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		25.0
3	Cheers		23.4
4	The Golden Girls		21.8
5	Growing Pains	ABC	21.3
6	Who's the Boss?		21.2
7	Night Court	NBC	20.8
8	60 Minutes	CBS	20.6
9	Murder, She Wrote		20.2
10	ALF	NBC	18.8
	The Wonder Years	ABC
12	Moonlighting		18.3
	L.A. Law	NBC
14	Matlock		17.8
15	Amen		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		16.9
	Valerie's Family
22	Dallas	CBS	16.8
23	NBC Sunday Night Movie	NBC	16.7
	Head of the Class	ABC
25	Newhart	CBS	16.5
26	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	16.4
27	227		16.3
28	Day by Day		16.2
29	Hunter		16.1
30	Aaron's Way		16.0