The following is the 1950–51 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1950 through March 1951. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1949–50 season. This season became the first in which primetime was entirely covered by the networks. It was also the inaugural season of the Nielsen rating system. Late in the season, the coast-to-coast link was in service.
In September 1950, NBC added two live variety series, Four Star Revue and The Colgate Comedy Hour, to its fall schedule. These programs were a network effort to bring NBC's most popular radio stars to television; talent included Eddie Cantor, Jack Carson, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Jimmy Durante, Danny Thomas, Ed Wynn, Bob Hope and Fred Allen. The two new star-studded series were scheduled directly against two of CBS's most popular programs: Four Star Revue went up against Arthur Godfrey and Friends on Wednesday nights, while The Colgate Comedy Hour was slated against Toast of the Town. NBC was confident that its strategy would pay off.
CBS answered NBC's schedule with big radio stars and variety programs of its own, bringing in Frank Sinatra and (in occasional specials) Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, and Edgar Bergen. "Despite the big budget variety shows in its schedule, though, CBS felt that situation comedy was actually a more stable television form that would be easier to exploit in the long run."
In many time slots, the underfunded DuMont Network did not bother to compete against NBC's or CBS's hit series, instead airing what some TV historians have called "time-filler". For example: "During its long run The Johns Hopkins Science Review was scheduled against such hit shows as Break the Bank [and] Dragnet, programs from which its network had little chance of luring away viewers."Heldenfels, R. D. (1994) Television's Greatest Year: 1954. New York: Continuum, pg 177–178. During fall 1950, The Court of Current Issues and The Johns Hopkins Science Review aired at the same time as the most heavily viewed program on television, NBC's Texaco Star Theater. Given the competition, DuMont's Tuesday night public-affairs programming attracted virtually no audience. The network had some success with a crime drama that had debuted in January the previous season titled Inside Detective (later retitled Rocky King Detective), which became one of the longest-running series on the network. Another DuMont series to debut during the season, Star Time, while short-lived, is remembered for including a television version of the popular radio sketches The Bickersons, and for being an early example of a sponsored network series to feature an African-American as a regular (jazz pianist Teddy Wilson, a familiar member of the Benny Goodman Sextet).
New fall series are highlighted in bold.
Legend
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 Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue Showtime U.S.A. Hollywood Premiere Theatre Sit or Miss Soap Box Theater The Marshall Plan in Action Life Begins at Eighty Youth on the March CBS The Gene Autry Show This Is Show Business / The Jack Benny Program Toast of the Town (15/36.5) The Fred Waring Show Celebrity Time What's My Line? DMN Star Time Rhythm Rodeo Local Programming The Arthur Murray Party They Stand Accused NBC Leave It to the Girls The Aldrich Family (16/36.1) The Colgate Comedy Hour (5/42.0) The Philco Television Playhouse (3/45.3) Garroway at Large Take a Chance
Note: On CBS, beginning in January, The Jack Benny Program aired as occasional specials once every six to eight weeks.
Hopalong Cassidy (9/39.9) aired on NBC from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Bigelow Theatre aired on CBS from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. from December 1950 to June 1951.
Monday 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 Club Seven Hollywood Screen Test Treasury Men in Action Dick Tracy The College Bowl On Trial Feature Film CBS FallThe Stork Club CBS Television News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Lux Video Theatre (30/31.5)(Tied with The Speidel Show) Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (8/40.6)The Horace Heidt Show The Goldbergs Studio One (24/33.8) June Who's Whose Follow-up It's News to Me DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers Manhattan Spotlight (7:30) / The Susan Raye Show (7:45) Visit With the Armed Forces The Al Morgan Show Wrestling From Columbia Park Arena NBC Fall Kukla, Fran and Ollie Mohawk Showroom (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) The Speidel Show (30/31.5)(Tied with Lux Video Theatre) The Voice of Firestone Lights Out (19/35.6)(Tied with Armstrong Circle Theatre and Big Town) Robert Montgomery Presents (11/38.8) / Musical Comedy Time Who Said That? Summer Tag the Gag
Tuesday 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 Club Seven The Beulah Show The Game of the Week Buck Rogers in the 25th Century The Billy Rose Show Can You Top This? Life Begins at Eighty Roller Derby CBS The Stork Club CBS Television News (7:30) / The Faye Emerson Show (7:45) Sure as Fate / Prudential Family Playhouse The Vaughn Monroe Show Suspense Danger We Take Your Word DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers Manhattan Spotlight (7:30) / The Joan Edwards Show (7:45) Court of Current Issues The Johns Hopkins Science Review Cavalcade of Bands Star Time NBC Kukla, Fran and Ollie The Little Show (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) Texaco Star Theater (1/61.6) Fireside Theatre (2/52.6) Armstrong Circle Theatre (19/35.6)(Tied with Lights Out and Big Town) The Original Amateur Hour (26/33.4)(Tied with Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts)
Wednesday 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 Club Seven Chance of a Lifetime First Nighter Don McNeill's TV Club Wrestling From the Rainbo in Chicago CBS The Stork Club CBS Television News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (18/35.9) Teller of Tales The Web Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts (26/33.4)(Tied with The Original Amateur Hour) DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers The Most Important People (7:30) / Local Programming (7:45) Local Programming Famous Jury Trials The Plainclothesman Broadway to Hollywood – Headline Clues Local Programming NBC Kukla, Fran and Ollie Mohawk Showroom (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) Four Star Revue Kraft Television Theatre (14/37.0) Break the Bank Stars Over Hollywood
Thursday 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 Club SevenThe Lone Ranger (7/41.2) Stop the Music (23/34.0) Holiday Hotel Blind Date I Cover Times Square Roller Derby CBS The Stork Club CBS Television News (7:30) / The Faye Emerson Show (7:45) The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show / Starlight Theatre The Show Goes On The Alan Young Show (22/34.4) Big Town (19/35.6)(Tied with Armstrong Circle Theatre and Lights Out) Truth or Consequences The Nash Airflyte Theater DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers Manhattan Spotlight (7:30) / The Joan Edwards Show (7:45) Local Programming The Adventures of Ellery Queen Local Programming NBC Kukla, Fran and Ollie The Little Show (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) You Bet Your Life (17/36.0) Hawkins Falls Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge Martin Kane, Private Eye (12/37.8) The Wayne King Show*
* Wayne King was seen only on NBC's Midwest Network.
Friday 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 Club Seven Life with Linkletter Twenty Questions Pro Football Highlights Pulitzer Prize Playhouse Penthouse Party Studs' PlaceCBS The Stork Club CBS Television News (7:30) / The Perry Como Show (7:45) Mama (10/39.7) Man Against Crime (13/37.4) Ford Theatre / Magnavox Theatre Star of the Family Beat the Clock DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers The Most Important People (7:30) / The Susan Raye Show (7:45) Local Programming Hold That Camera Hands of Murder Rocky King, Inside Detective Cavalcade of Stars NBC Fall Kukla, Fran and Ollie Mohawk Showroom (7:30) / Camel News Caravan (7:45) Quiz Kids We, the People Bonny Maid Versatile Varieties The Big Story (25/33.7) / The Clock Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (6/41.3) (10:00) / Greatest Fights of the Century (10:45) Spring The Big Story (25/33.7)
Saturday 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 Sandy Dreams Life with the ErwinsPaul Whiteman's TV Teen Club Roller Derby CBS Fall Big Top (6:30) The Week in Review (7:30) / The Faye Emerson Show (7:45) The Ken Murray Show (28/32.1) The Frank Sinatra Show Sing It Again Local Programming JanuaryLocal Programming Summer Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town DMN Captain Video and His Video Rangers Local Programming Country Style Saturday Night at the Garden NBC Fall The Hank McCune Show One Man's FamilyThe Jack Carter Show Your Show of Shows (4/42.6) Your Hit Parade (29/32.0) Summer Saturday Roundup
Notes: On CBS, Big Top aired from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time from September 1950 to January 6, 1951, after which it moved to Saturdays from noon to 1:00 p.m., where it ran for another seven years. Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town began on June 16, 1951, and concluded its 42-episode run at 9 p.m. on April 12, 1952.
By network
ABC
Returning Series Actors Studio Author Meets the Critics Blind Date Buck Rogers Celebrity Time Club Seven Crusade in Europe Dick Tracy Holiday Hotel Hollywood Screen Test Life Begins at Eighty The Lone Ranger The Marshall Plan in Action News and Views On Trial Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club Photoplay Time Roller Derby The Ruggles Sit or Miss Soapbox Derby Theater Stop the Music Studs's Place Twenty Questions Wrestling from the Rainbo in Chicago Youth on the March
New Series After the Deadlines * The Beulah Show The Billy Rose Show Can You Top This? Chance of a Lifetime The College Bowl Don McNeill's TV Club Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre * Feature Film First Nighter The Game of the Week Hollywood Premiere Theatre I Cover Times Square Life with Linkletter Life with the Erwins Penthouse Party Pro Football Highlights Pulitzer Prize Playhouse Sandy Dreams Showtime U.S.A. Treasury Men in Action
Not returning from 1949–50: ABC Barn Dance ABC Penthouse Players Actors Studio Auction-Aire The Boris Karloff Mystery Playhouse Crusade in Europe Fun for the Money Let There Be Stars Little Revue Majority Rules Mama Rosa Mr. Black Mysteries of Chinatown News and Views Oboler Comedy Theater Photocrime Photoplay Time Stained Glass Windows Starring Boris Karloff Think Fast Tomorrow's Boxing Champions Volume One Your Witness
CBS
Returning Series The Alan Young Show Arthur Godfrey and His Friends Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts Beat the Clock Big Top CBS Television News Celebrity Time The Faye Emerson Show Ford Theater The Fred Waring Show The Garry Moore Show The Gene Autry Show The Goldbergs Joey Faye's Frolics The Ken Murray Show Mama Man Against Crime Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts The Show Goes On Starlight Theatre The Stork Club Suspense This Is Show Business Toast of the Town We Take Tour Word The Web The Week in Review What's My Line?
New Series The Ad-Libbers * Big Town The Bigelow Theatre * Casey, Crime Photographer Charlie Wild, Private Detective * Danger Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town * The Frank Sinatra Show The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show The Horace Heidt Show It's News to Me The Jack Benny Program The Lux Video Theatre Magnavox Theatre The Nash Airflyte Theater The Perry Como Show Prudential Family Playhouse Racket Squad * Star of the Family Sure as Fate Truth or Consequences The Vaughn Monroe Show Who's Whose *
Not returning from 1949–50: 54th Street Revue Abe Burrows' Almanac The Bigelow Show The Black Robe Blues by Bargy Capitol Cloak Room Detective's Wife Earl Wrightson at Home The Ed Wynn Show Escape The Front Page