# 2006 in American television

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
In American television in 2006, notable events include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel initiations.

## Notable events
### January

| Date | Event |
| 1 | NBCUniversal ends the channel program Trio and in its place begins Sleuth, a 24-hour entertainment cable TV channel dedicated to the crime, mystery and suspense genres. |
| 1 | The final episode of the original NFL Primetime airs on ESPN, followed by the network's final Sunday Night Football game. |
| 2 | After several years as part of The WB's weekday programming sequence, The WB ends its weekday afternoon Kids' WB animation sequence. Kids' WB is relegated to Saturday mornings, and the weekday block is replaced by Daytime WB. |
| 4 | The Rose Bowl Game between the Texas Longhorns and USC Trojans is broadcast on ABC. Now considered by many to not only be the greatest college football national championship game of all time, but the greatest Division 1-A college football game ever played, this Rose Bowl also has the distinction of being the final game ever called by longtime broadcaster Keith Jackson. It was also the final Rose Bowl to be telecast under ABC Sports branding; the 2007 Rose Bowl would be an ESPN on ABC presentation. |
| 12 | Dari Alexander (anchor of afternoon portions of Fox News Live on weekends) and Rick Folbaum (anchor of Fox Report Weekend) are transferred from Fox News Channel to the Fox flagship station WNYW/New York City. They are replaced by Jamie Colby and Trace Gallagher, respectively (the latter effective on February 4, when the network introduced the weekend editions of Studio B). Folbaum, however, would return to the network in 2009. |
| 12 | The second live episode of the program Will & Grace is broadcast by NBC on both the East and West coasts of the United States. |
| 14 | The NHL on NBC returned for the first time since broadcasting the 1994 NHL All-Star Game, featuring a regional tripleheader. It marked NBC's first non-All-Star Game broadcast of the NHL since the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals. |
| 24 | CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. announce the initiation of The CW Television Network for the 2006–2007 season. This network is, in a sense, a merger of The WB and UPN and is designed to replace both of those networks. |
| 24 | NFL player Bob Griese donated a total of $114,310 (including the standard $100,000 grand prize) on his appearance in Wheel of Fortune to his charity for Judi's House (founded by his son Brian, also an NFL alumnus). The winning puzzle, "Brains and Brawn", would later be reprised on December 16, 2010, where another contestant, Hillary Light, solved the exact same puzzle with a similar result. |
| 28 | The Directors Guild of America name Tony Croll and J. Rupert Thompson as best reality television directors for the programs Three Wishes and Fear Factor, respectively. Best director of a dramatic series is Michael Apted for Rome. Television comedy series director is Marc Buckland for My Name Is Earl. Directors Joseph Sargent (Warm Springs) and George C. Wolfe (Lackawanna Blues) share best television movie awards. General Hospital's Owen Renfroe is named best daytime television serial director. |
| 29 | World News Tonight co-anchor Bob Woodruff and ABC News cameraman Doug Vogt are injured. |

### February

| Date | Event |
| 2 | Mad Linx returns to host Rap City after a 4-month absence, while J-Nicks leaves the show to work as a radio DJ. |
| 5 | After 36 years, ABC broadcasts its final National Football League game when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Seattle Seahawks 21–10 in Super Bowl XL. NFL football will not be seen on the network for 9 years until January 9, 2016, and again on January 7, 2017. |
| 22 | Fox announces plans for a new network, named MyNetworkTV. The network was planned to be broadcast by UPN and WB affiliates which are not included in the initiation of The CW. |
| 24 | My Gym Partner's a Monkey officially premieres on Cartoon Network after its sneak peek aired on December 26, 2005. |
| 28 | The Bold and The Beautiful actor Jack Wagner along with contestant Christine Denos won $142,550 in Wheel of Fortune, setting a record for its one-episode winnings total in the show, and the second-largest winnings record since Peter Argyropolous and Deborah Cohen in 1996. Both of these records would later be first surpassed on October 14, 2008, when Michelle Lowenstein won $1,026,080. |

### March

| Date | Event |
| 8 | Bravo's premiere of one of its most popular shows to date, Top Chef. |
| 16 | SportsNet New York is begun. It is home of the New York Mets and New York Jets. |
| 17 | United States premiere of the new series of Doctor Who on Sci-Fi's Friday-night sequence. |
| 20 | Meg Oliver is named the new anchor of CBS News' Up to the Minute, replacing Melissa McDermott. |
| 26 | The last first-run episodes to date of the long-running TV series Soul Train air in syndication. Reruns of the previous season are broadcast until October, when "The Best of Soul Train" reruns from the 1970s and 1980s begin being broadcast instead of new episodes. |

### April

| Date | Event |
| 1 | The Kids' Choice Awards ceremony is broadcast by Nickelodeon, with host Jack Black and featuring Robin Williams as the unfortunate victim of the network's trademark slime. |
| 4 | Pepper Dennis starring Rebecca Romijn premieres. It has the distinction of being the final show to premiere on The WB before its transition to The CW network later that fall. |
| 28 | The 33rd Daytime Emmy Awards ceremony is broadcast by ABC. |

### May

| Date | Event |
| 5 | The popular Disney Junior (then known as Playhouse Disney) show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse premiered on Disney Channel after the network's premiere of Finding Nemo. |
| 21 | A pair of finales: On CBS, Mike Wallace makes his last appearance on 60 Minutes, while the WB airs the series finale of Charmed, "Forever Charmed", ending the series after eight seasons. |
| 24 | On Fox, Taylor Hicks wins American Idol season five. |
| 25 | A press conference by President George W Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, the broadcast aired live simultaneously on C-Span, as well as several local affiliates for FOX, ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. The combined ratings for these broadcasts coincidentally made the event one of the most-watched events in every single media market in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Indiana, Idaho, Wisconsin, New Jersey and the Pennsylvania regions of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Greater Pittsburgh, Northeastern Pennsylvania and South Central Pennsylvania. |
| 31 | Katie Couric's final episode as co-host of the Today Show airs on NBC. |

### June

| Date | Event |
| 9 | Richard Karn hosted his final episode of Family Feud and was replaced by John O'Hurley. |
| 26 | MSG Network debuted SummerBall, a basketball series dedicated to the well-known summer streetball leagues in New York City. This was the first program ever broadcast by the network that was strictly dedicated to streetball in New York City. |
| 28 | After 19 years, Charles Gibson's final episode as co-host of Good Morning America airs on ABC. |

### July

| Date | Event |
| 3 | In anticipation of the launch of MyNetworkTV in September, Fox affiliate WUFX (now WLOO) and WB affiliate WDBD swap affiliations, returning Fox to WDBD after a 5-year absence and clearing the way for WUFX's impending switch to MyNetworkTV. |
| 10 | Terrence and Rocsi, winners from BET's "New Faces" talent search, become the new hosts of 106 & Park, replacing the temporary hosts Big Tigger and Julissa. |
| 24 | The program Aquaman, previously not broadcast, becomes available for download on the iTunes Music Store. |

### August

| Date | Event |
| 14 | Rap City host Mad Linx quits the show and is replaced by Q45. |
| 21 | Stargate SG-1 is canceled officially by Sci Fi Channel after the premiere broadcast of the show's 200th episode after just five low-rated episodes. The tenth, and possibly final, season makes the show the longest broadcast science fiction series in American television history. |
| 21 | Fox gains two new affiliates: In the Delmarva Peninsula, Salisbury-based CBS affiliate WBOC-TV's DT2 subchannel switches from lame-duck UPN to Fox, giving the Delmarva Peninsula its first-ever Fox affiliate. Meanwhile, in Jackson, Tennessee, UPN affiliate WJKT reunites with Fox after 11 years with UPN. |
| 25 | The Cheetah Girls 2, a sequel to The Cheetah Girls premieres on the Disney Channel and becomes the highest-rated Disney Channel original movie at that time, with ratings more than 8.1 million, exceeding that of High School Musical. |
| 27 | The NBC comedy The Office wins Outstanding Comedy Series and the Fox drama 24 also wins for Outstanding Drama Series at the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards on NBC. |
| 28 | In Fort Smith, Arkansas, NBC affiliate KFTA-TV becomes a Fox affiliate, despite protests from Fox's outgoing affiliate KPBI-CA (which eventually joins MyNetworkTV). Nexstar Broadcasting Company, KFTA-TV's owners, also announces they are selling KFTA-TV to Mission Broadcasting (a company whose stations are operated by Nexstar), but that too is challenged by KPBI-CA. KFTA-TV's satellite in Rogers, KNWA-TV, remains with Nexstar and continues as the market's sole NBC affiliate. |
| 31 | Nine UPN affiliates, all of them owned by Fox, disaffiliate from UPN in preparation for the launch of MyNetworkTV. |
| 31 | After 1 year of the row, Bob Schieffer's final episode as an anchor of CBS Evening News. |

### September

| Date | Event |
| 1 | In Lima, Ohio, lame-duck UPN affiliate WLQP-LP leaves the network to join ABC, giving the area its first full-time ABC affiliate. This in turn gives Lima in-market of all four major commercial broadcast networks. |
| 2 | ESPN takes over production of ABC Sports broadcasts, rebranding them as ESPN on ABC. Both networks are owned by The Walt Disney Company. |
| 4 | UPN affiliate WSWG in Valdosta, Georgia, having planned to be a MyNetworkTV affiliate with CBS on DT2, does an about-face and becomes a semi-satellite of sister station and Thomasville-based CBS affiliate WCTV, moving MyNetworkTV (when it debuts the following night) to DT2. This gives the Albany market its first full-time CBS affiliate. |
| 4 | MTV en Español is relaunched as MTV Tres. |
| 5 | The debut of the new News Corp-owned broadcast network MyNetworkTV occurs on this date with the premiere of two prime-time telenovelas, Desire and Fashion House. |
| 5 | On CBS, Katie Couric becomes the first female sole anchor of the CBS Evening News, replacing the temporary anchor Bob Schieffer. |
| 6 | The longest-broadcast television drama program, Guiding Light, broadcasts its 15,000th televised episode on CBS. |
| 7 | NBC broadcast its first NFL regular season or playoff game since Super Bowl XXXII in 1997, taking over the rights to the NFL Kickoff Game. Three days later, it broadcast its first regular season Sunday Night Football game. |
| 9 | Qubo debuts as a Saturday morning block on NBC as well as a Spanish-dubbed version on Telemundo and a Friday afternoon programming block on i: Independent Television. The block is broadcast on Saturdays and a Spanish block on Saturdays and Sundays on NBC and Telemundo. The block replaced two former weekend morning blocks on NBC and Telemundo - Discovery Kids on NBC and Telemundo Kids. |
| 9 | KOHD in Bend, Oregon signs on the air, giving the Bend market its first full-time ABC affiliate. |
| 11 | Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! become the first game shows to be broadcast in High Definition. |
| 11 | John O'Hurley replaces Richard Karn as the host of Family Feud. |
| 12 | On CBS, Mike Malin is named the winner of Big Brother: All-Stars and wins the $500,000 prize. Runner-Up Erika Landin wins $50,000. |
| 12 | Fox officially shuts down Foxnet, a cable service for television markets that did not have a local Fox affiliate. This prompts stations in the few markets that still carry Foxnet to launch Fox-affiliated subchannels: CBS affiliate WAGM-TV in Presque Isle, Maine moves its affiliation to DT2 on this day and joins Fox. Meanwhile, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, ABC affiliate WBKO-TV launches a Fox-affiliated DT2 subchannel at around the same time, returning Fox to Bowling Green for the first time since Fox left now-NBC affiliate WNKY in 2001 in a dispute. |
| 13 | Meredith Vieira begins co-hosting duties of the NBC program Today, replacing Katie Couric. |
| 13 | Two new Fox affiliates hit the air due to the shutdown of Foxnet. In the Beckley-Bluefield-Oak Hill area, Lewisburg-based CBS affiliate WVNS-TV adds a Fox affiliation on its DT2 subchannel, returning Fox to the market for the first time since WVNS-TV itself dropped the network in 2001 to join CBS (and giving the area in-market affiliates of all four major commercial broadcast networks). Meanwhile, in the Mississippi Delta, Greenville-based ABC affiliate WABG-TV also launches a Fox affiliation on its DT2 subchannel. |
| 16 | Following the Viacom/CBS split, the Nick Jr. on CBS block is replaced by KOL Secret Slumber Party, a female-oriented Saturday morning block produced by DiC Entertainment. Rebrandings took place a year later when it became KEWLopolis, and with the merge to Cookie Jar Entertainment in the fall of 2009, Cookie Jar TV. |
| 18 | The CW network debuts as the sixth broadcast network, merging with UPN (owned by CBS which split in the original Viacom, three days after UPN ceased operations) and The WB (owned by Warner Bros., a day after The WB ceased operations). |
| 18 | Vickyann Sadowski wins $147,517 worth of cash and prizes for her performance on the season 35 premiere of The Price Is Right on CBS. This not only made Sadowski (at the time) the biggest winner of the daytime show's history, it also surpassed Press Your Luck contestant Michael Larson, making her then-the biggest one day winner in the history of American network daytime game shows in general (Sadowski's record has since surpassed by five other contestants as of 2019, with the first being Sheree Heil on December 30, 2013, who won $170,345; the current record holder was Michael Stouber on October 14, 2019, who won $262,743). |
| 20 | Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is seriously injured after crashing a jet-powered car at 280 mph. |
| 25 | Fox & Friends co-anchor E.D. Hill quits the show and is replaced by Gretchen Carlson. |
| 25 | Outdoor Life Network is relaunched as Versus. |

### October

| Date | Event |
| 3 | Barney & Friends airs its 200th episode on PBS Kids. |
| 19 | NBC Universal announces a major restructuring is in order to save US$750 million after several years of decreasing ratings. Among the changes is the announcement that NBC will no longer broadcast scripted dramas or comedies during the first hour of prime time, emphasizing instead less-expensive reality and game shows during those hours. Its news division is also trimmed. The announcement is made despite the early success of several new NBC series such as Heroes. |
| 26 | Wheel of Fortune introduced a new gameplay element called Wild Card which allows contestants to play an extra letter on the same cash value it landed on (the card was not used until November 20 episode), or providing an extra, fourth consonant in the Bonus Round (this was first used on November 15 episode). |
| 27 | Game 5 of the World Series is broadcast on Fox. The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Detroit Tigers, winning their first title since 1982. |
| 31 | Bob Barker announces that he will be retiring from his hosting duties for The Price Is Right after 35 years in June 2007. |

### November

| Date | Event |
| 9 | Nickelodeon broadcasts a 24-hour marathon of SpongeBob SquarePants starting at 8:00 PM leading to the new episode the following day. The marathon increased Nickelodeon's ratings to an average of more than 6.7 million viewers and became the network's highest-rated day ever. |
| 16 | On ABC's General Hospital, Luke and Laura Spencer remarry to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first nuptials, which was the highest-rated hour in U.S. daytime television history. |

### December

| Date | Event |
| 5 | The 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is broadcast on CBS. 6.8 million people tune in. |

## Programs
### Shows debuting in 2006

| Date | Show | Network |
| January 1 | In Justice | ABC |
| January 1 | Flavor of Love | VH1 |
| January 2 | It's a Big Big World | PBS Kids |
| January 2 | Lunar Jim | TLC |
| January 5 | Dallas SWAT | A&E |
| January 5 | Four Kings | NBC |
| January 6 | The Book of Daniel | NBC |
| January 7 | Weekends with Maury and Connie | MSNBC |
| January 8 | Campus Ladies | Oxygen |
| January 11 | South Beach | UPN |
| January 12 | Crumbs | ABC |
| January 17 | Love Monkey | CBS |
| January 18 | Skating with Celebrities | Fox |
| January 22 | Number 1 Single | E! |
| January 23 | Courting Alex | CBS |
| January 27 | The Emperor's New School | Disney Channel |
| February 7 | Get This Party Started | UPN |
| February 20 | Power Rangers Mystic Force | Toon Disney |
| February 25 | Kappa Mikey | Nicktoons Network |
| March 1 | Free Ride | Fox |
| March 3 | Conviction | NBC |
| March 3 | Wonder Pets! | Nick Jr. |
| March 7 | 8th & Ocean | MTV |
| March 7 | The Unit | CBS |
| March 7 | Sons & Daughters | ABC |
| March 12 | Big Love | HBO |
| March 13 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | CBS |
| March 15 | The Loop | Fox |
| March 16 | American Inventor | ABC |
| March 17 | Modern Men | The WB |
| March 22 | Heist | NBC |
| March 22 | The Evidence | ABC |
| March 22 | Unan1mous | Fox |
| March 24 | Hannah Montana | Disney Channel |
| March 28 | Teachers | NBC |
| March 28 | Thief | FX |
| March 29 | The Bedford Diaries | The WB |
| March 31 | Survival of the Richest | The WB |
| April 2 | So NoTORIous | VH1 |
| April 3 | Call to Greatness | MTV |
| April 3 | Yo Momma | MTV |
| April 4 | Pepper Dennis | The WB |
| April 6 | PlayMania | Game Show Network |
| April 9 | Just for Kicks | Nickelodeon |
| April 11 | At the Poocharelli's | Nick at Nite |
| April 16 | What About Brian | ABC |
| April 17 | Celebrity Cooking Showdown | NBC |
| April 18 | Mega Movers | History |
| April 24 | La Fea Más Bella | Univision |
| May 2 | Blowin' Up | MTV |
| May 5 | Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Playhouse Disney |
| May 27 | Squirrel Boy | Cartoon Network |
| May 28 | Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman | PBS Kids Go! |
| May 31 | The Hills | MTV |
| May 31 | Gameshow Marathon | CBS |
| June 2 | Beyond the Break | Noggin (during "The N" block) |
| June 6 | The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency | Oxygen |
| June 8 | Windfall | NBC |
| June 10 | The Adventures of Chico and Guapo | MTV2 |
| June 10 | Where My Dogs At? | MTV2 |
| June 10 | Disney Channel Games | Disney Channel |
| June 11 | Lucky Louie | HBO |
| June 12 | Saved | TNT |
| June 13 | WWE ECW | Sci Fi |
| June 13 | Tuesday Night Book Club | CBS |
| June 17 | Spider Riders | Kids' WB |
| June 18 | Treasure Hunters | NBC |
| June 21 | America's Got Talent | NBC |
| June 22 | Master of Champions | ABC |
| July 7 | Psych | USA Network |
| July 9 | Brotherhood | Showtime |
| July 10 | Hotwyred | BET |
| July 13 | The Black Carpet | BET |
| July 18 | Eureka | Sci Fi |
| July 18 | The One: Making a Music Star | ABC |
| July 19 | Work Out | Bravo |
| July 21 | Live at Gotham | Comedy Central |
| July 28 | The Replacements | Disney Channel |
| July 28 | Shorty McShorts' Shorts | Disney Channel |
| July 31 | One Ocean View | ABC |
| August 5 | Di-Gata Defenders | Cartoon Network |
| August 6 | Metalocalypse | Adult Swim |
| August 13 | Your Business | MSNBC |
| August 21 | Vanished | Fox |
| August 21 | Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! | Nick Jr. Channel |
| August 23 | Two-A-Days | MTV |
| August 26 | Viva Piñata | 4Kids TV |
| August 26 | Yin Yang Yo! | Jetix |
| August 26 | Biker Mice from Mars | 4Kids TV |
| August 28 | Fox Online | Fox News Channel |
| August 30 | Justice | Fox |
| September 2 | ESPN on ABC | ABC |
| September 4 | Curious George | PBS Kids |
| September 4 | CNN Newsroom | CNN |
| September 5 | Desire | MyNetworkTV |
| September 5 | Fashion House | MyNetworkTV |
| September 5 | Standoff | Fox |
| September 7 | Happy Hour | Fox |
| September 7 | 'Til Death | Fox |
| September 9 | 3-2-1 Penguins! | Qubo |
| September 9 | VeggieTales on TV | Qubo |
| September 9 | Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes | Cartoon Network |
| September 9 | Growing Up Creepie | Discovery Family |
| September 10 | SeeMore's Playhouse | PBS Kids |
| September 10 | NBC Sunday Night Football | NBC |
| September 11 | Monday Night Football | ESPN |
| September 11 | Judge Maria Lopez | Syndication |
| September 12 | The Greg Behrendt Show | Syndication |
| September 12 | Men in Trees | ABC |
| September 14 | The Underground | Showtime |
| September 16 | Cake | KOL Secret Slumber Party |
| September 16 | Dance Revolution | KOL Secret Slumber Party |
| September 16 | Horseland | KOL Secret Slumber Party |
| September 16 | Strawberry Shortcake | KOL Secret Slumber Party |
| September 16 | Handy Manny | Playhouse Disney |
| September 18 | The Megan Mullally Show | Syndication |
| September 18 | Rachael Ray | Syndication |
| September 18 | The Class | CBS |
| September 18 | Haversham Hall | Disney Channel |
| September 18 | Pucca | Jetix |
| September 18 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | NBC |
| September 19 | Smith | CBS |
| September 20 | Kidnapped | NBC |
| September 20 | Jericho | CBS |
| September 21 | Six Degrees | ABC |
| September 21 | Shark | CBS |
| September 23 | Legion of Super Heroes | Kids' WB |
| September 23 | Monster Allergy | Kids' WB |
| September 23 | Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! | Kids' WB |
| September 23 | Tom and Jerry Tales | Kids' WB |
| September 24 | Brothers & Sisters | ABC |
| September 25 | Happy Tree Friends | G4 |
| September 25 | Heroes | NBC |
| September 25 | Runaway | The CW |
| September 25 | The Live Desk | Fox News Channel |
| September 26 | Help Me Help You | ABC |
| September 28 | Ugly Betty | ABC |
| September 29 | Grossology | Discovery Kids |
| September 30 | American Idol Rewind | Syndication |
| October 1 | Dexter | Showtime |
| October 1 | The Game | The CW |
| October 1 | House of Carters | E! |
| October 2 | Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Duel | MTV |
| October 3 | Friday Night Lights | NBC |
| October 4 | Beef: The Series | BET |
| October 4 | Freak Show | Comedy Central |
| October 4 | The Nine | ABC |
| October 4 | Most Shocking | TruTV |
| October 7 | Chaotic | 4Kids TV |
| October 11 | 30 Rock | NBC |
| October 11 | Twenty Good Years | NBC |
| October 13 | 1 vs. 100 | NBC |
| October 13 | The Upside Down Show | Nickelodeon |
| October 16 | Frisky Dingo | Adult Swim |
| October 22 | Celebrity Paranormal Project | VH1 |
| November 3 | Class of 3000 | Cartoon Network |
| November 4 | Rob & Big | MTV |
| November 14 | 3 lbs | CBS |
| November 14 | Show Me the Money | ABC |
| November 15 | Day Break | ABC |
| November 26 | 10 Items or Less | TBS |
| November 26 | Assy McGee | Adult Swim |
| November 28 | Big Day | ABC |
| December 4 | My GamesFever | Fox |
| December 6 | Watch Over Me | MyNetworkTV |
| December 6 | Wicked Wicked Games | MyNetworkTV |
| December 11 | The Lost Room | Sci Fi |
| December 18 | Identity | NBC |

### Shows returning in 2006

| Show | Previous network | Last aired | New network | Returning |
| Time of Your Life | Fox | 2000 | TBS | March 4 |
| Celebrity Deathmatch | MTV | 2002 | MTV2 | June 10 |
| Jakers! Adventures of Piggley Winks | PBS | 2005 | Same | September 18 |

### Shows changing networks

The following shows will air new episodes on a different network than previous first-run episodes.
| Show | Moved From | Moved To |
| Darcy's Wild Life | Discovery Kids on NBC | Discovery Kids |
| Flight 29 Down | Discovery Kids on NBC | Discovery Kids |
| Kenny the Shark | Discovery Kids on NBC | Discovery Kids |
| Time Warp Trio | Discovery Kids on NBC | Discovery Kids |
| Tutenstein | Discovery Kids on NBC | Discovery Kids |
| 7th Heaven | The WB | The CW |
| Beauty and the Geek | The WB | The CW |
| Gilmore Girls | The WB | The CW |
| One Tree Hill | The WB | The CW |
| Reba | The WB | The CW |
| Smallville | The WB | The CW |
| Supernatural | The WB | The CW |
| All of Us | UPN | The CW |
| America's Next Top Model | UPN | The CW |
| Everybody Hates Chris | UPN | The CW |
| Girlfriends | UPN | The CW |
| Veronica Mars | UPN | The CW |
| WWE Friday Night SmackDown | UPN | The CW |
| The Andy Milonakis Show | MTV | MTV2 |
| Celebrity Deathmatch | MTV | MTV2 |
| Belmont Stakes | NBC | ABC |
| World's Most Amazing Videos | NBC | Spike |
| Breeders' Cup | NBC | ESPN |
| The Contender | NBC | ESPN |
| Sunday Night Football | ESPN | NBC |
| Monday Night Football | ABC | ESPN |
| Invader Zim | Nickelodeon | Nicktoons |
| The Simple Life | Fox | E! |
| Time of Your Life | Fox | TBS |
| Power Rangers | ABC Family | ABC |
| Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Adult Swim | GameTap |
| The Upside Down Show | Nickelodeon | Noggin |
| Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks | PBS Kids | PBS Kids Sprout |

### Shows ending in 2006

| Date | Show | Channel | Debut | Status |
| January 1 | What Should You Do? | Lifetime | 2003 | Cancelled |
| January 6 | Boohbah | PBS Kids | 2003 | Cancelled |
| January 15 | NBA Inside Stuff (returned in 2013) | ABC | 1990 | Cancelled |
| January 19 | The Crocodile Hunter Diaries | Animal Planet | 2002 | Cancelled |
| January 20 | The Book of Daniel | NBC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| January 21 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | NBC | 2005 | Cancelled |
| January 25 | Party/Party | Bravo | 2005 | Cancelled |
| January 28 | Strange Days at Blake Holsey High | Discovery Kids | 2002 | Cancelled |
| February 1 | E-Ring | NBC | 2005 | Cancelled |
| February 5 | Strong Medicine | Lifetime | 2000 | Cancelled |
| February 6 | Surface | NBC | 2005 | Cancelled |
| February 7 | Meet the Barkers | MTV | 2005 | Cancelled |
| February 7 | Crumbs | ABC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| February 7 | Love Monkey | CBS | 2006 | Cancelled |
| February 10 | Arrested Development (returned in 2013) | Fox | 2003 | Cancelled |
| February 15 | Yes, Dear | CBS | 2000 | Cancelled |
| February 21 | Auto-B-Good | Syndication | 2005 | Cancelled |
| February 22 | South Beach | UPN | 2006 | Cancelled |
| February 22 | Clifford's Puppy Days | PBS Kids | 2003 | Cancelled |
| February 24 | Wildboyz | MTV2 | 2003 | Cancelled |
| February 27 | Monster House | Discovery Channel | 2003 | Cancelled |
| March 7 | Twins | The WB | 2005 | Cancelled |
| March 8 | Still Standing | CBS | 2002 | Cancelled |
| March 16 | Four Kings | NBC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| March 18 | Darcy's Wild Life | Discovery Kids | 2004 | Cancelled |
| March 19 | Number 1 Single | E! | 2006 | Cancelled |
| March 20 | Related | The WB | 2005 | Cancelled |
| March 24 | Living with Fran | The WB | 2005 | Cancelled |
| March 24 | The FBI Files | Discovery Channel | 1998 | Cancelled |
| March 24 | What I Like About You | The WB | 2002 | Cancelled |
| March 25 | Soul Train | Syndication | 1971 | Cancelled |
| March 29 | Courting Alex | CBS | 2006 | Cancelled |
| March 31 | In Justice | ABC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| April 9 | Free Ride | Fox | 2006 | Cancelled |
| April 12 | Freddie | ABC | 2005 | Cancelled |
| April 14 | The Bernie Mac Show | Fox | 2001 | Cancelled |
| April 19 | Heist | NBC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| April 24 | Beautiful People | ABC Family | 2005 | Cancelled |
| April 24 | Get Ed | ABC Family | 2005 | Cancelled |
| April 24 | O'Grady | The N | 2004 | Cancelled |
| April 28 | Bear in the Big Blue House | Playhouse Disney | 1997 | Cancelled |
| April 28 | Modern Men | The WB | 2006 | Cancelled |
| May 2 | Teachers | NBC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| May 2 | Thief | FX | 2006 | Cancelled |
| May 2 | Hope & Faith | ABC | 2003 | Cancelled |
| May 9 | 8th & Ocean | MTV | 2006 | Cancelled |
| May 10 | The Bedford Diaries | The WB | 2006 | Cancelled |
| May 11 | Eve | UPN | 2003 | Cancelled |
| May 11 | Love Inc. | UPN | 2005 | Cancelled |
| May 13 | Justice League Unlimited | Kids' WB | 2004 | Cancelled |
| May 13 | Xiaolin Showdown | Kids' WB | 2003 | Cancelled |
| May 14 | The Surreal Life (returned in 2012) | Fox | 2003 | Cancelled |
| May 14 | The West Wing | NBC | 1999 | Cancelled |
| May 14 | Malcolm in the Middle | Fox | 2000 | Ended |
| May 14 | So NoTORIous | VH1 | 2006 | Cancelled |
| May 15 | Half & Half | UPN | 2002 | Cancelled |
| May 15 | One on One | UPN | 2001 | Cancelled |
| May 18 | That '70s Show (returned in 2023 as That '90s Show) | Fox | 1998 | Ended |
| May 18 | Will & Grace (returned in 2017) | NBC | 1998 | Ended |
| May 19 | Conviction | NBC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| May 19 | Wonder Showzen | MTV2 | 2005 | Cancelled |
| May 21 | Charmed | The WB | 1998 | Ended |
| May 22 | Alias | ABC | 2001 | Cancelled |
| May 24 | ElimiDate | Syndication | 2001 | Cancelled |
| May 24 | Starting Over | Syndication | 2003 | Cancelled |
| May 26 | The Tony Danza Show | Syndication | 2004 | Cancelled |
| May 27 | The Buzz on Maggie | Disney Channel | 2005 | Cancelled |
| May 27 | Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island | Kids' WB | 2005 | Cancelled |
| June 5 | Everwood | The WB | 2002 | Cancelled |
| June 6 | Less than Perfect | ABC | 2002 | Cancelled |
| June 6 | Rodney | ABC | 2004 | Cancelled |
| June 11 | WWE Velocity | Webcast on WWE.com | 2002 | Cancelled |
| June 12 | Monster Garage | Discovery Channel | 2002 | Cancelled |
| June 14 | Commander in Chief | ABC | 2005 | Cancelled |
| June 17 | Weekends with Maury and Connie | MSNBC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| June 25 | Huff | Showtime | 2004 | Cancelled |
| June 27 | Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi | Cartoon Network | 2004 | Cancelled |
| June 30 | Family Business | Showtime | 2003 | Cancelled |
| July 1 | The Evidence | ABC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| July 4 | Call to Greatness | MTV | 2006 | Cancelled |
| July 4 | Pepper Dennis | The WB | 2006 | Cancelled |
| July 4 | Great Hotels | Travel Channel | 2001 | Cancelled |
| July 5 | Celebrity Poker Showdown | Bravo | 2003 | Cancelled |
| July 6 | BET Style | BET | 2004 | Cancelled |
| July 7 | BET.com Countdown | BET | 2001 | Cancelled |
| July 11 | The Save-Ums! | Discovery Kids | 2003 | Cancelled |
| July 14 | I Love the '70s: Volume 2 | VH1 | 2006 | Cancelled |
| July 15 | Time Warp Trio | Discovery Kids | 2005 | Cancelled |
| July 21 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Cartoon Network | 2002 | Cancelled |
| July 23 | Chappelle's Show | Comedy Central | 2003 | Cancelled |
| July 23 | Romeo! | Nickelodeon | 2003 | Cancelled |
| July 24 | Minoriteam | Adult Swim | 2005 | Cancelled |
| July 26 | Blue Collar TV | The WB | 2004 | Cancelled |
| July 29 | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Disney Channel | 2003 | Cancelled |
| July 29 | The Adventures of Chico and Guapo | MTV2 | 2006 | Cancelled |
| July 29 | Where My Dogs At? | MTV2 | 2006 | Cancelled |
| August 5 | While You Were Out (returned in 2019) | TLC | 2002 |
| August 6 | Blue's Clues (returned in 2019) | Nickelodeon | 1996 | Ended |
| August 13 | Just for Kicks | Nickelodeon | 2006 | Cancelled |
| August 19 | Phil of the Future | Disney Channel | 2004 | Cancelled |
| August 19 | Invader Zim | Nickelodeon | 2001 | Cancelled |
| August 21 | Tabloid Wars | Bravo | 2006 | Cancelled |
| August 23 | Joey | NBC | 2004 | Cancelled |
| August 25 | Brandy & Mr. Whiskers | Disney Channel | 2004 | Cancelled |
| August 26 | Filter | G4/G4techTV | 2002 | Cancelled |
| August 27 | Lucky Louie | HBO | 2006 | Cancelled |
| August 27 | Deadwood | HBO | 2004 | Cancelled |
| September 1 | Blow Out | Bravo | 2004 | Cancelled |
| September 1 | Date My Mom | MTV | 2004 | Cancelled |
| September 2 | Saved | TNT | 2006 | Cancelled |
| September 8 | The Chelsea Handler Show | E! | 2006 | Cancelled |
| September 10 | Just Legal | The WB | 2005 | Cancelled |
| September 13 | Blind Date (returned in 2019) | Syndication | 1999 | Cancelled |
| September 15 | Teen Titans | Kids' WB | 2003 | Cancelled |
| September 22 | DaySide | Fox News Channel | 2003 | Cancelled |
| September 25 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Adult Swim | 2004 | Cancelled |
| October 3 | Smith | CBS | 2006 | Cancelled |
| October 15 | Runaway | The CW | 2006 | Cancelled |
| October 28 | G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 | 4Kids TV | 2005 | Cancelled |
| October 29 | Scariest Places on Earth | Fox Family | 2000 | Cancelled |
| November 1 | Twenty Good Years | NBC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 2 | Happy Hour | Fox | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 8 | Beef: The Series | BET | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 10 | Reading Rainbow | PBS | 1983 | Cancelled |
| November 13 | The Upside Down Show | Noggin | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 14 | As Told by Ginger | Nicktoons | 2000 | Cancelled |
| November 15 | Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County | MTV | 2004 | Cancelled |
| November 16 | Freak Show | Comedy Central | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 16 | The Underground | Showtime | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 18 | A.T.O.M. | Jetix | 2005 | Cancelled |
| November 19 | NASCAR on NBC (NBC only) | NBC | 1999 | Cancelled |
| November 19 | Battlefield Detectives | History Channel | 2003 | Cancelled |
| November 20 | House of Carters | E! | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 23 | American Eats | History Channel | 2006 | Cancelled |
| November 25 | The Fairly OddParents (returned in 2008) | Nickelodeon | 2001 | Cancelled |
| November 25 | The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius | Nickelodeon | 2002 | Cancelled |
| November 25 | The X's | Nickelodeon | 2005 | Cancelled |
| November 28 | 3 lbs | CBS | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 5 | Desire | MyNetworkTV | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 5 | Fashion House | MyNetworkTV | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 8 | Vanished | Fox | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 9 | Cake | CBS | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 9 | Fear Factor (returned in 2011) | NBC | 2001 | Cancelled |
| December 12 | Al TV | VH1 | 1984 | Cancelled |
| December 12 | Help Me Help You | ABC | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 13 | The Lost Room | Syfy Channel | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 15 | Krypto the Superdog | Cartoon Network | 2005 | Cancelled |
| December 16 | Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Jetix | 2004 | Cancelled |
| December 17 | Breaking Bonaduce | VH1 | 2005 | Cancelled |
| December 17 | Sleeper Cell | Showtime | 2005 | Cancelled |
| December 23 | W.I.T.C.H. | ABC Kids | 2004 | Cancelled |
| December 25 | Happy Tree Friends | G4 | 2006 | Cancelled |
| December 26 | Danger Rangers | PBS Kids | 2005 | Cancelled |

### Entering syndication in 2006

| Show | Seasons | In Production |
| According to Jim | 5 | Yes |
| American Idol | 5 | Yes |
| CSI: Miami | 4 | Yes |
| One on One | 5 | No |
| Scrubs | 5 | Yes |
| The Shield | 4 | Yes |
| Still Standing | 4 | No |
| Without a Trace | 4 | Yes |

### Made-for-TV movies

| Premiere date | Title | Channel |
| January 6 | Drake & Josh Go Hollywood | Nickelodeon |
| January 20 | High School Musical | Disney Channel |
| January 30 | Flight 93 | A&E |
| March 24 | Cow Belles | Disney Channel |
| June 16 | Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior | Disney Channel |
| July 21 | Read It and Weep | Disney Channel |
| August 25 | The Cheetah Girls 2 | Disney Channel |
| September 10–11 | The Path to 9/11 | ABC |
| September 16 | Mrs. Harris | HBO |
| October 20 | Return to Halloweentown | Disney Channel |
| November 23 | Good Wilt Hunting | Cartoon Network |
| December 8 | Re-Animated | Cartoon Network |

## Networks and services
### Launches

| Network | Type | Launch date |
| World Championship Sports Network | Cable television | Unknown |
| Music: High Definition | Cable television | January 16 |
| Documentary Channel | Cable television | January 26 |
| Mega TV | Cable television | March 1 |
| RetroPlex | Cable television | April 3 |
| BabyFirst | Cable television | May 11 |
| LAT TV | Cable television | May 19 |
| MountainWest Sports Network | Cable television | September 1 |
| MTV Tres | Cable television | September 4 |
| MyNetworkTV | Cable television | September 5 |
| Retirement Living TV | Cable television | September 5 |
| VeNeMovies | Cable television | September 6 |
| The CW | Cable television | September 18 |
| ReelzChannel | Cable television | September 27 |
| Gems TV | Cable television | November 29 |
| France 24 | Cable television | December 6 |

### Conversions and rebrandings

| Old network name | New network name | Type | Conversion date |
| Trio | Sleuth | Cable television | January 1 |
| PBS YOU | Create | Cable television | January 9 |
| BET Jazz | BET J | Cable television | March 1 |
| Spike TV | Spike | Cable television | May 9 |
| VH1 Country | CMT Pure Country | Cable television | May 27 |
| Outdoor Life Network | Versus | Cable television | September 25 |

### Closures

| Network | Type | Closure date |
| UPN | Cable television | September 15 |
| The WB | Cable television | September 17 |
| MasMusica TeVe | Cable television | September 25 |
| MTV en Espanol | Cable television | September 25 |

## Television stations
### Station launches

| Date | City of License/Market | Station | Channel | Affiliation | Notes/Ref. |
| February | Sherman, Texas (Ada, Oklahoma) | KXII-DT2 | 12.2 | UPN (primary) Sportsman Channel (secondary) | |
| February 8 | Jackson, Mississippi | WRBJ | 34 | UPN | |
| March 27 | Norfolk, Virginia | WTPC-TV | 21 | TBN | |
| April 3 | Lafayette, Louisiana | KLWB | 50 | The WB | |
| April 10 | Amarillo, Texas | K17HI-D | 17.1 | 3ABN | |
| April 10 | Parkersburg, West Virginia (Marietta, Ohio) | WTAP-DT2 | 15.2 | Fox | |
| April 10 | Parkersburg, West Virginia (Marietta, Ohio) | WTAP-DT3 | 15.3 | UPN | |
| May 20 | El Dorado, Arkansas | KETZ | 12 | PBS | Part of the Arkansas Educational Television Network |
| June 26 | Lincoln, Nebraska | KOWH | 51 | The WB | |
| July | Sherman, Texas (Ada, Oklahoma) | KXII-DT3 | 12.3 | Fox | |
| July 3 | Medford, Oregon | KFBI-LD | 48 | Independent | |
| August 28 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | KFTA-DT2 | 24.2 | NBC | DT2 simulcast of KNWA-TV/Rogers, Arkansas |
| September 5 | Biloxi, Mississippi | WXXV-DT2 | 25.2 | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | WBKO-DT2 | 13.2 | FOX (primary) Jewelry Television (secondary) | |
| September 5 | Evansville, Indiana | WEVV-DT2 | 44.2 | MyNetworkTV | Full-power simulcast of WTSN-LP |
| September 5 | Florence, South Carolina | WBTW-DT2 | 13.2 | MyNetworkTV (primary) RTN (secondary) | |
| September 5 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | KPBI-CD | 46 | Independent | MyNetworkTV |
| September 5 | Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia | WSAZ-DT2 | 3.2 | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Meridian, Mississippi | WTOK-DT2 | 11.2 | Fox | |
| September 5 | Topeka, Kansas | WIBW-DT2 | 13.2 | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Wilmington, North Carolina | W47CK | 47 | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Youngstown, Ohio | WYTV-DT2 | 33.2 | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 6 | Albany, Georgia | WSWG-DT2 | 44.2 | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 9 | Bend, Oregon | KOHD | 18.1 (digital) 51.1 (virtual) | ABC | |
| September 12 | Presque Isle, Maine | WAGM-DT2 | 8.2 | CBS | Relocated from WAGM's main channel, which became a Fox affiliate |
| September 13 | Greenville/Greenwood, Mississippi | WABG-DT2 | 6.2 | Fox | |
| September 13 | Lewisburg, West Virginia (Bluefield/Beckley, WV and Bluefield, Virginia) | WVNS-DT2 | 59.2 | Fox | |
| September 18 | Bakersfield, California | KGET-DT2 | 17.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Bristol, Virginia (Bristol-Johnson City-Kingsport, Tennessee) | WCYB-DT2 | 5.2 | The CW | |
| September 18 | Charleston, South Carolina | WCBD-DT2 | 2.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Charlottesville, Virginia | WVIR-DT2 | 29.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Cincinnati, Ohio | WKRC-DT2 | 12.2 | The CW | |
| September 18 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | WBKO-DT3 | 13.3 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Eugene, Oregon | KMTR-DT2 | 16.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Fairbanks, Alaska | KATN-DT2 | | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | WPTA-DT2 | 21.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Greenville/Washington/New Bern, North Carolina | WNCT-DT2 | 9.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Laredo, Texas | KGNS-DT2 | 8.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Lima, Ohio | WLIO-DT2 | 8.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Palm Springs, California | KCWQ-LD | 2.1 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Peoria/Bloomington, Illinois | WHOI-DT2 | 19.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Rockford, Illinois | WREX-DT2 | 13.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Quincy, Illinois (Hannibal, Missouri/Keokuk, Iowa) | WGEM-DT3 | 10.3 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Salisbury, Maryland | WMDT-DT2 | 47.2 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Youngstown, Ohio | WYTV-DT2 | 33.2 | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 28 | San Antonio, Texas | KNIC-TV | 17 | Telefutura | |
| October 23 | Killeen, Texas | KPLE-LP | 30 | TBN | |
| October 26 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | WHSV-DT2 | 3.2 | Fox | |
| Unknown date | Chico, California | KXVU-LP | 17 | Telemundo | |
| Unknown date | Destin, Florida | WFBD | 48 | America One | |
| Unknown date | Devils Lake, North Dakota | KMDE | 25 | PBS | Part of the Prairie Public Television network |
| Unknown date | Grand Junction, Colorado | KKHD-LP | 8 | Telemundo | |
| Unknown date | Greenville/New Bern/Washington, North Carolina | WITN-DT2 | 7.2 | Independent (local weather) | |
| Unknown date | Scottsbluff, Nebraska | KTUW | 16 | RTV | |
| Unknown date | Waco, Texas | KWTX-DT2 | 10.2 | UPN | Signed on in early 2006 |

### Network affiliation changes

| Date | City of License/Market | Station | Channel Analog / Digital VC | Old affiliation | New affiliation | Notes/Ref. |
| July 11 | Jackson, Mississippi | WDBD | 40 | The WB | Fox | |
| July 11 | Jackson, Mississippi | WUFX | 35 | Fox | The WB | |
| August 11 | Jackson, Tennessee | WJKT | 16 / 16.1 | UPN | Fox | |
| August 11 | Salisbury, Maryland (Dover/Rehoboth Beach, Delaware) | WBOC-DT2 | 21.3 (digital RF) 21.2 (virtual) | UPN | Fox | |
| August 28 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | KPBI-CD | 46 | Fox | Independent |
| August 28 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | KFTA-TV | 24 / 24.1 | NBC | Fox | |
| September 1 | Lima, Ohio | WLQP-LP | 18 | UPN | ABC | |
| September 5 | Gainesville, Florida | WMYG-LP WGFL-DT2 | 11 28.2 | CBS (via WGFL) | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Jackson, Mississippi | WUFX | 35 | The WB | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Madison, Wisconsin | WISC-DT2 | 3.2 (digital) | UPN | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Meridian, Mississippi | WTOK-DT2 | 11.2 | Fox (primary) Sportsman Channel (secondary) | |
| September 5 | Parkersburg, West Virginia (Marietta, Ohio) | WTAP-DT3 | 15.3 | UPN | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Peoria/Bloomington, Illinois | WAOE | 59 | UPN | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Rockford, Illinois | WTVO-DT2 | 17.2 | UPN | MyNetworkTV | |
| September 5 | Sherman, Texas (Ada, Oklahoma) | KXII-DT3 | 12.3 | UPN (primary) Sportsman Channel (secondary) | MyNetworkTV (primary) RTV (secondary) | |
| September 12 | Presque Isle, Maine | WAGM-TV | 8 / 8.1 | CBS | Fox | |
| September 18 | Lincoln, Nebraska | KCWL-TV (recalled from KOWH) | 51 | The CW Plus | |
| September 18 | Syracuse, New York | WSTQ-LP | 14 | UPN (until September 5) Independent (Sept. 5–17) | The CW | |
| September 18 | Youngstown, Ohio | WFMJ-DT2 | 21.2 | The WB | The CW | |
| Unknown date | Fort Wayne, Indiana | W07CL | 7 | The WB | UATV | 3ABN |
| Unknown date | Rehoboth Beach, Delaware (Dover, Delaware/Salisbury, Maryland) | WRDE-LP | 59 | UATV | America One | |

## Births

| Date | Name | Notability |
| January 16 | Telci Huynh | Actress (Drama Club) |
| January 21 | Lex Lumpkin | Actor (All That) |
| February 2 | Preston Oliver | Actor (Secrets of Sulphur Springs) |
| March 14 | Chinguun Sergelen | Actor (All That) |
| April 9 | Sophie Grace | Actress (The Baby-Sitters Club) |
| April 10 | Dana Heath | Actress (Danger Force) |
| April 12 | Trinitee Stokes | Actress (K.C. Undercover) |
| April 18 | Beatrice Kitsos | Actress (Are Your Afraid of the Dark?) |
| April 26 | Andy Walken | Actor (The Kids Are Alright) |
| April 30 | Xochitl Gomez | Actor (The Baby-Sitters Club) |
| June 12 | Sofia Rosinsky | Actress (Fast Layne) |
| June 12 | Caleb Brown | Actor (That Girl Lay Lay) |
| June 25 | Mckenna Grace | Actress (Crash & Bernstein, The Young and the Restless, Fuller House) |
| June 29 | Sam Lavagnino | Actor (Puppy Dog Pals) |
| August 7 | Luca Luhan | Actor (Danger Force) |
| August 25 | Reece Caddell | Actress (All That) |
| September 7 | Dannielynn Birkhead | Daughter of Anna Nicole Smith |
| September 7 | Ian Chen | Actor (Fresh Off the Boat) |
| September 28 | Momona Tamada | Actress (The Baby-Sitters Club) |
| October 5 | Jacob Tremblay | Canadian actor |
| October 11 | Chance Hurstfield | Actor (Are Your Afraid of the Dark?) |
| October 15 | Marcus Cornwall | Actor (Star Falls) |
| October 17 | Maxwell Simkins | Actor (Bizaardvark, The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers) |
| October 25 | Dallas Young | Actor (Cousins for Life, Cobra Kai) |
| November 27 | Aria Brooks | Actress (All That) |
| December 5 | Ava Kolker | Actress (Sydney to the Max) |
| December 18 | Malia Baker | Actress (The Baby-Sitters Club, Are You Afraid of the Dark?) |

## Deaths

| Date | Name | Age | Notability |
| January 6 | Lou Rawls | 72 | Actor (Baywatch Nights, Hey Arnold!) and singer |
| January 12 | Anne Meacham | 80 | Actress (Louise on Another World) |
| January 14 | Shelley Winters | 85 | Actress (Nana Mary on Roseanne) |
| February 3 | Al Lewis | 82 | Actor (Grandpa on The Munsters, Leo Schnauser on Car 54, Where Are You?) |
| February 5 | Franklin Cover | 77 | Actor (Tom Willis on The Jeffersons) |
| February 5 | Norma Candal | 78 | Actress (Petunia in La criada malcriada) |
| February 24 | Dennis Weaver | 81 | Actor (Sam McCloud on McCloud, Chester Good on Gunsmoke) |
| February 24 | Don Knotts | 81 | Actor (Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show, Ralph Furley on Three's Company) |
| February 25 | Darren McGavin | 83 | Actor (Hammer on Mike Hammer) |
| March 13 | Peter Tomarken | 63 | Game show host (Press Your Luck, Hit Man, Wipeout) |
| March 17 | Bob Papenbrook | 50 | Voice actor (Power Rangers, Big Bad Beetleborgs, VR Troopers, Masked Rider) |
| March 25 | Buck Owens | 76 | Musician, host of (Hee Haw) |
| March 27 | Dan Curtis | 78 | Creator of (Dark Shadows) |
| April 17 | Henderson Forsythe | 88 | Actor (As the World Turns) |
| April 30 | Jay Bernstein | 68 | Producer (Mike Hammer); also manager to Suzanne Somers and Farrah Fawcett |
| May 29 | James Brolan | 42 | CBS News sound technician, killed by a car bomb in Iraq |
| May 29 | Paul Douglas | 48 | CBS news cameraman, killed by a car bomb in Iraq |
| May 30 | Robert Sterling | 88 | Actor (George Kerby on Topper) |
| June 6 | Billy Preston | 59 | Musician |
| June 23 | Aaron Spelling | 83 | Producer (Dynasty, Beverly Hills, 90210, 7th Heaven) |
| June 28 | Lennie Weinrib | 71 | Actor (H.R. Pufnstuf, The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, Inch High, Private Eye) |
| July 3 | Benjamin Hendrickson | 55 | Actor (As the World Turns) |
| July 19 | Jack Warden | 85 | Actor (Harry Fox on Crazy Like a Fox, George Halas in Brian's Song) |
| July 19 | Tudi Wiggins | 70 | Actress (Love of Life) |
| July 21 | Mako | 72 | Voice actor (Samurai Jack, Avatar: The Last Airbender) |
| July 21 | J. Madison Wright Morris | 21 | Actress (Earth 2) |
| August 11 | Mike Douglas | 86 | Talk show host (The Mike Douglas Show) |
| September 4 | Steve Irwin | 44 | Australian actor (The Crocodile Hunter) |
| September 10 | Daniel Wayne Smith | 20 | Actor and son of Anna Nicole Smith |
| September 15 | Pablo Santos | 19 | Mexican actor (David Tiant on Greetings from Tucson) |
| October 20 | Jane Wyatt | 96 | Actress (Margaret Anderson on Father Knows Best) |
| November 1 | Bettye Ackerman | 82 | Actress (Dr. Maggie Graham on Ben Casey) |
| November 9 | Ed Bradley | 65 | CBS News journalist (60 Minutes) |
| November 11 | Belinda Emmett | 32 | Actress (Rebecca Nash in Home and Away) |
| December 12 | Peter Boyle | 71 | Actor (Frank Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond) |
| December 14 | Mike Evans | 57 | Actor (Lionel Jefferson on All in the Family, The Jeffersons) |
| December 18 | Joseph Barbera | 95 | Animator (The Flintstones and many others) |
| December 26 | Gerald Ford | 93 | 38th President of the United States |
| December 28 | Jared Nathan | 21 | Child actor (ZOOM) |