# 1989–90 United States network television schedule

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.

## Legend

* Light blue indicates local programming.
* Gray indicates encore programming.
* Blue-gray indicates news programming.
* Light green indicates sporting events.
* Light purple indicates movies.
* Red indicates series being burned off and other regularly scheduled programs, including specials.
* Yellow indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.
* Cyan indicates the top-20 most watched programs of the season.
* Magenta indicates the top-30 most watched programs of the season.

## Sunday

| Network | Network | 7:00 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 | Fall | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | Free Spirit | Homeroom | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Winter | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | America's Funniest Home Videos (5/20.9) | Free Spirit | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Mid-winter | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | America's Funniest Home Videos (5/20.9) | Elvis | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Spring | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | America's Funniest Home Videos (5/20.9) | America's Funniest Home Videos (R) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Summer | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | America's Funniest Home Videos (5/20.9) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Mid-summer | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | America's Funniest Home Videos (5/20.9) | Mr. Belvedere | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Late summer | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | America's Funniest Home Videos (5/20.9) | Tim Conway's Funny America | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| CBS | CBS | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | Murder, She Wrote (13/17.7) (Tied with Chicken Soup) | Murder, She Wrote (13/17.7) (Tied with Chicken Soup) | CBS Sunday Movie (24/14.9) (Tied with Hunter) | CBS Sunday Movie (24/14.9) (Tied with Hunter) | CBS Sunday Movie (24/14.9) (Tied with Hunter) | CBS Sunday Movie (24/14.9) (Tied with Hunter) |
| Fox | Fall | Booker | Booker | America's Most Wanted | Totally Hidden Video | Married... with Children | Open House | The Tracey Ullman Show | It's Garry Shandling's Show |
| Fox | Winter | Booker | Booker | America's Most Wanted | The Simpsons (28/14.5) (Tied with Night Court and Doogie Howser, M.D.) | Married... with Children | Open House | The Tracey Ullman Show | It's Garry Shandling's Show |
| Fox | Spring | The Outsiders | The Outsiders | America's Most Wanted | The Simpsons (28/14.5) (Tied with Night Court and Doogie Howser, M.D.) | Married... with Children | Open House | Booker | Booker |
| NBC | Fall | Brand New Life | Brand New Life | Sister Kate | My Two Dads | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Winter | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | | Sister Kate | My Two Dads | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Mid-winter | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | Ann Jillian | Sister Kate | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Spring | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | ALF | 227 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Mid-spring | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | 227 | ALF | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Summer | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | | | | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
Note: In Living Color premiered Sunday April 15 at 9:30 PM on Fox.

## Monday

| Network | Network | 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 | Fall | MacGyver | MacGyver | Monday Night Football (10/18.1) | Monday Night Football (10/18.1) | Monday Night Football (10/18.1) | Monday Night Football (10/18.1) |
| ABC | Winter | MacGyver | MacGyver | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie |
| ABC | Spring | MacGyver | MacGyver | China Beach | China Beach | Capital News | Capital News |
| ABC | Mid-spring | The Young Riders | The Young Riders | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie |
| ABC | Summer | MacGyver | MacGyver | | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie |
| CBS | Fall | Major Dad | The People Next Door | Murphy Brown (27/14.7) | The Famous Teddy Z | Designing Women (22/15.3) (Tied with Full House) | Newhart |
| CBS | Mid-fall | Major Dad | The Famous Teddy Z | Murphy Brown (27/14.7) | Designing Women (22/15.3) (Tied with Full House) | Newhart | Doctor Doctor |
| CBS | Winter | Major Dad | City | Murphy Brown (27/14.7) | Designing Women (22/15.3) (Tied with Full House) | Newhart | Doctor Doctor |
| CBS | Spring | Major Dad | City | Murphy Brown (27/14.7) | Designing Women (22/15.3) (Tied with Full House) | Newhart | His & Hers |
| CBS | Mid-spring | Major Dad | Newhart | Murphy Brown (27/14.7) | Designing Women (22/15.3) (Tied with Full House) | Various programming | Various programming |
| CBS | Summer | Major Dad | Sydney | Murphy Brown (27/14.7) | Designing Women (22/15.3) (Tied with Full House) | Newhart | The Dave Thomas Comedy Show |
| CBS | Mid-summer | Major Dad | Sydney | Murphy Brown (27/14.7) | Designing Women (22/15.3) (Tied with Full House) | Major Dad | Doctor Doctor |
| Fox | Fox | 21 Jump Street | 21 Jump Street | Alien Nation | Alien Nation | Local programming | Local programming |
| NBC | Fall | ALF | The Hogan Family | 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 | Winter | ALF | The Hogan Family | 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 | Spring | My Two Dads | The Hogan Family | 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 | Mid-spring | My Two Dads | Working Girl | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Shannon's Deal | Shannon's Deal |
| NBC | Late spring | The Hogan Family | Working Girl | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Shannon's Deal | Shannon's Deal |
| NBC | Summer | ALF | The Hogan Family | 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 | Mid-summer | Working Girl | The Hogan Family | 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 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 9:30 p.m. | 10:00 p.m. | 10:30 p.m. |
| ABC | Fall | Who's the Boss? (12/17.9) | The Wonder Years (8/19.2) | Roseanne (1/23.4) | Chicken Soup (13/17.7) (Tied with Murder, She Wrote) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Mid-fall | Who's the Boss? (12/17.9) | The Wonder Years (8/19.2) | Roseanne (1/23.4) | Coach (18/17.0) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Winter | Who's the Boss? (12/17.9) | The Wonder Years (8/19.2) | Roseanne (1/23.4) | Coach (18/17.0) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Spring | Who's the Boss? (12/17.9) | The Wonder Years (8/19.2) | Roseanne (1/23.4) | Coach (18/17.0) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Summer | Who's the Boss? (12/17.9) | The Wonder Years (8/19.2) | Roseanne (1/23.4) | Coach (18/17.0) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| CBS | Fall | Rescue 911 | Rescue 911 | Wolf | Wolf | Island Son | Island Son |
| CBS | Winter | Rescue 911 | Rescue 911 | Wolf | Wolf | Island Son | Island Son |
| CBS | Spring | Rescue 911 | Rescue 911 | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie |
| CBS | Summer | Rescue 911 | Rescue 911 | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie |
| NBC | Fall | Matlock (20/16.6) | Matlock (20/16.6) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Winter | Matlock (20/16.6) | Matlock (20/16.6) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Spring | Matlock (20/16.6) | Matlock (20/16.6) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Summer | Matlock (20/16.6) | Matlock (20/16.6) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | In the Heat of the Night (19/16.9) | Real Life with Jane Pauley | Real Life with Jane Pauley |

## Wednesday

| Network | Network | 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 | Fall | Growing Pains (21/15.4) | Head of the Class (26/14.8) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Night Court) | Anything but Love | China Beach | China Beach |
| ABC | Winter | Growing Pains (21/15.4) | Head of the Class (26/14.8) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Night Court) | Anything but Love | China Beach | China Beach |
| ABC | Spring | Growing Pains (21/15.4) | Head of the Class (26/14.8) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Night Court) | The Marshall Chronicles | Equal Justice | Equal Justice |
| ABC | Mid-spring | Growing Pains (21/15.4) | Head of the Class (26/14.8) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Night Court) | Brewster Place | Equal Justice | Equal Justice |
| ABC | Summer | Growing Pains (21/15.4) | Head of the Class (26/14.8) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Night Court) | Anything but Love | China Beach | China Beach |
| CBS | Fall | Peaceable Kingdom | Peaceable Kingdom | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Mid-fall | Beauty and the Beast | Beauty and the Beast | | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Winter | Grand Slam | Grand Slam | | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Spring | Normal Life | Sydney | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Mid-spring | Sydney | Normal Life | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| CBS | Summer | This Is America, Charlie Brown (R) | Normal Life | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| CBS | Mid-summer | Newhart (R) | His & Hers | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Top Cops | Top Cops |
| NBC | Fall | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Night Court (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Doogie Howser, M.D.) | The Nutt House | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
| NBC | Mid-fall | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Night Court (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Doogie Howser, M.D.) | My Two Dads | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
| NBC | Winter | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Night Court (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Doogie Howser, M.D.) | Dear John (17/17.2) | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
| NBC | Spring | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Night Court (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Doogie Howser, M.D.) | FM | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
| NBC | Summer | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Unsolved Mysteries (11/18.0) | Night Court (28/14.5) (Tied with The Simpsons and Doogie Howser, M.D.) | Dear John (17/17.2) | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
Notes: Seinfeld premiered July 5, 1989 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC. FM aired at 9:30 p.m. on NBC from August 23 to September 6, 1989. Glory Days aired at 8:00 p.m. on Fox from July 25 to August 2, 1990. 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

| Network | Network | 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 | Fall | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible | The Young Riders | The Young Riders | Primetime Live | Primetime Live |
| ABC | Winter | Father Dowling Mysteries | Father Dowling Mysteries | | The Young Riders | The Young Riders | Primetime Live | Primetime Live |
| ABC | Spring | Father Dowling Mysteries | Father Dowling Mysteries | Twin Peaks | Twin Peaks | | Primetime Live | Primetime Live |
| ABC | Summer | Father Dowling Mysteries | Father Dowling Mysteries | Twin Peaks | Twin Peaks | Primetime Live | Primetime Live |
| CBS | Fall | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Top of the Hill | Top of the Hill | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| CBS | Winter | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Island Son | Island Son | | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| CBS | Spring | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Max Monroe: Loose Cannon | Max Monroe: Loose Cannon | | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| CBS | Mid-spring | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest | | Knots Landing | Knots Landing |
| CBS | Summer | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Wiseguy | Wiseguy | Wolf | Wolf |
| CBS | Mid-summer | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Northern Exposure | Northern Exposure | The Eddie Capra Mysteries (R) | The Eddie Capra Mysteries (R) |
| NBC | Fall | The Cosby Show (2/23.1) | A Different World (4/21.1) | Cheers (3/22.7) | Dear John (17/17.2) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) |
| NBC | Winter | The Cosby Show (2/23.1) | A Different World (4/21.1) | Cheers (3/22.7) | Grand (15/17.6) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) |
| NBC | Spring | The Cosby Show (2/23.1) | A Different World (4/21.1) | Cheers (3/22.7) | Wings | L.A. Law (16/17.4) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) |
| NBC | Summer | The Cosby Show (2/23.1) | A Different World (4/21.1) | Cheers (3/22.7) | Seinfeld | L.A. Law (16/17.4) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) |
| NBC | Mid-summer | The Cosby Show (2/23.1) | A Different World (4/21.1) | Cheers (3/22.7) | Grand (15/17.6) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) | L.A. Law (16/17.4) |
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. FM premiered August 17, 1989 at 9:30 p.m. on NBC and aired its fifth episode on September 14.

## Friday

| Network | Network | 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 | Fall | Full House (22/15.3) (Tied with Designing Women) | Family Matters | Perfect Strangers | Just the Ten of Us | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Winter | Full House (22/15.3) (Tied with Designing Women) | Family Matters | Perfect Strangers | Just the Ten of Us | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Spring | Full House (22/15.3) (Tied with Designing Women) | Family Matters | Perfect Strangers | Just the Ten of Us | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Summer | Full House (22/15.3) (Tied with Designing Women) | Family Matters | Perfect Strangers | New Attitude | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| CBS | Fall | Snoops | Snoops | Dallas | Dallas | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest |
| CBS | Winter | Max Monroe: Loose Cannon | Max Monroe: Loose Cannon | | Dallas | Dallas | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest |
| CBS | Mid-winter | The Bradys | The Bradys | | Dallas | Dallas | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest |
| CBS | Spring | Various programming | Various programming | Bagdad Cafe | Sugar and Spice | Dallas | Dallas |
| CBS | Mid-spring | Small Talk | City | Bagdad Cafe | Sugar and Spice | Dallas | Dallas |
| CBS | Summer | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest | CBS Friday Movie | CBS Friday Movie | CBS Friday Movie | CBS Friday Movie |
| CBS | Mid-summer | Candid Camera | Bagdad Cafe | Newhart (R) | Wish You Were Here | Room for Romance | Room for Romance |
| CBS | Late summer | Prime Time Pets | Candid Camera | Newhart (R) | Wish You Were Here | Room for Romance | Room for Romance |
| NBC | Fall | Baywatch | Baywatch | Hardball | Hardball | Mancuso, F.B.I. | Mancuso, F.B.I. |
| NBC | Winter | Baywatch | Baywatch | True Blue | True Blue | | Mancuso, F.B.I. | Mancuso, F.B.I. |
| NBC | Mid-winter | Baywatch | Baywatch | Nasty Boys | Nasty Boys | | Mancuso, F.B.I. | Mancuso, F.B.I. |
| NBC | Spring | Baywatch | Baywatch | Nasty Boys | Nasty Boys | Hardball | Hardball |
| NBC | Mid-spring | Mancuso, F.B.I. | Mancuso, F.B.I. | | Nasty Boys | Nasty Boys | Hardball | Hardball |
| NBC | Summer | Bret Maverick (R) | Bret Maverick (R) | The Yellow Rose (R) | The Yellow Rose (R) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |

## Saturday

| Network | Network | 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 | Fall | Mr. Belvedere | Living Dolls | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie |
| ABC | Winter | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible | | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie |
| ABC | Spring | H.E.L.P. | H.E.L.P. | | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie |
| ABC | Late spring | Sunset Beat | Sunset Beat | | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie |
| ABC | Early summer | Elvis | Growing Pains | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie |
| ABC | Summer | Super Jeopardy! | Monopoly | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie | The ABC Saturday Mystery Movie |
| ABC | Late summer | Super Jeopardy! | Monopoly | China Beach | China Beach | Twin Peaks | Twin Peaks |
| CBS | Fall | Paradise | Paradise | Tour of Duty | Tour of Duty | Saturday Night with Connie Chung | Saturday Night with Connie Chung |
| CBS | Winter | Paradise | Paradise | Tour of Duty | Tour of Duty | Saturday Night with Connie Chung | Saturday Night with Connie Chung |
| CBS | Spring | Paradise | Paradise | Tour of Duty | Tour of Duty | Saturday Night with Connie Chung | Saturday Night with Connie Chung |
| CBS | Summer | Paradise | Paradise | Beauty and the Beast | Beauty and the Beast | Tour of Duty | Tour of Duty |
| Fox | Fall | COPS | The Reporters | The Reporters | Beyond Tomorrow | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Winter | COPS | Totally Hidden Video | The Reporters | The Reporters | | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Spring | COPS | Totally Hidden Video | In Living Color | The Tracey Ullman Show | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Summer | COPS | Totally Hidden Video | In Living Color | The Tracey Ullman Show | Local programming | Local programming |
| NBC | Fall | 227 | Amen | The Golden Girls (6/20.1) | Empty Nest (9/18.9) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) |
| NBC | Winter | 227 | Amen | The Golden Girls (6/20.1) | Empty Nest (9/18.9) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) |
| NBC | Spring | ALF | Amen | The Golden Girls (6/20.1) | Empty Nest (9/18.9) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) |
| NBC | Mid-spring | A Family for Joe | 13 East | The Golden Girls (6/20.1) | Empty Nest (9/18.9) | Carol and Company | Down Home |
| NBC | Late spring | 13 East | Amen | The Golden Girls (6/20.1) | Empty Nest (9/18.9) | Carol and Company | Down Home |
| NBC | Summer | 227 | Singer & Sons | The Golden Girls (6/20.1) | Empty Nest (9/18.9) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) | Hunter (24/14.9) (Tied with CBS Sunday Movie) |
Note: Comic Strip Live aired at 11:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. on Fox.

## By network
### NBC

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
+ These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason