1975–76 United States network television schedule

none March 2025 1975 The 1975–76 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the primetime hours from September 1975 through August 1976. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 1974–75 season. This was the first season for the current 22-hour weekly prime-time network schedule of three hours nightly Monday through Saturday and four hours on Sundays for the first time since 1971 after revisions to the Prime Time Access Rule. While there were provisions for two additional half-hours in the early evening to be used for public affairs and family-oriented programming, these slots were rarely if ever used by the networks. This was also the first of two seasons in which the networks were compelled to air family-friendly content before 9 p.m. under the FCC's Family Viewing Hour policy PBS is not included as member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules, and broadcast times for network shows may vary. Each of the 30 highest-rated shows released in May 1976 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. 978-0-345-49773-4. New series are highlighted in bold. All times are U.S. Eastern and Pacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Alaska and Hawaii–Aleutian times. Legend #C0C0C0 darkgray Gray indicates encore programming. #6699CC darkgray Blue-gray indicates news programming. lightgreen darkgray Light green indicates sporting events. #FA8072 darkgray Red indicates series being burned off and other regularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies. light white darkgray highlight yellow Yellow highlights indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season. light white darkgray highlight cyan Cyan highlights indicates numbers 11-20 most watched programs of the season. light white darkgray highlight magenta Magenta highlights indicates numbers 21-30 most watched programs of the season. light white darkgray highlight black Highlights indicates that it falls in multiple of the above categories. Sunday Network7:00 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.ABCThe Swiss Family RobinsonThe Six Million Dollar Man (9/24.3)The ABC Sunday Night Movie (13/23.0) cyanCBS FallThree for the RoadCherKojak (20/21.8) Bronk Winter 60 Minutes The Sonny & Cher Show (23/21.2) SummerJohnny Cash and FriendsCannonNBC FallThe Wonderful World of DisneyThe Family HolvakThe NBC Mystery Movie: Columbo / McCloud / McMillan & Wife / McCoy WinterEllery Queen Note: As of this writing, 60 Minutes has continually aired at the same 7:00 PM ET (or after sporting event overrun) time slot on CBS since December 1975. Monday Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m. ABC FallBarbary CoastMonday Night Football Mid-fallMobile One WinterOn the Rocks Happy DaysThe ABC Monday Night Movie (10/24.2) yellow SpringGood Heavens (16/22.5)(Tied with Starsky and Hutch)Barbary Coast Rich Man, Poor Man (2/28.0) Mid-spring Good Heavens (16/22.5)(Tied with Starsky & Hutch)Monday Night Baseball Summer Viva ValdezCBSRhoda (7/24.4)(Tied with Sanford and Son)Phyllis (6/24.5)All in the Family (1/30.1)Maude (4/25.0)Medical CenterNBC FallThe Invisible ManNBC Monday Night at the Movies WinterThe Rich Little ShowJoe ForresterJigsaw John SummerThe John Davidson Show Mid-summerComedy Theatre Tuesday Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.ABC FallHappy Days (11/23.9)Welcome Back, Kotter (18/22.1)The RookiesMarcus Welby, M.D. WinterLaverne & Shirley (3/27.5) SpringFamily SummerSpecialsCBS FallGood Times (24/21.0) Joe and SonsSwitchBeacon Hill Winter PopiM*A*S*H (14/22.9)(Tied with The Waltons)One Day at a Time (12/23.1)Switch SpringThe Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show (R) Good Times (24/21.0) Summer I've Got a Secret Mid-summer PopiNBC FallMovin' OnPolice StoryJoe Forrester Mid-fallPolice Woman (30/20.2) WinterCity of Angels Note: Beginning March 9, Family was added onto ABC's lineup, replacing Marcus Welby, M.D.. Wednesday Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.ABC Fall When Things Were Rotten That's My Mama Baretta (22/21.3)Starsky & Hutch (16/22.5)(Tied with Good Heavens) WinterThe Bionic Woman (5/24.9) SpringWonder Woman Late springThe Bionic Woman (5/24.9)CBS FallTony Orlando and DawnCannonKate McShane WinterThe Blue Knight Summer The Jacksons The Kelly Monteith ShowNBC FallLittle House on the PrairieDoctors' HospitalPetrocelli Winter Chico and the Man (25/20.8) The Dumplings SpringThe Best of Sanford and Son (R)Chico and the Man (25/20.8)Hawk (R) Mid-spring Fay Note: On NBC, The Best of Sanford and Son consisted of reruns of Sanford and Son from earlier seasons; Sanford and Son continued to air in its normal Friday 8:00-8:30 time slot during The Best of Sanford and Sons run. Hawk consisted of reruns of the 1966 ABC television series. Thursday Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.ABC Fall Barney Miller On the Rocks The Streets of San Francisco (26/20.7)(Tied with The Bob Newhart Show and Donny & Marie)Harry O Winter Welcome Back, Kotter (18/22.1) Barney Miller Summer What's Happening!!CBS FallThe Waltons (14/22.9)(Tied with M*A*S*H)CBS Thursday Night Movie Late fallHawaii Five-OBarnaby JonesNBC Fall The Montefuscos FayEllery QueenMedical Story Winter Grady The Cop and the KidNBC Thursday Night at the Movies SpringThe Mac Davis Show Friday Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.ABC FallMobile OneThe ABC Friday Night Movie Mid-fallBarbary Coast Winter Donny & Marie (26/20.7)(Tied with The Bob Newhart Show and The Streets of San Francisco)CBS Fall Big EddieM*A*S*H (14/22.9)(Tied with The Waltons)Hawaii Five-OBarnaby Jones WinterSaraThe CBS Friday Night MovieNBC FallSanford and Son (7/24.4)(Tied with Rhoda)Chico and the Man (25/20.8)The Rockford FilesPolice Woman (30/20.2) Mid-fallPolice Story Winter The Practice Saturday Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.ABC FallSaturday Night Live with Howard CosellS.W.A.T.Matt Helm WinterAlmost Anything Goes!Bert D'Angelo/SuperstarCBS FallThe Jeffersons (21/21.5) DocThe Mary Tyler Moore Show (19/21.9)The Bob Newhart Show (26/20.7)(Tied with Donny & Marie and The Streets of San Francisco)The Carol Burnett Show (29/20.5) Summer Ivan the TerribleNBCEmergency!NBC Saturday Night at the Movies By network ABC Returning Series The ABC Monday Night Movie The ABC Sunday Night Movie Almost Anything Goes Baretta Barney Miller Happy Days Harry O Marcus Welby, M.D. Monday Night Baseball (moved from NBC) Monday Night Football The Rookies The Six Million Dollar Man The Streets of San Francisco S.W.A.T. That's My Mama New Series The ABC Friday Night Movie Barbary Coast Bert D'Angelo/Superstar * The Bionic Woman * Donny & Marie * Family * Good Heavens * Laverne & Shirley * Matt Helm Mobile One On the Rocks Rich Man, Poor Man * Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell Starsky & Hutch * The Swiss Family Robinson Viva Valdez * Welcome Back, Kotter When Things Were Rotten Not returning from 1974–75: The ABC Saturday Night Movie ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week Caribe Get Christie Love! Hot l Baltimore The Jim Stafford Show Karen Keep on Truckin' Kodiak Kolchak: The Night Stalker Kung Fu Nakia The New Land The Odd Couple Paper Moon The Sonny Comedy Revue The Texas Wheelers CBS Returning Series 60 Minutes * All in the Family Barnaby Jones Big Eddie The Bob Newhart Show Cannon The Carol Burnett Show Cher Good Times Hawaii Five-O I've Got a Secret * The Jeffersons Johnny Cash and Friends Kojak M*A*S*H The Mary Tyler Moore Show Maude Medical Center Rhoda CBS Thursday Night Movie Tony Orlando and Dawn The Waltons New Series Beacon Hill The Blue Knight * Bronk The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show * Doc Ivan the Terrible * The Jacksons * Joe and Sons Kate McShane The Kelly Monteith Show * One Day at a Time * Phyllis Popi * Sara * The Sonny and Cher Show * Switch Three for the Road Not returning from 1974–75: Apple's Way The Dick Cavett Show The Friday Comedy Special Friends and Lovers Frigidaire Spring Feature Gunsmoke Khan! Manhattan Transfer The Manhunter Mannix Planet of the Apes Sons and Daughters NBC Returning Series Chico and the Man Columbo Emergency! Little House on the Prairie The Mac Davis Show McCloud McMillan & Wife Movin' On The NBC Mystery Movie NBC Monday Night at the Movies NBC Saturday Night at the Movies Petrocelli Police Story Police Woman The Rockford Files Sanford and Son The Wonderful World of Disney New Series City of Angels * Comedy Theatre * The Cop and the Kid * Doctors' Hospital The Dumplings * Ellery Queen The Family Holvak Fay Grady * The Invisible Man Jigsaw John * Joe Forrester The John Davidson Show * McCoy Medical Story The Montefuscos NBC Thursday Night at the Movies The Practice * The Rich Little Show * Not returning from 1974–75: Adam-12 Amy Prentiss Archer Ben Vereen...Comin' At Ya The Bob Crane Show Born Free The Gladys Knight & the Pips Show Ironside Lucas Tanner Monday Night Baseball (moved to ABC) Sierra The Smothers Brothers Show Sunshine Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. References Additional sources 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. Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1985). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. 0-345-31864-1. Category:United States primetime network television schedules Category:1975 in American television Category:1976 in American television