September 19, 2019

Top Rated TV Programs By Season (2007-2019)

And a New Top 100 Series of All Time

Two of the most popular features in The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present are the annual rankings of most popular series (according to Nielsen) going back to 1950, and our own ranking of the most popular series of all time, based on audience size and longevity. Following is an update of the lists published in the ninth edition of The Complete Directory (2007), including some surprises on the all time list. For prior years’ rankings see the ninth edition.

Thanks to my esteemed co-author Earle Marsh for updating these lists.

Note: scroll down for the all-time top 100 list, plus a special online bonus.

 Top Rated Programs By Season


September 2007-May 2008

Program Network Rating Program Network Rating
1. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 16.1 17. 60 Minutes CBS 8.4
2. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 15.9 18. Criminal Minds CBS 8.2
3. Dancing with the Stars-Monday ABC 14.0 19. Samantha Who? ABC 8.0
4. Dancing with the Stars-Wednesday ABC 12.6 20. Lost ABC 7.9
5. Dancing with the Stars-Tuesday ABC 12.3 21. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC 7.7
6. Desperate Housewives ABC 11.6 22. Brothers & Sisters ABC 7.6
7. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS 10.6 22. CSI: NY CBS 7.6
8. House FOX 10.5 22. Heroes NBC 7.6
9. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 10.4 22. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC 7.6
10. Sunday Night Football NBC 9.7 26. Private Practice ABC 7.3
11. CSI: Miami CBS 9.2 27. Law & Order NBC 7.2
11. NCIS CBS 9.2 28. Cold Case CBS 7.1
13. Without a Trace CBS 8.8 28. Deal or No Deal-Monday NBC 7.1
13. Moment of Truth FOX 8.8 30. Shark CBS 7.0
15. Two and a Half Men CBS 8.5 30. The Unit CBS 7.0
15. Survivor CBS 8.5 30. Hell’s Kitchen FOX 7.0


September 2008-May 2009

Program Network Rating Program Network Rating
1. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 15.1 17. House FOX 8.1
2. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 14.6 18. Survivor CBS 7.8
3. Dancing with the Stars-Monday ABC 12.9 18. Eleventh Hour CBS 7.8
4. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS 11.5 20. Cold Case CBS 7.5
5. NCIS CBS 10.9 20. The Bachelor ABC 7.5
6. The Mentalist CBS 10.8 22. 24 FOX 7.3
7. Dancing with the Stars-Tuesday ABC 10.7 23. Brothers & Sisters ABC 7.2
8. Sunday Night Football NBC 10.0 24. Rules of Engagement CBS 7.1
9. Desperate Housewives ABC 9.9 25. Castle ABC 6.9
10. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 9.6 26. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC 6.7
11. Criminal Minds CBS 9.4 26. ER NBC 6.7
12. Two and a Half Men CBS 9.1 26. Bones FOX 6.7
12. CSI: Miami CBS 9.1 29. Ghost Whisperer CBS 6.6
14. 60 Minutes CBS 8.9 29. Lost ABC 6.6
15. CSI: NY CBS 8.6 29. Numb3rs CBS 6.6
16. Without a Trace CBS 8.4


September 2009-May 2010

Program Network Rating Program Network Rating
1. American Idol-Tuesday FOX 13.7 17. 60 Minutes CBS 8.4
2. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 13.3 18. CSI: Miami CBS 8.1
3. Dancing with the Stars ABC 12.6 19. CSI: NY CBS 7.9
4. NCIS CBS 11.5 19. Survivor CBS 7.9
5. Sunday Night Football NBC 11.3 21. The Bachelor ABC 7.8
6. The Mentalist CBS 10.6 22. House FOX 7.5
7. Dancing with the Stars-Results ABC 9.9 23. Brothers & Sisters ABC 7.0
8. NCIS: LA CBS 9.8 24. Castle ABC 6.9
8. Undercover Boss CBS 9.8 24. Lost ABC 6.9
10. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS 9.7 26. The Amazing Race CBS 6.6
11. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 9.0 27. Bones FOX 6.5
12. Two and a Half Men CBS 8.9 28. 24 FOX 6.4
13. Desperate Housewives ABC 8.8 29. Cold Case CBS 6.3
14. Big Bang Theory CBS 8.5 29. Private Practice ABC 6.3
14. Criminal Minds CBS 8.5
14. The Good Wife CBS 8.5


September 2010-May 2011

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


September 2011-May 2012

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


September 2012-May 2013

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


September 2013-May 2014

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


September 2014-May 2015

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


September 2015-May 2016

Program Network Rating Program Network Rating
1. NCIS CBS 12.8 18. The Blacklist NBC 7.3
2. Sunday Night Football NBC 12.6 19. How to Get Away with Murder ABC 7.2
3. Big Bang Theory CBS 12.5 19. Little Big Shots NBC 7.2
4. Thursday Night Football CBS 10.6 21. Blindspot NBC 7.1
5. Empire FOX 10.2 21. The Good Wife CBS 7.1
6. NCIS: New Orleans CBS 9.4 21. NCIS: LA CBS 7.1
7. Dancing with the Stars ABC 8.8 24. Chicago Fire NBC 7.0
8. Blue Bloods CBS 8.4 24. Hawaii Five-O CBS 7.0
9. The Voice: Monday NBC 8.2 26. American Idol-Wednesday FOX 6.9
9. The X-Files FOX 8.2 27. American Idol-Thursday FOX 6.7
11. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 7.9 28. Code Black CBS 6.6
11. The Voice: Tuesday NBC 7.9 28. Survivor CBS 6.6
13. Criminal Minds CBS 7.8 30. Chicago Med NBC 6.5
13. Madam Secretary CBS 7.8 30. Life in Pieces CBS 6.5
15. 60 Minutes CBS 7.7 30. Shades of Blue NBC 6.5
16. Scandal ABC 7.6
16. Scorpion CBS 7.6


September 2016-May 2017

Program Network Rating Program Network Rating
1. Big Bang Theory CBS 11.5 16. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 7.3
2. NCIS CBS 11.4 17. Criminal Minds CBS 6.9
3. Sunday Night Football NBC 11.1 17. Madam Secretary CBS 6.9
4. Thursday Night Football CBS/NBC 9.6 19. Empire FOX 6.7
4. Bull CBS 9.6 19. Scorpion CBS 6.7
6. This Is Us NBC 9.4 21. Chicago Fire NBC 6.5
7. Blue Bloods CBS 8.9 22. Chicago Med NBC 6.2
8. NCIS: New Orleans CBS 8.5 22. Survivor CBS 6.2
9. Dancing with the Stars ABC 8.1 24. Little Big Shots NBC 6.1
10. NCIS: LA CBS 7.8 24. Macgyver CBS 6.1
11. 60 Minutes CBS 7.7 26. Code Black CBS 6.0
12. Hawaii Five-O CBS 7.6 27. The Blacklist NBC 5.9
12. The Voice NBC 7.6 27. Mom CBS 5.9
14. Designated Survivor ABC 7.5 29. The Bachelor ABC 5.8
15. The Voice: Tuesday NBC 7.4 30. Scandal ABC 5.7


September 2017-May 2018

Program Network Rating Program Network Rating
1. Big Bang Theory CBS 11.1 18. Mom CBS 6.7
2. NCIS CBS 10.3 19. Chicago Med NBC 6.6
2. Sunday Night Football NBC 10.3 19. NCIS: LA CBS 6.6
4. This Is Us NBC 10.2 21. Chicago PD NBC 6.5
5. Roseanne ABC 10.2 22. Chicago Fire NBC 6.2
6. Young Sheldon CBS 9.5 23. SEAL Team CBS 6.1
7. The Good Doctor ABC 9.3 23. Instinct CBS 6.1
8. Bull CBS 8.9 25. Criminal Minds CBS 6.0
9. Thursday Night Football CBS/NBC 8.5 25. 9-1-1 FOX 6.0
10. Blue Bloods CBS 8.2 25. Dancing with the Stars: Athletes ABC 6.0
11. NCIS: New Orleans CBS 7.8 28. Survivor CBS 5.9
12. The Voice NBC 7.1 29. S.W.A.T. CBSC 5.8
12. 60 Minutes CBS 7.1 30. Madam Secretary CBS 5.6
12. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 7.1 30. American Idol-Monday ABC 5.6
15. Dancing with the Stars ABC 6.9 30. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC 5.6
16. Hawaii Five-O CBS 6.8
16. The Voice: Tuesday NBC 6.8


September 2018-May 2019

Program Network Rating Program Network Rating
1. Sunday Night Football NBC 10.9 17. NCIS: New Orleans CBS 6.8
2. Big Bang Theory CBS 10.6 18. 60 Minutes CBS 6.7
3. NCIS CBS 9.6 19. The Voice NBC 6.6
4. Thursday Night Football FOX 8.7 20. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 6.5
4. Young Sheldon CBS 8.7 21. Mom CBS 6.4
6. This Is Us NBC 8.5 22. The Voice: Tuesday NBC 6.2
7. Blue Bloods CBS 7.9 22. Hawaii Five-O CBS 6.2
7. FBI CBS 7.9 22. NCIS: LA CBS 6.2
9. The Good Doctor ABC 7.4 25. The Masked Singer FOX 6.0
9. Manifest NBC 7.4 26. 9-1-1 FOX 5.9
11. Chicago Fire NBC 7.2 27. The Conners ABC 5.8
11. America’s Got Talent: The Champions NBC 7.2 27. God Friended Me CBS 5.8
13. Chicago Med NBC 7.0 29. Survivor CBS 5.5
13. Bull CBS 7.0 29. Dancing with the Stars ABC 5.5
15. Chicago PD NBC 6.9
15. New Amsterdam NBC 6.9


The Top 100 Series of All Time (Updated Through 2018-19 Season)

Here are the all time top 100 prime time series. The ranking is based not on opinion but on two objective factors: audience rank when the show aired, and its longevity. We are in an era of remarkably durable, long-running top hits. Note how many current shows are among the all time most popular: five out of the top 10 series of all time are currently on the air. History was made this year as NCIS surpassed the legendary western Gunsmoke as the number two program of all time. However it’s unlikely that anything will dislodge 60 Minutes from the number one slot anytime soon. It currently has more than twice the overall audience total as number two. As a special online bonus, at the end we list some series that are still on the air and currently rank between #101 and #200. They’re just outside the golden circle, but if they stay on the air and keep attracting big audiences they could be next to crack the top 100 (conversely older shows at the bottom of the top 100 list would then get pushed out).

 

Program Network(s) From To Seasons
1. 60 Minutes CBS 1968 —- 51
2. NCIS CBS 2003 —- 16
3. Gunsmoke CBS 1955 1975 20
4. The Red Skelton Show CBS, NBC 1951 1971 20
5. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CBS 2000 2015 15
6. Dancing with the Stars ABC 2005 —- 15
7. American Idol FOX, ABC 2002 —- 17
8. ER NBC 1994 2009 15
9. Bonanza NBC 1959 1973 14
10. Grey’s Anatomy ABC 2005 —- 15
11. All in the Family/Archie Bunker’s Place CBS 1971 1983 13
12. Walt Disney ABC, NBC, CBS 1954 1990 34
13. The Ed Sullivan Show/Toast of the Town CBS 1948 1971 24
14. Friends NBC 1994 2004 10
15. Big Bang Theory CBS 2007 2019 12
16. The Lucy Show/Here’s Lucy CBS 1962 1974 12
17. Survivor CBS 2000 —- 20
18. Murder, She Wrote CBS 1984 1996 12
19. M*A*S*H CBS 1972 1983 11
20. Roseanne/The Conners ABC 1988 —- 11
21. Cheers NBC 1982 1993 11
22. Dallas CBS 1978 1991 14
23. Criminal Minds CBS 2005 —- 14
24. The Cosby Show NBC 1984 1992 8
25. Frasier NBC 1993 2004 11
26. Two and a Half Men CBS 2003 2015 12
27. The Andy Griffith Show CBS 1960 1968 8
28. 20/20 ABC 1978 —- 42
29. Law & Order NBC 1990 2010 20
30. Home Improvement ABC 1991 1999 8
31. NCIS: LA CBS 2009 —- 10
32. CSI: Miami CBS 2002 2012 10
33. Blue Bloods CBS 2010 —- 9
34. The Jack Benny Show CBS, NBC 1950 1965 15
35. Three’s Company/Three’s a Crowd ABC 1977 1985 9
36. I Love Lucy CBS 1951 1961 8
37. The Danny Thomas Show ABC, CBS 1953 1971 13
38. The Beverly Hillbillies CBS 1962 1971 9
39. You Bet Your Life NBC 1950 1961 11
40. Everybody Loves Raymond CBS 1996 2005 9
41. Happy Days ABC 1974 1984 11
42. Desperate Housewives ABC 2004 2012 8
43. I’ve Got a Secret CBS 1952 1967 15
44. Dragnet/Dragnet ’67 NBC 1952 1970 12
45. Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts CBS 1948 1958 11
46. The Jeffersons CBS 1975 1985 11
47. Seinfeld NBC 1990 1998 9
48. The Voice NBC 2011 —- 9
49. Hawaii Five-O (1968) CBS 1968 1980 12
50. The Jackie Gleason Show CBS 1952 1970 15
51. N.Y.P.D. Blue ABC 1993 2005 12
52. One Day at a Time CBS 1975 1984 9
53. The Golden Girls/The Golden Palace NBC, CBS 1985 1993 8
54. Without a Trace CBS 2002 2009 7
55. Laverne & Shirley ABC 1976 1983 8
56. The Milton Berle Show NBC, ABC 1948 1967 11
57. Sanford and Son NBC 1972 1977 6
58. Murphy Brown CBS 1988 2019 11
59. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC 1999 —- 20
60. Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. CBS 1964 1970 6
61. Dynasty ABC 1981 1989 9
61. Alice CBS 1976 1985 9
63. Wagon Train NBC, ABC 1957 1965 8
64. Candid Camera CBS, NBC, ABC, PAX 1948 2005 18
65. A Different World NBC 1987 1993 6
66. My Three Sons ABC, CBS 1960 1972 12
67. The Mentalist CBS 2008 2015 7
68. Who’s the Boss? ABC 1984 1992 8
68. Bewitched ABC 1964 1972 8
70. America’s Funniest Home Videos ABC 1990 —- 30
71. The Love Boat ABC 1977 1986 9
72. Fireside Theatre NBC, ABC 1949 1963 11
73. Little House on the Prairie NBC 1974 1983 9
74. Coach ABC 1989 1997 9
75. The Waltons CBS 1972 1981 9
76. Have Gun, Will Travel CBS 1957 1963 6
77. NCIS: New Orleans CBS 2014 —- 5
78. Touched by an Angel CBS 1994 2003 9
79. House FOX 2004 2012 8
80. General Electric Theater CBS 1953 1962 10
81. Falcon Crest CBS 1981 1990 9
82. Arthur Godfrey and His Friends CBS 1949 1959 10
83. The Mary Tyler Moore Show CBS 1970 1977 7
84. Primetime Live/Primetime Thursday ABC 1989 2012 21
85. Hawaii Five-O (2010) CBS 2010 —- 9
86. Maude CBS 1972 1978 6
87. Marcus Welby, M.D. ABC 1969 1976 7
88. Family Ties NBC 1982 1989 7
89. Magnum, P.I. CBS 1980 1988 8
90. Ironside NBC 1967 1975 8
91. The Colgate Comedy Hour NBC 1950 1955 6
91. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In NBC 1968 1973 6
93. CSI: NY CBS 2004 2013 9
94. Full House ABC 1987 1995 8
95. The Good Wife CBS 2009 2016 7
96. Knot’s Landing CBS 1979 1993 14
97. December Bride CBS 1954 1960 6
98. Will & Grace NBC 1998 —- 10
99. Family Affair CBS 1966 1971 5
100. Night Court NBC 1984 1992 9
100. The Dean Martin Show NBC 1965 1974 9
116. The Bachelor/Bachelorette ABC 2002 —- 18
119. This Is Us NBC 2016 —- 3
120. 48 Hours CBS 1988 —- 31
128. Dateline NBC NBC 1992 —- 28
135. Empire FOX 2015 —- 5
141. Modern Family ABC 2009 —- 10
143. The Blacklist NBC 2013 —- 6
145. Bull CBS 2016 —- 3
153. The Simpsons FOX 1989 —- 30
166. Madam Secretary CBS 2014 —- 5
177. Chicago Fire NBC 2012 —- 7
192. Young Sheldon CBS 2017 —- 2

Note: In the rare instance in which a major network aired reruns of a series in prime time we included these reruns in the season count. For example, I Love Lucy was in production only from 1951 to 1957 (six seasons), but continued to air on CBS in prime time reruns for two more years, so eight seasons are shown here. Reruns on mini-networks such as ION or MyNetworkTV, on cable, or elsewhere are not counted. Full details on many of these programs can be found in The Complete Directory.

  2 Responses to “ratings”

  1. […] We created the table below to show the ratings for American Idol and NCIS since the 2007–2008 season. More details here. […]

  2. The ratings section of timbrooks.net has just been updated through 2016. Thanks for the link.

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