Top-rated United States television programs by season

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

1950s edit

1960s edit

1970s edit

1980s edit

1990s edit

2000s edit

2010s edit

Multiple Rankings in the Top 30 edit

2 seasons
  • The Adventures of Robin Hood (CBS)
  • The Alan Young Show (CBS)
  • All Star Revue (NBC)
  • The Amazing Race (CBS)
  • America's Funniest People (ABC)
  • Amos 'n' Andy (CBS)
  • The Ann Sothern Show (CBS)
  • The Apprentice (NBC)
  • Armstrong Circle Theatre (NBC)
  • The Bachelorette (ABC)
  • Baretta (ABC)
  • Ben Casey (ABC)
  • The Big Event (NBC)
  • Big Town (CBS)
  • The Bionic Woman (ABC)
  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (NBC)
  • Body of Proof (ABC)
  • Cagney & Lacey (CBS)
  • Caroline in the City (NBC)
  • Chicago P.D. (NBC)
  • Chico and the Man (NBC)
  • Climax! (CBS)
  • Code Black (CBS)
  • Cosby (CBS)
  • Cybill (CBS)
  • Daktari (CBS)
  • Dave's World (CBS)
  • Dear John (NBC)
  • The Defenders (CBS)
  • Diagnosis: Murder (CBS)
  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (CBS)
  • The Donna Reed Show (ABC)
  • Doogie Howser, M.D. (ABC)
  • Ellen (ABC)
  • Flipper (NBC)
  • 48 Hours (CBS)
  • The Fugitive (ABC)
  • Gangbusters (NBC)
  • The George Gobel Show (NBC)
  • Get Smart (NBC)
  • Gilligan's Island (CBS)
  • The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (CBS)
  • The Good Doctor (ABC)
  • Grand (NBC)
  • The Guardian (CBS)
  • Hee Haw (CBS)
  • Heroes (NBC)
  • Hogan's Heroes (CBS)
  • Hopalong Cassidy (NBC)
  • How to Get Away with Murder (ABC)
  • I Dream of Jeannie (NBC)
  • Jesse (NBC)
  • The Jim Nabors Hour (CBS)
  • Julia (NBC)
  • Kung Fu (ABC)
  • Little Big Shots (NBC)
  • The Loretta Young Show (NBC)
  • Lou Grant (CBS)
  • Love & War (CBS)
  • Lux Video Theatre (NBC)
  • Major Dad (CBS)
  • Man Against Crime (NBC)
  • The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (CBS)
  • Martin Kane, Private Eye (NBC)
  • Maverick (ABC)
  • McHale's Navy (ABC)
  • Miami Vice (NBC)
  • Mike & Molly (CBS)
  • Mork & Mindy (ABC)
  • My Favorite Martian (CBS)
  • The Naked Truth (ABC/NBC)
  • Name That Tune (CBS)
  • The Nanny (CBS)
  • 9-1-1 (FOX)
  • Our Miss Brooks (CBS)
  • The Patty Duke Show (ABC)
  • Peter Gunn (NBC)
  • The Phil Silvers Show (CBS)
  • Police Woman (NBC)
  • Private Practice (ABC)
  • The Red Buttons Show (CBS)
  • Rescue 911 (CBS)
  • Riptide (NBC)
  • Robert Montgomery Presents (NBC)
  • Route 66 (CBS)
  • The Roy Rogers Show (NBC)
  • Rules of Engagement (CBS)
  • Shark (CBS)
  • The Single Guy (NBC)
  • The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (CBS)
  • Still Standing (CBS)
  • Strike It Rich (CBS)
  • Sugarfoot (ABC)
  • Tales of Wells Fargo (NBC)
  • Taxi (ABC)
  • 3rd Rock from the Sun (NBC)
  • To Tell the Truth (CBS)
  • Too Close for Comfort (ABC)
  • Treasury Men in Action (NBC)
  • TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes (NBC)
  • 2 Broke Girls (CBS)
  • Undercover Boss (CBS)
  • The Unit (CBS)
  • Vega$ (ABC)
  • Veronica's Closet (NBC)
  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (CBS)
  • Webster (ABC)
  • What's Happening!! (ABC)
  • Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (ABC)
  • Young Sheldon (CBS)