1987–88 United States network television schedule

The 1987–88 network television schedule for the four major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 1987 through August 1988. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1986–87 season.

Note: This is the first fall season for Fox, and the first year since 1958-59 that a fourth commercial television network (NTA) was broadcasting. Fox would air only two days a week until 1989.

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

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.

From February 13 to 28, 1988, all of ABC's primetime programming was preempted in favor of coverage of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

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.

Light purple indicates movies.

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

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

Cyan indicates the top-20 most watched programs of the season.

Magenta indicates the top-30 most watched programs of the season.

Sunday

 * Note: The Wonder Years premiered January 31, 1988 after Super Bowl XXII.

Tuesday
Note: The Dictator was supposed to premiere March 15, 1988 at 8:30-9:00 on CBS, but My Sister Sam replaced it at the last minute due to the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike.

Wednesday
Note: Sara consisted entirely of reruns of the 1985 series.

Friday
Note: Full House premiered Tuesday September 22, 1987 at 8:30 pm on ABC.

ABC
Returning Series
 * 20/20
 * The ABC Monday Night Movie
 * The ABC Sunday Night Movie
 * The ABC Thursday Night Movie
 * The Charmings
 * The Disney Sunday Movie
 * Dynasty
 * Growing Pains
 * Head of the Class
 * Hotel
 * MacGyver
 * Max Headroom
 * Mr. Belvedere +
 * Monday Night Baseball
 * Monday Night Football
 * Moonlighting
 * Ohara
 * Perfect Strangers
 * Sledge Hammer!
 * Spenser: For Hire
 * Who's the Boss?

New Series
 * Buck James
 * China Beach *
 * Dolly
 * Family Man *
 * Full House
 * HeartBeat *
 * Hooperman
 * Hothouse *
 * I Married Dora
 * Just in Time *
 * Just the Ten of Us *
 * Once a Hero
 * Probe *
 * Pursuit of Happiness
 * Sable
 * The "Slap" Maxwell Story
 * Supercarrier *
 * The Thorns *
 * The Wonder Years *
 * thirtysomething 

Not returning from 1986–87:
 * The ABC Friday Night Movie
 * The ABC Saturday Night Movie
 * The Colbys
 * Dads
 * The Ellen Burstyn Show
 * Gung Ho
 * Harry
 * Heart of the City
 * Jack & Mike
 * Life with Lucy
 * Mariah
 * Our World
 * Sidekicks
 * Starman
 * Webster ^

An ^ indicates a show that came back in first-run syndication after a network cancellation.

CBS
Returning Series
 * 60 Minutes
 * Cagney & Lacey
 * Candid Camera
 * The Cavanaughs +
 * CBS Summer Playhouse
 * CBS Sunday Movie
 * Dallas
 * Designing Women
 * The Equalizer
 * Falcon Crest
 * Houston Knights
 * Kate & Allie
 * Knots Landing
 * Magnum, P.I.
 * Murder, She Wrote
 * My Sister Sam
 * Newhart
 * Simon & Simon +
 * West 57th

New Series
 * 48 Hours *
 * Beauty and the Beast
 * Blue Skies
 * Coming of Age *
 * Eisenhower and Lutz *
 * Everything's Relative
 * Frank's Place
 * High Mountain Rangers *
 * Jake and the Fatman
 * The Law & Harry McGraw
 * The Oldest Rookie
 * The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour *
 * Tour of Duty
 * Trial and Error *
 * Wiseguy

Not returning from 1986–87:
 * Better Days
 * Downtown
 * Hard Copy
 * Kay O'Brien
 * The New Mike Hammer
 * Outlaws
 * The Popcorn Kid
 * Roxie
 * Scarecrow and Mrs. King
 * Shell Game
 * Spies
 * Take Five
 * Together We Stand/Nothing Is Easy
 * The Twilight Zone
 * The Wizard

Fox
Returning Series
 * 21 Jump Street
 * Duet
 * It's Garry Shandling's Show
 * Married... with Children
 * Mr. President
 * The New Adventures of Beans Baxter
 * The Tracey Ullman Show
 * Werewolf

New Series
 * America's Most Wanted *
 * Dirty Dozen: The Series *
 * Family Double Dare *
 * Second Chance/Boys Will Be Boys
 * The Reporters
 * Women in Prison

Not returning from 1986–87:
 * Down and Out in Beverly Hills
 * Karen's Song

NBC
Returning Series
 * 227
 * ALF
 * Amen
 * The Bronx Zoo +
 * Cheers
 * The Cosby Show
 * Crime Story
 * The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd +
 * The Facts of Life
 * Family Ties
 * The Golden Girls
 * Highway to Heaven
 * Hunter
 * L.A. Law
 * Matlock
 * Miami Vice
 * NBC Sunday Night Movie
 * NBC Monday Night at the Movies
 * Night Court
 * Our House
 * Rags to Riches
 * St. Elsewhere
 * Valerie's Family @

New Series
 * Aaron's Way *
 * Beverly Hills Buntz
 * Day by Day *
 * A Different World
 * George Schlatter's Funny People *
 * The Highwayman *
 * In the Heat of the Night *
 * J.J. Starbuck
 * Mama's Boy
 * My Two Dads
 * Private Eye
 * Sonny Spoon *
 * A Year in the Life

Not returning from 1986–87:
 * 1986
 * The A-Team
 * Amazing Stories
 * Easy Street
 * Gimme a Break!
 * Hill Street Blues
 * Me & Mrs. C
 * Nothing in Common
 * Remington Steele
 * Roomies
 * Stingray
 * Sweet Surrender
 * The Tortellis
 * You Again?

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

+ These shows returned as "backup" programming in midseason

@ Formerly Valerie.