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1987–88 United States network television schedule
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The 1987–88 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1987 through August 1988. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1986–87 season.
This is the first fall season in which Fox aired prime-time programming (while it debuted in October 1986, it would only cover late nights until April 1987), making this the first full season since 1958-59 in which a fourth commercial television network (NTA) was broadcasting. Fox would air only two days a week (Saturdays and Sundays) until the spring of 1989.
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.
New series are highlighted in bold. Series ending their network runs are highlighted in italics.
All times are U.S. Eastern Time and Pacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Alaska and Hawaii–Aleutian times.
From February 13 to 28, 1988, all of ABC's primetime programming was preempted in favor of coverage of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.
Legend
- Light blue indicates local programming.
- Gray indicates encore programming.
- Blue-gray indicates news programming.
- Light green indicates sporting events.
- Red indicates series being burned off and other irregularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies.
- Light gold indicates programming produced outside of the United States.
- Bronze indicates reruns of programming that originally aired on a cable channel.
- Lime highlights indicates the number-one most watched program of the season.
- Yellow highlights indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.
- Cyan highlights indicates numbers 11-20 most watched programs of the season.
- Magenta highlights indicates numbers 21-30 most watched programs of the season.
- Highlights indicates that it falls in multiple of the above categories.
Schedule
- New series are highlighted in bold.
- All times are U.S. Eastern Time and Pacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Alaska and Hawaii–Aleutian times.
Sunday
| Network | 7:00 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | ABC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | CBS | Fox | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *The Disney Sunday Movie* | *Spenser: For Hire* | ***Dolly*** | ***Buck James*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Disney Sunday Movie* | *The ABC Sunday Night Movie* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Disney Sunday Movie* | ***Supercarrier*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special programming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *MacGyver* (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Murder, She Wrote* (9/20.2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *[21 Jump Street](21-jump-street)* | *Married... with Children* | Various programming | *The Tracey Ullman Show* | *Mr. President* | Local programming | |||||||||||||||||||||
| *Werewolf* | *Married... with Children* | *Duet* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***It's Garry Shandling's Show*** | *The Tracey Ullman Show* | Local programming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***America’s Most Wanted*** | *Werewolf* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Our House* | *Family Ties* (17/17.3) | ***My Two Dads*** (20/16.9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *Valerie's Family*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Day by Day*** (28/16.2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Rags to Riches* (R) | ***My Two Dads*** (20/16.9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *Valerie's Family*) |
Notes:
- The Wonder Years premiered on January 31, 1988 after Super Bowl XXII.
- It's Garry Shandling's Show consisted of edited reruns of the Showtime series.
Monday ===
| Network | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | ABC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | CBS | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | Mid-summer | NBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *MacGyver* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *The ABC Monday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *Monday Night Baseball* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Frank's Place*** | *Kate & Allie* | *Newhart* (25/16.5) | *Designing Women* | *Cagney & Lacey* | ||||||||||||||||
| *Kate & Allie* | ***Frank's Place*** | |||||||||||||||||||
| *Designing Women* | ***Frank's Place*** | ***Wiseguy*** | ||||||||||||||||||
| ***Eisenhower and Lutz*** | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *Cagney & Lacey* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Blue Skies*** | *Kate & Allie* | *Designing Women* | *Magnum, P.I.* (R) | |||||||||||||||||
| *Newhart* (25/16.5) | *The Cavanaughs* | |||||||||||||||||||
| *ALF* (10/18.8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *The Wonder Years*) | *Valerie's Family* (20/16.9) | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *My Two Dads*) |
Tuesday ===
| Network | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | ABC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | Mid-summer | CBS | Fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | Mid-summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Who's the Boss?* (6/21.2) | *Growing Pains* (5/21.3) | *Moonlighting* (12/18.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *L.A. Law*) | ***Thirtysomething*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Wonder Years*** (10/18.8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *ALF*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Just the Ten of Us*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Perfect Strangers* (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Full House*** (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Houston Knights* | ***Jake and the Fatman*** | ***The Law & Harry McGraw*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***[48 Hours](48-hours-tv-program)*** | *Cagney & Lacey* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Trial and Error*** | *My Sister Sam* | ***Coming of Age*** | ***Frank's Place*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Houston Knights* | *The CBS Tuesday Night Movie* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *CBS Summer Playhouse* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Matlock* (14/17.8) | ***J.J. Starbuck*** | *Crime Story* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Hunter* (28/16.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***In the Heat of the Night*** (19/17.0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***J.J. Starbuck*** | ***NBC Summer Showcase*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***In the Heat of the Night*** (19/17.0) |
Notes:
- Full House premiered on September 22 at 8:30 pm on ABC.
- The Dictator was supposed to premiere March 15, 1988 at 8:30-9:00 on CBS, but My Sister Sam replaced it at the last minute due to the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike.
Wednesday ===
| Network | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | ABC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Late spring | Summer | Late summer | CBS | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Mid-winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | Mid-summer | Late summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Perfect Strangers* | *Head of the Class* (23/16.7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with The *NBC Sunday Night Movie*) | ***Hooperman*** | ***The Slap Maxwell Story*** | *Dynasty* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Growing Pains* (5/21.5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***HeartBeat*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Just in Time*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***China Beach*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Slap Maxwell Story*** | *Spenser: For Hire* (R) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***China Beach*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Oldest Rookie*** | *Magnum, P.I.* | *The Equalizer* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Law & Harry McGraw*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Smothers Brothers Show*** | ***Jake and the Fatman*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Jake and the Fatman*** | *The Equalizer* | ***Wiseguy*** (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Highway to Heaven* | ***A Year in the Life*** | *St. Elsewhere* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Aaron's Way*** (30/16.0) | *Highway to Heaven* | ***A Year in the Life*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***A Year in the Life*** | *The Bronx Zoo* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Highway to Heaven* | *St. Elsewhere* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Highway to Heaven* | *The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd* | *Sara* (R) | *The Bronx Zoo* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special programming | ***George Schlatter's Funny People*** | *St. Elsewhere* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***George Schlatter's Funny People*** | *The NBC Wednesday Night Movie* |
Note:
- Sara consisted entirely of reruns of the 1985 series.
Thursday ===
| Network | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | ABC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | CBS | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Sledge Hammer!* | *The Charmings* | *The ABC Thursday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Charmings* | *Growing Pains* (R) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Probe*** | *Hotel* | ***Buck James*** | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *The ABC Thursday Night Movie* | ***Hothouse*** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Tour of Duty*** | ****Wiseguy**** | *Knots Landing* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *Simon & Simon* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***[48 Hours](48-hours-tv-program)*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Cagney & Lacey* (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Cosby Show* (1/27.8) | ***A Different World*** (2/25.0) | *Cheers* (3/23.4) | *Night Court* (7/20.8) | *L.A. Law* (12/18.3) | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *Moonlighting*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Night Court* (7/20.8) |
Friday ===
| Network | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | ABC | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Late winter | Spring | Summer | CBS | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Late winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | Mid-summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Full House*** | ***I Married Dora*** | *Max Headroom* | *[20/20](20-20-american-tv-program)* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Mr. Belvedere* | ***Pursuit of Happiness*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Mr. Belvedere* | ***The Thorns*** | *Sledge Hammer!* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Perfect Strangers* | ***Full House*** | *Mr. Belvedere* | ***The Thorns*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Family Man*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***I Married Dora*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Beauty and the Beast*** | *Dallas* (22/16.8) | *Falcon Crest* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *CBS Friday Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Rags to Riches* | *Miami Vice* | ***Private Eye*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Special programming | ***Sonny Spoon*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Highwayman*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Night Court* (7/20.8) | ***Beverly Hills Buntz*** | *Miami Vice* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes* (R) | ***The Highwayman*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Sonny Spoon*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Blacke's Magic* (R) |
Notes:
- TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes consisted on reruns of the 1984–86 series.
- Blacke's Magic consisted on reruns of the 1986 series.
Saturday ===
| Network | 8:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. | ABC | Fall | Mid-fall | Late fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | Mid-summer | Late summer | CBS | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Mid-winter | Spring | Summer | Late summer | Fox | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | Mid-summer | NBC | Fall | Late fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Once a Hero*** | *Ohara* | *Hotel* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Sable*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Ohara* | ***Sable*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Dolly*** | *Ohara* | *Spenser: For Hire* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Probe*** (R) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Supercarrier*** (R) | *Hotel* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Various programming | *Spenser: For Hire* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *My Sister Sam* | ***Everything's Relative*** | ***Leg Work*** | *West 57th* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The CBS Saturday Night Movie* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***High Mountain Rangers*** | *Houston Knights* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Tour of Duty*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Kate & Allie* (R) | ***Frank's Place*** (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***First Impressions*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Werewolf* | *The New Adventures of Beans Baxter* | ***Second Chance*** | *Duet* | Local programming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Mr. President* | ***Women in Prison*** | *The New Adventures of Beans Baxter* | ***Second Chance*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Boys Will Be Boys*** | *Mr. President* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Family Double Dare*** | ***Boys Will Be Boys*** | *Werewolf* | *Werewolf* (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Dirty Dozen: The Series*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Family Double Dare*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Reporters*** | Various programming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Facts of Life* | *[227](227-tv-series)* (27/16.3) | *The Golden Girls* (4/21.8) | *Amen* (15/17.5) | *Hunter* (29/16.1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***J.J. Starbuck*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Hunter* (28/16.1) |
Note:
- Second Chance was retooled into Boys Will Be Boys.
By network
[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
Returning Series
- 20/20
- The ABC Monday Night Movie
- The ABC Sunday Night Movie
- The ABC Thursday Night Movie
- The Charmings
- The Disney Sunday Movie
- Dynasty
- Growing Pains
- Head of the Class
- Hotel
- MacGyver
- Max Headroom
- Mr. Belvedere +
- Monday Night Baseball
- Monday Night Football
- Moonlighting
- Ohara
- Perfect Strangers
- Sledge Hammer!
- Spenser: For Hire
- Who's the Boss?
New Series
- Buck James
- China Beach *
- Dolly
- Family Man *
- Full House
- HeartBeat *
- Hooperman
- Hothouse *
- I Married Dora
- Just in Time *
- Just the Ten of Us *
- Once a Hero
- Probe *
- Pursuit of Happiness
- Sable
- The "Slap" Maxwell Story
- Supercarrier *
- The Thorns *
- The Wonder Years *
- ***thirtysomething ***
Not returning from 1986–87:
- The ABC Friday Night Movie
- The ABC Saturday Night Movie
- The Colbys
- Dads
- The Ellen Burstyn Show
- Gung Ho
- Harry
- Heart of the City
- Jack & Mike
- Life with Lucy
- Mariah
- Our World
- Sidekicks
- Starman
- Webster ^
An ^ indicates a show that came back in first-run syndication after a network cancellation.
[[CBS]]
Returning Series
- 60 Minutes
- Cagney & Lacey
- Candid Camera
- The Cavanaughs +
- CBS Summer Playhouse
- CBS Sunday Movie
- Dallas
- Designing Women
- The Equalizer
- Falcon Crest
- Houston Knights
- Kate & Allie
- Knots Landing
- Magnum, P.I.
- Murder, She Wrote
- My Sister Sam
- Newhart
- Simon & Simon +
- West 57th
New Series
- 48 Hours *
- Beauty and the Beast
- Blue Skies
- Coming of Age *
- Eisenhower and Lutz *
- Everything's Relative
- Frank's Place
- High Mountain Rangers *
- Jake and the Fatman
- The Law & Harry McGraw
- The Oldest Rookie
- The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour *
- Tour of Duty
- Trial and Error *
- Wiseguy
Not returning from 1986–87:
- Better Days
- Downtown
- Hard Copy
- Kay O'Brien
- The New Mike Hammer
- Outlaws
- The Popcorn Kid
- Roxie
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King
- Shell Game
- Spies
- Take Five
- Together We Stand/Nothing Is Easy
- The Twilight Zone
- The Wizard
[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
Returning Series
- 21 Jump Street
- Duet
- Married... with Children
- Mr. President
- The New Adventures of Beans Baxter
- The Tracey Ullman Show
- Werewolf
New Series
- America's Most Wanted *
- Dirty Dozen: The Series *
- Family Double Dare *
- It's Garry Shandling's Show * (reruns)
- Second Chance/Boys Will Be Boys
- The Reporters
- Women in Prison
Not returning from 1986–87:
- Down and Out in Beverly Hills
- Karen's Song
[[NBC]]
Returning Series
- 227
- ALF
- Amen
- The Bronx Zoo +
- Cheers
- The Cosby Show
- Crime Story
- The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd +
- The Facts of Life
- Family Ties
- The Golden Girls
- Highway to Heaven
- Hunter
- L.A. Law
- Matlock
- Miami Vice
- NBC Sunday Night Movie
- NBC Monday Night at the Movies
- Night Court
- Our House
- Rags to Riches
- St. Elsewhere
- Valerie's Family @
New Series
- Aaron's Way *
- Beverly Hills Buntz
- Day by Day *
- A Different World
- George Schlatter's Funny People *
- The Highwayman *
- In the Heat of the Night *
- J.J. Starbuck
- Mama's Boy
- My Two Dads
- Private Eye
- Sonny Spoon *
- A Year in the Life
Not returning from 1986–87:
- 1986
- The A-Team
- Amazing Stories
- Easy Street
- Gimme a Break!
- Hill Street Blues
- Me & Mrs. C
- Nothing in Common
- Remington Steele
- Roomies
- Stingray
- Sweet Surrender
- The Tortellis
- You Again?
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
- These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason
@ Formerly Valerie.
References
References
- Highest-rated series is based on the annual top-rated programs list compiled by [[Nielsen Media Research]] and reported in: Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows'' (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. {{ISBN. 978-0-345-49773-4.
Info: Wikipedia Source
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