# 1990–91 United States network television schedule

The 1990–91 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1990 through August 1991. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1989–90 season.
Beginning this season, Fox started their prime time expansion starting with Thursdays and Fridays.
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.

## 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 | ABC | Life Goes On | Life Goes On | America's Funniest Home Videos (7/16.7) | America's Funniest People (13/16.3) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie | The ABC Sunday Night Movie |
| CBS | Fall | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | Murder, She Wrote (12/16.4) | Murder, She Wrote (12/16.4) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) |
| CBS | Winter | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | Murder, She Wrote (12/16.4) | Murder, She Wrote (12/16.4) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) |
| CBS | Spring | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | Murder, She Wrote (12/16.4) | Murder, She Wrote (12/16.4) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) | CBS Sunday Movie (19/15.0) |
| CBS | Summer | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | 60 Minutes (7/19.7) | All in the Family (R) | Sunday Dinner | Murder, She Wrote (8/17.2) | Murder, She Wrote (8/17.2) | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill |
| Fox | Fall | True Colors | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | In Living Color | Get a Life | Married... with Children | Good Grief | Against the Law | Against the Law |
| Fox | Mid-fall | True Colors | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | In Living Color | Get a Life | Married... with Children | Good Grief | Comic Strip: Live | Comic Strip: Live |
| Fox | Winter | True Colors | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | In Living Color | Get a Life | Married... with Children | Good Grief | Comic Strip: Live | Comic Strip: Live |
| Fox | Spring | True Colors | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | In Living Color | Get a Life | Married... with Children | Top of the Heap | The Sunday Comics | The Sunday Comics |
| Fox | Summer | True Colors | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | In Living Color | Get a Life | Married... with Children | Top of the Heap | The Sunday Comics | The Sunday Comics |
| NBC | Fall | Hull High | Hull High | Lifestories | Lifestories | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Winter | Sunday Best | Sunday Best | Real Life with Jane Pauley | Expose | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Spring | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | Expose | Real Life with Jane Pauley | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |
| NBC | Summer | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | Expose | Real Life with Jane Pauley | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC Sunday Night Movie |

## 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 (10/16.8) | Monday Night Football (10/16.8) | Monday Night Football (10/16.8) | Monday Night Football (10/16.8) |
| 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 | 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 | Uncle Buck | Major Dad (21/14.9) | Murphy Brown (6/16.9) | Designing Women (7/17.5) | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill |
| CBS | Mid-fall | Evening Shade | Major Dad (21/14.9) | Murphy Brown (6/16.9) | Designing Women (7/17.5) | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill |
| CBS | Winter | Evening Shade | Major Dad (21/14.9) | Murphy Brown (6/16.9) | Designing Women (7/17.5) | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill |
| CBS | Spring | Evening Shade | Major Dad (21/14.9) | Murphy Brown (6/16.9) | Designing Women (7/17.5) | Northern Exposure | Northern Exposure | Northern Exposure |
| CBS | Summer | Major Dad (21/14.9) | The Family Man | Murphy Brown (6/16.9) | Designing Women (7/17.5) | Northern Exposure | Northern Exposure | Northern Exposure |
| Fox | Fox | Fox Night at the Movies | Fox Night at the Movies | Fox Night at the Movies | Fox Night at the Movies | Local programming | Local programming |
| NBC | Fall | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Ferris Bueller | 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 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Blossom | 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 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Blossom | 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 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Blossom | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies |
Note: On CBS, Face to Face with Connie Chung was to have aired 10-11 p.m., but it was replaced by The Trials of Rosie O'Neill at the last minute due to Connie Chung's personal health commitments.

## 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? (19/15.0) | Head of the Class (26/14.5) | Roseanne (3/18.1) | Coach (18/15.3) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Winter | Who's the Boss? (19/15.0) | Davis Rules (27/14.3) | Roseanne (3/18.1) | Coach (18/15.3) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Spring | Who's the Boss? (19/15.0) | Davis Rules (27/14.3) | Roseanne (3/18.1) | Coach (18/15.3) | Eddie Dodd | Eddie Dodd |
| ABC | Follow-up | Baby Talk (27/14.3) | Who's the Boss? (19/15.0) | Roseanne (3/18.1) | Stat | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Summer | Who's the Boss? (19/15.0) | Head of the Class (26/14.5) | Roseanne (3/18.1) | Coach (18/15.3) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| ABC | Mid-summer | Full House (14/15.9) | Who's the Boss? (19/15.0) | Roseanne (3/18.1) | Coach (18/15.3) | Thirtysomething | Thirtysomething |
| CBS | CBS | Rescue 911 | Rescue 911 | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie | CBS Tuesday Night Movie |
| NBC | Fall | Matlock (17/15.5) | Matlock (17/15.5) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | Law & Order | Law & Order |
| NBC | Winter | Matlock (17/15.5) | Matlock (17/15.5) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | Law & Order | Law & Order |
| NBC | Spring | Matlock (17/15.5) | Matlock (17/15.5) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | Shannon's Deal | Shannon's Deal |
| NBC | Summer | Matlock (17/15.5) | Matlock (17/15.5) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | In the Heat of the Night (21/14.9) | Law & Order | Law & Order |

## 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 | The Wonder Years (30/14.2) | Growing Pains (27/14.3) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | Married People | Cop Rock | Cop Rock |
| ABC | Winter | The Wonder Years (30/14.2) | Growing Pains (27/14.3) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | Married People | Equal Justice | Equal Justice |
| ABC | Mid-winter | The Wonder Years (30/14.2) | Growing Pains (27/14.3) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | Anything but Love | Equal Justice | Equal Justice |
| ABC | Spring | The Wonder Years (30/14.2) | Growing Pains (27/14.3) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | My Life and Times | Gabriel's Fire | Gabriel's Fire |
| ABC | Mid-spring | The Wonder Years (30/14.2) | Growing Pains (27/14.3) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | Anything but Love | American Detective | American Detective |
| ABC | Summer | The Wonder Years (30/14.2) | Growing Pains (27/14.3) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | The Man in the Family | American Detective | American Detective |
| ABC | Mid-summer | The Wonder Years (30/14.2) | Growing Pains (27/14.3) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | Davis Rules (27/14.3) | American Detective | American Detective |
| ABC | Late summer | Dinosaurs | The Wonder Years (R) | Doogie Howser, M.D. (24/14.7) | Davis Rules (27/14.3) | Anything but Love | Married People |
| CBS | Fall | Lenny | Doctor Doctor | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | WIOU | WIOU |
| CBS | Late fall | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | WIOU | WIOU |
| CBS | Winter | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Northern Exposure | Northern Exposure |
| CBS | Spring | 48 Hours | 48 Hours | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Northern Exposure | Northern Exposure |
| CBS | Summer | The Hogan Family | The Family Man | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | 48 Hours | 48 Hours |
| CBS | Mid-summer | Police Squad! (R) | Morton & Hayes | Jake and the Fatman | Jake and the Fatman | Top Cops | Top Cops |
| NBC | Fall | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | The Fanelli Boys | Dear John | Hunter | Hunter |
| NBC | Mid-fall | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Dear John | The Fanelli Boys | Hunter | Hunter |
| NBC | Late fall | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Dear John | Working It Out | Hunter | Hunter |
| NBC | Winter | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Night Court | Seinfeld | Hunter | Hunter |
| NBC | Spring | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Night Court | Dear John | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
| NBC | Summer | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Unsolved Mysteries (16/15.7) | Night Court | Dear John | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap |
Note: Top Cops aired at 10:00 PM on CBS from July to October 1990. Police Squad! on CBS consisted of reruns of the 1982 ABC series.

## 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 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Father Dowling Mysteries | Gabriel's Fire | Gabriel's Fire | Primetime Live | Primetime Live |
| ABC | Winter | Father Dowling Mysteries | Father Dowling Mysteries | Gabriel's Fire | Gabriel's Fire | 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 | Top Cops | The Flash | The Flash | Doctor Doctor | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) |
| CBS | Winter | Top Cops | The Flash | The Flash | Good Sports | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) |
| CBS | Mid-winter | Top Cops | Top Cops | The Flash | The Flash | | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) |
| CBS | Spring | Top Cops | Top Cops | The Antagonists | The Antagonists | | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) | Knots Landing (30/13.7) (Tied with Rescue 911) |
| CBS | Summer | Top Cops | Top Cops | Over My Dead Body | Over My Dead Body | Broken Badges | Broken Badges |
| CBS | Late summer | Top Cops | Top Cops | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | Golden Years | Golden Years |
| Fox | Fall | The Simpsons | Babes | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Winter | The Simpsons | Babes | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Spring | The Simpsons | Babes | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Summer | The Simpsons | True Colors | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Local programming | Local programming |
| NBC | Fall | The Cosby Show (5/17.1) | A Different World (4/17.5) | Cheers (1/21.3) | Grand (25/14.6) | L.A. Law (23/14.8) | L.A. Law (23/14.8) |
| NBC | Winter | The Cosby Show (5/17.1) | A Different World (4/17.5) | Cheers (1/21.3) | Wings | L.A. Law (23/14.8) | L.A. Law (23/14.8) |
| NBC | Spring | The Cosby Show (5/17.1) | A Different World (4/17.5) | Cheers (1/21.3) | Seinfeld | L.A. Law (23/14.8) | L.A. Law (23/14.8) |
| NBC | Summer | The Cosby Show (5/17.1) | A Different World (4/17.5) | Cheers (1/21.3) | Seinfeld | L.A. Law (23/14.8) | L.A. Law (23/14.8) |
On CBS, Sons and Daughters was supposed to premiere on October 25, 1990, while The Flash is supposed to start at 8:00-9:00 p.m., but the show was shelved.

## 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 (14/15.9) | Family Matters (15/15.8) | Perfect Strangers | Going Places | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Winter | Full House (14/15.9) | Family Matters (15/15.8) | Perfect Strangers | Going Places | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Spring | Full House (14/15.9) | Family Matters (15/15.8) | Perfect Strangers | Baby Talk | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Mid-spring | Full House (14/15.9) | Dinosaurs | Family Matters (15/15.8) | Perfect Strangers | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Summer | Full House (14/15.9) | Family Matters (15/15.8) | Perfect Strangers | Going Places | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Mid-summer | Full House (14/15.9) | Family Matters (15/15.8) | Perfect Strangers | Hi Honey, I'm Home! | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Late summer | Family Matters (15/15.8) | Growing Pains | Perfect Strangers | Hi Honey, I'm Home! | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| CBS | Fall | Evening Shade | Bagdad Café | Over My Dead Body | Over My Dead Body | Dallas | Dallas |
| CBS | Mid-fall | Uncle Buck | Bagdad Café | Over My Dead Body | Over My Dead Body | Dallas | Dallas |
| CBS | Winter | Guns of Paradise | Guns of Paradise | Dallas | Dallas | Sons and Daughters | Sons and Daughters |
| CBS | Spring | Guns of Paradise | Guns of Paradise | Dallas | Dallas | True Detectives | True Detectives |
| CBS | Summer | Guns of Paradise | Guns of Paradise | Dallas | Dallas | True Detectives | True Detectives |
| Fox | Fall | America's Most Wanted | America's Most Wanted | DEA | DEA | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Mid-fall | America's Most Wanted | America's Most Wanted | Against the Law | Against the Law | | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Winter | America's Most Wanted | America's Most Wanted | Against the Law | Against the Law | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Spring | America's Most Wanted | America's Most Wanted | DEA | DEA | | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Summer | America's Most Wanted | America's Most Wanted | DEA | DEA | Local programming | Local programming |
| NBC | Fall | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap | Night Court | Wings | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Winter | Quantum Leap | Quantum Leap | Dark Shadows | Dark Shadows | | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Spring | Hull High | Hull High | Hunter | Hunter | Dark Shadows | Dark Shadows |
| NBC | Mid-spring | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | Hunter | Hunter | Midnight Caller | Midnight Caller |
| NBC | Summer | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage | Hunter | Hunter | 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 | The Young Riders | The Young Riders | China Beach | China Beach | Twin Peaks | Twin Peaks |
| ABC | Winter | The Young Riders | The Young Riders | Under Cover | Under Cover | | Twin Peaks | Twin Peaks |
| ABC | Spring | The Young Riders | The Young Riders | The ABC Saturday Night Movie | The ABC Saturday Night Movie | The ABC Saturday Night Movie | The ABC Saturday Night Movie |
| CBS | Fall | The Family Man | The Hogan Family | E.A.R.T.H. Force | E.A.R.T.H. Force | 48 Hours | 48 Hours |
| CBS | Late fall | Northern Exposure (R) | Northern Exposure (R) | Broken Badges | Broken Badges | Wiseguy | Wiseguy |
| CBS | Early winter | You Take the Kids | Lenny | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie |
| CBS | Winter | Uncle Buck | Lenny | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie |
| CBS | Spring | The Flash | The Flash | | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie |
| Fox | Fall | Totally Hidden Video | Haywire | COPS | American Chronicles | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Winter | Totally Hidden Video | Haywire | COPS | COPS (R) | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Mid-winter | Totally Hidden Video | Totally Hidden Video | COPS | COPS (R) | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Spring | Totally Hidden Video | Yearbook | COPS | COPS (R) | Local programming | Local programming |
| Fox | Summer | COPS | COPS (R) | Totally Hidden Video | Babes (R) | Local programming | Local programming |
| NBC | Fall | Parenthood | Working It Out | The Golden Girls (9/17.1) | Empty Nest (7/16.7) | Carol & Company | American Dreamer |
| NBC | Winter | Amen | The Fanelli Boys | The Golden Girls (9/17.1) | Empty Nest (7/16.7) | Carol & Company | American Dreamer |
| NBC | Mid-winter | Amen | The Fanelli Boys | The Golden Girls (9/17.1) | Empty Nest (7/16.7) | Carol & Company | Dear John |
| NBC | Spring | Amen | Down Home | The Golden Girls (9/17.1) | Empty Nest (7/16.7) | Carol & Company | Dear John |
| NBC | Summer | Amen | American Dreamer | The Golden Girls (9/17.1) | Empty Nest (7/16.7) | Sisters | Sisters |

## By network
### NBC

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