1951–52 United States network television schedule

The 1951–52 United States network television schedule began in September of 1951 and ended in the spring of 1952. This was the first television season of national network interconnection by coaxial cable and microwave, meaning programming could be transmitted live coast-to-coast (or in the case of filmed programs, distributed simultaneously across the country) if needed.

On Sunday nights, NBC experimented with airing its new comedy-variety program Chesterfield Sound-off Time (featuring Bob Hope, Fred Allen and Jerry Lester as rotating hosts) in an early evening timeslot, 7:00–7:30. Previously, network TV variety programs had only been aired during late evening hours. According to television historians Castleman and Podrazik (1982), the experiment was designed to "duplicate the early-evening radio success of Jack Benny".^[1] (Benny himself would appear on rival network CBS's The Jack Benny Program immediately following Chesterfield Sound-off Time). Red Skelton also made his network television debut on NBC's Sunday night schedule this season, but long-term success eluded him until after he moved to CBS in the fall of 1953.

Although most TV programming was live, both CBS and NBC also experimented in filmed series; Castleman and Podrazik highlight early filmed hits I Love Lucy on CBS and Dragnet on NBC. Dragnet was "one of NBC's first major experiments in filmed TV series"; the series was added to NBC's regular network schedule in January 1952, after a "preview" on Chesterfield Sound-off Time in December 1951.^[1] I Love Lucy was given what historians have called a "choice time slot": Monday night immediately following the number one program on television: Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. The series "proved the strength and acceptability of TV sitcoms, giving [CBS] a strong weapon against NBC's flashy comedy-variety hours".^[1]

DuMont, too, avoided flashy comedy series when in February 1952, in desperation the network added Bishop Fulton Sheen's program, Life Is Worth Living, to its Tuesday night schedule. The religious series was pitted against NBC's hit program Texaco Star Theater, and became the surprise hit of the year, holding its own against Texaco host "Uncle Miltie", and attracting a sponsor, an Emmy, and 10 million viewers.^[2] The ABC and CBS programs which aired in the same time slot, Charlie Wild, Private Detective, and The Frank Sinatra Show (respectively), attracted relatively few viewers.^[2]

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.^[3]

     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.

Sunday

• On CBS, The Jack Benny Program (9/42.8) aired as occasional specials once every six to eight weeks at 7:30-8:00 pm.
• On NBC, Hopalong Cassidy (28/32.2) aired 6–7 p.m. until December, when it was partly replaced by The Roy Rogers Show (27/32.7), airing 6:30–7 p.m.

Monday

• In January 1952, The Speidel Show was renamed for its star, The Paul Winchell Show.

Tuesday

Wednesday

(*) From December 1951 to June 1952, these shows were 30 minutes, 10pm to 10:30pm ET

Thursday

• Wayne King was seen only on NBC's Midwest Network.

Friday

• On January 26, 1951, Versatile Varieties was replaced by Henry Morgan's Great Talent Hunt

Saturday

*formerly Four Star Revue

References

• McNeil, Alex. Total Television. Fourth edition. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-024916-8.
• Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (1964). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (3rd ed.). New York: Ballantine. ISBN 0-345-31864-1.