1981–82 United States network television schedule (late night)

These are the late night schedules on all three networks for each calendar season beginning September 1981. All times are Eastern/Pacific.

PBS is not included, as member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary, CBS and ABC are not included on the weekend schedules (as the networks do not offer late night programs of any kind on weekends).

Talk/variety shows are highlighted in yellow, network news programs in gold, and local news & programs are highlighted in white background.

Monday-Friday

-		11:00 PM	11:30 PM	12:00 AM	12:30 AM	1:30 AM	2:00 AM	2:30 AM
ABC		local programming	Nightline	ABC Late Night (Mon.-Thur.)/Fridays (Fri)		Local
CBS		local programming	The CBS Late Movie			Local
NBC	Fall	local programming	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson		Tomorrow Coast to Coast (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 (Fri)		local programming
	Winter				Late Night with David Letterman (Mon.-Thur.)/SCTV Network 90 to 2:00 (Fri)	local programming
	Summer					NBC News Overnight (Mon.-Thur., 1:30-2:30/Fri., 2:00-3:00)		local programming