1961 in Television - Debuts

Debuts

• January 7 – The Avengers premieres on ITV (1961–1969).
• January 23 - The Americans premieres on NBC.
• March 17 – Five Star Jubilee premieres on NBC
• April 29 – ABC's Wide World of Sports debuts (1961–2006).
• August 19 – Four Corners, Australia's first current affairs program, premieres (1961–present).
• September 9 – The Jo Stafford Show premieres on ITV (1961).
• September 17 – Car 54, Where Are You? premieres on NBC (1961–1963).
• September 23 – The Stairlit Starways premieres (1961–1968).
• October 1 - Bus Stop premieres on ABC (1961–1962).
• October 2 – Ben Casey premieres on ABC (1961–1966). Password debuts on CBS (1961–1967). Robert Young's short-lived second series, Window on Main Street debuts on CBS (1961–1962).
• October 3 – The Dick Van Dyke Show premieres on CBS (1961–1966).
• October – Songs of Praise debuts on BBC (1961–present).

• CTV National News premieres (1961–present).
• It's Academic (1961–present).
• The Mike Douglas Show premieres (1961–1981).
• Mister Ed debuts (1961–1966).
• Reach for the Top premieres on CBC (1961–1984).