1999 in American television

List of years in American television: 1996 1997 1998 – 1999 – 2000 2001 2002

1999-2000 United States network television schedule

The following is a list of events affecting American television in 1999. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and channel launches, closures and rebrandings, as well as information about controversies and carriage disputes.

Events

Date	Event
January 1	The Biography Channel is launched in United States.
	DIY Network is also launched in United States.
January 4	WCW Monday Nitro began to spiral into a creative and financial decline as one of the most controversial moments of professional wrestling dubbed the Fingerpoke of Doom took place in the Georgia Dome.
January 6	Bob Newhart receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
February 1	Prevue Channel relaunches as TV Guide Channel.
February 2	The cable network Noggin is launched.
February 4	The Nanny shuts down with a final goodbye after 5 years. With the sitcom axed due to low ratings, its demise was finally announced on January 21.
March 1	The cable network Nickelodeon GAS is launched.
March 26	Tom Snyder marks his last show on The Late Late Show.
April 12	NBC announces the cancellation of long-running daytime drama Another World after years of declining ratings. AW airs its final episode on June 25; new serial Passions replaces AW on NBC's daytime schedule on July 5.
May 21	Shemar Moore presents Susan Lucci with a Daytime Emmy Award for her role as Erica Kane on All My Children, after eighteen failed nominations in previous years.
June 12	Style Network is launched in United States
July 18	Actor Hank Azaria marries actress Helen Hunt. The couple divorced on December 18, 2000.
August 2	The cable network Discovery Health Channel is launched.
September 6	All of the PBS children's programs is relaunched, most notably known as PBS Kids.
	UPN Kids ceased broadcasting and relaunched later as a Disney children's sister block known as Disney's One Too.
September 13	Discovery Military is launched in the United States.
September 20	After a four-year hiatus, the hit game show Family Feud returns with new host, Louie Anderson, along with a new set and a new theme.
October 1	The famous "YOU FOOL!" episode of Hollywood Squares airs.
November 19	John Carpenter becomes the first worldwide winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.
December 17	10th anniversary of the first half-hour episode of The Simpsons.
December 21	Average Life debuts at 8/7c on NBC.
December 31	ABC 2000 Today broadcasts live around the world. Peter Jennings hosted this live news special in New York City, and later, Dick Clark hosted the New Year's Eve Special in Times Square.
	The American satellite company PrimeStar was acquired by DirecTV.

Debuts

Date	Debut
January 4	ZOOM on PBS
	Ed, Edd n Eddy on Cartoon Network
January 8	Providence on NBC
January 10	The Sopranos on HBO
	Batman Beyond on The WB
January 11	The PJ's on Fox
January 13	60 Minutes II on CBS
	Bob the Builder on Nickelodeon
January 18	So Weird on Disney Channel
January 25	Zoboomafoo on PBS
January 31	Family Guy on Fox
February 2	The Phred on Your Head Show on Noggin
February 6	Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy on Fox
February 25	Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape on Fox
March 19	Farscape on Sci-Fi Channel
March 24	It's Like, You Know... on ABC
	The Norm Show on ABC
	Tenacious D on HBO
March 28	Futurama on Fox
March 30	The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn on CBS
April 26	Home Movies on UPN
April 29	WWF SmackDown on UPN
May 1	Mickey Mouse Works on ABC
	SpongeBob SquarePants on Nickelodeon
May 8	The New Woody Woodpecker Show on Fox
June 10	The Chimp Channel on TBS
July 5	Passions on NBC
August 1	Grown Ups on UPN
August 9	Independent Lens on PBS
August 14	Digimon: Digital Monsters on Fox
August 16	Rocket Power on Nickelodeon
	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on ABC
August 30	The Parkers on UPN
	National Enquirer TV in Syndication
September 8	Get Real on Fox
	Detention on The WB
September 11	Sabrina: The Animated Series on ABC
September 13	Blind Date in Syndication
	The Martin Short Show in Syndication
	The Queen Latifah Show in Syndication
September 16	Action on Fox
September 18	Beast Machines on Fox
	Monster Rancher on Fox
	Rescue Heroes on CBS
September 19	Judging Amy on CBS
September 20	Family Law on CBS
	The Ladies Man on CBS
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on NBC
	Safe Harbor on The WB
September 21	The Mike O'Malley Show on NBC
	Once and Again on ABC
September 22	Oh Grow Up on ABC
	The West Wing on NBC
September 23	Stark Raving Mad on NBC
	Third Watch on NBC
September 24	Cold Feet on NBC
	Love & Money on CBS
	Mission Hill on The WB
	Now and Again on CBS
	Odd Man Out on ABC
September 25	Freaks and Geeks on NBC
	Xyber 9: New Dawn on Fox
September 26	Jack & Jill on The WB
	Snoops on ABC
September 29	Judge Mathis in Syndication
	Popular on The WB
	Work with Me on CBS
September 30	Ryan Caulfield: Year One on Fox
October 2	Spider-Man Unlimited on Fox
October 5	Angel on The WB
	Shasta McNasty on UPN
October 8	Harsh Realm on Fox
October 12	The Strip on UPN
October 16	100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd on Nickelodeon
October 30	The Avengers: United They Stand on Fox
November 4	Greed on Fox
November 6	The Amanda Show on Nickelodeon
November 12	Courage the Cowardly Dog on Cartoon Network
	Mike, Lu, & Og on Cartoon Network
November 28	Little Bill on Nickelodeon

Miniseries

• Total Recall 2070
• Stark Raving Mad
• Home Movies (TV series)

Television shows

1940s

• Meet the Press (1947–present).

1950s

• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present).
• PGA Tour on CBS (1951-present).
• Guiding Light (1952–2009).
• The Kentucky Derby (1952-present).
• The Today Show (1952–present).
• The Academy Awards (1953-present).
• Face the Nation (1954–present).
• Miss America (1954-present).
• The Tonight Show (1954–present).
• As the World Turns (1956–2010).
• It Is Written (1956-present).

1960s

• CBS Sports Spectacular (1960-present).
• ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961-2006).
• It's Academic (1961–present).
• Biography (1962–present).
• General Hospital (1963–present).
• Another World (1964-1999).
• Days of our Lives (1965–present).
• NFL Films Game of the Week (1965-present).
• The 700 Club (1966-present).
• Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon (1966-present).
• Washington Week (1967–present).
• 60 Minutes (1968–present).
• Columbo (1968-2003).
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–2001)
• One Life to Live (1968–present).
• Tennis on CBS (1968-present).
• Sesame Street (1969–present).

1970s

• All My Children (1970–2011).
• The Hour of Power (1970-present).
• Monday Night Football (1970–present).
• NBC Nightly News (1970–present).
• Wall $treet Week (1970-2006).
• Grammy Awards (1971-present).
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present).
• Soul Train (1971–2006).
• Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve (1972-present).
• Great Performances (1972-present).
• The Price Is Right (1972–present).
• American Music Awards (1973-present).
• Braves TBS Baseball (1973-2007).
• HBO World Championship Boxing (1973-present).
• Praise the Lord (1973-present).
• The Young and the Restless (1973–present).
• Nova (1974–present).
• Good Morning America (1975–present).
• The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (1975–present).
• Saturday Night Live (1975–present).
• U.S. Farm Report (1975-present).
• The Victory Garden (1975–present).
• Austin City Limits (1976–present).
• Live from Lincoln Center (1976–present).
• Star Gazer (1976-present).
• Inside the NFL (1977–present).
• This Week in Baseball (1977-present).
• 20/20 (1978–present).
• ABC World News (1978-present).
• The Coral Ridge Hour (1978-2007).
• CBS News Sunday Morning (1979–present).
• College Basketball on ESPN (1979-present).
• Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel (1979-present).
• Nightline, US (1979–present).
• Nightly Business Report (1979–present).
• SportsCenter (1979–present).
• This Old House (1979–present).
• The Woodwright's Shop (1979-present).

1980s

• Lou Dobbs Tonight (1980–present)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981–present)
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present).
• National Geographic Explorer (1985–present)
• Sally (1985–2002)
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986–2011)
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present)
• America's Most Wanted (1988–present)
• The American Experience (1988–present)
• Baywatch (1989–2001)
• COPS (1989–present)
• The Simpsons (1989–present)

1990s

1990-1993

• Law & Order (1990–2010)
• America's Funniest Home Videos (1990–present)
• Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000)
• Rugrats (1991–2004)
• The Jerry Springer Show (1991–present).
• The Red Green Show (1991–2006)
• Barney & Friends (1992–present).
• Redwall (1999–present).
• Dateline NBC (1992–present)
• The Real World (1992–present)
• Frasier (1993–2004).
• Ricki Lake (1993–2004).
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993–present).
• The Late Show with David Letterman (1993–present).
• NYPD Blue (1993–2005).
• The X-Files (1993–2002).
• WWF RAW Is War/WWF War Zone (1993–present)

1994

• All That (1994–2005)
• Chicago Hope (1994–2000)
• ER (1994–2009)
• Friends (1994–2004)
• Party of Five (1994–2000)

1995

• Touched by an Angel (1994–2003)
• The Drew Carey Show (1995–2004)
• JAG (1995–2005)
• KaBlam! (1995–2000)
• Modern Marvels (1995–present)
• Sesame Park, Canada (1995–2002)
• Sliders (1995–2000)
• Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)
• WCW Monday Nitro (1995–2001)

1996

• 3rd Rock from the Sun (1996–2001)
• 7th Heaven (1996–2007)
• Access Hollywood (1996–present)
• Arthur (1996–present)
• Candid Camera (1948–1954, 1960-1967, 1974-1979, 1987-1988, 1991-1992, 1996-2004).
• The Daily Show (1996–present)
• Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003)
• Everybody Loves Raymond (1996–2005)
• Hey Arnold! (1996–2004)
• Judge Judy (1996–present)
• Nash Bridges (1996–2001)
• Spin City (1996–2002)
• Suddenly Susan (1996–2000)

1997

• Ally McBeal (1997–2002).
• Angry Beavers (1997–2001)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
• Daria (1997–2001).
• Dharma & Greg (1997–2002)
• Disney's One Saturday Morning (1997–2001)
• I Am Weasel (1997–2000)
• Johnny Bravo (1997–2004).
• Just Shoot Me! (1997–2003).
• King of the Hill (1997–2006).
• La Femme Nikita (1997–2001)
• Port Charles (1997–2003).
• The Practice (1997–2004).
• South Park (1997–present).
• Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)
• The View (1997–present)

1998

• Becker (1998–2004).
• Call For Help (1998–2004).
• CatDog (1998–2006).
• Charmed (1998–2006).
• Dawson's Creek (1998–2003).
• Elmo's World (1998-2009).
• Forgive or Forget (1998–2000).
• The King of Queens (1998–2007)
• Hollywood Squares (1971–1989, 1998–2004).
• Oh Baby (1998–2000).
• Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998–2001).
• The Powerpuff Girls (1998–2005).
• Sex and the City (1998–2004).
• That '70s Show (1998–2006).
• Will & Grace (1998–2006).

Returning this year

Show	Last Aired	Previous Network	Retitled as/Same	New/Returning/Same Network	Returning
Divorce Court	1992	Syndication	Same	Same	September 7
Family Feud	1995	Syndication	Same	Same	September 20

Ending this year

Date	Show	Debut
March 7	Beast Wars	1996
March 13	Maggie)	1999
March 20	Noel's House Party	1991
April 13	The Sifl and Olly Show	1998
May 4	NewsRadio	1995
May 19	The Nanny	1993
May 21	Homicide: Life on the Street	1993
	Millennium	1996
May 22	Viper	1994
May 23	Sister, Sister	1994
May 24	Mad About You	1992
	Melrose Place	1992
May 25	Clueless	1996
	Home Improvement	1991
June 2	Star Trek: Deep Space Nine	1993
June 25	Another World	1964
June 26	Doug	1991
July 24	Cow and Chicken	1997
September 12	Mystery Science Theater 3000	1988
September 17	Match Game	1988
September 24	Iron Chef	1993
December 18	Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy	1999
December 31	Sunset Beach	1997

Changes of Network Affiliation

Show	Moved from	Moved to
Between Brothers	Fox	UPN
Franklin	CBS	Nickelodeon
Pokémon	Syndication	Kids WB!
Rupert	Nickelodeon	CBS

Deaths

• January 4 – Iron Eyes Cody, 94, actor known for a popular anti-littering commercial from the 1970s.
• February 20 – Gene Siskel, 53, critic for the Chicago Tribune and co-host of the television movie show, Siskel & Ebert.
• March 17 - Rod Hull, 63, entertainer
• March 21 – Ernie Wise, 73, surviving half of UK comedy duo, Morecambe and Wise.
• March 22 – David Strickland, 29, actor on Suddenly Susan, (suicide).
• March 30 – Gary Morton, 74, producer, second husband of Lucille Ball.
• April 10 – Jean Vander Pyl, 79, voice actor who voiced Wilma Flintstone on The Flintstones and Rosie the Robot Maid on The Jetsons.
• April 26 – Jill Dando, 37, presenter (co-host of Crimewatch).
• May 8 – Dana Plato, 34, actress (Kimberly Drummond on Diff'rent Strokes).
• May 23 – Owen Hart, 34, wrestler Superstar on WWF RAW is WAR
• June 11 – DeForest Kelley, 79, actor (Bones McCoy on Star Trek).
• July 12 – Bill Owen, 85, actor (Compo Simmonite) on Last of the Summer Wine.
• July 20 – Sandra Gould, 72, actress (Gladys Kravitz #2 on Bewitched).
• September 5 – Allen Funt, 84, host of Candid Camera.
• December 28 – Clayton Moore, 85, actor (The Lone Ranger)
• December 29 – Gene Rayburn, 81, television host (Match Game).