# 1961–62 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1961–62 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1961 through April 1962. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1960–61 season.
The previous season had been criticized by Federal Communications Commission chairman Newton Minow in May 1961. Minow had criticized poor programs and weak network schedules, calling television a "vast wasteland" and calling on television executives to try harder to develop innovative and interesting television programs.
Television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982) believe the 1961–62 season marked a comeback for television, as the networks rearranged their schedules to accommodate the critics. They point out CBS's high-quality legal drama The Defenders, NBC's medical drama Dr. Kildare, CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show, and ABC's medical drama Ben Casey as bright spots in the new TV schedule. Despite the praise for these four series, the authors also highlight several less worthy series which debuted during the 1961–62 season: Room for One More, Window on Main Street, Hazel ("possibly the dumbest family in TV history"), and the truly terrible The Hathaways ("possibly the worst series ever to air on network TV").
NBC lured Disney's popular anthology series from ABC; Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color premiered on September 24, 1961. The color programs were a change from the previous ABC programs, which had been seen in black and white.
NBC also added a movie night to its schedule; the network paid $25 million for the rights to broadcast 50 20th-Century Fox films on Saturday nights. In April 1962, ABC followed suit when it added its own Sunday night movie to its schedule.
All times are Eastern and Pacific. 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.

## 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 | Fall | Maverick (started at 6:30) | Follow the Sun | Follow the Sun | Lawman | Bus Stop | Bus Stop | Adventures in Paradise | Adventures in Paradise |
| ABC | Spring | Maverick (started at 6:30) | Follow the Sun | Follow the Sun | Lawman | Hollywood Special | Hollywood Special | Hollywood Special | Hollywood Special |
| CBS | CBS | Lassie (15/24.0) (Tied with Sing Along with Mitch) | Dennis the Menace (17/23.8) | The Ed Sullivan Show (19/23.5) | The Ed Sullivan Show (19/23.5) | General Electric Theater | The Jack Benny Program | Candid Camera (10/25.5) | What's My Line? |
| NBC | NBC | The Bullwinkle Show (In COLOR) | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color* (23/22.7) (In COLOR) | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color* (23/22.7) (In COLOR) | Car 54, Where Are You? (20/23.2) | Bonanza (2/30.0) (In COLOR) | Bonanza (2/30.0) (In COLOR) | The Du Pont Show of the Week | The Du Pont Show of the Week |
* formerly Walt Disney Presents
Note: Mister Ed, previously syndicated, aired on CBS, 6:30-7 p.m.

## Monday

| 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 | Expedition! | Cheyenne / Bronco | Cheyenne / Bronco | The Rifleman (27/22.3) (Tied with The Price Is Right) | Surfside 6 | Surfside 6 | Ben Casey (18/23.7) | Ben Casey (18/23.7) |
| CBS | Fall | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | To Tell the Truth | Pete and Gladys | Window on Main Street | The Danny Thomas Show (8/26.1) | The Andy Griffith Show (7/27.0) | Hennesey | I've Got a Secret |
| CBS | Winter | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | To Tell the Truth | Pete and Gladys | Father Knows Best (repeats) | The Danny Thomas Show (8/26.1) | The Andy Griffith Show (7/27.0) | Hennesey | I've Got a Secret |
| CBS | Spring | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | To Tell the Truth | Pete and Gladys | Father Knows Best (repeats) | The Danny Thomas Show (8/26.1) | The Andy Griffith Show (7/27.0) | Hennesey | I've Got a Secret |
| CBS | Summer | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | To Tell the Truth | Pete and Gladys | Father Knows Best (repeats) | The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (repeats) | The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (repeats) | | Hennesey | I've Got a Secret |
| NBC | NBC | 7:00 Local / 7:15 The Huntley-Brinkley Report* | Local | National Velvet | The Price Is Right (27/22.3) (Tied with The Rifleman) (In COLOR) | 87th Precinct | 87th Precinct | Thriller | Thriller |
* In some areas, Douglas Edwards with the News alongside Walter Cronkite with the News and The Huntley-Brinkley Report aired at 6:45 p.m.(ET).

## Tuesday

| 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 | Fall | Local | The Bugs Bunny Show | Bachelor Father | Calvin and the Colonel | The New Breed | The New Breed | Alcoa Premiere | Alcoa Premiere |
| ABC | November | Local | The Bugs Bunny Show | Bachelor Father | The New Breed | The New Breed | Yours for a Song | Alcoa Premiere | Alcoa Premiere |
| CBS | Fall | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | Marshal Dillon (Gunsmoke repeats) | The Dick Van Dyke Show | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (21/22.9) (Tied with The Flintstones) | The Red Skelton Show (6/27.1) | Ichabod and Me | The Garry Moore Show (12/24.6) | The Garry Moore Show (12/24.6) |
| CBS | Winter | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | Marshal Dillon (Gunsmoke repeats) | Password | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (21/22.9) (Tied with The Flintstones) | The Red Skelton Show (6/27.1) | Ichabod and Me | The Garry Moore Show (12/24.6) | The Garry Moore Show (12/24.6) |
| CBS | Spring | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | Marshal Dillon (Gunsmoke repeats) | Password | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (21/22.9) (Tied with The Flintstones) | The Red Skelton Show (6/27.1) | Ichabod and Me | The Garry Moore Show (12/24.6) | The Garry Moore Show (12/24.6) |
| CBS | Summer | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | Marshal Dillon (Gunsmoke repeats) | Password | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (21/22.9) (Tied with The Flintstones) | The Comedy Spot | Ichabod and Me | Talent Scouts | Talent Scouts |
| NBC | NBC | 7:00 Local / 7:15 The Huntley-Brinkley Report | Laramie (In Living COLOR) | Laramie (In Living COLOR) | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | The Dick Powell Show | The Dick Powell Show | Cain's Hundred | Cain's Hundred |
NOTE: On CBS, the summer anthology series The Comedy Spot consisted of broadcasts of unsold television pilots, one of which previously had aired in 1960 as an episode of New Comedy Showcase.

## Wednesday

| 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 | Fall | Local | The Steve Allen Show | The Steve Allen Show | Top Cat | Hawaiian Eye | Hawaiian Eye | Naked City | Naked City |
| ABC | Winter | Local | Howard K. Smith: News and Comment | Straightaway | Top Cat | Hawaiian Eye | Hawaiian Eye | Naked City | Naked City |
| CBS | Fall | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | The Alvin Show | Father Knows Best (repeats) | Checkmate | Checkmate | Mrs. G. Goes to College | Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel Hour | Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel Hour |
| CBS | Winter | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | The Alvin Show | Window on Main Street | Checkmate | Checkmate | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel Hour | Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel Hour |
| CBS | Spring | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | The Alvin Show | Window on Main Street | Checkmate | Checkmate | The Dick Van Dyke Show | Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel Hour | Armstrong Circle Theatre / The United States Steel Hour |
| NBC | NBC | 7:00 Local / 7:15 The Huntley-Brinkley Report | Wagon Train (1/32.1) | Wagon Train (1/32.1) | The Joey Bishop Show (24/22.6) | Kraft Music Hall starring Perry Como (25/22.5) (In COLOR) | Kraft Music Hall starring Perry Como (25/22.5) (In COLOR) | The Bob Newhart Show | David Brinkley's Journal |
Note: Mrs. G. Goes to College moved to Thursday nights in January as The Gertrude Berg Show, allowing The Dick Van Dyke Show to take its time spot. Several episodes of The Joey Bishop Show and Wagon Train were shown in color.

## Thursday

| 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 | Fall | Local | The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | The Donna Reed Show (30/21.9) (Tied with 77 Sunset Strip) | The Real McCoys (14/24.2) | My Three Sons (11/24.7) | Margie | The Untouchables | The Untouchables |
| ABC | Spring | Local | The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet | The Donna Reed Show (30/21.9) (Tied with 77 Sunset Strip) | The Real McCoys (14/24.2) | My Three Sons (11/24.7) | The Law and Mr. Jones | The Untouchables | The Untouchables |
| CBS | Fall | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | Frontier Circus | Frontier Circus | The Bob Cummings Show | The Investigators | The Investigators | CBS Reports | CBS Reports |
| CBS | Winter | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | The New Bob Cummings Show | Frontier Circus | Frontier Circus | Tell It to Groucho | The Gertrude Berg Show | CBS Reports | CBS Reports |
| CBS | Spring | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | Oh! Those Bells | Frontier Circus | Frontier Circus | Tell It to Groucho | The Gertrude Berg Show | CBS Reports | CBS Reports |
| CBS | Summer | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | Accent on an American Summer | Frontier Circus | Frontier Circus | Brenner | The Gertrude Berg Show | CBS Reports | CBS Reports |
| CBS | Follow-up | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | Frontier Circus | Frontier Circus | Various | Brenner | The Gertrude Berg Show | CBS Reports | CBS Reports |
| NBC | Fall | 7:00 Local / 7:15 The Huntley-Brinkley Report | Outlaws (In COLOR) | Outlaws (In COLOR) | Dr. Kildare (9/25.6) | Dr. Kildare (9/25.6) | Hazel (4/27.7) | Sing Along with Mitch (15/24.0) (Tied with Lassie) (In COLOR) | Sing Along with Mitch (15/24.0) (Tied with Lassie) (In COLOR) |
| NBC | Summer | 7:00 Local / 7:15 The Huntley-Brinkley Report | Outlaws (In COLOR) | Outlaws (In COLOR) | Dr. Kildare (9/25.6) | Dr. Kildare (9/25.6) | The Lively Ones | Sing Along with Mitch (15/24.0) (Tied with Lassie) (In COLOR) | Sing Along with Mitch (15/24.0) (Tied with Lassie) (In COLOR) |
Notes: The Bob Cummings Show was retitled The New Bob Cummings Show on December 28. The Law and Mr. Jones moved to the 9:30-10:00 p.m. time slot on ABC on April 19. Hazel on November 2, 1961 was shown in color. The episodes of Brenner that ran on CBS in the summer of 1962 were reruns of episodes from the summer of 1959.

## Friday

| 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 | Fall | Local | Straightaway | The Hathaways | The Flintstones (21/22.9) (Tied with The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) | 77 Sunset Strip (30/21.9) (Tied with The Donna Reed Show) | 77 Sunset Strip (30/21.9) (Tied with The Donna Reed Show) | Target: The Corruptors! | Target: The Corruptors! |
| ABC | Spring | Local | Margie | The Hathaways | The Flintstones (21/22.9) (Tied with The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) | 77 Sunset Strip (30/21.9) (Tied with The Donna Reed Show) | 77 Sunset Strip (30/21.9) (Tied with The Donna Reed Show) | Target: The Corruptors! | Target: The Corruptors! |
| CBS | Fall | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Douglas Edwards with the News | Rawhide (13/24.5) | Rawhide (13/24.5) | Route 66 | Route 66 | Father of the Bride | The Twilight Zone | Eyewitness* |
| CBS | Spring | 7:00 Local / 7:15 Walter Cronkite with the News | Rawhide (13/24.5) | Rawhide (13/24.5) | Route 66 | Route 66 | Father of the Bride | The Twilight Zone | Eyewitness* |
| NBC | Fall | 7:00 Local / 7:15 The Huntley-Brinkley Report | International Showtime | International Showtime | The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor | The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor | The Bell Telephone Hour / The Dinah Shore Show** (In COLOR) | The Bell Telephone Hour / The Dinah Shore Show** (In COLOR) | Here and Now |
| NBC | Winter | 7:00 Local / 7:15 The Huntley-Brinkley Report | International Showtime | International Showtime | The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor | The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor | The Bell Telephone Hour / The Dinah Shore Show** (In COLOR) | The Bell Telephone Hour / The Dinah Shore Show** (In COLOR) | Chet Huntley Reporting |
* formerly Eyewitness To History ** formerly The Chevy Show

## Saturday

| 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 | Fall | Matty's Funday Funnies | The Roaring 20s | The Roaring 20s | Leave It to Beaver | The Lawrence Welk Show | The Lawrence Welk Show | 10:00 The Fight of the Week / 10:45 Make That Spare | 10:00 The Fight of the Week / 10:45 Make That Spare |
| ABC | Winter | Matty's Funnies With Beany and Cecil | Calvin and the Colonel | Room for One More | Leave It to Beaver | The Lawrence Welk Show | The Lawrence Welk Show | 10:00 The Fight of the Week / 10:45 Make That Spare | 10:00 The Fight of the Week / 10:45 Make That Spare |
| CBS | CBS | Local | Perry Mason (5/27.3) | Perry Mason (5/27.3) | The Defenders (26/22.4) | The Defenders (26/22.4) | Have Gun – Will Travel (29/22.2) | Gunsmoke (3/28.3) | Gunsmoke (3/28.3) |
| NBC | NBC | Local | Tales of Wells Fargo (In COLOR) | Tales of Wells Fargo (In COLOR) | The Tall Man | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies (In COLOR) | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies (In COLOR) | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies (In COLOR) | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies (In COLOR) |
Room for One More aired on ABC from January 27 to July 28, 1962, 8-8:30 p.m.
Beginning January 6, Matty's Funday Funnies became Matty's Funnies With Beany & Cecil.

## By network
### NBC

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