This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1986–87 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
| Rank | Program | Network | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Cosby Show | 34.9 | ||
| 2 | Family Ties | 32.7 | ||
| 3 | Cheers | 27.2 | ||
| 4 | Murder, She Wrote | 25.4 | ||
| 5 | The Golden Girls | NBC | 24.5 | |
| 6 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 23.3 | |
| 7 | Night Court | NBC | 23.2 | |
| 8 | Growing Pains | 22.7 | ||
| 9 | Moonlighting | 22.4 | ||
| 10 | Who's the Boss? | 22.0 | ||
| 11 | Dallas | CBS | 21.3 | |
| 12 | Newhart | 19.5 | ||
| 13 | Amen | NBC | 19.4 | |
| 14 | 227 | 18.9 | ||
| 15 | Matlock | 18.6 | ||
| CBS | ||||
| NBC | ||||
| 18 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 18.4 | |
| 19 | Kate & Allie | CBS | 18.3 | |
| 20 | NBC | 18.2 | ||
| 21 | L.A. Law | 17.4 | ||
| My Sister Sam | CBS | |||
| 23 | Falcon Crest | 17.3 | ||
| 24 | Highway to Heaven | NBC | 17.2 | |
| Dynasty | ABC | |||
| 26 | Knots Landing | CBS | 16.8 | |
| Miami Vice | NBC | |||
| 28 | ALF | 16.5 | ||
| Hunter | ||||
| 30 | Head of the Class | ABC | 16.4 |