Note: This is the first fall season for Fox, and the first year since 1958-59 that a fourth commercial television network (NTA) was broadcasting.
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.
From February 13 to 28, 1988, all of ABC's primetime programming was preempted in favor of coverage of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.
[1] Note: The Dictator was supposed to premiere March 15, 1988 at 8:30-9:00 on CBS, but My Sister Sam replaced it at the last minute due to the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike.