| Rank | Year |
|
Network |
| 1 | 1985-86 | The Cosby Show | NBC |
| 2 | 1985-86 | Family Ties | NBC |
| 3 | 1985-86 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS |
| 4 | 1985-86 | 60 Minutes | CBS |
| 5 | 1985-86 | Cheers | NBC |
| 6 | 1985-86 | Dallas | CBS |
| 7 | 1985-86 | Dynasty | ABC |
| 8 | 1985-86 | The Golden Girls | NBC |
| 9 | 1985-86 | Miami Vice | NBC |
| 10 | 1985-86 | Who's the Boss? | ABC |
| 11 | 1985-86 | Night Court | NBC |
| 12 | 1985-86 | CBS Sunday Night Movie | CBS |
| 13 | 1985-86 | Highway to Heaven | NBC |
| 14 | 1985-86 | Kate & Allie | CBS |
| 15 | 1985-86 | Monday Night Football | ABC |
| 16 | 1985-86 | Newhart | CBS |
| 17 | 1985-86 | Knots Landing | CBS |
| 18 | 1985-86 | Growing Pains | ABC |
| 19 | 1985-86 | You Again | NBC |
| 20 | 1985-86 | 227 | NBC |
| 21 | 1985-86 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC |
| 22 | 1985-86 | Hotel | ABC |
| 23 | 1985-86 | NBC Monday Night Movie | NBC |
| 24 | 1985-86 | Moonlighting | ABC |
| 25 | 1985-86 | Falcon Crest | CBS |
| 1 | 1986-87 | The Cosby Show | NBC |
| 2 | 1986-87 | Family Ties | NBC |
| 3 | 1986-87 | Cheers | NBC |
| 4 | 1986-87 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS |
| 5 | 1986-87 | The Golden Girls | NBC |
| 6 | 1986-87 | 60 Minutes | CBS |
| 7 | 1986-87 | Night Court | NBC |
| 8 | 1986-87 | Growing Pains | ABC |
| 9 | 1986-87 | Moonlighting | ABC |
| 10 | 1986-87 | Who's the Boss? | ABC |
| 11 | 1986-87 | Dallas | CBS |
| 12 | 1986-87 | Newhart | CBS |
| 13 | 1986-87 | Amen | NBC |
| 14 | 1986-87 | 227 | NBC |
| 15 | 1986-87 | Matlock | NBC |
| 16 | 1986-87 | CBS Sunday Night Movie | CBS |
| 17 | 1986-87 | NBC Monday Night Movie | NBC |
| 18 | 1986-87 | Monday Night Football | ABC |
| 19 | 1986-87 | Kate & Allie | CBS |
| 20 | 1986-87 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC |
| 21 | 1986-87 | L.A. Law | NBC |
| 22 | 1986-87 | My Sister Sam | CBS |
| 23 | 1986-87 | Falcon Crest | CBS |
| 24 | 1986-87 | Highway to Heaven | NBC |
| 25 | 1986-87 | Dynasty | ABC |
| 1 | 1987-88 | The Cosby Show | NBC |
| 2 | 1987-88 | A Different World | NBC |
| 3 | 1987-88 | Cheers | NBC |
| 4 | 1987-88 | The Golden Girls | NBC |
| 5 | 1987-88 | Growing Pains | ABC |
| 6 | 1987-88 | Who's the Boss? | ABC |
| 7 | 1987-88 | Night Court | NBC |
| 8 | 1987-88 | 60 Minutes | CBS |
| 9 | 1987-88 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS |
| 10 | 1987-88 | Alf | NBC |
| 11 | 1987-88 | The Wonder Years | ABC |
| 12 | 1987-88 | Moonlighting | ABC |
| 13 | 1987-88 | L.A. Law | NBC |
| 14 | 1987-88 | Matlock | NBC |
| 15 | 1987-88 | Amen | NBC |
| 16 | 1987-88 | Monday Night Football | ABC |
| 17 | 1987-88 | Family Ties | NBC |
| 18 | 1987-88 | CBS Sunday Night Movie | CBS |
| 19 | 1987-88 | In the Heat of the Night | NBC |
| 20 | 1987-88 | My Two Dads | NBC |
| 21 | 1987-88 | Valerie's Family | NBC |
| 22 | 1987-88 | Dallas | CBS |
| 23 | 1987-88 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC |
| 24 | 1987-88 | Head of the Class | ABC |
| 25 | 1987-88 | Newhart | CBS |
| 1 | 1988-89 | The Cosby Show | NBC |
| 2 | 1988-89 | Roseanne | ABC |
| 3 | 1988-89 | A Different World | NBC |
| 4 | 1988-89 | Cheers | NBC |
| 5 | 1988-89 | 60 Minutes | CBS |
| 6 | 1988-89 | The Golden Girls | NBC |
| 7 | 1988-89 | Who's the Boss? | ABC |
| 8 | 1988-89 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS |
| 9 | 1988-89 | Empty Nest | NBC |
| 10 | 1988-89 | Anything But Love | ABC |
| 11 | 1988-89 | Dear John | NBC |
| 12 | 1988-89 | Matlock | NBC |
| 13 | 1988-89 | L.A. Law | NBC |
| 14 | 1988-89 | Growing Pains | ABC |
| 15 | 1988-89 | Alf | NBC |
| 16 | 1988-89 | Monday Night Football | ABC |
| 17 | 1988-89 | Unsolved Mysteries | NBC |
| 18 | 1988-89 | In the Heat of the Night | NBC |
| 19 | 1988-89 | Hunter | NBC |
| 20 | 1988-89 | Head of the Class | ABC |
| 21 | 1988-89 | Night Court | NBC |
| 22 | 1988-89 | The Hogan Family | NBC |
| 23 | 1988-89 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC |
| 24 | 1988-89 | The Wonder Years | ABC |
| 25 | 1988-89 | Amen | NBC |
| 1 | 1989-90 | The Cosby Show | NBC |
| 2 | 1989-90 | Roseanne | ABC |
| 3 | 1989-90 | Cheers | NBC |
| 4 | 1989-90 | A Different World | NBC |
| 5 | 1989-90 | America's Funniest Home Videos | ABC |
| 6 | 1989-90 | The Golden Girls | NBC |
| 7 | 1989-90 | 60 Minutes | CBS |
| 8 | 1989-90 | The Wonder Years | ABC |
| 9 | 1989-90 | Empty Nest | NBC |
| 10 | 1989-90 | Monday Night Football | ABC |
| 11 | 1989-90 | Unsolved Mysteries | NBC |
| 12 | 1989-90 | Who's the Boss? | ABC |
| 13 | 1989-90 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS |
| 14 | 1989-90 | Chicken Soup | ABC |
| 15 | 1989-90 | Grand | NBC |
| 16 | 1989-90 | L.A. Law | NBC |
| 17 | 1989-90 | Dear John | NBC |
| 18 | 1989-90 | Coach | ABC |
| 19 | 1989-90 | In the Heat of the Night | NBC |
| 20 | 1989-90 | Matlock | NBC |
| 21 | 1989-90 | Growing Pains | ABC |
| 22 | 1989-90 | Full House | ABC |
| 23 | 1989-90 | Designing Women | CBS |
| 24 | 1989-90 | CBS Sunday Night Movie | CBS |
| 25 | 1989-90 | Hunter | NBC |