1951–52 United States network television schedule

The following is the 1951–52 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1951 through March 1952. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1950–51 season. This was the first television season of national network interconnection by coaxial cable and microwave, meaning programming could be transmitted live coast-to-coast (or in the case of filmed programs, distributed simultaneously across the country) if needed.

On Sunday nights, NBC experimented with airing its new comedy-variety program Chesterfield Sound-off Time (featuring Bob Hope, Fred Allen and Jerry Lester as rotating hosts) in an early evening timeslot, 7:00–7:30. Previously, network TV variety programs had only been aired during late evening hours; NBC had experimented with a late-night show, Broadway Open House, with Lester as host the previous season, but that show was not considered a success (it was replaced by the more generic Mary Kay's Nightcap this season). According to television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982), the experiment was designed to "duplicate the early-evening radio success of Jack Benny". (Benny himself would appear on rival network CBS's The Jack Benny Program immediately following Chesterfield Sound-off Time). Red Skelton also made his network television debut on NBC's Sunday night schedule this season, but long-term success eluded him until after he moved to CBS in the fall of 1953.

Although most TV programming was live, both CBS and NBC also experimented in filmed series; Castleman and Podrazik highlight early filmed hits I Love Lucy on CBS and Dragnet on NBC. Dragnet was "one of NBC's first major experiments in filmed TV series"; the series was added to NBC's regular network schedule in January 1952, after a "preview" on Chesterfield Sound-off Time in December 1951. I Love Lucy was given what historians have called a "choice time slot": Monday night immediately following the number one program on television: Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. The series "proved the strength and acceptability of TV sitcoms, giving [CBS] a strong weapon against NBC's flashy comedy-variety hours".

DuMont, too, avoided flashy comedy series when in February 1952, in desperation the network added Bishop Fulton Sheen's program, Life Is Worth Living, to its Tuesday night schedule. The religious series was pitted against NBC's hit program Texaco Star Theater, and became the surprise hit of the year, holding its own against Texaco host "Uncle Miltie", and attracting a sponsor, an Emmy, and 10 million viewers. The ABC and CBS programs which aired in the same time slot, Charlie Wild, Private Detective, and The Frank Sinatra Show (respectively), attracted relatively few viewers.

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.

Sunday

 * On CBS, The Jack Benny Show (9/42.8) aired as occasional specials once every six to eight weeks at 7:30-8:00 pm.
 * On NBC, Hopalong Cassidy (28/32.2) aired 6–7 p.m. until December, when it was partly replaced by The Roy Rogers Show (27/32.7), airing 6:30–7 p.m.

Monday
Notes: On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952. In January 1952, The Speidel Show was renamed for its star, Paul Winchell, becoming The Paul Winchell Show.

Tuesday
Note: On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.

Wednesday
Notes: On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.

(*) From December 1951 to June 1952, these shows were 30 minutes, 10pm to 10:30pm ET

Thursday
Notes: Wayne King was seen only on NBC's Midwest Network. On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.

Friday
Notes: Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt replaced Versatile Varieties on January 26, 1951.

On NBC, Kukla, Fran and Ollie was reduced from 30 to 15 minutes in November 1951, and Bob and Ray was added at 7:15 p.m. Bob and Ray ran in the 7:15 p.m. time slot Monday through Friday until March 1952 and then on Tuesday and Thursday only until May 1952, while Kukla, Fran and Ollie continued in its 15-minute format at 7:00 p.m. until June 1952.

Saturday
Notes: On NBC, All-Star Revue formerly was known as Four Star Revue. Bob and Ray, broadcast earlier in the season as a 15-minute weeknight program, expanded to 30 minutes and ran from July to August at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

ABC
Returning Series
 * Admission Free
 * After the Deadlines
 * America's Health
 * The Arthur Murray Party
 * The Beulah Show
 * The Bill Gwinn Show
 * The Carmel Myers Show
 * Chance of a Lifetime
 * Charlie Wild, Private Detective (moved from CBS)
 * The Clock (moved from NBC)
 * Curtain Up
 * Don McNeill's TV Club
 * Hollywood Premiere Theatre
 * Hollywood Screen Test
 * Industries for America
 * The Jerry Colonna Show
 * Life Begins at Eighty
 * Life with Linkletter
 * The Lone Ranger
 * The Marshall Plan in Action
 * Masland at the Party
 * Music in Velvet
 * On Trial
 * Other Lands, Other People
 * The Paul Dixon Show
 * Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue
 * Q.E.D.
 * The Ruggles
 * Say It with Acting
 * Stop the Music
 * Studs's Place
 * The Symphony
 * United or Not
 * Versatile Varieties
 * The Voice of Firestone
 * What Do You Think?
 * Wrestling from Rainbo Arena
 * You Asked For It
 * Youth on the March

New Series
 * The Amazing Mr. Malone
 * Betty Crocker Star Matinee
 * The Big Picture
 * Byline *
 * Celanese Theater
 * Crime with Father
 * Curtain Call *
 * The Dell O'Dell Show
 * Gruen Guild Playhouse
 * Harness Racing
 * Herb Shriner Time
 * Hour of Decision
 * Lesson in Safety
 * Mr. Arsenic *
 * Mystery Theatre
 * The Name's the Same
 * Out of the Fog *
 * Personal Appearance Theater
 * Rebound
 * Say It with Acting
 * Tales of Tomorrow
 * Trouble with Father

Not returning from 1950–51:
 * The Billy Rose Show
 * Buck Rogers
 * Can You Top This?
 * Club Seven
 * The College Bowl
 * Dick Tracy
 * Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre
 * Feature Film
 * First Nighter
 * The Game of the Week
 * Holiday Hotel
 * I Cover Times Square
 * Penthouse Party
 * Pro Football Highlights
 * Roller Derby
 * Sandy Dreams
 * Showtime U.S.A.
 * Sit or Miss
 * Soap Box Theater

CBS
Returning Series
 * The Alan Young Show
 * Amos 'n' Andy
 * Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
 * Beat the Clock
 * Big Town
 * Celebrity Time
 * Claudia (moved from NBC in midseason)
 * Crime Photographer
 * Danger
 * Douglas and the News
 * Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town
 * The Frank Sinatra Show
 * The Fred Waring Show
 * The Garry Moore Show
 * The Gene Autry Show
 * The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
 * Hollywood Opening Night
 * It's News to Me
 * The Jack Benny Show
 * The Ken Murray Show
 * Live Like a Millionaire
 * Lux Video Theatre
 * Mama
 * Man Against Crime
 * Our Miss Brooks
 * Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts
 * The Perry Como Show
 * Racket Squad
 * The Show Goes On
 * Songs for Sale
 * Sports Spot
 * Star of the Family
 * The Stork Club
 * Strike It Rich
 * Studio One
 * Suspense
 * This is Show Business
 * Toast of the Town
 * The Web
 * What's My Line?

New Series
 * The Al Pearce Show *
 * CBS Television Workshop *
 * City Hospital *
 * Crime Syndicated
 * The Eddy Arnold Show *
 * Footlights Theater *
 * The Garry Moore Evening Show
 * Hollywood Opening Night
 * I Love Lucy
 * MLB
 * Police Story *
 * The Sammy Kaye Variety Show
 * Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
 * See It Now
 * Star of the Family
 * What in the World?

Not returning from 1950–51:
 * The Ad-Libbers
 * Big Top
 * Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town
 * The Goldbergs
 * The Horace Heidt Show
 * Magnavox Theater
 * Prudential Family Playhouse
 * Sing It Again
 * Sure as Fate
 * Teller of Take
 * The Vaughn Monroe Show
 * We Take Your Word
 * Who's Whose

DuMont
Returning series
 * The Adventures of Ellery Queen
 * The Arthur Murray Party
 * The Bigelow Theatre (moved from ABC
 * Broadway to Hollywood
 * Captain Video and His Video Rangers
 * Cavalcade of Stars
 * Cosmopolitan Theatre
 * Down You Go
 * Football This Week
 * Front Page Detective
 * The Gallery of Mme. Liu-Tsong
 * Georgetown University Forum
 * Hands of Mystery
 * Johnny Olson's Rumpus Room
 * The Johns Hopkins Science Review
 * Keep Posted
 * Major Dell Conway of the Flying Tigers
 * Not for Publication
 * Pentagon
 * The Plainclothesman
 * Rocky King, Inside Detective
 * Shadow of the Cloak
 * Stage Entrance
 * They Stand Accused
 * Twenty Questions
 * What's the Story
 * Wrestling from Columbia Park
 * Wrestling from Marigold
 * You Asked For It

New series
 * Battle of the Ages *
 * The Cases of Eddie Drake *
 * Cosmopolitan Theatre
 * Crawford Mystery Theatre
 * Football This Week
 * The Gallery of Mme. Liu-Tsong
 * Guess What *
 * Guide Right *
 * News Gal
 * The Pet Shop *
 * Public Prosecutor
 * The Talent Shop
 * This is Music

Not returning from 1950–51:
 * The Al Morgan Show
 * The Armed Forces Hour
 * Cavalcade of Bands
 * Country Style
 * DuMont Royal Theater
 * The Hazel Scott Show
 * Ladies Before Gentlemen
 * Manhattan Spotlight
 * The Most Important People
 * Okay, Mother
 * Once Upon a Tune
 * Our Secret Weapon: The Truth
 * Rhythm Rodeo
 * Saturday Night at the Garden
 * The Susan Raye Show
 * Visit with Armed Forces
 * With This Ring
 * Wrestling from Columbia Park Arena

NBC
Returning Series
 * The Aldrich Family
 * All-Star Revue
 * Armstrong Circle Theatre
 * The Big Story
 * Blind Date
 * Break the Bank
 * Camel News Caravan
 * Cameo Theatre
 * Candid Camera
 * Colgate Comedy Hour
 * Duffy's Tavern
 * Fireside Theatre
 * Ford Festival
 * The Freddy Martin Show
 * Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
 * Goodyear Television Playhouse
 * Greatest Fights of the Century
 * The Halls of Ivy
 * The Kate Smith Evening Hour
 * Kraft Television Theatre
 * Leave It to the Girls
 * Lights Out
 * The Little Show
 * Martin Kane, Private Eye
 * The Mohawk Showroom
 * The Paul Winchell Show
 * One Man's Family
 * The Original Amateur Hour
 * Philco Television Playhouse
 * Quiz Kids
 * Robert Montgomery Presents
 * Somerset Maugham TV Theatre
 * Texaco Star Theater
 * Treasury Men in Action (moved from ABC)
 * The Voice of Firestone
 * Watch Mr. Wizard
 * Wayne King
 * We, the People
 * Who Said That?
 * You Bet Your Life
 * Your Hit Parade
 * Your Show of Shows
 * Your Story Theatre

New Series
 * American Youth Forum
 * The Big Payoff *
 * The Bill Goodwin Show
 * Bob and Ray *
 * Boss Lady *
 * Chesterfield Sound-off Time
 * Claudia *
 * The Dinah Shore Show
 * Dragnet *
 * Ford Festival *
 * Gangbusters *
 * Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt
 * The Kate Smith Evening Hour
 * Kukla, Fran and Ollie
 * Public Prosecutor
 * The Red Skelton Show
 * The Roy Rogers Show
 * Summer Stock Theatre *
 * Young Mr. Bobbin
 * Your Prize Story *

Not returning from 1950–51:
 * Bonny Maid Versatile Varieties
 * Garroway at Large
 * Greatest Fights of the Century
 * The Hank McCune Show
 * Hawkins Falls
 * Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt
 * The Jack Carter Show
 * Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
 * The Mohawk Showroom
 * Saturday Roundup
 * Screen Directors Playhouse
 * Seven at Eleven
 * Short Story Playhouse
 * The Speidel Show
 * The Straw Hat Matinee
 * Tag the Gag
 * Take a Chance
 * The Wayne King Show

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