# 1972–73 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1972–73 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers prime-time hours from September 1972 through August 1973. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1971–72 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.
Note: This was the first full season in which all networks, on every day of the week except for Sunday, started airing programs at 8:00 instead of 7:30, as dictated by the FCC under its Prime Time Access Rule, intended to increase diversity in programming.
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.

## Sunday

| Network | Network | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | Local | The F.B.I. (29/19.2) (Tied with The ABC Monday Movie and Kung Fu) | The F.B.I. (29/19.2) (Tied with The ABC Monday Movie and Kung Fu) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (23/20.0) (Tied with The Rookies) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (23/20.0) (Tied with The Rookies) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (23/20.0) (Tied with The Rookies) | The ABC Sunday Night Movie (23/20.0) (Tied with The Rookies) |
| CBS | Fall | Anna and the King | M*A*S*H | The Sandy Duncan Show | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Mannix | Mannix | Local |
| CBS | Winter | The New Dick Van Dyke Show | M*A*S*H | Mannix | Mannix | Barnaby Jones (25/19.9) (Tied with The Little People and The ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week) | Barnaby Jones (25/19.9) (Tied with The Little People and The ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week) | | Local |
| NBC | Fall | The Wonderful World of Disney (9/23.5) | The Wonderful World of Disney (9/23.5) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | Night Gallery | Local |
| NBC | Spring | The Wonderful World of Disney (9/23.5) | The Wonderful World of Disney (9/23.5) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | Escape | Local |
| NBC | April | The Wonderful World of Disney (9/23.5) | The Wonderful World of Disney (9/23.5) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie (Columbo / McCloud / McMillan and Wife / Hec Ramsey) (5/24.2) (Tied with Bridget Loves Bernie) | Night Gallery | Local |
Note: 60 Minutes aired at 6:00-7:00 pm on CBS from January to June 1973.

## Monday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | The Rookies (23/20.0) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie) | The Rookies (23/20.0) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie) | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (18/21.0) | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (18/21.0) | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (18/21.0) | ABC NFL Monday Night Football (18/21.0) |
| ABC | Winter | The Rookies (23/20.0) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie) | The Rookies (23/20.0) (Tied with The ABC Sunday Night Movie) | ABC Monday Night Movie (29/19.2) (Tied with The F.B.I. and Kung Fu) | ABC Monday Night Movie (29/19.2) (Tied with The F.B.I. and Kung Fu) | ABC Monday Night Movie (29/19.2) (Tied with The F.B.I. and Kung Fu) | ABC Monday Night Movie (29/19.2) (Tied with The F.B.I. and Kung Fu) |
| CBS | Fall | Gunsmoke (7/23.6) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | Gunsmoke (7/23.6) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | Here's Lucy (15/21.9) | The Doris Day Show | The New Bill Cosby Show | The New Bill Cosby Show |
| CBS | Spring | Gunsmoke (7/23.6) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | Gunsmoke (7/23.6) (Tied with The Mary Tyler Moore Show) | Here's Lucy (15/21.9) | The Doris Day Show | Medical Center | Medical Center |
| NBC | Fall | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (28/19.3) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (28/19.3) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (28/19.3) | NBC Monday Night at the Movies (28/19.3) |
| NBC | Summer | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) | The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola (8:00) / Monday Night Baseball (8:15) |

## Tuesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | ABC | Temperatures Rising | ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week (17/21.5) | ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week (17/21.5) | ABC Tuesday Movie of the Week (17/21.5) | Marcus Welby, M.D. (13/22.9) | Marcus Welby, M.D. (13/22.9) |
| CBS | CBS | Maude (4/24.7) | Hawaii Five-O (3/25.2) | Hawaii Five-O (3/25.2) | The New CBS Tuesday Night Movie | The New CBS Tuesday Night Movie | The New CBS Tuesday Night Movie |
| NBC | Fall | Bonanza | Bonanza | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | NBC Reports / First Tuesday* / NBC White Paper / America: A Personal History of the United States | NBC Reports / First Tuesday* / NBC White Paper / America: A Personal History of the United States |
| NBC | Winter | 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 Reports / First Tuesday* / NBC White Paper / America: A Personal History of the United States | NBC Reports / First Tuesday* / NBC White Paper / America: A Personal History of the United States |
* formerly Chronolog

## Wednesday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | The Paul Lynde Show | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | The Julie Andrews Hour | The Julie Andrews Hour |
| ABC | Winter | The Paul Lynde Show | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law |
| ABC | Summer | Thicker than Water | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law |
| ABC | August | Love Thy Neighbor | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The Little People) | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law |
| CBS | Fall | The Carol Burnett Show (22/20.3) | The Carol Burnett Show (22/20.3) | Medical Center (19/20.6) (Tied with The Partridge Family and The Waltons) | Medical Center (19/20.6) (Tied with The Partridge Family and The Waltons) | Cannon (14/22.4) | Cannon (14/22.4) |
| CBS | Winter | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | | Medical Center (19/20.6) (Tied with The Partridge Family and The Waltons) | Medical Center (19/20.6) (Tied with The Partridge Family and The Waltons) | Cannon (14/22.4) | Cannon (14/22.4) |
| CBS | Spring | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | Dan August | Dan August | | Cannon (14/22.4) | Cannon (14/22.4) |
| NBC | NBC | Adam-12 (11/23.3) | NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie: Madigan / Cool Million / Banacek | NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie: Madigan / Cool Million / Banacek | NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie: Madigan / Cool Million / Banacek | Search | Search |
Note: Dan August consisted of reruns of the 1970-1971 ABC series.

## Thursday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | The Mod Squad | The Mod Squad | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law |
| ABC | Winter | The Mod Squad | The Mod Squad | Kung Fu (29/19.2) (Tied with The ABC Monday Movie and The F.B.I.) | Kung Fu (29/19.2) (Tied with The ABC Monday Movie and The F.B.I.) | The Streets of San Francisco | The Streets of San Francisco |
| CBS | CBS | The Waltons (19/20.6) (Tied with The Partridge Family and Medical Center) | The Waltons (19/20.6) (Tied with The Partridge Family and Medical Center) | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie | CBS Thursday Night Movie |
| NBC | Fall | The Flip Wilson Show (12/23.1) | The Flip Wilson Show (12/23.1) | Ironside (10/23.4) | Ironside (10/23.4) | The Dean Martin Show | The Dean Martin Show |
| NBC | Summer | The Helen Reddy Show | The Helen Reddy Show | Ironside (10/23.4) | Ironside (10/23.4) | Dean Martin Presents Music Country | Dean Martin Presents Music Country |

## Friday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | The Brady Bunch | The Partridge Family (19/20.6) (Tied with The Waltons and Medical Center) | Room 222 | The Odd Couple | Love, American Style | Love, American Style |
| ABC | Summer | The Brady Bunch | The Odd Couple | Room 222 | Love Thy Neighbor | Love, American Style | Love, American Style |
| ABC | Follow-up | The Brady Bunch | The Odd Couple | Room 222 | The Corner Bar | Love, American Style | Love, American Style |
| CBS | Fall | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie |
| CBS | December | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible | | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie |
| CBS | Summer | 60 Minutes | 60 Minutes | | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie | The CBS Friday Night Movie |
| NBC | Fall | Sanford and Son (2/27.6) | The Little People (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week) | Ghost Story | Ghost Story | Banyon | Banyon |
| NBC | Winter | Sanford and Son (2/27.6) | The Little People (25/19.9) (Tied with Barnaby Jones and The ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week) | Circle of Fear | Circle of Fear | The Bobby Darin Show | The Bobby Darin Show |
Note: Ghost Story was retooled slightly and retitled Circle of Fear (under the same production team) with the episode broadcast January 5, 1973.

## Saturday

| Network | Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| ABC | Fall | Alias Smith and Jones | Alias Smith and Jones | The Streets of San Francisco | The Streets of San Francisco | The Sixth Sense | The Sixth Sense |
| ABC | Winter | Here We Go Again | A Touch of Grace | The Julie Andrews Hour | The Julie Andrews Hour | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw |
| ABC | May | Here We Go Again | The Paul Lynde Show | The Strauss Family | The Strauss Family | | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw |
| ABC | Summer | Here We Go Again | The Paul Lynde Show | The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour | The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour | | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw | The Men: Assignment Vienna / The Delphi Bureau / Jigsaw |
| CBS | Fall | All in the Family (1/33.3) | Bridget Loves Bernie (5/24.2) (Tied with The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie) | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (7/23.6) (Tied with Gunsmoke) | The Bob Newhart Show (16/21.8) | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible |
| CBS | December | All in the Family (1/33.3) | Bridget Loves Bernie (5/24.2) (Tied with The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie) | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (7/23.6) (Tied with Gunsmoke) | The Bob Newhart Show (16/21.8) | The Carol Burnett Show (22/20.3) | The Carol Burnett Show (22/20.3) |
| CBS | Summer | All in the Family (1/33.3) | Bridget Loves Bernie (5/24.2) (Tied with The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie) | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (7/23.6) (Tied with Gunsmoke) | The Bob Newhart Show (16/21.8) | Mission: Impossible | Mission: Impossible |
| NBC | NBC | Emergency! | Emergency! | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies | NBC Saturday Night at the Movies |

## By network
### NBC

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