Debuts
| Date | Show |
|---|---|
| January 12 | Dynasty on ABC |
| January 15 | Hill Street Blues on NBC |
| January 16 | Harper Valley PTA on NBC |
| Nero Wolfe on NBC | |
| January 31 | Walking Tall on CBS |
| February 2 | The Gangster Chronicles on NBC |
| February 6 | The Brady Brides on NBC |
| March 18 | The Greatest American Hero on NBC |
| April 6 | Private Benjamin on CBS |
| April 9 | Checking In on CBS |
| May 16 | SCTV Network 90 on NBC |
| September 10 | Best of the West on ABC |
| September 12 | Goldie Gold and Action Jack on ABC |
| The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! on NBC | |
| The Kwicky Koala Show on CBS | |
| The Smurfs on NBC | |
| Space Stars on NBC | |
| Spider-Man in Syndication | |
| Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends on NBC | |
| Trollkins on CBS | |
| September 14 | Entertainment Tonight in Syndication |
| October 7 | Mr. Merlin on CBS |
| October 25 | Today's F.B.I. on ABC |
| October 28 | The Fall Guy on ABC |
| Love, Sidney on NBC | |
| October 29 | Gimme a Break on NBC |
| Lewis & Clark on NBC | |
| November 1 | Code Red on ABC |
| November 3 | Father Murphy on NBC |
| November 4 | The Fall Guy on ABC |
| November 11 | Shannon on CBS |
| November 13 | Strike Force on ABC |
| November 20 | McClain's Law on NBC |
| November 24 | Simon & Simon on CBS |
| November 27 | Darkroom on ABC |
| November 28 | Open All Night on ABC |
| December 1 | Bret Maverick on NBC |
| December 4 | Falcon Crest on CBS |
| Unknown | You Can't Do That on Television on Nickelodeon |
Read more about this topic: 1981 In American Television