1985–86 United States network television schedule

The 1985–86 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1985 through August 1986. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1984–85 season.

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.

PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows released on May 1986 is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.

New series are highlighted in bold.

Repeat airings or same-day rebroadcasts are indicated by (R).

All times are U.S. Eastern and Pacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Alaska and Hawaii-Aleutian times.

Most of the ratings come from AmericanRadioHistory.com's PDF archive.

Legend
Gray indicates encore programming.

Blue-gray indicates news programming.

Light green indicates sporting events.

Red indicates series being burned off and other regularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies.

Yellow highlights indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.

Cyan highlights indicates numbers 11-20 most watched programs of the season.

Magenta highlights indicates numbers 21-30 most watched programs of the season.

Highlights indicates that it falls in multiple of the above categories.

Friday
Note: Diff'rent Strokes 1-hour Season 8 Premiered on September 27 at 9:00pm

Saturday
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.

ABC
Returning series
 * 20/20
 * The ABC Friday Night Movie
 * ABC Monday Night Movie
 * The ABC Sunday Night Movie
 * The ABC Thursday Night Movie
 * Benson
 * Diff'rent Strokes (moved from NBC)
 * Dynasty
 * The Fall Guy
 * Hardcastle and McCormick
 * Hotel
 * Life's Most Embarrassing Moments
 * The Love Boat
 * Mr. Belvedere
 * Monday Night Baseball
 * Monday Night Football
 * Moonlighting
 * Ripley's Believe It or Not!
 * Webster
 * Who's the Boss?

New series
 * The Colbys *
 * The Disney Sunday Movie *
 * Fortune Dane *
 * Growing Pains
 * He's the Mayor *
 * Hollywood Beat
 * The Insiders
 * Joe Bash *
 * Lady Blue
 * Lime Street
 * MacGyver
 * Mr. Sunshine *
 * Our Family Honor
 * Perfect Strangers *
 * The Redd Foxx Show *
 * Shadow Chasers *
 * Spenser: For Hire

Not returning from 1984–85:
 * Call to Glory
 * Eye to Eye
 * Finder of Lost Loves
 * Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders
 * Glitter
 * Hawaiian Heat
 * Jessie
 * MacGruder and Loud
 * Matt Houston
 * Me and Mom
 * Off the Rack
 * Paper Dolls
 * People Do the Craziest Things
 * Rock 'n' Roll Summer Action
 * Street Hawk
 * T. J. Hooker @
 * Three's a Crowd
 * Wildside

CBS
Returning series
 * 60 Minutes
 * Airwolf
 * Cagney & Lacey
 * CBS Sunday Movie
 * Crazy Like a Fox
 * Dallas
 * Falcon Crest
 * Kate & Allie
 * Knots Landing
 * Magnum, P.I.
 * Murder, She Wrote
 * Newhart
 * Scarecrow and Mrs. King
 * Simon & Simon
 * Trapper John, M.D.

New series
 * Bridges to Cross *
 * Charlie & Co.
 * The Equalizer
 * Fast Times *
 * Foley Square *
 * George Burns Comedy Week
 * Hometown
 * Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills *
 * Mary *
 * Melba *
 * Morningstar/Eveningstar *
 * Stir Crazy
 * Tough Cookies *
 * The Twilight Zone
 * West 57th *

Not returning from 1984–85:
 * AfterMASH
 * Alice
 * Charles in Charge (Moved to Syndication)
 * Cover Up
 * Detective in the House
 * Double Dare
 * Dreams
 * The Dukes of Hazzard
 * E/R
 * I Had Three Wives
 * The Jeffersons
 * The Lucie Arnaz Show
 * Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer +
 * Otherworld

NBC
Returning series
 * The A-Team
 * Cheers
 * The Cosby Show
 * The Facts of Life
 * Family Ties
 * Gimme a Break!
 * Highway to Heaven
 * Hill Street Blues
 * Hunter
 * Knight Rider
 * Miami Vice
 * NBC Sunday Night Movie
 * NBC Monday Night at the Movies
 * Night Court
 * Punky Brewster
 * Remington Steele
 * Riptide
 * St. Elsewhere
 * Silver Spoons
 * TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes

New series
 * 1986 *
 * 227
 * Alfred Hitchcock Presents
 * All Is Forgiven *
 * Amazing Stories
 * Blacke's Magic *
 * Fathers and Sons *
 * The Golden Girls
 * Hell Town
 * The Last Precinct *
 * Me & Mrs. C *
 * Misfits of Science
 * Stingray *
 * Valerie *
 * You Again? *

Not returning from 1984–85:
 * Berrenger's
 * The Best Times
 * Code Name: Foxfire
 * Diff'rent Strokes (moved to ABC)
 * Double Trouble
 * Half Nelson
 * Hot Pursuit
 * It's Your Move
 * Our Time
 * Partners in Crime
 * Sara
 * Spencer/Under One Roof
 * V

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

^ Diff'rent Strokes switched networks for the 1985–1986 season.

+ Mike Hammer abruptly ended production after series star Stacy Keach was sentenced to six months in prison for cocaine possession. Production resumed during the 1986–1987 season.

@ T. J. Hooker continued production for CBS' late night schedule for the 1985–1986 season.