# 1980–81 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1980–81 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1980 through August 1981. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1979–80 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.
New 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.
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.
Note: An actors' strike hindered the ability to start airing shows in a timely manner. The shows in the schedule were the first to air new episodes in their respective time periods as they bowed in between late August and December 31, 1980. Some of the new shows intended for a fall launch did not debut until 1982 or 1983, if at all.

## 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 | Those Amazing Animals | Those Amazing Animals | Local and paid political programming | Local and paid political programming | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) |
| ABC | November | Those Amazing Animals | Those Amazing Animals | Charlie's Angels | Charlie's Angels | | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) |
| ABC | Spring | Those Amazing Animals | Those Amazing Animals | Specials | Specials | | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (24/19.4) (Tied with CHiPs) |
| CBS | CBS | 60 Minutes (3/27.0) | 60 Minutes (3/27.0) | Archie Bunker's Place (13/21.4) | One Day at a Time (11/22.0) | Alice (7/22.9) | The Jeffersons (6/23.5) | Trapper John, M.D. (17/20.7) (Tied with Fantasy Island and Diff'rent Strokes) | Trapper John, M.D. (17/20.7) (Tied with Fantasy Island and Diff'rent Strokes) |
| NBC | NBC | Disney's Wonderful World | Disney's Wonderful World | CHiPs (24/19.4) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie) | CHiPs (24/19.4) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie) | The Big Event | The Big Event | The Big Event | The Big Event |
Note: On ABC, local and paid political programming aired in the 8-9 p.m. hour from September till November.

## Monday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | That's Incredible! (22/20.5) | That's Incredible! (22/20.5) | Monday Night Football (20/20.6) (Tied with Laverne & Shirley) | Monday Night Football (20/20.6) (Tied with Laverne & Shirley) | Monday Night Football (20/20.6) (Tied with Laverne & Shirley) | Monday Night Football (20/20.6) (Tied with Laverne & Shirley) |
| ABC | Winter | That's Incredible! (22/20.5) | That's Incredible! (22/20.5) | Dynasty | Dynasty | Foul Play | Foul Play |
| ABC | Spring | That's Incredible! (22/20.5) | That's Incredible! (22/20.5) | Dynasty | Dynasty | Soap | Soap |
| ABC | Summer | Specials | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball |
| CBS | Fall | Flo | Ladies' Man (Oct.) | M*A*S*H (4/25.7) | House Calls (8/22.4) (Tied with Three's Company) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) |
| CBS | Winter | Flo | Ladies' Man (Oct.) | M*A*S*H (4/25.7) | House Calls (8/22.4) (Tied with Three's Company) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) |
| CBS | Spring | Private Benjamin | Ladies' Man (Oct.) | M*A*S*H (4/25.7) | House Calls (8/22.4) (Tied with Three's Company) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) |
| CBS | Follow-up | Private Benjamin | The Two of Us | M*A*S*H (4/25.7) | House Calls (8/22.4) (Tied with Three's Company) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) |
| CBS | Summer | Private Benjamin | The Tim Conway Show | M*A*S*H (4/25.7) | House Calls (8/22.4) (Tied with Three's Company) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) | Lou Grant (27/19.1) |
| NBC | Fall | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) |
| NBC | Winter | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) |
| NBC | Spring | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (29/18.8) |
| NBC | Summer | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | Little House on the Prairie (10/22.1) | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road | The Last Convertible | The Last Convertible |
Note: Private Benjamin premiered April 6, 1981, at 8:00-8:30 pm on CBS. Soap ran for three-and-a-half seasons on ABC in a 30-minute format. It was pulled from the Wednesday night schedule in January 1981 and returned on Mondays from March to April, when the final 12 episodes of the series ran as six 60-minute installments.

## Tuesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Happy Days (15/20.8) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | Laverne & Shirley (20/20.6) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | Three's Company (8/22.4) (Tied with House Calls) | Too Close for Comfort (Nov.) (15/20.8) (Tied with Happy Days) | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) |
| ABC | Winter | Happy Days (15/20.8) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | Laverne & Shirley (20/20.6) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | Three's Company (8/22.4) (Tied with House Calls) | Too Close for Comfort (Nov.) (15/20.8) (Tied with Happy Days) | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) |
| ABC | Spring | Happy Days (15/20.8) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | Laverne & Shirley (20/20.6) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | Three's Company (8/22.4) (Tied with House Calls) | Too Close for Comfort (Nov.) (15/20.8) (Tied with Happy Days) | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) |
| ABC | Summer | Happy Days (15/20.8) (Tied with Too Close for Comfort) | Laverne & Shirley (20/20.6) (Tied with Monday Night Football) | Three's Company (8/22.4) (Tied with House Calls) | It's a Living | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) | Hart to Hart (23/19.9) |
| CBS | Fall | Local and paid political programming | Local and paid political programming | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| CBS | November | The White Shadow | The White Shadow | | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Winter | That's My Line | That's My Line | | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Spring | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Summer | Checking In | Flo | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| NBC | Fall | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies | The Steve Allen Comedy Hour (Oct.) | The Steve Allen Comedy Hour (Oct.) |
| NBC | November | Lobo | Lobo | B. J. and the Bear | B. J. and the Bear | | The Steve Allen Comedy Hour (Oct.) | The Steve Allen Comedy Hour (Oct.) |
| NBC | Winter | Lobo | Lobo | B. J. and the Bear | B. J. and the Bear | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road |
| NBC | Spring | Lobo | Lobo | Nero Wolfe | Nero Wolfe | | Flamingo Road | Flamingo Road |
Note: On CBS, local and paid political programming aired in the 8-9 p.m. hour between September and November. On NBC, NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies aired 8-10 p.m. from September till November.

## Wednesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Eight Is Enough | Eight Is Enough | Taxi | Soap | Vega$ | Vega$ |
| ABC | Winter | Eight Is Enough | Eight Is Enough | Taxi | Soap | Vega$ | Vega$ |
| ABC | Spring | The Greatest American Hero (Mar.) | The Greatest American Hero (Mar.) | Aloha Paradise (Feb.) | Aloha Paradise (Feb.) | American Dream (May) | American Dream (May) |
| ABC | Summer | Charlie's Angels | Charlie's Angels | The ABC Summer Movie | The ABC Summer Movie | The ABC Summer Movie | The ABC Summer Movie |
| ABC | Follow-up | Charlie's Angels | Charlie's Angels | Vega$ | Vega$ | Dynasty | Dynasty |
| CBS | CBS | Enos (Nov.) | Enos (Nov.) | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies |
| NBC | Fall | Real People (12/21.5) | Real People (12/21.5) | Movie of the Week | Movie of the Week | Movie of the Week | Movie of the Week |
| NBC | November | Real People (12/21.5) | Real People (12/21.5) | Diff'rent Strokes (17/20.7) (Tied with Fantasy Island and Trapper John, M.D.) | The Facts of Life (26/19.3) | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |
| NBC | Winter | Real People (12/21.5) | Real People (12/21.5) | Diff'rent Strokes (17/20.7) (Tied with Fantasy Island and Trapper John, M.D.) | The Facts of Life (26/19.3) | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |
| NBC | Spring | Real People (12/21.5) | Real People (12/21.5) | Diff'rent Strokes (17/20.7) (Tied with Fantasy Island and Trapper John, M.D.) | The Facts of Life (26/19.3) | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |
| NBC | Summer | Real People (12/21.5) | Real People (12/21.5) | Diff'rent Strokes (17/20.7) (Tied with Fantasy Island and Trapper John, M.D.) | The Facts of Life (26/19.3) | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |
Note: The Greatest American Hero debuted on March 18 at 8:00pm on ABC.
Note: NBC's Movie of the Week aired 9-11 p.m. between September and November.
Note: The Facts of Life Season 2 began on November 19 at 9:30 on NBC.

## Thursday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Mork & Mindy | Bosom Buddies (Nov.) | Barney Miller | It's a Living (Oct.) | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Winter | Mork & Mindy | Bosom Buddies (Nov.) | Barney Miller | Taxi | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| CBS | Fall | The Waltons (30/18.6) | The Waltons (30/18.6) | CBS Thursday Movie Special | CBS Thursday Movie Special | CBS Thursday Movie Special | CBS Thursday Movie Special |
| CBS | December | The Waltons (30/18.6) | The Waltons (30/18.6) | Magnum, P.I. (14/21.0) | Magnum, P.I. (14/21.0) | Knots Landing (28/19.0) | Knots Landing (28/19.0) |
| CBS | Spring | Checking In | Park Place | Magnum, P.I. (14/21.0) | Magnum, P.I. (14/21.0) | Knots Landing (28/19.0) | Knots Landing (28/19.0) |
| CBS | May | The Waltons (30/18.6) | The Waltons (30/18.6) | | Magnum, P.I. (14/21.0) | Magnum, P.I. (14/21.0) | Knots Landing (28/19.0) | Knots Landing (28/19.0) |
| NBC | Fall | Games People Play | Games People Play | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies |
| NBC | Winter | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies | NBC Thursday Night at the Movies |
Note: CBS Thursday Movie Special aired 9-11 p.m. from September till the end of November. Magnum, P.I. had a 2-hour premiere on December 11, 1980.

## Friday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Benson | I'm a Big Girl Now (Oct.) | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie |
| ABC | Summer | Benson | The Krypton Factor | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie |
| CBS | CBS | The Incredible Hulk | The Incredible Hulk | The Dukes of Hazzard (2/27.3) | The Dukes of Hazzard (2/27.3) | Dallas (1/34.5) | Dallas (1/34.5) |
| NBC | Fall | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Friday Night at the Movies | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) |
| NBC | December | Marie | Marie | Number 96 | Number 96 | | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) |
| NBC | Winter | Harper Valley PTA | Sanford | Nero Wolfe | Nero Wolfe | | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) |
| NBC | Follow-up | Harper Valley PTA | The Brady Brides | Nero Wolfe | Nero Wolfe | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) |
| NBC | Spring | Harper Valley PTA | Sanford | Nero Wolfe | Nero Wolfe | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) |
| NBC | Follow-up | Harper Valley PTA | Sanford | Specials | Specials | | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) |
| NBC | Summer | Harper Valley PTA | Comedy Theater | Specials | Specials | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) | NBC Magazine with David Brinkley (Sep.) |
Note: NBC Friday Night at the Movies aired 8-10 p.m. during October and November.

## Saturday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Local and paid political programming | Local and paid political programming | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) |
| ABC | November | Breaking Away | Breaking Away | | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) |
| ABC | Winter | Charlie's Angels | Charlie's Angels | | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) |
| ABC | Follow-up | 240-Robert | 240-Robert | | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) |
| ABC | Spring | Eight Is Enough | Eight Is Enough | | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | The Love Boat (5/24.3) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) | Fantasy Island (17/20.7) (Tied with Trapper John, M.D. and Diff'rent Strokes) |
| CBS | Fall | WKRP in Cincinnati | The Tim Conway Show | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies |
| CBS | December | WKRP in Cincinnati | The Tim Conway Show | Freebie and the Bean | Freebie and the Bean | Secrets of Midland Heights | Secrets of Midland Heights |
| CBS | Follow-up | WKRP in Cincinnati | The Tim Conway Show | Flo | Ladies' Man | Concrete Cowboys | Concrete Cowboys |
| CBS | Spring | WKRP in Cincinnati | Flo | Concrete Cowboys | Concrete Cowboys | Riker | Riker |
| CBS | Follow-up | Enos | Enos | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies |
| NBC | Fall | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies |
| NBC | Winter | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | Walking Tall | Walking Tall | Hill Street Blues | Hill Street Blues |
| NBC | Follow-up | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | The Gangster Chronicles | The Gangster Chronicles | | Hill Street Blues | Hill Street Blues |
| NBC | Spring | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | B.J. and the Bear | B.J. and the Bear | Walking Tall | Walking Tall |
| NBC | Summer | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters (Nov.) | B.J. and the Bear | B.J. and the Bear | Games People Play | Games People Play |
Note: The CBS Saturday Night Movies aired 9-11 p.m. through the end of November.

## By network
### NBC

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