# 1951–52 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1951–52 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1951 through March 1952. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1950–51 season. This was the first television season of national network interconnection by coaxial cable and microwave, meaning programming could be transmitted live coast-to-coast (or in the case of filmed programs, distributed simultaneously across the country) if needed.
On Sunday nights, NBC experimented with airing its new comedy-variety program Chesterfield Sound-off Time (featuring Bob Hope, Fred Allen and Jerry Lester as rotating hosts) in an early evening timeslot, 7:00–7:30. Previously, network TV variety programs had only been aired during late evening hours; NBC had experimented with a late-night show, Broadway Open House, with Lester as host the previous season, but that show was not considered a success (it was replaced by the more generic Mary Kay's Nightcap this season). According to television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982), the experiment was designed to "duplicate the early-evening radio success of Jack Benny". (Benny himself would appear on rival network CBS's The Jack Benny Program immediately following Chesterfield Sound-off Time). Red Skelton also made his network television debut on NBC's Sunday night schedule this season, but long-term success eluded him until after he moved to CBS in the fall of 1953.
Although most TV programming was live, both CBS and NBC also experimented in filmed series; Castleman and Podrazik highlight early filmed hits I Love Lucy on CBS and Dragnet on NBC. Dragnet was "one of NBC's first major experiments in filmed TV series"; the series was added to NBC's regular network schedule in January 1952, after a "preview" on Chesterfield Sound-off Time in December 1951. I Love Lucy was given what historians have called a "choice time slot": Monday night immediately following the number one program on television: Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. The series "proved the strength and acceptability of TV sitcoms, giving [CBS] a strong weapon against NBC's flashy comedy-variety hours".
DuMont, too, avoided flashy comedy series when in February 1952, in desperation the network added Bishop Fulton Sheen's program, Life Is Worth Living, to its Tuesday night schedule. The religious series was pitted against NBC's hit program Texaco Star Theater, and became the surprise hit of the year, holding its own against Texaco host "Uncle Miltie", and attracting a sponsor, an Emmy, and 10 million viewers. The ABC and CBS programs which aired in the same time slot, Charlie Wild, Private Detective, and The Frank Sinatra Show (respectively), attracted relatively few viewers.
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 | ABC | Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue | Music in Velvet | Admission Free | Admission Free | Other Lands, Other People | The Marshall Plan in Action | Hour of Decision | Youth on the March |
| CBS | CBS | The Gene Autry Show | This Is Show Business | Toast of the Town | Toast of the Town | The Fred Waring Show | The Fred Waring Show | Celebrity Time | What's My Line? |
| NBC | Fall | Chesterfield Sound-off Time | Young Mr. Bobbin | The Colgate Comedy Hour (5/45.3) | The Colgate Comedy Hour (5/45.3) | The Philco Television Playhouse (12/40.4) /Goodyear Television Playhouse (16/37.8) | The Philco Television Playhouse (12/40.4) /Goodyear Television Playhouse (16/37.8) | The Red Skelton Show (4/50.2) | Leave It to the Girls |
| NBC | Summer | Chesterfield Sound-off Time | Young Mr. Bobbin | The Big Payoff | The Big Payoff | | The Philco Television Playhouse (12/40.4) /Goodyear Television Playhouse (16/37.8) | The Philco Television Playhouse (12/40.4) /Goodyear Television Playhouse (16/37.8) | The Red Skelton Show (4/50.2) | Leave It to the Girls |
| DMN | DMN | Local | Local | Local | Pentagon | Rocky King, Inside Detective | The Plainclothesman | They Stand Accused | They Stand Accused |
* On CBS, The Jack Benny Show (9/42.8) aired as occasional specials once every six to eight weeks at 7:30-8:00 pm.
* On NBC, Hopalong Cassidy (28/32.2) aired 6–7 p.m. until December, when it was partly replaced by The Roy Rogers Show (27/32.7), airing 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 | Fall | 7:00 After the Deadlines / 7:15 Local | Hollywood Screen Test | The Amazing Mr. Malone/Mr. District Attorney | Life Begins at Eighty | Curtain Up | Curtain Up | The Bill Gwinn Show | Studs' Place |
| ABC | Spring | 7:00 After the Deadlines / 7:15 Local | Hollywood Screen Test | Mr. District Attorney/Out of the Fog | Life Begins at Eighty | Curtain Up | Curtain Up | The Bill Gwinn Show | Studs' Place |
| CBS | Fall | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Perry Como Show | Lux Video Theatre | Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (1/53.8) | I Love Lucy (3/50.9) | It's News to Me | Studio One | Studio One |
| CBS | Spring | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Perry Como Show | Lux Video Theatre | Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (1/53.8) | I Love Lucy (3/50.9) | Claudia | Studio One | Studio One |
| NBC | Fall | Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | The Speidel Show/The Paul Winchell Show | The Voice of Firestone | Lights Out | Robert Montgomery Presents (26/34.4) / Somerset Maugham TV Theatre | Robert Montgomery Presents (26/34.4) / Somerset Maugham TV Theatre | Who Said That? |
| NBC | Follow-up | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | The Speidel Show/The Paul Winchell Show | The Voice of Firestone | Lights Out | Robert Montgomery Presents (26/34.4) / Somerset Maugham TV Theatre | Robert Montgomery Presents (26/34.4) / Somerset Maugham TV Theatre | Who Said That? |
| NBC | Spring | 7:00–7:15 Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | The Speidel Show/The Paul Winchell Show | The Voice of Firestone | Lights Out | Robert Montgomery Presents (26/34.4) / Somerset Maugham TV Theatre | Robert Montgomery Presents (26/34.4) / Somerset Maugham TV Theatre | Who Said That? |
| NBC | Summer | 7:00–7:15 Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | The Speidel Show/The Paul Winchell Show | The Voice of Firestone | Lights Out | Summer Stock Theatre | Summer Stock Theatre | | Who Said That? |
| DMN | DMN | Captain Video and His Video Rangers | Local | Stage Entrance | The Johns Hopkins Science Review | Wrestling from Columbia Park | Wrestling from Columbia Park | Wrestling from Columbia Park | Wrestling from Columbia Park |
Notes: On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952. In January 1952, The Speidel Show was renamed for its star, Paul Winchell, becoming The Paul Winchell Show.

## 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 | ABC | 7:00 After the Deadlines / 7:15 Local | The Beulah Show | Charlie Wild, Private Detective | What Do You Think? | United or Not | On Trial | Q.E.D. | The Symphony |
| CBS | CBS | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Stork Club | The Frank Sinatra Show | The Frank Sinatra Show | Crime Syndicated/City Hospital | Suspense | Danger | MLB |
| NBC | Fall | Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 The Little Show / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | Texaco Star Theater (2/52.0) | Texaco Star Theater (2/52.0) | Fireside Theatre (7/43.1) | Armstrong Circle Theatre (24/34.7) | The Original Amateur Hour | The Original Amateur Hour |
| NBC | Follow-up | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 The Little Show / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | Texaco Star Theater (2/52.0) | Texaco Star Theater (2/52.0) | Fireside Theatre (7/43.1) | Armstrong Circle Theatre (24/34.7) | The Original Amateur Hour | The Original Amateur Hour |
| NBC | Summer | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 The Little Show / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | Local | Local | Boss Lady | Armstrong Circle Theatre (24/34.7) | The Original Amateur Hour | The Original Amateur Hour |
| DMN | DMN | Captain Video and His Video Rangers | Local | What's the Story | Keep Posted | Cosmopolitan Theatre | Cosmopolitan Theatre | Hands of Mystery | Local |
Note: On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.

## 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 | ABC | 7:00 After the Deadlines / 7:15 Local | Chance of a Lifetime | Paul Dixon Show | Paul Dixon Show | Don McNeill's TV Club/The Arthur Murray Party | The Clock | Celanese Theater/Pulitzer Prize Playhouse* | Celanese Theater/Pulitzer Prize Playhouse* |
| CBS | CBS | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Perry Como Show | Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (6/43.3) | Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (6/43.3) | Strike It Rich (25/34.5) | The Web | 10:00 Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts (17/37.5) / 10:45 Sports Spot | 10:00 Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts (17/37.5) / 10:45 Sports Spot |
| NBC | Fall | Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 The Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | The Kate Smith Evening Hour | The Kate Smith Evening Hour | Kraft Television Theatre (23/34.8) | Kraft Television Theatre (23/34.8) | Break the Bank | The Freddy Martin Show |
| NBC | Follow-up | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 The Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | The Kate Smith Evening Hour | The Kate Smith Evening Hour | Kraft Television Theatre (23/34.8) | Kraft Television Theatre (23/34.8) | Break the Bank | The Freddy Martin Show |
| NBC | Spring | 7:00–7:15 Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 The Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | The Kate Smith Evening Hour | The Kate Smith Evening Hour | Kraft Television Theatre (23/34.8) | Kraft Television Theatre (23/34.8) | Break the Bank | The Freddy Martin Show |
| DMN | DMN | Captain Video and His Video Rangers | Local | Local | Local | The Gallery of Mme. Liu-Tsong | Shadow of the Cloak | Local | Local |
Notes: On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.
(*) From December 1951 to June 1952, these shows were 30 minutes, 10pm to 10:30pm ET

## 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 | ABC | 7:00 After the Deadlines / 7:15 Local | The Lone Ranger (18/36.8) | Stop the Music | Stop the Music | Herb Shriner Time | Gruen Guild Playhouse | Paul Dixon Show | 10:30 Masland at Home Party / 10:45 The Carmel Myers Show |
| CBS | Fall | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Stork Club | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show/The Garry Moore Evening Show | Amos 'n' Andy (13/38.9) | The Alan Young Show (22/35.8) | Big Town (15/38.5) | Racket Squad (29/32.0) (Tied with Man Against Crime) | Crime Photographer |
| CBS | December | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Stork Club | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show/Star of the Family | Amos 'n' Andy (13/38.9) | The Alan Young Show (22/35.8) | Big Town (15/38.5) | Racket Squad (29/32.0) (Tied with Man Against Crime) | Crime Photographer |
| CBS | June | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Stork Club | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show | Amos 'n' Andy (13/38.9) | The Alan Young Show (22/35.8) | Big Town (15/38.5) | Racket Squad (29/32.0) (Tied with Man Against Crime) | Crime Photographer |
| NBC | Fall | Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 The Little Show / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | You Bet Your Life (10/42.1) | Treasury Men in Action | Ford Festival (The James Melton Show) | Ford Festival (The James Melton Show) | Martin Kane, Private Eye | Wayne King |
| NBC | November | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 The Little Show / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | You Bet Your Life (10/42.1) | Treasury Men in Action | Ford Festival (The James Melton Show) | Ford Festival (The James Melton Show) | Martin Kane, Private Eye | Wayne King |
| NBC | Winter | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 The Little Show / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | You Bet Your Life (10/42.1) | Treasury Men in Action | Dragnet (20/36.3) (Tied with All-Star Revue) | Local | Martin Kane, Private Eye | Wayne King |
| NBC | Spring | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 The Little Show / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | You Bet Your Life (10/42.1) | Treasury Men in Action | Dragnet (20/36.3) (Tied with All-Star Revue) / Gangbusters (14/38.7) | Local | Martin Kane, Private Eye | Wayne King |
| DMN | DMN | Captain Video and His Video Rangers | Local | Georgetown University Forum | Broadway to Hollywood – Headline Clues | The Adventures of Ellery Queen | Crawford Mystery Theatre | The Bigelow Theatre | 10:30 Local / 10:45 Football This Week |
Notes: Wayne King was seen only on NBC's Midwest Network. On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.

## 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 | ABC | 7:00 After the Deadlines / 7:15 Local | Life With Linkletter/Say It with Acting | Mystery Theater | The Stu Erwin Show (aka Trouble With Father) | Crime with Father | Tales of Tomorrow/Versatile Varieties* | Hollywood Premiere Theatre/The Dell O'Dell Show | Industries for America |
| CBS | Fall | The Stork Club | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Perry Como Show | Mama (11/41.3) | Man Against Crime (29/32.0) (Tied with Racket Squad) | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Live Like a Millionaire | Hollywood Opening Night |
| CBS | Spring | Local | 7:30 Douglas Edwards with the News / 7:45 The Perry Como Show | Mama (11/41.3) | My Friend Irma | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | It's News to Me | Police Story | Presidential Timber |
| NBC | Fall | Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 The Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | Quiz Kids | We, the People | The Big Story | The Aldrich Family | 10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (19/36.5) / 10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century | 10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (19/36.5) / 10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century |
| NBC | Follow-up | 7:00 Kukla, Fran and Ollie/7:15 Bob and Ray | 7:30 The Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | Quiz Kids | We, the People | The Big Story | The Aldrich Family | 10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (19/36.5) / 10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century | 10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (19/36.5) / 10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century |
| NBC | Spring | 7:00–7:15 Kukla, Fran and Ollie | 7:30 The Mohawk Showroom / 7:45 Camel News Caravan | Quiz Kids | We, the People | The Big Story | The Aldrich Family | 10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (19/36.5) / 10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century | 10:00 Gillette Cavalcade of Sports (19/36.5) / 10:45 Greatest Fights of the Century |
| DMN | DMN | Captain Video and His Video Rangers | Local | Twenty Questions | You Asked For It | Down You Go | Front Page Detective | Cavalcade of Stars | Cavalcade of Stars |
Notes: Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt replaced Versatile Varieties on January 26, 1951.
On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.

## 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 | ABC | The Ruggles | The Jerry Colonna Show | Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club | Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club | Lesson in Safety | America's Health | Harness Racing | Harness Racing | Harness Racing | Harness Racing |
| CBS | CBS | The Sammy Kaye Variety Show | Beat the Clock | The Ken Murray Show | The Ken Murray Show | Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town | The Show Goes On | Songs for Sale | Songs for Sale |
| NBC | Fall | The American Youth Forum | One Man's Family | All-Star Revue (20/36.3) (Tied with Dragnet) | All-Star Revue (20/36.3) (Tied with Dragnet) | Your Show of Shows (8/43.0) | Your Show of Shows (8/43.0) | Your Show of Shows (8/43.0) | Your Hit Parade |
| NBC | Summer | The American Youth Forum | Bob and Ray | All-Star Revue (20/36.3) (Tied with Dragnet) | All-Star Revue (20/36.3) (Tied with Dragnet) | Blind Date | Local | Local | | Your Hit Parade |
| DMN | DMN | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Wrestling From Marigold | Wrestling From Marigold | Wrestling From Marigold |
Notes: On NBC, All-Star Revue formerly was known as Four Star Revue. Bob and Ray, broadcast earlier in the season as a 15-minute weeknight program, expanded to 30 minutes and ran from July to August at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

## By network
### NBC

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