1985–86 United States network television schedule
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 series are highlighted in bold.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.
This was also 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.
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.
Much of the ratings come from AmericanRadioHistory.com's PDF archive
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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.By network
ABC">American Broadcasting Company">ABC
Returning Series- 20/20
- The ABC Sunday Night Movie
- The ABC Monday Night Movie
- Benson
- Dynasty
- Diff'rent Strokes Moved From NBC
- The Fall Guy
- Hardcastle and McCormick
- Hotel
- The Love Boat
- Monday Night Baseball
- Monday Night Football
- Mr. Belvedere
- Moonlighting
- Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- Webster
- Who's the Boss?
- The Colbys *
- The Disney Sunday Movie *
- Fortune Dane *
- Growing Pains
- He's the Mayor *
- Hollywood Beat
- Joe Bash *
- Lime Street
- Mr. Sunshine *
- Our Family Honor
- The Insiders
- Lady Blue
- MacGyver
- Perfect Strangers *
- The Redd Foxx Show *
- Shadow Chasers *
- Call to Glory
- Eye to Eye
- Finder of Lost Loves
- Foul-Ups, Bleeps & Blunders
- Glitter
- Hawaiian Heat
- Jessie
- MacGruder and Loud
- Matt Houston
- Me and Mom
- Off the Rack
- Paper Dolls
- People Do the Craziest Things
- Street Hawk
- T. J. Hooker @
- Three's a Crowd
- Wildside
[CBS]
- 60 Minutes
- Airwolf
- Cagney & Lacey
- CBS Sunday Movie
- Crazy Like a Fox
- Dallas
- Falcon Crest
- Kate & Allie
- Knots Landing
- Magnum, P.I.
- Murder, She Wrote
- Newhart
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King
- Simon & Simon
- Trapper John, M.D.
- Bridges to Cross *
- Charlie & Co.
- The Equalizer
- Fast Times *
- Foley Square *
- George Burns Comedy Week
- Hometown
- Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills *
- Mary *
- Melba *
- Morningstar/Eveningstar *
- Stir Crazy
- Tough Cookies *
- The Twilight Zone
- West 57th *
- AfterMASH
- Alice
- Charles in Charge
- Cover Up
- Dreams
- The Dukes of Hazzard
- E/R
- The Jeffersons
- Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer +
- Otherworld
- The Lucie Arnaz Show
[NBC]
- The A-Team
- Cheers
- The Cosby Show
- The Facts of Life
- Family Ties
- Gimme a Break!
- Highway to Heaven
- Hill Street Blues
- Hunter
- Knight Rider
- Miami Vice
- NBC Sunday Night Movie
- NBC Monday Night at the Movies
- Night Court
- Punky Brewster
- Remington Steele
- Riptide
- St. Elsewhere
- Silver Spoons
- TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes
- 227
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents
- All Is Forgiven *
- Amazing Stories
- Blacke's Magic *
- The Golden Girls
- Fathers and Sons *
- Hell Town
- The Last Precinct *
- Me & Mrs. C *
- Misfits of Science
- Stingray *
- Valerie *
- You Again? *
- Berrenger's
- The Best Times
- Code Name: Foxfire
- Diff'rent Strokes
- Double Trouble
- Half Nelson
- Hot Pursuit
- It's Your Move
- Partners in Crime
- Sara
- Spencer/Under One Roof
- V
^ 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.