# 1988–89 United States network television schedule

The 1988–89 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1988 through August 1989. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1987–88 season.
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 Time 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.

## Writers' strike impact

The 1988 Writers Guild of America strike lasted between March 7 and August 7. During the strike, production on scripted television series across all of the major television networks was suspended. The writers' strike forced the networks to postpone the start of the fall 1988 schedule later than usual; rather than the traditional late-September/early-October start, new and returning series had their premieres delayed until late October and into November. In the interim, the networks had to rely on a hodgepodge of programming, including reruns, films, entertainment and news specials, program-length political advertising, and unscripted original series (e.g. CBS' High Risk); NBC and ABC also benefited from sports programming (NBC relied on the Summer Olympics in September and the World Series in October, while ABC had postseason baseball coverage and moved up the start time for the early weeks of Monday Night Football from 9 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET to replace MacGyver, which was not yet ready with new episodes at the time). Even though previous strikes of Hollywood employees occurred in 1980 and 1981, those strikes only had a minor effect on the production of television programs that aired in the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons. The 1988–89 television season was thus the first of four television seasons to have its start delayed due to issues outside of the control of the major networks; further instances occurred in the 2001–02 season (due to the networks' news coverage of the September 11 attacks), the 2020–21 season (due to the suspension of television productions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic), and the 2023–24 season (due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes).

## Legend

* Light blue indicates local programming.
* Gray indicates encore programming.
* Blue-gray indicates news programming.
* Light green indicates sporting events.
* Red indicates series being burned off and other irregularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies.
* highlight Yellow highlights indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.
* highlight Cyan highlights indicates numbers 11-20 most watched programs of the season.
* highlight Magenta highlights indicates numbers 21-30 most watched programs of the season.
* highlight Highlights indicates that it falls in multiple of the above categories.

## 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 | Incredible Sunday | Incredible Sunday | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Winter | Great Circuses of the World | Great Circuses of the World | Special programming | Special programming | | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Spring | Incredible Sunday | Incredible Sunday | Moonlighting | Moonlighting | | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| ABC | Summer | Incredible Sunday | Incredible Sunday | Have Faith (R) | 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 | Late summer | Incredible Sunday | Incredible Sunday | MacGyver (R) | MacGyver (R) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| CBS | CBS | 60 Minutes (5/21.7) | 60 Minutes (5/21.7) | Murder, She Wrote (8/19.9) | Murder, She Wrote (8/19.9) | CBS Sunday Movie (27/16.1) (Tied with Knots Landing) | CBS Sunday Movie (27/16.1) (Tied with Knots Landing) | CBS Sunday Movie (27/16.1) (Tied with Knots Landing) | CBS Sunday Movie (27/16.1) (Tied with Knots Landing) |
| Fox | Fall | 21 Jump Street | 21 Jump Street | America's Most Wanted | Married... with Children | It's Garry Shandling's Show | The Tracey Ullman Show | Duet | Local programming |
| Fox | Winter | 21 Jump Street | 21 Jump Street | America's Most Wanted | Married... with Children | It's Garry Shandling's Show | The Tracey Ullman Show | Duet | Local programming |
| Fox | Spring | 21 Jump Street | 21 Jump Street | America's Most Wanted | Married... with Children | It's Garry Shandling's Show | The Tracey Ullman Show | Duet | Local programming |
| Fox | Summer | 21 Jump Street | 21 Jump Street | America's Most Wanted | Totally Hidden Video | Married... with Children (R) | It's Garry Shandling's Show | The Tracey Ullman Show (R) | Duet (R) |
| NBC | NBC | The Magical World of Disney | The Magical World of Disney | Family Ties | Day by Day | NBC Sunday Night Movie (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and The Wonder Years) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and The Wonder Years) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and The Wonder Years) | NBC Sunday Night Movie (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and The Wonder Years) |
Notes:
* Quantum Leap had a two-hour premiere Sunday, March 26, 1989, on NBC.
* The Jim Henson Hour briefly replaced The Magical World of Disney on May 14, 1989, and again between July 9-July 30.
* On ABC, A Fine Romance was supposed to air 8-9 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike forced the move to Thursdays.

## 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 | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) |
| ABC | November | MacGyver | MacGyver | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) | Monday Night Football (15/17.5) (Tied with ALF) |
| 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 | Mid-winter | MacGyver | MacGyver | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) |
| ABC | Spring | MacGyver | MacGyver | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) |
| ABC | Summer | MacGyver | MacGyver | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) | The ABC Monday Mystery Movie* (29/15.4) (Tied with Dallas) |
| CBS | Fall | Newhart | The Cavanaughs | CBS Monday Night Movie | CBS Monday Night Movie | CBS Monday Night Movie | CBS Monday Night Movie |
| CBS | Mid-fall | Newhart | Coming of Age | CBS Monday Night Movie | CBS Monday Night Movie | CBS Monday Night Movie | CBS Monday Night Movie |
| CBS | Winter | Newhart | Kate & Allie | Murphy Brown | Designing Women | Almost Grown | Almost Grown |
| CBS | Spring | Live-In | Heartland | Murphy Brown | Designing Women | Newhart | Kate & Allie |
| CBS | Summer | Kate & Allie (R) | Heartland | Murphy Brown | Designing Women | Newhart | Doctor Doctor |
| CBS | Mid-summer | Kate & Allie (R) | Kate & Allie (R) | Murphy Brown | Designing Women (R) | Designing Women (R) | Newhart (R) |
| NBC | Fall | ALF (15/17.5) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | The Hogan Family (22/16.3) (Tied with the NBC Sunday Night Movie and The Wonder Years) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) |
| NBC | Winter | ALF (15/17.5) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | The Hogan Family (22/16.3) (Tied with the NBC Sunday Night Movie and The Wonder Years) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) |
| NBC | Spring | ALF (15/17.5) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | Nearly Departed | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) |
| NBC | Mid-spring | ALF (15/17.5) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | The Hogan Family (22/16.3) (Tied with the NBC Sunday Night Movie and The Wonder Years) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) |
| NBC | Summer | ALF (15/17.5) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | The Hogan Family (22/16.3) (Tied with the NBC Sunday Night Movie and The Wonder Years) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/16.2) (Tied with Amen) |
(*) B.L. Stryker, Columbo, Gideon Oliver

## 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? (7/20.8) | Roseanne (2/23.8) | Moonlighting | Moonlighting | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Winter | Who's the Boss? (7/20.8) | The Wonder Years (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and the NBC Sunday Night Movie) | Roseanne (2/23.8) | Anything but Love (10/19.0) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Spring | Who's the Boss? (7/20.8) | The Wonder Years (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and the NBC Sunday Night Movie) | Roseanne (2/23.8) | Have Faith | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Summer | Who's the Boss? (7/20.8) | The Wonder Years (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and the NBC Sunday Night Movie) | Roseanne (2/23.8) | Coach | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| CBS | Fall | High Risk | High Risk | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie |
| CBS | Late fall | TV 101 | TV 101 | | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie |
| CBS | Winter | Tour of Duty | Tour of Duty | | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie |
| CBS | Spring | Tour of Duty | Tour of Duty | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie |
| CBS | Summer | CBS Summer Playhouse | CBS Summer Playhouse | | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie | CBS Tuesday Movie |
| NBC | Fall | Matlock (13/17.7) | Matlock (13/17.7) | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies |
| NBC | Mid-fall | Matlock (13/17.7) | Matlock (13/17.7) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Winter | Matlock (13/17.7) | Matlock (13/17.7) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Spring | Matlock (13/17.7) | Matlock (13/17.7) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Summer | Matlock (13/17.7) | Matlock (13/17.7) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | In the Heat of the Night (18/17.3) | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |

## 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 (13/17.6) (Tied with L.A. Law) | Head of the Class (20/17.1) | The Wonder Years (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and the NBC Sunday Night Movie) | Hooperman | China Beach | China Beach |
| ABC | Winter | Growing Pains (13/17.6) (Tied with L.A. Law) | Head of the Class (20/17.1) | The Wonder Years (22/16.3) (Tied with The Hogan Family and the NBC Sunday Night Movie) | Hooperman | China Beach | China Beach |
| ABC | Spring | Growing Pains (13/17.6) (Tied with L.A. Law) | Head of the Class (20/17.1) | Coach | Hooperman | China Beach | China Beach |
| ABC | Mid-spring | Growing Pains (13/17.6) (Tied with L.A. Law) | Head of the Class (20/17.1) | Coach | The Robert Guillaume Show | China Beach | China Beach |
| ABC | Summer | Growing Pains (13/17.6) (Tied with L.A. Law) | Head of the Class (20/17.1) | Coach | Hooperman | China Beach | China Beach |
| CBS | Early fall | Live! Dick Clark Presents | Live! Dick Clark Presents | The Equalizer | The Equalizer | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Fall | The Van Dyke Show | Annie McGuire | The Equalizer | The Equalizer | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Winter | TV 101 | TV 101 | | The Equalizer | The Equalizer | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Mid-winter | Hard Time on Planet Earth | Hard Time on Planet Earth | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Spring | Hard Time on Planet Earth | Hard Time on Planet Earth | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Summer | Hard Time on Planet Earth | Hard Time on Planet Earth | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| NBC | Fall | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Night Court (21/16.9) | Baby Boom | Tattingers | Tattingers |
| NBC | Mid-fall | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Night Court (21/16.9) | My Two Dads | Tattingers | Tattingers |
| NBC | Winter | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Night Court (21/16.9) | My Two Dads | Nightingales | Nightingales |
| NBC | Spring | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Night Court (21/16.9) | My Two Dads | Nightingales | Nightingales |
| NBC | Mid-spring | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Night Court (21/16.9) | My Two Dads | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
| NBC | Summer | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Unsolved Mysteries (17/17.4) | Night Court (21/16.9) | Knight & Daye | Miami Vice | Miami Vice |

## 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 | Special programming | Special programming | Special programming | Special programming | Special programming | Special programming |
| ABC | Mid-fall | Knightwatch | Knightwatch | Dynasty | Dynasty | Special programming | Special programming |
| ABC | Winter | A Fine Romance | A Fine Romance | Dynasty | Dynasty | HeartBeat | HeartBeat |
| ABC | Spring | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball |
| ABC | Summer | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball | Thursday Night Baseball |
| CBS | Fall | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie |
| CBS | Mid-fall | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Paradise | Paradise | Knots Landing (27/16.1) (Tied with The CBS Sunday Movie) | Knots Landing (27/16.1) (Tied with The CBS Sunday Movie) |
| CBS | Winter | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | The Equalizer | The Equalizer | | Knots Landing (27/16.1) (Tied with The CBS Sunday Movie) | Knots Landing (27/16.1) (Tied with The CBS Sunday Movie) |
| CBS | Spring | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | The Equalizer | The Equalizer | Knots Landing (27/16.1) (Tied with The CBS Sunday Movie) | Knots Landing (27/16.1) (Tied with The CBS Sunday Movie) |
| CBS | Summer | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | The Cavanaughs | Coming of Age | The Equalizer (R) | The Equalizer (R) |
| CBS | Mid-summer | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | The Equalizer | The Equalizer | Knots Landing (R) | Knots Landing (R) |
| NBC | NBC | The Cosby Show (1/25.6) | A Different World (3/23.0) | Cheers (4/22.3) | Dear John (11/18.5) | L.A. Law (13/17.6) (Tied with Growing Pains) | L.A. Law (13/17.6) (Tied with Growing Pains) |

## 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 | Perfect Strangers | Full House | Mr. Belvedere | Just the Ten of Us | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Winter | Perfect Strangers | Full House | Mr. Belvedere | Just the Ten of Us | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Spring | Perfect Strangers | Full House | Mr. Belvedere | Just the Ten of Us | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Summer | Full House (R) | Mr. Belvedere (R) | Perfect Strangers (R) | Just the Ten of Us | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| CBS | Fall | Beauty and the Beast | Beauty and the Beast | Dallas (29/15.4) (Tied with The ABC Mystery Movie) | Dallas (29/15.4) (Tied with The ABC Mystery Movie) | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest |
| CBS | Winter | Beauty and the Beast | Beauty and the Beast | Dallas (29/15.4) (Tied with The ABC Mystery Movie) | Dallas (29/15.4) (Tied with The ABC Mystery Movie) | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest |
| CBS | Spring | Beauty and the Beast | Beauty and the Beast | Dallas (29/15.4) (Tied with The ABC Mystery Movie) | Dallas (29/15.4) (Tied with The ABC Mystery Movie) | Falcon Crest | Falcon Crest |
| CBS | Summer | Beauty and the Beast | Beauty and the Beast | CBS Friday Movie | CBS Friday Movie | CBS Friday Movie | CBS Friday Movie |
| NBC | Fall | Sonny Spoon | Sonny Spoon | Something Is Out There | Something Is Out There | Miami Vice | Miami Vice |
| NBC | Winter | Father Dowling Mysteries | Father Dowling Mysteries | Miami Vice | Miami Vice | Unsub | Unsub |
| NBC | Spring | The Jim Henson Hour | The Jim Henson Hour | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap | | Unsub | Unsub |
| NBC | Mid-spring | The Jim Henson Hour | The Jim Henson Hour | Miami Vice | Miami Vice | Dream Street | Dream Street |
| NBC | Summer | Highway to Heaven | Highway to Heaven | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies |

## 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 | Murphy's Law | Murphy's Law | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie |
| ABC | Mid-fall | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | Murphy's Law | Murphy's Law |
| ABC | Winter | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible | A Man Called Hawk | A Man Called Hawk | | Murphy's Law | Murphy's Law |
| ABC | Spring | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible | A Man Called Hawk | A Man Called Hawk | Men | Men |
| ABC | Mid-spring | A Man Called Hawk | A Man Called Hawk | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie |
| ABC | Summer | A Man Called Hawk | A Man Called Hawk | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie | ABC Saturday Night Movie |
| CBS | Early fall | First Impressions | Frank's Place (R) | Specials | Specials | West 57th | West 57th |
| CBS | Fall | Dirty Dancing | Raising Miranda | Simon & Simon | Simon & Simon | | West 57th | West 57th |
| CBS | Mid-fall | Live! Dick Clark Presents | Live! Dick Clark Presents | | Simon & Simon | Simon & Simon | West 57th | West 57th |
| CBS | Winter | Dolphin Cove | Dolphin Cove | Dirty Dancing | Raising Miranda | West 57th | West 57th |
| CBS | Mid-winter | Dolphin Cove | Dolphin Cove | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | | West 57th | West 57th |
| CBS | Late winter | TV 101 | TV 101 | | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour | West 57th | West 57th |
| CBS | Spring | Paradise | Paradise | Jesse Hawkes | Jesse Hawkes | | West 57th | West 57th |
| CBS | Summer | Paradise | Paradise | Tour of Duty | Tour of Duty | | West 57th | West 57th |
| Fox | Fall | The Reporters | The Reporters | Beyond Tomorrow | Beyond Tomorrow | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Winter | The Reporters | The Reporters | COPS | Beyond Tomorrow | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Spring | COPS | The Reporters | The Reporters | | Beyond Tomorrow | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Summer | COPS | The Reporters | The Reporters | Beyond Tomorrow | Local programming | Local programming |
| NBC | Fall | 227 | Amen (25/16.2) (Tied with The NBC Monday Movie) | The Golden Girls (6/21.4) | Empty Nest (9/19.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) |
| NBC | Winter | 227 | Amen (25/16.2) (Tied with The NBC Monday Movie) | The Golden Girls (6/21.4) | Empty Nest (9/19.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) |
| NBC | Spring | One of the Boys | Amen (25/16.2) (Tied with The NBC Monday Movie) | The Golden Girls (6/21.4) | Empty Nest (9/19.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) |
| NBC | Mid-spring | 227 | One of the Boys | The Golden Girls (6/21.4) | Empty Nest (9/19.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) |
| NBC | Late spring | 227 | Amen (R) | The Golden Girls (6/21.4) | Empty Nest (9/19.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) |
| NBC | Summer | My Two Dads | 13 East | The Golden Girls (6/21.4) | Empty Nest (9/19.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) | Hunter (19/17.2) |
Note: On CBS, Frank's Place consisted of reruns of the 1987-88 sitcom. On ABC, ABC Saturday Mystery Movie was supposed to air 9-11 p.m., but production delays amidst the strike force the move to Mondays.

## By network
### NBC

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.
+ These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason.
@ Formerly known as Valerie's Family.