# 1971–72 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1971–72 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1971 through August 1972. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1970–71 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football. This season was the first in which the prime time schedule was shortened to three hours (with the exception of Sunday and Tuesday), giving the 7:30 p.m. slot back to local stations, as implemented in the Prime Time Access Rule.
New fall 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.
The Public Broadcasting Service was in operation, but the schedule was set by each local station.

## Sunday

| Network | Network | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | Local | The F.B.I. (17/22.4) | The F.B.I. (17/22.4) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (26/20.8) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (26/20.8) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (26/20.8) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (26/20.8) |
| CBS | Fall | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | Cade's County | Cade's County | Local |
| CBS | Summer | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | The CBS Sunday Night Movie | The Life of Leonardo da Vinci | The Life of Leonardo da Vinci | | Local |
| NBC | NBC | The Wonderful World of Disney (19/22.0) | The Wonderful World of Disney (19/22.0) | The Jimmy Stewart Show | Bonanza (20/21.9) | Bonanza (20/21.9) | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors / The Lawyers | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors / The Lawyers |
Note: 60 Minutes aired at 6:00-7:00 pm on CBS from January to June 1972.

## Monday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Nanny and the Professor | Local | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (25/20.9) | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (25/20.9) | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (25/20.9) | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (25/20.9) |
| ABC | Winter | Monday Night Special | Monday Night Special | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie |
| CBS | Fall | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Here's Lucy (10/23.7) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | The Doris Day Show (23/21.2) (Tied with The Carol Burnett Show) | My Three Sons | Arnie |
| CBS | Winter | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Here's Lucy (10/23.7) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | The Doris Day Show (23/21.2) (Tied with The Carol Burnett Show) | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (27/20.2) | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (27/20.2) |
| CBS | Summer | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Here's Lucy (10/23.7) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | The Doris Day Show (23/21.2) (Tied with The Carol Burnett Show) | Suspense Theatre | Suspense Theatre |
| CBS | Follow-Up | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Gunsmoke (4/26.0) | Here's Lucy (10/23.7) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | The Doris Day Show (23/21.2) (Tied with The Carol Burnett Show) | Cade's County | Cade's County |
| NBC | Fall | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (22/21.4) | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (22/21.4) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies |
| NBC | Summer | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) |

## Tuesday

| Network | Network | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | The Mod Squad (21/21.5) | The Mod Squad (21/21.5) | ABC Movie of the Week (5/25.6) | ABC Movie of the Week (5/25.6) | ABC Movie of the Week (5/25.6) | Marcus Welby, M.D. (3/27.8) | Marcus Welby, M.D. (3/27.8) |
| CBS | Fall | The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour | The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour | Hawaii Five-O (12/23.6) | Hawaii Five-O (12/23.6) | Cannon (28/19.8) (Tied with Room 222) | Cannon (28/19.8) (Tied with Room 222) | Local |
| CBS | Summer | The Jerry Reed When You're Hot You're Hot Hour | The Jerry Reed When You're Hot You're Hot Hour | | Hawaii Five-O (12/23.6) | Hawaii Five-O (12/23.6) | Cannon (28/19.8) (Tied with Room 222) | Cannon (28/19.8) (Tied with Room 222) | Local |
| CBS | Follow-up | The John Byner Comedy Hour | The John Byner Comedy Hour | | Hawaii Five-O (12/23.6) | Hawaii Five-O (12/23.6) | Cannon (28/19.8) (Tied with Room 222) | Cannon (28/19.8) (Tied with Room 222) | Local |
| NBC | Fall | Ironside (15/23.0) | Ironside (15/23.0) | Sarge | Sarge | The Funny Side | The Funny Side | | Local |
| NBC | November | Sarge | Sarge | The Funny Side | The Funny Side | James Garner as Nichols | James Garner as Nichols | | Local |
| NBC | Winter | Local | Local | Local | Local | | | | James Garner as Nichols | James Garner as Nichols | Local |
| NBC | Summer | Ponderosa | Ponderosa | NBC Action Playhouse | NBC Action Playhouse | | James Garner as Nichols | James Garner as Nichols | Local |
Note: The NBC 1972 summer series Ponderosa consisted of reruns of Bonanza episodes from the 1967-1970 period. More recent reruns of Bonanza also aired that summer under the show's original name in its regular Sunday evening time slot. NBC Action Playhouse consisted of reruns from Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, with new introductions by Peter Marshall.

## Wednesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Bewitched | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | The Smith Family | Shirley's World | The Man and the City | The Man and the City |
| ABC | Winter | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | The ABC Comedy Hour | The ABC Comedy Hour | The Persuaders! | The Persuaders! | Local |
| ABC | Spring | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | The Smith Family | The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine | The Persuaders! | The Persuaders! | Local |
| ABC | Summer | The Super | The Corner Bar | The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine | ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopykats | ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopykats | | Local |
| CBS | Fall | The Carol Burnett Show (23/21.2) (Tied with The Doris Day Show) | The Carol Burnett Show (23/21.2) (Tied with The Doris Day Show) | Medical Center (13/23.5) | Medical Center (13/23.5) | Mannix (7/24.8) | Mannix (7/24.8) |
| CBS | Summer | The David Steinberg Show | The David Steinberg Show | | Medical Center (13/23.5) | Medical Center (13/23.5) | Mannix (7/24.8) | Mannix (7/24.8) |
| NBC | NBC | Adam-12 (8/23.9) (Tied with Funny Face) | The NBC Mystery Movie: Columbo / McCloud / McMillan & Wife (14/23.2) | The NBC Mystery Movie: Columbo / McCloud / McMillan & Wife (14/23.2) | The NBC Mystery Movie: Columbo / McCloud / McMillan & Wife (14/23.2) | Night Gallery | Night Gallery |
Note: The ABC 1972 summer series ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopykats consisted of reruns of ABC Comedy Hour from earlier in the year.

## Thursday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | Alias Smith and Jones | Alias Smith and Jones | Longstreet | Longstreet | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law |
| CBS | Fall | Bearcats! | Bearcats! | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie |
| CBS | Winter | Me and the Chimp | My Three Sons | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie |
| CBS | Summer | My World and Welcome to It | My Three Sons | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie |
| NBC | Fall | The Flip Wilson Show (2/28.2) | The Flip Wilson Show (2/28.2) | Nichols | Nichols | The Dean Martin Show | The Dean Martin Show |
| NBC | November | The Flip Wilson Show (2/28.2) | The Flip Wilson Show (2/28.2) | Ironside (15/23.0) | Ironside (15/23.0) | | The Dean Martin Show | The Dean Martin Show |
| NBC | Summer | The Flip Wilson Show (2/28.2) | The Flip Wilson Show (2/28.2) | Ironside (15/23.0) | Ironside (15/23.0) | Dean Martin Presents the Bobby Darin Amusement Co. | Dean Martin Presents the Bobby Darin Amusement Co. |
Note: My World and Welcome to It consisted of reruns of NBC's 1969-70 sitcom.

## Friday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | The Brady Bunch | The Partridge Family (16/22.6) | Room 222 (28/19.8) (Tied with Cannon) | The Odd Couple | Love, American Style | Love, American Style |
| CBS | Fall | The Chicago Teddy Bears | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) |
| CBS | Winter | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The Don Rickles Show |
| CBS | Summer | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The New CBS Friday Night Movie (30/19.5) | The Governor & J.J. |
| NBC | Fall | The D.A. | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | Local |
| NBC | Winter | Sanford and Son (6/25.2) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | Local |
| NBC | Summer | The Partners | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | World Premiere Movie / Chronolog* (once a month) | Local |
* formerly First Tuesday

## Saturday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Getting Together | Movie of the Weekend | Movie of the Weekend | Movie of the Weekend | The Persuaders! | The Persuaders! |
| ABC | Winter | Bewitched | Movie of the Weekend | Movie of the Weekend | Movie of the Weekend | The Sixth Sense | The Sixth Sense |
| ABC | Summer | Bewitched | Movie of the Weekend | Movie of the Weekend | Movie of the Weekend | The Ken Berry "Wow" Show | The Ken Berry "Wow" Show |
| CBS | Fall | All in the Family (1/34.0) | Funny Face (8/23.9) (Tied with Adam-12) | The New Dick Van Dyke Show (18/22.2) | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (10/23.7) (Tied with Here's Lucy) | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible |
| CBS | Winter | All in the Family (1/34.0) | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (10/23.7) (Tied with Here's Lucy) | The New Dick Van Dyke Show (18/22.2) | Arnie | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible |
| NBC | Fall | The Partners | The Good Life | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies |
| NBC | Winter | Emergency! | Emergency! | | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies |

## By network
### NBC

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