1960–61 United States network television schedule

none March 2025 1960 The following is the 1960–61 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1960 through March 1961. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1959–60 season. New fall series are highlighted in bold. All times are Eastern and Pacific. 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. 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 PM ABC Fall Walt Disney Presents (started at 6:30) Maverick The Lawman (26/22.3) The Rebel The Islanders Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years Spring The Asphalt Jungle CBS Lassie Dennis the Menace (11/26.1) The Ed Sullivan Show (15/25.0) General Electric Theater (20/23.4) The Jack Benny Show (10/26.2) Candid Camera (7/27.3) What's My Line? (22/23.1) NBC Fall The Shirley Temple Show (In COLOR) National Velvet The Tab Hunter Show The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (In COLOR) The Loretta Young Show This Is Your Life Summer The Chevy Mystery Show (In COLOR) Note: ABC aired the interim The Walter Winchell Show at 10:30 p.m. from early October until early November. 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 Local Cheyenne (28/22.0) / Sugarfoot / Bronco Surfside 6 Adventures in Paradise Peter Gunn (29/21.9) CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) To Tell the Truth Pete and Gladys Bringing Up Buddy The Danny Thomas Show (12/25.9) The Andy Griffith Show (4/27.8) Hennesey Presidential Countdown November Face the Nation Summer Glenn Miller Time Brenner Follow-up The Ann Sothern Show NBC Fall Local (7:00) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Riverboat Tales of Wells Fargo Klondike Dante The Barbara Stanwyck Show Jackpot Bowling starring Milton Berle (In COLOR) Winter The Americans Acapulco Spring Whispering Smith Concentration Notes: On CBS, Presidential Countdown aired as an interim series, 10:30–11 p.m. in September and October until the November 8th election. In some areas, Douglas Edwards with the News and The Huntley-Brinkley Report aired at 6:45 p.m. Peter Gunn moved from NBC to ABC in the fall of 1960. The episodes of Brenner that ran on CBS in the summer of 1961 consisted of two previously unaired episodes produced in 1959 and reruns of episodes broadcast during the summer of 1959. 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 Expedition! The Bugs Bunny Show The Rifleman (27/22.1) The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Stagecoach West Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond Local CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) Local Father Knows Best (repeats) The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (23/23.0) The Tom Ewell Show The Red Skelton Show (19/24.0) (Occasionally in COLOR) The Garry Moore Show (25/22.7) Summer Comedy Spotlight Playhouse 90 (repeats) NBC Local (7:00) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Laramie Alfred Hitchcock Presents Thriller Specials (Most in COLOR) NOTES: This is the first broadcast of The Bugs Bunny Show. On CBS, Comedy Spotlight consisted of reruns of episodes of General Electric Theater. 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 Local Hong Kong The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Hawaiian Eye Naked City CBSFall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) The Aquanauts Wanted Dead or Alive My Sister Eileen I've Got a Secret Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel HourSpring Danger Man Angel NBC Fall Local (7:00) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Wagon Train (2/34.2) The Price Is Right (8/27.0)(Tied with The Untouchables) (In COLOR) Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (In COLOR) Peter Loves Mary Local Summer It Could Be You 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 Local Guestward, Ho! The Donna Reed Show The Real McCoys (5/27.7) My Three Sons (13/25.8)(Tied with 77 Sunset Strip) The Untouchables (8/27.0)(Tied with The Price Is Right) Take A Good Look CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) The Witness Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Angel The Ann Sothern Show Person to Person The DuPont Show with June Allyson Follow-up The Ann Sothern ShowAngelThe Witness Winter GunslingerSummerSummer Sports SpectacularFace the Nation and CBS Reports NBC Fall Local (7:00) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Outlaws Bat Masterson Bachelor Father The Ford Show (24/22.9) (In COLOR) The Groucho Show* (Sporadically in COLOR) Local Summer Great Ghost Tales (In COLOR) * formerly You Bet Your Life 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 Local Matty's Funday Funnies Harrigan and Son The Flintstones (18/24.3) 77 Sunset Strip (13/25.8)(Tied with My Three Sons) The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor The Law and Mr. Jones CBS Fall Local (7:00) / Douglas Edwards with the News (7:15) Rawhide (6/27.5) Route 66 (30/21.7) Mr. Garlund The Twilight Zone Eyewitness to History Winter The Jackie Gleason Show Spring 'Way Out NBC Fall Local (7:00) / Huntley-Brinkley Report (7:15) Dan Raven The Westerner The Bell Telephone Hour (In COLOR) / NBC News Specials (alternating) Michael Shayne Winter Happy One Happy Family Westinghouse Playhouse Starring Nanette Fabray and Wendell Corey The Bell Telephone Hour / Sing Along with Mitch (alternating) (Both programs in COLOR) May Five Star Jubilee (In COLOR) Summer One Happy Family Five Star Jubilee (In COLOR) The Lawless Years Westinghouse Playhouse Starring Nanette Fabray and Wendell Corey Follow-up Westinghouse Preview Theatre Saturday Network 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM ABC The Roaring 20s Leave It to Beaver The Lawrence Welk Show The Fight of the Week (10:00) / Make That Spare (10:45) CBS Perry Mason (16/24.9) Checkmate (21/23.2) Have Gun – Will Travel (3/30.9) Gunsmoke (1/37.3) Local NBC Fall Bonanza (17/24.8) (In COLOR) The Tall Man The Deputy The Campaign and the Candidates Man from Interpol November The Nation's Future Local Note: On NBC, The Campaign and the Candidates aired as an interim series, 9:30–10:30 p.m., from mid-September until the November 8 election. By network ABC Returning Series 77 Sunset Strip The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Adventures in Paradise Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond Bronco Cheyenne The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor The Donna Reed Show Hawaiian Eye Lawman The Lawrence Welk Show Leave It to Beaver The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Matty's Funday Funnies Maverick Peter Gunn (moved from NBC) The Real McCoys The Rebel The Rifleman Sugarfoot Take a Good Look The Untouchables Walt Disney Presents New Series The Asphalt Jungle * The Bugs Bunny Show Expedition! The Fight of the Week The Flintstones Guestward, Ho! Harrigan and Son Hong Kong The Islanders The Law and Mr. Jones Make That Spare My Three Sons Naked City The Roaring 20's Stagecoach West Sugarfoot Surfside 6 Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years Not returning from 1959–60: The Alaskans Black Saddle Bourbon Street Beat Broken Arrow Charley Weaver's Hobby Lobby Colt .45 Dick Clark's Saturday Night Beach-Nut Show Dick Clark's World of Talent The Gale Storm Show The Jeannie Carson Show John Gunther's High Road Johnny Staccato Music for a Spring Night Music for a Summer Night Jubilee USA Keep Talking The Man from Blackhawk Man with a Camera The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom Philip Marlowe The Wednesday Night Fights CBS Returning Series The Ann Sothern Show The Armstrong Circle Theatre Brenner Candid Camera CBS Reports Comedy Spotlight (previously The Comedy Spot) The Danny Thomas Show Dennis the Menace Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater Douglas Edwards with the News The DuPont Show with June Allyson The Ed Sullivan Show Face the Nation Frontier Justice The Garry Moore Show General Electric Theatre Gunsmoke Have Gun — Will Travel Hennesey I've Got a Secret The Jack Benny Show Lassie The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Perry Mason Person to Person Rawhide The Red Skelton Show The Spike Jones Show To Tell the Truth The Twentieth Century The Twilight Zone The United States Steel Hour Wanted Dead or Alive What's My Line New Series Angel The Aquanauts Bringing Up Buddy Danger Man The Andy Griffith Show Eyewitness to History Glenn Miller Time Gunslinger * Holiday Lodge * The Jackie Gleason Show Mr. Garlund My Sister Eileen Route 66 Summer Sports Spectacular * The Tom Ewell Show 'Way Out The Witness Not returning from 1959–60: Be Our Guest The Betty Hutton Show The Big Party Buick-Electra Playhouse The Dennis O'Keefe Show Diagnosis: Unknown Father Knows Best The George Gobel Show Hotel de Paree The Invisible Man Johnny Ringo The Kate Smith Show The Lineup Lucy in Connecticut Markham Masquerade Party Men into Space The Millionaire New Comedy Showcase Peck's Bad Girl Playhouse 90 The Revlon Revue The Robert Herridge Theatre The Texan Tightrope! NBC Returning Series Alfred Hitchcock Presents (moved from CBS) The Art Carney Special Bachelor Father Bat Masterson The Bell Telephone Hour Bonanza The Chevy Mystery Show Concentration The Deputy The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Five Star Jubilee The Ford Show The Groucho Show Happy The Huntley–Brinkley Report It Could Be You Jackpot Bowling starring Milton Berle Laramie The Lawless Years The Loretta Young Show The Man from Interpol NBC News Specials One Happy Family Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall The Price Is Right Riverboat Shirley Temple's Storybook Tales of Wells Fargo This Is Your Life Wagon Train Westinghouse Playhouse Starring Nanette Fabray and Wendell Corey New Series Acapulco * The Americans * The Barbara Stanwyck Show The Campaign and the Candidates * Dan Raven Dante Five Star Jubilee * Great Ghost Tales The Groucho Show Happy * Klondike Michael Shayne The Nation's Future * National Velvet One Happy Family * Outlaws Peter Loves Mary Sing Along with Mitch * The Tab Hunter Show Tales of Wells Fargo * The Tall Man Thriller Westinghouse Playhouse Starring Nanette Fabray and Wendell Corey* Westinghouse Preview Theatre * Whispering Smith * Not returning from 1959–60: The Arthur Murray Party Fibber McGee and Molly Five Fingers Gas Company Playhouse Gillette Cavalcade of Sports Law of the Plainsman Love and Marriage M Squad The Man and the Challenge Music on Ice NBC Playhouse NBC Sunday Showcase Omnibus Overland Trail People Are Funny Richard Diamond, Private Detective Startime The Steve Allen Plymouth Show Tate The Troubleshooters Wichita Town Wrangler Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. Trivia Effects of the WGA strike Between January and June 1960, the 1960 Writers Guild of America strike took place, affecting the fall schedule. The networks had numerous holes, which were mostly filled with unscripted material, some of which included political programs in anticipation of the forthcoming 1960 United States presidential election. CBS gave the unprecedented step of showing episodes from previous seasons of popular series. Some timeslots however (particularly that of 10:30-11) were ceded to stations. "Vast wasteland" speech On May 9, 1961, at the annual convention of the National Association of Broadcasters new Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow delivered "Television and the Public Interest," a scathing speech directed at the "procession of game shows, violence, audience participation shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, Western badmen, Western goodmen, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons, and, endlessly, commercials, many screaming, cajoling, and offending, and, most of all, boredom [...] Is there one network president in this room who claims he can't do better?" Castleman Harry Walter J. Podrazik Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television McGraw-Hill 1982 New York 139–146 https://archive.org/details/watchingtvfourde00cast registration 0-07-010269-4 Minow called TV a "vast wasteland"; the phrase was picked up by the press and resulted in bad publicity for the networks and for the television industry as a whole. According to television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982), the networks were in a bind, though: they had already purchased their fall 1961 programs and had locked in their 1961–62 schedules. "The best the networks could do was slot a few more public affairs shows, paint rosy pictures for 1962–63, and prepare to endure the barrage of criticism they felt certain would greet the new season." 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 (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. 0-345-31864-1. Category:United States primetime network television schedules Category:1960 in American television Category:1961 in American television