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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.

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 in May 1986 is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research. Most of the ratings come from AmericanRadioHistory.com's PDF archive. This was 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.

Legend

Schedule

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Notes:

  • The premiere episode of Melba and a new episode of Charlie & Co. aired at 8 and 8:30 p.m. respectively on January 28, 1986 (the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster), but both shows were put on hiatus immediately afterwards. The former was burned off during the summer and the latter resumed airing in a different slot during the spring.
  • Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer consisted on repeats of the 1983–84 series.
  • 1986 aired as a "preview" series in advance of the 1986–87 season.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Note:

  • Diff'rent Strokes aired a one-hour season premiere on September 27 at 9:00pm.

Saturday

Notes:

  • 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.
  • The Love Boat had a number of 2-hour episodes throughout the season, airing from 9 to 11 p.m. Assorted repeats from previous seasons aired on the 9 p.m. slot during the spring.

By network

ABC

Returning series

New series

Not returning from 1984–85:

CBS

Returning series

New series

Not returning from 1984–85:

NBC

Returning series

New series

Not returning from 1984–85:

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.

See also

Notes

References