a purpose, fails to understand simple questions, and gets easily distracted by things like blinking lights on the set.
The Professional Bowlers Tour ends after 36 years on ABC. CBS assumes the rights to the tour and will televise several events over the next two years.
In Seattle, KIRO-TV (CBS) and KSTW (UPN) reverse their 1995 network affiliation swap.
KONG-TV, Seattle's independent station goes on the air.
Fox broadcasts the Major League Baseball All-Star Game from Cleveland, marking the first time that the network would broadcast the midsummer classic.
Cartoon Network launches the "Cartoon Cartoons" brand with the debut of three animated series, Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken and I Am Weasel, as well as the season two premiere of Dexter's Laboratory.
A tribute episode of Another World is broadcast on NBC in honor of Victoria Wyndham's 25 years with the program.
George Harrison appears on a VH-1 special to promote his friend Ravi Shankar's album Chants of India. This would prove to be Harrison's final television appearance.
South Park premieres on Comedy Central.
WFFF-TV in Burlington, Vermont, signs-on the air, giving the Burlington/Plattsburgh market its first full-time Fox affiliate (prior to this, Fox programming was seen on a secondary basis on CBS affiliate WCAX-TV).
Jeri Ryan makes her first appearance as Seven of Nine on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager.
Joan Lunden makes her final appearance as co-anchor for ABC's Good Morning America, after being on the program since 1980. Lunden would be succeeded by Lisa McRee.
The big three television networks, Fox, and cable networks CNN, E!, Fox News and MSNBC all broadcast the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; more than 33 million viewers at home watched this special.
KDAF-TV gives up the rights on Fox Kids to KDFI, as KDFW airs news, talk shows, paid/real estate and E/I-complaint programming instead of the block (KDFI also airs said programs, as well as Fox programs, just in case for local news emergencies and sports preemptions).
ABC revamps its Saturday morning cartoon schedule, and adds more new series from parent company Disney to become Disney's One Saturday Morning. This, along with many other programming, was delayed one week from its originally planned debut as a result of the aforementioned Princess Diana funeral.
The 49th Primetime Emmy Awards presentation was broadcast on CBS.
After several years of being a part of ABC's successful "TGIF" sitcom programming block, Family Matters and Step by Step switch to CBS to form the basis of the "CBS Block Party", a direct competitor to TGIF. Both series, as well as the Block Party, would be cancelled after one season.
ER produces a live episode for its fourth season premiere on NBC.
The World Wrestling Federation event Badd Blood: In Your House is broadcast on pay-per-view. Not only is the event notable for featuring the promotion's first-ever Hell in a Cell match, which pitted The Undertaker against Shawn Michaels and saw the debut of Undertaker's storyline brother Kane, it marked the last time that Vince McMahon would be featured as the chief broadcaster of the commentating team for a pay-per-view event. According to WWE, the Montreal Screwjob, which took place at Survivor Series 1997, is considered the beginning of the Attitude Era. Thus, Badd Blood: In Your House was the last WWF PPV of the New Generation Era.
Arthur begins its second season on PBS with Fred Rogers from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood guest starring.
Chris Farley guest hosts NBC's Saturday Night Live in what would turn out to be his final television appearance before his death on December 18, 1997.
Under Wraps, the first Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) by Disney Channel, is broadcast.
Game 7 of the World Series is broadcast on NBC. The Florida Marlins defeat the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first baseball wild card team to win the world championship. This was the first World Series that NBC would broadcast in its entirety since 1988. NBC aired only Games 2-3 and the decisive sixth game of the 1995 World Series, while ABC aired the other three and a seventh game had it been necessary.
A third production of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's version of Cinderella is aired on ABC. This version, featuring Brandy Norwood and Whitney Houston, is produced by ABC's parent company The Walt Disney Company (which released its own version of the story as an animated movie 1950).
The NBC discussion show Meet the Press celebrates its 50th anniversary.
A crossover event featuring Salem in a time ball with Sabrina appeared on all four TGIF shows around that time, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Boy Meets World, You Wish, and Teen Angel.
During a pay-per-view broadcast of the World Wrestling Federation's Survivor Series, then-WWF Champion Bret Hart loses his title to Shawn Michaels. The finish is mired in controversy when WWF chairman Vince McMahon, who had been sitting at ringside, orders Earl Hebner, the assigned referee, to end the match as Michaels is holding Hart in Hart's own finishing maneuver, the Sharpshooter, even though Hart had not submitted. The incident becomes known as the Montreal Screwjob and will mark the final appearance of Hart on WWE television until 2010.
Rick Rude becomes the only person to appear on both USA Network's Raw and TNT's Monday Nitro on the same night. Whereas the Raw that aired that night was pre-recorded six days in advanced, Rude appeared on a live edition of Nitro about an hour earlier.
The Emergency Broadcast System is replaced by the Emergency Alert System and it continues to this day.
WVIT becomes an NBC O&O for the second time, and Paramount Stations Group had purchased WLWC and WWHO, dropping off newscasts, although Paramount had to run these two as a WB affiliate until 2000, while getting UPN to secondary status.
World Wrestling Federation chairman Vince McMahon announces the introduction of the Attitude Era (a term used by WWF for its adult-oriented programming) on Raw Is War, during a segment entitled "The Cure for the Common Show". The WWF Attitude's scratch logo also makes its on-screen debut within the episode, replacing the New Generation's block logo.
TNT and TBS broadcast "24 Hours of A Christmas Story", consisting of 12 consecutive airings of the 1983 film from the evening of Christmas Eve to the evening of Christmas Day.
World Championship Wrestling's fifteenth annual Starrcade event airs on pay-per-view. The main event would see Sting defeat Hollywood Hogan to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Overall, this would become the highest grossing pay-per-view in WCW history.

Programs

Debuts

DateShowNetworkJanuary 1January 4January 6January 7January 8January 9January 12January 13January 19February 7February 28March 2March 3March 4March 5March 6March 10March 18March 22April 1April 2April 9April 10April 12April 14April 15April 19May 16May 25June 2June 6June 7July 4July 7July 11July 12July 14July 15July 21July 27July 28August 4August 11August 13August 17August 25August 26September 1September 6September 7September 8September 11September 12September 13September 14September 15September 18September 19September 20September 22September 23September 24September 25September 26September 27September 28September 29October 1October 4October 6October 8October 10October 11October 17October 20October 21November 1November 4November 8November 28
Cooking LiveFood Network
Lost on EarthUSA Network
Sunset BeachNBC
OrleansCBS
Chicago SonsNBC
Antiques RoadshowPBS
King of the HillFox
La Femme NikitaUSA Network
The New Adventures of Robin HoodTNT
Emeril LiveFood Network
The Chris Rock ShowHBO
Crisis CenterNBC
The Country Mouse and the City Mouse AdventuresHBO
DariaMTV
PaulyFox
Spy GameABC
Just Shoot Me!NBC
The PracticeABC
Arsenio
Temporarily YoursCBS
Prince StreetNBC
Buffy the Vampire SlayerThe WB
Social StudiesUPN
LawlessFox
Religion & Ethics NewsweeklyPBS
Viva VarietyComedy Central
Smart GuyThe WB
Pacific PalisadesFox
Fired UpNBC
GunABC
Leaving L.A.
¡Despierta América!Univision
Soul ManABC
Nightmare Ned
The Angry BeaversNickelodeon
Power Rangers TurboFox Kids
Todd McFarlane's SpawnHBO
Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionFox
Port CharlesABC
Life... and StuffCBS
CNN NewsStandCNN
Perversions of ScienceHBO
The US of APBS
Figure It OutNickelodeon
Spicy CityHBO
Oz
RoarFox
Johnny BravoCartoon Network
Cow and Chicken
I Am Weasel
Mission GenesisSci-Fi Channel
Stargate SG-1Showtime
Win Ben Stein's MoneyComedy Central
USA HighUSA Network
The ViewABC
South ParkComedy Central
Behind the MusicVH1
The World's Funniest!Fox
Good NewsUPN
Head over Heels
Hitz
101 Dalmatians: The SeriesSyndication
Fox News WatchFox News Channel
MTV LiveMTV
Pensacola: Wings of GoldUSA Network
Extreme DinosaursSyndication
ClickSyndication
City GuysNBC
Alright AlreadyThe WB
The Tom Show
Popular Mechanics for KidsSyndication
Ally McBealFox
Between Brothers
413 Hope St.
Ninja Turtles: The Next MutationFox Kids
Police Academy: The SeriesSyndication
Pepper AnnABC
Recess
Science Court
The Crayon BoxSyndication
The Legend of Calamity JaneKids' WB
The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman/Superman Adventures
The Weird Al ShowCBS
Wheel 2000
Fudge
The New Ghostwriter Mysteries
Going Wild with Jeff CorwinDisney Channel
Breaker HighUPN
George & LeoCBS
The Gregory Hines Show
Michael Hayes
The Mr. Men ShowSyndication
CrackerABC
Nothing Sacred
The VisitorFox
MeegoCBS
The New Adventures of ZorroSyndication
TimecopABC
The Ink and Paint ClubDisney Channel
Brooklyn SouthCBS
Dellaventura
Hiller and DillerABC
Public Eye with Bryant GumbelCBS
Dharma & GregABC
Built to LastNBC
The Tony Danza Show
Veronica's Closet
Union Square
Teen AngelABC
You Wish
Soldier of Fortune, Inc.Syndication
Total SecurityNBC
JennyNBC
The Big GarageTLC
AmpMTV
Daily News LiveCSN Philadelphia
SportsDay
SportsNite
SportsRise
Wimzie's HousePTV
The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance PoliceFox Kids
Fame L.A.Syndication
Earth: Final Conflict
Team Knight Rider
The EdgeCNBC
WorkingNBC
Raging PlanetDiscovery Channel
C-16: FBIABC
Men in Black: The SeriesKids' WB
PlayersNBC
Cartoon SushiMTV
Bear in the Big Blue HouseDisney Channel
Channel Umptee-3Kids' WB
Over the TopABC
SleepwalkersNBC
Autoline DetroitWTVS
Cartoon SushiMTV
Enjoying Everyday LifeSyndication
My Classic CarTNN
The Journey of Allen StrangeNickelodeon
Tenacious DHBO

Milestone episodes and anniversaries

ShowNetworkEpisode #Episode titleEpisode airdateSource
Jeopardy!

Returning this year

ShowLast airedPrevious networkNew titleNew networkReturned
Rugrats
The People's Court
Batman: The Animated Series
Muppets Tonight
The Wonderful World of Disney

Ending this year

DateShowDebutJanuary 1January 3January 17January 27January 31February 15February 22February 24March 8March 15March 16March 26March 28March 30April 2April 4April 7April 10April 12April 14April 16April 23May 1May 13May 14May 16May 17May 18May 19May 20May 21May 22May 30May 31June 1June 9June 14June 17June 21June 25June 27July 2July 18July 22July 30August 1August 9August 18August 22August 29August 30September 1September 5September 6September 7September 20September 26September 27October 5October 12October 24October 28November 4November 11November 16November 19November 23November 24November 25November 28December 4December 6December 10December 12December 15December 17December 21December 24December 26December 27
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues1993
Small Talk1996
Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series1996
Ned & Stacey1995
Space Cases1996
Wait 'til You Have Kids
Gargoyles1994
C Bear and Jamal1996
Road Rovers
Savannah
The Mouse and the Monster
Dangerous Minds
WWF on MSG Network1976
What a Cartoon! (returned in 2000)1995
The City
Life with Roger1996
Lost on Earth1997
EZ Streets1996
Dragon Flyz1996
Crisis Center1997
Pauly
Orleans
The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat1995
Relativity1996
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest
Arsenio1997
Martin1992
Homeboys in Outer Space1996
Coach1989
Street Fighter1995
Baywatch Nights
Waynehead1996
Brotherly Love1995
The Cape1996
Goode Behavior
Ink
The Burning Zone
Roseanne (returned in 2018)1988
Wings1990
Moloney1996
Caryl & Marilyn: Real Friends
Dark Skies
Gun1997
Freakazoid!1995
Married... with Children1987
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman1993
Deadly Games1995
Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys1996
Pearl
MTV Sports1992
Dave's World1993
Chicago Sons1997
Life... and Stuff
Edgewise1996
Pacific Palisades1997
Eek! The Cat1992
Nightmare Ned1997
The Site1996
Pappyland1993
Spicy City1997
The Disney Afternoon1990
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper1992
The Mask: Animated Series1995
Kino's Storytime1992
The Gordon Elliott Show1994
Duckman
Family Challenge1995
X-Men (returned in 2024)1992
Lamb Chop's Play-Along
The Legend of Calamity Jane1997
Remember This?1996
The Big Easy
Meego1997
Head over Heels
Over the Top
Hitz
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters1994
Built to Last1997
The Incredible Hulk1996
Power Rangers Turbo1997
Mummies Alive!
The Grind1992
Beavis and Butt-head (returned in 2011)1993
Eagle Riders1996
Extreme Ghostbusters1997
Beakman's World1992
The Magic School Bus1994
The Tony Danza Show1997
Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?1996
Johnny Bravo (returned in 1999)1997
Men Behaving Badly1996
Weinerville1993
Extreme Dinosaurs1997
Shopping Spree1996
Hee Haw1969

Made-for-TV movies

TitleNetworkDate of airing
Miss Evers' Boys
12 Angry Men
Northern Lights
Under Wraps
Don King: Only in America
What the Deaf Man Heard

Miniseries

TitleNetworkPremiere
The Shining
Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac
The Last Don
The Odyssey
Rough Riders
George Wallace

Shows changing networks

ShowMoved fromMoved to
JAGNBCCBS
Unsolved Mysteries
Family MattersABC
Step by Step
Muppets TonightDisney Channel
The Naked TruthNBC
CluelessUPN
Sweet Valley HighSyndication
SlidersFoxSci-Fi Channel
Mystery Science Theater 3000Comedy Central
Politically IncorrectABC
The Wonderful World of DisneyDisney Channel
Batman: The Animated SeriesFox KidsKids' WB
Dexter's LaboratoryTBS/Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network
Babylon 5PTENTNT

Entering syndication this year

ShowSeasonsIn ProductionSource
Boy Meets World
Due South
Frasier
Grace Under Fire
Living Single
NYPD Blue
Walker, Texas Ranger
The X-Files

Networks and services

Launches

NetworkTypeLaunch dateNotesSource
Fox Sports West 2Cable and satelliteJanuary 27
BET Movies: Starz! (3)Cable and satelliteFebruary 1
CBS Eye on PeopleCable and satelliteMarch 31CBS Eye on People launches in 2 million homes with fourteen original programs supplied by CBS News, including live talk show Off 10th, 60 Minutes More, and 48 Hours Later. The channel received low carriage, and was later sold to Discovery Communications before being closed.
Fox Sports DetroitCable and satelliteSeptember 17In 1997, News Corporation it would launch a Fox Sports network in Michigan, and won a surprise bid for local cable television rights to Detroit Pistons games. Fox Sports Detroit then acquired broadcast rights to Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers games from competitor Pro-Am Sports System, and launched on September 17 in the for the NHL and MLB seasons.
Comcast SportsNet PhiladelphiaCable televisionOctober 1
Fox Sports WorldCable and satelliteNovember 1

Conversions and rebrandings

Old network nameNew network nameTypeConversion DateNotesSource
Encore+Plex: Encore 1Cable and satelliteJanuary 1Plex: Encore 1 replaced both Encore+, and Intro Television, which showed sampler blocks of different cable networks. Like Encore+, Plex aired programs from a different Encore multiplex channel each day. Plex rebranded as MoviePlex in October.

Closures

NetworkTypeEnd dateNotesSources
NewSportCable and satelliteJuly 9NewSport, a 24-hour sports news channel owned by Rainbow Programming Holdings, had struggled to receive carriage throughout its run, receiving only 10 million subscribers at its peak. NewSport's slow growth compared to competitor ESPNews resulted in Rainbow closing NewSport on July 9.
PRISMCable televisionOctober 1
SportsChannel PhiladelphiaCable and satelliteOctober 1
Pro-Am Sports SystemCable and satelliteNovember 1In 1997, Fox/Liberty Networks won an unexpected bid for the local cable television rights to Detroit Red Wings games from Pro-Am Sports System, then announced plans to launch a regional sports network to compete with PASS. Fox Sports Detroit won a bid for broadcast rights to the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Tigers contracts on August 26. On August 30, PASS owner Post-Newsweek sold its remaining Tigers and Pistons contracts and sportscaster John Keating's contract to Fox Sports Detroit before its launch, then shut down Pro-Am Sports System at midnight on November 1, 1997.
Network OneOver-the-air multicastNovember 13

Television stations

Station launches

DateCity of license/MarketStationChannelAffiliation
January 4
January 24
January 27
February 7
February 9
February 18
March 2
March 7
March 13
March 17
March 18
March 24
March 27
April 14
May
May 3
May 16
June 5
July 8
July 17
August
August 13
August 31
September 15
September 20
September 20
Gainesville, Florida
October 24
October 30
November 21
December 1
Twentynine Palms, California
Unknown date
Guayama, Puerto Rico
Maryville/Milwaukee, Wisconsin
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Twin Falls, Idaho

Stations changing network affiliation

MarketDateStationChannelPrior affiliationNew affiliation
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Charleston, South Carolina
Jacksonville, Florida
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington
KSTW
Binghamton, New York

Births

DateNameNotabilityJanuary 7January 9January 11January 17January 21January 24February 7February 9February 10February 12February 26February 27March 2March 3March 11March 16March 18April 5April 8April 15April 16April 24May 9May 21May 30June 5June 11June 16June 17June 20June 21June 26July 2July 4July 7July 13July 20July 22August 2August 5August 10August 11August 16August 19August 24August 25August 28September 7September 12September 16October 6October 7October 8October 10October 23October 24October 25October 26October 28October 29October 31November 1November 3November 6November 8November 12November 14November 26December 5December 11December 15
Kyle StangerEnglish actor (Lumpy on My Friends Tigger & Pooh)
Lauryn McClainActress
Cody SimpsonAustralian actor
Jake PaulBoxer and actor (Bizaardvark)
Jazzy WilliamsActress (WITS Academy)
Jeremy ShadaActor (Incredible Crew), Voice actor (Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Adventure Time)
Jonah BoboVoice actor (Austin on The Backyardigans)
Dylan Riley SnyderActor (Kickin' It)
Matthew GumleyVoice actor (Benny on Dora the Explorer (2008–14))
Kathryn NewtonActress (Gary Unmarried, Supernatural, Halt and Catch Fire)
Chloë Grace MoretzActress (My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Carrie, The 5th Wave)
Shane BaumelVoice actor (Tipo on The Emperor's New School)
Aidan GouldActor
Erica HuangVoice actress (June on Little Einsteins)
Becky GActress and singer
Camila CabelloSinger
Matreya FedorCanadian actress (Mr. Young)
Tyrel Jackson WilliamsActor (The Backyardigans, Lab Rats)
Ciara BravoActress (Big Time Rush, Red Band Society, Second Chance)
Dominik MysterioPro wrestler
Evan MockActor (Gossip Girl)
Sadie CalvanoActress (Mom)
Maisie WilliamsEnglish actress (Game of Thrones)
Tiarnie CouplandAustralian actress (Worst Year of My Life Again)
Autumn WendelActress (Every Witch Way)
Zane HuettActor (Desperate Housewives)
Kevin QuinnActor (Bunk'd)
Jake ShortActor (A.N.T. Farm, Mighty Med, Lab Rats: Elite Force, All Night)
Denisea WilsonActress (Every Witch Way)
Sadie RobertsonActress
Jack PerryPro wrestler and son of Luke Perry
KJ ApaNew-Zealand actor (Riverdale)
Maria LarkActress (Medium)
Rebecca BlackSinger
Jacob ElordiAustralian actor (Euphoria)
Jackson OdellActor that appeared in The Goldbergs, iCarly, and Modern Family (d. 2018)
Daniela NievesVenezuelan-American Actress (Every Witch Way, WITS Academy)
Gatlin GreenActress (Heroes Reborn)
Leo HowardActor (Kickin' It, Shake It Up)
Billi BrunoActress (According to Jim)
Field CateActor (Pushing Daisies)
Austin TheoryPro wrestler
Olivia HoltActress (Kickin' It, I Didn't Do It, Cloak & Dagger)
Adam IrigoyenActor (Shake It Up)
Kylie JennerActress (Keeping Up with the Kardashians)
Alexander MartellaActor
Piper CurdaActress (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, A.N.T. Farm, I Didn't Do It)
Marcello HernándezActor and stand-up comedian (Saturday Night Live)
Karoline LeavittWhite House Press Secretary
Bryana SalazActress (Best Friends Whenever) and singer
Emilia McCarthyCanadian actress (Max & Shred)
Dean-Charles ChapmanEnglish actor (Game of Thrones)
Sydney SweeneyActress (Everything Sucks!, Euphoria)
Elena KampourisActress
Michael J. WoodardSinger (American Idol, Majors & Minors) and voice actor (I Heart Arlo)
Kira KosarinActress (The Thundermans)
Bella ThorneActress (Shake It Up, Famous in Love) and singer
Grace RolekVoice actress (Steven Universe, Steven Universe Future)
Zach CallisonVoice actor (Sofia the First, Steven Universe, Steven Universe Future)
Kendall Ryan SandersActor (Every Witch Way)
Arthur GunnSinger (American Idol)
Bron BreakkerPro wrestler
Tyler AlvarezActor (Every Witch Way)
Rhenzy FelizActor (Runaways)
Sierra McCormickActress (A.N.T. Farm)
Joy-Anna ForsythActress (19 Kids and Counting, Counting On) and television personality
Brynna DrummondCanadian voice actress
Sydney ParkActress (Instant Mom, Spirit Riding Free)
Holly TaylorActress
Alex WolffActor (The Naked Brothers Band) and singer
Max BurkholderActor (My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Parenthood)
Carson RowlandActor (I Am Frankie)
Jamal RobertsSinger, American Idol season 23 winner
Christina RobinsonActor (Dexter)
Ryan CargillActor (WITS Academy)
George SearEnglish actor (Love, Victor)
Aubrey JosephActor (Cloak & Dagger) and rapper
Luka SabbatActor and model (Grown-ish)
Maddie PoppeSinger, American Idol season 16 Winner
Taylor HicksonActress (Motherland: Fort Salem)
Maude ApatowActress (Euphoria)

Deaths

DateNameAgeclass="unsortable"NotabilityJanuary 18February 6February 26March 15April 15May 4May 11May 18May 24June 8June 14June 24July 1July 2July 4August 27August 31September 9September 17October 5October 9October 16October 24October 30November 25December 18December 24December 25December 31
Adriana Caselotti80Voice actress (Snow White)
Ernie Anderson73Voice actor and announcer (The Carol Burnett Show)
David Doyle67Actor (Bosley on Charlie's Angels and voice of Grandpa Lou Pickles on Rugrats)
Gail Davis71Actress (Annie on Annie Oakley)
Don Bexley87Actor (Bubba on Sanford and Son)
Alvy Moore75Actor (Hank Kimball on Green Acres)
Howard Morton71Character actor (Officer Ralph Simpson on Gimme a Break!)
Bridgette Andersen21Actress
Edward Mulhare74Actor (Captain Gregg on The Ghost & Mrs. Muir and Miles on Knight Rider)
Reid Shelton72Actor (1st & Ten: The Championship)
Richard Jaeckel70Actor (Baywatch, Spenser for Hire)
Brian Keith75Actor (Uncle Bill on Family Affair)
Robert Mitchum79Actor
James Stewart89Actor
Charles Kuralt62Journalist (CBS News Sunday Morning)
Brandon Tartikoff48President of NBC
Princess Diana36Princess of Wales
Burgess Meredith89Actor (The Penguin on Batman)
Red Skelton84Comedian (The Red Skelton Show)
Brian Pillman35Professional wrestler
Arch Johnson75Character actor (Camp Runamuck)
Audra Lindley79Actress (Mrs. Roper on Three's Company)
Don Messick71Voice actor (Scooby-Doo)
Sydney Newman80Producer (The Avengers, Doctor Who)
Charles Hallahan54Actor (Hunter)
Chris Farley33Comedian (Saturday Night Live)
Toshiro Mifune77Japanese actor
Denver Pyle77Actor (Uncle Jesse on The Dukes of Hazzard)
Michael LeMoyne Kennedy39American socialite and son of Robert F. Kennedy

Television debuts

  • James Gandolfini – Gun
  • Natasha Henstridge – The Outer Limits
  • Nick Offerman – ER
  • Rebecca Romijn – Friends
  • Octavia Spencer – 413 Hope St.
  • Jason Sudeikis – Alien Avengers II
  • Wanda Sykes – The Chris Rock Show
  • Paz Vega – Menudo es mi padre
  • Goran Visnjic – Olujne tisine 1895-1995
  • Shea Whigham – Ghost Stories
  • Rainn Wilson – One Life to Live

References

References

  1. Robinson, Jon. "Top 20 Matches in WrestleMania History".
  2. (December 28, 1997). "Denver Pyle; Uncle in 'Dukes of Hazzard'". [[Los Angeles Times]].
  3. Fybush, Scott. (September 4, 1997). "You Drive 1100 Miles And What Do You Get?". North East RadioWatch.
  4. (September 15, 1997). "Top of the Week: Funeral for a princess". [[Broadcasting & Cable]].
  5. "A special look at the Attitude Era". [[WWE]].
  6. (November 9, 1997). "WWE Championship Match: Shawn Michaels def. Bret "Hit Man" Hart to become new WWE Champion". [[World Wrestling Entertainment]].
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