1970–71 United States network television schedule explained

The following is the 1970–71 network television schedule for the three major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1970 through August 1971. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1969–70 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.

This was the first time that the top rated show of the season aired on ABC.

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.[1]

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.

PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation by October 1970; however, schedules were set by each affiliated station.

In April 1970, Congress passed a law banning the advertising of cigarettes on television and radio, effective January 2, 1971.

This season would be the last one for the traditional 3½-hour prime time schedule.

Sunday

Network7:00 PM7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallThe Young RebelsThe F.B.I. (10/23.0)The ABC Sunday Night Movie (28/19.7)
WinterLocal
CBSFallLassieHogan's HeroesThe Ed Sullivan ShowThe Glen Campbell Goodtime HourThe Tim Conway Comedy Hour
DecemberThe Honeymooners
SummerThe CBS Sunday Night MovieThe Ice Palace
AugustAnimal WorldComedy PlayhouseThe Sonny & Cher Comedy HourSix Wives of Henry VIII
NBCFallWild KingdomThe Wonderful World of Disney (13/22.4)
(Tied with Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In)
The Bill Cosby ShowBonanza (9/23.9)The Bold Ones


The New Doctors /
The Lawyers / The Senator

SummerLocalThe Red Skelton Show
NOTE: On CBS, Comedy Playhouse was an anthology series composed of unsold television pilots.

Monday

Network7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallThe Young LawyersThe Silent ForceMonday Night Football
WinterLet's Make a DealThe Newlywed GameThe Reel GameThe ABC Monday Night Movie
SpringIt Was a Very Good Year
CBSFallGunsmoke (5/25.5)Here's Lucy (3/26.1) Mayberry R.F.D. (15/22.3)The Doris Day Show (20/20.7)The Carol Burnett Show (25/19.8)
(Tied with The Partridge Family and NBC Monday Night at the Movies)
SummerThe Lucy Show rerunsSuspense Playhouse
Follow-upThe CBS Newcomers
NBCFallThe Red Skelton ShowRowan & Martin's Laugh-In (13/22.4)
(Tied with The Wonderful World of Disney)
NBC Monday Night at the Movies (25/19.8)
(Tied with The Carol Burnett Show and The Partridge Family)
SpringFrom a Bird's Eye View
SummerNBC Comedy Theater
Follow-upSpecialsMonday Night Baseball

Note: NBC Comedy Theater featured repeats of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, with new introductions by Jack Kelly.

Tuesday

Network7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCThe Mod Squad (11/22.7)ABC Movie of the Week (6/25.1)Marcus Welby, M.D. (1/29.6)
CBSFallThe Beverly HillbilliesGreen AcresHee Haw (16/21.4)To Rome With LoveCBS News Hour / 60 Minutes
WinterAll in the Family
SummerCimarron Strip rerunsSpecials
NBCFallThe Don Knotts ShowJuliaNBC Tuesday Night at the Movies / First Tuesday
WinterJuliaThe Don Knotts Show
SummerThe Bill Cosby Show
Follow-upMake Your Own Kind of Music

Wednesday

Network7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallThe Courtship of Eddie's FatherDanny Thomas in Make Room for GranddaddyRoom 222The Johnny Cash ShowDan August
WinterRoom 222The Smith Family (21/20.6)The Young Lawyers
SummerLove on a Rooftop rerunsThe Immortal NFL Action
CBSFallStorefront LawyersThe Governor & J.J.Medical Center (8/24.5)Hawaii Five-O (7/25.0)
WinterMen at LawTo Rome with Love
NBCFallThe Men from Shiloh (18/21.2)Kraft Music HallFour in One

McCloud / San Francisco International Airport / Night Gallery / The Psychiatrist

SummerThe Des O'Connor Show

Notes: Love on a Rooftop consisted of reruns of the series, which originally aired during the 1966-1967 season. The Men from Shiloh formerly was entitled The Virginian.

Thursday

Network7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallMatt LincolnBewitchedBarefoot in the ParkThe Odd CoupleThe Immortal
WinterAlias Smith and JonesDanny Thomas in Make Room for GranddaddyDan AugustLocal
CBSFallFamily AffairThe Jim Nabors Hour (29/19.5)The CBS Thursday Night Movies (30/19.3)
SummerLancer reruns
NBCFallThe Flip Wilson Show (2/27.9)Ironside (4/25.7)Nancy The Dean Martin Show (24/20.0)
WinterAdam-12 (12/22.6)
SummerNBC Action PlayhouseThe Dean Martin Summer Show Starring Your Host Vic Damone reruns

Notes: The Dean Martin Summer Show Starring Your Host Vic Damone consisted entirely of reruns of the show of the same name from the summer of 1967. NBC Action Playhouse featured repeats of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, with new introductions by Peter Marshall.

Friday

Network7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallThe Brady BunchNanny and the ProfessorThe Partridge Family (25/19.8)
(Tied with The Carol Burnett Show and NBC Monday Night at the Movies)
That GirlLove, American StyleThis Is Tom Jones
WinterThe Odd CoupleLove, American Style
CBSFallThe InternsHeadmasterThe CBS Friday Night Movies
WinterThe New Andy Griffith Show
SummerHeadmaster (repeats)
NBCFallThe High ChaparralThe Name of the GameBracken's World
WinterStrange Report

Saturday

Network7:30 PM8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallLet's Make a DealThe Newlywed GameThe Lawrence Welk ShowThe Most Deadly GameLocal
WinterThe Lawrence Welk ShowThe Pearl Bailey ShowLocal
SummerThe Val Doonican Show
CBSMission: ImpossibleMy Three Sons (19/20.8)Arnie The Mary Tyler Moore Show (22/20.3)Mannix (17/21.3)
NBCFallThe Andy Williams ShowAdam-12 (12/22.6)NBC Saturday Night at the Movies (23/20.1)
WinterNBC Saturday Night at the Movies (23/20.1)Local

By network

ABC

Returning Series

New Series

Not returning from 1969–70:

CBS

Returning Series

New Series

Not returning from 1969–70:

NBC

Returning Series

New Series

Not returning from 1969–70:

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

References

Additional sources

Notes and References

  1. Highest-rated series is based on the annual top-rated programs list compiled by Nielsen Media Research and reported in: Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. .