1985–86 United States network television schedule

The 1985–86 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1985 through August 1986. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1984–85 season.

PBS is not included; 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 1986 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. . Most of the ratings come from AmericanRadioHistory.com's PDF archive. This was the first television season wherein the Nielsen people meter technology was used for the nationwide audience measurement system, largely replacing the diaries system in place from the 1950-1951 television season.

Legend

Schedule New series are highlighted in bold. Repeat airings or same-day rebroadcasts are indicated by . 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.

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 FallRipley's Believe It or Not!MacGyverThe ABC Sunday Night Movie WinterThe Disney Sunday MovieCBS Fall Murder, She Wrote Crazy Like a FoxTrapper John, M.D. WinterNBC FallPunky BrewsterSilver SpoonsAmazing StoriesAlfred Hitchcock Presents SpringSilver Spoons Fathers and Sons Late springPunky Brewster AugustDalton's Code of Vengeance

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 FallHardcastle and McCormick WinterABC Monday Night Movie JuneThe Insiders Mid-summerMonday Night BaseballCBSScarecrow and Mrs. King Kate & Allie Newhart Cagney & LaceyNBC FallTV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes WinterYou Again? Valerie SpringValerie You Again? Late springAmazing Stories

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? Growing Pains Moonlighting Our Family Honor Mid-fallSpenser: For Hire Spring Perfect Strangers Mid-springGrowing Pains Summer Perfect Strangers Mid-summerGrowing Pains CBS FallHometownCBS Tuesday Night Movie Mid-fall Late fallStir Crazy Mid-winterTrapper John, M.D. Late winterTrapper John, M.D.CBS Tuesday Night Movie SpringMorningstar/Eveningstar Mary Foley SquareThe Equalizer Mid-springMickey Spillane's Mike Hammer SummerSimon & Simon Magnum, P.I. NBC FallThe A-Team RiptideRemington Steele Winter SpringHunterStingray Summer1986 Late summerNBC Tuesday Night at the Movies

Notes: The premiere episode of Melba and a new episode of Charlie & Co. aired at 8 and 8:30 p.m. respectively on January 28, 1986 (the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster), but both shows were put on hiatus immediately afterwards. The former was burned off during the summer and the latter resumed airing in a different slot during the spring. Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer consisted on repeats of the 1983–84 series. 1986 aired as a "preview" series in advance of the 1986–87 season.

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 FallThe InsidersDynasty Hotel WinterMacGyver SummerHardcastle and McCormick Mid-summer Perfect Strangers Mr. Sunshine MacGyverCBS FallStir CrazyCharlie & Co.George Burns Comedy WeekThe Equalizer Mid-fall Late fallMaryFoley Square WinterCrazy Like a Fox Spring Fast Times Tough CookiesCBS Wednesday Night Movie Mid-springWest 57th Summer Foley Square Charlie & Co. Airwolf West 57thNBC FallHighway to Heaven Hell TownSt. Elsewhere WinterBlacke's Magic Summer Gimme a Break! You Again?

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 FallThe Fall GuyLady Blue20/20 Mid-fallABC Thursday Night Movie Late fallShadow ChasersThe Colbys WinterRipley's Believe It or Not!CBS FallMagnum, P.I.Simon & Simon Knots Landing Winter SpringSimon & Simon Bridges to Cross SummerCrazy Like a Fox Trapper John, M.D. Mid-summerCBS Thursday Night Movie Late summerPrice is Right SpecialCrazy Like a Fox Trapper John, M.D.NBC FallThe Cosby Show Family Ties Cheers Night Court Hill Street Blues Late winterAll Is Forgiven SpringNight Court SummerAll Is Forgiven Mid-summerNight Court

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 FallWebsterMr. BelvedereDiff'rent StrokesBensonSpenser: For Hire Mid-fallOur Family Honor Winter He's the MayorThe Fall Guy Spring Mr. Sunshine Joe Bash Mid-springThe ABC Friday Night Movie Summer Mr. SunshineThe Love Boat Late summerCBS FallThe Twilight ZoneDallas Falcon Crest Winter Spring Charlie & Co. Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills SummerThe Twilight ZoneCBS Friday MovieNBC FallKnight RiderMisfits of ScienceMiami Vice WinterMisfits of ScienceKnight Rider Late winterRiptide SpringThe Last Precinct Mid-springKnight Rider SummerMiami Vice Stingray Late summerThe A-Team Riptide

Note: Diff'rent Strokes aired a one-hour season premiere on September 27 at 9:00pm.

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 FallHollywood BeatLime StreetThe Love Boat Mid-fallThe Fall GuyLady Blue WinterThe Redd Foxx ShowBensonFortune Dane SpringThe Love Boat Mid-springMr. Sunshine SummerDiff'rent Strokes ABC Saturday Night MovieCBS FallAirwolfCBS Saturday Night Movie SpringCrazy Like a Fox Mid-springAirwolfMagnum, P.I. Summer AugustMelbaCBS Saturday Night MovieNBC FallGimme a Break!The Facts of Life The Golden Girls 227 Hunter SpringAll Is ForgivenRemington Steele Mid-spring227 SummerThe Facts of Life 227 Me & Mrs. C Late summer

Notes: Due to the death of Samantha Smith and her father in a plane crash, ABC ceased production on Lime Street and was forced to move Lady Blue into its slot. The Love Boat had a number of 2-hour episodes throughout the season, airing from 9 to 11 p.m. Assorted repeats from previous seasons aired on the 9 p.m. slot during the spring.

By network

ABC

Returning series 20/20 The ABC Friday Night Movie ABC Monday Night Movie The ABC Sunday Night Movie The ABC Thursday Night Movie Benson Diff'rent Strokes (moved from NBC) Dynasty The Fall Guy Hardcastle and McCormick Hotel Life's Most Embarrassing Moments The Love Boat Mr. Belvedere Monday Night Baseball Monday Night Football Moonlighting Ripley's Believe It or Not! Webster Who's the Boss?

New series The Colbys * The Disney Sunday Movie * Fortune Dane * Growing Pains He's the Mayor * Hollywood Beat The Insiders Joe Bash * Lady Blue Lime Street MacGyver Mr. Sunshine * Our Family Honor Perfect Strangers * The Redd Foxx Show * Shadow Chasers * Spenser: For Hire

Not returning from 1984–85: Call to Glory Eye to Eye Finder of Lost Loves Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders Glitter Hawaiian Heat Jessie MacGruder and Loud Matt Houston Me and Mom Off the Rack Paper Dolls People Do the Craziest Things Rock 'n' Roll Summer Action Street Hawk T. J. Hooker @ Three's a Crowd Wildside

CBS

Returning series 60 Minutes Airwolf Cagney & Lacey CBS Sunday Movie Crazy Like a Fox Dallas Falcon Crest Kate & Allie Knots Landing Magnum, P.I. Murder, She Wrote Newhart Scarecrow and Mrs. King Simon & Simon Trapper John, M.D. West 57th

New series Bridges to Cross * Charlie & Co. The Equalizer Fast Times * Foley Square * George Burns Comedy Week Hometown Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills * Mary * Melba * Morningstar/Eveningstar * Stir Crazy Tough Cookies * The Twilight Zone

Not returning from 1984–85: AfterMASH Alice Charles in Charge (Moved to Syndication) Cover Up Detective in the House Double Dare Dreams The Dukes of Hazzard E/R I Had Three Wives The Jeffersons The Lucie Arnaz Show Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer + Otherworld

NBC

Returning series The A-Team Cheers The Cosby Show The Facts of Life Family Ties Gimme a Break! Highway to Heaven Hill Street Blues Hunter Knight Rider Miami Vice NBC Sunday Night Movie NBC Monday Night at the Movies Night Court Punky Brewster Remington Steele Riptide St. Elsewhere Silver Spoons TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes

New series 1986 * 227 Alfred Hitchcock Presents All Is Forgiven * Amazing Stories Blacke's Magic * Dalton's Code of Vengeance * Fathers and Sons * The Golden Girls Hell Town The Last Precinct * Me & Mrs. C * Misfits of Science Stingray * Valerie * You Again? *

Not returning from 1984–85: Berrenger's The Best Times Code Name: Foxfire Diff'rent Strokes (moved to ABC) Double Trouble Half Nelson Hot Pursuit It's Your Move Motown Revue OceanQuest Our Time Partners in Crime Sara Spencer/Under One Roof V

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

^ Diff'rent Strokes switched networks for the 1985–1986 season.

+ Mike Hammer abruptly ended production after series star Stacy Keach was sentenced to six months in prison for cocaine possession. Production resumed during the 1986–1987 season.

@ T. J. Hooker continued production for CBS' late night schedule for the 1985–1986 season.

See also

1985–86 United States network television schedule (daytime) 1985–86 United States network television schedule (late night)

Notes

References