Top-rated United States television programs of 1988–89
# Top-rated United States television programs of 1988–89

This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1988–89 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.

| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | The Cosby Show | NBC | 25.6 |
| 2 | Roseanne | ABC | 23.8 |
| 3 | A Different World | NBC | 23.0 |
| 4 | Cheers | NBC | 22.3 |
| 5 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 21.7 |
| 6 | The Golden Girls | NBC | 21.4 |
| 7 | Who's the Boss? | ABC | 20.8 |
| 8 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS | 19.9 |
| 9 | Empty Nest | NBC | 19.2 |
| 10 | Anything but Love | ABC | 19.0 |
| 11 | Dear John | NBC | 18.5 |
| 12 | Matlock | NBC | 17.7 |
| 13 | L.A. Law | NBC | 17.6 |
| 13 | Growing Pains | ABC | 17.6 |
| 15 | ALF | NBC | 17.5 |
| 15 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 17.5 |
| 17 | Unsolved Mysteries | NBC | 17.4 |
| 18 | In the Heat of the Night | NBC | 17.3 |
| 19 | Hunter | NBC | 17.2 |
| 20 | Head of the Class | ABC | 17.1 |
| 21 | Night Court | NBC | 16.9 |
| 22 | The Hogan Family | NBC | 16.3 |
| 22 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC | 16.3 |
| 22 | The Wonder Years | ABC | 16.3 |
| 25 | Amen | NBC | 16.2 |
| 25 | NBC Monday Night Movie | NBC | 16.2 |
| 27 | Knots Landing | CBS | 16.1 |
| 27 | CBS Sunday Movie | CBS | 16.1 |
| 29 | ABC Mystery Movie | ABC | 15.4 |
| 29 | Dallas | CBS | 15.4 |
