1986–87 United States network television schedule

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
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
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
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
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

ABC

+ Animal Crack-Ups had a short run in prime time before moving to Saturday mornings in the fall of 1987.

CBS

+ This was a revival of the 1984-1985 series following star Stacy Keach's release from prison on drug charges.

NBC

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.