Top-rated United States television programs of 1981–82
# Top-rated United States television programs of 1981–82

This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1981–82 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.

| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Dallas | CBS | 28.4 |
| 2 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 27.7 |
| 3 | The Jeffersons | CBS | 23.4 |
| 4 | Three's Company | ABC | 23.3 |
| 5 | Alice | CBS | 22.7 |
| 6 | The Dukes of Hazzard | CBS | 22.6 |
| 6 | Too Close for Comfort | ABC | 22.6 |
| 8 | ABC Monday Night Movie | ABC | 22.5 |
| 9 | M*A*S*H | CBS | 22.3 |
| 10 | One Day at a Time | CBS | 22.0 |
| 11 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 21.8 |
| 12 | Archie Bunker's Place | CBS | 21.6 |
| 13 | Falcon Crest | CBS | 21.4 |
| 14 | The Love Boat | ABC | 21.2 |
| 15 | Hart to Hart | ABC | 21.1 |
| 15 | Trapper John, M.D. | CBS | 21.1 |
| 17 | Magnum, P.I. | CBS | 20.9 |
| 18 | Happy Days | ABC | 20.6 |
| 19 | Dynasty | ABC | 20.2 |
| 20 | Laverne & Shirley | ABC | 19.9 |
| 21 | Real People | NBC | 19.7 |
| 22 | ABC Sunday Night Movie | ABC | 19.5 |
| 23 | House Calls | CBS | 19.2 |
| 24 | The Facts of Life | NBC | 19.1 |
| 24 | Little House on the Prairie | NBC | 19.1 |
| 26 | The Fall Guy | ABC | 19.0 |
| 27 | Hill Street Blues | NBC | 18.6 |
| 28 | That's Incredible! | ABC | 18.4 |
| 28 | T.J. Hooker | ABC | 18.4 |
| 30 | Fantasy Island | ABC | 18.3 |
