1961–62 United States network television schedule

none March 2025 1961 The following is the 1961–62 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1961 through April 1962. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1960–61 season. The previous season had been criticized by Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow in May 1961. Minow had criticized poor programs and weak network schedules, calling television a "vast wasteland" and calling on television executives to try harder to develop innovative and interesting television programs. Castleman Harry Walter J. Podrazik Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television McGraw-Hill 1982 New York 147–153 https://archive.org/details/watchingtvfourde00cast registration 0-07-010269-4 Television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982) believe the 1961–62 season marked a comeback for television, as the networks rearranged their schedules to accommodate the critics. They point out CBS's high-quality legal drama The Defenders, NBC's medical drama Dr. Kildare, CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show, and ABC's medical drama Ben Casey as bright spots in the new TV schedule. Despite the praise for these four series, the authors also highlight several less worthy series which debuted during the 1961–62 season: Room for One More, Window on Main Street, Hazel ("possibly the dumbest family in TV history"), and the truly terrible The Hathaways ("possibly the worst series ever to air on network TV"). NBC lured Disney's popular anthology series from ABC; Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color premiered on September 24, 1961. The color programs were a change from the previous ABC programs, which had been seen in black and white. NBC also added a movie night to its schedule; the network paid $25 million for the rights to broadcast 50 20th-Century Fox films on Saturday nights. In April 1962, ABC followed suit when it added its own Sunday night movie to its schedule. All times are Eastern and Pacific. New fall series are highlighted in bold. 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: Tim Brooks Tim Brooks (historian) Earle Marsh The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present: APPENDIX 1 TOP-RATED PROGRAMS BY SEASON: October 1961-April 1962 https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22October+1961+April+1962%22&pg=1683 1683 9th 2007 New York Ballantine Books 978-0-345-49773-4 2026-09-06 yellow darkgray Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season. cyan darkgray Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season. FF22FF darkgray Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season. Sunday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PMABC FallMaverick (started at 6:30) Follow the SunLawman Bus Stop Adventures in Paradise Spring Hollywood SpecialCBS Lassie (15/24.0)(Tied with Sing Along with Mitch) Dennis the Menace (17/23.8) The Ed Sullivan Show (19/23.5) General Electric Theater The Jack Benny Program Candid Camera (10/25.5) What's My Line?NBC The Bullwinkle Show (In COLOR) Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color* (23/22.7) (In COLOR) Car 54, Where Are You? (20/23.2) Bonanza (2/30.0) (In COLOR) The Du Pont Show of the Week * formerly Walt Disney Presents Note: Mister Ed, previously syndicated, aired on CBS, 6:30-7 p.m. Monday 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 Expedition! Cheyenne / Bronco The Rifleman (27/22.3)(Tied with The Price Is Right) Surfside 6 Ben Casey (18/23.7) CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) To Tell the Truth Pete and Gladys Window on Main Street The Danny Thomas Show (8/26.1) The Andy Griffith Show (7/27.0) Hennesey I've Got a Secret Winter Father Knows Best (repeats) Spring Local (7:00) / Walter Cronkite with the News (7:15) Summer The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (repeats) NBC Local (7:00) / The Huntley-Brinkley Report* (7:15) Local National Velvet The Price Is Right (27/22.3)(Tied with The Rifleman) (In COLOR) 87th Precinct Thriller * In some areas, Douglas Edwards with the News alongside Walter Cronkite with the News and The Huntley-Brinkley Report aired at 6:45 p.m.(ET). Tuesday 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 Fall Local The Bugs Bunny Show Bachelor Father Calvin and the Colonel The New Breed Alcoa Premiere November The New Breed Yours for a Song CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) Marshal Dillon (Gunsmoke repeats) The Dick Van Dyke Show The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (21/22.9)(Tied with The Flintstones) The Red Skelton Show (6/27.1) Ichabod and Me The Garry Moore Show (12/24.6) Winter Password Spring Local (7:00) / Walter Cronkite with the News (7:15)Summer The Comedy Spot Talent Scouts NBC Local (7:00) / The Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Laramie (In Living COLOR) Alfred Hitchcock Presents The Dick Powell Show Cain's Hundred NOTE: On CBS, the summer anthology series The Comedy Spot consisted of broadcasts of unsold television pilots, one of which previously had aired in 1960 as an episode of New Comedy Showcase. Wednesday 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 Fall Local The Steve Allen Show Top Cat Hawaiian Eye Naked City Winter Howard K. Smith: News and Comment Straightaway CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) The Alvin Show Father Knows Best (repeats) Checkmate Mrs. G. Goes to College Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel Hour Winter Window on Main Street The Dick Van Dyke Show Spring Local (7:00) / Walter Cronkite with the News (7:15) NBC Local (7:00) / The Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Wagon Train (1/32.1) The Joey Bishop Show (24/22.6) Kraft Music Hall starring Perry Como (25/22.5) (In COLOR) The Bob Newhart Show David Brinkley's Journal Note: Mrs. G. Goes to College moved to Thursday nights in January as The Gertrude Berg Show, allowing The Dick Van Dyke Show to take its time spot. Several episodes of The Joey Bishop Show and Wagon Train were shown in color. Thursday 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 FallLocal The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Donna Reed Show (30/21.9)(Tied with 77 Sunset Strip) The Real McCoys (14/24.2) My Three Sons (11/24.7) Margie The Untouchables Spring The Law and Mr. Jones CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) Frontier Circus The Bob Cummings Show The Investigators CBS Reports Winter The New Bob Cummings Show Frontier Circus Tell It to Groucho The Gertrude Berg Show Spring Local (7:00) / Walter Cronkite with the News (7:15) Oh! Those Bells Summer Accent on an American Summer Brenner Follow-up Frontier Circus Various NBC Fall Local (7:00) / The Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Outlaws (In COLOR) Dr. Kildare (9/25.6) Hazel (4/27.7) Sing Along with Mitch (15/24.0)(Tied with Lassie) (In COLOR) SummerThe Lively Ones Notes: The Bob Cummings Show was retitled The New Bob Cummings Show on December 28. The Law and Mr. Jones moved to the 9:30-10:00 p.m. time slot on ABC on April 19. Hazel on November 2, 1961 was shown in color. The episodes of Brenner that ran on CBS in the summer of 1962 were reruns of episodes from the summer of 1959. Friday 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 Fall Local Straightaway The Hathaways The Flintstones (21/22.9)(Tied with The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) 77 Sunset Strip (30/21.9)(Tied with The Donna Reed Show) Target: The Corruptors! Spring Margie CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) Rawhide (13/24.5) Route 66 Father of the Bride The Twilight Zone Eyewitness* Spring Local (7:00) / Walter Cronkite with the News (7:15) NBC Fall Local (7:00) / The Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) International Showtime The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor The Bell Telephone Hour / The Dinah Shore Show** (In COLOR) Here and Now Winter Chet Huntley Reporting * formerly Eyewitness To History ** formerly The Chevy Show Saturday Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PMABC Fall Matty's Funday Funnies The Roaring 20s Leave It to Beaver The Lawrence Welk Show The Fight of the Week (10:00) / Make That Spare (10:45) WinterMatty's Funnies With Beany and CecilCalvin and the ColonelRoom for One MoreCBS Local Perry Mason (5/27.3) The Defenders (26/22.4) Have Gun – Will Travel (29/22.2) Gunsmoke (3/28.3)NBC Local Tales of Wells Fargo (In COLOR) The Tall Man NBC Saturday Night at the Movies (In COLOR) Room for One More aired on ABC from January 27 to July 28, 1962, 8-8:30 p.m. Beginning January 6, Matty's Funday Funnies became Matty's Funnies With Beany & Cecil. By network ABC Returning Series 77 Sunset Strip Adventures in Paradise The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet The Avengers Bachelor Father Bronco The Bugs Bunny Show Cheyenne The Donna Reed Show Expedition! The Fight of the Week The Flintstones Hawaiian Eye The Law and Mr. Jones Lawman The Lawrence Welk Show Leave It to Beaver Make That Spare Matty's Funday Funnies Maverick My Three Sons Naked City The Real McCoys The Rifleman The Roaring 20's The Steve Allen Show Surfside 6 The Untouchables New Series Alcoa Premiere Ben Casey Bus Stop Calvin and the Colonel The Hathaways Howard K. Smith: News and Comment * Margie The New Breed Room for One More * Straightaway Target: The Corruptors! Top Cat Yours for a Song Not returning from 1960–61: Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond The Asphalt Jungle Guestward, Ho! Harrigan and Son Hong Kong The Islanders The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Music for a Christmas Night Music for a New Year's Night; Class of 1961 Peter Gunn The Rebel Stagecoach West Sugarfoot Take a Good Look Walt Disney Presents (moved to NBC as Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color) CBS Returning Series The Alfred Hitchcock Hour The Andy Griffith Show Armstrong Circle Theatre Brenner Candid Camera CBS News Hour CBS Reports Checkmate The Comedy Spot (previously Comedy Spotlight) The Danny Thomas Show Dennis the Menace Douglas Edwards with the News The Ed Sullivan Show Eyewitness The Garry Moore Show General Electric Theatre Gunsmoke Have Gun – Will Travel Hennesey I've Got a Secret The Jack Benny Program Lassie The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Perry Mason Pete and Gladys Rawhide The Red Skelton Show Route 66 Secret Agent To Tell the Truth The Twentieth Century The Twilight Zone The United States Steel Hour What's My Line New Series Accent on an American Summer The Alvin Show The Defenders The Dick Van Dyke Show Eyewitness to History Father of the Bride Frontier Circus Ichabod and Me The Investigators Mister Ed * Mrs. G. Goes to College/The Gertrude Berg Show The New Bob Cummings Show Oh! Those Bells * Password * Tell It to Groucho * Tell It to the Camera * Walter Cronkite with the News * Window on Main Street Not returning from 1960–61: Angel The Ann Sothern Show The Aquanauts Bringing Up Buddy Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater The DuPont Show with June Allyson Frontier Justice Glenn Miller Time Gunslinger Holiday Lodge Mr. Garlund My Sister Eileen Person to Person The Spike Jones Show Summer Sports Spectacular The Tom Ewell Show Wanted Dead or Alive 'Way Out The Witness NBC Returning Series The Art Linkletter Show The Bell Telephone Hour Bonanza Chet Huntley Reporting The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor The Dinah Shore Show Ford Presents the New Christy Minstrels The Huntley–Brinkley Report The Jack Benny Program Kraft Music Hall starring Perry Como Laramie National Velvet Outlaws Sing Along with Mitch Tales of Wells Fargo Thriller Wagon Train Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (moved from ABC) New Series 87th Precinct The Bob Newhart Show The Bullwinkle Show Cain's Hundred Car 54, Where Are You? David Brinkley's Journal The Dick Powell Show Dr. Kildare The DuPont Show of the Week Hazel Here and Now International Showtime * NBC Saturday Night at the Movies Theatre '62 Not returning from 1960–61: Acapulco The Americans The Art Carney Special The Barbara Stanwyck Show Bat Masterson The Campaign and the Candidates The Chevy Mystery Show Concentration Dan Raven Dante The Deputy The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Five Star Jubilee The Ford Show Great Ghost Tales The Groucho Show Happy It Could Be You Jackpot Bowling starring Milton Berle Klondike The Man from Interpol Michael Shayne The Nation's Future Omnibus One Happy Family Peter Loves Mary Riverboat Shirley Temple's Storybook The Tab Hunter Show The Tall Man This Is Your Life The Westerner Westinghouse Playhouse Starring Nanette Fabray and Wendell Corey Westinghouse Preview Theatre Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. References Castleman, H. & Podrazik, W. (1982). Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television. New York: McGraw-Hill. 314 pp. McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. 0-14-024916-8. Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present, Ninth edition (New York: Ballantine Books, 2007) 978-0-345-49773-4. Category:United States primetime network television schedules Category:1961 in American television Category:1962 in American television