1988 in American television

For the American TV schedule, see: 1988-89 United States network television schedule.

The year 1988 in television involved some significant events. This is a list of notable events in the United States.

Events

Programs

• 20/20 (1978–present)
• 21 Jump Street (1987-1992)
• 60 Minutes (1968–present)
• 227 (1985–1990)
• A Different World (1987–1993)
• ABC World News (1978–present)
• ALF (1986–1990)
• All My Children (1970–2011)
• Amen (1986–1991)
• America This Morning (1982–present)
• America Undercover (1983–present)
• American Bandstand (1952–1989)
• American Masters (1983–present)
• Another World (1964–1999)
• As the World Turns (1956–2010)
• Cagney & Lacey (1982–1988)
• Candid Camera (1948–2004)
• CBS News Sunday Morning (1979–present)
• Cheers (1982–1993)
• College Basketball on CBS (1981–present)
• Dallas (1978–1991)
• Days of Our Lives (1965–present)
• Derrick (1974–1998)
• Designing Women (1986–1993)
• Double Dare (1986–1993)
• Duet (1987-1989)
• Dynasty (1981–1989)
• Entertainment Tonight (1981–present)
• Face the Nation (1954–present)
• Falcon Crest (1981–1990)
• Family Ties (1982–1989)
• Frontline (1983–present)
• Full House (1987–1995)
• General Hospital (1963–present)
• Good Morning America (1975–present)
• Growing Pains (1985–1992)
• Guiding Light (1952–2009)
• Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951–present)
• Hee Haw (1969–1993)
• Highway to Heaven (1984–1989)
• Hotel (1983–1988)
• It's a Living (1980–1982, 1985–1989)
• Jem (1985–1988)
• Jeopardy! (1964–1975, 1984–present)
• Kate and Allie (1984–1989)
• Knots Landing (1979–1993)
• L.A. Law (1986–1994)
• Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993)
• Lingo (1987–1988, 2002–2007, 2011)
• Lou Dobbs Tonight (1980–present)
• Loving (1983–1995)
• MacGyver (1985–1992)
• Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988)
• Mama's Family (1983–1984, 1986–1990)
• Married... with Children (1987–1997)
• Masterpiece Theatre (1971–present)
• Max Headroom (1987–1998)
• Matlock (1986–1996)
• Meet the Press (1947–present)
• Miami Vice (1984–1989)
• Monday Night Football (1970–present)
• Moonlighting (1985–1989)
• Mr. Belvedere (1985–1990)
• Muppet Babies (1984–1991)
• Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)
• Mystery! (1980–present)
• Nature (1982–present)
• NBC Nightly News (1970–present)
• Newhart (1982–1990)
• Night Court (1984–1992)
• Nightline (1979–present)
• Nova (1974–present)
• One Life to Live (1968–present)
• Pee-wee's Playhouse (1986–1991)
• Perfect Strangers (1986–1993)
• Punky Brewster (1984–1988)
• Ryan's Hope (1975–1989)
• Sally (1985–2002)
• Santa Barbara (1984–1993)
• Saturday Night Live (1975–present)
• Sesame Street (1969–present)
• Soul Train (1971–2006)
• SportsCenter (1979–present)
• St. Elsewhere (1982–1988)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987–1996)
• The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present)
• The Cosby Show (1984–1992)
• The Disney Sunday Movie (1986–1988) retooled as The Magical World of Disney (1988–1990) on October 9
• The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
• The McNeil/Leather Newshour (1975–present)
• The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986–2011)
• The Price Is Right (1972–present)
• The Today Show (1952–present)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992)
• The Tracey Ullman Show (1987–1990)
• The Twilight Zone (1985–1988)
• The Young and the Restless (1973–present)
• thirtysomething (1987–1991)
• This Old House (1979–present)
• This Week (1981–present)
• This Week in Baseball (1977–1998, 2000–present)
• Truth or Consequences (1950–1988)
• Unsolved Mysteries (1987–1998, 2001–2002, 2008–2010)
• Webster (1983–1989)
• What's Happening Now!! (1985–1988)
• Wheel of Fortune, daytime version (1975–1991)
• Who's the Boss? (1984–1992)
• Wide World of Sports (1961–1997)

Debuting this year

The following is a list of shows that premiered in 1988.

Returning this year

Ending this year

Made-for-TV movies and miniseries

Births

Deaths