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

  1. 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.
  2. de Moraes, Lisa. "David Cook Wasn't the Only Winner on Wednesday, as 'Idol' Ratings Spike". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-04-28.pdf
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