The following is the 1971–72 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1971 through August 1972. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1970–71 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football. This season would be the first time the prime time schedule would be shortened to three hours (with the exception of Sunday and Tuesday), giving the 7:30 p.m. slot back to local stations, as implemented in the Prime Time Access Rule. New fall 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. Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season. Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season. Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season. The Public Broadcasting Service was in operation, but the schedule was set by each local station. Sunday Note: 60 Minutes aired at 6:00-7:00 pm on CBS from January to June 1972. Monday Tuesday Note: The NBC 1972 summer series Ponderosa consisted of reruns of Bonanza episodes from the 1967-1970 period. More recent reruns of Bonanza also aired that summer under the shows original name in its regular Sunday evening time slot. NBC Action Playhouse consisted of reruns from Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, with new introductions by Peter Marshall. Wednesday Note: The ABC 1972 summer series ABC Comedy Hour Presents the Kopykats consisted of reruns of ABC Comedy Hour from earlier in the year. Thursday Note: My World and Welcome to It consisted of reruns of NBC's 1969-70 sitcom. Friday Saturday By network ABC Returning Series The ABC Sunday Night Movie ABC NFL Monday Night Football ABC Movie of the Week Alias Smith and Jones Bewitched The Brady Bunch The Courtship of Eddie's Father The F.B.I. Love, American Style Marcus Welby, M.D. The Mod Squad Nanny and the Professor The Odd Couple The Partridge Family Room 222 The Smith Family New Series The ABC Comedy Hour * The Corner Bar * Getting Together The Ken Berry 'Wow' Show * Longstreet The Man and the City The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine * Monday Night Special * Movie of the Weekend Owen Marshall, Counselor