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. .
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
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 CBS FallThree for the RoadCherKojak Bronk Winter 60 Minutes The Sonny & Cher Show 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 Days SpringGood Heavens Barbary Coast Rich Man, Poor Man Mid-spring Good Heavens Monday Night Baseball Summer Viva ValdezCBSRhoda Phyllis All in the Family Maude 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 Welcome Back, Kotter The RookiesMarcus Welby, M.D. WinterLaverne & Shirley SpringFamily SummerSpecialsCBS FallGood Times Joe and SonsSwitchBeacon Hill Winter PopiM*A*S*H One Day at a Time Switch SpringThe Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show (R) Good Times Summer I've Got a Secret Mid-summer PopiNBC FallMovin' OnPolice StoryJoe Forrester Mid-fallPolice Woman 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 Starsky & Hutch WinterThe Bionic Woman SpringWonder Woman Late springThe Bionic Woman 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 The Dumplings SpringThe Best of Sanford and Son (R)Chico and the Man 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 Barney Miller Summer What's Happening!!CBS FallThe Waltons 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 Hawaii Five-OBarnaby Jones WinterSaraThe CBS Friday Night MovieNBC FallSanford and Son Chico and the Man The Rockford FilesPolice Woman 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 DocThe Mary Tyler Moore Show The Bob Newhart Show The Carol Burnett Show 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. . Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1985). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. .