# 1981–82 United States network television schedule (late night)

These are the late night schedules on all three networks for each calendar season beginning September 1981. All times are Eastern/Pacific.
PBS is not included, as member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary, CBS and ABC are not included on the weekend schedules (as the networks do not offer late night programs of any kind on weekends).
Talk/variety shows are highlighted in yellow, network news programs in gold, and local news & programs are highlighted in white background.

## Monday-Friday

| - | - | 11:00 PM | 11:30 PM | 12:00 AM | 12:30 AM | 1:00 AM | 1:30 AM | 2:00 AM | 2:30 AM | 3:00 AM | 3:30 AM | 4:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 5:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| ABC | ABC | local programming | Nightline | ABC Late Night (Mon.-Thur.)/Fridays (Fri) | ABC Late Night (Mon.-Thur.)/Fridays (Fri) | ABC Late Night (Mon.-Thur.)/Fridays (Fri) | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local |
| CBS | CBS | local programming | The CBS Late Movie | The CBS Late Movie | The CBS Late Movie | The CBS Late Movie | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local | Local |
| NBC | Fall | local programming | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Tomorrow Coast to Coast (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 (Fri) | Tomorrow Coast to Coast (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 (Fri) | Tomorrow Coast to Coast (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 (Fri) | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming |
| NBC | Winter | local programming | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Late Night with David Letterman (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 to 2:00 (Fri) | Late Night with David Letterman (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 to 2:00 (Fri) | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming |
| NBC | Summer | local programming | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Late Night with David Letterman (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 to 2:00 (Fri) | Late Night with David Letterman (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 to 2:00 (Fri) | NBC News Overnight (Mon.-Thur., 1:30-2:30/Fri., 2:00-3:00) | NBC News Overnight (Mon.-Thur., 1:30-2:30/Fri., 2:00-3:00) | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming |

## Saturday

| - | 11:00 PM | 11:30 PM | 12:00 AM | 12:30 AM | 1:00 AM | 1:30 AM | 2:00 AM | 2:30 AM | 3:00 AM | 3:30 AM | 4:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 5:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| NBC | local programming | Saturday Night Live | Saturday Night Live | Saturday Night Live | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming |

## Sunday

| - | 11:00 PM | 11:30 PM | 12:00 AM | 12:30 AM | 1:00 AM | 1:30 AM | 2:00 AM | 2:30 AM | 3:00 AM | 3:30 AM | 4:00 AM | 4:30 AM | 5:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| NBC | local programming | NBC Late Night Movie | NBC Late Night Movie | NBC Late Night Movie | NBC Late Night Movie | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming | local programming |