The 1988–89 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1988 through August 1989. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1987–88 season.
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.
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.
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. .
Writers' strike impact
The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike lasted between March 7 and August 7. During the strike, production on scripted television series across all of the major television networks was suspended. The writers' strike forced the networks to postpone the start of the fall 1988 schedule later than usual; rather than the traditional late-September/early-October start, new and returning series had their premieres delayed until late October and into November. In the interim, the networks had to rely on a hodgepodge of programming, including reruns, films, entertainment and news specials, program-length political advertising, and unscripted original series (e.g. CBS' High Risk); NBC and ABC also benefited from sports programming (NBC relied on the Summer Olympics in September and the World Series in October, while ABC had postseason baseball coverage and moved up the start time for the early weeks of Monday Night Football from 9 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET to replace MacGyver, which was not yet ready with new episodes at the time). Even though previous strikes of Hollywood employees occurred in 1980 and 1981, those strikes only had a minor effect on the production of television programs that aired in the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons. The 1988–89 television season was thus the first of four television seasons to have its start delayed due to issues outside of the control of the major networks; further instances occurred in the 2001–02 season (due to the networks' news coverage of the September 11 attacks), the 2020–21 season (due to the suspension of television productions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic), and the 2023–24 season (due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes).
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 FallIncredible Sunday Mission: ImpossibleThe ABC Sunday Night Movie WinterGreat Circuses of the World SpringIncredible SundayMoonlighting SummerHave Faith The ABC Sunday Night Movie Late summerMacGyver The ABC Sunday Night MovieCBSMurder, She Wrote Fox Fall21 Jump StreetAmerica's Most WantedMarried... with ChildrenIt's Garry Shandling's ShowThe Tracey Ullman ShowDuet Winter Spring Summer Totally Hidden VideoMarried... with Children It's Garry Shandling's ShowThe Tracey Ullman Show Duet NBC FallThe Magical World of DisneyFamily TiesDay by Day Winter Spring SummerThe Jim Henson HourThe Magical World of Disney Late summerThe Magical World of DisneyFamily TiesMy Two Dads
Notes: Quantum Leap had a two-hour premiere Sunday, March 26, 1989, on NBC. On ABC, A Fine Romance was supposed to air 8-9 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike forced the move to Thursdays.
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 Fall Mid-fallMacGyver WinterThe ABC Monday Night Movie Mid-winter Spring SummerCBS FallNewhart The CavanaughsCBS Monday Night Movie Mid-fall Coming of Age Murphy BrownDesigning Women Winter Kate & AllieAlmost Grown Spring Live-InHeartlandNewhart Kate & Allie SummerKate & Allie Doctor Doctor Mid-summerDesigning Women Murphy Brown Newhart NBC FallALF The Hogan Family Winter Spring Nearly Departed Mid-springThe Hogan Family Summer
(*) B.L. Stryker, Columbo, Gideon Oliver
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? Roseanne Late fallMoonlighting Thirtysomething Winter Late winterThe Wonder Years Roseanne Anything but Love Spring Have Faith Summer Coach CBS FallHigh RiskCBS Tuesday Movie Late fallTV 101 WinterTour of Duty Spring SummerCBS Summer PlayhouseNBC FallMatlock NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies Mid-fallIn the Heat of the Night Midnight Caller Winter Spring Summer
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 FallGrowing Pains Head of the Class The ABC Wednesday Night Movie Late FallThe Wonder Years HoopermanChina Beach Late WinterCoach SpringThe Robert Guillaume Show Summer Hooperman Late summerCoachCBS Early fallLive! Dick Clark PresentsThe EqualizerWiseguy Fall The Van Dyke Show Annie McGuire WinterTV 101 Mid-winterHard Time on Planet EarthJake and the Fatman Spring Summer Late summerThe Smothers Brothers Comedy HourNBC FallUnsolved Mysteries Night Court Baby BoomTattingers Mid-fallMy Two Dads WinterNightingales Spring Mid-springQuantum Leap SummerMiami Vice Mid-summer Knight & Daye Late summer FM
Notes: Seinfeld premiered July 5, 1989 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. On Fox, Fox Night at the Movies premiered on May 17, 1989 with The Fly.
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 Mid-fallKnightwatch Dynasty WinterA Fine Romance HeartBeat SpringABC News Specials SummerThursday Night Baseball Late summerA Man Called Hawk Mission: Impossible Primetime LiveCBS Fall48 HoursCBS Thursday Night Movie Mid-fallParadiseKnots Landing Winter SpringThe Equalizer Summer The Cavanaughs Coming of AgeThe Equalizer Mid-summerThe EqualizerKnots Landing NBCThe Cosby Show A Different World Cheers Dear John L.A. Law
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 FallPerfect StrangersFull HouseMr. BelvedereJust the Ten of Us20/20 Winter Spring Summer Mid-summer Late summerFull House Mr. Belvedere Perfect Strangers Just the Ten of Us CBS FallBeauty and the Beast Dallas Falcon Crest Winter Spring SummerCBS Friday Movie NBC FallSonny SpoonSomething Is Out ThereMiami Vice WinterFather Dowling MysteriesMiami Vice Unsub SpringThe Jim Henson Hour Quantum Leap Mid-springMiami Vice Dream Street SummerHighway to Heaven NBC Friday Night at the Movies
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 FallMurphy's Law ABC Saturday Night Movie Mid-fallABC Saturday Night MovieMurphy's Law WinterMission: ImpossibleA Man Called Hawk SpringMen Mid-springA Man Called HawkABC Saturday Night Movie SummerCBS Early fall First ImpressionsFrank's Place West 57th Fall Dirty Dancing Raising MirandaSimon & Simon Mid-fallLive! Dick Clark Presents WinterDolphin Cove Dirty Dancing Raising Miranda Mid-winterThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Late winterTV 101 SpringParadiseJesse Hawkes SummerTour of DutyFox FallThe ReportersBeyond Tomorrow Winter COPSBeyond Tomorrow SpringCOPSThe Reporters SummerNBC Fall227Amen The Golden Girls Empty Nest Hunter Winter Spring One of the Boys Mid-spring 227 One of the Boys SummerAmen Mid-summer My Two Dads Late summerAmen 13 East
Note: On CBS, Frank's Place consisted of reruns of the 1987-88 sitcom. On ABC, ABC Saturday Mystery Movie was supposed to air 9-11 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike force the move to Mondays.
By network
ABC
Returning Series 20/20 The ABC Monday Night Movie ABC Saturday Night Movie The ABC Sunday Night Movie China Beach Dynasty Full House Growing Pains Head of the Class HeartBeat + Hooperman Just the Ten of Us MacGyver Mr. Belvedere Monday Night Football Moonlighting Perfect Strangers Who's the Boss? The Wonder Years
New Series The ABC Monday Mystery Movie * Anything But Love * Coach * A Fine Romance * Great Circuses of the World * Have Faith * Incredible Sunday Knightwatch A Man Called Hawk * Men * Mission: Impossible Murphy's Law Police Story The Robert Guillaume Show * Roseanne Studio 5-B * Thursday Night Baseball *
Not returning from 1987–88: The ABC Thursday Night Movie Buck James The Charmings The Disney Sunday Movie Dolly Family Man Hotel Hothouse I Married Dora Just in Time Max Headroom Monday Night Baseball Ohara Once a Hero Probe Pursuit of Happiness Sable The "Slap" Maxwell Story Sledge Hammer! Spenser: For Hire Supercarrier The Thorns
CBS
Returning Series 48 Hours 60 Minutes Beauty and the Beast CBS Summer Playhouse CBS Sunday Movie The Cavanaughs + Coming of Age Dallas Designing Women The Equalizer Falcon Crest Jake and the Fatman + Kate & Allie Knots Landing Murder, She Wrote Newhart Simon & Simon The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour + Tour of Duty + West 57th Wiseguy
New Series Almost Grown Annie McGuire Dirty Dancing Doctor Doctor * Dolphin Cove * First Impressions Hard Time on Planet Earth * Heartland * High Risk Jesse Hawkes * Live! Dick Clark Presents Live-In * Murphy Brown Paradise Raising Miranda TV 101 The Van Dyke Show
Not returning from 1987–88: Blue Skies Cagney & Lacey Eisenhower & Lutz Everything's Relative Frank's Place High Mountain Rangers Houston Knights The Law & Harry McGraw Magnum, P.I. My Sister Sam The Oldest Rookie Trial and Error
Fox
Returning Series 21 Jump Street America's Most Wanted Duet It's Garry Shandling's Show Married... with Children The Tracey Ullman Show
New Series Beyond Tomorrow Cops * The Reporters Totally Hidden Video *
Not returning from 1987–88: Dirty Dozen: The Series Family Double Dare Mr. President The New Adventures of Beans Baxter Second Chance/Boys Will Be Boys Werewolf Women in Prison
NBC
Returning Series 227 ALF Amen Cheers The Cosby Show Day by Day A Different World Family Ties The Golden Girls Highway to Heaven + The Hogan Family @ Hunter In the Heat of the Night L.A. Law Matlock Miami Vice My Two Dads + NBC Sunday Night Movie NBC Monday Night at the Movies Night Court Sonny Spoon
New Series 13 East * Baby Boom Dear John Dream Street * Empty Nest Father Dowling Mysteries * The Jim Henson Hour * Knight & Daye * The Magical World of Disney Midnight Caller Nearly Departed * Nightingales * One of the Boys * Quantum Leap * Something is Out There Tattingers/Nick & Hillary Unsolved Mysteries Unsub *
Not returning from 1987–88: Aaron's Way Beverly Hills Buntz The Bronx Zoo Crime Story The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd The Facts of Life The Highwayman J.J. Starbuck Our House Private Eye Rags to Riches St. Elsewhere A Year in the Life
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
+ These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason.
@ Formerly known as Valerie's Family.
References