2010 in American television
Introduction American television in 2010 was a year marked by the usual debuts, cancellations, and continuations of shows; the launches, closures, or rebrandings of channels; but also significant cable/satellite carriage disputes.
Events ===January=== Date Event'''1'''WPGA-TV/Macon, Georgia, drops its ABC affiliation to become independent. WGXA, the Fox affiliate in Macon, adds ABC to its digital subchannel, reuniting the station with the network it was previously affiliated with.Unable to reach a deal with Scripps Networks Interactive concerning retransmission fees, Cablevision temporarily drops Scripps-owned HGTV and the Food Network from its lineup. The dispute is resolved on January 21. '''2'''Time Warner Cable and News Corporation sign a new retransmission deal, thus averting what would have been a blackout of the Fox broadcast network and several cable networks on Time Warner Cable systems. '''4'''Bret Hart makes an appearance on ''WWE Raw'', marking the first time that Hart appeared live on WWE television programming since the Survivor Series and the controversial "Montreal Screwjob" on November 9, 1997. '''5'''The ABC soap ''All My Children'' celebrates 40 years on the air. Additionally, the program will convert to high definition as it moves production from New York to Los Angeles (the first episodes in the format air in February). '''6'''David Hasselhoff announces that he will not return as a judge for ''America's Got Talent'' due to pursuing other projects. '''7'''Sinclair Broadcast Group reaches a one-year retransmission agreement with Mediacom.Reports surface that NBC may move Jay Leno back into the 11:35 p.m. ET/PT slot and move Conan O'Brien's ''Tonight Show'' back to 12:05 am (ET/PT);  an NBC representative later confirms that Leno's primetime show will end in February. NBC's plan displeases O'Brien, who in a January 12 open letter states his refusal to do ''The Tonight Show'' at any other time slot other than its traditional 11:35PM time. Thus begins a bitter divorce between O'Brien and NBC that would result in a $45 million exit deal from NBC for O'Brien—but not before the controversy becomes a media cause célèbre, with O'Brien gaining sympathy from fellow talk hosts and the general public and NBC receiving a public relations black eye.Top-ranked Alabama defeats second-ranked Texas, 37–21, in college football's 2010 BCS National Championship Game. It is the last BCS game to air on broadcast television (on ABC), with cable network ESPN taking over coverage of the entire BCS the following season. (Fox's relationship with the BCS ended on January 4 with its broadcast of the Fiesta Bowl. )'''10'''Fox's animated sitcom ''The Simpsons'' celebrates 20 years on the air as a weekly television series with the episode "Once Upon a Time in Springfield" (Anne Hathaway, Jackie Mason and Eartha Kitt are guest voices). A one-hour 20th anniversary special, hosted by Morgan Spurlock, follows the episode.Howie Mandel is announced as the new judge for ''America's Got Talent''. '''11'''Fox announces that Simon Cowell will depart from ''American Idol'' in May in order to launch a US version of ''X Factor'' in Fall 2011. '''18'''The ''iCarly'' special, "iSaved Your Life", premieres on Nickelodeon. This special broke the record as the highest-rated premiere in Nickelodeon history, surpassing the series premiere of ''All Grown Up!'' from 2003. '''20'''The FCC votes to close the terrestrial loophole that keeps fiber delivered regional sports networks such as Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, 4SD, Cox Sports Television, Time Warner Cable SportsNet, and Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast off of satellite systems. Comcast files an appeal the next day. '''21'''Steve Harvey is announced as the sixth host of ''Family Feud'', replacing John O'Hurley, a role that he holds to this day, and would result in a significant ratings boost. '''22'''''Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief'', an international telethon to provide relief for survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, airs live on all major United States broadcast networks, many cable channels, and many other television channels across the world.Conan O'Brien's 7-month, 146-episode run as host of ''The Tonight Show'' comes to an end (and with it his 20+ year relationship with NBC). Tom Hanks and Neil Young are his final guests; Steve Carell makes a surprise appearance, conducting an "exit interview" with O'Brien; and Beck, Ben Harper, Billy Gibbons, and Will Ferrell perform "Free Bird" with O'Brien and The Tonight Show Band in the closing segment. '''25'''Team Umizoomi premieres on Nickelodeon. '''26'''Competitors DirecTV and Dish Network team up to file a lawsuit in Massachusetts alleging discrimination in reaction to the state's new 5% satellite TV tax. '''28'''Samantha Harris announces that she will not return as the co-host of ''Dancing with the Stars'' in order to focus on other projects like her correspondent duties at ''The Insider'' and ''Entertainment Tonight''. '''31'''In what can be described as rarity for having a person who works for one network appearing on a competitor, Fox News Channel president Roger Ailes is among the guest panelists on ABC's ''This Week''; in a roundtable discussion, Ailes defends his network's reputation from the other panelists.===February=== Date Event'''3'''LeSEA announces the sale of KWHD/Denver to Liberman Broadcasting; the station will switch to Liberman's Estrella TV network after the sale is completed. '''4'''Comcast rebrands their large-market triple play offerings under the Xfinity name. '''7'''106.5 million people watch the New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts, 31–17, to win Super Bowl XLIV. Nielsen Media Research calls CBS's broadcast of the game the most watched telecast in history, beating 1983's ''M*A*S*H'' series finale (which also aired on CBS). '''8'''After 28 years and a shift from music to reality programming, MTV drops the "Music Television" moniker from its logo. '''9'''DirecTV drops the Sirius XM Radio music channels and replaces them with DMX's Sonic Tap channels.After 5 months in primetime, ''The Jay Leno Show'' has its finale on NBC, with guests Ashton Kutcher, Gabourey Sidibe and Bob Costas, plus appearances by Kurt Warner and Donald Trump. '''12'''The 2010 Winter Olympics begin airing from Vancouver, British Columbia on NBC and its family of networks. The remake of the 1985 song "We Are the World" for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake debuts as part of NBC's ceremonies broadcast the games are marred by tragedy when Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili is killed in a training run on the night of the opening ceremonies.Famous Crime Scene aired.DirecTV sues competitor Dish Network for false advertising over TV ads which claim Dish Network has the same channels but for a much lower price. Dish Network denies all claims and counter-sues on February 16.DirecTV drops its lawsuit on April 14. '''23'''WWE replaces its show ''ECW'' with ''NXT'' on Syfy. '''28'''The closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics are held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Earlier in the day, Canada's 3–2 overtime win against the United States for the gold medal in men's hockey is seen by over 27 million viewers stateside, the best ratings for a hockey game since the 1980 Winter Olympics. Sidney Crosby who won the Stanley Cup in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins scores the medal winning goal.===March=== Date Event'''1'''After securing rights formerly held by Setanta Sports USA, Fox Soccer Channel launches premium companion channel Fox Soccer Plus. As a result, Setanta Sports USA is shuttered.Nine months after ceding his host chair to Conan O'Brien and heading to prime-time, Jay Leno returns as host of ''The Tonight Show''. Leno's first guests back are Jamie Foxx, Lindsey Vonn, and musical guest Brad Paisley. Betty White also makes a cameo appearance. '''2'''Roger Ebert is interviewed on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', his first televised appearance since losing his ability to speak due to complications from a 2006 surgery for thyroid cancer. '''8'''ABC announces that Brooke Burke will be the new co-host of ''Dancing with the Stars'' beginning in the Spring 2010 season. '''15''' After 6 months of negotiations and attacks, Versus and DirecTV resolve their carriage dispute and the channel is returned to the satellite provider's service—on the same package it was before the dispute began. '''22'''Monty Hall, the original and most well-known host of ''Let's Make a Deal'', returns to the CBS game show for a full week.Dish Network sues DirecTV for false advertising for a series of ads themed around the classic game show ''To Tell the Truth'' comparing Dish Network and the cable television industry as 'impostors'. '''24''' Cablevision partners with former sister network MSG Network to create "MSG 3D," the first dedicated 3D television network, airing a hockey game between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. Cablevision continues to operate the channel as a special event channel, airing portions of the 2010 Masters Tournament under the name "iO TV 1300" and a New York Yankees game in conjunction with rival YES Network. '''26'''Famous Crime Scene ending with 7 episode. '''29'''Fox Reality Channel ceases to exist and is converted into Nat Geo Wild. Some providers such as DirecTV and Mediacom, who failed to reach a carriage deal for Nat Geo Wild, continue to broadcast Fox Reality until Fox shutters the channel completely on June 30.===April=== Date Event'''4'''ESPN360, an ESPN Internet site that streams live sporting events, is rebranded as ESPN3. '''5'''Galaxy 15, a TV communications satellite operated by Intelsat, is reportedly drifting out of control thousands of miles above the Earth. The satellite, which transmits programming feeds from MTV Networks, Lifetime Entertainment Services, Univision, Hallmark, Showtime, C-SPAN and A&E, threatens to wander into another satellite's orbit and interfere with cable programming across the United States. ''Adventure Time'' premieres on Cartoon Network. '''8'''ESPN's first round coverage of the 2010 Masters Tournament becomes the most-watched golf telecast in cable history, as 4.9 million people tune in to see Tiger Woods' first golf outing since his highly publicized scandal. '''12'''After months of speculation about Conan O'Brien's future in television following his controversial exit from NBC, TBS announces that O'Brien will host a new show to air Monday-thru-Thursdays at 11 pm ET beginning in November. ''Lopez Tonight'', which had been airing in that time slot, will move to midnight.Kevin Eubanks, bandleader for Jay Leno's ''Tonight Show'' and prime-time series, announces his departure after 18 years with Leno. '''13'''LIN TV Corporation re-brands itself LIN Media in an effort to emphasize its internet and mobile interests (although the corporate name remains LIN TV Corporation). '''14'''Comedy Central airs the 200th episode of ''South Park'', with many of the celebrities the series has previously mocked banding together to sue the town. After the broadcast, Islamic website Revolution Muslim posts a warning to co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, stating they could face serious repercussions for their depictions of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. The follow-up to the episode, "201", is heavily censored and airs only once, with the network disallowing streaming of the original, unedited version on the Internet. Authorities later investigate whether there is a connection between ''South Park'' and the Times Square car bomb attempt, which was discovered near Comedy Central parent Viacom's headquarters at One Astor Plaza in New York City on May 1. '''15'''Executives at Fox News Channel cancel a taped broadcast of ''Hannity'' from Cincinnati, Ohio after it was discovered that the event's organizers, the Cincinnati Tea Party, were billing host Sean Hannity as a centerpiece of the event and charging admission to the taping. '''17'''Matt Smith's U.S. debut as the Eleventh Doctor on the long-running British series ''Doctor Who'' pulls in the highest ratings in BBC America's history (with 1.2 million viewers). '''22'''Entering into a joint bid with Turner Sports, CBS is granted the rights to continue broadcasting the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, which it has done since 1982.From 2011 to 2015, CBS and Turner will split coverage of early rounds through the Sweet Sixteen, with CBS carrying the regional finals, Final Four and national championship. Turner will then pick up the later rounds on an alternating basis beginning in 2016.Turner's coverage will air on TBS, TNT, and truTV.The NFL Draft, starting in prime time for the first time ever, sets a record for number of viewers (8.3 million total between NFL Network and ESPN, 7.29 million on the latter network alone). '''30'''PBS Kids stops broadcasting ''It's a Big Big World''.===May=== Date Event'''2'''Conan O'Brien makes his first TV appearance since his ''Tonight Show'' finale, sitting down with Steve Kroft for an interview on CBS's ''60 Minutes'' to discuss the ''Tonight Show'' controversy and its aftermath. '''4'''London Broadcasting Company announces a deal to acquire KIII/Corpus Christi from McKinnon Broadcasting Company for $10 million. '''8'''Thanks to a successful campaign by her fans on Facebook, Betty White hosts ''Saturday Night Live'' on NBC, a show that features a Mother's Day weekend appearance by former ''SNL'' cast members Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch. White's performance gains critical acclaim, and she earns an Emmy Award in August for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, the 7th Emmy of her career. '''9'''NBC affiliate KTEN in Ada, Oklahoma, switches its DT3 subchannel from local weather radar to ABC, giving the Sherman-Ada market its first full-time ABC affiliate. This in turn gives the area in-market affiliates of all four major commercial networks, as rival KXII is affiliated with CBS and Fox. '''10'''Barbara Walters announces on ''The View'' that she will take a leave of absence from the ABC show to undergo surgery to repair a faulty heart valve. '''12'''Haim Saban's Saban Brands purchases the ''Power Rangers'' franchise back from Disney; the company plans to air a new 19th season of ''Power Rangers'' on Nickelodeon in Spring 2011, with the previous 700 episodes also being rerun on that network. '''13'''Former Food Network celebrity Juan-Carlos Cruz is arrested in Santa Monica, California, for attempting to recruit homeless people to perform a murder-for-hire plot. Cruz pleads "no contest" in November to a charge of soliciting murder, and is sentenced to a 9-year prison term the following month. '''14'''NBC confirms it has canceled ''Law & Order''. Series executive producer Dick Wolf reportedly considers moving the police-and-legal drama to TNT, where it has aired in reruns for several years. (AMC considers making an offer as well). No network offers a move, however, and the series leaves the air on May 24 tied with ''Gunsmoke'' as the longest-running (20 seasons) prime time drama on American television.After a single season, Fox cancels ''The Wanda Sykes Show'', its most recent attempt at original late-night programming on Saturdays (a time slot that previously aired ''MADtv'' and ''Talkshow with Spike Feresten''). Since November 2010, reruns of current and older Fox shows (e.g. ''Terra Nova'', ''New Girl'') have occupied the time slot, though Fox later makes plans to launch new animated programming in the slot in 2013. '''15'''ABC affiliate KTVO in Kirksville, Missouri, launches a DT2 subchannel affiliated with CBS, giving the Kirksville-Ottumwa market its first full-time CBS affiliate. '''16'''In CBS, law firm and winner of the seventh season of ''Survivor'' Sandra Diaz-Twine, who later proclaimed her as "Queen of ''Survivor''", became the first two-time sole survivor after the conclusion of the recent season of ''Survivor''; former winner from the sixteenth season Parvati Shallow finished as runner-up, marking the first time in the show's history former winners finished in the top two of the final three. '''18'''CNN prime time host Campbell Brown announces she is leaving the channel, citing difficulty in competing with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann as her main reason as well as a desire to spend more time with her family. '''20'''The Parents Television Council announces that it plans to target CBS and its affiliates after the network's addition of the sitcom ''$#*! My Dad Says'' to its 2010–2011 fall TV lineup, with the PTC citing both the show's vulgar title and its Thursday night 8:30PM timeslot as reasons. The show is cancelled after one season. '''21'''In a dispute over carriage fees and allegations of the network's gravitation from information to entertainment-based programming, Dish Network drops The Weather Channel and replaces it with its own channel, "The Weather Cast." The dispute is resolved 3 days later as Dish restores The Weather Channel and shutters The Weather Cast, making it the shortest-lived cable/satellite channel in history. '''22'''Fuse TV airs ''Gulf Aid: Concert For The Coast'' a benefit concert in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. '''23'''Daystar launches the digital signals of the remaining stations it purchased from Equity Media Holdings, which had been caught in limbo due to Equity's bankruptcy and the digital transition. The sign-ons come just three weeks before the stations' licenses would have automatically been forfeited back to the FCC. '''26''' Disney/ABC announces plans to shut down SoapNet in 2012 and replace it with a channel aimed at pre-schoolers named Disney Junior. '''29''' Cartoon Network rebrands with a new logo and look also holding a new slogan CHECK it. '''31'''Fine Living Network is shut down, relaunched and rebranded as Cooking Channel, an instructional counterpart to Food Network.===June=== Date Event'''2'''The New York Post reports that General Electric has finalized an exit deal for Jeff Zucker, president and CEO of NBCUniversal, worth between $30 million and $40 million. The exit would take place shortly after Comcast takes over as majority owner of the company. '''4'''WLGA/Columbus, GA ceases operations as an Independent station. The station will return to the air in the summer of 2012. '''11'''ESPN launches ESPN 3D, the country's first nationwide 3DTV channel, to coincide with the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. '''14'''Cablevision buys out Bresnan Communications for $1.365 billion. '''15'''Local TV buys Portsmouth, Virginia, station WGNT  from CBS Corporation for $16.5 million, pending FCC approval. Until the sale closes, Local TV will operate WGNT through a local marketing agreement before they move the studios to Local's CBS affiliate in the Hampton Roads market, WTKR. '''16'''The premiere of the TV Land series ''Hot in Cleveland'' draws 4.75 million viewers, making it the most watched program in the network's 14-year history. '''17'''28.2 million people watch the seventh and deciding game of the 2010 NBA Finals on ABC, in which the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Boston Celtics to win the NBA Championship; it is the most watched NBA telecast since 1998. '''22'''Dish Network removes the HD feeds of Disney Channel, Disney XD, ABC Family, and ESPNews due to a carriage dispute that continues to this day.CNN announces the 8 pm ET time slot Campbell Brown is vacating will be filled by a talk show hosted by Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker. '''24'''''Happening Now'' co-anchor Jane Skinner leaves Fox News Channel to spend more time with her family. '''28'''Steve Carell confirms he will leave ''The Office'', where he portrays Michael Scott, at the end of the 2010–11 season.Disney Channel's late night block of Disney animation is discontinued. '''29'''Larry King announces he will end his long-running CNN program ''Larry King Live'' in the fall.===July=== Date Event'''1'''DirecTV and Panasonic launch n3D, the world's first 24-hour 3DTV channel. '''7'''Due to poor sales and possibly a decline in ratings and interest in ''American Idol's'' 9th season, the accompanying "American Idols LIVE! Tour 2010" cancels eight of its 38 shows.Jenna Lee from Fox Business Network is named as the new co-anchor of ''Happening Now'', beginning July 12. '''8'''NBA player LeBron James buys an hour of airtime on ESPN to announce he will sign with the Miami Heat via free agency instead of staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The advertising proceeds from the special, titled ''The Decision'', go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. '''9'''A profanity-laced video parody involving the news department at NBC affiliate KARK-TV in Little Rock, Arkansas, that later surfaces on YouTube leads to station management dismissing four employees involved in the stunt. '''10'''Dish Network/EchoStar launches its newest satellite, EchoStar XV. '''11'''The final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in which Spain defeats the Netherlands, becomes the most watched soccer match in American television history, with 24.3 million people tuning into ABC and Univision to watch the final. '''12'''MTV Tr3́s drops the "MTV" from its name and simply becomes Tr3́s, with a new slogan "MTV: Musica y Mas" (Spanish for MTV: Music and More).With over 7.5 million viewers, the premiere of the TNT drama ''Rizzoli & Isles'' sets a record as the highest-rated debut for a commercial-supported cable series; it is also the second-highest debut ever for a basic cable TV series. '''13'''ABC affiliate WABG-TV in Greenwood, Mississippi, announces plans to sign-on the Greenville-Greenwood market's first locally based NBC affiliate on WNBD-LD, thus giving the area in-market affiliates of all four major commercial networks. The new station will sign-on exactly five months later, on December 13. '''15'''AT&T Uverse and Rainbow Media reach a new carriage deal, resolving a dispute that would have kept WE tv, AMC, Sundance Channel and IFC from being on the IPTV provider. '''16'''Rich Fields announced on his website that he had been let go as announcer of ''The Price Is Right'', as producers look to change certain aspects of the game show, including adding performances by live bands and putting a comedian at the podium Fields occupied for six years. Fields is the only announcer in the history of the long running CBS game show to leave without dying. Fields however, would be one of the group of guest announcers on ''Wheel of Fortune'' in November following the death of longtime wheel announcer Charlie O'Donnell. '''27'''Residents in the state of Hawaii lose cable, television, telephone and Internet service from Oceanic Time Warner Cable for nearly two hours after its fiber optic cable system, located 3,000 feet deep in the Molokai Channel, is severely damaged. The hardest hit areas are the island counties of Maui and Hawaii (The Big Island). A new fiber optic cable system is expected to be in place within three to five weeks. '''29'''American President Barack Obama pays a visit to ''The View'', making him the first sitting president to appear on a daytime talk show. '''30'''PBS Kids stops broadcasting  the Emmy Award Winning cartoon ''Cyberchase'' due to a hiatus that is until 2013 though it still airs on most PBS stations like KLCS in Los Angeles and WNET in New York City.Ellen DeGeneres announces that she will leave as ''American Idol'' judge after one season, saying in a statement that the series "didn't feel like the right fit for me". This is followed by the announcement that Kara DioGuardi had been fired from her role as a judge after two seasons on the show. '''31'''Baylor University-owned PBS outlet KWBU-TV/Waco, Texas, signs off the air after 21 years due to the university's budgetary concerns.===August=== Date Event'''1'''HSN launches a companion channel, HSN2.Producers of ABC's ''Detroit 1-8-7'' announce a change to the format from mockumentary to crime drama, in response to an incident in May in which a 7-year-old Detroit girl was accidentally killed by police during the taping of an episode of A&E's ''The First 48''. '''3'''Comcast announces the formation of its newest regional sports network, Comcast SportsNet Houston, which will become the exclusive home of the NBA's Houston Rockets starting in the 2012–13 NBA season and the MLB's Houston Astros starting in the 2013 MLB season. '''5'''After 30 years as co-host, Mary Hart announces her exit from ''Entertainment Tonight'', effective in 2011. '''7'''The CW4Kids ends on The CW. The following week, the block is replaced with Toonzai. '''10'''Just two weeks after it was reported that she would be joining ''American Idol'', Jennifer Lopez turns down the offer amid reports that she and ''Idol'' producers could not come to terms that Lopez wanted to add to her contract. '''11'''After 63 years as a reporter and anchorman at KTLA/Los Angeles (ever since its sign-on in 1947), Stan Chambers officially announces his retirement. '''16'''HBO reverses a plan to cancel The Life & Times of Tim, which they announced 2 months earlier. '''29'''At the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, ''Mad Men'' wins Outstanding Drama Series, ''Temple Grandin'' nabs the Outstanding Television Movie category and ''Modern Family'' is awarded Outstanding Comedy Series. The seventh season of ''Top Chef'' won the Outstanding Reality-Competition Series with ''The Amazing Race'' losing the award for the first time since the category was introduced in 2003.Jimmy Fallon hosts the event on NBC, which broadcasts the event live to all time zones for the first time ever. '''30'''An affiliation switch takes place in San Antonio, with KMYS joining The CW and KCWX taking My Network TV.===September=== Date Event'''1'''AT&T Uverse drops Crown Media Holdings-owned channels Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel due to a carriage dispute.James Lee, a gunman and armed bomber, takes the Discovery Communications Building in Silver Spring, Maryland, hostage for several hours. Lee is subsequently confirmed dead by a shot to the head and the hostages are released unharmed. '''2'''A deal is reached between Time Warner Cable and The Walt Disney Company that prevents Disney networks such as ESPN, Disney Channel, ABC Family, and ABC owned-and-operated stations from being taken off TWC's lineup. The agreement also adds ESPN's 3D channel and Internet streaming of live sporting events. '''3'''Kara DioGuardi confirms she will not return as ''American Idol'' judge. '''6'''''Regular Show'' and ''Mad'' premiere on Cartoon Network. That same day, the cat in the hat premieres on PBS Kids. '''14'''Roger Craig sets a one-day record on ''Jeopardy!'' with $77,000.The record was since surpassed by James Holzhauer on April 9 and 17, 2019 with $110,914 and $131,127, respectively. '''17'''After 54 years on CBS television, ''As the World Turns'', the last of the Procter and Gamble Productions soap operas, airs its final episode. '''22'''The producers of PBS's ''Sesame Street'' pull a taped segment featuring singer Katy Perry performing a modified "kid friendly" version of her song "Hot n Cold" with Elmo after a preview on YouTube draws complaints from parents for Perry's wearing a costume with too much cleavage showing. Later that week, Perry alludes to the incident on ''Saturday Night Live'' by wearing a low-cut Elmo T-shirt in a skit. ''American Idol'' confirms plans for its 10th season in 2011, including the return of Nigel Lythgoe as executive producer and a 3-judge panel of Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler. '''23''' NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Zucker announces he will depart the company once its purchase by Comcast is completed. He has since been replaced by Comcast COO Stephen Burke. '''24''' CNN President Jonathan Klein resigns and is replaced by Ken Jautz. The pilot episode of ''Blue Bloods'' airs on CBS. '''27'''Qubo Channel launches a late night programming block named Qubo Night Owl with the debuts of the following Filmation series: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, She-Ra: Princess of Power, Filmation's Ghostbusters, and BraveStarr. '''28''' An episode of MTV's Teen Mom, shows participant Amber Portwood repeatedly assaulting her partner Gary Shirley in front of their young child, kicking and punching him and leaving him injured. MTV neither attempted to stop her assaults, nor did they report the crimes to the police. Portwood was later convicted of felony domestic violence charges after viewers reported her assaults to police some weeks later upon the broadcast of the material on television. ===October=== Date Event'''1'''Sony launches a new movie channel called Sony Movie Channel, its first wholly owned American channel.Fox Sports en Español changes its name to Fox Deportes.Dish Network drops Fox-owned channels FX, National Geographic Channel, and 19 FSN affiliates due to a carriage dispute. Fox Cable Networks also informs Dish Network customers that the contracts for owned and operated Fox and MyNetworkTV broadcast stations, along with Fox affiliates formerly owned by the network and since sold to Local TV LLC expire on November 1.Dish Network drops MSG Media-owned channels MSG Network and MSG Plus due to a carriage dispute that continues to this day.CNN announces it has terminated Rick Sanchez, one day after the anchor made comments on a radio show that referred to Jon Stewart as a "bigot" and suggested that CNN is run by Jewish people. '''6'''BET's 106 & Park celebrates 10th anniversary of the past years of broadcasting since 2000. '''8'''For the first time in its 46 years, PBS affiliate KCET/Los Angeles announces that it will become an independent educational station and drop PBS on December 31, 2010. '''10''' After 14 years, Discovery Kids rebranded as the Hub Network, a kids and family channel jointly operated by Discovery Communications and Hasbro. '''11-15''' ''Wheel of Fortune'' had a week with the first instance of having a car (Mercedes-Benz C300) played as a prize on all five bonus rounds that week, the first time since the introduction of the Bonus Wheel in 2001. '''11'''Caitlin Sanchez, the voice of Dora the Explorer, sues Nickelodeon for $7 million in back pay stemming from a contract dispute. '''14'''A debate about the Ground Zero mosque controversy with Fox News host Bill O'Reilly results in Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar storming off the set of ''The View''. '''16'''Cablevision pulls Fox-owned channels WNYW, WWOR-TV, WTXF-TV, National Geographic Wild, Fox Business Network, and Fox Deportes due to a carriage dispute. '''21'''NPR fires commentator Juan Williams for saying he gets worried and nervous when he sees people wearing Muslim attire on planes during a segment on Fox News Channel's ''The O'Reilly Factor'' the previous day. Williams would later accept a lucrative contract (worth $2 million) to join Fox news full-time. '''29''' Dish Network and Fox come to terms on a renewal of their carriage agreement for their broadcast stations and cable networks two days before Fox's broadcast stations, along with the formerly Fox-owned affiliates now owned by Local TV LLC were to be removed. '''30''' Cablevision and Fox come to terms on a new carriage agreement, restoring Fox's networks and cable channels to their systems in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, although Cablevision calls the cost for the channels "unfair" in their release detailing the new deal under undisclosed terms. '''31'''Video on Demand service Fearnet launches a linear high definition channel. Currently, no carriage deals have been reached for the channel.===November=== Date Event'''1'''After a 21-year run on Univision, Cristina Saralegui's self-titled talk show, ''El Show de Cristina'' airs its final episode; though Saralegui was against Univison's cancellation, she continues to work with the network on a number of projects and specials.DirecTV removes G4 due to a carriage dispute. This marks the beginning of a slow decline, which led to G4 discontinuing all operations more than four years later.Dish Network and Belo Corporation come to terms on a new carriage agreement minutes before the Belo-owned stations were to be pulled in a separate carriage dispute.Fox broadcasts Game 5 of the World Series. The San Francisco Giants win their first championship since 1954 (and first since relocating from New York starting in 1958), defeating the Texas Rangers. '''4'''ABC announces it will sell WTVG/Toledo and WJRT-TV/Flint back to former owner SJL Broadcasting, pending FCC approval. '''5'''MSNBC suspends Keith Olbermann for donating to three Democratic congressional candidates in the last weeks before the November general election against NBC News policies. Initially an indefinite suspension, MSNBC reinstates Olbermann on November 9, when the host thanks his supporters and viewers but slams MSNBC, claiming that he did not know about their policy against donating money to political candidates or parties.AT&T Uverse removes the suite of Scripps Networks channels, (excluding Travel Channel, which remains under a previous carriage agreement under former owner Discovery Networks) in a carriage dispute. They are restored on November 7, 2010.A woman on ''Wheel of Fortune'' solved the puzzle ("I've Got a Good Feeling About This!") with one letter. In the same episode hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White pay tribute to their announcer Charlie O'Donnell who died earlier in the week on November 1. '''7'''Jo Frost announces that she is leaving ''Supernanny'' to start a family of her own, thus ending the series' run after seven seasons. '''8'''''Conan'' debuts on TBS, 9 months after host Conan O'Brien's departure from ''The Tonight Show''. The premiere, which attracts 4.2 million viewers, features guest appearances by Arlene Wagner, Seth Rogen, and Lea Michele; a musical performance from Jack White; pre-taped warm wishes from Ricky Gervais; and a filmed cold-open sketch that features Larry King and Jon Hamm (as his ''Mad Men'' character Don Draper).ESPN announces the breakup of its longtime ''ESPN Sunday Night Baseball'' announcing team of Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, as Morgan's contract is not renewed and Miller is asked to move to radio broadcasts (Miller declines the move and leaves ESPN entirely).ION Media Networks announces it is acquiring ShopNBC affiliate WQEX/Pittsburgh from WQED Multimedia for $3 million. If the FCC approves, the move will give Pittsburgh its first Ion affiliate (under the new call sign WINP). '''10'''Oprah Winfrey invites former talk show hosts Phil Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, Geraldo Rivera, Ricki Lake and Montel Williams as guests on her show, the first time Winfrey had fellow talk hosts appear together since their programs left the air.Fox Business Network announces ex-CNN anchor Lou Dobbs will join the channel in 2011. '''11'''After more than 40 years, Gene Shalit leaves NBC's ''The Today Show''. '''13'''In the wake of Demi Lovato's decision to enter a treatment facility to deal with "emotional and physical issues," The Disney Channel announces that her sitcom ''Sonny With a Chance'' will be temporarily revamped, focusing on sketches from the show-within-a-show "So Random," until she returns for the show's third season in January 2011.'''15'''St. Louis television stations KSDK (NBC affiliate owned by Gannett Company) and KDNL-TV (ABC affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group) announce that they will start joint-venturing on daily 5 pm and 10 pm newscasts for KDNL beginning January 3, 2011.The move will create the first local newscasts on KDNL since it dropped its own low-rated news in 2001. '''16'''Former reality TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman is arrested for the murder of his wife. '''17'''Freedom Communications puts all of its 10 television stations on the selling block for $500 million. '''19'''Two weeks after Keith Olbermann's suspension for political donations, MSNBC suspends ''Morning Joe'' host Joe Scarborough for making contributions to Florida Republican candidates. '''24'''Dish Network drops Comcast SportsNet California after losing in FCC arbitration. '''30'''Susan Boyle abruptly stops her live performance of "O Holy Night" on ''The View'' after starting to cough. The singer asks to start over, but the segment ends instead with thanks from hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd and Boyle stating that she had a "frog in (her) throat." The performance is rerecorded for the West Coast airing, but the live version makes its rounds through YouTube.The 2010 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is broadcast on CBS. 10.4 million people tune in.===December=== Date Event'''2'''Over 7 million people tune into TNT to watch the Miami Heat defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers in LeBron James' first appearance in Cleveland since controversially leaving the team 5 months earlier; it is the third most-watched NBA regular season telecast on cable since 1996. '''9'''Idaho Falls-Pocatello, Idaho, outlets KIDK (a CBS affiliate owned by Fisher Communications) and KIFI (an ABC affiliate owned by News-Press & Gazette Company) announced a shared-services agreement, which will result in the termination of 27 employees. '''15''' Weigel Broadcasting's MeTV, which originates from WWME-CD in Chicago, launches nationally to become a full-fledged digital subchannel network with a standardized schedule. '''16'''CNN's ''Larry King Live'' airs its last original episode, with President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, and news anchors Barbara Walters, Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and Brian Williams among those appearing to wish host Larry King well on his retirement. '''17'''WSB-TV/Atlanta anchor/reporter John Pruitt anchors the 6 pm newscast for the last time, ending a 46-year run at the station. '''20'''Salinas/Monterey, California NBC affiliate KSBW announces it will add ABC to KSBW-DT2 in Spring 2011, returning ABC to the market for the first time since San Jose's KNTV became a Bay Area-centric NBC affiliate (now O&O) in 2002, and at last giving Monterey-Salinas in-market affiliates of all four major commercial networks. The deal is officially announced on February 11, 2011, and takes effect on April 18.At that time, KSBW-DT2 rebrands itself as "Central Coast ABC". The premiere of ''Million Dollar Money Drop'', based on the British game show ''The Million Pound Drop'' (now called ''The £100K Drop'') which also premiered earlier on May the same year, faced backlash by viewers on an inconsistency on one of the questions ("Which of these was sold in stores first?") and the three possible answers include Macintosh computer, Sony Walkman, and Post-it Notes. Contestants Gabe Okoye and Brittany Mayti wagered and dropped $800,000 on Post-it Notes but the correct answer was revealed as Walkman. News article ''Gawker'' posted the controversial moment the day after broadcast leading FOX and the host, Kevin Pollak, to allow the couple to play the game with the question thrown out. The controversy might have also led to the eventual cancellation on May the following year. '''21''' The studios of ABC affiliate WSOC-TV/Charlotte are shut down for an hour and its 5PM newscast ends early after a woman enters the lobby with a gun and apparently intending to commit suicide. The woman is later apprehended and her gun is discovered to be unloaded. '''26'''A blizzard in the Philadelphia area postpones an ''NBC Sunday Night Football'' game between the Eagles and Minnesota Vikings to Tuesday the 28th, the 2nd postponement of an NFL game this month. (A December 12 Vikings home game with the New York Giants is moved to December 13 and played in Detroit due to damage to the Vikings' home stadium, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. That game's broadcast was limited to Fox stations in the New York, the Twin Cities, Albany, Mankato, and Rochester markets. )'''27'''After 2 years, Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block changes its operating hours from 10:00 pm – 6:00 am to 9:00 pm – 6:00 am. '''30'''Hearst Television reaches a carriage fee agreement with DirecTV, keeping Hearst-owned stations on the satellite provider after December 31. '''31'''Time Warner Cable and Sinclair Broadcast Group announce a temporary agreement (through January 14, 2011) to keep Sinclair-owned-or-operated stations on Time Warner and Bright House Networks cable systems. The announcement comes during heated negotiations over carriage fees, during which Sinclair threatened to pull its signals on December 31 and Time Warner announced intentions to continue affected network programming through other means if that happened.Dish Network's current deal for E! and Style Network runs out, but a temporary agreement allows the channel to remain on while negotiations continue.On CBS, Harry Smith co-hosted its final episode of ''The Early Show'', after his tenure for eight years.
Television programs ===Debuts=== Date Show Network SourceJanuary 1''Curb Appeal''HGTV''The Outdoor Room''''The Antonio Treatment''January 3''Frank the Entertainer in a Basement Affair''VH1''Secrets of Aspen''''Worst Cooks in America''Food NetworkJanuary 4''Blood, Sweat and Takeaways''Planet GreenJanuary 5''Wild Recon''Animal PlanetJanuary 8''Operation Wild''Planet GreenJanuary 11''Border Wars''Nat Geo''Fantasia for Real''VH1''Let's Talk About Pep''January 12''Blue Mountain State''SpikeJanuary 13''Solving History with Olly Steeds''Discovery ChannelJanuary 14''Carnie Wilson: Unstapled''GSNJanuary 16''Pit Boss''Animal PlanetJanuary 17''Human Target''FoxJanuary 18''American Pickers''The History Channel''The Buried Life''MTV''My Life as Liz''''Life Unexpected''The CW''Rick's List''CNNJanuary 19''Paranormal Cops''A&EJanuary 21''The Deep End''ABCJanuary 22''Caprica''Syfy''Spartacus''StarzJanuary 25''Team Umizoomi''NickelodeonFebruary 1''America Live with Megyn Kelly''Fox News Channel''Kell on Earth''Bravo''Tinga Tinga Tales''Playhouse DisneyFebruary 2''The Michael Vick Project''BETFebruary 7''Undercover Boss''CBSFebruary 8''NFL Full Contact''TruTVFebruary 10''Inside NASCAR''ShowtimeFebruary 11''Past Life''Fox''SciGirls''PBS Kids Go!February 13''Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil''Disney XDFebruary 14''How to Make It in America''HBOFebruary 19''The Ricky Gervais Show''February 20''The Robert Verdi Show''LogoFebruary 23''WWE NXT''SyfyMarch 1''Hero: 108''Cartoon NetworkMarch 2''Players''Spike''Parenthood''NBCMarch 4''The Marriage Ref''March 5''Who Do You Think You Are? ''March 7''Pink Panther and Pals''Cartoon NetworkMarch 10''High Society''The CWMarch 14''Minute to Win It''NBC''The Pacific''HBO''Sons of Tucson''FoxMarch 15''Basketball Wives''VH1''The Price of Beauty''''TRANSform Me''March 16''Justified''FXMarch 17''Addicted''TLC''Unique Autosports: Miami''Spike TV ''Ugly Americans''Comedy CentralMarch 22''John King, USA''CNNMarch 24''Fly Girls''The CWMarch 27''Victorious''NickelodeonApril 2''Miami Medical''CBSApril 3''Doodlebops Rockin' Road Show''Cookie Jar TV''ESPN Sports Saturday''ABC''Winners Bracket''April 4''Good Luck Charlie''Disney ChannelApril 5''Adventure Time''Cartoon Network''Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated''April 6''Paris Hilton's British Best Friend''TVGNApril 11''Treme''HBO''Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business''VH1April 18''The Emeril Lagasse Show''Ion TelevisionApril 19''Romantically Challenged''ABCApril 23''Ben 10: Ultimate Alien''Cartoon Network''Generator Rex''April 28''Happy Town''ABCMay 19''The Good Guys''FoxMay 27''100 Questions''NBCMay 29''Mall Cops: Mall of America''TLCJune 1''Losing It With Jillian''NBC June 2''Are We There Yet? ''TBSJune 6''Top Shot''History ChannelJune 7''Neighbors from Hell''TBS''Persons Unknown''NBCJune 8''Pretty Little Liars''ABC FamilyJune 10''The Green Room with Paul Provenza''Showtime''Late Night Liars''GSNJune 11''Dual Survival''Discovery ChannelJune 13''Holly's World''E! ''Rubicon''AMC''Unnatural History''Cartoon NetworkJune 16''Bert the Conqueror''Travel Channel''Hot in Cleveland''TV LandJune 20''The Real L Word''Showtime''The Gates''ABC''Scoundrels''June 22''Memphis Beat''TNTJune 24''Rookie Blue''ABCJune 27''Mary Shelley's Frankenhole''Adult SwimJune 28''Huge''ABC FamilyJune 29''Louie''FXJuly 9''Haven''SyfyJuly 11''The Glades''A&EJuly 12''Rizzoli & Isles''TNTJuly 13''Covert Affairs''USA NetworkJuly 19''RuPaul's Drag U''LogoJuly 20''If You Really Knew Me''MTVJuly 23''The Pillars of the Earth''StarzJuly 26''The Huckabee Show''Fox July 27''MasterChef''July 28''Plain Jane''The CWAugust 5''The Real Housewives of D.C.''BravoAugust 9''Bachelor Pad''ABCAugust 16''The Big C''ShowtimeAugust 17''Big Lake''Comedy Central''Melissa & Joey''ABC FamilySeptember 1''Changing Lanes''BETSeptember 3''Fish Hooks''Disney ChannelSeptember 5''Mel B: It's a Scary World''StyleSeptember 6''MAD''Cartoon Network''Regular Show''''The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! ''PBS Kids''NFL Rush Zone''NicktoonsSeptember 8''Terriers''FX''Hellcats''The CWSeptember 9''Nikita''September 10''Pair of Kings''Disney Channel''Fashion Police''E!September 13''The Nate Berkus Show''Syndication''World of Jenks''MTV''Swift Justice with Nancy Grace''SyndicationSeptember 14''Sextuplets Take New York''TLCSeptember 15''Outlaw''NBCSeptember 17''Sym-Bionic Titan''Cartoon NetworkSeptember 19''Boardwalk Empire''HBO''Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters''VH1September 20''America's Court with Judge Ross''Syndication''Chase''NBC''The Event''''Mike & Molly''CBS''Hawaii Five-0''''Lone Star''FoxSeptember 21''Raising Hope''''Running Wilde''''Detroit 1-8-7''ABCSeptember 22''Better with You''''The Whole Truth''''The Defenders''CBS''Undercovers''NBC''The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes''Disney XDSeptember 23''My Generation''ABC''Outsourced''NBC''$#*! My Dad Says''CBSSeptember 24''Blue Bloods''September 26''Sister Wives''TLCSeptember 27''The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell''MSNBCSeptember 28''No Ordinary Family''ABCSeptember 29''Law & Order: LA''NBCOctober 2''Planet Sheen''Nickelodeon''T.U.F.F. Puppy''October 3''IRT Deadliest Roads''HistoryOctober 4 ''The A-List: New York''Logo''The Arrangement''''Parker Spitzer''CNN''Chuggington''Playhouse DisneyOctober 8''Gigantic''TeenNickOctober 10''Food Feuds''Food Network''Cosmic Quantum Ray''The Hub''Deltora Quest''''Dennis the Menace and Gnasher''''Family Game Night''''Pound Puppies''''My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''''Strawberry Shortcake's Berry Bitty Adventures''''The Twisted Whiskers Show''October 11''Animal Mechanicals''''In the Night Garden...''''Pictureka! ''''The WotWots''''Zevo-3''NicktoonsOctober 12''Nick Swardson's Pretend Time''Comedy Central''Tower Prep''Cartoon NetworkOctober 14''The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills''Bravo''The Vanilla Ice Project''DIY NetworkOctober 15''The Adventures of Chuck and Friends''The Hub''School Pride''NBCOctober 17''Luther''BBC AmericaOctober 18''The Talk''CBS''Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It''VH1October 20''That's Tough''G4October 24''Sherlock''PBSOctober 25''American Restoration''History''Robotomy''Cartoon NetworkOctober 28''Police Women of Dallas''TLCOctober 29''R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series''Hub NetworkOctober 30''America Now''SyndicationOctober 31''The Walking Dead''AMCNovember 5''Hubworld''The HubNovember 7''Married to Rock''E! ''Shake It Up''Disney ChannelNovember 8''Conan''TBSNovember 16''Glory Daze''November 21''Top Gear''HistoryNovember 22''Skating with the Stars''ABC''Babar and the Adventures of Badou''Playhouse DisneyNovember 26''The Fran Drescher Show''Syndication''Young Justice''Cartoon Network''G.I. Joe: Renegades''The HubNovember 29''Transformers: Prime''December 1''Storage Wars''A&EDecember 3''Take Two with Phineas and Ferb''Disney ChannelDecember 5''The Hasselhoffs''A&EDecember 6''Next Great Baker''TLCDecember 20''Million Dollar Money Drop''Fox''Perfect Couples''NBCDecember 29''My Strange Addiction''TLC===Entering syndication this year=== Show  SeasonsIn ProductionSource''Curb Your Enthusiasm''7Yes''Entourage''7Yes''American Dad! ''6Yes''How I Met Your Mother''5Yes''The New Adventures of Old Christine''5No===Changes of network affiliation=== Show  Moved From  Moved To  Source''The Mighty B! ''NickelodeonNicktoons''American Chopper: Senior vs. Junior''TLCDiscovery Channel''Hole in the Wall''FoxCartoon Network''Childrens Hospital''The WBAdult Swim''The Martha Stewart Show''SyndicationHallmark Channel''Southland''NBCTNT''Merlin''Syfy ''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' Syndication Qubo Channel ''She-Ra: Princess of Power'' ''Filmation's Ghostbusters'' ''BraveStarr''''WWE SmackDown''MyNetworkTVSyfy''Pocoyo''PBS KidsNick Jr. Channel===Returning this year=== Show  Last Aired  Previous network  Retitled as/Same  New network  Returning  Source''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' 2009NBCSame SameMarch 1''Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! ''2008Kids' WB''Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated''Cartoon NetworkApril 5''Jon & Kate Plus 8''2009TLC ''Kate Plus 8''SameJune 6''Last Comic Standing'' 2008NBCSameJune 7''Futurama''2009Comedy CentralSameJune 24''Mad TV''2009Fox''MAD''Cartoon NetworkSeptember 6''Judge Karen''Syndication''Judge Karen's Court''SameSeptember 20''Spliced''QuboSameSeptember 28''Hole in the Wall''FoxCartoon NetworkOctober 6===Ending this year=== Date  Show  Network Debut  Status Source''Face the Ace''NBC2009Canceled''It's a Big Big World''PBS Kids2006''The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty''A&E2009''The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien''NBC''Better Off Ted''ABC''Dollhouse''Fox''The Live Desk''Fox News Channel2006''The Secret Saturdays''Cartoon Network2008''Heroes'' (returned in 2015)NBC2006''The Jay Leno Show''NBC2009''6teen'' Cartoon Network  2004''American Chopper'' (returned in 2018)Discovery Channel2003''Bullrun'' Cartoon Network 2007''WWE ECW''Syfy2006''Secrets of Aspen''VH12010''The Deep End''ABC''Let's Talk About Pep''VH1''Nip/Tuck''FX2003Ended''Tracey Ullman's State of the Union''Showtime2008Canceled''Carnie Wilson: Unstapled''GSN2010''Numbers''CBS2005''Chaotic''Cartoon Network2006''Gary Unmarried''CBS2008''Scrubs''ABC2001''Seducing Cindy''Fox Reality Channel2010''Solitary''Fox Reality Channel2006''Ben 10: Alien Force''Cartoon Network2008''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (returned in 2012)The CW2003''Frank the Entertainer in a Basement Affair''VH12010''Kell on Earth''Bravo''Worldfocus''PBS2008''Melrose Place''The CW2009''Ugly Betty''ABC2006''The Sarah Silverman Program''Comedy Central2007''Important Things with Demetri Martin''Comedy Central2009''Accidentally on Purpose''CBS''Trauma''NBC''Unsolved Mysteries'' (returned in 2020)Spike1987''High Society''The CW2010''Amanpour'' (returned in 2012)CNN2009''NOW''PBS2002''Bill Moyers Journal''PBS1972''Cold Case''CBS2003''The Price of Beauty''VH12010''TRANSform Me''VH1''King of the Hill'' (returning in 2025)Syndication1997''Fox Business Morning''Fox News Network2007''The New Adventures of Old Christine''CBS2006''Mercy''NBC2009''The Wanda Sykes Show''Fox''American Idol Rewind''Syndicated2006''The Pacific''HBO2010''Romantically Challenged''ABC''Ghost Whisperer''CBS2005''Legend of the Seeker''Syndicated2008''Lost''ABC2004Ended''24'' (returned in 2014 and 2017)Fox2001''Law & Order'' (returned in 2022)NBC1990Canceled''10 Things I Hate About You''ABC Family2009''FlashForward''ABC''The Bonnie Hunt Show''Syndicated2008''Deal or No Deal'' (returned in 2018)Syndicated2005''The Tyra Banks Show''Syndicated''Past Life''Fox2010'''Til Death''Fox2006''The Tudors''Showtime2007Ended''Saving Grace''TNT2007Canceled''100 Questions''NBC2010''Happy Town''ABC''Miami Medical''CBS''The Forgotten''ABC2009''Three Rivers''CBS''Dinner: Impossible'' (returned in 2021)Food Network2007''Mall Cops: Mall of America'' TLC2010''Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! ''Nickelodeon2006''The Hills'' (returned in 2019)MTVEnded''The City''MTV2008Canceled''Most Daring''TruTV2006''Campbell Brown''CNN2008''Cyberchase'' (returned in 2013)PBS Kids2002''Neighbors from Hell''TBS2010''Aaron Stone''Disney XD2009''Sons of Tucson''Fox2010''Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List''Bravo2005''One Big Happy Family''TLC2009''Chowder''Cartoon Network2007''Penn & Teller: Bullshit! ''Cartoon Network2003''Wife Swap'' (returned in 2013)ABC2004''At the Movies''Syndication1986''Players''Spike2010''Scoundrels''ABC2010''18 to Life''The CW2010''Storm Stories''The Weather Channel2003''Pink Panther and Pals''Cartoon Network2010''The Pillars of the Earth''Starz2010''Huge''ABC Family2010''The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack''Cartoon Network2008''Jeffery & Cole Casserole''Logo2009''Shaq Vs.''ABC''Plain Jane''The CW2010''Criss Angel Mindfreak''A&E2005''My Boys''TBS2006''Big Lake''Comedy Central2010''Dark Blue''TNT2009''As the World Turns''CBS1956''The Gates''ABC2010''Unnatural History''Cartoon Network''Lone Star''Fox''My Generation''ABC''Rick's List''CNN''Daily 10''E!2006''Caillou'' (returning in 2023)PBS Kids1997''Jonas''Disney Channel2009''Mel B: It's a Scary World''Style Network2010''My Friends Tigger & Pooh''Playhouse Disney2007''Rubicon''AMC2010''Atom TV''BET2008''Changing Lanes''BET2010''The Real Housewives of D.C.''Bravo''Barney & Friends''PBS Kids1992''Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman''PBS Kids2006''Most Shocking''TruTV2006''Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps''PBS Kids2009''Outlaw''NBC2010''The Venture Bros.'' (returned in 2013)Adult Swim2003''Between the Lions''PBS Kids2000''School Pride''NBC2010''Fantasia for Real'' VH1''The Buried Life''MTV''Terriers''FX''The Arrangement''Logo''The Twisted Whiskers Show''The Hub''The Hasselhoffs''A&E''Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! ''Adult Swim2007''In Treatment'' (returned in 2021)HBO2008''The Good Guys''Fox2010''Larry King Live''CNN1985Ended''The Fran Drescher Show''Syndication2010Canceled''Skating with the Stars''ABC2010''Tower Prep''Cartoon Network''Undercovers''NBC===Made-for-TV movies and miniseries=== Premiere date Title Channel Ref. January 15 ''Lego Atlantis: The Movie'' Cartoon Network February 13 ''Starstruck'' Disney Channel April 7 ''The Buddha'' PBS  May 10 ''Straight Outta L.A.'' ESPN  May 24 ''The Lazarus Effect'' HBO  August 13 ''Den Brother'' Disney Channel September 3 ''Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam'' September 18 ''Fred: The Movie'' Nickelodeon October 16 ''Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster'' Cartoon Network October 23 ''The Boy Who Cried Werewolf'' Nickelodeon November 12 ''Avalon High'' Disney Channel November 24 ''Firebreather'' Cartoon Network
Networks and services ===Launches=== Network Type  Launch date Notes  Source Legacy TVCable televisionJanuary 11RT AmericaCable televisionFebruaryInmigrante TVCable televisionFebruary 13ForoCable televisionFebruary 15Epix 2Cable televisionMay 12The Weather CastCable televisionMay 20ESPN 3D Cable televisionJune 11The 3 From EpixCable televisionAugust 11WillowCable and satelliteAugust 27 ESPN Goal Line & Bases LoadedCable televisionSeptember 4Sony Movie ChannelCable televisionOctober 1MeTVCable televisionDecember 15===Conversions and rebrandings=== Old network name New network name Type Conversion Date Notes SourceFox Sports en EspanolFox DeportesCable televisionUnknownGospel Music ChannelGMCCable televisionUnknown===Closures=== Network Type  Closure date Notes  Source Gems TV Cable televisionApril 15  The Weather CastCable televisionMay 24 Research Channel Cable television August 31
Television stations ===Station launches=== Date  Market  Station  Channel  Affiliation Ref. Unknown date  Mason City, Iowa/Rochester, Minnesota KIMT-DT3  3.3 Independent/Weather  January 1  Macon, Georgia  WGXA-DT2  16.2  ABC  July 21  Canton/Waynesville, North Carolina  WUNW-TV  27.1  27.2  27.3  27.4  27.5 UNC-TV Explorer Channel  PBS/UNC-TV  PBS Kids (UNC-TV programmed)  UNC-ED  North Carolina Channel  May 15  Kirksville, Missouri/Ottumwa, Iowa  KTVO-DT2  3.2 CBS  October 6  Tupelo, Mississippi  WEPH  49.1 Christian Television Network  December 7  Senatobia, Mississippi/Memphis, Tennessee  WWTW  34.1  Independent  December 13 Greenville/Greenwood, Mississippi WNBD-LD  33.1 NBC ===Station closures=== Date  Market  Station  Channel  Affiliation Sign-on date  Ref. July 31  Waco, Texas  KWBU-TV  34.1/34.2  34.3 Create  V-me (DT3)  May 22, 1989===Stations changing network affiliation=== Date  Market  Station  Channel  Prior Affiliation New affiliation Source  January 1  Perry/Macon, Georgia  WPGA-TV  58.1  ABC  Independent  May 9  Ada, Oklahoma/Sherman, Texas  KTEN-DT3  10.3 Weather ABC  October 30  San Antonio, Texas  KCWX  2.1 The CW  MyNetworkTV  KMYS  35.1  MyNetworkTV The CW
Deaths ===January=== Date  Name  Age Notability SourceJanuary 2David Gerber86 TV executive (Columbia Pictures Television and MGM Television) and producer (''Police Woman'', ''Batman'', ''Room 222'', ''thirtysomething'')January 4Rory Markas54 TV and radio sportscaster (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Milwaukee Brewers play-by-play announcer; Sports anchor/reporter at Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket and Los Angeles TV stations KCBS-TV and KTTV)January 8Art Clokey88 Animator (Creator of ''Gumby'')January 13Teddy Pendergrass59 R&B singer (''Pink Lady and Jeff'', ''1985 Live Aid Telecast'')January 19Jennifer Lyon37 Reality television participant (''Survivor: Palau'')January 22James Mitchell89 Actor (''All My Children'', ''The Edge of Night'', ''Where the Heart Is'')Jean Simmons80Actress, Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries for ''The Thorn Birds''Johnny Seven83 Character actor (''Ironside'', ''Amy Prentiss'')January 24James Henry Quello95 Broadcaster, politician, lawyer, consultant, and commissioner of the FCC; VP of Capital Cities CommunicationsPernell Roberts81 Actor/singer (''Bonanza'', ''Trapper John, M.D. '')January 27Zelda Rubinstein76 Actress and activist (''Jennifer Slept Here'', ''Picket Fences'')January 29Tom Brookshier78All-pro football player and NFL commentator for CBSJanuary 30Aaron Ruben95 TV creator, screenwriter, director and producer (''The Andy Griffith Show'', ''Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. '', ''The Headmaster'', ''Sanford and Son'')===February=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  February 1Justin Mentell27 Actor (''Boston Legal'')February 3Frances Reid95 Actress (''Days of Our Lives'')February 4Cecil Heftel85 Politician (Hawaii's 1st congressional district), broadcaster and television/radio station group owner (Founder of Heftel Broadcasting, the first owners of KGMB/Honolulu, Hawaii)February 5Frank Magid78Broadcasting/marketing consultant (founder of Frank N. Magid Associates)February 9Phil Harris53 Fishing boat captain and reality show participant (''Deadliest Catch'')February 11Caroline McWilliams64 Actress and director (''Soap'', ''Benson'', ''Another World'', ''Guiding Light'')February 14Andrew Koenig41 Actor (''Growing Pains'')February 16Bo Griffin51 TV/radio personality (''Good Day Live'', ''Extra'', ''GSN Live'', and ''The Big Reveal'' on HGTV)===March=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  March 4Nan Martin82 Actress (''The Drew Carey Show'')March 10Corey Haim38Actor (half of the acting duo The Two Coreys, also appeared in a reality show of the same name).March 11Merlin Olsen69 Football player (Los Angeles Rams) and commentator (NBC/CBS Sports), actor (''Little House on the Prairie'', ''Father Murphy''), commercial spokesman (FTD Florists)March 14Peter Graves83 Actor (''Mission: Impossible'', ''7th Heaven''), host of ''Biography''March 18Fess Parker85 Actor (''Davy Crockett'', ''Daniel Boone'')March 19Bill McIntyre80 Actor (''Newhart'', ''Dallas'', ''Murphy Brown'')March 21Margaret Moth58New Zealand-born  photojournalist for CNNMarch 24Robert Culp79 Actor (''I Spy'', ''The Greatest American Hero'', ''Everybody Loves Raymond'')March 25Chet Simmons81 Sports executive, first president of ESPN, later commissioner for the United States Football LeagueMarch 30David Mills48 Screenwriter (''NYPD Blue'', ''The Corner'', ''Kingpin'', ''ER'', ''The Wire'')===April=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  April 1John Forsythe92 Actor (Blake Carrington on ''Dynasty'', voice of Charlie on ''Charlie's Angels'', and starred in ''Bachelor Father'')April 9Meinhardt Raabe94 Actor (Played Munchkin who declares "the witch is dead" in ''The Wizard of Oz'')April 10Dixie Carter70 Actress (''Designing Women'', ''Diff'rent Strokes'', ''Out of the Blue'', ''The Edge of Night'', ''Family Law'')April 12Peter Haskell75 Actor (''Bracken's World'', ''Ryan's Hope'')April 15Benjamin Hooks85Former executive director of NAACP, first African- commissioner on the FCCApril 18Allen Swift86 Voice actor (''The Howdy Doody Show'', ''Mighty Mouse'', ''Underdog'')April 20Myles Wilder77 Screenwriter (''McHale's Navy'', ''The Dukes of Hazzard'')April 27Dorothy Provine75 Actress, comedian, dancer and singer (''The Roaring 20s'', ''The Alaskans'', ''Man Without a Gun'')===May=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  May 1Helen Wagner91 Actress (''As the World Turns'')May 2Lynn Redgrave67Actress (''House Calls'', ''Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? '', spokesperson for Weight Watchers)May 4Ernie Harwell92 TV/radio sportscaster (voice of the Detroit Tigers for 42 seasons, called the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" on TV, recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award).May 9Lena Horne92 Actress, singer and entertainer (hosted her own special in 1969 and 1973; performed on ''Kraft Music Hall'', ''The Ed Sullivan Show'', ''The Dean Martin Show'', ''The Judy Garland Show'', ''The Hollywood Palace'', and ''The Andy Williams Show'')May 12Allan Manings86 TV creator and screenwriter (''McHale's Navy, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In,  Good Times,  One Day at a Time'')May 19Martin Cohan77 Screenwriter and producer (''Diff'rent Strokes'', ''Silver Spoons'', ''Who's the Boss? '')May 28Gary Coleman42 Actor, politician and former child star, best known as Arnold Jackson on ''Diff'rent Strokes''May 29Dennis Hopper74 Director and actor (''Crash'', spokesperson for Ameriprise Financial)===June=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  June 3Rue McClanahan76 Actress, best known as Vivian Harmon on ''Maude'', Fran Crowley on ''Mama's Family'', and her Emmy Award-winning role as Blanche Devereaux on ''The Golden Girls''June 5Robert Wussler73Broadcasting executive (CBS, Turner Sports)June 13Jimmy Dean81 Singer, TV personality (''The Jimmy Dean Show'') and businessmanJune 19Vince O'Brien91 Character actor (''Westinghouse Studio One'', ''Dark Shadows'', ''Ryan's Hope'', ''Law & Order''; known as the Shell Answer Man)June 23Allyn Ferguson85Composer (''Charlie's Angels'' and ''Barney Miller'' theme songs)June 28Robert Byrd92 Politician and musician (appeared on ''Hee Haw'' as a musical guest)===July=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  July 11Bob Sheppard99 Public address announcer for the New York Yankees (1951–2007) and for the New York Giants (1956–2006). Voice can be heard in shows and films set at Yankees and Giants games (including several episodes of ''Seinfeld''), as well as in commercials for YES Network.July 13George Steinbrenner80 Businessman, owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, founder and owner of YES NetworkJuly 15Peter Fernandez83 Voice actor (''Speed Racer'', ''Courage the Cowardly Dog'')July 16James Gammon70 Actor (''Nash Bridges'', ''Bagdad Cafe'')July 20Peta Rutter51New Zealand actress (Udonna the Sorceress in ''Power Rangers: Mystic Force'').July 23Daniel Schorr93 Radio/TV news reporter and journalist for CBS News and CNNJuly 27Maury Chaykin61Actor who portrayed Nero Wolfe in the TV film ''The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery'' and the A&E 2001–02 series ''A Nero Wolfe Mystery''.July 28John Aylesworth81Screenwriter and producer (Co-creator of ''Hee Haw''; writer for ''Your Hit Parade, The Sonny and Cher Show, The Julie Andrews Hour, Hullabaloo'', and ''Kraft Music Hall'')July 29Bernie West92 Actor, screenwriter and director (''All In The Family'', ''Maude'', ''Three's Company'', ''The Jeffersons'')Lorene Yarnell66 Actress, mime performer, dancer and television personality (''Shields & Yarnell'')July 31Dan Resin79 Actor (''On Our Own'', ''Edge of Night'', ''Lovers and Friends'', ''Captain Kangaroo'', ''Madhouse Brigade'', ''Remember WENN'')Mitch Miller99 Musician, band leader, record executive and television personality (''Sing Along With Mitch'')===August=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  August 8Patricia Neal84 Actress (played Olivia Walton in ''The Homecoming: A Christmas Story'' and as herself in ''The Patricia Neal Story'' )August 9Ted Stevens86 Politician (U.S. Senator from Alaska, 1968–2009); member of The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which oversees Communications in the United States, including the television industry, of which he made critical opinions and decisions about during his tenureAugust 10David L. Wolper82 Producer (''North and South, Roots, The Thorn Birds'' and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles)August 13Edwin Newman91 Broadcast journalist, NBC anchor, and author (''Today'', ''Meet the Press'')August 14Gloria Winters78 Actress and author (''Sky King'')August 15James J. Kilpatrick89 Conservative commentator, journalist, newspaper editor and television personality (''60 Minutes'')August 21Harold Dow62 Radio and television journalist for CBS News===September=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  September 2Morgan White86 Actor and children's television host (Pogo Poge on ''Checkers & Pogo'' at KGMB-TV/Honolulu and on ''Hawaii Five-O'')September 5David Dortort93 TV producer and screenwriter (''Bonanza, The High Chaparral'')September 8John Kluge95German-born television/radio broadcaster and founder/chairman of MetromediaSeptember 11Harold Gould86 Character actor (''Rhoda'', ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'', ''The Golden Girls'')Kevin McCarthy96 Character actor (''Flamingo Road'')September 17Marilyn Cantor Baker89 Screenwriter and actress (''Love, Sidney'')September 23Arthur Holch86 Emmy Award-winning TV director and producerSeptember 25Art Gilmore98 Actor and voice actor (''Highway Patrol'')September 29Greg Giraldo44 Stand-up comedian (''Last Comic Standing'', The Comedy Central Roasts)Tony Curtis85 Actor (''Some Like It Hot'', ''The Defiant Ones'', guest spots on several TV shows, including his only starring series, ''McCoy'')September 30Stephen J. Cannell69 TV creator, screenwriter, director, author, and actor (''The A-Team'', ''Riptide'', ''The Greatest American Hero'', ''Hunter'', ''The Rockford Files'', ''21 Jump Street'')===October=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  October 16Barbara Billingsley94 Actress (June Cleaver on ''Leave It to Beaver'', the voice of "Nanny" on ''Muppet Babies'')October 19Tom Bosley83 Actor (Howard Cunningham on ''Happy Days'', Sheriff Amos Tupper on ''Murder, She Wrote'', twin brothers Frank and Blaine Dowling on ''Father Dowling Mysteries''), and voice actor (Harry on ''Wait Till Your Father Gets Home'' and the title character on ''The World of David the Gnome'')October 27Denise Borino-Quinn46 TV actress and lawyer (''The Sopranos'')James Wall92 TV actor and stage manager (Mr. Baxter on ''Captain Kangaroo''; stage manager for CBS shows including ''60 Minutes'' and ''Face the Nation'')October 28James MacArthur72 Actor (played Danny "Danno" Williams in the original ''Hawaii Five-O'')October 30Arthur Bernard Lewis84 Producer (''Dallas'')===November=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  November 1Charlie O'Donnell78 Announcer (''Wheel of Fortune'', ''American Bandstand'') and news anchor (KCOP-TV)November 4Julien Hug35 Reality TV participant and restaurant owner (''The Bachelorette Season 5'')Sparky Anderson76Major League Baseball manager (led both the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers to World Series titles), later a baseball color commentator on TV and radio.November 5Jill Clayburgh66 Actress (''Ally McBeal'')November 10Dave Niehaus75Ford C. Frick Award-winning  sportscaster, voice of the Seattle Mariners since the team's inception in 1977.November 28Leslie Nielsen84 Actor and comedian (''The Naked Gun'', ''Forbidden Planet'', ''The Poseidon Adventure'', and ''Airplane! '')November 29Al Masini80 TV producer (creator of ''Entertainment Tonight'', ''Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'', ''Solid Gold'', and ''Star Search'')===December=== Date  Name  Age  Notability  December 5Don Meredith72NFL player (Dallas Cowboys), later color commentator on ''Monday Night Football'' and NBC's NFL coverageDecember 14Neva Patterson90 Actress (''The Governor and J.J.'', ''V: The Original Miniseries'', ''V: The Final Battle'')December 15Blake Edwards88 Producer, director and screenwriter (''Peter Gunn'')December 20Steve Landesberg74 Actor and comedian (''Barney Miller'')December 25Bud Greenspan84 Documentarian, screenwriter and sports reporterDecember 26Teena Marie54 R&B/Dance singer, songwriter and actress (''The Beverly Hillbillies''; her 1981 song "Square Biz" was re-worked by Marie as the theme for ''The Hollywood Squares'')
See also * 2010 in the United States* List of American films of 2010
References
External links *  TV.com * List of 2010 American television series at IMDb