Top-rated United States television programs by season

This article presents the top-rated American primetime television series by season from 1950 to the present according to Nielsen Media Research.

1950s

October 1950–April 1951

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Texaco Star Theater	NBC	61.6
2	Fireside Theatre		52.6
3	Philco TV Playhouse		45.3
4	Your Show of Shows		42.6
5	The Colgate Comedy Hour		42.0
6	Gillette Cavalcade of Sports		41.3
7	The Lone Ranger	ABC	41.2
8	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts	CBS	40.6
9	Hopalong Cassidy	NBC	39.9
10	Mama	CBS	39.7
11	Robert Montgomery Presents	NBC	38.8
12	Martin Kane, Private Eye	NBC	37.8
13	Man Against Crime	CBS	37.4
14	Kraft Television Theatre	NBC	37.0
15	The Toast of the Town	CBS	36.5
16	The Aldrich Family	NBC	36.1
17	You Bet Your Life	NBC	36.0
18	Arthur Godfrey and His Friends	CBS	35.9
19	Armstrong Circle Theatre	NBC	35.6
	Lights Out	NBC
	Big Town	CBS
22	The Alan Young Show	CBS	34.4
23	Stop the Music	ABC	34.0
24	Studio One	CBS	33.8
25	The Big Story	NBC	33.7
26	Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts	CBS	33.4
26	The Original Amateur Hour	NBC	33.4
28	The Ken Murray Show	CBS	32.1
29	Your Hit Parade	NBC	32.0
30	Lux Video Theatre	CBS	31.5
30	The Speidel Show	NBC	31.5

October 1951–April 1952

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts	CBS	53.8
2	Texaco Star Theater	NBC	52.0
3	I Love Lucy	CBS	50.9
4	The Red Skelton Show	NBC	50.2
5	The Colgate Comedy Hour	NBC	45.3
6	Arthur Godfrey and His Friends	CBS	43.3
7	Fireside Theatre	NBC	43.1
8	Your Show of Shows	NBC	43.0
9	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	42.8
10	You Bet Your Life	NBC	42.1
11	Mama	CBS	41.3
12	Philco TV Playhouse	NBC	40.4
13	Amos 'n' Andy	CBS	38.9
14	Gangbusters	NBC	38.7
15	Big Town	CBS	38.5
16	Goodyear TV Playhouse	NBC	37.8
17	Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts	CBS	37.5
18	The Lone Ranger	ABC	36.8
19	Gillette Cavalcade of Sports	NBC	36.5
20	All Star Revue		36.3
20	Dragnet		36.3
22	The Alan Young Show	CBS	35.8
23	Kraft Television Theatre	NBC	34.8
24	Armstrong Circle Theatre	NBC	34.7
25	Strike It Rich	CBS	34.5
26	Robert Montgomery Presents	NBC	34.4
27	The Roy Rogers Show		32.7
28	Hopalong Cassidy		32.2
29	Man Against Crime	CBS	32.0
29	Racket Squad	CBS	32.0

October 1952–April 1953

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	I Love Lucy	CBS	67.3
2	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts		54.7
3	Arthur Godfrey and His Friends		47.1
4	Dragnet	NBC	46.8
5	Texaco Star Theater		46.7
6	The Buick Circus Hour		46.0
7	The Colgate Comedy Hour		44.3
8	Gangbusters		42.4
9	You Bet Your Life		41.6
10	Fireside Theatre		40.6
11	The Red Buttons Show	CBS	40.2
12	The Jack Benny Show		39.0
13	Life with Luigi		38.5
14	Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts		37.9
15	Goodyear TV Playhouse	NBC	37.8
16	The Life of Riley		37.4
17	Philco TV Playhouse		37.3
18	Mama	CBS	37.0
19	Your Show of Shows	NBC	36.0
20	What's My Line?	CBS	35.3
20	Strike It Rich		35.3
22	Our Miss Brooks		35.0
22	The Big Story	NBC	35.0
24	Gillette Cavalcade of Sports	NBC	34.7
25	Amos 'n' Andy	CBS	34.4
26	All Star Revue	NBC	34.3
27	Treasury Men in Action		34.2
28	The Red Skelton Show		33.7
28	The Lone Ranger	ABC	33.7
30	Ford Theatre	NBC	33.6

October 1953–April 1954

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	I Love Lucy	CBS	58.8
2	Dragnet	NBC	53.2
3	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts	CBS	43.6
3	You Bet Your Life	NBC	43.6
5	The Milton Berle Show	NBC	40.2
6	Arthur Godfrey and His Friends	CBS	38.9
7	Ford Theatre	NBC	38.8
8	The Jackie Gleason Show	CBS	38.1
9	Fireside Theatre	NBC	36.4
10	The Colgate Comedy Hour		36.2
10	This Is Your Life		36.2
12	The Red Buttons Show	CBS	35.3
13	The Life of Riley	NBC	35.0
14	Our Miss Brooks	CBS	34.2
15	Treasury Men in Action	NBC	33.9
16	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	33.3
17	The Toast of the Town	CBS	33.0
18	Gillette Cavalcade of Sports	NBC	32.7
19	Philco TV Playhouse	NBC	32.5
20	The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show	CBS	32.4
21	Kraft Television Theatre	NBC	31.3
22	Goodyear TV Playhouse	NBC	31.0
23	Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts	CBS	30.9
24	Private Secretary	CBS	30.3
25	I Married Joan	NBC	30.2
25	Mama	CBS	30.2
27	General Electric Theater	NBC	29.9
28	What's My Line?	CBS	29.6
29	The Big Story	NBC	29.5
	Martin Kane, Private Eye
	Your Hit Parade

October 1954–April 1955

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	I Love Lucy	CBS	49.3
2	The Jackie Gleason Show	CBS	42.4
3	Dragnet	NBC	42.1
4	You Bet Your Life	NBC	41.0
5	The Toast of the Town	CBS	39.6
6	Disneyland	ABC	39.1
7	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	38.3
8	The George Gobel Show	NBC	35.2
9	Ford Theatre	NBC	34.9
10	December Bride	CBS	34.7
11	The Buick-Berle Show	NBC	34.6
12	This Is Your Life	NBC	34.5
13	I've Got a Secret	CBS	34.0
14	Two for the Money	CBS	33.9
15	Your Hit Parade	NBC	33.6
16	The Millionaire	CBS	33.0
17	General Electric Theater		32.6
18	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts		32.5
19	Private Secretary		32.2
20	Fireside Theatre	NBC	31.1
21	The Life of Riley	NBC	30.9
22	Arthur Godfrey and His Friends	CBS	29.8
23	The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin	ABC	29.5
24	Topper	CBS	29.4
25	Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts		29.1
26	The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show		29.0
27	The Colgate Comedy Hour	NBC	28.0
28	The Loretta Young Show		27.7
29	My Little Margie		27.1
30	The Roy Rogers Show		26.9

October 1955–April 1956

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The $64,000 Question	CBS	47.5
2	I Love Lucy		46.1
3	The Ed Sullivan Show		39.5
4	Disneyland	ABC	37.4
5	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	37.2
6	December Bride	CBS	37.0
7	You Bet Your Life	NBC	35.4
8	Dragnet	NBC	35.0
9	The Millionaire	CBS	33.8
10	I've Got a Secret		33.5
11	General Electric Theater		32.9
12	Private Secretary		32.4
12	Ford Theatre	NBC	32.4
14	The Red Skelton Show	CBS	32.3
15	The George Gobel Show	NBC	31.9
16	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts	CBS	31.1
17	The Lineup	CBS	30.8
18	The Perry Como Show	NBC	30.3
19	The Honeymooners	CBS	30.2
20	The Adventures of Robin Hood	CBS	30.1
21	The Life of Riley	NBC	29.9
22	Climax!	CBS	20.6
23	Your Hit Parade	NBC	29.1
24	Fireside Theatre		29.0
25	Lux Video Theatre		28.9
26	This Is Your Life		28.8
27	People Are Funny		28.4
27	The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show	CBS	28.4
29	The Chevy Show	NBC	28.2
30	The Phil Silvers Show	CBS	28.1

October 1956–April 1957

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	I Love Lucy	CBS	43.7
2	The Ed Sullivan Show		38.4
3	General Electric Theater		36.9
4	The $64,000 Question		36.4
5	December Bride		35.2
6	Alfred Hitchcock Presents		33.9
7	I've Got a Secret		32.7
7	Gunsmoke		32.7
9	The Perry Como Show	NBC	32.6
10	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	32.3
11	Dragnet	NBC	32.1
12	Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts	CBS	31.9
13	The Millionaire	CBS	31.8
13	Disneyland	ABC	31.8
15	The Red Skelton Show	CBS	31.4
15	The Lineup	CBS	31.4
17	You Bet Your Life	NBC	31.1
18	The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp	ABC	31.0
19	The Ford Show	NBC	30.7
20	The Adventures of Robin Hood	CBS	30.3
21	People Are Funny	NBC	30.2
22	The $64,000 Challenge	CBS	29.7
22	The Phil Silvers Show		29.7
24	Lassie		29.5
25	Private Secretary		29.0
26	Climax!		28.9
26	What's My Line?		28.9
28	The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show		27.8
29	The Jackie Gleason Show		27.6
30	Name That Tune		27.2

October 1957–April 1958

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Gunsmoke	CBS	43.1
2	The Danny Thomas Show	CBS	35.3
3	Tales of Wells Fargo	NBC	35.2
4	Have Gun – Will Travel	CBS	33.7
5	I've Got a Secret	CBS	33.4
6	The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp	ABC	32.6
7	General Electric Theater	CBS	31.5
8	The Restless Gun	NBC	31.4
9	December Bride	CBS	30.7
10	You Bet Your Life	NBC	30.6
11	The Perry Como Show	NBC	30.5
12	Alfred Hitchcock Presents	CBS	30.3
12	Cheyenne	ABC	30.3
14	The Ford Show	NBC	29.7
15	The Red Skelton Show	CBS	28.9
16	The Gale Storm Show		28.8
17	The Millionaire		28.5
18	The Lineup		28.4
19	This Is Your Life	NBC	28.1
19	The $64,000 Question	CBS	28.1
21	Zane Grey Theater		27.9
22	Lassie		27,8
23	Wagon Train	NBC	27.7
	Sugarfoot	ABC
	Father Knows Best	NBC
26	Twenty-One	NBC	27.6
27	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	27.3
28	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	27.1
29	People Are Funny	NBC	27.0
30	The Loretta Young Show	NBC	26.6
	Zorro	ABC
	The Real McCoys	ABC

October 1958–April 1959

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Gunsmoke	CBS	39.6
2	Wagon Train	NBC	36.1
3	Have Gun – Will Travel	CBS	34.3
4	The Rifleman	ABC	33.1
5	The Danny Thomas Show	CBS	32.8
6	Maverick	ABC	30.4
7	Tales of Wells Fargo	NBC	30.2
8	The Real McCoys	ABC	30.1
9	I've Got a Secret	CBS	29.8
10	The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp	ABC	29.1
11	The Price Is Right	NBC	28.6
12	The Red Skelton Show	CBS	28.5
13	Zane Grey Theater		28.3
13	Father Knows Best		28.3
15	The Texan		28.2
16	Wanted: Dead or Alive		28.0
16	Peter Gunn	NBC	28.0
18	Cheyenne	ABC	27.9
19	Perry Mason	CBS	27.5
20	The Ford Show	NBC	27.2
21	Sugarfoot	ABC	27.0
	The Ann Sothern Show	CBS
	The Perry Como Show	NBC
24	Alfred Hitchcock Presents	CBS	26.8
25	Name That Tune		26.7
25	General Electric Theater		26.7
27	The Lawman	ABC	26.0
28	Rawhide	CBS	25.9
29	This Is Your Life	NBC	25.8
30	The Millionaire	CBS	25.6

October 1959–April 1960

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Gunsmoke	CBS	40.3
2	Wagon Train	NBC	38.4
3	Have Gun – Will Travel	CBS	34.7
4	The Danny Thomas Show		31.1
5	The Red Skelton Show		30.8
6	Father Knows Best		29.7
6	77 Sunset Strip	ABC	29.7
8	The Price Is Right	NBC	29.2
9	Wanted: Dead or Alive	CBS	28.7
10	Perry Mason	CBS	28.3
11	The Real McCoys	ABC	28.2
12	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	28.0
13	The Rifleman	ABC	27.5
14	The Ford Show	NBC	27.4
15	The Lawman	ABC	26.2
16	Dennis the Menace	CBS	26.0
17	Cheyenne	ABC	25.9
18	Rawhide	CBS	25.8
19	Maverick	ABC	25.2
20	The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp	ABC	25.0
21	Mr. Lucky	CBS	24.4
	Zane Grey Theater
	General Electric Theater
24	The Ann Sothern Show		24.2
25	Alfred Hitchcock Presents		24.1
26	You Bet Your Life	NBC	24.0
27	What's My Line?	CBS	23.9
28	I've Got a Secret	CBS	23.5
29	The Perry Como Show	NBC	23.1
29	Lassie	CBS	23.1

1960s

October 1960–April 1961

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Gunsmoke	CBS	37.3
2	Wagon Train	NBC	34.2
3	Have Gun – Will Travel	CBS	30.9
4	The Andy Griffith Show	CBS	27.8
5	The Real McCoys	ABC	27.7
6	Rawhide	CBS	27.5
7	Candid Camera	CBS	27.3
8	The Untouchables	ABC	27.0
8	The Price Is Right	NBC	27.0
10	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	26.2
11	Dennis the Menace		26.1
12	The Danny Thomas Show		25.9
13	My Three Sons	ABC	25.8
13	77 Sunset Strip	ABC	25.8
15	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	25.0
16	Perry Mason	CBS	24.9
17	Bonanza	NBC	24.8
18	The Flintstones	ABC	24.3
19	The Red Skelton Show	CBS	24.0
20	General Electric Theater		23.4
21	Checkmate		23.2
22	What's My Line?		23.1
23	The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis		23.0
24	The Ford Show	NBC	22.9
25	The Garry Moore Show	CBS	22.7
26	The Lawman	ABC	22.3
27	The Rifleman		22.1
28	Cheyenne		22.0
29	Peter Gunn	NBC	21.9
30	Route 66	CBS	21.7

October 1961–April 1962

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Wagon Train	NBC	32.1
2	Bonanza	NBC	30.0
3	Gunsmoke	CBS	28.3
4	Hazel	NBC	27.7
5	Perry Mason	CBS	27.3
6	The Red Skelton Show		27.1
7	The Andy Griffith Show		27.0
8	The Danny Thomas Show		26.1
9	Dr. Kildare	NBC	25.6
10	Candid Camera	CBS	25.5
11	My Three Sons	ABC	24.7
12	The Garry Moore Show	CBS	24.6
13	Rawhide	CBS	24.5
14	The Real McCoys	ABC	24.2
15	Lassie	CBS	24.0
15	Sing Along with Mitch	NBC	24.0
17	Dennis the Menace	CBS	23.8
18	Ben Casey	ABC	23.7
19	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	23.5
20	Car 54, Where Are You?	NBC	23.2
21	The Flintstones	ABC	22.9
21	The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis	CBS	22.9
23	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	22.7
24	The Joey Bishop Show		22.6
25	The Perry Como Show		22.5
26	The Defenders	CBS	22.4
27	The Price Is Right	NBC	22.3
27	The Rifleman	ABC	22.3
29	Have Gun – Will Travel	CBS	22.2
30	The Donna Reed Show	ABC	21.9
30	77 Sunset Strip	ABC	21.9

October 1962–April 1963

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The Beverly Hillbillies	CBS	36.0
2	Candid Camera		31.1
2	The Red Skelton Show		31.1
4	Bonanza	NBC	29.8
4	The Lucy Show	CBS	29.8
6	The Andy Griffith Show	CBS	29.7
7	Ben Casey	ABC	28.7
7	The Danny Thomas Show	CBS	28.7
9	The Dick Van Dyke Show		27.1
10	Gunsmoke		27.0
11	Dr. Kildare	NBC	26.2
11	The Jack Benny Show	CBS	26.2
13	What's My Line?		25.5
14	The Ed Sullivan Show		25.3
15	Hazel	NBC	25.1
16	I've Got a Secret	CBS	24.9
17	The Jackie Gleason Show		24.1
18	The Defenders		23.9
19	The Garry Moore Show		23.3
	To Tell the Truth
	Lassie
22	Rawhide		22.8
23	Perry Mason		22.4
24	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	22.3
25	Wagon Train	ABC	22.0
26	The Virginian	NBC	21.7
27	Route 66	CBS	21.3
28	My Three Sons	ABC	21.0
29	Have Gun – Will Travel	CBS	20.8
30	The Flintstones	ABC	20.5

October 1963–April 1964

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The Beverly Hillbillies	CBS	39.1
2	Bonanza	NBC	36.9
3	The Dick Van Dyke Show	CBS	33.3
4	Petticoat Junction		30.3
5	The Andy Griffith Show		29.4
6	The Lucy Show		28.1
7	Candid Camera		27.7
8	The Ed Sullivan Show		27.5
9	The Danny Thomas Show		26.7
10	My Favorite Martian		26.3
11	The Red Skelton Show		25.7
12	I've Got a Secret		25.0
	Lassie
	The Jack Benny Show
15	The Jackie Gleason Show		24.6
16	The Donna Reed Show	ABC	24.5
17	The Virginian	NBC	24.0
18	The Patty Duke Show	ABC	23.9
19	Dr. Kildare	NBC	23.6
20	Gunsmoke	CBS	23.5
21	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	23.0
22	Hazel	NBC	22.8
22	McHale's Navy	ABC	22.8
24	To Tell the Truth	CBS	22.6
24	What's My Line?		22.6
26	Perry Mason		22.1
27	My Three Sons	ABC	21.9
28	The Fugitive		21.7
29	The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet		21.6
30	The Danny Kaye Show	CBS	21.5
30	Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre	NBC	21.5

October 1964–April 1965

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Bonanza	NBC	36.3
2	Bewitched	ABC	31.0
3	Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	CBS	30.7
4	The Andy Griffith Show	CBS	28.3
5	The Fugitive	ABC	27.9
6	The Red Skelton Hour	CBS	27.4
7	The Dick Van Dyke Show		27.1
8	The Lucy Show		26.6
9	Peyton Place II	ABC	26.4
10	Combat!	ABC	26.1
11	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	25.7
12	The Beverly Hillbillies	CBS	25.6
13	My Three Sons	ABC	25.5
14	Branded	NBC	25.3
15	Petticoat Junction	CBS	25.2
15	The Ed Sullivan Show		25.2
17	Lassie		25.1
18	The Munsters		24.7
18	Gilligan's Island		24.7
20	Peyton Place I	ABC	24.6
21	The Jackie Gleason Show	CBS	24.4
22	The Virginian	NBC	24.0
23	The Addams Family	ABC	23.9
24	My Favorite Martian	CBS	23.7
25	Flipper	NBC	23.4
26	I've Got a Secret	CBS	23.0
27	Gunsmoke	CBS	22.6
28	The Patty Duke Show	ABC	22.4
29	McHale's Navy		22.3
30	The Lawrence Welk Show		22.0

October 1965–April 1966

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Bonanza	NBC	31.8
2	Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	CBS	27.8
3	The Lucy Show		27.7
4	The Red Skelton Hour		27.6
5	Batman (Thurs.)	ABC	27.0
6	The Andy Griffith Show	CBS	26.9
7	Bewitched	ABC	25.9
7	The Beverly Hillbillies	CBS	25.9
9	Hogan's Heroes	CBS	24.9
10	Batman (Wed.)	ABC	24.7
11	Green Acres	CBS	24.6
12	Get Smart	NBC	24.5
13	The Man from U.N.C.L.E.	NBC	24.0
14	Daktari	CBS	23.9
15	My Three Sons		23.8
16	The Dick Van Dyke Show		23.6
17	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	23.2
17	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	23.2
19	The Lawrence Welk Show	ABC	22.4
19	I've Got a Secret	CBS	22.4
21	Petticoat Junction		22.3
22	Gilligan's Island		22.1
23	The Wild Wild West		22.0
	The Jackie Gleason Show
	The Virginian	NBC
26	Daniel Boone	NBC	21.9
27	Lassie	CBS	21.8
27	I Dream of Jeannie	NBC	21.8
29	Flipper	NBC	21.6
30	Gunsmoke	CBS	21.3

October 1966–April 1967

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Bonanza	NBC	29.1
2	The Red Skelton Hour	CBS	28.2
3	The Andy Griffith Show		27.4
4	The Lucy Show		26.2
5	The Jackie Gleason Show		25.3
6	Green Acres		24.6
7	Daktari		23.4
	Bewitched	ABC
	The Beverly Hillbillies	CBS
10	Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	CBS	22.8
	The Virginian	NBC
	The Lawrence Welk Show	ABC
	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS
14	The Dean Martin Show	NBC	22.6
14	Family Affair	CBS	22.6
16	The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour		22.2
17	Friday Night Movies		21.8
17	Hogan's Heroes		21.8
19	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	21.5
20	Saturday Night at the Movies		21.4
21	Dragnet		21.2
22	Get Smart		21.0
23	Petticoat Junction	CBS	20.9
23	The Rat Patrol	ABC	20.9
25	Daniel Boone	NBC	20.8
26	Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre		20.7
27	Tarzan		20.5
28	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	20.4
29	I Spy	NBC	20.2
	CBS Thursday Movie	CBS
	My Three Sons	CBS
	The F.B.I.	ABC

October 1967–April 1968

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The Andy Griffith Show	CBS	27.6
2	The Lucy Show		27.0
3	Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.		25.6
4	Gunsmoke		25.5
	Family Affair
	Bonanza	NBC
7	The Red Skelton Show	CBS	25.3
8	The Dean Martin Show	NBC	24.8
9	The Jackie Gleason Show	CBS	23.9
10	Saturday Night at the Movies	NBC	23.6
11	Bewitched	ABC	23.5
12	The Beverly Hillbillies	CBS	23.3
13	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	23.2
14	The Virginian	NBC	22.9
15	Friday Night Movies	CBS	22.8
15	Green Acres	CBS	22.8
17	The Lawrence Welk Show	ABC	21.9
18	The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour	CBS	21.7
19	Gentle Ben	CBS	21.5
20	Tuesday Night at the Movies	NBC	21.4
21	Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In	NBC	21.3
22	The F.B.I.	ABC	21.2
23	Thursday Night Movie	CBS	21.1
24	My Three Sons	CBS	20.8
25	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	20.7
26	Ironside	NBC	20.5
27	The Carol Burnett Show	CBS	20.1
27	Dragnet	NBC	20.1
29	Daniel Boone	NBC	20.0
30	Lassie	CBS	19.9
30	It Takes a Thief	ABC	19.9

October 1968–April 1969

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In	NBC	31.8
2	Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.	CBS	27.2
3	Bonanza	NBC	26.6
4	Mayberry R.F.D.	CBS	25.4
5	Family Affair		25.2
6	Gunsmoke		24.9
7	Julia	NBC	24.6
8	The Dean Martin Show	NBC	24.1
9	Here's Lucy	CBS	23.8
10	The Beverly Hillbillies		23.5
11	Mission: Impossible		23.3
	Bewitched	ABC
	The Red Skelton Hour	CBS
14	My Three Sons		22.8
15	The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour		22.5
16	Ironside	NBC	22.3
17	The Virginian	NBC	21.8
18	The F.B.I.	ABC	21.7
19	Green Acres	CBS	21.6
20	Dragnet	NBC	21.4
21	Daniel Boone		21.3
21	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color		21.3
23	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	21.2
24	The Carol Burnett Show		20.8
24	The Jackie Gleason Show		20.8
26	I Dream of Jeannie	NBC	20.7
27	The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour	CBS	20.6
28	The Mod Squad	ABC	20.5
28	The Lawrence Welk Show	ABC	20.5
30	The Doris Day Show	CBS	20.4

October 1969–April 1970

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In	NBC	26.3
2	Gunsmoke	CBS	25.9
3	Bonanza	NBC	24.8
4	Mayberry R.F.D.	CBS	24.4
5	Family Affair		24.2
6	Here's Lucy		23.9
7	The Red Skelton Hour		23.8
8	Marcus Welby, M.D.	ABC	23.7
9	Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color	NBC	23.6
10	The Doris Day Show	CBS	22.8
11	The Bill Cosby Show	NBC	22.7
12	The Jim Nabors Hour	CBS	22.4
13	The Carol Burnett Show	CBS	22.1
14	The Dean Martin Show	NBC	21.9
15	My Three Sons	CBS	21.8
	Ironside	NBC
	The Johnny Cash Show	ABC
18	The Beverly Hillbillies	CBS	21.7
19	Hawaii Five-O		21.1
20	The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour		21.0
20	Hee Haw		21.0
22	Movie of the Week	ABC	20.9
23	The Mod Squad	ABC	20.8
24	Saturday Night Movie	NBC	20.6
	Bewitched	ABC
	The F.B.I.	ABC
27	The Ed Sullivan Show	CBS	20.3
28	Julia	NBC	20.1
29	CBS Thursday Movie	CBS	20.0
30	Mannix	CBS	19.9

1970s

October 1970–April 1971

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Marcus Welby, M.D.	ABC	29.6
2	The Flip Wilson Show	NBC	27.9
3	Here's Lucy	CBS	26.1
4	Ironside	NBC	25.7
5	Gunsmoke	CBS	25.5
6	ABC Movie of the Week	ABC	25.1
7	Hawaii Five-O	CBS	25.0
8	Medical Center	CBS	24.5
9	Bonanza	NBC	23.9
10	The F.B.I.	ABC	23.0
11	The Mod Squad	ABC	22.7
12	Adam-12	NBC	22.6
13	Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In		22.4
13	The Wonderful World of Disney		22.4
15	Mayberry R.F.D.	CBS	22.3
16	Hee Haw		21.4
17	Mannix		21.3
18	The Men from Shiloh	NBC	21.2
19	My Three Sons	CBS	20.8
20	The Doris Day Show	CBS	20.7
21	The Smith Family	ABC	20.6
22	The Mary Tyler Moore Show	CBS	20.3
23	NBC Saturday Movie	NBC	20.1
24	The Dean Martin Show	NBC	20.0
25	The Carol Burnett Show	CBS	19.8
	The Partridge Family	ABC
	NBC Monday Movie	NBC
28	ABC Sunday Movie	ABC	19.7
29	The Jim Nabors Hour	CBS	19.5
30	CBS Thursday Movie	CBS	19.3

October 1971–April 1972

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	All in the Family	CBS	34.0
2	The Flip Wilson Show	NBC	28.2
3	Marcus Welby, M.D.	ABC	27.8
4	Gunsmoke	CBS	26.0
5	ABC Movie of the Week	ABC	25.6
6	Sanford and Son	NBC	25.2
7	Mannix	CBS	24.8
8	Funny Face	CBS	23.9
8	Adam-12	NBC	23.9
10	The Mary Tyler Moore Show	CBS	23.7
10	Here's Lucy		23.7
12	Hawaii Five-O		23.6
13	Medical Center		23.5
14	The NBC Mystery Movie	NBC	23.2
15	Ironside	NBC	23.0
16	The Partridge Family	ABC	22.6
17	The F.B.I.	ABC	22.4
18	The New Dick Van Dyke Show	CBS	22.2
19	The Wonderful World of Disney	NBC	22.0
20	Bonanza	NBC	21.9
21	The Mod Squad	ABC	21.5
22	Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In	NBC	21.4
23	The Carol Burnett Show	CBS	21.2
23	The Doris Day Show	CBS	21.2
25	Monday Night Football	ABC	20.9
26	ABC Sunday Movie	ABC	20.8
27	The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour	CBS	20.2
28	Room 222	ABC	19.8
28	Cannon	CBS	19.8
30	CBS Friday Movie	CBS	19.5

October 1972–April 1973

Rank	Title	Network	Rating
1	All in the Family	CBS	33.3
2	Sanford and Son	NBC	27.6
3	Hawaii Five-O	CBS	25.2
4	Maude		24.7
5	Bridget Loves Bernie		24.2
5	The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie	NBC	24.2
7	The Mary Tyler Moore Show	CBS	23.6
7	Gunsmoke	CBS	23.6
9	The Wonderful World of Disney	NBC	23.5
10	Ironside		23.4
11	Adam-12		23.3
12	The Flip Wilson Show		23.1
13	Marcus Welby, M.D.	ABC	22.9
14	Cannon	CBS	22.4
15	Here's Lucy		21.9
16	The Bob Newhart Show		21.8
17	Tuesday Movie of the Week	ABC	21.5
18	Monday Night Football		21.0
19	The Partridge Family		20.6
	The Waltons	CBS
	Medical Center
22	The Carol Burnett Show		20.3
23	ABC Sunday Movie	ABC	20.0
23	The Rookies	ABC	20.0
25	Barnaby Jones	CBS	19.9
	The Little People	NBC
	ABC Wednesday Movie of the Week	ABC
28	NBC Monday Movie	NBC	19.3
29	ABC Monday Movie	ABC	19.2
	The F.B.I.
	Kung Fu

September 1973–April 1974

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	All in the Family	CBS	31.2
2	The Waltons	CBS	28.1
3	Sanford and Son	NBC	27.5
4	MASH*	CBS	25.7
5	Hawaii Five-O		24.0
6	Maude		23.5
7	Kojak		23.3
7	The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour		23.3
9	The Mary Tyler Moore Show		23.1
9	Cannon		23.1
11	The Six Million Dollar Man	ABC	22.7
12	The Bob Newhart Show	CBS	22.3
12	The Wonderful World of Disney	NBC	22.3
14	The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie	NBC	22.2
15	Gunsmoke	CBS	22.1
16	Happy Days	ABC	21.5
17	Good Times	CBS	21.4
17	Barnaby Jones	CBS	21.4
19	Monday Night Football	ABC	21.2
19	CBS Friday Night Movie	CBS	21.2
21	Tuesday Movie of the Week	ABC	21.0
22	The Streets of San Francisco	ABC	20.8
23	Adam-12	NBC	20.7
23	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	20.7
25	The Rookies		20.3
26	ABC Monday Movie		20.2
27	The Carol Burnett Show	CBS	20.1
27	Kung Fu	ABC	20.1
29	Here's Lucy	CBS	20.0
30	CBS Thursday Movie	CBS	19.9

September 1974–April 1975

Rank	Title	Network	Rating
1	All in the Family	CBS	30.2
2	Sanford and Son	NBC	29.6
3	Chico and the Man	NBC	28.5
4	The Jeffersons	CBS	27.6
5	MASH*		27.4
6	Rhoda		26.3
7	Good Times		25.8
8	The Waltons		25.5
9	Maude		24.9
10	Hawaii Five-O		24.8
11	The Mary Tyler Moore Show		24.0
12	The Rockford Files	NBC	23.7
13	Little House on the Prairie	NBC	23.5
14	Kojak	CBS	23.3
15	Police Woman	NBC	22.8
16	S.W.A.T.	ABC	22.6
17	The Bob Newhart Show	CBS	22.4
18	The Wonderful World of Disney	NBC	22.0
18	The Rookies	ABC	22.0
20	Mannix	CBS	21.6
20	Cannon		21.6
22	Cher		21.3
	The Streets of San Francisco	ABC
	The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie	NBC
25	Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers	CBS	20.7
25	Tony Orlando & Dawn		20.7
27	Medical Center		20.6
28	Gunsmoke		20.5
29	The Carol Burnett Show		20.4
30	Emergency!	NBC	20.0

September 1975–April 1976

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	All in the Family	CBS	30.1
2	Rich Man, Poor Man	ABC	28.0
3	Laverne & Shirley	ABC	27.5
4	Maude	CBS	25.0
5	The Bionic Woman	ABC	24.9
6	Phyllis	CBS	24.5
7	Sanford and Son	NBC	24.4
7	Rhoda	CBS	24.4
9	The Six Million Dollar Man	ABC	24.3
10	ABC Monday Night Movie		24.2
11	Happy Days		23.9
12	One Day at a Time	CBS	23.1
13	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	23.0
14	The Waltons	CBS	22.9
14	MASH*	CBS	22.9
16	Starsky & Hutch	ABC	22.5
16	Good Heavens		22.5
18	Welcome Back, Kotter		22.1
19	The Mary Tyler Moore Show	CBS	21.9
20	Kojak		21.8
21	The Jeffersons		21.5
22	Baretta	ABC	21.3
23	The Sonny & Cher Show	CBS	21.2
24	Good Times	CBS	21.0
25	Chico and the Man	NBC	20.8
26	The Bob Newhart Show	CBS	20.7
	Donny & Marie	ABC
	The Streets of San Francisco	ABC
29	The Carol Burnett Show	CBS	20.5
30	Police Woman	NBC	20.2

September 1976–April 1977

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Happy Days	ABC	31.5
2	Laverne & Shirley		30.9
3	ABC Monday Night Movie		26.0
4	MASH*	CBS	25.9
5	Charlie's Angels	ABC	25.8
6	The Big Event	NBC	24.4
7	The Six Million Dollar Man	ABC	24.2
8	ABC Sunday Night Movie		23.4
	Baretta
	One Day at a Time	CBS
11	Three's Company	ABC	23.1
12	All in the Family	CBS	22.9
13	Welcome Back, Kotter	ABC	22.7
14	The Bionic Woman	ABC	22.4
15	The Waltons	CBS	22.3
15	Little House on the Prairie	NBC	22.3
17	Barney Miller	ABC	22.2
18	60 Minutes	CBS	21.9
18	Hawaii Five-O	CBS	21.9
20	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	21.8
21	Rich Man, Poor Man Book II	ABC	21.6
22	Monday Night Football		21.2
23	Eight Is Enough		21.1
24	The Jeffersons	CBS	21.0
25	What's Happening!!	ABC	20.9
26	Good Times	CBS	20.5
27	Sanford and Son	NBC	20.3
28	ABC Friday Night Movie	ABC	20.2
29	The Tony Randall Show	ABC	20.1
30	Alice	CBS	20.0

September 1977–April 1978

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Laverne & Shirley	ABC	31.6
2	Happy Days		31.4
3	Three's Company		28.3
4	60 Minutes	CBS	24.4
	Charlie's Angels	ABC
	All in the Family	CBS
7	Little House on the Prairie	NBC	24.1
8	Alice	CBS	23.2
8	MASH*		23.2
10	One Day at a Time		23.0
11	How the West Was Won	ABC	22.5
12	Eight Is Enough		22.2
13	Soap		22.0
14	The Love Boat		21.9
15	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	21.7
16	Monday Night Football	ABC	21.5
17	Fantasy Island		21.4
17	Barney Miller		21.4
19	Project U.F.O.	NBC	21.2
20	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	20.8
20	The Waltons	CBS	20.8
22	Barnaby Jones		20.6
23	Hawaii Five-O		20.4
24	ABC Monday Night Movie	ABC	20.3
25	Rhoda	CBS	20.1
26	The Incredible Hulk	CBS	19.9
	Family	ABC
	Welcome Back, Kotter	ABC
29	On Our Own	CBS	19.6
30	The Big Event — Sunday	NBC	19.4

September 1978–April 1979

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Laverne & Shirley	ABC	30.5
2	Three's Company		30.3
3	Mork & Mindy		28.6
3	Happy Days		28.6
5	Angie		26.7
6	60 Minutes	CBS	25.5
7	MASH*	CBS	25.4
8	The Ropers	ABC	25.2
9	All in the Family	CBS	24.9
9	Taxi	ABC	24.9
11	Eight Is Enough		24.8
12	Charlie's Angels		24.4
13	Alice	CBS	23.2
14	Little House on the Prairie	NBC	23.1
15	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	22.6
15	Barney Miller		22.6
17	The Love Boat		22.1
18	One Day at a Time	CBS	21.6
19	Soap	ABC	21.3
20	The Dukes of Hazzard	CBS	21.0
21	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	20.9
22	Fantasy Island	ABC	20.8
23	Vega$	ABC	20.6
24	Barnaby Jones	CBS	20.5
25	CHiPs	NBC	20.3
26	Stockard Channing in Just Friends	CBS	20.2
27	Diff'rent Strokes	NBC	19.9
28	Monday Night Football	ABC	19.8
28	What's Happening!!	ABC	19.8
30	Lou Grant	CBS	19.7

September 1979–April 1980

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	60 Minutes	CBS	28.4
2	Three's Company	ABC	26.3
3	That's Incredible!	ABC	25.8
4	Alice	CBS	25.3
4	MASH*		25.3
6	Dallas		25.0
7	Flo		24.4
8	The Jeffersons		24.3
9	The Dukes of Hazzard		24.1
10	One Day at a Time		23.0
11	Archie Bunker's Place		22.9
12	Eight Is Enough	ABC	22.8
13	Taxi	ABC	22.4
14	House Calls	CBS	22.1
14	Real People	NBC	22.1
16	Little House on the Prairie	NBC	21.8
17	Happy Days	ABC	21.7
18	CHiPs	NBC	21.5
19	Trapper John, M.D.	CBS	21.2
20	Charlie's Angels	ABC	20.9
20	Barney Miller	ABC	20.9
22	WKRP in Cincinnati	CBS	20.7
23	Benson	ABC	20.6
23	The Love Boat		20.6
25	Soap		20.5
26	Diff'rent Strokes	NBC	20.3
27	Mork & Mindy	ABC	20.2
28	Fantasy Island		20.1
29	Tenspeed and Brown Shoe		20.0
	ABC Sunday Night Movie
	Vega$
	Knots Landing	CBS

1980s

September 1980–April 1981

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Dallas	CBS	34.5
2	The Dukes of Hazzard		27.3
3	60 Minutes		27.0
4	MASH*		25.7
5	The Love Boat	ABC	24.3
6	The Jeffersons	CBS	23.5
7	Alice		22.9
8	House Calls		22.4
8	Three's Company	ABC	22.4
10	Little House on the Prairie	NBC	22.1
11	One Day at a Time	CBS	22.0
12	Real People	NBC	21.5
13	Archie Bunker's Place	CBS	21.4
14	Magnum, P.I.	CBS	21.0
15	Happy Days	ABC	20.8
15	Too Close for Comfort		20.8
17	Fantasy Island		20.7
	Trapper John, M.D.	CBS
	Diff'rent Strokes	NBC
20	Monday Night Football	ABC	20.6
20	Laverne & Shirley		20.6
22	That's Incredible!		20.5
23	Hart to Hart		19.9
24	ABC Sunday Night Movie		19.4
24	CHiPs	NBC	19.4
26	The Facts of Life	NBC	19.3
27	Lou Grant	CBS	19.1
28	Knots Landing	CBS	19.0
29	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	18.8
30	The Waltons	CBS	18.6

September 1981–April 1982

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Dallas	CBS	28.4
2	60 Minutes		27.7
3	The Jeffersons		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	MASH*	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		20.2
20	Laverne & Shirley		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		18.4
30	Fantasy Island		18.3

September 1982–April 1983

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	60 Minutes	CBS	25.5
2	Dallas		24.6
3	MASH*		22.6
3	Magnum, P.I.		22.6
5	Dynasty	ABC	22.4
6	Three's Company	ABC	21.2
7	Simon & Simon	CBS	21.0
8	Falcon Crest	CBS	20.7
9	The Love Boat	ABC	20.3
10	The A-Team	NBC	20.1
10	Monday Night Football	ABC	20.1
12	The Jeffersons	CBS	20.0
12	Newhart	CBS	20.0
14	The Fall Guy	ABC	19.4
15	9 to 5	ABC	19.3
16	One Day at a Time	CBS	19.1
17	Hart to Hart	ABC	18.9
18	Gloria	CBS	18.7
18	Trapper John, M.D.		18.7
20	Knots Landing		18.6
21	Hill Street Blues	NBC	18.4
22	That's Incredible!	ABC	18.3
22	Archie Bunker's Place	CBS	18.3
24	ABC Monday Night Movie	ABC	18.0
25	Laverne & Shirley		17.8
26	ABC Sunday Night Movie		17.6
27	CBS Tuesday Night Movie	CBS	17.5
28	Happy Days	ABC	17.4
28	Little House: A New Beginning	NBC	17.4
30	Real People	NBC	17.2
30	The Dukes of Hazzard	CBS	17.2

September 1983–April 1984

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Dallas	CBS	25.7
2	60 Minutes	CBS	24.2
3	Dynasty	ABC	24.1
4	The A-Team	NBC	24.0
5	Simon & Simon	CBS	23.8
6	Magnum, P.I.		22.4
7	Falcon Crest		22.0
8	Kate & Allie		21.9
9	Hotel	ABC	21.1
10	Cagney & Lacey	CBS	20.9
11	Knots Landing	CBS	20.8
12	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	20.4
12	ABC Monday Night Movie	ABC	20.4
14	TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes	NBC	20.3
15	AfterMASH	CBS	20.1
16	The Fall Guy	ABC	19.9
17	The Love Boat	ABC	19.0
18	Riptide	NBC	18.8
19	The Jeffersons	CBS	18.6
20	Scarecrow & Mrs. King	CBS	18.3
21	Monday Night Football	ABC	18.1
21	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	18.1
23	Newhart	CBS	18.0
24	The Facts of Life	NBC	17.3
25	CBS Tuesday Night Movie	CBS	17.2
	Webster	ABC
	Alice	CBS
	Knight Rider	NBC
	Hardcastle and McCormick	ABC
30	Trapper John, M.D.	CBS	17.0

September 1984–April 1985

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Dynasty	ABC	25.0
2	Dallas	CBS	24.7
3	The Cosby Show	NBC	24.2
4	60 Minutes	CBS	22.2
5	Family Ties	NBC	22.1
6	The A-Team	NBC	21.9
7	Simon & Simon	CBS	21.8
8	Murder, She Wrote		20.1
9	Knots Landing		20.0
10	Falcon Crest		19.9
10	Crazy Like a Fox		19.9
12	Hotel	ABC	19.7
12	Cheers	NBC	19.7
14	Riptide	NBC	19.2
15	Magnum, P.I.	CBS	19.1
16	Newhart		18.4
17	Kate & Allie		18.3
18	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	18.2
19	Highway to Heaven		17.7
20	Night Court		17.6
21	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	17.5
22	Scarecrow & Mrs. King	CBS	17.1
	TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes	NBC
	The Fall Guy	ABC
25	Monday Night Football	ABC	17.0
	Remington Steele	NBC
	Webster	ABC
28	Cagney & Lacey	CBS	16.9
29	Trapper John, M.D.	CBS	16.8
30	Hill Street Blues	NBC	16.6

September 1985–April 1986

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The Cosby Show	NBC	33.7
2	Family Ties	NBC	30.0
3	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	25.3
4	60 Minutes	CBS	23.9
5	Cheers	NBC	23.7
6	Dallas	CBS	21.9
7	Dynasty	ABC	21.8
7	The Golden Girls	NBC	21.8
9	Miami Vice	NBC	21.3
10	Who's the Boss?	ABC	21.1
11	Night Court	NBC	20.9
12	CBS Sunday Night Movie	CBS	20.5
13	Highway to Heaven	NBC	20.1
14	Kate & Allie	CBS	20.0
15	Monday Night Football	ABC	19.8
16	Newhart	CBS	19.6
17	Knots Landing	CBS	19.5
17	Growing Pains	ABC	19.5
19	You Again?	NBC	19.2
20	227		18.8
21	NBC Sunday Night Movie		18.5
22	Hotel	ABC	18.3
22	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	18.3
24	Moonlighting	ABC	18.1
	Falcon Crest	CBS
	Valerie	NBC
27	The Facts of Life	NBC	17.7
28	Scarecrow & Mrs. King	CBS	17.4
29	Simon & Simon	CBS	17.2
30	The A-Team	NBC	16.9

September 1986–April 1987

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The Cosby Show	NBC	34.9
2	Family Ties		32.7
3	Cheers		27.2
4	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	25.4
5	The Golden Girls	NBC	24.5
6	60 Minutes	CBS	23.3
7	Night Court	NBC	23.2
8	Growing Pains	ABC	22.7
9	Moonlighting		22.4
10	Who's the Boss?		22.0
11	Dallas	CBS	21.3
12	Newhart	CBS	19.5
13	Amen	NBC	19.4
14	227		18.9
15	Matlock		18.6
	CBS Sunday Night Movie	CBS
	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC
18	Monday Night Football	ABC	18.4
19	Kate & Allie	CBS	18.3
20	NBC Sunday Night Movie	NBC	18.2
21	L.A. Law	NBC	17.4
21	My Sister Sam	CBS	17.4
23	Falcon Crest	CBS	17.3
24	Highway to Heaven	NBC	17.2
24	Dynasty	ABC	17.2
26	Knots Landing	CBS	16.8
26	Miami Vice	NBC	16.8
28	ALF		16.5
28	Hunter		16.5
30	Head of the Class	ABC	16.4

September 1987–April 1988

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?	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		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
20	Valerie's Family		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		16.3
28	Day by Day		16.2
29	Hunter		16.1
30	Aaron's Way		16.0

October 1988–April 1989

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The Cosby Show	NBC	25.6
2	Roseanne	ABC	23.8
3	A Different World	NBC	23.0
4	Cheers	NBC	22.3
5	60 Minutes	CBS	21.7
6	The Golden Girls	NBC	21.4
7	Who's the Boss?	ABC	20.8
8	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	19.9
9	Empty Nest	NBC	19.2
10	Anything but Love	ABC	19.0
11	Dear John	NBC	18.5
12	Matlock		17.7
13	L.A. Law		17.6
13	Growing Pains	ABC	17.6
15	ALF	NBC	17.5
15	Monday Night Football	ABC	17.5
17	Unsolved Mysteries	NBC	17.4
18	In the Heat of the Night		17.3
19	Hunter		17.2
20	Head of the Class	ABC	17.1
21	Night Court	NBC	16.9
22	The Hogan Family		16.3
	NBC Sunday Night Movie
	The Wonder Years	ABC
25	Amen	NBC	16.2
25	NBC Monday Night Movie	NBC	16.2
27	Knots Landing	CBS	16.1
27	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	16.1
29	ABC Mystery Movie	ABC	15.4
29	Dallas	CBS	15.4

September 1989–April 1990

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	The Cosby Show	NBC	23.1
1	Roseanne	ABC	23.1
3	Cheers	NBC	22.7
4	A Different World	NBC	21.1
5	America's Funniest Home Videos	ABC	20.9
6	The Golden Girls	NBC	20.1
7	60 Minutes	CBS	19.7
8	The Wonder Years	ABC	19.2
9	Empty Nest	NBC	18.9
10	Monday Night Football	ABC	18.1
11	Unsolved Mysteries	NBC	18.0
12	Who's the Boss?	ABC	17.9
13	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	17.7
13	Chicken Soup	ABC	17.7
15	Grand	NBC	17.6
16	L.A. Law		17.4
17	Dear John		17.2
18	Coach	ABC	17.0
19	In the Heat of the Night	NBC	16.9
20	Matlock	NBC	16.6
21	Growing Pains	ABC	15.4
22	Full House	ABC	15.3
22	Designing Women	CBS	15.3
24	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	14.9
24	Hunter	NBC	14.9
26	Head of the Class	ABC	14.8
27	Murphy Brown	CBS	14.7
28	The Simpsons	FOX	14.5
	Night Court	NBC
	Doogie Howser, M.D.	ABC

1990s

September 1990–April 1991

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Cheers	NBC	21.3
2	60 Minutes	CBS	20.6
3	Roseanne	ABC	18.1
4	A Different World	NBC	17.5
5	The Cosby Show	NBC	17.1
6	Murphy Brown	CBS	16.9
7	Empty Nest	NBC	16.7
7	America's Funniest Home Videos	ABC	16.7
9	Monday Night Football	ABC	16.6
10	The Golden Girls	NBC	16.5
10	Designing Women	CBS	16.5
12	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	16.4
13	America's Funniest People	ABC	16.3
14	Full House		15.9
15	Family Matters		15.8
16	Unsolved Mysteries	NBC	15.7
17	Matlock	NBC	15.5
18	Coach	ABC	15.3
19	Who's the Boss?	ABC	15.0
19	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	15.0
21	In the Heat of the Night	NBC	14.9
21	Major Dad	CBS	14.9
23	L.A. Law	NBC	14.8
24	Doogie Howser, M.D.	ABC	14.7
25	Grand	NBC	14.6
26	Head of the Class	ABC	14.5
27	Growing Pains		14.3
	Baby Talk
	Davis Rules
30	The Wonder Years		14.2

September 1991–April 1992

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	60 Minutes	CBS	21.9
2	Roseanne	ABC	19.9
3	Murphy Brown	CBS	18.6
4	Cheers	NBC	17.5
4	Home Improvement	ABC	17.5
6	Designing Women	CBS	17.3
7	Full House	ABC	17.0
8	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	16.9
9	Major Dad	CBS	16.8
10	Coach	ABC	16.7
10	Room for Two		16.7
12	Monday Night Football		16.6
13	Unsolved Mysteries	NBC	16.5
14	CBS Sunday Night Movie	CBS	15.9
15	Evening Shade		15.6
16	Northern Exposure		15.5
17	A Different World	NBC	15.2
18	The Cosby Show		15.0
19	Wings		14.6
20	America's Funniest Home Videos	ABC	14.5
21	20/20	ABC	14.4
22	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	NBC	14.3
22	Empty Nest		14.3
24	NBC Monday Movie		13.9
25	America's Funniest People	ABC	13.8
25	ABC Monday Movie		13.8
27	Family Matters		13.5
28	L.A. Law	NBC	13.3
29	48 Hours	CBS	13.2
30	In the Heat of the Night	NBC	13.1
30	The Golden Girls	NBC	13.1

September 1992–April 1993

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	60 Minutes	CBS	21.9
2	Roseanne	ABC	20.7
3	Home Improvement	ABC	19.4
4	Murphy Brown	CBS	17.9
5	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	17.7
6	Coach	ABC	17.5
7	Monday Night Football	ABC	16.7
8	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	16.1
8	Cheers	NBC	16.1
10	Full House	ABC	15.8
11	Northern Exposure	CBS	15.2
12	20/20	ABC	15.1
12	Rescue 911	CBS	15.1
14	CBS Tuesday Movie		14.8
15	Love & War		14.7
16	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	NBC	14.6
	Hangin' with Mr. Cooper	ABC
	The Jackie Thomas Show	ABC
19	Evening Shade	CBS	14.5
20	Hearts Afire	CBS	14.3
21	Unsolved Mysteries	NBC	14.2
22	Primetime Live	ABC	14.1
23	Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman	CBS	14.0
24	NBC Monday Movie	NBC	13.9
25	Seinfeld	NBC	13.7
26	48 Hours	CBS	13.5
26	Blossom	NBC	13.5
28	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	13.3
28	Matlock	ABC	13.3
30	Wings	NBC	13.0
30	The Simpsons	FOX	13.0

September 1993–April 1994

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	60 Minutes	CBS	20.9
2	Home Improvement	ABC	20.4
3	Seinfeld	NBC	19.4
4	Roseanne	ABC	19.1
5	Grace Under Fire		17.7
6	Coach		17.4
7	Frasier	NBC	16.8
8	Monday Night Football	ABC	16.5
9	Murphy Brown	CBS	16.3
10	CBS Sunday Movie		16.2
11	Murder, She Wrote		16.0
12	Thunder Alley	ABC	15.9
13	Love & War	CBS	14.5
14	Northern Exposure	CBS	14.4
15	20/20	ABC	14.3
16	Full House		14.2
17	Primetime Live		14.0
18	NYPD Blue		13.9
18	Wings	NBC	13.9
20	Turning Point	ABC	13.8
21	Dave's World	CBS	13.7
21	The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air	NBC	13.7
23	NBC Monday Movie		13.6
24	Homicide: Life on the Street		13.5
25	CBS Tuesday Movie	CBS	13.3
25	Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman	CBS	13.3
27	Phenom	ABC	13.2
	Evening Shade	CBS
	Rescue 911	CBS
30	ABC Sunday Night Movie	ABC	12.6
30	Family Matters	ABC	12.6

September 1994–April 1995

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Seinfeld	NBC	20.6
2	ER	NBC	20.0
3	Home Improvement	ABC	19.5
4	Grace Under Fire		18.6
5	Monday Night Football		17.7
6	60 Minutes	CBS	17.2
7	NYPD Blue	ABC	16.5
8	Murder, She Wrote	CBS	15.6
8	Friends	NBC	15.6
10	Roseanne	ABC	15.5
11	Mad About You	NBC	15.2
12	Madman of the People	NBC	14.9
13	Ellen	ABC	14.8
14	Hope and Gloria	NBC	14.6
15	Frasier	NBC	14.5
16	Murphy Brown	CBS	14.1
17	20/20	ABC	14.0
18	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	13.7
19	NBC Monday Movie	NBC	13.6
20	Me and the Boys	ABC	13.1
21	Dave's World	CBS	12.9
22	Cybill	CBS	12.8
23	ABC Sunday Movie	ABC	12.7
24	The Nanny	CBS	12.5
25	Full House	ABC	12.4
26	Wings	NBC	12.3
27	Law & Order		12.2
28	NBC Sunday Night Movie		12.0
29	Chicago Hope	CBS	11.7
	ABC Monday Night Movie	ABC
	The Martin Short Show	NBC
	Primetime Live	ABC

September 1995–May 1996

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	ER	NBC	22.0
2	Seinfeld		21.2
3	Friends		18.7
4	Caroline in the City		18.0
5	Monday Night Football	ABC	17.1
6	The Single Guy	NBC	16.7
7	Home Improvement	ABC	16.1
8	Boston Common	NBC	15.6
9	60 Minutes	CBS	14.2
10	NYPD Blue	ABC	14.1
11	20/20	ABC	13.6
11	Frasier	NBC	13.6
13	Grace Under Fire	ABC	13.2
14	NBC Monday Movie	NBC	12.9
14	Coach	ABC	12.9
16	The Nanny	CBS	12.5
16	Roseanne	ABC	12.5
18	Walker, Texas Ranger	CBS	12.3
	Primetime Live	ABC
	Murphy Brown	CBS
21	NBC Sunday Movie	NBC	12.2
22	3rd Rock from the Sun	NBC	12.1
23	Chicago Hope	CBS	11.9
24	Law & Order	NBC	11.4
	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS
	The Naked Truth	ABC
	Can't Hurry Love	CBS
28	Dateline NBC — Tuesday	NBC	11.3
28	Dateline NBC — Wednesday	NBC	11.3
30	The Dana Carvey Show	ABC	11.2

September 1996–May 1997

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	ER	NBC	21.2
2	Seinfeld		20.5
3	Suddenly Susan		17.0
4	Friends		16.8
4	The Naked Truth		16.8
6	Fired Up		16.5
7	Monday Night Football	ABC	16.0
8	The Single Guy	NBC	14.1
9	Home Improvement	ABC	14.0
10	Touched by an Angel	CBS	13.6
11	60 Minutes	CBS	13.3
12	20/20	ABC	12.8
13	NYPD Blue	ABC	12.5
14	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	12.1
15	Primetime Live	ABC	11.9
16	Frasier	NBC	11.8
17	Spin City	ABC	11.7
18	NBC Sunday Movie	NBC	11.5
18	The Drew Carey Show	ABC	11.5
20	Dateline NBC — Tuesday	NBC	11.4
21	Cosby	CBS	11.2
21	The X-Files	FOX	11.2
23	Walker, Texas Ranger	CBS	11.0
	Mad About You	NBC
	Caroline in the City
	NBC Monday Movie
27	Law & Order		10.8
27	3rd Rock from the Sun		10.8
29	Ellen	ABC	10.6
30	Chicago Hope	CBS	10.5
	Dateline NBC — Friday	NBC
	Cybill	CBS

September 1997–May 1998

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Seinfeld	NBC	22.0
2	ER		20.4
3	Veronica's Closet		16.6
4	Friends		16.1
5	Monday Night Football	ABC	15.0
6	Touched by an Angel	CBS	14.2
7	60 Minutes	CBS	13.8
8	Union Square	NBC	13.6
9	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	13.1
10	Frasier	NBC	12.0
10	Home Improvement	ABC	12.0
12	Just Shoot Me!	NBC	11.9
13	Dateline NBC — Tuesday		11.5
14	Dateline NBC — Monday		11.4
15	The Drew Carey Show	ABC	11.1
16	20/20 — Friday		10.9
17	NYPD Blue		10.8
17	Primetime Live		10.8
19	The X-Files	FOX	10.6
20	Law & Order	NBC	10.2
21	20/20 — Monday	ABC	10.0
22	Diagnosis: Murder	CBS	9.8
23	King of the Hill	FOX	9.7
23	Mad About You	NBC	9.7
25	Cosby	CBS	9.5
25	Dharma & Greg	ABC	9.5
27	NBC Sunday Night Movie	NBC	9.4
28	Hiller and Diller	ABC	9.3
28	Walker, Texas Ranger	CBS	9.3
30	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS	9.2
30	The Simpsons	FOX	9.2

September 1998–May 1999

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	ER	NBC	17.8
2	Friends		15.7
3	Frasier		15.6
4	Monday Night Football	ABC	14.9
5	Veronica's Closet	NBC	13.7
5	Jesse	NBC	13.7
7	60 Minutes	CBS	13.2
8	Touched by an Angel		13.1
9	CBS Sunday Movie		12.0
10	Home Improvement	ABC	11.0
11	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS	10.6
12	NYPD Blue	ABC	10.5
13	Law & Order	NBC	10.1
14	The Drew Carey Show	ABC	9.9
14	20/20 — Friday	ABC	9.9
16	Providence	NBC	9.8
	20/20 — Wednesday	ABC
	JAG	CBS
19	Dateline NBC — Tuesday	NBC	9.7
	Dateline NBC — Monday	NBC
	Becker	CBS
	CBS Tuesday Movie	CBS
23	Ally McBeal	FOX	9.6
24	Dharma & Greg	ABC	9.3
25	Spin City	ABC	9.2
	Walker, Texas Ranger	CBS
	Dateline NBC — Friday	NBC
28	The X-Files	FOX	9.1
28	NBC Sunday Night Movie	NBC	9.1
30	60 Minutes II	CBS	9.0
30	Diagnosis: Murder	CBS	9.0

September 1999–May 2000

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Tuesday	ABC	18.6
2	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Thursday		17.5
3	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Sunday		17.1
4	ER	NBC	16.9
5	Friends		14.0
6	Frasier		13.6
7	Monday Night Football	ABC	13.5
8	60 Minutes	CBS	12.0
9	The Practice	ABC	11.8
10	Touched by an Angel	CBS	11.6
11	Law & Order	NBC	11.5
12	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS	11.4
13	Jesse	NBC	11.3
14	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	10.9
15	Stark Raving Mad	NBC	10.7
15	NYPD Blue	ABC	10.7
17	Dharma & Greg	ABC	10.5
18	Becker	CBS	10.4
19	Judging Amy		10.2
20	JAG		9.7
21	The Drew Carey Show	ABC	9.5
22	Providence	NBC	9.4
23	60 Minutes II	CBS	9.3
24	The West Wing	NBC	9.1
	ABC Monday Movie	ABC
	Spin City	ABC
27	Family Law	CBS	9.0
28	Dateline NBC — Friday	NBC	8.9
28	Malcolm in the Middle	FOX	8.9
30	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC	8.8
30	CBS Wednesday Movie	CBS	8.8

2000s

September 2000–May 2001

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Survivor	CBS	17.4
2	ER	NBC	15.0
3	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Wednesday	ABC	13.7
4	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Tuesday	ABC	13.0
5	Friends	NBC	12.6
	Monday Night Football	ABC
	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS
8	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Sunday	ABC	12.4
9	Law & Order	NBC	12.3
10	The Practice	ABC	11.7
11	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Thursday	ABC	11.6
	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS
	The West Wing	NBC
14	Will & Grace	NBC	11.3
15	60 Minutes	CBS	11.1
16	Becker	CBS	10.9
17	Temptation Island	FOX	10.7
17	Frasier	NBC	10.7
19	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Friday	ABC	10.5
20	Just Shoot Me!	NBC	10.4
21	Judging Amy	CBS	9.9
22	Cursed/The Weber Show	NBC	9.7
	NYPD Blue	ABC
	Touched by an Angel	CBS
25	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC	9.6
26	JAG	CBS	9.2
27	The King of Queens		8.9
28	Yes, Dear		8.7
29	Family Law		8.6
	The District
	CBS Sunday Movie

September 2001–May 2002

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Friends	NBC	15.0
2	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	14.5
3	ER	NBC	14.2
4	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS	12.8
5	Law & Order	NBC	12.6
6	Survivor	CBS	11.8
7	Monday Night Football	ABC	11.5
8	The West Wing	NBC	11.4
9	Will & Grace		11.0
9	Leap of Faith		11.0
11	Becker	CBS	10.7
12	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC	10.4
13	60 Minutes	CBS	10.1
14	Frasier	NBC	9.9
14	JAG	CBS	9.9
16	Inside Schwartz	NBC	9.8
16	Judging Amy	CBS	9.8
18	Just Shoot Me!	NBC	9.3
19	The King of Queens	CBS	8.9
20	Yes, Dear	CBS	8.8
20	Crossing Jordan	NBC	8.8
22	The Guardian	CBS	8.4
23	The Practice	ABC	8.3
23	NYPD Blue	ABC	8.3
25	Baby Bob	CBS	8.1
25	Dateline NBC — Friday	NBC	8.1
27	Fear Factor		7.9
	Law & Order: Criminal Intent
	Providence
30	60 Minutes II	CBS	7.7
30	Family Law	CBS	7.7

September 2002–May 2003

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	16.3
2	Friends	NBC	13.9
3	Joe Millionaire	FOX	13.3
4	ER	NBC	13.1
5	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	12.6
6	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	12.5
7	Survivor (Thailand & Amazon)	CBS	11.9
7	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS	11.9
9	Law & Order	NBC	11.7
10	Monday Night Football	ABC	11.4
11	CSI: Miami	CBS	11.0
11	Will & Grace	NBC	11.0
13	Scrubs		10.3
14	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit		10.1
15	Without a Trace	CBS	10.0
16	The Bachelor/The Bachelorette	ABC	9.9
17	60 Minutes	CBS	9.6
18	Judging Amy	CBS	9.5
19	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	NBC	9.4
19	Still Standing	CBS	9.4
21	The West Wing	NBC	9.0
22	JAG	CBS	8.9
23	Good Morning, Miami	NBC	8.7
24	Yes, Dear	CBS	8.6
25	The King of Queens	CBS	8.5
26	Frasier	NBC	8.4
27	The Guardian	CBS	8.3
28	My Big Fat Greek Life	CBS	8.0
29	NYPD Blue	ABC	7.8
30	Fear Factor	NBC	7.7

September 2003–May 2004

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	15.9
2	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	14.9
3	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	14.1
4	Friends	NBC	13.6
5	The Apprentice		13.0
6	ER		12.9
7	Survivor	CBS	12.3
8	CSI: Miami	CBS	11.9
9	Monday Night Football	ABC	11.2
9	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS	11.2
11	Without a Trace	CBS	11.1
12	Law & Order	NBC	10.8
13	Will & Grace	NBC	10.4
14	My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance	FOX	9.9
14	Two and a Half Men	CBS	9.9
16	60 Minutes		9.4
17	Cold Case		9.3
18	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC	8.7
19	Crossing Jordan		8.6
19	Law & Order: Criminal Intent		8.6
21	The Bachelor/The Bachelorette	ABC	8.3
22	Fear Factor	NBC	7.9
23	The West Wing	NBC	7.8
	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS
	Navy: NCIS
26	Judging Amy		7.7
26	Still Standing		7.7
28	Las Vegas	NBC	7.6
29	Average Joe		7.4
30	Frasier		7.3
30	The King of Queens	CBS	7.3

September 2004–May 2005

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	16.5
2	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	15.7
3	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	15.3
4	Desperate Housewives	ABC	14.5
5	CSI: Miami	CBS	12.4
6	Without a Trace		12.3
7	Survivor		12.0
8	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	11.6
9	Everybody Loves Raymond	CBS	11.2
10	Monday Night Football	ABC	10.8
11	Two and a Half Men	CBS	10.6
12	ER	NBC	10.4
13	Lost	ABC	9.8
14	Cold Case	CBS	9.7
14	The Apprentice	NBC	9.7
16	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC	9.2
16	60 Minutes	CBS	9.2
18	Extreme Makeover: Home Edition	ABC	9.1
18	Medium	NBC	9.1
20	Law & Order	NBC	8.9
20	CSI: NY	CBS	8.9
22	NCIS	CBS	8.8
23	House	FOX	8.3
24	Boston Legal	ABC	8.1
25	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	NBC	7.9
26	Crossing Jordan	NBC	7.7
27	CBS Sunday Movie	CBS	7.6
27	The Amazing Race		7.6
29	Judging Amy		7.4
29	The West Wing	NBC	7.4

September 2005–May 2006

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	17.6
2	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	17.2
3	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	15.6
4	Desperate Housewives	ABC	13.8
5	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	12.5
6	Without a Trace	CBS	12.3
7	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	12.0
8	CSI: Miami	CBS	11.8
9	Monday Night Football	ABC	10.6
9	House	FOX	10.6
11	Survivor	CBS	10.3
12	NCIS		9.8
13	Two and a Half Men		9.7
13	The Unit		9.7
15	Dancing with the Stars — Results	ABC	9.6
15	Deal or No Deal — Monday	NBC	9.6
17	Cold Case	CBS	9.3
18	Lost	ABC	9.2
	CSI: NY	CBS
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC
21	60 Minutes	CBS	9.0
21	Deal or No Deal — Wednesday	NBC	9.0
23	Extreme Makeover: Home Edition	ABC	8.6
24	Commander in Chief	ABC	8.4
25	The New Adventures of Old Christine	CBS	8.3
25	Unan1mous	FOX	8.3
27	Criminal Minds	CBS	8.2
28	24	FOX	8.1
28	ER	NBC	8.1
30	Out of Practice	CBS	7.8

September 2006–May 2007

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	17.3
2	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	16.8
3	Dancing with the Stars — Monday	ABC	12.7
	Dancing with the Stars — Tuesday
	Dancing with the Stars — Wednesday
6	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	12.2
7	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	12.1
8	House	FOX	11.1
9	Desperate Housewives	ABC	10.8
10	CSI: Miami	CBS	10.7
11	Sunday Night Football	NBC	10.5
12	Without a Trace	CBS	9.4
13	Deal or No Deal — Monday	NBC	9.2
14	Two and a Half Men	CBS	9.1
15	NCIS		9.0
16	CSI: NY		8.9
16	Cold Case		8.9
18	Criminal Minds		8.8
18	Survivor		8.8
20	60 Minutes		8.7
20	Shark		8.7
22	Lost	ABC	8.3
23	Heroes	NBC	8.0
24	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC	7.9
25	Rules of Engagement	CBS	7.8
26	Extreme Makeover: Home Edition	ABC	7.7
27	Ugly Betty	ABC	7.4
	ER	NBC
	24	FOX
30	Brothers & Sisters	ABC	7.3
	The King of Queens	CBS
	Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?	FOX

September 2007–May 2008

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	16.1
2	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	15.9
3	Dancing with the Stars — Monday	ABC	14.0
4	Dancing with the Stars — Wednesday		12.6
5	Dancing with the Stars — Tuesday		12.3
6	Desperate Housewives		11.6
7	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	10.6
8	House	FOX	10.5
9	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	10.4
10	Sunday Night Football	NBC	9.7
11	CSI: Miami	CBS	9.2
11	NCIS		9.2
13	Without a Trace		8.8
13	The Moment of Truth	FOX	8.8
15	Two and a Half Men	CBS	8.5
15	Survivor		8.5
17	60 Minutes		8.4
18	Criminal Minds		8.2
19	Samantha Who?	ABC	8.0
20	Lost		7.9
21	Extreme Makeover: Home Edition		7.8
22	Brothers & Sisters		7.6
	CSI: NY	CBS
	Heroes	NBC
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC
26	Private Practice	ABC	7.3
27	Law & Order	NBC	7.2
28	Cold Case	CBS	7.1
28	Deal or No Deal — Monday	NBC	7.1
30	Shark	CBS	7.0
	The Unit	CBS
	Hell's Kitchen	FOX

September 2008–May 2009

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	15.1
2	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	14.6
3	Dancing with the Stars — Monday	ABC	12.9
4	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	11.5
5	NCIS		10.9
6	The Mentalist		10.8
7	Dancing with the Stars — Tuesday	ABC	10.7
8	Sunday Night Football	NBC	10.0
9	Desperate Housewives	ABC	9.9
10	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	9.6
11	Criminal Minds	CBS	9.4
12	Two and a Half Men		9.1
12	CSI: Miami		9.1
14	60 Minutes		8.9
15	CSI: NY		8.6
16	Without a Trace		8.4
17	House	FOX	8.1
18	Survivor	CBS	7.8
18	Eleventh Hour		7.8
20	Cold Case		7.5
20	The Bachelor	ABC	7.5
22	24	FOX	7.3
23	Brothers & Sisters	ABC	7.2
24	Rules of Engagement	CBS	7.1
25	Castle	ABC	6.9
26	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	NBC	6.7
	ER	NBC
	Bones	FOX
29	Ghost Whisperer	CBS	6.6
	Lost	ABC
	NUMB3RS	CBS

September 2009–May 2010

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	American Idol — Tuesday	FOX	13.7
2	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	13.3
3	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	12.6
4	NCIS	CBS	11.5
5	Sunday Night Football	NBC	11.3
6	The Mentalist	CBS	10.6
7	Dancing with the Stars — Results	ABC	9.9
8	NCIS: Los Angeles	CBS	9.8
8	Undercover Boss		9.8
10	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation		9.7
11	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	9.0
12	Two and a Half Men	CBS	8.9
13	Desperate Housewives	ABC	8.8
14	The Big Bang Theory	CBS	8.7
	Criminal Minds
	The Good Wife
17	60 Minutes		8.4
18	CSI: Miami		8.1
19	CSI: NY		7.9
19	Survivor		7.9
21	The Bachelor	ABC	7.8
22	House	FOX	7.5
23	Brothers & Sisters	ABC	7.0
24	Castle		6.9
24	Lost		6.9
26	The Amazing Race	CBS	6.6
27	Bones	FOX	6.5
28	24	FOX	6.4
29	Cold Case	CBS	6.3
29	Private Practice	ABC	6.3

2010s

September 2010–May 2011

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	14.5
2	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	13.8
3	American Idol — Thursday	FOX	13.4
4	Sunday Night Football	NBC	12.7
5	NCIS	CBS	11.8
5	Dancing with the Stars — Results	ABC	11.8
7	NCIS: Los Angeles	CBS	10.1
8	The Mentalist	CBS	9.6
9	Body of Proof	ABC	9.0
10	Criminal Minds	CBS	8.7
11	The Good Wife		8.5
12	60 Minutes		8.4
12	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation		8.4
14	The Big Bang Theory		8.0
14	Blue Bloods		8.0
16	Two and a Half Men		7.7
17	The Voice	NBC	7.5
	Hawaii Five-0	CBS
	Desperate Housewives	ABC
	Grey's Anatomy	ABC
21	Survivor	CBS	7.4
22	Harry's Law	NBC	7.3
	CSI: Miami	CBS
	Castle	ABC
25	Undercover Boss	CBS	7.1
25	Modern Family	ABC	7.1
27	The Bachelor	ABC	7.0
27	Bones	FOX	7.0
29	Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior	CBS	6.9
29	Mike & Molly	CBS	6.9

September 2011–May 2012

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Sunday Night Football	NBC	12.4
2	NCIS	CBS	12.3
3	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	12.0
4	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	11.8
5	American Idol — Thursday	FOX	11.0
6	Dancing with the Stars — Results	ABC	10.6
7	NCIS: Los Angeles	CBS	10.2
8	The Big Bang Theory		9.7
9	The Mentalist		9.3
10	The Voice	NBC	9.2
11	Two and a Half Men	CBS	9.1
12	Person of Interest		9.0
13	Criminal Minds		8.6
14	60 Minutes		8.3
15	Modern Family	ABC	8.1
16	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	8.0
16	Castle	ABC	8.0
18	Unforgettable	CBS	7.9
19	Blue Bloods		7.8
19	The Good Wife		7.8
21	Hawaii Five-0		7.6
21	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	7.6
23	The X Factor — Thursday	FOX	7.4
23	The X Factor — Wednesday	FOX	7.4
25	Mike & Molly	CBS	7.2
25	Rob		7.2
27	CSI: Miami		7.1
28	2 Broke Girls		7.0
	Desperate Housewives	ABC
	Once Upon a Time	ABC

September 2012–May 2013

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	NCIS	CBS	13.5
2	Sunday Night Football	NBC	12.4
3	The Big Bang Theory	CBS	11.6
4	NCIS: Los Angeles		11.0
5	Person of Interest		10.0
6	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	9.9
7	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	9.2
7	Dancing with the Stars — Results	ABC	9.2
9	American Idol — Thursday	FOX	8.9
10	Two and a Half Men	CBS	8.7
10	The Voice	NBC	8.7
12	Blue Bloods	CBS	8.5
13	The Voice — Tuesday	NBC	8.4
14	Elementary	CBS	8.3
15	Castle	ABC	8.1
16	60 Minutes	CBS	8.0
16	Criminal Minds		8.0
18	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation		7.7
	Grey's Anatomy	ABC
	The Mentalist	CBS
	Modern Family	ABC
	Vegas	CBS
23	Body of Proof	ABC	7.3
	CSI: NY	CBS
	The Following	FOX
	The Good Wife	CBS
	Survivor: Philippines
28	2 Broke Girls		6.8
28	Hawaii Five-0		6.8
30	Survivor: Caramoan		6.7

September 2013–May 2014

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Sunday Night Football	NBC	12.6
1	NCIS	CBS	12.6
3	The Big Bang Theory		12.3
4	NCIS: Los Angeles		10.3
5	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	10.0
6	The Blacklist	NBC	9.5
7	Person of Interest	CBS	9.0
8	The Voice	NBC	8.9
9	Blue Bloods	CBS	8.8
10	The Voice — Tuesday	NBC	8.6
11	Grey's Anatomy	ABC	8.5
12	Castle	ABC	8.3
13	Criminal Minds	CBS	8.2
13	Scandal	ABC	8.2
15	Resurrection	ABC	8.1
16	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS	7.8
17	60 Minutes		7.7
18	Elementary		7.6
	The Good Wife
	Modern Family	ABC
21	Hawaii Five-0	CBS	7.5
22	American Idol — Wednesday	FOX	7.4
23	The Mentalist	CBS	7.3
24	The Millers		7.1
25	Survivor		7.0
25	American Idol — Thursday	FOX	7.0
27	Two and a Half Men	CBS	6.8
28	How I Met Your Mother	CBS	6.6
29	Chicago Fire	NBC	6.5
29	Intelligence	CBS	6.5

September 2014–May 2015

Rank	Program	Network	Rating
1	Sunday Night Football	NBC	12.3
2	The Big Bang Theory	CBS	11.6
2	NCIS		11.6
4	NCIS: New Orleans		11.3
5	Empire	FOX	10.9
6	Thursday Night Football	CBS	10.6
7	Dancing with the Stars	ABC	9.7
8	Criminal Minds	CBS	9.0
	Madam Secretary	CBS
	Scandal	ABC
11	Blue Bloods	CBS	8.8
12	The Blacklist	NBC	8.7
13	The Voice: Monday	NBC	8.5
14	Scorpion	CBS	8.4
15	The Voice: Tuesday	NBC	8.3
16	The Good Wife	CBS	8.1
17	60 Minutes	CBS	7.8
	Grey's Anatomy	ABC
	Hawaii Five-0	CBS
20	How to Get Away with Murder	ABC	7.7
20	Person of Interest	CBS	7.7
22	NCIS: Los Angeles	CBS	7.6
23	Modern Family	ABC	7.5
23	Two and a Half Men	CBS	7.5
25	Elementary		7.3
	The Mentalist
	Mom
28	Castle	ABC	7.2
	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	CBS
	CSI: Cyber	CBS

September 2015–May 2016

v t e Top-rated United States television programs by season
Nielsen ratings
1950s	1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60
1960s	1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70
1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
2000s	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15

Top-rated United States television programs by season

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