1986–87 United States network television schedule
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This was the United States television schedule on all three commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1986. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.
Although FOX debuted as a channel in fall 1986, its first fall season was not until 1987.
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation but the schedule was set by each local station.
New series are highlighted in bold.
All times given are in U.S. Eastern Time and Pacific Time (except for some live events or specials). Subtract one hour for Central and Mountain times.
Each of the 50 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
- Lime indicates the #1 most watched program of the season.
- Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season.
- Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season.
- Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season.
- Orange indicates the programs in the top 40 for the season.
- Silver indicates the programs in the top 50 for the season.
Sunday [2]
Network | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
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ABC | The Disney Sunday Movie #62 12.8/19 | The ABC Sunday Night Movie #39 14.8/23 | |||||||
CBS | Fall | 60 Minutes #6 23.3/37 | Murder, She Wrote #4 25.4/37 | CBS Sunday Movie #16 18.6/29 | |||||
Mid-season | Designing Women #33 16.1/24 | Nothing is Easy #66 11.7/19 | Hard Copy | ||||||
Spring | CBS Sunday Movie #16 18.6/29 | ||||||||
Fox | began April 5 | 21 Jump Street | Married... with Children (#142) | The Tracey Ullman Show | Mr. President | Duet | Local Programming | ||
Summer | Duet | ||||||||
NBC | Fall | Our House #59 12.9/20 | Easy Street #48 14.1/21 | Valerie #40 14.8/22 | NBC Sunday Night at the Movies #20 18.2/28 | ||||
Spring | Rags to Riches | ||||||||
Summer | Family Ties #2 32.7/49 | Specials |
Monday [2]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
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ABC | Fall | MacGyver #45 14.6/22 | Monday Night Football #18 18.4/30 | ||||
Mid-season | The ABC Monday Night Movie #49 14.0/22 | ||||||
Summer | Monday Night Baseball | ||||||
CBS | Fall | Kate & Allie #19 18.3/27 | My Sister Sam #22 17.4/25 | Newhart #12 19.5/28 | Designing Women #33 16.1/24 | Cagney & Lacey #37 15.1/24 | |
Follow-up | The Cavanaughs #32 16.2/24 | ||||||
Spring | Designing Women #33 16.1/24 | ||||||
NBC | Fall | ALF #28 16.5/24 | Amazing Stories #52 13.5/21 | NBC Monday Night at the Movies #17 18.6/28 | |||
Spring | Valerie #40 14.8/22 |
Tuesday [2]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
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ABC | Fall | Who's the Boss? #10 22.0/33 | Growing Pains #8 22.7/33 | Moonlighting #9 22.4/34 | Jack and Mike #60 12.8/22 | ||
Spring | Max Headroom | ||||||
Summer | Jack and Mike #60 | ||||||
CBS | Fall | The Wizard #72 10.4/16 | CBS Tuesday Night Movie #43 14.6/23 | ||||
Mid-season | Spies | ||||||
Spring | West 57th | ||||||
Summer | The Wizard #72 | ||||||
Follow-up | Simon & Simon #56 | Houston Knights | Night Heat | ||||
NBC | Fall | Matlock #15 18.6/28 | Crime Story #57 13.1/22 | 1986 #70 10.5/18 | |||
Follow-up | Hill Street Blues #42 14.6/24 | ||||||
Mid-season | Remington Steele | ||||||
Spring | Gimme a Break! #46 14.3/22 | Easy Street #48 14.1/21 | Hill Street Blues #42 14.6/24 | ||||
Follow-up | The Tortellis #44 14.6/22 | ||||||
Summer | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies |
Wednesday [2]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
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ABC | Fall | Perfect Strangers #35 15.7/25 | Head of the Class #30 16.4/26 | Dynasty #25 17.2/26 | Hotel #38 14.9/26 | ||
Spring | Harry | ||||||
Follow-up | Head of the Class #30 16.4/26 | Mariah | |||||
Summer | MacGyver #45 14.6/22 | Hotel #38 14.9/26 | |||||
CBS | Fall | Together We Stand #66 11.7/19 | Better Days | Magnum, P.I. #34 16.1/25 | The Equalizer #36 15.4/26 | ||
Follow-up | The New Mike Hammer #65 11.8/19 | ||||||
Spring | Houston Knights | ||||||
Follow-up | Roxie | Take Five | |||||
Follow-up | The New Mike Hammer #65 11.8/19 | ||||||
Summer | The Equalizer #36 15.4/26 | ||||||
NBC | Fall | Highway to Heaven #24 17.2/27 | Gimme a Break! #46 14.3/22 | You Again? #58 13.1/21 | St. Elsewhere #55 13.4/23 | ||
Winter | The Tortellis #44 14.6/22 | ||||||
Spring | Night Court #7 23.2/35 | Easy Street #48 14.1/21 | The Bronx Zoo |
Thursday [2]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | Our World #83 6.5/10 | The Colbys #64 11.9/18 | 20/20 #47 14.1/24 | |||
Spring | Jack and Mike #60 12.8/22 | ||||||
Summer | Heart of the City #82 7.2/12 | ||||||
Follow-up | Starman #75 10.0/18 | Our World #83 6.5/10 | |||||
Follow-up | Sledge Hammer! #71 10.5/17 | The Charmings | |||||
CBS | Fall | Simon & Simon #56 13.3/20 | Knots Landing #26 16.8/27 | Kay O'Brien #63 12.7/22 | |||
Follow-up | The Twilight Zone #76 9.7/17 | Simon & Simon #56 13.3/20 | Designing Women #33 16.1/24 | Knots Landing #26 16.8/27 | |||
Mid-season | Shell Game | Simon & Simon #56 13.3/20 | |||||
Follow-up | The Wizard #72 10.4/16 | ||||||
Summer | Scarecrow and Mrs. King #41 14.6/24 | ||||||
Follow-up | CBS Thursday Night Movie | ||||||
NBC | Fall | The Cosby Show #1 34.9/53 | Family Ties #2 32.7/49 | Cheers #3 27.2/41 | Night Court #7 23.2/35 | Hill Street Blues #42 14.6/24 | |
Follow-up | L.A. Law #21 17.4/29 | ||||||
Spring | Nothing in Common | ||||||
Summer | The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd |
Friday [2]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | Webster #50 13.8/23 | Mr. Belvedere #51 13.7/22 | Sidekicks #74 10.2/17 | Sledge Hammer! #71 10.5/17 | Starman #75 10.0/18 | |
Follow-up | Dads #79 8.7/14 | Gung Ho #80 8.5/13 | |||||
Follow-up | Gung Ho #80 | Dads #79 | |||||
Mid-season | The ABC Friday Night Movie #77 9.1/16 | ||||||
Follow-up | The Charmings | Webster #50 13.8/23 | |||||
Summer | Sledge Hammer! #71 | Mr. Belvedere #51 | |||||
Follow-up | Webster #50 13.8/23 | ||||||
CBS | Fall | Scarecrow and Mrs. King #41 14.6/24 | Dallas #11 21.3/34 | Falcon Crest #23 17.3/30 | |||
Spring | Nothing Is Easy #66 | The Popcorn Kid | |||||
Summer | CBS Summer Playhouse | ||||||
NBC | Fall | The A-Team #61 12.8/21 | Miami Vice #27 16.8/27 | L.A. Law #21 | |||
Follow-up | Crime Story #57 13.1/22 | ||||||
Follow-up | Stingray #53 13.5/23 | ||||||
Spring | Roomies | Amazing Stories #52 | |||||
Summer | Stingray #53 |
Saturday [2]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | Life With Lucy #78 9.0/16 | The Ellen Burstyn Show #81 7.6/13 | Heart of the City #82 7.2/12 | Spenser: For Hire #68 11.0/20 | ||
Follow-up | Sidekicks #74 | Sledge Hammer! #71 | |||||
Mid-season | Ohara #69 10.9/18 | ||||||
Follow-up | Starman #75 | ||||||
Summer | Webster #50 13.8/23 | The ABC Saturday Night Movie | |||||
Follow-up | Animal Crack-Ups | The Ellen Burstyn Show #81 | The ABC Saturday Night Movie | ||||
CBS | Fall | Downtown #73 10.3/18 | The New Mike Hammer #65 | The Twilight Zone #76 9.7/17 | |||
Follow-up | The CBS Saturday Night Movie #67 11.2/19 | ||||||
Mid-season | Outlaws #54 13.4/23 | ||||||
Summer | The CBS Saturday Night Movie #67 | West 57th | |||||
Fox (started Jul. 11) | Summer | Down and Out in Beverly Hills | The New Adventures of Beans Baxter | Werewolf | Karen's Song | Local Programming | |
Follow-up | Werewolf | Down and Out in Beverly Hills | |||||
NBC | Fall | The Facts of Life #31 16.3/29 | 227 #14 18.9/32 | The Golden Girls #5 24.5/41 | Amen #13 19.4/33 | Hunter #29 16.5/30 | |
Spring | Sweet Surrender | ||||||
Summer | 227 #14 18.9/32 | Me & Mrs. C | |||||
Follow-up | The Facts of Life #31 16.3/29 | 227 #14 18.9/32 |
By network
+ Animal Crack-Ups had a short run in prime time before moving to Saturday mornings in the fall of 1987.
Returning Series
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New Series
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Not Returning From 1985-86
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+ This was a revival of the 1984-1985 series following star Stacy Keach's release from prison on drug charges.
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.