My Ideal ABC 1989 Lineup

[Jerryt]

Since my childhood I always wondered about pursuing a career in television. Still do look at old fall campaigns from the major networks, looking at the schedules, and etc. So years ago on this very forum I did a series called "Television VS" where I compared two networks from different years against each other and let members vote on who was better. Had a blast doing it but due to school and other factors I disappeared from this forum for over 5 years.
Now I'm back to add a spin to my original idea where I only focus on one television network programming year lineup. Tweaking it and letting you guys decide if it good or not.
The first edition I will focus on ABC 1989 schedule. ABC at this point just struck gold with Roseanne the previous year. Adding this with the start of the successful TGFI lineup and other modestly well rated sitcoms was good enough momentum against the powerhouse of NBC.

Orignal ABC 1989 Lineup
ABC Saturday Night
800pm - Mr. Belvedere
830pm - Living Dolls
900pm - The ABC Saturday Mystery

ABC Sunday Night
700pm - Life Goes On
800pm - Free Spirit
830pm - Homeroom
900pm - The ABC Sunday Night Movie

ABC Monday Night
800pm - MacGyver
900pm - Monday Night Football

ABC Tuesday Night
800pm - Who's the Boss?
830pm - The Wonder Years
900pm - Roseanne
930pm - Chicken Soup
1000pm - Thirtysomething

ABC Wednesday Night
800pm - Growing Pains
830pm - Head of the Class
900pm - Anything but Love
930pm - Doogie Howser, M.D.
1000pm - China Beach

ABC Thursday Night
800pm - Mission Impossible
900pm - The Young Riders
1000pm - Primetime Live

ABC Friday Night
800pm - Full House
830pm - Family Matters
900pm - Perfect Strangers
930pm - Just the Ten of Us
1000pm - 20/20


As you see this is a decent to good schedule by itself. But I believed with a few more tweaks ABC would've knock NBC off the throne within a year or two and ushered a new renaissance for the network that haven't been seen since the late 70's. To prove how ABC felt about this period their slogan that year was "Something's Happen Here On ABC"

Below is my tweaked verison of the schedule



ABC Saturday Night
800pm - Father Dowling Mysteries
900pm - The ABC Saturday Mystery

ABC Sunday Night
700pm - Life Goes On
800pm - America's Funniest Home Videos
900pm - The ABC Sunday Night Movie

ABC Monday Night
800pm - MacGyver
900pm - Monday Night Football

ABC Tuesday Night
800pm - Who's the Boss?
830pm - Doogie Howser, M.D.
900pm - Roseanne
930pm - Coach
1000pm - Twin Peaks

ABC Wednesday Night
800pm - Growing Pains
830pm - Just the Ten of Us
900pm - The Wonder Years
930pm - Anything But Love
1000pm - Thirtysomething

ABC Thursday Night
800pm - The Young Riders
900pm - China Beach
1000pm - Primetime Live

ABC Friday Night
800pm - Full House
830pm - Family Matters
900pm - Perfect Strangers
930pm - Head of The Class
1000pm - 20/20

Mr. Belvedere for midseason

[danderson400]

If ABC had American Gladiators, where would you put it. Monday Nights or Saturdays?

[glickmam]

Mr. Belvedere at mid season for Friday nights? Count me in. At least on Friday nights, Mr. Belvedere can have some decent prosperity.

[mets82]

Your Wednesday night lineup is excellent. Man, there were a lot of great shows back then, wasnt there?

[Bonniegirl]

I like your Tuesday and Wednesday lineup!!

[danderson400]

My schedule would be the same too, expect maybe if ABC still had baseball, maybe moving it back to Monday nights, plus a late Sunday exclusive window. Thursday night baseball would never work opposite Cosby, unless maybe when MNF starts.

I'm not sure if China Beach would work on Thursdays at 9 opposite Cheers, so i have a suggestion, moving Pirmetime Live to before MNF, and moving China Beach to either Thursdays at 10, or maybe Tuesdays.

[KentB3]

Originally Posted by Jerryt

Since my childhood I always wondered about pursuing a career in television. Still do look at old fall campaigns from the major networks, looking at the schedules, and etc. So years ago on this very forum I did a series called "Television VS" where I compared two networks from different years against each other and let members vote on who was better. Had a blast doing it but due to school and other factors I disappeared from this forum for over 5 years.
Now I'm back to add a spin to my original idea where I only focus on one television network programming year lineup. Tweaking it and letting you guys decide if it good or not.
The first edition I will focus on ABC 1989 schedule. ABC at this point just struck gold with Roseanne the previous year. Adding this with the start of the successful TGFI lineup and other modestly well rated sitcoms was good enough momentum against the powerhouse of NBC.

Orignal ABC 1989 Lineup
ABC Saturday Night
800pm - Mr. Belvedere
830pm - Living Dolls
900pm - The ABC Saturday Mystery

ABC Sunday Night
700pm - Life Goes On
800pm - Free Spirit
830pm - Homeroom
900pm - The ABC Sunday Night Movie

ABC Monday Night
800pm - MacGyver
900pm - Monday Night Football

ABC Tuesday Night
800pm - Who's the Boss?
830pm - The Wonder Years
900pm - Roseanne
930pm - Chicken Soup
1000pm - Thirtysomething

ABC Wednesday Night
800pm - Growing Pains
830pm - Head of the Class
900pm - Anything but Love
930pm - Doogie Howser, M.D.
1000pm - China Beach

ABC Thursday Night
800pm - Mission Impossible
900pm - The Young Riders
1000pm - Primetime Live

ABC Friday Night
800pm - Full House
830pm - Family Matters
900pm - Perfect Strangers
930pm - Just the Ten of Us
1000pm - 20/20


As you see this is a decent to good schedule by itself. But I believed with a few more tweaks ABC would've knock NBC off the throne within a year or two and ushered a new renaissance for the network that haven't been seen since the late 70's. To prove how ABC felt about this period their slogan that year was "Something's Happen Here On ABC"

Below is my tweaked verison of the schedule



ABC Saturday Night
800pm - Father Dowling Mysteries
900pm - The ABC Saturday Mystery

ABC Sunday Night
700pm - Life Goes On
800pm - America's Funniest Home Videos
900pm - The ABC Sunday Night Movie

ABC Monday Night
800pm - MacGyver
900pm - Monday Night Football

ABC Tuesday Night
800pm - Who's the Boss?
830pm - Doogie Howser, M.D.
900pm - Roseanne
930pm - Coach
1000pm - Twin Peaks

ABC Wednesday Night
800pm - Growing Pains
830pm - Just the Ten of Us
900pm - The Wonder Years
930pm - Anything But Love
1000pm - Thirtysomething

ABC Thursday Night
800pm - The Young Riders
900pm - China Beach
1000pm - Primetime Live

ABC Friday Night
800pm - Full House
830pm - Family Matters
900pm - Perfect Strangers
930pm - Head of The Class
1000pm - 20/20

Mr. Belvedere for midseason

This is a good lineup, though I would put The Wonder Years at 8:30 and Just the Ten of Us at 9 in Wednesday nights.

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by KentB3

This is a good lineup, though I would put The Wonder Years at 8:30 and Just the Ten of Us at 9 in Wednesday nights.

I agree, it is a good lineup, but a change that I would make would be to have Mr. Belvedere and Who's the Boss? exchange time slots. That way, Mr. Belvedere could actually flourish better with same boat sitcoms Roseanne and Coach since all three shows are very witty and very sophisticated, while Who's the Boss? would fit right in with ultra camp sitcoms Full House, Perfect Strangers, and Family Matters and not stick out like a sore thumb.

[bh7812]

I always disagreed with where they scheduled both Mr. Belvidere and Head Of The Class. Both of those shows were much more suited for TGIF and belonged in that block instead. I do wonder if either could have gotten higher ratings on Fridays as opposed to the nights they were on. I definitely feel at the very least HOTC would have benefitted a lot from being moved to Fridays. Maybe even doing well enough to get an extra season or two. But by the end of that show's run it was pretty much ready to go. Both shows lasted as long as they were meant to in the general time period, the 80s, that they were meant to.

[Jerryt]

Originally Posted by mets82

Your Wednesday night lineup is excellent. Man, there were a lot of great shows back then, wasnt there?

Truly was man!

[Jerryt]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

I like your Tuesday and Wednesday lineup!!

Thanks! Tuesday could've easily been the new "Must See TV" lineup for the 90s!

[Jerryt]

Originally Posted by danderson400

My schedule would be the same too, expect maybe if ABC still had baseball, maybe moving it back to Monday nights, plus a late Sunday exclusive window. Thursday night baseball would never work opposite Cosby, unless maybe when MNF starts.

I'm not sure if China Beach would work on Thursdays at 9 opposite Cheers, so i have a suggestion, moving Pirmetime Live to before MNF, and moving China Beach to either Thursdays at 10, or maybe Tuesdays.

China Beach Thursdays at 10 would've worked as well outside of the competition against Cheers. Thanks for your suggestion!

[Jerryt]

Originally Posted by danderson400

If ABC had American Gladiators, where would you put it. Monday Nights or Saturdays?

Most likely Monday during spring and summer months. Always thought Saturdays are better for movie nights than original programming. Plus more potential eyes on Mondays means American Gladiators could be a major hit replacing football.

[danderson400]

I tend to agree, with college football being a good lead-in for those movies. ABC could bump the movies for some prime time games

[king of comedy]

Your schedule looks better.