1986–87 United States network television schedule

The 1986–87 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1986 through August 1987. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1985–86 season.

Although Fox debuted as a fourth network effort in October 1986, the network waited until April 1987 to commence offering prime time programming, effectively deferring its first Fall programming season until September 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 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.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. .

Legend

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

By network

ABC

Returning Series
*''20/20''
*''The ABC Sunday Night Movie''
*''The Colbys''
*''The Disney Sunday Movie''
*''Dynasty''
*''Growing Pains''
*''Hotel''
*''MacGyver''
*''Mr. Belvedere''
*''Monday Night Baseball''
*''Monday Night Football''
*''Moonlighting''
*'' Perfect Strangers''
*'' Spenser: For Hire''
*''Webster''
*'' Who's the Boss?''

New Series
*''Animal Crack-Ups'' * +
*'' The Charmings'' *
*'' Dads'' *
*''The Ellen Burstyn Show''
*''Gung Ho'' *
*''Harry'' *
*''Head of the Class''
*'' Heart of the City''
*''Jack and Mike''
*''Life with Lucy''
*''Mariah''
*'' Max Headroom'' *
*'' Ohara'' *
*'' Our World''
*'' Sidekicks''
*''Sledge Hammer!''
*'' Starman''

Not returning from 1985–86:
*'' Benson''
*''Diff'rent Strokes''
*''The Fall Guy''
*''Hardcastle and McCormick''
*'' Hollywood Beat''
*'' The Insiders''
*'' Lady Blue''
*'' Life's Most Embarrassing Moments''
*'' Lime Street''
*''The Love Boat''
*'' Our Family Honor''
*''Ripley's Believe It or Not!''
*''Shadow Chasers''

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

CBS

Returning Series
*''60 Minutes''
*''Cagney & Lacey''
*''CBS Sunday Movie''
*''Dallas''
*'' The Equalizer''
*''Falcon Crest''
*'' Kate & Allie''
*''Knots Landing''
*'' Magnum, P.I.''
*''The New Mike Hammer'' +
*''Murder, She Wrote''
*''Newhart''
*''Scarecrow and Mrs. King''
*''Simon & Simon''
*''The Twilight Zone''
*'' West 57th'' *

New Series
*'' Better Days''
*'' The Cavanaughs'' *
*''CBS Summer Playhouse''
*''Designing Women''
*''Downtown''
*''Hard Copy'' *
*'' Houston Knights'' *
*'' Kay O'Brien''
*''My Sister Sam''
*''Outlaws'' *
*'' The Popcorn Kid'' *
*'' Roxie'' *
*''Shell Game'' *
*'' Spies'' *
*''Take Five'' *
*'' Together We Stand''/'' Nothing Is Easy''
*'' The Wizard''

Not returning from 1985–86:
*''Airwolf''
*'' Bridges to Cross''
*'' Charlie & Co.''
*'' Crazy Like a Fox''
*'' Fast Times''
*''Foley Square''
*''George Burns Comedy Week''
*''Hometown''
*''Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills''
*''Mary''
*'' Melba''
*''Morningstar/Eveningstar''
*'' Stir Crazy''
*'' Tough Cookies''
*''Trapper John, M.D.''

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

Fox

*''21 Jump Street''
*'' Down and Out in Beverly Hills''
*''Duet''
*'' Karen's Song''
*'' Married... with Children''
*'' Mr. President''
*'' The New Adventures of Beans Baxter''
*'' The Tracey Ullman Show''
*''Werewolf''

NBC

Returning Series
*''1986''
*''227''
*''The A-Team''
*''Amazing Stories''
*''Cheers''
*''The Cosby Show''
*'' The Facts of Life''
*''Family Ties''
*'' Gimme a Break!''
*''The Golden Girls''
*''Highway to Heaven''
*''Hill Street Blues''
*''Hunter''
*''Me & Mrs. C'' *
*''Miami Vice''
*''NBC Sunday Night Movie''
*''NBC Monday Night at the Movies''
*'' Night Court''
*''Remington Steele'' *
*''St. Elsewhere''
*''Stingray'' *
*'' Valerie''
*''You Again?''

New Series
*'' ALF''
*''Amen''
*''The Bronx Zoo'' *
*'' Crime Story''
*''The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'' *
*'' Easy Street''
*'' L.A. Law''
*'' Matlock''
*''Nothing in Common'' *
*'' Our House''
*''Rags to Riches'' *
*'' Roomies'' *
*'' Sweet Surrender'' *
*''The Tortellis'' *

Not returning from 1985–86:
*''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' (Moved to USA Network)
*'' All Is Forgiven''
*''Blacke's Magic''
*'' Fathers and Sons''
*'' Hell Town''
*''Knight Rider''
*'' The Last Precinct''
*'' Misfits of Science''
*''Punky Brewster'' ^
*''Riptide''
*''Silver Spoons'' ^
*'' TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes''

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. An ^ indicates a show that continued in first-run syndication after the network cancelled it.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1986-87 United States network television schedule
United States primetime network television schedules
1986 in American television
1987 in American television