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in: United States primetime network television schedules

1985–86 United States network television schedule

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This was the United States television schedule on all three commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1985. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.

New fall series are highlighted in bold.

The highest-rated show for the year is highlighted in lime. The top ten rated programs are highlighted in yellow. The top 20 rated programs are highlighted in cyan. The top 30 rated programs are highlighted in magenta. The top 40 rated programs are highlighted in orange. The top 50 rated programs are highlighted in silver. Rankings determined by Nielsen Media Research.[1] [2]

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

Ratings data for some programs obtained from TVTango.com's ratings database

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 Ripley's Believe It or Not! #97 9.0 rating MacGyver #50 14.6 rating The ABC Sunday Night Movie #38 16.0 rating
CBS 60 Minutes #4 23.9 rating Murder, She Wrote #3 25.3 rating Crazy Like a Fox #47 15.0 rating Trapper John, M.D. #62 13.2 rating
NBC Punky Brewster #91 9.7 rating Silver Spoons #78 11.2 rating Amazing Stories #43 15.3 rating Alfred Hitchcock Presents #52 14.4 rating NBC Sunday Night at the Movies #22 18.5 rating

Monday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Hardcastle and McCormick #55 13.9 rating Monday Night Football #16 19.8 rating
CBS Scarecrow and Mrs. King #30 17.4 rating Kate & Allie #15 20.0 rating Newhart #17 19.6 rating Cagney & Lacey #33 16.7 rating
NBC TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes #42 15.4 rating NBC Monday Night at the Movies #24 18.3 rating

Tuesday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official Who's the Boss? #10 21.1 rating Growing Pains #19 19.5 rating Moonlighting #25 18.1 rating Our Family Honor #102 7.8 rating
follow-up (Nov. 5) Spenser: For Hire #69 12.6 rating
CBS official Hometown #86 10.1 rating CBS Tuesday Night Movies #34 16.3 rating
follow-up (Oct. 29) Specials
follow-up (Dec. 24) Stir Crazy #87 10.0 rating
NBC The A-Team #32 16.9 rating Riptide #59 13.6 rating Remington Steele #51 14.4 rating

Wednesday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC The Insiders #65 12.8 rating Dynasty #7 21.8 rating Hotel #23 18.3 rating
CBS official Stir Crazy #87 10.0 rating Charlie & Co. #75 11.6 rating George Burns Comedy Week #79 10.9 rating The Equalizer #68 12.6 rating
follow-up (Oct. 30) Specials
follow-up (Dec. 11) Mary #60 13.5 rating Foley Square #74 11.9 rating
NBC Highway to Heaven #14 20.1 rating Hell Town #54 14.1 rating St. Elsewhere #56 13.8 rating

Thursday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official The Fall Guy #39 15.8 rating Lady Blue #80 10.7 rating 20/20 #40 15.5 rating
follow-up (Nov. 21) Shadow Chasers #106 5.8 rating Dynasty II: The Colbys #37 16.0 rating
CBS Magnum, P.I. #49 14.6 rating Simon and Simon #31 17.2 rating Knots Landing #18 19.5 rating
NBC The Cosby Show #1 33.7 rating Family Ties #2 30.0 rating Cheers #5 23.7 rating Night Court #11 20.9 rating Hill Street Blues #35 16.1 rating

Friday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official Webster #44 15.3 rating Mr. Belvedere #48 14.8 rating Diff'rent Strokes #76 11.5 rating Benson #88 10.0 rating Spenser: For Hire #69 12.6 rating
follow-up (Nov. 8) Our Family Honor #102 7.8 rating
CBS The Twilight Zone #58 13.6 rating Dallas #6 21.9 rating Falcon Crest #26 18.1 rating
NBC Knight Rider #57 13.8 rating Misfits of Science #66 12.8 rating Miami Vice #9 21.3 rating

Saturday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official Hollywood Beat #93 9.4 rating Lime Street #63 13.0 rating The Love Boat #67 12.7 rating
follow-up (Nov. 2) The Fall Guy #101 7.8 rating Lady Blue #80 10.7 rating
CBS Airwolf #70 12.5 rating The CBS Saturday Night Movies #71 12.4 rating
NBC Gimme a Break! #36 16.0 rating The Facts of Life #29 17.7 rating The Golden Girls #7 21.8 rating 227 #21 18.8 rating Hunter #45 15.3 rating

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.

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 official Ripley's Believe It or Not! #97 9.0 rating MacGyver #50 14.6 rating The ABC Sunday Night Movie #38 16.0 rating
follow-up (Feb. 2) The Disney Sunday Movie #53 14.1 rating
CBS 60 Minutes #4 23.9 rating Murder, She Wrote #3 25.3 rating The CBS Sunday Night Movie #12 20.5 rating
NBC official Punky Brewster #91 9.7 rating Silver Spoons #78 11.2 rating Amazing Stories #43 15.3 rating Alfred Hitchcock Presents #52 14.1 rating NBC Sunday Night at the Movies #22 18.5 rating
follow-up (Apr. 6) Silver Spoons #78 11.2 rating Fathers and Sons #103 7.5 rating
follow-up (May 11) Punky Brewster #91 9.7 rating

Monday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Hardcastle and McCormick #55 13.9 rating The ABC Monday Night Movie #46 15.2 rating
CBS Scarecrow and Mrs. King #30 17.4 rating Kate & Allie #15 20.0 rating Newhart #17 19.6 rating Cagney & Lacey #33 16.7 rating
NBC official TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes #42 15.4 rating NBC Monday Night at the Movies #24 18.3 rating
follow-up (Mar. 3) You Again? #20 19.2 rating Valerie #27 18.1 rating

Tuesday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official Who's the Boss? #10 21.1 rating Growing Pains #19 19.5 rating Moonlighting #25 18.1 rating Spenser: For Hire #69 12.6 rating
follow-up (Mar. 25) Perfect Strangers #13 20.4 rating
CBS official Melba #105 6.5 rating Charlie & Co. #75 11.6 rating CBS Tuesday Night Movies #34 16.3 rating
follow-up (Feb. 4) Trapper John, M.D. #62 13.2 rating
follow-up (Mar. 25) Morningstar/Eveningstar #95 9.2 rating Mary #60 13.5 rating Foley Square #74 11.9 rating The Equalizer #68 12.6 rating
follow-up (Apr. 15) The New Mike Hammer (repeats) #83 10.6 rating
NBC official The A-Team #32 16.9 rating Riptide #59 13.6 rating Remington Steele #51 14.4 rating
follow-up (Mar. 4) Hunter #45 15.3 rating Stingray #64 12.9 rating

Wednesday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC MacGyver #50 14.6 rating Dynasty #7 21.8 rating Hotel #23 18.3 rating
CBS official Mary #60 13.5 rating Foley Square #74 11.9 rating Crazy Like a Fox #47 15.0 rating The Equalizer #68 12.6 rating
follow-up (Mar. 5) Fast Times #72 12.0 rating Tough Cookies #81 10.7 rating
follow-up (Apr. 30) West 57th #99 8.7 rating The CBS Wednesday Night Movie #61 13.4 rating
NBC Highway to Heaven #14 20.1 rating Blacke's Magic #41 15.5 rating St. Elsewhere #56 13.8 rating

Thursday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Ripley's Believe It or Not! #97 9.0 rating The Colbys #37 16.0 rating 20/20 #40 15.5 rating
CBS official Magnum, P.I. #49 14.6 rating Simon and Simon #31 17.2 rating Knots Landing #18 19.5 rating
follow-up (Apr. 17) Simon and Simon #31 17.2 rating Bridges to Cross #77 11.2 rating
NBC The Cosby Show #1 33.7 rating Family Ties #2 33.0 rating Cheers #5 23.7 rating Night Court #11 20.9 rating Hill Street Blues #35 16.1 rating

Friday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official Webster #44 15.3 rating Mr. Belvedere #48 14.8 rating Diff'rent Strokes #76 11.5 rating He's The Mayor #89 9.7 rating The Fall Guy #101 7.8 rating
follow-up (March 28) Mr. Sunshine #90 9.7 rating Joe Bash #104 7.4 rating
follow-up (May 9) The ABC Friday Night Movie #96 9.0 rating
CBS The Twilight Zone #58 13.6 rating Dallas #6 21.9 rating Falcon Crest #26 18.1 rating
NBC official Misfits of Science #66 12.8 rating Knight Rider #57 13.8 rating Miami Vice #9 21.3 rating
follow-up (Feb. 28) Riptide #59 13.6 rating
follow-up (Apr. 11) The Last Precinct #73 12.0 rating

Saturday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official The Redd Foxx Show #84 10.3 rating Benson #88 10.0 rating Fortune Dane #92 9.6 rating The Love Boat #67 12.7 rating
follow-up (Apr. 5) The Love Boat #67 12.7 rating
follow-up (Apr. 26) Mr. Sunshine #90 9.7 rating
CBS official Airwolf #70 12.5 rating The CBS Saturday Night Movies #71 12.4 rating
follow-up (Mar. 8) Crazy Like a Fox #47 15.0 rating
follow-up (Mar. 15) Airwolf #70 12.5 rating Magnum, P.I. #49 14.6 rating
NBC official Gimme a Break! #36 16.0 rating The Facts of Life #29 17.7 rating The Golden Girls #8 21.8 rating 227 #21 18.8 rating Hunter #45 15.3 rating
follow-up (Mar. 8) Remington Steele #51 14.4 rating
follow-up (Mar. 29) All Is Forgiven #28 17.8 rating

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 The Disney Sunday Movie #53 14.1 rating The ABC Sunday Night Movie #38 16.0 rating
CBS 60 Minutes #4 23.9 rating Murder, She Wrote #3 25.3 rating The CBS Sunday Night Movie #12 20.5 rating
NBC official Silver Spoons #78 11.2 rating Punky Brewster #91 9.7 rating Amazing Stories #43 15.3 rating Alfred Hitchcock Presents #52 14.4 rating NBC Sunday Night at the Movies #22 18.5 rating
follow-up (Jul. 27) Dalton's Code of Vengeance #82 10.6 rating

Monday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Monday Night Baseball #94 9.4 rating
CBS Scarecrow and Mrs. King #30 17.4 rating Kate & Allie #15 20.0 rating Newhart #17 19.6 rating Cagney & Lacey #33 16.7 rating
NBC Valerie #27 18.1 rating Amazing Stories #43 15.3 rating NBC Monday Night at the Movies #24 18.3 rating

Tuesday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Who's the Boss? #10 21.1 rating Growing Pains #19 19.5 rating Moonlighting #25 18.1 rating Spenser: For Hire #69 12.6 rating
CBS Simon and Simon #31 17.2 rating Magnum, P.I. #49 14.6 rating The Equalizer #68 12.6 rating
NBC The A-Team #32 16.9 rating Hunter #45 15.3 rating 1986 #85 10.1 rating

Wednesday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official MacGyver #50 14.6 rating Dynasty #7 21.8 rating Hotel #23 18.5 rating
follow-up (Aug.) Perfect Strangers #13 20.4 rating Mr. Sunshine #90 9.7 rating
CBS official Foley Square #74 11.9 rating Charlie & Co. #75 11.6 rating Airwolf #70 12.5 rating West 57th #99 8.7 rating
follow-up (Jul.) The CBS Wednesday Night Movie #61 13.4 rating
NBC Highway to Heaven #14 20.1 rating Gimme a Break! #36 16.0 rating You Again? #20 19.2 rating St. Elsewhere #56 13.8 rating

Thursday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Ripley's Believe It or Not! #97 9.0 rating The Colbys #37 16.0 rating 20/20 #40 15.5 rating
CBS official Crazy Like a Fox #47 15.0 rating Trapper John, M.D. #62 13.2 rating Knots Landing #18 19.5 rating
follow-up (Aug. 14) The Price Is Right #98 8.8 rating Crazy Like a Fox #47 15.0 rating Trapper John, M.D. #62 13.2 rating
NBC The Cosby Show #1 33.7 rating Family Ties #2 33.0 rating Cheers #5 23.7 rating Night Court #11 20.9 rating Hill Street Blues #35 16.1 rating

Friday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC official Webster #44 15.3 rating Mr. Belvedere #48 14.8 rating Mr. Sunshine #90 9.7 rating Specials The Love Boat #67 12.7 rating
follow-up (Aug.) Specials
CBS The Twilight Zone #58 13.6 rating Dallas #6 21.9 rating Falcon Crest #26 18.1 rating
NBC official Knight Rider #57 13.8 rating Miami Vice #9 21.3 rating Stingray #64 12.9 rating
follow-up (Aug. 15) The A-Team #32 16.9 rating Riptide #59 13.6 rating

Saturday[]

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Diff'rent Strokes #76 11.5 rating Benson #88 10.0 rating The ABC Saturday Night Movie #100 8.5 rating
CBS official Specials The CBS Saturday Night Movie #71 12.4 rating
follow-up (Aug. 2) Melba #105 6.5 rating Specials
NBC official The Facts of Life #29 17.7 rating 227 #21 18.8 rating The Golden Girls #8 21.8 rating Me & Mrs. C #39 15.9 rating Remington Steele #51 14.4 rating
follow-up (Aug. 2) All Is Forgiven #28 17.8 rating Hunter #45 15.3 rating

By Network[]

ABC[]

Returning Series:

  1. 20/20
  2. Benson
  3. Dynasty
  4. The Fall Guy
  5. Hotel
  6. The Love Boat
  7. Mr. Belvedere
  8. Moonlighting
  9. Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
  10. Webster
  11. Who's The Boss?

New Series:

  1. The Colbys
  2. Fortune Dane
  3. Growing Pains
  4. He's The Mayor
  5. Hollywood Beat
  6. The Insiders
  7. Joe Bash
  8. Lady Blue
  9. Lime Street
  10. Mr. Sunshine
  11. Our Family Honor
  12. Perfect Strangers
  13. The Redd Foxx Show
  14. Shadow Chasers

Revival of a Former Network Series:

  1. The Disney Sunday Movie

Pickup From Another Network:

  1. Diff'rent Strokes (formerly on NBC)

Not Returning From Last Season:

  1. Call to Glory
  2. Comedy Factory
  3. Eye To Eye
  4. Finder of Lost Loves
  5. Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders
  6. Glitter
  7. Hail to the Chief
  8. Hawaiian Heat
  9. Jessie
  10. MacGruder and Loud
  11. Matt Houston
  12. Paper Dolls
  13. People Do The Craziest Things
  14. Rock 'N' Roll Summer Action
  15. Three's A Crowd
  16. Wildside

CBS[]

Returning Series:

  1. Airwolf
  2. 60 Minutes
  3. Cagney & Lacey
  4. Crazy Like a Fox
  5. Dallas
  6. Falcon Crest
  7. Kate & Allie
  8. Knots Landing
  9. Magnum, P.I.
  10. Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer
  11. Murder, She Wrote
  12. Newhart
  13. Scarecrow and Mrs. King
  14. Simon & Simon
  15. Trapper John, M.D.

New Series:

  1. Bridges to Cross
  2. Charlie & Co.
  3. The Equalizer
  4. Fast Times
  5. Foley Square
  6. George Burns Comedy Week
  7. Hometown
  8. Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills
  9. Mary
  10. Melba
  11. Morningstar/Eveningstar
  12. The Price Is Right
  13. Stir Crazy
  14. Tough Cookies
  15. The Twilight Zone
  16. West 57th

Not Returning From Last Season:

  1. AfterMASH
  2. Alice
  3. Charles In Charge
  4. Cover Up
  5. Detective in the House
  6. Double Dare
  7. Dreams
  8. The Dukes of Hazzard
  9. E/R
  10. I Had Three Wives
  11. The Jeffersons
  12. The Lucie Arnaz Show
  13. Otherworld

NBC[]

Returning Series:

  1. The A-Team
  2. Cheers
  3. The Cosby Show
  4. The Facts of Life
  5. Family Ties
  6. Gimme A Break!
  7. Highway To Heaven
  8. Hill Street Blues
  9. Hunter
  10. Knight Rider
  11. Miami Vice
  12. Night Court
  13. Punky Brewster
  14. Remington Steele
  15. Riptide
  16. St. Elsewhere
  17. Silver Spoons
  18. TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes

New Series:

  1. 227
  2. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
  3. All Is Forgiven
  4. Amazing Stories
  5. Blacke's Magic
  6. Dalton's Code of Vengeance
  7. Fathers and Sons
  8. The Golden Girls
  9. Helltown
  10. The Last Precinct
  11. Me & Mrs. C
  12. Misfits of Science
  13. Stingray
  14. Valerie
  15. You Again?

Not Returning From Last Season:

  1. Berenger's
  2. The Best Times
  3. Codename: Foxfire
  4. Double Trouble
  5. Half Nelson
  6. Hot Pursuit
  7. It's Your Move
  8. Michael Nesmith in Television Parts
  9. Oceanquest
  10. Partners In Crime
  11. Sara
  12. Spencer (Under One Roof)
  13. V

Pickups and Cancellations[]

Full Season Pickups[]

ABC

  1. 20/20
  2. The Colbys
  3. The Disney Sunday Movie
  4. Dynasty
  5. Growing Pains
  6. MacGyver
  7. Mr. Belvedere
  8. Monday Night Baseball
  9. Monday Night Football
  10. Moonlighting
  11. Webster
  12. Who's The Boss?

CBS

  1. 60 Minutes
  2. Cagney & Lacey
  3. Dallas
  4. The Equalizer
  5. Falcon Crest
  6. Kate and Allie
  7. Knots Landing
  8. Magnum, P.I.
  9. Murder, She Wrote
  10. Newhart
  11. Scarecrow and Mrs. King
  12. Simon & Simon
  13. The Twilight Zone
  14. West 57th

NBC

  1. 227
  2. 1986
  3. The A-Team
  4. Amazing Stories
  5. Cheers
  6. The Cosby Show
  7. The Facts of Life
  8. Family Ties
  9. Gimme A Break!
  10. The Golden Girls
  11. Highway to Heaven
  12. Hill Street Blues
  13. Hunter
  14. Me & Mrs. C (mid-season)
  15. Miami Vice
  16. Night Court
  17. Remington Steele (mid-season)
  18. St. Elsewhere
  19. Valerie
  20. You Again?

Cancellations and Endings[]

ABC

  1. Benson
  2. Diff'rent Strokes
  3. The Fall Guy
  4. Fortune Dane
  5. Hardcastle and McCormick
  6. He's The Mayor
  7. Hollywood Beat
  8. The Insiders
  9. Joe Bash
  10. Lady Blue
  11. Lime Street
  12. The Love Boat
  13. Mr. Sunshine
  14. Our Family Honor
  15. Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
  16. Shadow Chasers

CBS

  1. Bridges to Cross
  2. Charlie & Co.
  3. Crazy Like A Fox
  4. Fast Times
  5. Foley Square
  6. George Burns Comedy Week
  7. Hometown
  8. Leo & Liz In Beverly Hills
  9. Mary
  10. Melba
  11. Morningstar/Eveningstar
  12. The Price Is Right (to continue in daytime, will return as prime-time specials from 2002-2009)
  13. Stir Crazy
  14. Tough Cookies
  15. Trapper John, M.D.

Change of Network Affiliation:

  1. Airwolf (to USA Network)

NBC

  1. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
  2. Blacke's Magic
  3. Dalton's Code of Vengeance
  4. Fathers and Sons
  5. Hell Town
  6. Knight Rider
  7. The Last Precinct
  8. Misfits of Science
  9. Punky Brewster (to return in First-run syndication in 1987)
  10. Riptide
  11. TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes (to continue as specials)

Change of Network Affiliation:

  1. Silver Spoons: (to First-run syndication)

References[]

  1. ↑ "1985-1986 Television Season Top Rated Shows". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2006-10-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20061031060404/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/ratings/1985_1986.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-15. 
  2. ↑ The Modesto Bee
v · d · e United States network television schedules
1946–47 · 1947–48 · 1948–49 · 1949–50
1950–51 · 1951–52 · 1952–53 · 1953–54 · 1954–55 · 1955–56 · 1956–57 · 1957–58 · 1958–59 · 1959–60
1960–61 · 1961–62 · 1962–63 · 1963–64 · 1964–65 · 1965–66 · 1966–67 · 1967–68 · 1968–69 · 1969–70
1970–71 · 1971–72 · 1972–73 · 1973–74 · 1974–75 · 1975–76 · 1976–77 · 1977–78 · 1978–79 · 1979–80
1980–81 · 1981–82 · 1982–83 · 1983–84 · 1984–85 · 1985–86 · 1986–87 · 1987–88 · 1988–89 · 1989–90
1990–91 · 1991–92 · 1992–93 · 1993–94 · 1994–95 · 1995–96 · 1996–97 · 1997–98 · 1998–99 · 1999–00
2000–01 · 2001–02 · 2002–03 · 2003–04 · 2004–05 · 2005–06 · 2006–07 · 2007–08 · 2008–09 · 2009–10
2010–11 • 2011–12 • 2012–13
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