Top-rated United States television programs of 1987–88
# Top-rated United States television programs of 1987–88

This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1987–88 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.

| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | The Cosby Show | NBC | 27.8 |
| 2 | A Different World | NBC | 25.0 |
| 3 | Cheers | NBC | 23.4 |
| 4 | The Golden Girls | NBC | 21.8 |
| 5 | Growing Pains | ABC | 21.3 |
| 6 | Who's the Boss? | ABC | 21.2 |
| 7 | Night Court | NBC | 20.8 |
| 8 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 20.6 |
| 9 | Murder, She Wrote | CBS | 20.2 |
| 10 | ALF | NBC | 18.8 |
| 10 | The Wonder Years | ABC | 18.8 |
| 12 | Moonlighting | ABC | 18.3 |
| 12 | L.A. Law | NBC | 18.3 |
| 14 | Matlock | NBC | 17.8 |
| 15 | Amen | NBC | 17.5 |
| 16 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 17.4 |
| 17 | Family Ties | NBC | 17.3 |
| 18 | CBS Sunday Night Movie | CBS | 17.2 |
| 19 | In the Heat of the Night | NBC | 17.0 |
| 20 | My Two Dads | NBC | 16.9 |
| 20 | Valerie's Family | NBC | 16.9 |
| 22 | Dallas | CBS | 16.8 |
| 23 | NBC Sunday Night Movie | NBC | 16.7 |
| 23 | Head of the Class | ABC | 16.7 |
| 25 | Newhart | CBS | 16.5 |
| 26 | NBC Monday Night Movie | NBC | 16.4 |
| 27 | 227 | NBC | 16.3 |
| 28 | Day by Day | NBC | 16.2 |
| 29 | Hunter | NBC | 16.1 |
| 30 | Aaron's Way | NBC | 16.0 |
