See also: 1959 in television, other events of 1960, 1961 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Table of contents
1 Events
2 Popular Television Shows
3 Births
4 Deaths

Events

  • February 11 - Jack Paar walks off his TV show because his monologue had been edited the night before, in favor of a three minute news update. Parr walked out at the beginning of the show, announced that he was quiting, said "There's got to be a better way to make a living," and walked off the stage. After network executives personally apologized, Parr returned to the show a month later. His first show back started with the words "As I was saying before I was interrupted..."
  • American Presidential Candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon debate live on television. The candidates behavior during the debate most likely altered the outcome of the election. In addition to being the first Presidential debates to be broadcast on television, the debates also marked the first time "split screen" images were used by a network.
  • 90% of homes in the United States now own a television set, and over one hundred million television sets in use worldwide

Popular Television Shows

Births

Deaths