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1988–89 United States network television schedule
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The 1988–89 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1988 through August 1989. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1987–88 season.
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.
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.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.
Writers' strike impact
Main article: 1988 Writers Guild of America strike
The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike lasted between March 7 and August 7. During the strike, production on scripted television series across all of the major television networks was suspended. The writers' strike forced the networks to postpone the start of the fall 1988 schedule later than usual; rather than the traditional late-September/early-October start, new and returning series had their premieres delayed until late October and into November. In the interim, the networks had to rely on a hodgepodge of programming, including reruns, films, entertainment and news specials, program-length political advertising, and unscripted original series (e.g. CBS' High Risk); NBC and ABC also benefited from sports programming (NBC relied on the Summer Olympics in September and the World Series in October, while ABC had postseason baseball coverage and moved up the start time for the early weeks of Monday Night Football from 9 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET to replace MacGyver, which was not yet ready with new episodes at the time). Even though previous strikes of Hollywood employees occurred in 1980 and 1981, those strikes only had a minor effect on the production of television programs that aired in the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons. The 1988–89 television season was thus the first of four television seasons to have its start delayed due to issues outside of the control of the major networks; further instances occurred in the 2001–02 season (due to the networks' news coverage of the September 11 attacks), the 2020–21 season (due to the suspension of television productions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic), and the 2023–24 season (due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes).
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.
- 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.
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 | Summer | Late summer | CBS | Fox | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | Late summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Incredible Sunday*** | ***Mission: Impossible*** | *The ABC Sunday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Great Circuses of the World*** | Special programming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Incredible Sunday*** | *Moonlighting* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Have Faith*** (R) | *The ABC Sunday Night Movie* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *MacGyver* (R) | *The ABC Sunday Night Movie* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Murder, She Wrote* (8/19.9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *[21 Jump Street](21-jump-street)* | *America's Most Wanted* | *Married... with Children* | *It's Garry Shandling's Show* | *The Tracey Ullman Show* | *Duet* | Local programming | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Totally Hidden Video*** | *Married... with Children* (R) | *It's Garry Shandling's Show* | *The Tracey Ullman Show* (R) | *Duet* (R) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Magical World of Disney*** | *Family Ties* | *Day by Day* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Jim Henson Hour*** | ***The Magical World of Disney*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Magical World of Disney*** | *Family Ties* | *My Two Dads* (R) |
Notes:
- Quantum Leap had a two-hour premiere Sunday, March 26, 1989, on NBC.
- On ABC, A Fine Romance was supposed to air 8-9 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike forced the move to Thursdays.
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 | Mid-fall | Winter | Mid-winter | Spring | Summer | CBS | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | Mid-summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *MacGyver* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The ABC Monday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Newhart* | *The Cavanaughs* | *CBS Monday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Coming of Age* | ***Murphy Brown*** | *Designing Women* | Special programming | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Kate & Allie* | ***Almost Grown*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Live-In*** | ***Heartland*** | *Newhart* | *Kate & Allie* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Kate & Allie* | ***Doctor Doctor*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Designing Women* (R) | ***Murphy Brown*** (R) | *Newhart* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *ALF* (15/17.5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *Monday Night Football*) | *The Hogan Family* (22/16.3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with the *NBC Sunday Night Movie* and *The Wonder Years*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Nearly Departed*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Hogan Family* (22/16.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with the *NBC Sunday Night Movie* and *The Wonder Years*) |
(*) B.L. Stryker, Columbo, Gideon Oliver
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 | CBS | Fall | Late fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Who's the Boss?* (7/20.8) | ***Roseanne*** (2/23.8) | *Moonlighting* | *Thirtysomething* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Wonder Years* (22/16.3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *The Hogan Family* and the *NBC Sunday Night Movie*) | ***Roseanne*** (2/23.8) | ***Anything but Love*** (10/19.0) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Have Faith*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Coach*** (R) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***High Risk*** | *CBS Tuesday Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***TV 101*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Tour of Duty* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *CBS Summer Playhouse* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Matlock* (13/17.7) | *NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| *In the Heat of the Night* (18/17.3) | ***Midnight Caller*** |
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 | Late Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | Late summer | CBS | Early fall | Fall | Winter | Mid-winter | Spring | Summer | Late summer | NBC | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | Mid-summer | Late summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Growing Pains* (13/17.6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *L.A. Law*) | *Head of the Class* (20/17.1) | *The ABC Wednesday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Wonder Years* (22/16.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *The Hogan Family* and the *NBC Sunday Night Movie*) | *Hooperman* | *China Beach* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Coach*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Robert Guillaume Show*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Hooperman* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Coach*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Live! Dick Clark Presents*** | *The Equalizer* | *Wiseguy* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Van Dyke Show*** | ***Annie McGuire*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***TV 101*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Hard Time on Planet Earth*** | *Jake and the Fatman* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Unsolved Mysteries*** (17/17.4) | *Night Court* (21/16.9) | ***Baby Boom*** | ***Tattingers*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *My Two Dads* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Nightingales*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Quantum Leap*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Miami Vice* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Knight & Daye*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***FM*** | Special programming |
- Notes: Seinfeld premiered July 5, 1989 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. On Fox, Fox Night at the Movies premiered on May 17, 1989 with The Fly.
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 | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | Late summer | CBS | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | Mid-summer | NBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special programming | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Knightwatch*** | *Dynasty* | Special programming | |||||||||||||||||||
| ***A Fine Romance*** | *HeartBeat* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Special programming | *ABC News Specials* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Thursday Night Baseball*** | |||||||||||||||||||||
| ***A Man Called Hawk*** (R) | ***Mission: Impossible*** (R) | ***Primetime Live*** | |||||||||||||||||||
| *[48 Hours](48-hours-tv-program)* | *CBS Thursday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Paradise*** | *Knots Landing* (27/16.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with The *CBS Sunday Movie*) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Equalizer* | |||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Cavanaughs* | *Coming of Age* | *The Equalizer* | |||||||||||||||||||
| *The Equalizer* | *Knots Landing* (27/16.1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with The *CBS Sunday Movie*) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| *The Cosby Show* (1/25.6) | *A Different World* (3/23.0) | *Cheers* (4/22.3) | ***Dear John*** (11/18.5) | *L.A. Law* (13/17.6) | |||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *Growing Pains*) |
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 | Winter | Spring | Summer | Mid-summer | Late summer | CBS | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Perfect Strangers* | *Full House* | *Mr. Belvedere* | *Just the Ten of Us* | *[20/20](20-20-american-tv-program)* | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Various programming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Full House* (R) | *Mr. Belvedere* (R) | *Perfect Strangers* (R) | *Just the Ten of Us* (R) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| *Beauty and the Beast* | *Dallas* (29/15.4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with ***The ABC Monday Mystery Movie***) | *Falcon Crest* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *CBS Friday Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Sonny Spoon* | ***Something Is Out There*** | *Miami Vice* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Father Dowling Mysteries*** | *Miami Vice* | ***Unsub*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Jim Henson Hour*** | ***Quantum Leap*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Miami Vice* | ***Dream Street*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Highway to Heaven* | *NBC Friday Night at the Movies* |
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 | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | CBS | Early fall | Fall | Mid-fall | Winter | Mid-winter | Late winter | Spring | Summer | Fox | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer | NBC | Fall | Winter | Spring | Mid-spring | Summer | Mid-summer | Late summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ***Murphy's Law*** | *ABC Saturday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *ABC Saturday Night Movie* | ***Murphy's Law*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Mission: Impossible*** | ***A Man Called Hawk*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Men*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***A Man Called Hawk*** | *ABC Saturday Night Movie* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *First Impressions* | *Frank's Place* (R) | Special programming | *West 57th* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Dirty Dancing*** | ***Raising Miranda*** | *Simon & Simon* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Live! Dick Clark Presents*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Dolphin Cove** * | ***Dirty Dancing*** | ***Raising Miranda*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***TV 101*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***Paradise*** | ***Jesse Hawkes*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Tour of Duty* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***The Reporters*** | ***Beyond Tomorrow*** | Local programming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***COPS*** | ***Beyond Tomorrow*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***COPS*** | ***The Reporters*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *[227](227-tv-series)* | *Amen* (25/16.2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *The NBC Monday Movie*) | *The Golden Girls* (6/21.4) | ***Empty Nest*** (9/19.2) | *Hunter* (19/17.2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ***One of the Boys*** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *[227](227-tv-series)* | ***One of the Boys*** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Amen* (25/16.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *The NBC Monday Movie*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *My Two Dads* (R) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Amen* (25/16.2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Tied with *The NBC Monday Movie*) | ***13 East*** |
Note: On CBS, Frank's Place consisted of reruns of the 1987-88 sitcom. On ABC, ABC Saturday Mystery Movie was supposed to air 9-11 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike force the move to Mondays.
By network
[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
Returning Series
- 20/20
- The ABC Monday Night Movie
- ABC Saturday Night Movie
- The ABC Sunday Night Movie
- China Beach
- Dynasty
- Full House
- Growing Pains
- Head of the Class
- HeartBeat +
- Hooperman
- Just the Ten of Us
- MacGyver
- Mr. Belvedere
- Monday Night Football
- Moonlighting
- Perfect Strangers
- Who's the Boss?
- The Wonder Years
New Series
- The ABC Monday Mystery Movie *
- Anything But Love *
- Coach *
- A Fine Romance *
- Great Circuses of the World *
- Have Faith *
- Incredible Sunday
- Knightwatch
- A Man Called Hawk *
- Men *
- Mission: Impossible
- Murphy's Law
- Police Story
- The Robert Guillaume Show *
- Roseanne
- Studio 5-B *
- Thursday Night Baseball *
Not returning from 1987–88:
- The ABC Thursday Night Movie
- Buck James
- The Charmings
- The Disney Sunday Movie
- Dolly
- Family Man
- Hotel
- Hothouse
- I Married Dora
- Just in Time
- Max Headroom
- Monday Night Baseball
- Ohara
- Once a Hero
- Probe
- Pursuit of Happiness
- Sable
- The "Slap" Maxwell Story
- Sledge Hammer!
- Spenser: For Hire
- Supercarrier
- The Thorns
[[CBS]]
Returning Series
- 48 Hours
- 60 Minutes
- Beauty and the Beast
- CBS Summer Playhouse
- CBS Sunday Movie
- The Cavanaughs +
- Coming of Age
- Dallas
- Designing Women
- The Equalizer
- Falcon Crest
- Jake and the Fatman +
- Kate & Allie
- Knots Landing
- Murder, She Wrote
- Newhart
- Simon & Simon
- The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour +
- Tour of Duty +
- West 57th
- Wiseguy
New Series
- Almost Grown
- Annie McGuire
- Dirty Dancing
- Doctor Doctor *
- Dolphin Cove *
- First Impressions
- Hard Time on Planet Earth *
- Heartland *
- High Risk
- Jesse Hawkes *
- Live! Dick Clark Presents
- Live-In *
- Murphy Brown
- Paradise
- Raising Miranda
- TV 101
- The Van Dyke Show
Not returning from 1987–88:
- Blue Skies
- Cagney & Lacey
- Eisenhower & Lutz
- Everything's Relative
- Frank's Place
- High Mountain Rangers
- Houston Knights
- The Law & Harry McGraw
- Magnum, P.I.
- My Sister Sam
- The Oldest Rookie
- Trial and Error
[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
Returning Series
- 21 Jump Street
- America's Most Wanted
- Duet
- It's Garry Shandling's Show
- Married... with Children
- The Tracey Ullman Show
New Series
- Beyond Tomorrow
- Cops *
- The Reporters
- Totally Hidden Video *
Not returning from 1987–88:
- Dirty Dozen: The Series
- Family Double Dare
- Mr. President
- The New Adventures of Beans Baxter
- Second Chance/Boys Will Be Boys
- Werewolf
- Women in Prison
[[NBC]]
Returning Series
- 227
- ALF
- Amen
- Cheers
- The Cosby Show
- Day by Day
- A Different World
- Family Ties
- The Golden Girls
- Highway to Heaven +
- The Hogan Family @
- Hunter
- In the Heat of the Night
- L.A. Law
- Matlock
- Miami Vice
- My Two Dads +
- NBC Sunday Night Movie
- NBC Monday Night at the Movies
- Night Court
- Sonny Spoon
New Series
- 13 East *
- Baby Boom
- Dear John
- Dream Street *
- Empty Nest
- Father Dowling Mysteries *
- The Jim Henson Hour *
- Knight & Daye *
- The Magical World of Disney
- Midnight Caller
- Nearly Departed *
- Nightingales *
- One of the Boys *
- Quantum Leap *
- Something is Out There
- Tattingers/Nick & Hillary
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Unsub *
Not returning from 1987–88:
- Aaron's Way
- Beverly Hills Buntz
- The Bronx Zoo
- Crime Story
- The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
- The Facts of Life
- The Highwayman
- J.J. Starbuck
- Our House
- Private Eye
- Rags to Riches
- St. Elsewhere
- A Year in the Life
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
- These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason.
@ Formerly known as Valerie's Family.
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.
- (May 30, 1988). "Fall's first draft". [[Broadcasting & Cable.
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