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The final day of analog TV broadcasting, June 12, 2009.

Prime-Time Network
TV Shows
1950s to date


Home page >> Culture and Travel (blog) >> TV shows (Last updated: )

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ABC Dramas

{ ABC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { NBC } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Philco TV Pla. . . . . . . .
. MSaber . Vise NBC . . . . . .
. Wire Svc. . . . . . .
. Naked City . . . . . .
. 77 Sunset Strip . . . . . .
. Untouchables . . . (syn.) . .
. Hawaiian Eye . . . . . .
. . Ben Casey . . . . . .
. . Peyton Place . . . . .
. . Fugitive . . . . . .
. . F.B.I. . . . . .
. . Avengers . . . . . .
. . T. Thief . . . . .
. . Mod Squad . . . . .
. . Room 222 . . . . .
. . Marcus Welby . . . . .
. . . Rookies . . . . .
. . . Streets of S.F. . . . . .
. . . Pol.Woman . . . . .
. . . Starsky,Hutch . . . .
. . . Family . . . .
. . . 8 Enough . . . .
. . . Vega$ . . . .
. . . . Dynasty . . . .
. . . . M.Houston . . . .
. . . . T.J. Hooker >>CBS . . .
. . . . Hotel . . . .
. . . . Spenser: . . . .
. . . . 30-something . . .
. . . . Wonder Years . . .
. . . . Life Goes On . . .
. . . . . Commish . . .
. . . . . NYPD Blue . .
. . . . . . Grey's Anatomy
. . . . . . . Castle

ABC Situation Comedies

{ ABC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { NBC } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Stu Erwin . . . . . . .
. Ozzie and Harriet . . . . . .
. Danny T. >> CBS . . . . .
. Leave It to Beaver . . . (New LITB) . . .
. Donna Reed Show . . . . . .
. My Three Sons >> CBS . . . . .
. Patty Duke . . . . . .
. . Farm.Dau. . . . . . .
. . Ad.Fam. Addams Family . . . . . .
. . Bewitched . . . . .
. . F Tr. . . . . . .
. . That Girl . . . . .
. . Fly. Nun . . . . .
. . Brady Bunch . . . . .
. . Ct.Ed.Fa.Courtship of Eddie's Father . . . . .
. . Love Amer.Style . . . . .
. . Partridge F. . . . . .
. . Odd Couple . . . . .
. . . Happy Days . . . .
. . . W.B. Kotter . . . .
. . . Barney Miller . . . .
. . . What Hap. (syn.) . . .
. . . Laverne & Shirley . . . .
. . . Three's Company . . . .
. . . Soap . . . .
. . . Taxi . . . .
. . . Mork & M . . . .
. . . Too Close . . . .
. . . . Webster . . . .
. . . . Who's the Boss? . . .
. . . . Mr.Belvedere . . .
. . . . Growing Pains . . .
. . . . Head of Class . . .
. . . . Full House . . .
. . . . Roseanne ? . . .
. . . . Coach . . .
. . . . Doogie H. . . .
. . . . Family Mat. . . .
. . . . . Step byStep? . . .
. . . . . Home Impr. ? . . .
. . . . . Drew Carey . .

ABC Westerns & Variety

{ ABC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { NBC } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
(1949) Lone Ranger . . . . . . .
. Rin Tin Tin . . . . . . .
. Wyatt Earp . . . . . .
. Cheyenne . . . . . .
. Zorro . . . Fam. Ch. . .
. Maverick . . . . . .
. Rifleman . . . . . .
. Lawman . . . . . .
NBC<<: . Wag.Tr. . . . . . .
. . . KungFu . . . . .
. . . . Young Rid. . . .
. W. World of Disney >>NBC NBC CBS . Dis NBC . . .
NBC<< Voice of Firestone . . . . . .
. Lawrence Welk (syndicated) . . . .
. Pat Boone . . . . . .
CBS . J. Dean . . . . . .
. . Hollywood Palace . . . . .
. . T.J. . . . . .
. . . D & M . . . . .

ABC Adventures, etc.

{ ABC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { NBC } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
CBS<< NavyLog . . . . . . .
. . McHale's Navy . . . . . .
. . Combat . . . . . .
. . 12:00High . . . . . .
. . Voyage B.S. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea . . . . . .
. . Time Tunnel . . . . . .
. . . $6 Mill. Man . . . . .
. . . Love Boat . . . .
. . . Fantasy Island . . . .
. . . Hart to Hart . . . .
. . . That's Incred. . IS . . .
NBC . . . Ripley's BION . . . .
. . . . Hard&Mc . . . .
. . . . Moonlighting . . .
. . . . MacGyver . . .
. . . . Tw.P. . . .
. . . . . Lois/Clark . . .
. . . NBC . . V .
. Name/Same . . . . . . .
. . Newlywed Game . . . . .
. Flintstones . . . . . .
. Winchell . . . . . .
. . . 20/20
KEY: Drama Situation comedy Western Variety Other
(adventure, war, sci fi, etc.)		 Animated News
(documentary, etc.)		 Game
(quiz, reality, etc.)

NBC Dramas

{ ABC } { NBC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
MartinKane . . . . . . .
Armstrong C. Th. >>CBS . . . . . .
Fireside Theatre . . . . . . .
A Tr. Men. >>ABC . . . . . .
. Dragnet . Dragnet . . . . .
. Goodyear TV Playh. . . . . . .
. Loretta Young . . . . . .
. M Squad . . . . . .
. . Dr. Kildare . . . . . .
. . Novak . . . . . .
. . Ironside . . . . .
. . Julia . . . . .
. . Adam-12 . . . . .
. . Bold Ones* . . . . .
. . McCloud . . . . .
. . . McMillan & Wife . . . . .
. . . Emergency . . . . .
. . . Rockford Files . . . .
. . . . Hill St. Blues . . . .
. . . . RemingtonSteele . . . .
. . . . St. Elsewhere . . . .
. . . . Hwy./Heaven . . . .
. . . . Miami Vice . . .
. . . . Hunter . . .
. . . . Matlock >>ABC . .
. . . . L.A. Law . . .
. . . . Midnight C. . . .
. . . . Law & Order .
. . . . . Sisters ? . . .
. . . . . Homicide ? . .
. . . . . ER . .
. . . . . West Wing . .
. . . . . Law & Order: SVU
. . . . . . Law & Order: Criminal Intent

NBC Situation Comedies

{ ABC } { NBC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
LR . Life of Riley . . . . . . .
. Peepers . . . . . . .
CBS<< F K B >> CBS . . . . .
. . Joey B. CBS Bishop . . . . . .
. . Hazel >>CBS . . . . .
. . I Dream Jeannie . . . . .
. . Get Smart C . . . . .
. . Monkees . . . . . .
. . . Sanford & Son . . . . .
. . . Amen . . . .
. . Cos. . . Cosby . . .
. . . Diff'rent Strokes . . . .
. . . Facts of Life . . . .
. . . . Gimme Break . . . .
. . . . Family Ties . . . .
. . . . Silver Spoons . . . .
. . . . Cheers . . .
. . . . Mama's (syn.) . . .
. . . . Night Court . . .
. . . . 227 . . .
. . . . Golden Girls . . .
. . . . ALF . . .
. . . . Hogan F. >>CBS . .
. . . . My 2 Dads . . .
. . . . Different World . . .
. . . . Dear John . . .
. . . . Empty Nest . . .
. . . . Wings ? . . .
. . . . Fresh Prince . . .
. . . . Seinfeld . . .
. . . . . Nurses . . .
. . . . . Mad About You . . .
. . . . . Frasier . .
. . . . . Friends . .
. . . . . Will & Grace . .
. . . . . . The Office
. . . . . . 30 Rock
. . . . . . Parks & Rec
. . . . . . Community

NBC Westerns & Variety

{ ABC } { NBC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
. Roy Rogers . . . . . . .
. Tales Wells Fargo . . . . . .
. Bat M. . . . . . .
. Wagon Train >>ABC . . . . .
. Bonanza . . . . .
. Laramie . . . . . .
. . Branded . . . . . .
. . Virginian . . . . .
. . Daniel Boone . . . . .
. . High Chap. . . . . .
. . . Little House on Prairie . . . .
Your Show . . . . . . .
Your Hit Parade C . . . . . .
(1948) Milton Berle ABC . . . . .
Garroway . . . . . . .
ABC<< . Wonderful World of Disney >>CBS, ABC Dis . . .
. Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall . KMH . . . . .
G. Gobel C . . . . . .
. . Sing Along Mitch . . . . . .
Tenn. E. Ford . . . . . .
. Dinah Shore (Chevy) . . . . . .
. J. Paar . . . . . .
. Bell Telephone Hour . . . . . .
. Andy Williams . . . . . .
. . In.Showtime . . . . . .
. . BobHope/Chry.Th. . . . . . .
. . TW3 . . . . . .
. . Laugh-In . . . . .
. . Flip W. . . . . .
. . . DeanM . . . . .

NBC Adventures, etc.

{ ABC } { NBC: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
CBS<< Hitchcock CBS Hitchcock . . . . . .
. Mr. Wizard . . . . . . .
<<ABC ShirleyT. . . . . . .
. . (Sun. PM) Mutual of Omaha's WildKingdom (syndicated) . . . .
. . Flipper . . . . . .
. . Man / UNCLE . . . . . .
. . I Spy . . . . . .
. . Tarzan C . . . . .
. . Star Trek . . Next Gen., Deep Space 9, Voyager . .
. ITV<< Saint . . . . .
. . . NightG . . . . .
. . . . Night Rider . . . .
. . . . Unsolved Mysteries ? . .
. . . . QuantumLeap . . .
. . . . . Pretender . . .
. . . . . Profiler . . .
. . . . . . . Chuck
Who Said >>ABC . . . . . .
You Bet Your Life . . . . . .
. This Is Your Life . . . . . .
CBS Truth or Cons. . . . . . . .
. . Name/Game . . . . .
. . . . . . Fear Factor
. . . . . . Biggest Loser
(1947) Meet the Press >>Sunday PM . >>Sunday AM . . .
. YouthWK . . . . . . .
. . . Weekend . . . .
. . 1st Tuesday . . . . .
. . . . . Dateline NBC ?
KEY: Drama Situation comedy Western Variety Other
(adventure, war, sci fi, etc.)		 Animated News
(documentary, etc.)		 Game
(quiz, reality, etc.)

I still remember this slogan as clearly as if it were yesterday: "The following program is brought to you in living color on NBC!" Watch the video clip at Kris Trexler's Web site.

It quickly becomes apparent that NBC broadcast far fewer programs than either ABC or CBS during the 1960s. Part of this is because it had relatively more hour-long westerns and dramas, and relatively fewer sitcoms, but the main reason is because they began showing at least one movie per week beginning in 1961, later increasing to as many as three. See tvobscurities.com

CBS Dramas

{ ABC } { NBC } { CBS: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
(1948) Studio One . . . . . . .
The Web NBC . . . . . .
Suspense . . S . . . . . .
ManCrime >>Dum, NBC . . . . . .
Danger . . . . . . .
. General Electric Theater . . . . . .
. The Lineup . . . . . .
ABC<< U.S. Steel Hour . . . . . .
. Sgt.Preston . . . . . . .
. Millionaire . . . . . .
. Perry Mason . . . . . .
. Route 66 . . . . . .
. . Nurses . . . . . .
. . Defenders . . . . . .
. . Mission Impossible . . >>ABC . .
. . Daktari . . . . .
. . Mannix . . . . .
. . G.B. . . . . .
. . Hawaii Five-0 . . . . Hawaii Five-0
. . Medical Center . . . . .
. . . Cannon . . . . .
. . . The Waltons . . . .
. . . Kojak . . . . .
. . . Switch . . . . .
. . . Lou Grant . . . .
. . . Wh.Shad. . . . .
. . . Dallas . . .
. . . Trapper John, M.D. . . . .
. . . Magnum P.I. . . . .
. . . Knot's Landing . . .
. . . . Simon & Simon . . . .
. . . . Falcon Crest . . .
. . . . M.Hammer . . . .
. . . . Murder, She Wrote ? . . .
. . . . Night Heat . . .
. . . . Equalizer . . . .
. . . . Wiseguy . . .
. . . . Jake&Fatman . . .
. . . . NorthernExposure? . . .
. . . . . Swtg. Bullets . . .
. . . . . Silk Stalkings? . . .
. . . . . . CSI: Crime Scene Investig.
. . . . . . CSI: Miami
. . . . . . Good Wife
. . . . . . Mentalist

CBS Situation Comedies

{ ABC } { NBC } { CBS: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
G oldbergs (1949) >>NBC, Dum . . . . . .
(1949) Mama . . . . . . .
G. Burns & G. Allen . . . . . . . .
Jack Benny . . . . . .
. I Love Lucy LB-DA Lucy Show / Here's Lucy . . . . .
. Meet Millie . . . . . . .
. Topper >>ABC,NBC . . . . . .
. My Fav.Hus. . . . . . . .
. Phil Silvers . . . . . . .
. December Bride . . . . . .
. Father NBC KnowsBest >>ABC . . . . .
ABC << McCoy2 . . . . . . .
. Dobie Gillis . . . . . .
. Dennis M. . . . . . .
. Andy Griffith May.RFD . . . . .
. Dick Van Dyke . New DVD . . . . .
. . Mr. Ed . . . . . .
. ABC<< Danny T. . . . . . .
. . Beverly Hillbillies . . . . .
. . Petticoat Junction . . . . .
. . MyFavM . . . . . .
. . Gomer Pyle . . . . . .
. . Munst. . . . . . .
. . Gilligan's . . . . . .
. . MLD . . . . . .
. . Green Acres . . . . .
. . Hogan's Heroes . . . . .
. ABC << My Three Sons . . . . .
. . FamilyAffair . . . . .
. . Doris Day . . . . .
. . Mary Tyler Moore . . . . .
. . . All In the Family . . . .
. . . Bob Newhart . . Newhart . . .
. . . Maude . . . . .
. . . M*A*S*H . . . .
. . . Rhoda . . . . .
. . . GoodTimes . . . . .
. . . Jeffersons . . . .
. . . Alice . . . .
. . . WKRP . . . .
. . . . Kate & Allie . . . .
. . . . Designing Women . . .
. . . . Murphy Brown ? . . .
. . . . Maj. Dad . . .
. . . . Eve.Sh . . .
. . . . . Ev. Loves Ray. . .
. . . . . . Two 1/2 Men
. . . . . . Big Bang Theory
. . . . . . How I Met Your Mother

CBS Westerns & Variety

{ ABC } { NBC } { CBS: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Gene Autrey . . . . . . .
. Gunsmoke . . . . .
. Zane Grey . . . . . .
. HG, WT . . . . . .
. Wanted D/A . . . . . .
. Rawhide . . . . . .
. . WildWildWest . . . . . .
. . Big Valley . . . . .
. . . . . Dr. Quinn M.W. . .
. . . . . Walker, Tex.R. . .
(1948) Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour . . . . .
(1948) The Ed Sullivan Show . . . . .
Show Bus. >>NBC . . . . . .
(1949) Arthur Godfrey . . . . . . .
K.Murray . . . . . . .
StorkClub >>ABC . . . . . .
S . Steve Allen . S . . S . . . .
. The Red Skelton Show . . . . .
G . Garry Moore . G . . . . . .
. J. Gleason . J . Jackie Gleason . . . . .
. Danny Kaye . . . . . .
. . Carol Burnett . . . . .
. . S Sm.Br. > >ABC, NBC . . . .
. . HeHaw >> (syndication) (syndication) (syn.) . . .
. . . Sonny & . Cher . . . . .

CBS Adventures, etc.

{ ABC } { NBC } { CBS: dramas | sitcoms | westerns & variety | other } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
. Lassie (syndicated) . . . .
NBC<< Hitch. >>NBC . . . . . .
. R. Hood . . . . . . .
. Twilight Zone . . . Twi. Z. . . . .
. D . S.A. . . . . . .
. . Lost/Space . . . . . .
. . ABC W.Woman . . . .
. . . Dukes Hazzard . . . .
. . . . Scarecrow,MK . . . .
. . . . . ForeverKn. . . .
What's My Line . . . . . .
. Str./Rich . . . . . . .
. I've Got a Secret . . . . .
NBC<< Two for Money . . . . . . .
NBC<< Name That Tune . . . . . .
. $64,000 Q. . . . . . . .
ABC (1948), NBC, CBS Candid Camera . . . C . . .
. To Tell the Truth . . . . . .
. VV . . . . . .
. . Password . . . . . .
. . . . . Survivor (etc.)
. . . . . . Big Brother .
. SeeItNow . . . . . . .
. YouAreThere . . . . . . .
. The 20th Century (& 21st) . . . . .
. CBS Reports . . . . .
. Eyewitness to History . . . . . .
. . 60 Minutes
. . . . West 57th . . .
. . . . 48 Hours
KEY: Drama Situation comedy Western Variety Other
(adventure, war, sci fi, etc.)		 Animated News
(documentary, etc.)		 Game
(quiz, reality, etc.)

FOX programs (1987-)

{ ABC } { NBC } { CBS } { FOX, etc. }
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
. . . . 21 Jump St. . . .
. . . . Beverly Hills 90210 . .
. . . . . Melrose Place . .
. . . . . . 24 . .
. . . . . . House
. . . . . . Bones
. . . . . . Glee
. . . . Married w/ Children . . .
. . . . . Roc . . .
. . . . . Martin? . . .
. . . . TraceyUllman . . .
. . . . LivingColor . . .
. . . . . X Files ? . .
. . . . . . American Idol
. . . . The Simpsons
. . . . . King of the Hill .
. . . . . . Family Guy
. . . . . . American Dad
. . . . . . Cleveland Show
. . . . America's Most Wanted
. . . . Cops

Syndicated programs & minor networks
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
(syn.) Hwy. Patrol . . . . . . .
(syn.) Sea Hunt . . . . . .
. . . . . Dawson's (UPN) .
. . . . . Sex & City (HBO) .
. . . . . Sopranos (HBO) .
. Death Valley Days (syndicated) . . . . .
N 20 Ques A (NBC, ABC, Dumont!, ABC) . . . . .
. WhatStory? . (Dumont!) . . . . .
. . . . Wheel of Fortune (syndicated) .
KEY: Drama Situation comedy Western Variety Other
(adventure, war, sci fi, etc.)		 Animated News
(documentary, etc.)		 Game
(quiz, reality, etc.)

NOTE: NBC began broadcasting "in living color" in the late 1950s, and became virtually all-color by 1963, at which point CBS and ABC began color broadcasting.

Back to top ~ ABC ~ NBC ~ CBS

This page displays in tabular format a chronology of major network prime time television shows since the 1950s. In general, it includes weekly programs that lasted for at least three consecutive years on the same network, as well as others that have some special significance. Most game shows and most childrens' cartoons that were normally shown during the daytime are excluded. (Such programs were often used as prime-time "fillers" back then.) TV shows that switched from one network to another are shown in both network sections, along with parenthetical notes to the right or left. The television season typically began in September-October, and ended in April-May; some shows that began or ended in mid-season (January) are so indicated. Within each network section, programs are grouped and color-coded according to genre: Drama, Sitcom, Variety, Western, Other (war, science fiction, etc.), Animated cartoons, and News documentaries. Some genres were not included in some networks' broadcast lineups. See the color key at the end of each network section, and a list of Web site links at the bottom of the page.

Reference books

Tim Brooks & Earl Marsh, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-present (Ballantine, 1995)

Jon Hein, Jump the Shark (Penguin/Plume, 2002)

External links

Internet Movie Database

tvhistory.tv

Ed Reitan: early color TV

fiftiesweb.com

classictvhits.com

timvp.com

lyricsondemand.com