The 1986–87 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1986 through August 1987. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1985–86 season. Although Fox debuted as a fourth network effort in October 1986, the network waited until April 1987 to commence offering prime time programming, effectively deferring its first Fall programming season until September 1987. PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation but the schedule was set by each local station. 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. Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research. Legend Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday By network ABC Returning Series 20/20 The ABC Sunday Night Movie The Colbys The Disney Sunday Movie Dynasty Growing Pains Hotel MacGyver Mr. Belvedere Monday Night Baseball Monday Night Football Moonlighting Perfect Strangers Spenser: For Hire Webster Who's the Boss? New Series Animal Crack-Ups * + The Charmings * Dads * The Ellen Burstyn Show Gung Ho * Harry * Head of the Class Heart of the City Jack and Mike Life with Lucy Mariah Max Headroom * Ohara * Our World Sidekicks Sledge Hammer! Starman Not returning from 1985–86: Benson Diff'rent Strokes The Fall Guy Hardcastle and McCormick Hollywood Beat The Insiders Lady Blue Life's Most Embarrassing Moments Lime Street The Love Boat Our Family Honor Ripley's Believe It or Not! Shadow Chasers + Animal Crack-Ups had a short run in prime time before moving to Saturday mornings in the fall of 1987. CBS Returning Series 60 Minutes Cagney & Lacey CBS Sunday Movie Dallas The Equalizer Falcon Crest Kate & Allie Knots Landing Magnum, P.I. The New Mike Hammer + Murder, She Wrote Newhart Scarecrow and Mrs. King Simon & Simon The Twilight Zone West 57th * New Series Better Days The Cavanaughs * CBS Summer Playhouse Designing Women Downtown Hard Copy * Houston Knights * Kay O'Brien My Sister Sam Outlaws * The Popcorn Kid * Roxie * Shell Game * Spies * Take Five * Together We Stand/Nothing Is Easy The Wizard Not returning from 1985–86: Airwolf