This was the television schedule on all three commercial broadcast television networks in the United States for the fall season beginning in September 1981 . All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football .
The highest-rated show for the year is highlighted in lime yellow cyan magenta Rankings determined by Nielsen Media Research .[1] [2]
New fall series are highlighted in bold . Series ending their original runs are highlighted in italics .
Note: A Writers Guild of America strike hindered the ability to start airing shows in a timely manner. The shows in the schedule were the first to air new episodes in their respective time periods as they bowed in between September and early December. The debut month for each new series that had been intended for a fall premiere is noted as to when it actually appeared.
PBS , the Public Broadcasting Service , was in operation, but the schedule was set by each local station. On ABC & CBS , its news brief, airs all seven nights at 9:58, pm.
Fall Schedule [ ] Sunday [ ]
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
Code Red Today's F.B.I. The ABC Sunday Night Movie #22 19.5 rating
CBS
60 Minutes #2 27.7 rating
Archie Bunker's Place #12 21.6 rating
One Day at a Time #10 22.0 rating
Alice #5 22.7 rating
The Jeffersons #3 23.4 rating
Trapper John, M.D. #16 21.1 rating
NBC
Local
CHiPs
NBC Sunday Night at the Movies
Note: On NBC, The Powers of Matthew Star Peter Barton was hospitalized due to an on-set accident, it was delayed to the next season.
Monday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
That's Incredible! #28 18.4 rating
Monday Night Football #11 21.8 rating
CBS
Private Benjamin
The Two of Us
M*A*S*H #9 22.3 rating
House Calls #23 19.2 rating
Lou Grant
NBC
Little House on the Prairie #25 19.1 rating
NBC Monday Night at the Movies
Tuesday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
Happy Days #18 20.6 rating
Laverne and Shirley #20 19.9 rating
Three's Company #4 23.3 rating
Too Close for Comfort #7 22.6 rating
Hart to Hart #15 21.1 rating
CBS
Specials/Simon and Simon
The CBS Tuesday Night Movies
NBC
preliminary
NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies
official
Father Murphy Bret Maverick Flamingo Road
Wednesday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
The Greatest American Hero
Specials /The Fall Guy Dynasty #19 20.2 rating
CBS
preliminary
Mr. Merlin WKRP in Cincinnati
The CBS Wednesday Night Movies
official
Nurse Shannon
NBC
Real People #21 19.7 rating
The Facts of Life #24 19.1 rating
Love, Sidney Quincy, M.E.
Thursday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
Mork and Mindy
Best of the West Bosom Buddies Barney Miller Taxi
20/20
CBS
preliminary
Magnum, P.I. #17 20.9 rating
Nurse Knots Landing
official (Nov. 5)
Knots Landing
Jessica Novak
follow-up (Dec. 10)
Knots Landing
Nurse
NBC
Harper Valley Lewis & Clark Diff'rent Strokes
Gimme a Break! Hill Street Blues #27 18.6 rating
Friday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
preliminary (Sep.-Oct.)
Benson
Making a Living ABC Friday Night Movie
official (Nov.)
Bosom Buddies Darkroom Strike Force
CBS
official
The Incredible Hulk The Dukes of Hazzard #6 22.6 rating
Dallas #1 28.4 rating
follow-up (Dec. 4)
The Dukes of Hazzard
Dallas
Falcon Crest
NBC
preliminary
NBC Magazine NBC Friday Night at the Movies
official
McClain's Law (debut November 20)
Local
Notes: On ABC, Open All Night Maggie
On CBS, Falcon Crest was not supposed to premiere until October 1, 1982, having been delayed by the WGA strike, but it was rushed into production to fill the gap caused by the cancellation of The Incredible Hulk .
On NBC, The Devlin Connection Rock Hudson , had heart surgery in early November.
Saturday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
official
Maggie Making a Living The Love Boat #14 21.2 rating
Fantasy Island #30 18.3 rating
follow-up (Nov. 28)
Open All Night
CBS
Walt Disney
The CBS Saturday Night Movies
NBC
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters Various
Note: King's Crossing WGA strike.
Mid-Season Schedule [ ] Sunday [ ]
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
Code Red Today's F.B.I. The ABC Sunday Night Movie
CBS
60 Minutes
Archie Bunker's Place
One Day at a Time
Alice
The Jeffersons
Trapper John, M.D.
NBC
Father Murphy CHiPs
NBC Sunday Night at the Movies
Monday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
That's Incredible!
ABC Monday Night Movie #8 22.5 rating
CBS
official
Mr. Merlin Private Benjamin
M*A*S*H
House Calls
Lou Grant
follow-up (Apr. 5)
Private Benjamin
Report to Murphy
NBC
Little House on the Prairie
NBC Monday Night at the Movies
Tuesday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
Happy Days
Laverne and Shirley /Joanie Loves Chachi Three's Company
Too Close for Comfort
Hart to Hart
CBS
official
Simon and Simon The CBS Tuesday Night Movies
follow-up (Mar. 23)
Q.E.D. The Book of Lists
NBC
official
Father Murphy Bret Maverick Flamingo Road
follow-up (Mar. 9)
Bret Maverick Flamingo Road
Cassie & Co.
Wednesday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
The Greatest American Hero
The Fall Guy Dynasty
CBS
official
WKRP in Cincinnati
The Two of Us
The CBS Wednesday Night Movies
follow-up (Mar. 17)
Herbie the Love Bug WKRP in Cincinnati
Baker's Dozen Shannon
follow-up (Apr. 28)
The Incredible Hulk The CBS Wednesday Night Movies
NBC
Real People
The Facts of Life
Love, Sidney Teachers Only Quincy, M.E.
Thursday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
official
Mork and Mindy
Bosom Buddies Barney Miller 9 to 5 Taxi
20/20
follow-up (Mar. 4)
Police Squad! No Soap Radio Bosom Buddies Mork and Mindy
follow-up (May 20)
Mork and Mindy
Bosom Buddies
CBS
official
Magnum, P.I.
Knots Landing
Nurse
follow-up (Mar. 25)
Cagney & Lacey Simon & Simon Knots Landing
NBC
Fame Diff'rent Strokes
Gimme a Break! Hill Street Blues
Friday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
official
Benson
Open All Night Best of the West Making a Living Strike Force
follow-up (March 19)
Barney Miller Maggie The Phoenix
CBS
The Dukes of Hazzard
Dallas
Falcon Crest
NBC
official
NBC Magazine McClain's Law Cassie & Co.
follow-up (Feb.)
NBC Friday Night at the Movies
follow-up (April)
Specials
Chicago Story McClain's Law
Saturday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
official
King's Crossing The Love Boat
Fantasy Island
follow-up (Mar. 13)
T.J. Hooker Today's F.B.I.
CBS
Walt Disney
The CBS Saturday Night Movies
NBC
official
One of the Boys Harper Valley Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour
follow-up (Mar. 6)
Chicago Story McClain's Law
follow-up (Apr. 17)
Harper Valley One of the Boys Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters NBC Magazine
Summer Schedule [ ] Sunday [ ]
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
Code Red The ABC Sunday Night Movie
CBS
60 Minutes
Archie Bunker's Place
One Day at a Time
Alice
The Jeffersons
Trapper John, M.D.
NBC
Local
CHiPs
NBC Sunday Night at the Movies
Monday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
That's Incredible!
Monday Night Baseball
CBS
Private Benjamin
WKRP in Cincinnati M*A*S*H
House Calls /Filthy Rich Lou Grant
NBC
Little House on the Prairie
NBC Monday Night at the Movies
Tuesday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
Happy Days
Laverne and Shirley
Three's Company
Too Close for Comfort
Hart to Hart
CBS
Universe The Two of Us
The CBS Tuesday Night Movies
NBC
official
Bret Maverick Flamingo Road Cassie & Co.
follow-up (July)
Father Murphy Bret Maverick Flamingo Road McClain's Law
follow-up (Aug. 31)
NBC Tuesday Night at the Movies
Wednesday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
The Greatest American Hero /The Phoenix The Fall Guy Dynasty
CBS
Mr. Merlin Specials
The CBS Wednesday Night Movies
NBC
Real People
The Facts of Life
Love, Sidney Quincy, M.E.
Thursday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
Darkroom Barney Miller Police Squad! 20/20
CBS
Magnum, P.I.
Simon & Simon Knots Landing
NBC
official
Fame Diff'rent Strokes
Gimme a Break! Hill Street Blues
follow-up (Aug. 26)
Gimme a Break! Teachers Only
Friday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
official
Benson
Making a Living The ABC Friday Night Movie
follow-up (August)
The Greatest American Hero
Strike Force
CBS
The Dukes of Hazzard
Dallas
Falcon Crest
NBC
official
Lewis & Clark Chicago Story McClain's Law
follow-up (8/6)
One of the Boys Cassie & Co.
Saturday [ ]
Network
8:00 PM
8:30 PM
9:00 PM
9:30 PM
10:00 PM
10:30 PM
ABC
Today's F.B.I. The Love Boat
Fantasy Island
CBS
Walt Disney
The CBS Saturday Night Movies
NBC
official
Here's Boomer Harper Valley NBC Saturday Night at the Movies
follow-up (8/21)
Diff'rent Strokes
Pickups and Cancellations [ ] Full Season Pickups [ ] ABC
9 to 5 Benson Dynasty The Fall Guy Fantasy Island The Greatest American Hero Happy Days Hart to Hart Laverne and Shirley The Love Boat Monday Night Football T.J. Hooker That's Incredible! Three's Company Too Close For Comfort CBS
60 Minutes Alice Archie Bunker's Place Cagney & Lacey Dallas The Dukes of Hazzard Falcon Crest Filthy Rich The Jeffersons Knots Landing M*A*S*H Magnum, P.I. One Day at a Time Private Benjamin Simon & Simon Trapper John, M.D. Walt Disney NBC
CHiPs Diff'rent Strokes The Facts of Life Little House: A New Beginning Fame Father Murphy Gimme A Break! Hill Street Blues Love, Sidney Quincy, M.E. Real People Teachers Only (mid-season)Cancellations and Endings [ ] ABC
Barney Miller Best of the West Bosom Buddies Code Red Darkroom King's Crossing Maggie Making A Living (to return in first-run syndication in 1985 under its original title)Mork and Mindy No Soap Radio Open All Night Police Squad! The Phoenix Strike Force Today's FBI CBS
Baker's Dozen Herbie the Love Bug House Calls The Incredible Hulk Jessica Novak Lou Grant Mr. Merlin Nurse Q.E.D. Report to Murphy Shannon The Two of Us Universe WKRP in Cincinnati NBC
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters Bret Maverick Cassie & Co. Chicago Story Harper Valley Here's Boomer Lewis and Clark McClain's Law NBC Magazine One of the Boys Little House On The Prairie References [ ]