1987–88 United States network television schedule

none March 2025 1987 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.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. Legend #abbfff darkgray Light blue indicates local programming. #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 irregularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies. #FFE082 darkgray Light gold indicates programming produced outside of the United States. #CD7F32 darkgray Bronze indicates reruns of programming that originally aired on a cable channel. light white darkgray highlight lime Lime highlights indicates the number-one most watched program of the season. 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. 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 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.ABC FallThe Disney Sunday MovieSpenser: For HireDollyBuck James WinterThe Disney Sunday MovieThe ABC Sunday Night Movie SpringThe Disney Sunday MovieSupercarrier Mid-springSpecial programming SummerMacGyver (R)CBS60 Minutes (8/20.6) #FFFF00Murder, She Wrote (9/20.2)CBS Sunday Movie (18/17.2) #00FFFFFox Fall21 Jump Street Married... with ChildrenVarious programmingThe Tracey Ullman Show Mr. PresidentLocal programming Mid-fallWerewolfMarried... with ChildrenDuet WinterIt's Garry Shandling's ShowThe Tracey Ullman ShowLocal programming SpringAmerica’s Most WantedWerewolf SummerNBC FallOur HouseFamily Ties (17/17.3)My Two Dads (20/16.9)(Tied with Valerie's Family)NBC Sunday Night at the Movies (23/16.7)(Tied with Head of the Class) #FF66FF Winter SpringDay by Day (28/16.2) SummerRags 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 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 FallMacGyverMonday Night Football (16/17.4) #00FFFF WinterThe ABC Monday Night Movie Spring SummerMonday Night BaseballCBS Fall Frank's Place Kate & AllieNewhart (25/16.5)Designing WomenCagney & Lacey Mid-fallKate & Allie Frank's Place WinterDesigning Women Frank's PlaceWiseguy SpringEisenhower and Lutz Mid-springCagney & Lacey SummerBlue Skies Mid-summer Designing WomenMagnum, P.I. (R) Late summerNewhart (25/16.5) The Cavanaughs Kate & AllieNBCALF (10/18.8)(Tied with The Wonder Years)Valerie's Family (20/16.9)(Tied with My Two Dads)NBC Monday Night at the Movies (26/16.4) #FF66FF 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 FallWho's the Boss? (6/21.2)Growing Pains (5/21.3)Moonlighting (12/18.3)(Tied with L.A. Law)Thirtysomething WinterThe Wonder Years (10/18.8)(Tied with ALF) Spring Just the Ten of Us Summer Perfect Strangers (R) Mid-summer Full House (R)CBS FallHouston KnightsJake and the FatmanThe Law & Harry McGraw Winter48 HoursCagney & Lacey Spring Trial and Error My Sister Sam Coming of Age Frank's Place Mid-springHouston KnightsThe CBS Tuesday Night Movie SummerCBS Summer PlayhouseNBC FallMatlock (14/17.8)J.J. StarbuckCrime Story Mid-fallHunter (28/16.1) Winter SpringIn the Heat of the Night (19/17.0) Mid-springNBC Tuesday Night at the Movies SummerJ.J. StarbuckNBC Summer Showcase Mid-summerIn 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 Network7:30 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 Perfect StrangersHead of the Class (23/16.7)(Tied with The NBC Sunday Night Movie)HoopermanThe Slap Maxwell StoryDynasty WinterGrowing Pains (5/21.5) SpringHeartBeat Mid-springJust in Time Late springChina Beach Summer The Slap Maxwell StorySpenser: For Hire (R) Late summerChina Beach CBS FallThe Oldest RookieMagnum, P.I. The Equalizer WinterThe Law & Harry McGraw SpringThe Smothers Brothers ShowJake and the Fatman SummerJake and the FatmanThe EqualizerWiseguy (R)NBC FallYou Can't Take It with YouHighway to Heaven A Year in the LifeSt. Elsewhere Winter Mid-winterAaron's Way (30/16.0)Highway to HeavenA Year in the Life SpringA Year in the LifeThe Bronx Zoo Mid-springHighway to HeavenSt. Elsewhere SummerHighway to Heaven The Days and Nights of Molly DoddSara (R)The Bronx Zoo Mid-summerSpecial programmingGeorge Schlatter's Funny PeopleSt. Elsewhere Late summerGeorge Schlatter's Funny PeopleThe NBC Wednesday Night Movie Note: Sara consisted entirely of reruns of the 1985 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 Sledge Hammer! The CharmingsThe ABC Thursday Night Movie Winter The CharmingsGrowing Pains (R) SpringProbeHotelBuck James SummerThe ABC Thursday Night MovieHothouseCBS FallTour of DutyWiseguyKnots Landing WinterSimon & Simon Spring48 Hours SummerCagney & Lacey (R)NBC FallThe 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) Winter Spring The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Mid-springNight Court (7/20.8) Summer 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 FallFull HouseI Married DoraMax Headroom20/20 Mid-fall Mr. Belvedere Pursuit of Happiness Winter Mr. Belvedere The Thorns Sledge Hammer! Late winterPerfect StrangersFull HouseMr. Belvedere The Thorns Spring Family Man Summer I Married DoraCBS FallBeauty and the BeastDallas (22/16.8)Falcon Crest Winter Spring SummerCBS Friday MovieNBC FallRags to RichesMiami Vice Private Eye WinterSpecial programmingSonny Spoon Late winterThe Highwayman SpringNight Court (7/20.8) Beverly Hills BuntzMiami Vice Mid-springTV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes (R)The Highwayman SummerSonny Spoon Mid-summerBlacke'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 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 FallOnce a HeroOharaHotel Mid-fallSable Late fallOharaSable WinterDolly OharaSpenser: For Hire Spring SummerProbe (R) Mid-summerSupercarrier (R)Hotel Late summerVarious programmingSpenser: For Hire CBS Fall My Sister Sam Everything's RelativeLeg WorkWest 57th Mid-fallThe CBS Saturday Night Movie WinterHigh Mountain RangersHouston Knights Mid-winterTour of Duty Spring SummerKate & Allie (R)Frank's Place (R) Late summer First ImpressionsFox Fall Werewolf The New Adventures of Beans Baxter Second Chance DuetLocal programming Mid-fall Mr. PresidentWomen in PrisonThe New Adventures of Beans Baxter Second Chance Winter Boys Will Be Boys Mr. President SpringFamily Double DareBoys Will Be Boys WerewolfWerewolf (R) Mid-springDirty Dozen: The Series Summer Family Double Dare Mid-summerThe ReportersVarious programmingNBC FallThe Facts of Life227 (27/16.3)The Golden Girls (4/21.8)Amen (15/17.5)Hunter (29/16.1) Late fallJ.J. Starbuck Winter SpringHunter (28/16.1) Summer Note: Second Chance was retooled into Boys Will Be Boys. By network 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 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 Category:United States primetime network television schedules Category:1987 in American television Category:1988 in American television