The following is the1961–62 network television schedule for the three major English language commercialbroadcast networks in the United States. The schedule coversprimetime hours from September 1961 through April 1962. The schedule is followed by alist per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the1960–61 season.

The previous season had been criticized byFederal Communications Commission chairmanNewton Minow in May 1961. Minow had criticized poor programs and weak network schedules, calling television a "vast wasteland" and calling on television executives to try harder to develop innovative and interesting television programs.^[1]

Television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982) believe the 1961–62 season marked a comeback for television, as the networks rearranged their schedules to accommodate the critics. They point outCBS's high-quality legal dramaThe Defenders,NBC's medical dramaDr. Kildare, CBS'sThe Dick Van Dyke Show, andABC's medical dramaBen Casey as bright spots in the new TV schedule. Despite the praise for these four series, the authors also highlight several less worthy series which debuted during the 1961–62 season:Room for One More,Window on Main Street,Hazel ("possibly the dumbest family in TV history"), and the truly terribleThe Hathaways ("possibly the worst series ever to air on network TV").^[1]

NBC lured Disney's popular anthology series from ABC;Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color premiered on September 24, 1961. The color programs were a change from the previous ABC programs, which had been seen in black and white.^[1]

NBC also added a movie night to its schedule; the network paid $25 million for the rights to broadcast 50 20th-Century Fox films on Saturday nights. In April 1962, ABC followed suit when it added its own Sunday night movie to its schedule.^[1]

All times are Eastern and Pacific. New fall series are highlighted inbold.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined byNielsen Media Research.^[2]

  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.

* formerlyWalt Disney Presents

Note:Mister Ed, previously syndicated, aired on CBS, 6:30-7 p.m.

* In some areas,Douglas Edwards with the News alongsideWalter Cronkite with the News andThe Huntley-Brinkley Report aired at 6:45 p.m.(ET).

NOTE: OnCBS, the summeranthology seriesThe Comedy Spot consisted of broadcasts of unsoldtelevision pilots, one of which previously had aired in 1960 as an episode ofNew Comedy Showcase.

Note:Mrs. G. Goes to College moved to Thursday nights in January asThe Gertrude Berg Show, allowingThe Dick Van Dyke Show to take its time spot. Several episodes ofThe Joey Bishop Show andWagon Train were shown in color.

Notes:The Bob Cummings Show was retitledThe New Bob Cummings Show on December 28.The Law and Mr. Jones moved to the 9:30-10:00 p.m. time slot onABC on April 19.Hazel on November 2, 1961 was shown in color. The episodes ofBrenner that ran on CBS in the summer of 1962 were reruns of episodes from the summer of 1959.

* formerlyEyewitness To History** formerlyThe Chevy Show

Room for One More aired on ABC from January 27 to July 28, 1962, 8-8:30 p.m.

Beginning January 6,Matty's Funday Funnies becameMatty's Funnies With Beany & Cecil.

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

• Castleman, H. & Podrazik, W. (1982).Watching TV: Four Decades of American Television. New York: McGraw-Hill. 314 pp.
• McNeil, Alex.Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books.ISBN 0-14-024916-8.
• Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1984).The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine.ISBN 0-345-31864-1.

• United States primetime network television schedules
• 1961 in American television
• 1962 in American television

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from March 2025