1985–86 United States network television schedule
This was the United States television schedule on all three commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1985. 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.[1]
This was also the first television season wherein the Nielsen people meter technology was used for the nationwide audience measurement system, largely replacing the diaries system in place from the 1950-1951 television season.[2]
- Lime indicates the #1 most watched program of the season.
- 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.
- Orange indicates the programs in the top 40 for the season.
- Silver indicates the programs in the top 50 for the season.
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation but its schedule was set by each local station.
Much of the ratings come from AmericanRadioHistory.com's PDF archive[3]
Sunday[3]
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 | Ripley's Believe It or Not! #79, 9.0/14 | MacGyver #47, 14.6/22 | The ABC Sunday Night Movie #36, 16.0/25 | |||||
Winter | The Disney Sunday Movie #50, 14.1/22 | ||||||||
CBS | Fall | 60 Minutes #4, 23.9/38 | Murder, She Wrote #3, 25.3/37 | Crazy Like a Fox #44, 15.0/23 | Trapper John, M.D. #59, 13.2/21 | ||||
Winter | CBS Sunday Movie #12, 20.5/31 | ||||||||
NBC | Fall | Punky Brewster #76, 9.7/16 | Silver Spoons #70, 11.2/17 | Amazing Stories #40, 15.3/22 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents #49, 14.4/21 | NBC Sunday Night at the Movies #21, 18.5/28 | |||
Spring | Silver Spoons #70, 11.2/17 | Fathers and Sons | |||||||
Follow-up | Punky Brewster #76, 9.7/16 |
Monday[3]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | Hardcastle and McCormick #52, 13.9/21 | Monday Night Football #15, 19.8/32 | ||||
Mid-season | ABC Monday Night Movie #43, 15.2/23 | ||||||
Summer | Monday Night Baseball | ||||||
CBS | Scarecrow and Mrs. King #28, 17.4/26 | Kate & Allie #14, 20.0/29 | Newhart #16, 19.6/29 | Cagney & Lacey #31, 16.7/27 | |||
NBC | Fall | TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes #39, 15.4/23 | NBC Monday Night at the Movies #23, 18.3/28 | ||||
Spring | You Again? #19, 19.2/29 | Valerie #26, 18.1/27 |
Tuesday[3]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | Who's the Boss? #10, 21.1/32 | Growing Pains #18, 19.5/29 | Moonlighting #24, 18.1/27 | Our Family Honor #81, 7.8/13 | ||
Follow-up | Spenser: For Hire #64, 12.6/22 | ||||||
Spring | Perfect Strangers | ||||||
CBS | Fall | Hometown | CBS Tuesday Night Movie #32, 16.3/26 | ||||
Follow-up | Specials | ||||||
Follow-up | Stir Crazy #74, 10.0/16 | ||||||
Mid-season | Melba | Charlie & Co. #68, 11.6/18 | |||||
Follow-up | Trapper John, M.D. #59, 13.2/21 | ||||||
Spring | Morningstar/Eveningstar | Mary #57, 13.5/21 | Foley Square #67, 11.9/18 | The Equalizer #63, 12.6/21 | |||
Follow-up | The New Mike Hammer repeats | ||||||
NBC | Fall | The A-Team #30, 16.9/26 | Riptide #56, 13.6/21 | Remington Steele #48, 14.4/25 | |||
Mid-season | Hunter #42, 15.3/26 | Stingray |
Wednesday[3]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | The Insiders #60, 12.8/20 | Dynasty #7, 21.8/33 | Hotel #22, 18.3/31 | |||
Mid-season | MacGyver #46, 14.6/22 | ||||||
Summer | Hardcastle & McCormick #52, 13.9/21 | ||||||
CBS | Fall | Stir Crazy #74, 10.0/16 | Charlie & Co. #68, 11.6/18 | George Burns Comedy Week #71, 10.9/17 | The Equalizer #63, 12.6/21 | ||
Follow-up | Specials | ||||||
Follow-up | Mary #57, 13.5/21 | Foley Square #67, 11.9/18 | |||||
Mid-season | Crazy Like a Fox #44, 15.0/23 | ||||||
Follow-up | Fast Times | Tough Cookies | |||||
Spring | West 57th | CBS Wednesday Night Movie #58, 13.4/22 | |||||
Summer | Foley Square #67, 11.9/18 | Charlie & Co. #68, 11.6/18 | Airwolf #65, 12.5/21 | West 57th | |||
NBC | Fall | Highway to Heaven #13, 20.1/31 | Hell Town #51, 14.1/21 | St. Elsewhere #53, 13.8/23 | |||
Mid-season | Blacke's Magic #38, 15.5/23 | ||||||
Summer | Gimme a Break! #34, 16.0/28 | You Again? #19, 19.2/29 |
Thursday[3]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | The Fall Guy #80, 7.8/13 | Lady Blue #72, 10.7/17 | 20/20 #37, 15.5/25 | |||
Follow-up | ABC Thursday Night Movie | ||||||
Follow-up | Shadow Chasers #82, 5.8/9 | Dynasty II: The Colbys #35, 16.0/24 | |||||
Mid-season | Ripley's Believe It or Not! #79, 9.0/14 | The Colbys #35, 16.0/24 | |||||
CBS | Fall | Magnum, P.I. #46, 14.6/22 | Simon & Simon #29, 17.2/26 | Knots Landing #17, 19.5/32 | |||
Spring | Simon & Simon #29, 17.2/26 | Bridges to Cross | |||||
Summer | Price is Right Special | ||||||
NBC | The Cosby Show #1, 33.7/51 | Family Ties #2, 30.0/44 | Cheers #5, 23.7/35 | Night Court #11, 20.9/31 | Hill Street Blues #33, 16.1/26 |
Friday[3]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | Webster #41, 15.3/26 | Mr. Belvedere #45, 14.8/24 | Diff'rent Strokes #69, 11.5/18 | Benson #75, 10.0/16 | Spenser: For Hire #64, 12.6/22 | |
Follow-up | Our Family Honor #81, 7.8/13 | ||||||
Mid-season | He's the Mayor #77, 9.7/15 | The Fall Guy #80, 7.8/13 | |||||
Spring | Mr. Sunshine | Joe Bash | |||||
Follow-up | The ABC Friday Night Movie | ||||||
Summer | ABC Comedy Special | Mr. Sunshine | The Love Boat #62, 12.7/22 | ||||
Follow-up | ABC Comedy Special | ||||||
CBS | Fall | The Twilight Zone #55, 13.6/22 | Dallas #6, 21.9/35 | Falcon Crest #25, 18.1/30 | |||
Spring | Charlie & Co. #68, 11.6/18 | Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills | |||||
Summer | The Twilight Zone #55, 13.6/22 | ||||||
NBC | Fall | Knight Rider #54, 13.8/22 | Misfits of Science #61, 12.8/20 | Miami Vice #9, 21.3/36 | |||
Mid-season | Misfits of Science #61, 12.8/20 | Knight Rider #54, 13.8/22 | |||||
Follow-up | Riptide #56, 13.6/21 | ||||||
Follow-up | The Last Precinct |
Saturday[3]
Network | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ABC | Fall | Hollywood Beat #78, 9.4/16 | Lime Street | The Love Boat #62, 12.7/22 | |||
Follow-up | The Fall Guy #80, 7.8/13 | Lady Blue #72, 10.7/17 | |||||
Mid-season | The Redd Foxx Show #73, 10.3/18 | Benson #75, 10.0/16 | Fortune Dane | ||||
Spring | The Love Boat #62, 12.7/22 | ||||||
Follow-up | Mr. Sunshine | ||||||
CBS | Fall | Airwolf #65, 12.5/21 | CBS Saturday Night Movie | ||||
Spring | Crazy Like a Fox #44, 15.0/23 | ||||||
Follow-up | Airwolf #65, 12.5/21 | Magnum, P.I. #46, 14.6/22 | |||||
NBC | Fall | Gimme a Break! #34, 16.0/28 | The Facts of Life #27, 17.7/30 | The Golden Girls #8, 21.8/36 | 227 #20, 18.8/31 | Hunter #42, 15.3/26 | |
Mid-season | Remington Steele #48, 14.4/25 | ||||||
Spring | All Is Forgiven |
Note: Due to the death of Samantha Smith and her father in a plane crash, ABC ceased production on Lime Street and was forced to move Lady Blue into its slot.
References
- ↑ Highest-rated series is based on the annual top-rated programs list compiled by Nielsen Media Research and reported in: Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
- ↑ de Moraes, Lisa. "David Cook Wasn't the Only Winner on Wednesday, as 'Idol' Ratings Spike". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-04-28.pdf