See also: 1956 in television, other events of 1957, 1958 in television and the list of 'years in television'.

Events

• January 6 - Elvis Presley makes final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
• Jack Paar becomes the permanent host for NBC's The Tonight Show.
• March 31 - Cinderella, starring 21-year-old Julie Andrews, and with songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, airs in color on CBS.
• September 7 - NBC introduces an animated version of its famous "living color" peacock logo.
• In the UK, the "toddler's truce" (an arrangement whereby there were no TV broadcasts between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., to allow parents to put their children to bed) was abolished.

Debuts

• January 5 - The Benny Hill Show premieres in the UK.
• April - The Sky at Night appears for the first time, presented by Patrick Moore (1957-present).
• Leave It to Beaver premieres (1957-1963).
• The Army Game (UK) premieres on ITV (1957-1961).

Television shows

• Tom and Jerry (1940-1958, 1965-1972, 1975-1977, 1980-1982).
• Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (1946-1960).
• Howdy Doody (1947-1960).
• Kraft Television Theater (1947-1958).
• Meet the Press (1947-present).
• Candid Camera (1948-present).
• The Ed Sullivan Show (1948-1971).
• The Voice of Firestone (1949-1963).
• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950-1958).
• The Jack Benny Show (1950-1965).
• Truth or Consequences (1950-1988).
• What's My Line (1950-1967).
• Your Hit Parade (1950-1959).
• Dragnet (1951-1959).
• Love of Life (1951-1980).
• Search for Tomorrow (1951-1986).
• American Bandstand (1952-1989).
• The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952-1966).
• The Guiding Light (1952-present).
• The Honeymooners (1952-1970).
• The Today Show (1952-present).
• This Is Your Life (US) (1952-1961).
• Panorama (UK) (1953-present).
• The Good Old Days (UK) (1953-1983).
• Climax! (1954-1958).
• Disneyland (1954-1958).
• Face the Nation (1954-present).
• The Brighter Day (1954-1962).
• The Milton Berle Show (1954-1967).
• The Secret Storm (1954-1974).
• The Tonight Show (1954-present).
• Zoo Quest (UK) (1954-1964).
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1962).
• Captain Kangaroo (1955-1984).
• Cheyenne (1955-1962).
• Dixon of Dock Green (UK) (1955-1976).
• Gunsmoke (1955-1975).
• Mickey Mouse Club (1955-1959).
• The Lawrence Welk Show (1955-1982).
• This Is Your Life (UK) (1955-2003).
• Armchair Theatre (UK) (1956-1968).
• As the World Turns (1956-present).
• Hancock's Half Hour (1956-1962).
• Opportunity Knocks (UK) (1956-1978).
• The Edge of Night (1956-1984).
• The Gale Storm Show, Oh! Susanna (1956-1960).
• The Price Is Right (1956-1965).
• The Steve Allen Show (1956-1960).
• What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).

Ending this year

• February - Annie Oakley (1954-1957)
• May 6 - I Love Lucy (1951-1957).
• The Roy Rogers Show (1951-1957).
• The Grove Family (UK) (1954-1957).
• Jungle Jim (1956-1957).

Births

• January 1 - Georgia Allen , actress.
• January 7 - Katie Couric, television host .
• September 10 - Dan Castellaneta, voice actor ("Homer Simpson" and "Grandpa Phil" from Hey Arnold!).
• December 30 - Matt Lauer, NBC newscaster.