# 1981–82 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1981–82 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1981 through August 1982. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1980–81 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.
New series are highlighted in bold.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.
    Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season.
    Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season.
    Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season.
Note: A Writers Guild of America strike hindered the ability to start airing shows in a timely manner. The shows in the schedule were the first to air new episodes in their respective time periods as they premiered between September and early December. The debut month for each new series that had been intended for a fall premiere is noted as to when it actually appeared.
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation but the schedule was set by each local station.

## Sunday

| Network | Network | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | Code Red (Nov.) | Code Red (Nov.) | Today's FBI (Nov.) | Today's FBI (Nov.) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (22/19.5) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (22/19.5) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (22/19.5) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (22/19.5) |
| CBS | CBS | 60 Minutes (2/27.7) | 60 Minutes (2/27.7) | Archie Bunker's Place (12/21.6) | One Day at a Time (10/22.0) | Alice (5/22.7) | The Jeffersons (3/23.4) | Trapper John, M.D. (15/21.1) (Tied with Hart to Hart) | Trapper John, M.D. (15/21.1) (Tied with Hart to Hart) |
| NBC | Fall | Local | Local | CHiPs | CHiPs | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) |
| NBC | Spring | Father Murphy | Father Murphy | | CHiPs | CHiPs | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (Oct.) |
Note : On NBC, The Powers of Matthew Star was supposed to have aired 7-8 p.m., starting December 6, but production difficulties forced its delay into the next season.

## Monday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | That's Incredible! (28/18.4) (Tied with T.J. Hooker) | That's Incredible! (28/18.4) (Tied with T.J. Hooker) | Monday Night Football (11/21.8) | Monday Night Football (11/21.8) | Monday Night Football (11/21.8) | Monday Night Football (11/21.8) |
| ABC | Winter | That's Incredible! (28/18.4) (Tied with T.J. Hooker) | That's Incredible! (28/18.4) (Tied with T.J. Hooker) | ABC Monday Night Movie (8/22.5) | ABC Monday Night Movie (8/22.5) | ABC Monday Night Movie (8/22.5) | ABC Monday Night Movie (8/22.5) |
| ABC | Summer | Best of the West | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball |
| CBS | Fall | Private Benjamin | The Two of Us | M*A*S*H (9/22.3) | House Calls (23/19.2) | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Winter | Mr. Merlin | Private Benjamin | M*A*S*H (9/22.3) | House Calls (23/19.2) | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Spring | Private Benjamin | Report to Murphy | M*A*S*H (9/22.3) | Making the Grade | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Summer | Private Benjamin | WKRP in Cincinnati | M*A*S*H (9/22.3) | House Calls | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Follow-up | Private Benjamin | WKRP in Cincinnati | M*A*S*H (9/22.3) | Filthy Rich | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| NBC | NBC | Little House on the Prairie (24/19.1) (Tied with The Facts of Life) | Little House on the Prairie (24/19.1) (Tied with The Facts of Life) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies |

## Tuesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Happy Days (18/20.6) | Laverne & Shirley (20/19.9) | Three's Company (4/23.3) | Too Close for Comfort (6/22.6) | Hart to Hart (15/21.1) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D.) | Hart to Hart (15/21.1) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D.) |
| ABC | Spring | Happy Days (18/20.6) | Joanie Loves Chachi | Three's Company (4/23.3) | Too Close for Comfort (6/22.6) | Hart to Hart (15/21.1) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D.) | Hart to Hart (15/21.1) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D.) |
| CBS | Preliminary | Local | Local | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Fall | Simon & Simon (Nov.) | Simon & Simon (Nov.) | | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Spring | Q.E.D. | Q.E.D. | | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| NBC | Preliminary | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | Local | Local |
| NBC | Fall | Father Murphy (Nov.) | Father Murphy (Nov.) | Bret Maverick (Dec.) | Bret Maverick (Dec.) | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road |
| NBC | Spring | Bret Maverick | Bret Maverick | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters |
| NBC | March | Bret Maverick | Bret Maverick | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road | The Shape of Things | The Shape of Things |
| NBC | Follow-up | Bret Maverick | Bret Maverick | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road | Various | Various |
| NBC | Summer | Bret Maverick | Bret Maverick | Cassie & Co. | Cassie & Co. | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road |
| NBC | Follow-up | Father Murphy | Father Murphy | Bret Maverick | Bret Maverick | McClain's Law | McClain's Law |
Note: On ABC, Joanie Loves Chachi premiered March 23, 1982, at 8:30 pm, in place of Laverne & Shirley. On CBS, Q.E.D. ran for 6 weeks at 8pm, from March 23 to April 27.

## Wednesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Preliminary | The Greatest American Hero | The Greatest American Hero | Specials | Specials | Dynasty (19/20.2) | Dynasty (19/20.2) |
| ABC | Fall | The Greatest American Hero | The Greatest American Hero | The Fall Guy (Nov.) (26/19.0) | The Fall Guy (Nov.) (26/19.0) | | Dynasty (19/20.2) | Dynasty (19/20.2) |
| CBS | Preliminary | Mr. Merlin (Oct.) | WKRP in Cincinnati | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Fall | Mr. Merlin (Oct.) | WKRP in Cincinnati | Nurse | Nurse | Shannon (Nov.) | Shannon (Nov.) |
| CBS | Winter | WKRP in Cincinnati | The Two of Us | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Spring | Herbie, the Love Bug | Herbie, the Love Bug | WKRP in Cincinnati | Baker's Dozen | Shannon | Shannon |
| NBC | Fall | Real People (21/19.7) | Real People (21/19.7) | The Facts of Life (24/19.1) (Tied with Little House on the Prairie) | Love, Sidney (Oct.) | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |
| NBC | Spring | Real People (21/19.7) | Real People (21/19.7) | The Facts of Life (24/19.1) (Tied with Little House on the Prairie) | Teachers Only | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |
NOTE: The only episode of the sitcom Cass Malloy aired on CBS from 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 21, 1982. Although not picked up as a regular series, it served as the pilot for the 1987–1989 syndicated sitcom She's the Sheriff.

## Thursday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Mork & Mindy | Best of the West | Bosom Buddies | Taxi | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | November | Mork & Mindy | Best of the West | Barney Miller | Taxi | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Spring | Police Squad! | Bosom Buddies | 9 to 5 | Taxi | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Follow-up | No Soap, Radio | Mork & Mindy | Barney Miller | Taxi | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Summer | Darkroom | Darkroom | | Barney Miller | Taxi | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| CBS | Fall | Magnum, P.I. (17/20.9) | Magnum, P.I. (17/20.9) | Nurse | Nurse | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| CBS | November | Magnum, P.I. (17/20.9) | Magnum, P.I. (17/20.9) | Knots Landing | Knots Landing | Jessica Novak | Jessica Novak |
| CBS | Spring | Magnum, P.I. (17/20.9) | Magnum, P.I. (17/20.9) | Cagney & Lacey | Cagney & Lacey | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| NBC | Fall | Harper Valley | Lewis & Clark (Oct.) | Diff'rent Strokes | Gimme a Break! (Oct.) | Hill Street Blues (27/18.6) | Hill Street Blues (27/18.6) |
| NBC | Winter | Fame | Fame | | Diff'rent Strokes | Gimme a Break! (Oct.) | Hill Street Blues (27/18.6) | Hill Street Blues (27/18.6) |
Note: On CBS, Nurse aired at 9-10 p.m. and Knots Landing at 10-11 p.m., both in September and October. On ABC, Bosom Buddies aired at 9-9:30 p.m. in October.

## Friday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Benson | Bosom Buddies | Darkroom (Nov.) | Darkroom (Nov.) | Strike Force (Nov.) | Strike Force (Nov.) |
| ABC | Winter | Benson | Barney Miller | Best of the West | Making a Living | Strike Force (Nov.) | Strike Force (Nov.) |
| ABC | Spring | Benson | Barney Miller | The Phoenix | The Phoenix | | Strike Force (Nov.) | Strike Force (Nov.) |
| ABC | Follow-up | Benson | Maggie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie |
| CBS | Fall | The Incredible Hulk | The Incredible Hulk | The Dukes of Hazzard (6/22.6) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | The Dukes of Hazzard (6/22.6) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | Dallas (1/28.4) | Dallas (1/28.4) |
| CBS | Winter | The Dukes of Hazzard (6/22.6) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | The Dukes of Hazzard (6/22.6) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | Dallas (1/28.4) | Dallas (1/28.4) | Falcon Crest (13/21.4) | Falcon Crest (13/21.4) |
| CBS | Summer | The Dukes of Hazzard (6/22.6) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | The Dukes of Hazzard (6/22.6) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | Dallas (1/28.4) | Dallas (1/28.4) | Nurse | Nurse |
| NBC | Fall | NBC Magazine | NBC Magazine | McClain's Law (Nov.) | McClain's Law (Nov.) | Local | Local |
| NBC | Winter | NBC Magazine | NBC Magazine | McClain's Law (Nov.) | McClain's Law (Nov.) | Cassie & Co. | Cassie & Co. |
| NBC | Follow-up | NBC Magazine | NBC Magazine | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies |
| NBC | Spring | Jokebook | Chicago Story | Chicago Story | Chicago Story | McClain's Law | McClain's Law |
| NBC | Summer | Lewis & Clark | Chicago Story | Chicago Story | Chicago Story | Cassie & Co. | Cassie & Co. |

## Saturday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Maggie (Oct.) | Making a Living* | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) |
| ABC | November | Open All Night | Making a Living* | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) |
| ABC | January | King's Crossing | King's Crossing | | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) |
| ABC | Spring | T.J. Hooker (28/18.4) (Tied with That's Incredible!) | T.J. Hooker (28/18.4) (Tied with That's Incredible!) | | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | The Love Boat (14/21.2) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) | Fantasy Island (30/18.3) |
| CBS | CBS | Walt Disney | Walt Disney | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies |
| NBC | Fall | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Nashville Palace | Nashville Palace | Fitz and Bones | Fitz and Bones |
| NBC | Follow-up | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Harper Valley PTA | Lewis & Clark | Billy Crystal Comedy Hour | Billy Crystal Comedy Hour |
| NBC | Winter | One of the Boys | Harper Valley PTA | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Television: Inside and Out | Television: Inside and Out |
| NBC | Follow-up | One of the Boys | Chicago Story | Chicago Story | Chicago Story | McClain's Law | McClain's Law |
| NBC | Spring | Harper Valley PTA | One of the Boys | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters | NBC Magazine | NBC Magazine |
| NBC | Summer | Here's Boomer | Harper Valley PTA | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies |
(*) Also known as It's a Living.
Note: On ABC, Maggie was replaced by Open All Night, effective November 28; King's Crossing, which was supposed to have aired 8-9 p.m., was delayed until January, 1982, as an indirect result of the Writers Guild of America strike. On NBC, The Devlin Connection was supposed to have aired at 10:00 p.m., but Rock Hudson's heart surgery forced the delay into next season.

## By network
### NBC

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