The rec.arts.tv FAQL:

Last updated:  January 1, 2005.
This version:  8.00
Note: The date of the last update is the date of the last change to this section; lack of an update since then means that the contents of this particular section are still true or valid to the present day. This page will be updated with every new major update (i.e. version x.00) of this FAQL, however.

Section 4.3: "Which (Primetime) TV shows have had (the most) switches between (broadcast) TV networks"

Note: This another question that has been asked, on and off, over the years in rec.arts.tv. This section originates from a relatively recent thread on the subject started by Jonathan (jrcdehc@***nospam.nospam***hotmail.com) in rec.arts.tv on Nov. 19, 2002 - the answer is reconstructed from a post by Boardwalk7 (boardwalk7@aol.com) who based his answer on The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, by Tim Brooks & Earle F. Marsh - see Amazon.com. Variations on this question have been asked many times before, and since, then.

Note: Useful information on airing dates obtained from: http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/tvSeriesList.shtml

Answer: Here are the shows that have bounced from one broadcast network to another (i.e. cable networks and/or synidcation not included in the count) - shows on 4 different networks are listed by premiere dates; shows on 3 different networks are listed in alphabetical order; shows that switched between 2 networks are listed in (reverse) order by decade:

On Four Different Networks On Three Different Networks On Two Different Networks

On Four Different Networks:

  Outside of Get Smart, all of the shows that switched among 4 networks originated in the 1940's & 1950's - there are a total of seven TV shows that aired on 4 different networks:

Television Series Networks It Aired On
Pantomime Quiz / Stump the Stars
(1947-1957, 1962-1963, 1968-1970)
KTLA/local syndication (1947)
CBS (1949-1951, 1954, 1955-1957)
NBC (1952, 1962-1963)
DuMont (1953-1954)
ABC (1955, 1968-1970)
Candid Camera
(1948-1953, 1960-1967, 1974-1978,
1990, 1997-2000, 2001-pres)
ABC (1948, 1951-1952)
NBC (1949, 1953)
CBS (1949-1950, 1960-1967, 1974-1978?,
         1990, 1997-2000)
Syndicated (1974-1978)
Pax (2001-pres)
The Original Amateur Hour
(1948-1970)
DuMont (1948-1949)
NBC (1949-1954, 1957-1958)
ABC (1955-1957, 1960)
CBS (1959, 1960-1970)
The Arthur Murray Party
(1950-1960)
ABC (1950, 1951-1952)
DuMont (1950-1951, 1952-1953)
CBS (1952, 1953, 1956)
NBC (1953-1955, 1957-1960)
Tom Corbett: Space Cadet
(1950-1952)
CBS (1950-1951)
ABC (1951-1952)
NBC (1951 (mornings), 1954-1955)
DuMont (1953-1954 (Sat. mornings))
Down You Go
(1951-1956)
DuMont (1951-1955)
CBS (1955)
ABC (1955-1956)
NBC (1956)
Get Smart!
(1965-1970, 1989, 1995)
NBC (1965-1969)
CBS (1969-1970)
ABC ("Get Smart Again!" 1989 reunion movie)
FOX ("Get Smart" 1995 sequel)

On Three Different Networks:

  Most of the shows (except for the various Joey Bishop Shows, the various Tarzans, etc.) that switched among 3 networks originated in the 1940's & 1950's - there are, by my count, a total of thirty-three shows that aired on 3 different networks:

Television Series Networks It Aired On
The [Further] Adventures of Ellery Queen
/ Mystery Is My Business
(1950-1952, 1954-1956, 1958-1959,
1975-1976)
DuMont (1950-1951)
ABC (1951-1952)
Syndcated (1954-1956)
NBC (1958-1959, 1975-1976)
The Andy Williams Show
(1957, 1959, 1962-1967, 1969-1971)
ABC (1957?)
CBS (1959?)
NBC (1962-1967. 1969-1971)
Animal World / Animal Kingdom
(1968-1980)
NBC (1968)
CBS (1969, 1971)
ABC (1970)
Syndicated (1973-1980)
Author Meets the Critics
(1948-1954)
NBC (1948-1949)
ABC (1949-1950, 1951)
DuMont (1952-1954)
Bachelor Father
(1957-1962, [1970])
CBS (1957-1959)
NBC (1959-1961)
ABC (1961-1962)
[BBC, 1970]
Big Town
(1950-1956)
CBS (1950-1954)
DuMont (1953 (reruns only))
NBC (1954-1956)
Blind Date / Your Big Moment
(1949-1953)
ABC (1949-1951)
NBC (1952)
DuMont (1953)
Break the Bank
(1948-1957, 1976)
ABC (1948-1949, 1954-1956, 1976)
NBC (1949-1952, 1953, 1956-1957)
CBS (1952-1953)
Charlie Wild, Private Detective
(1950-1952)
ABC (1950-1951)
NBC (1951-1952)
DuMont (1952)
Dollar a Second
(1953-1957)
DuMont (1953-1954)
NBC (1954, 1955, 1957)
ABC (1954-1955, 1955-1956)
The Eddy Arnold Show
(1952-1956)
CBS (1952-1954?)
NBC (1954-1956?)
ABC (1956)
Ethel and Albert
(1953-1956)
NBC (1953-1954)
CBS (1955)
ABC (1955-1956)
Father Knows Best
(1954-1963)
CBS (1954-1954, 1958-1962)
NBC (1955-1958)
ABC (1962-1963)
The Ford (Television) Theatre (Hour)
(1948-1957)
CBS (1948-1951)
NBC (1952-1956)
ABC (1956-1957)
The Goldbergs
(1949-1955)
CBS (1949-1951)
NBC (1952-1954)
DuMont (1954)
Syndicated (1954-1955)
The Joey Bishop Show
(1961-1965, 1967-1969)
NBC (1961-1964, sitcom)
CBS (1964-1965, sitcom)
ABC (1967-1969, talkshow)
Let's Make A Deal
(1963-1977, 1980-1981, 1984-1986,
1990-1991, 1996)
NBC (1963-1968, 1990-1991)
ABC (1968-1976)
Syndicated (1971-1977, 1980-1981, 1984-1986)
FOX (1996)
Life Begins at Eighty
(1950-1956)
NBC (1950-1952)
DuMont (1952-1956)
ABC (1956)
Man Against Crime
(1949-1956)
CBS (1949-1953)
DuMont (1953-1954)
NBC (1953-1954, 1956)
Mary Kay and Johnny
(1947-1950)
DuMont (1947-1948)
NBC (1948-1949, 1950)
CBS (1949)
Masquerade Party
(1952-1960)
NBC (1952, 1957, 1959, 1960)
CBS (1953-1954, 1958, 1959-1960)
ABC (1954-1957)
The Match Game
(1962-1969, 1973-1982, 1983-1984,
1990-1991, 1998-1999)
NBC (1962-1969, 1983-1984)
CBS (1973-1979)
Syndicated (1975-1982, 1998-1999)
ABC (1990-1991)
Password (, etc.)
(1961-1967, 1971-1975,
1979-1982, 1984-1989)
CBS (1961-1967)
ABC (1971-1975)
NBC (1979-1982, 1984-1989)
The Price Is Right
(1956-1965, 1972-pres)
NBC (1956-1963)
ABC (1963-1965)
CBS (1972-pres)
The Sammy Kaye Show
(1950-1959)
NBC (1950-1951)
CBS (1951-1958?)
ABC (1958-1959?)
The Smothers Brothers Show
(1965-1966, 1967-1970,
1975, 1988-1989)
CBS (1965-1966, 1967-1969, 1988-1989)
ABC (1970)
NBC (1975)
The Steve Allen Show
(1950-1952, 1956-1960, 1962-1964)
CBS (1950-1952)
NBC (1956-1960)
ABC (1962-1964)
Tarzan
(1966-1968, 1969, 1991-1992, 2003)
NBC (1966-1968)
CBS (1969)
Syndicated (1991-1992?)
WBN (2003)
The Ted Steele Show
(1948-1949)
NBC (1948?)
DuMont (1948?)
CBS (1949?)
Topper
(1953-1956)
CBS (1953-1955)
ABC (1956-1957 (reruns))
NBC (1956 (reruns))
Twenty Questions
(1949, 1950-1955)
NBC (1949)
ABC (1950-1951, 1954-1955)
DuMont (1951-1954)
Disneyland / Walt Disney Presents
/ Wonderful World of Color
/ The Wonderful (Magical) World of Disney
(1954-1983, 1986-1990, 1997-pres)
ABC (1954-1961, 1986-1988, 1997-pres)
NBC (1961-1981, 1988-1990)
CBS (1981-1983)
The Wendy Barrie Show
(1948-1950)
DuMont (1948?)
ABC (1949?)
NBC (1950?)

On Two Different Networks:

  This is a numerous list, best listed by decade (going by the premiere date of the series):

Decade - 2000's (1 series):
Television Series Networks It Aired On
Grounded for Life
(2001-2005)
FOX (2001-2002)
WBN (2002-2005)
Decade - 1990's (14 series):
Television Series Networks It Aired On
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
(1997-2003)
WBN (1997-2001)
UPN (2001-2003)
Clueless
(1996-1999)
ABC (1996-1997)
UPN (1997-1999)
The Critic
(1994-1995)
ABC (1994)
FOX (1995)
Davis Rules
(1991-1992)
ABC (1991)
CBS (1991-1992)
Getting By
(1993-1994)
ABC (1993)
NBC (1993-1994)
The Hughleys
(1998-2002)
ABC (1998-2000)
UPN (2000-2002)
JAG
(1995-pres)
NBC (1995-1996)
CBS (1996-pres)
The Jeff Foxworthy Show
(1995-1997)
ABC (1995-1996)
NBC (1996-1997)
The Naked Truth
(1995-1998)
ABC (1995-1996)
NBC (1996-1998)
The PJ's
(1999-2001)
FOX (1999-2000)
WBN (2000-2001)
Roswell
(1999-2002)
WBN (1999-2001)
UPN (2001-2002)
Sabrina, The Teenage Witch
(1996-2003)
ABC (1996-2000)
WBN (2000-2003)
Sister, Sister
(1994-1999)
ABC (1994-1995)
WBN (1995-1999)
Step By Step
(1991-1998)
ABC (1991-1997)
CBS (1997-1998)
Decade - 1980's (9 series):
Television Series Networks It Aired On
Bosom Buddies
(1980-1982, 1983, 1984)
ABC (1980-1982, 1983 (reruns))
NBC (1984 (reruns))
Family Matters
(1989-1998)
ABC (1989-1997)
CBS (1997-1998)
Father Dowling Mysteries
(1989-1991)
NBC (1989-1990)
ABC (1990-1991)
In The Heat Of The Night
(1988-1994)
NBC (1988-1992)
CBS (1992-1994)
Late Night with David Letterman
/ Late Show with David Letterman
(1982-pres)
NBC (1982-1993)
CBS (1993-pres)
Matlock
(1986-1995)
NBC (1986-1993)
ABC (1993-1995)
Police Squad!
(1982)
ABC (1982)
CBS (1988? (reruns))
TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes
(1984-1993)
ABC (1984-1992?)
NBC (1992-1993?)
Valerie / Valerie's Family / The Hogan Family
(1986-1991)
NBC (1986-1990)
CBS (1990-1991)
Decade - 1970's (11 series):
Television Series Networks It Aired On
The Bionic Woman
(1976-1978)
ABC (1976-1977)
NBC (1977-1978)
Columbo
(1968, 1971-1978, 1989-2003?)
NBC (1968, 1971-1978)
ABC (1989-2003?)
Diff'rent Strokes
(1978-1986)
NBC (1978-1985)
ABC (1985-1986)
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
(1978-1979)
NBC (1978-1979)
CBS (1979?)
Kojak
(1973-1978, 1985-1987, 1989-1990)
CBS (1973-1978, 1985-1987? (as TV movies))
ABC (1989-1990 (as TV movies))
Police Story
(1973-1977, 1977-1980, 1987, 1988)
NBC (1973-1977; 1977-1980, 1987 (as movies))
ABC (1988 (also as TV movies))
(The $10,000, etc.)
Pyramid
(1973-1988, 1991-1992, 2002-2004)
CBS (1973-1974, 1982-1987, 1988)
ABC (1974-1980)
Syndicated (1974-1979, 1981, 1985-1988)
Syndicated (1991-1992, 2002-2004)
Taxi
(1978-1983)
ABC (1978-1982)
NBC (1982-1983)
The Tony Randall Show
(1976-1978)
ABC (1976-1977)
CBS (1977-1978?)
Wheel of Fortune
(1975-pres)
NBC (1975-1989)
CBS (1989-1991)
Syndicated (1991?-pres)
Wonder Woman
(1976-1979)
ABC (1976-1977)
CBS (1977-1979)
Decade - 1960's (12 series):
Television Series Networks It Aired On
The Andy Griffith Show
(1960-1968, 1986, 1993, 2003)
CBS (1960-1968; 1993, 2003 (as reunion movies))
NBC (1986 (as "Return to Mayberry" TV movie))
Burke's Law / Amos Burke: Secret Agent
(1963-1965, 1965-1966, 1994-1995)
ABC (1963-1965, 1965-1966 (sequel))
CBS (1994-1995 (2nd sequel))
Ensign O'Toole
(1962-1963, 1964)
NBC (1962-1963)
ABC (1964 (reruns))
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
(1968-1970)
NBC (1968-1969)
ABC (1969-1970)
Hawk
(1966, 1976)
ABC (1966)
NBC (1976 (reruns))
Hazel
(1961-1966)
NBC (1961-1965)
CBS (1965-1966)
Jeopardy!
(1964-1975, 1978-1979, 1984-pres)
NBC (1964-1975, 1978-1979)
Syndicated (1984-pres)
ABC (1990, "Super Jeopardy!")
The John Davidson Show
(1969, 1976, 1980-1982)
ABC (1969, variety show)
NBC (1976, variety show)
NBC (1980-1982, talkshow)
The Johnny Cash Show / Johnny Cash and Friends
(1969-1971, 1976)
ABC (1969-1971)
CBS (1976)
Mission: Impossible
(1966-1973, 1988-1990)
CBS (1966-1973)
ABC (1988-1990 (sequel))
My Three Sons
(1960-1972)
ABC (1960-1965)
CBS (1965-1972)
My World and Welcome To It
(1969-1970, 1972)
NBC (1969-1970)
CBS (1972 (reruns))
Decade - 1940's & 1950's:
Television Series Networks It Aired On
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
/ The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
(1955-1965, 1985-1986)
CBS (1955-1960 (30 mins), 1962-1964 (60 mins))
NBC (1960-1962 (30 mins), 1964-1965 (60 mins))
NBC (1985-1986 (revival))
Armstrong Circle Theatre
(1950-1963)
NBC (1950-1957)
CBS (1957-1963)
The Bob Cummings Show
/ Love That Bob
(1955-1959)
NBC (1955)
CBS (1955-1957)
NBC (1957-1959)
Dragnet
(1951-1959, 1967-1970, 2003)
NBC (1951-1959 (30 mins), 1967-1970 (30 mins))
ABC (2003 (60 mins))
[The] Edge of Night
(daytime)
(1956-1984)
CBS (1956-1975)
ABC (1975-1984)
The Jack Benny Show
(1950-1965)
CBS (1950-1964)
NBC (1964-1965)
Kraft (Mystery) Theatre
/ Kraft Television Theatre
(1947-1958)
NBC (1947-1958)
ABC (1953-1955, aired concurrently with NBC!)
Make Room for Daddy
/ The Danny Thomas Show
/ Make Room for Grandaddy
(1957-1965, 1970-1971)
ABC (1953-1957)
CBS (1957-1965)
ABC (1970-1971, "Make Room for Grandaddy")
Name That Tune
(1953-1959, 1970-1971, 1974-1981,
1977, 1984-1985)
NBC (1953-1954, 1970-1971, 1974-1975, 1977)
CBS (1954-1959)
Syndicated (1974-1981, 1984-1985)
Perry Mason
(1957-1966, 1985-1994)
CBS (1957-1966)
NBC (1985-1994 (as TV movies))
The Red Skelton Show
(1951-1971)
CBS (1951-1970)
NBC (1970-1971)
Search for Tomorrow
(daytime)
(1951-1986)
CBS (1951-1982)
NBC (1982-1986)
To Tell the Truth
(1956-1977, 1990-1991)
CBS (1956-1968)
Syndicated (1968-1977)
NBC (1990-1991)
The Twilight Zone
(1959-1965, 1985-1989, 2002-2003)
CBS (1959-1960, 1985-1986)
Syndicated (1986-1989)
UPN (2002-2003)
The United States Steel Hour
(1953-1963)
ABC (1953-1955)
CBS (1955-1963)
The Voice of Firestone
(1949-1963)
NBC (1949-1954)
ABC (1954-1963)

Note: I've gotten lazy here - I hope to return at a future time and put the airing dates in for these ones...

Actor's Studio (ABC, CBS)
Adventure Theater (NBC, CBS)
The Alan Dale Show (DuMont, CBS)
The Amazing Dunninger (ABC, NBC)
Bank on the Stars (CBS, NBC)
The Battle of the Ages (DuMont, CBS)
The Bigelow Show (NBC, CBS)
Bigelow Theatre (CBS, DuMont)
The Black Saddle (NBC, ABC)
Blondie (CBS, NBC - 1957)
Cavalcade of America (NBC, CBS)
Celebrity Time (CBS, ABC)
Chance of a Lifetime (ABC, DuMont)
The Charlie Farrell Show (CBS, NBC)
Circus Boy (NBC, ABC)
Claudia, the Story of a Marriage (NBC, CBS - 1952)
The Clock (NBC, ABC)
The Continental (CBS, ABC)
The Court of Last Resort (NBC, ABC)
Dan August (ABC, CBS)
The Detective Starring Robert Taylor (ABC, NBC)
Doorway to Danger (NBC, ABC)
The Dotty Mack Show (DuMont, ABC)
Drew Pearson (ABC, DuMont)
The Earl Wrightson Show (ABC, CBS)
Eddie Condon's Floor Show (NBC, CBS)
Empire (NBC, ABC as "Redigo")
The Ernie Kovacs Show (CBS, NBC)
The Family Holvak (NBC, CBS)
Famous Fights (DuMont, ABC)
The Faye Emerson Show (CBS, NBC)
Fireside Theatre (NBC, ABC)
The Gail Storm Show (CBS, ABC)
The George Gobel Show (NBC, CBS)
Harbourmaster (CBS, ABC)
The Herb Shriner Show (CBS, ABC)
Hey Jeannie (CBS - 1956, ABC)
Hollywood Opening Night (CBS, NBC)
It Pays To Be Ignorant (CBS, NBC)
The Jimmy Dean Show (CBS - 1957, ABC - 1963-1966)
The Jimmy Durante Show (NBC, CBS)
Johnny Staccato (NBC - 1959, ABC)
The Johns Hopkins Science Review (CBS, DuMont)
Juvenile Jury (NBC, CBS)
Keep Talking (CBS, ABC)
Kukla Fran and Ollie (NBC - 1947, ABC)
Law of the Plainsman (NBC, ABC)
Leave It To Beaver (CBS - 1957, ABC)
Leave It To The Girls (NBC, ABC)
The Liberace Show (NBC, CBS)
Life Is Worth Living (DuMont, ABC)
Live Like a Millionaire (CBS, ABC)
Lux Video Theater (CBS, NBC)
Madison Square Garden Highlights (ABC, DuMont)
Mark Saber (ABC, NBC)
Meet McGraw (NBC, ABC)
Meet Your Congress (NBC, DuMont)
Midwestern Hayride (NBC, ABC)
The Milton Berle Show (NBC, ABC)
Mr. and Mrs. North (CBS, NBC)
The Morey Amsterdam Show (CBS, DuMont)
My Friend Flicka (CBS - 1956-1957, NBC -1957-1958)
My Little Margie (CBS - 1952, NBC)
Navy Log (CBS, ABC)
Omnibus (CBS, ABC)
On The Line WIth Considine (NBC, ABC)
On Trial / The Joseph Cotten Show (NBC, CBS)
On Your Way (DuMont, ABC)
The Perry Como Show (NBC, CBS)
Peter Gunn (NBC - 1958, ABC)
Pick The Winner (CBS, DuMont)
Place the Face (NBC, CBS)
Pride of the Family (ABC, CBS)
Private Secretary (CBS, NBC)
Quiz Kids (NBC - 1949-1951, CBS - 1978, 1981)
The Real McCoys (ABC, CBS)
The Rebel (ABC, NBC)
Rebound (ABC, DuMont)
Red Barber's Corner (CBS, NBC)
The Red Buttons Show (CBS, NBC)
Revlon Mirror Theater (NBC, CBS)
Richard Diamond, Private Detective (CBS - 1957, NBC)
Say It With Acting (NBC, ABC)
Screen Director's Playhouse (NBC, ABC)
Shirley Temple's Storybook (ABC, NBC)
Somerset Maugham TV Theater (CBS - 1950, NBC)
Spike Jones Show (NBC - 1954, CBS - 1951, 1957, 1961)
Steve Canyon (NBC, ABC)
The Stork Club (CBS, ABC)
Stud's Place (NBC - 1949, ABC - 1950-1952)
Telephone Time (CBS, ABC)
Tex and Jinx (NBC, CBS)
They Stand Accused (CBS, DuMont)
This Is Show Business (CBS, NBC)
This Is The Life (DuMont, ABC)
Treasure Hunt (ABC, NBC)
Treasury Men In Action (ABC, NBC)
Truth or Consequences (CBS, NBC)
21 Beacon Street (NBC - 1959, ABC)
Two For The Money (NBC, CBS)
The Vaughn Monroe Show (CBS, NBC)
Versatile Varieties (NBC, ABC)
Wagon Train (NBC, ABC)
We The People (CBS, NBC)
The Web (CBS - 1950, NBC)
The West Point Story (CBS - 1956, ABC)
What's It Worth (CBS, DuMont)
What's Your Bid (ABC, DuMont)
Who Said That? (NBC, ABC)
You Asked For It (DuMont, ABC)
Your Hit Parade (NBC, CBS)
Your Play Time (CBS, NBC)
Youth on the March (ABC, DuMont)


On Four Different Networks On Three Different Networks On Two Different Networks


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