1986–87 United States network television schedule

The 1986–87 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1986 through August 1987. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1985–86 season.

Although Fox debuted as a fourth network effort in October 1986, the network waited until April 1987 to commence offering prime time programming, effectively deferring its first Fall programming season until September 1987.

PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation but the schedule was set by each local station.

New series are highlighted in bold.

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

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

Legend
Light blue indicates local programming.

Gray indicates encore programming.

Blue-gray indicates news programming.

Light green indicates sporting events.

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

Light gold indicates programming produced outside of the United States.

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.

Wednesday
Note: Fox Night at the Movies premiered May 17, 1989 with The Fly.

ABC
Returning Series
 * 20/20
 * The ABC Friday Night Movie
 * The ABC Monday Night Movie
 * The ABC Saturday Night Movie
 * The ABC Sunday Night Movie
 * The Colbys
 * The Disney Sunday Movie
 * Dynasty
 * Growing Pains
 * Hotel
 * MacGyver
 * Mr. Belvedere
 * Monday Night Baseball
 * Monday Night Football
 * Moonlighting
 * Perfect Strangers
 * Spenser: For Hire
 * Webster
 * Who's the Boss?

New Series
 * The ABC Saturday Night Movie
 * Animal Crack-Ups * +
 * The Charmings *
 * Dads *
 * The Ellen Burstyn Show
 * Gung Ho *
 * Harry *
 * Head of the Class
 * Heart of the City
 * Jack and Mike
 * Life with Lucy
 * Mariah
 * Max Headroom *
 * Ohara *
 * Our World
 * Sidekicks
 * Sledge Hammer!
 * Starman

Not returning from 1985–86:
 * The ABC Thursday Night Movie
 * Benson
 * Diff'rent Strokes
 * The Fall Guy
 * Hardcastle and McCormick
 * Hollywood Beat
 * The Insiders
 * Lady Blue
 * Life's Most Embarrassing Moments
 * Lime Street
 * The Love Boat
 * Our Family Honor
 * Ripley's Believe It or Not!
 * Shadow Chasers

+ Animal Crack-Ups had a short run in prime time before moving to Saturday mornings in the fall of 1987.

CBS
Returning Series
 * 60 Minutes
 * Cagney & Lacey
 * CBS Sunday Movie
 * Dallas
 * The Equalizer
 * Falcon Crest
 * Kate & Allie
 * Knots Landing
 * Magnum, P.I.
 * The New Mike Hammer +
 * Murder, She Wrote
 * Newhart
 * Scarecrow and Mrs. King
 * Simon & Simon
 * The Twilight Zone
 * West 57th *

New Series
 * Better Days
 * The Cavanaughs *
 * CBS Summer Playhouse *
 * Designing Women
 * Downtown
 * Hard Copy *
 * Houston Knights *
 * Kay O'Brien
 * My Sister Sam
 * Outlaws *
 * The Popcorn Kid *
 * Roxie *
 * Shell Game *
 * Spies *
 * Take Five *
 * Together We Stand/Nothing Is Easy
 * The Wizard

Not returning from 1985–86:
 * Airwolf
 * Bridges to Cross
 * Charlie & Co.
 * Crazy Like a Fox
 * Fast Times
 * Foley Square
 * George Burns Comedy Week
 * Hometown
 * Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills
 * Mary
 * Melba
 * Morningstar/Eveningstar
 * Stir Crazy
 * Tough Cookies
 * Trapper John, M.D.

+ This was a revival of the 1984–1985 series following star Stacy Keach's release from prison on drug charges.

Fox
New Series
 * 21 Jump Street
 * Down and Out in Beverly Hills
 * Duet
 * Fox Night at the Movies
 * Karen's Song
 * Married... with Children
 * Mr. President
 * The New Adventures of Beans Baxter
 * The Tracey Ullman Show
 * Werewolf

NBC
Returning Series
 * 1986
 * 227
 * The A-Team
 * Amazing Stories
 * Cheers
 * The Cosby Show
 * The Facts of Life
 * Family Ties
 * Gimme a Break!
 * The Golden Girls
 * Highway to Heaven
 * Hill Street Blues
 * Hunter
 * Me & Mrs. C *
 * Miami Vice
 * NBC Sunday Night Movie
 * NBC Monday Night at the Movies
 * Night Court
 * Remington Steele *
 * St. Elsewhere
 * Stingray *
 * Valerie
 * You Again?

New Series
 * ALF
 * Amen
 * The Bronx Zoo *
 * Crime Story
 * The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd *
 * Easy Street
 * L.A. Law
 * Matlock
 * Nothing in Common *
 * Our House
 * Rags to Riches *
 * Roomies *
 * Sweet Surrender *
 * The Tortellis *

Not returning from 1985–86:
 * Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Moved to USA Network)
 * All Is Forgiven
 * Blacke's Magic
 * Fathers and Sons
 * Hell Town
 * Knight Rider
 * The Last Precinct
 * Misfits of Science
 * Punky Brewster ^
 * Riptide
 * Silver Spoons ^
 * TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason. An ^ indicates a show that continued in first-run syndication after the network cancelled it.