# 1979–80 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1979–80 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1979 through August 1980. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1978–79 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.
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.
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation but the schedule was set by each local station.

## 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 | Out of the Blue | A New Kind of Family | Mork & Mindy (27/20.2) | The Associates | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) |
| ABC | November | Salvage 1 | Salvage 1 | | Mork & Mindy (27/20.2) | The Associates | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) |
| ABC | Winter | Galactica 1980 | Galactica 1980 | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (29/20.0) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (29/20.0) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) |
| ABC | Summer | Galactica 1980 | Galactica 1980 | When the Whistle Blows | When the Whistle Blows | | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, Vega$ and Knots Landing) |
| CBS | CBS | 60 Minutes (1/28.4) | 60 Minutes (1/28.4) | Archie Bunker's Place* (11/22.9) | One Day at a Time (10/23.0) | Alice (4/25.3) (Tied with M*A*S*H) | The Jeffersons (8/24.3) | Trapper John, M.D. (19/21.2) | Trapper John, M.D. (19/21.2) |
| NBC | Fall | Disney's Wonderful World | Disney's Wonderful World | The Big Event | The Big Event | The Big Event | The Big Event | Prime Time Sunday | Prime Time Sunday |
| NBC | Summer | Disney's Wonderful World | Disney's Wonderful World | CHiPs | CHiPs | The Big Event | The Big Event | The Big Event | The Big Event |
(*) Formerly known as All in the Family.

## Monday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | 240-Robert | 240-Robert | ABC NFL Monday Night Football | ABC NFL Monday Night Football | ABC NFL Monday Night Football | ABC NFL Monday Night Football |
| ABC | Winter | Repeats | Repeats | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie | The ABC Monday Night Movie |
| ABC | Follow-up | Laverne & Shirley | Angie | Stone | Stone | Family | Family |
| ABC | Spring | That's Incredible! (3/25.8) | That's Incredible! (3/25.8) | Family | Family | Stone | Stone |
| ABC | Summer | One in a Million | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball | Monday Night Baseball |
| CBS | Fall | The White Shadow | The White Shadow | M*A*S*H (4/25.3) (Tied with Alice) | WKRP in Cincinnati (22/20.7) | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Winter | The White Shadow | The White Shadow | M*A*S*H (4/25.3) (Tied with Alice) | House Calls (14/22.1) (Tied with Real People) | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Follow-up | WKRP in Cincinnati (22/20.7) | The Last Resort | M*A*S*H (4/25.3) (Tied with Alice) | House Calls (14/22.1) (Tied with Real People) | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Spring | WKRP in Cincinnati (22/20.7) | The Stockard Channing Show | M*A*S*H (4/25.3) (Tied with Alice) | Flo (7/24.4) | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| CBS | Summer | WKRP in Cincinnati (22/20.7) | Phyl & Mikhy | M*A*S*H (4/25.3) (Tied with Alice) | House Calls | Lou Grant | Lou Grant |
| NBC | NBC | Little House on the Prairie (16/21.8) | Little House on the Prairie (16/21.8) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies | NBC Monday Night at the Movies |

## 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 (17/21.7) | Angie | Three's Company (2/26.3) | Taxi (13/22.4) | The Lazarus Syndrome | The Lazarus Syndrome |
| ABC | Follow-up | Happy Days (17/21.7) | Angie | Three's Company (2/26.3) | Taxi (13/22.4) | Hart to Hart | Hart to Hart |
| ABC | Winter | Happy Days (17/21.7) | One in a Million | Three's Company (2/26.3) | Taxi (13/22.4) | Hart to Hart | Hart to Hart |
| ABC | February | Happy Days (17/21.7) | Goodtime Girls | Three's Company (2/26.3) | Taxi (13/22.4) | Hart to Hart | Hart to Hart |
| ABC | March | Happy Days (17/21.7) | Laverne & Shirley | Three's Company (2/26.3) | Taxi (13/22.4) | Hart to Hart | Hart to Hart |
| CBS | Fall | California Fever | California Fever | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies | The CBS Tuesday Night Movies |
| CBS | Follow-up | California Fever | California Fever | Hawaii Five-O | Hawaii Five-O | Paris | Paris |
| CBS | Winter | The White Shadow | The White Shadow | | Hawaii Five-O | Hawaii Five-O | Paris | Paris |
| CBS | Follow-up | 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 |
| NBC | Fall | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | 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 | Spring | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo | The Big Show | The Big Show | The Big Show | United States |

## Wednesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | Eight Is Enough (12/22.8) | Eight Is Enough (12/22.8) | Charlie's Angels (20/20.9) (Tied with Barney Miller) | Charlie's Angels (20/20.9) (Tied with Barney Miller) | Vega$ (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, The ABC Sunday Night Movie and Knots Landing) | Vega$ (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, The ABC Sunday Night Movie and Knots Landing) |
| CBS | Fall | The Last Resort | Struck by Lightning | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies |
| CBS | October | The Last Resort | The Bad News Bears | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies |
| CBS | November | Young Maverick | Young Maverick | | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies |
| CBS | March | Beyond Westworld | Beyond Westworld | | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies | The CBS Wednesday Night Movies |
| NBC | Fall | Real People (14/22.1) (Tied with House Calls) | Real People (14/22.1) (Tied with House Calls) | Diff'rent Strokes (26/20.3) | Hello, Larry | The Best of Saturday Night Live (repeats) | The Best of Saturday Night Live (repeats) |
| NBC | Spring | Real People (14/22.1) (Tied with House Calls) | Real People (14/22.1) (Tied with House Calls) | Diff'rent Strokes (26/20.3) | Hello, Larry | From Here to Eternity | From Here to Eternity |
| NBC | Summer | Real People (14/22.1) (Tied with House Calls) | Real People (14/22.1) (Tied with House Calls) | Diff'rent Strokes (26/20.3) | Hello, Larry | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. |

## Thursday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Laverne & Shirley | Benson (23/20.6) (Tied with The Love Boat) | Barney Miller (20/20.9) (Tied with Charlie's Angels) | Soap (25/20.5) | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Winter | Mork & Mindy (27/20.2) | Benson (23/20.6) (Tied with The Love Boat) | Barney Miller (20/20.9) (Tied with Charlie's Angels) | Soap (25/20.5) | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Spring | Mork & Mindy (27/20.2) | Benson (23/20.6) (Tied with The Love Boat) | Barney Miller (20/20.9) (Tied with Charlie's Angels) | The Associates | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| ABC | Follow-up | Mork & Mindy (27/20.2) | Benson (23/20.6) (Tied with The Love Boat) | Barney Miller (20/20.9) (Tied with Charlie's Angels) | The Ropers | 20/20 | 20/20 |
| CBS | Fall | The Waltons | The Waltons | Hawaii Five-O | Hawaii Five-O | Barnaby Jones | Barnaby Jones |
| CBS | Winter | The Waltons | The Waltons | Barnaby Jones | Barnaby Jones | Knots Landing (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, The ABC Sunday Night Movie and Vega$) | Knots Landing (29/20.0) (Tied with Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, The ABC Sunday Night Movie and Vega$) |
| CBS | Spring | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | Barnaby Jones | Barnaby Jones | The Contender | The Contender |
| CBS | Summer | The Waltons | The Waltons | | Barnaby Jones | Barnaby Jones | The Contender | The Contender |
| NBC | Fall | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. | Kate Loves a Mystery* | Kate Loves a Mystery* |
| NBC | Winter | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. | Skag | Skag |
| NBC | Spring | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Quincy, M.E. | Quincy, M.E. | The Rockford Files | The Rockford Files |
| NBC | Summer | 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 |
| NBC | Follow-up | 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 |
(*) Formerly known as Mrs. Columbo

## Friday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie |
| ABC | Winter | B.A.D. Cats | B.A.D. Cats | | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie |
| ABC | Spring | When the Whistle Blows | When the Whistle Blows | | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie |
| ABC | Summer | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | The ABC Friday Night Movie | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe |
| ABC | Follow-up | Benson | Goodtime Girls | 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 (9/24.1) | The Dukes of Hazzard (9/24.1) | Dallas (6/25.0) | Dallas (6/25.0) |
| NBC | Pre-Fall | Hello, Larry | The Facts of Life | Various Programming | Various Programming | Various Programming | Various Programming |
| NBC | Fall | Shirley | Shirley | The Rockford Files | The Rockford Files | Eischied | Eischied |
| NBC | Spring | Here's Boomer | The Facts of Life | Pink Lady | Pink Lady | | Eischied | Eischied |
| NBC | Follow-up | Here's Boomer | Me and Maxx | Various Programming | Various Programming | Various Programming | Various Programming |
| NBC | Summer | Here's Boomer | Hello, Larry | The Rockford Files | The Rockford Files | A Man Called Sloane | A Man Called Sloane |

## Saturday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | The Ropers | Detective School | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | Hart to Hart | Hart to Hart |
| ABC | Follow-up | The Ropers | Detective School | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) |
| ABC | December | The Ropers | A New Kind of Family | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) |
| ABC | Winter | One in a Million | The Ropers | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) |
| ABC | Spring | Angie | Goodtime Girls | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | The Love Boat (23/20.6) (Tied with Benson) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) | Fantasy Island (28/20.1) |
| CBS | Fall | Working Stiffs | The Bad News Bears | Big Shamus, Little Shamus | Big Shamus, Little Shamus | Paris | Paris |
| CBS | Follow-up | Various Programming | Various Programming | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies |
| CBS | Winter | The Chisholms | The Chisholms | | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies | The CBS Saturday Night Movies |
| CBS | Spring | The Tim Conway Show | The Tim Conway Show | Hawaii Five-O | Hawaii Five-O | Hagen | Hagen |
| CBS | Follow-up | The Tim Conway Show | The Tim Conway Show | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie |
| CBS | Summer | The Bad News Bears | The Stockard Channing Show | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie |
| CBS | July | One Day at a Time | The Bad News Bears | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie |
| CBS | Follow-up | Universe | Universe | | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie | CBS Saturday Movie |
| NBC | Fall | CHiPs (18/21.5) | CHiPs (18/21.5) | B. J. and the Bear | B. J. and the Bear | A Man Called Sloane | A Man Called Sloane |
| NBC | Winter | CHiPs (18/21.5) | CHiPs (18/21.5) | B. J. and the Bear | B. J. and the Bear | Prime Time Saturday | Prime Time Saturday |
| NBC | Spring | B. J. and the Bear | B. J. and the Bear | Sanford | Me and Maxx | Prime Time Saturday | Prime Time Saturday |
| NBC | Follow-up | B. J. and the Bear | B. J. and the Bear | Sanford | Joe's World | Prime Time Saturday | Prime Time Saturday |
| NBC | Summer | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Various | Various | Various | Good Time Harry |
Note: In November 1979, CBS took Paris off their Saturday night lineup before scheduling it in the 10:00-11:00 pm time slot on Tuesdays beginning December 4.