The 1989–90 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1989 through August 1990. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1988–89 season.
Beginning this season, Fox started their prime time expansion starting with Mondays.
This is the first season to feature entirely closed captioning programs on the Big Four networks.
This was the first time that two programs were tied for the no. 1 spot in the Nielsen ratings.
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 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. .
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 FallLife Goes On Free Spirit HomeroomThe ABC Sunday Night Movie WinterAmerica's Funniest Home Videos Free Spirit Mid-winter Elvis SpringAmerica's Funniest Home Videos SummerThe ABC Sunday Night Movie Mid-summerMr. BelvedereThe ABC Sunday Night Movie Late summer Tim Conway's Funny AmericaCBSMurder, She Wrote Fox FallBookerAmerica's Most Wanted Totally Hidden VideoMarried... with Children Open HouseThe Tracey Ullman ShowIt's Garry Shandling's Show WinterThe Simpsons SpringThe OutsidersBooker Summer In Living ColorNBC FallBrand New LifeSister Kate My Two DadsNBC Sunday Night Movie Late fallThe Magical World of Disney Winter Ann Jillian Sister Kate SpringThe Magical World of Disney Mid-springThe Magical World of DisneyALF 227 SummerThe Magical World of Disney Late summer Ann Jillian A Family for JoeThe Magical World of Disney
Note: In Living Color premiered Sunday, April 15, 1990 at 9:30 PM on Fox.
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 FallMacGyver WinterThe ABC Monday Night Movie SpringChina Beach Capital News Mid-springThe Young Riders The ABC Monday Night Movie SummerMacGyver CBS FallMajor Dad The People Next DoorMurphy Brown The Famous Teddy ZDesigning Women Newhart Mid-fall The Famous Teddy ZDesigning Women NewhartDoctor Doctor WinterCity Spring His & Hers Mid-spring Newhart SummerSydney Newhart The Dave Thomas Comedy Show Mid-summerDoctor DoctorSaturday Night with Connie ChungFox21 Jump StreetAlien Nation NBC FallALF The Hogan FamilyNBC Monday Night at the Movies Winter SpringMy Two Dads Mid-springWorking Girl Hunter Shannon's Deal Summer ALF The Hogan Family NBC Monday Night at the Movies Mid-summer Sister Kate Working Girl
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? The Wonder Years Roseanne Chicken Soup Thirtysomething Mid-fallCoach Winter Spring SummerCBS FallRescue 911Wolf Island Son WinterCBS Tuesday Night Movie Spring SummerNBC FallMatlock In the Heat of the Night Midnight Caller Winter Spring SummerReal Life with Jane Pauley
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 Doogie Howser, M.D. Anything but LoveChina Beach Winter Spring The Marshall ChroniclesEqual Justice Mid-spring Brewster Place Summer Anything but LoveChina Beach CBS FallPeaceable KingdomJake and the FatmanWiseguy Mid-fallBeauty and the Beast WinterGrand Slam Spring Normal Life Sydney Mid-spring SydneyNormal LifeSpecial programming SummerThis Is America, Charlie Brown Mid-summerNewhart His & HersTop CopsFox Mid-summer Glory DaysMolloyVarious pilotsLocal programming Late Summer21 Jump Street NBC FallUnsolved Mysteries Night Court The Nutt HouseQuantum Leap Mid-fall My Two Dads WinterDear John Spring FM Late springDear John Summer Singer & Sons Mid-summerNight Court
Notes: Molloy aired at 9:00 p.m. on Fox from July 25 until August 15, 1990. Fox aired movies at 8:00 p.m. on an irregular basis.
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 FallMission: ImpossibleThe Young RidersPrimetime Live WinterFather Dowling Mysteries SpringTwin Peaks SummerCBS Fall48 HoursTop of the HillKnots Landing WinterIsland Son SpringMax Monroe: Loose Cannon Mid-springFalcon Crest SummerWiseguy Wolf Mid-summerNorthern ExposureThe Eddie Capra Mysteries Fox Late summer The Simpsons Glory DaysNBC FallThe Cosby Show A Different World Cheers Dear John L.A. Law WinterGrand Spring Wings Summer Seinfeld Mid-summerGrand Notes: The Eddie Capra Mysteries, which CBS aired from July 26 to August 30, consisted of reruns of episodes from the 1978-79 NBC series.
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 FallFull House Family MattersPerfect StrangersJust the Ten of Us20/20 Winter Spring Summer New AttitudeCBS FallSnoopsDallas Falcon Crest WinterMax Monroe: Loose Cannon Mid-winterThe Bradys Spring Bagdad CafeSugar and SpiceDallas Mid-spring Small Talk SummerCityCBS Friday Movie Mid-summerSnoops Late summer Prime Time Pets Candid CameraNewhart Wish You Were HereRoom for RomanceNBC Early fallBaywatchNBC Friday Night at the Movies FallHardballMancuso, F.B.I. WinterTrue Blue Mid-winterNasty Boys SpringHardball Mid-springMancuso, F.B.I. Late springBaywatch SummerBret Maverick The Yellow Rose Midnight Caller Mid-summerQuantum Leap Shannon's Deal Late summerNight Court Wings Notes: Bret Maverick, which aired on NBC, consisted of reruns of the series' 1981–82 network run. The Yellow Rose, which also aired on NBC, consisted of reruns of the series' 1983–84 network run.
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 Fall Mr. Belvedere Living DollsThe ABC Saturday Mystery Movie WinterMission: Impossible SpringH.E.L.P. Late springSunset Beat Early summer Elvis SummerSuper Jeopardy!Monopoly Late summerChina Beach Twin Peaks CBS FallParadiseTour of DutySaturday Night with Connie Chung Winter Spring SummerBeauty and the Beast Tour of DutyFox FallCOPSThe Reporters Beyond Tomorrow WinterTotally Hidden VideoThe Reporters SpringIn Living ColorThe Tracey Ullman Show SummerNBC Fall227 AmenThe Golden Girls Empty Nest Hunter Winter Spring ALF Mid-spring A Family for Joe 13 EastCarol and CompanyDown Home Late spring 13 East Amen Summer 227 Hunter Mid-summerAmen 13 East Late summer Carol and Company
Note: Comic Strip Live aired at 11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. on Fox.
By network ABC
Returning series 20/20 The ABC Monday Night Movie ABC Mystery Movie (moved from Monday to Saturday) The ABC Sunday Night Movie Anything but Love China Beach Coach Father Dowling Mysteries (moved from NBC) Full House Growing Pains Head of the Class Just the Ten of Us MacGyver Mission: Impossible Mr. Belvedere Monday Night Football Perfect Strangers Roseanne Thirtysomething Who's the Boss? The Wonder Years
New series America's Funniest Home Videos * Brewster Place * Capital News * Chicken Soup Doogie Howser, M.D. Elvis * Equal Justice * Family Matters Free Spirit H.E.L.P. * Homeroom Life Goes On Living Dolls The Marshall Chronicles * Monopoly * New Attitude * Primetime Live Sunset Beat * Super Jeopardy! * Tim Conway's Funny America * Twin Peaks * The Young Riders
Not returning from 1988–89: ABC Saturday Night Movie Dynasty A Fine Romance Great Circuses of the World Have Faith HeartBeat Hooperman Incredible Sunday Knightwatch A Man Called Hawk Men Moonlighting Murphy's Law Police Story The Robert Guillaume Show Studio 5-B Thursday Night Baseball
CBS
Returning series 48 Hours 60 Minutes Beauty and the Beast CBS Sunday Movie Dallas Designing Women Doctor Doctor Falcon Crest Jake and the Fatman Knots Landing Murder, She Wrote Murphy Brown Newhart Paradise Tour of Duty Wiseguy
New series Bagdad Cafe * The Bradys * City * The Dave Thomas Comedy Show * The Famous Teddy Z Grand Slam * His & Hers * Island Son Major Dad Max Monroe: Loose Cannon * Normal Life * Northern Exposure * A Peaceable Kingdom The People Next Door Prime Time Pets * Rescue 911 Room for Romance * Saturday Night with Connie Chung Small Talk * Snoops Sugar and Spice * Sydney * Top Cops * Top of the Hill Wish You Were Here * Wolf
Not returning from 1988–89: Almost Grown Annie McGuire The Cavanaughs CBS Summer Playhouse Coming of Age Dirty Dancing Dolphin Cove The Equalizer First Impressions Hard Time on Planet Earth Heartland High Risk Jesse Hawkes Kate & Allie Live! Dick Clark Presents Live-In Raising Miranda Simon & Simon The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour TV 101 The Van Dyke Show West 57th
Fox
Returning series 21 Jump Street America's Most Wanted Beyond Tomorrow Cops It's Garry Shandling's Show Married... with Children The Reporters Totally Hidden Video The Tracey Ullman Show
New series Alien Nation Booker Comic Strip Live Glory Days * In Living Color * Molloy * Open House The Outsiders * The Simpsons *
Not returning from 1988–89: Duet
NBC
Returning series 13 East 227 ALF Amen Cheers The Cosby Show Dear John A Different World Empty Nest The Golden Girls The Hogan Family Hunter In the Heat of the Night L.A. Law The Magical World of Disney Matlock Midnight Caller My Two Dads + NBC Sunday Night Movie NBC Monday Night at the Movies Night Court Quantum Leap Unsolved Mysteries
New series Ann Jillian * Baywatch Brand New Life Carol & Company * Down Home * A Family for Joe * FM Grand * Hardball Mancuso, F.B.I. Nasty Boys * The Nutt House Real Life with Jane Pauley * Seinfeld * Shannon's Deal * Singer & Sons * Sister Kate True Blue * Wings * Working Girl *
Not returning from 1988–89: Baby Boom Day by Day Dream Street Family Ties Father Dowling Mysteries (moved to ABC) Highway to Heaven The Jim Henson Hour Knight & Daye Miami Vice Nearly Departed Nightingales One of the Boys Something Is Out There Sonny Spoon Tattingers/Nick & Hillary Unsub
Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
+ These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason
References