2008–09 United States network television schedule

The 2008–09 network television schedule for the six major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2008 to August 2009. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2007–08 season. The schedule omits the Public Broadcasting Service (whose programming is listed here).

NBC was the first to announce its fall schedule on April 2, 2008,^[1] followed by ABC and The CW on May 13,^[2][3] CBS on May 14,^[4] Fox on May 15,^[5] and MyNetworkTV on May 22.^[6] The CW unveiled its Sunday lineup on May 27, 2008.^[7]

PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcasts times for network shows may vary. Ion Television is also not included since the network's schedule consisted mainly of syndicated reruns and movies.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows released in May 2009 is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.^[8]

Legend

•   Light blue indicates local programming.
•   Gray indicates encore programming.
•   Blue-gray indicates news programming.
•   Light green indicates sporting events.
•   Red indicates series being burned off and other irregularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies.
•   Light gold indicates programming produced outside of the United States.
•  highlight  Yellow highlights indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.
•  highlight  Cyan highlights indicates numbers 11-20 most watched programs of the season.
•  highlight  Magenta highlights indicates numbers 21-30 most watched programs of the season.
•  highlight  Highlights indicates that it falls in multiple of the above categories.

Schedule

• New series to broadcast television are highlighted in bold.
• Repeat airings or same-day rebroadcasts are indicated by (R).
• All times are U.S. Eastern and Pacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Alaska, and Hawaii–Aleutian times.
• All sporting events air live in all time zones in U.S. Eastern time, with local and/or late-night programming scheduled by affiliates after game completion.

Sunday

Network		7:00 p.m.	7:30 p.m.	8:00 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	9:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	10:00 p.m.	10:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	America's Funniest Home Videos		Extreme Makeover: Home Edition		Desperate Housewives (9/9.9)		Brothers & Sisters (23/7.2)
	Summer					Shark Tank		Defying Gravity
CBS	Fall	60 Minutes (14/8.9)		The Amazing Race		Cold Case (20/7.5) (Tied with The Bachelor)		The Unit
	Winter			Million Dollar Password
	Mid-winter			The Amazing Race
	Spring			Various programming				Without a Trace (R)
	Summer			Big Brother
	Mid-summer					There Goes the Neighborhood		Cold Case (R)
The CW	Fall	In Harm's Way		Valentine		Easy Money		Local programming
	Late fall	Jericho (R)[a][b]		The CW Sunday Night Movie[b]
	Summer	Valentine
	Mid-summer	Easy Money
Fox	Fall	Fox NFL (4:15 p.m.)	The OT	The Simpsons	King of the Hill	Family Guy	American Dad!
	Winter	Various programming
	Spring	American Dad! (R)	King of the Hill (R)
	Mid-spring		King of the Hill		Sit Down, Shut Up
	Late spring	Sit Down, Shut Up	American Dad! (R)		King of the Hill
	Summer	King of the Hill (R)
	Mid-summer	'Til Death (R)					The Simpsons (R)
	Late summer				The Simpsons (R)		American Dad! (R)
NBC	Fall	Football Night in America		NBC Sunday Night Football (8:15 p.m.) (8/10.0)
	Winter	Dateline NBC				Special programming
	Late winter	Dateline NBC		Kings		The Apprentice
	Spring	Dateline NBC
	Summer	Dateline NBC		Merlin		Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R)		Law & Order (R)

Notes:

• On Sundays, The CW programming begins at 6:30 p.m. (EST).
• CBS' Sunday Night primetime lineup is often delayed due to NFL on CBS game coverage running longer than scheduled, except in the Pacific and Mountain time zones, where the lineup airs as scheduled.
• The 7 p.m. hour on Fox features animated series reruns in the Pacific and Mountain time zones during the NFL season.

Monday

Network		8:00 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	9:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	10:00 p.m.	10:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	Dancing with the Stars (3/12.9)			Samantha Who?	Boston Legal
	Winter	The Bachelor (20/7.5) (Tied with Cold Case)				True Beauty
	Spring	Dancing with the Stars (3/12.9)			Surviving Suburbia	Castle (25/6.9)
	Late spring	The Bachelorette				Here Come the Newlyweds
	Summer					Dating in the Dark
CBS	Fall	The Big Bang Theory	How I Met Your Mother	Two and a Half Men (12/9.1) (Tied with CSI: Miami)	Worst Week	CSI: Miami (12/9.1) (Tied with Two and a Half Men)
	Winter				Rules of Engagement (24/7.1)
	Summer	How I Met Your Mother (R)	Rules of Engagement (R)		The Big Bang Theory (R)
The CW	Fall	Gossip Girl		One Tree Hill		Local programming
	Summer	One Tree Hill (R)		Gossip Girl (R)
Fox	Fall	Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles		Prison Break
	Winter	House (17/8.1)		24 (22/7.3)
	Spring			Lie to Me (R)
MNT	Fall	Celebrity Exposé		Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed
	Mid-fall	Twilight Zone (R)
	Winter			Masters of Illusion
	Late winter			Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed
	Spring	Masters of Illusion (R)
	Summer	Twilight Zone (R)
NBC	Early fall	Deal or No Deal		America's Toughest Jobs		Dateline NBC
	Fall	Chuck		Heroes		My Own Worst Enemy
	Winter	Superstars of Dance				Momma's Boys
	Mid-winter	Chuck		Heroes		Medium
	Spring	Deal or No Deal		Various programming
	Late spring	I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!		Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R)		Dateline NBC
	Summer	The Great American Road Trip

Tuesday

Network		8:00 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	9:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	10:00 p.m.	10:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	Opportunity Knocks		Dancing with the Stars (7/10.7)		Eli Stone
	Mid-fall	Special programming		According to Jim
	Winter	Homeland Security USA		Scrubs		Primetime: What Would You Do?
	Spring	According to Jim		Dancing with the Stars (7/10.7)		Cupid
	Summer	The Superstars		Better Off Ted (R)	Scrubs (R)	Primetime
	Mid-summer	Various programming		Shaq Vs.
CBS	Fall	NCIS (5/10.9)		The Mentalist (6/10.8)		Without a Trace (16/8.4)
	Spring					48 Hours (R)
	Summer			Big Brother		Medium (R)
The CW	Fall	90210		Privileged		Local programming
	Winter	Reaper		90210
	Spring	90210 (R)		Hitched or Ditched
Fox	Fall	House (17/8.1)		Fringe
	Winter	American Idol (2/14.6)
	Mid-winter	American Idol (2/14.6)
	Spring	American Idol (2/14.6)		Fringe
	Late spring	House (R)		Mental
	Summer	Hell's Kitchen		More to Love
MNT	Fall	Street Patrol	Street Patrol (R)	JAIL	JAIL (R)
	Winter			Vice Squad	Vice Squad (R)
	Late winter	Street Patrol		JAIL	JAIL (R)
NBC	Fall	The Biggest Loser				Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (26/6.7) (Tied with ER and Bones)
	Spring	I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!		Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R)		Dateline NBC
	Summer	The Great American Road Trip

Wednesday

Network		8:00 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	9:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	10:00 p.m.	10:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	Pushing Daisies		Private Practice		Dirty Sexy Money
	Winter	Lost (R)		Lost (29/6.6) (Tied with Ghost Whisperer and Numb3rs)		Life on Mars
	Late winter	Scrubs	Better Off Ted
	Spring					The Unusuals
	Late spring	Wipeout		I Survived a Japanese Game Show		Primetime
CBS		The New Adventures of Old Christine	Gary Unmarried	Criminal Minds (11/9.4)		CSI: NY (15/8.6)
The CW	Fall	America's Next Top Model		Stylista		Local programming
	Late fall	Stylista (R)
	Winter	13: Fear is Real		90210 (R)
	Mid-winter	Privileged
	Late winter	America's Next Top Model
	Spring			Hitched or Ditched (R)
	Summer	America's Next Top Model (R)
Fox	Fall	Bones (26/6.7) (Tied with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and ER)		'Til Death	Do Not Disturb
	Mid-fall			House (R)
	Winter	American Idol (1/15.1)		Lie to Me
	Late winter	Lie to Me		American Idol (1/15.1)
	Spring	So You Think You Can Dance
MNT	Fall	The World's Funniest Moments		The Tony Rock Project	Under One Roof
	Spring			Comics Unleashed (R)
	Late spring			The Twilight Zone (R)
NBC	Fall	Knight Rider		Deal or No Deal		Lipstick Jungle
	Mid-fall			Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R)		Law & Order
	Winter			Life
	Late winter	The Chopping Block
	Spring	Law & Order (R)		Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R)
	Late spring	I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
	Summer	America's Got Talent (R)		America's Got Talent		The Philanthropist

Thursday

Network		8:00 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	9:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	10:00 p.m.	10:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	Ugly Betty		Grey's Anatomy (10/9.6)		Life on Mars
	Winter					Private Practice
	Spring	In the Motherhood	Samantha Who?
	Mid-spring	Ugly Betty
	Summer	Samantha Who?
	Mid-summer	Grey's Anatomy (R)
CBS	Fall	Survivor (18/7.8) (Tied with Eleventh Hour)		CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (4/11.5)		Eleventh Hour (18/7.8) (Tied with Survivor)
	Winter	Various programming
	Mid-winter	Survivor (18/7.8) (Tied with Eleventh Hour)
	Spring					Harper's Island
	Late spring					Various programming
	Summer	Big Brother				The Mentalist (R)
The CW	Fall	Smallville		Supernatural		Local programming
	Summer	Supernatural (R)
Fox	Fall	Hole in the Wall		Kitchen Nightmares
	Mid-fall	Various programming
	Winter	Bones (26/6.7) (Tied with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and ER)		Hell's Kitchen
	Spring			So You Think You Can Dance
MNT		My Thursday Night Movie
NBC	Fall	My Name Is Earl	Kath & Kim	The Office	Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday	ER (26/6.7) (Tied with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Bones)
	Mid-fall				30 Rock
	Spring		Parks and Recreation			Southland
	Summer	I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!				The Listener
	Mid-summer	30 Rock (R)	The Office (R)
	Late summer		Parks and Recreation (R)			Law & Order (R)

Notes:

• The Moment of Truth was originally scheduled to air Thursdays at 8:00 on Fox, but was instead shelved, effectively canceling it.

Friday

Network		8:00 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	9:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	10:00 p.m.	10:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	Wife Swap		Supernanny		20/20
	Spring	Surviving Suburbia	The Goode Family	According to Jim (R)
	Summer	Supernanny (R)		Ugly Betty (R)
CBS	Fall	Ghost Whisperer (29/6.6) (Tied with Lost and Numb3rs)		The Ex List		Numb3rs (29/6.6) (Tied with Ghost Whisperer and Lost)
	Mid-fall			Various programming
	Winter			Flashpoint
The CW	Fall	Everybody Hates Chris	The Game	America's Next Top Model (R)		Local programming
	Winter			Everybody Hates Chris (R)	The Game (R)
	Mid-winter			13: Fear Is Real
	Late winter			America's Next Top Model (R)
	Spring	Privileged (R)		Everybody Hates Chris (R)	The Game (R)
Fox	Fall	Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?		Don't Forget the Lyrics!
	Winter	Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles		Dollhouse
	Spring	Prison Break
	Late spring	Don't Forget the Lyrics!		House (R)
	Summer	Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?		Mental
MNT		WWE Friday Night SmackDown
NBC	Fall	America's Toughest Jobs		Various programming		Life
	Mid-fall	Deal or No Deal		Crusoe		Lipstick Jungle
	Late fall			Lipstick Jungle		Dateline NBC
	Winter	Howie Do It		Friday Night Lights (R)
	Spring			Dateline NBC
	Late spring	The Chopping Block
	Summer	Southland (R)

Saturday

Network		8:00 p.m.	8:30 p.m.	9:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.	10:00 p.m.	10:30 p.m.
ABC	Fall	Saturday Night Football (continued to game completion)
	Late fall	Various programming
	Spring	ABC Saturday Movie of the Week
	Late spring	ABC Saturday Movie of the Week				Pushing Daisies
	Early summer	Wipeout (R)		Castle (R)		Eli Stone
	Summer					Dirty Sexy Money
	Mid-summer	Various programming
CBS	Fall	Crimetime Saturday				48 Hours
	Winter	Game Show in My Head		Crimetime Saturday
	Mid-winter	Crimetime Saturday
	Spring	Crimetime Saturday		Harper's Island
	Summer	Crimetime Saturday
Fox	Fall	COPS	COPS (R)	America's Most Wanted		Local programming
	Spring	COPS (R)	COPS
MNT		My Saturday Night Movie
NBC	Fall	Various programming		Knight Rider (R)		Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R)
	Mid-fall	Knight Rider (R)		Various programming
	Late fall	Crusoe
	Winter	Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R)		Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R)		Law & Order (R)
	Spring	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R)		Southland (R)
	Late spring	Kings		Law & Order (R)		Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R)
	Summer	Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R)

By network

ABC

Main article: American Broadcasting Company

Returning series: 20/20[2] ABC Saturday Movie of the Week According to Jim[2] America's Funniest Home Videos[2] The Bachelor[2] The Bachelorette[11] Boston Legal[2] Brothers & Sisters[2] Dancing with the Stars[2] Desperate Housewives[2] Dirty Sexy Money[2] Eli Stone[12] Extreme Makeover: Home Edition[2] Grey's Anatomy[2] Here Come the Newlyweds[11] I Survived a Japanese Game Show[11] Just for Laughs[11] Lost[2] Primetime[11] Primetime: What Would You Do?[13] Private Practice[14] Pushing Daisies[2] Samantha Who?[2] Saturday Night Football[2] Scrubs (moved from NBC)[2] Supernanny[2] Ugly Betty[2] Wife Swap[2] Wipeout[11]

New series: Better Off Ted * Castle * Crash Course[11] * Cupid * Dating in the Dark[11] * Defying Gravity[11] * The Goode Family[11] * Homeland Security USA * Life on Mars[2] Opportunity Knocks[2] Shaq Vs.[11] * Shark Tank[11] * The Superstars[11] * Surviving Suburbia * True Beauty[15][16] * The Unusuals[17] *

Not returning from 2007–08: The ABC Friday Night Movie Big Shots[18] Carpoolers[18] Cashmere Mafia[19] Cavemen[18] Dance Machine Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann Duel High School Musical: Get in the Picture Hopkins Men in Trees[20] Miss Guided The Mole Notes from the Underbelly October Road Oprah's Big Give Wanna Bet? Women's Murder Club The Wonderful World of Disney (returned for 2019–20)

CBS

Main article: CBS

Returning series: 48 Hours[4] 60 Minutes[4] The Amazing Race[4] The Big Bang Theory[4] Big Brother Cold Case[4] Criminal Minds[4] CSI: Crime Scene Investigation[4] CSI: Miami[4] CSI: NY[4] Flashpoint[4] Ghost Whisperer[4] How I Met Your Mother[4] Million Dollar Password NCIS[4] The New Adventures of Old Christine[4] Numb3rs[4] Rules of Engagement Survivor[4] Two and a Half Men[4] The Unit[4] Without a Trace[4]

New series: Eleventh Hour[4] Elite XC Saturday Night Fights The Ex List[4] Game Show in My Head * Gary Unmarried[4] Harper's Island * The Mentalist[4] There Goes the Neighborhood * Worst Week[4]

Not returning from 2007–08: Cane Jericho (reruns to broadcast on The CW, from late 2008)[21] Kid Nation Moonlight Power of 10 Secret Talents of the Stars[22] Shark Swingtown Viva Laughlin[23] Welcome to The Captain[24]

The CW

Main article: The CW

Returning series: America's Next Top Model[3] Everybody Hates Chris[3] The Game[3] Gossip Girl[3] Jericho (reruns)[c] One Tree Hill[3] Reaper Smallville[3] Supernatural[3]

New series: 13: Fear is Real[25] * 90210[26] The CW Sunday Night Movie Easy Money[3] Hitched or Ditched * In Harm's Way[3] Privileged[26] Stylista[3] Valentine[3]

Not returning from 2007–08: Aliens in America[27] Beauty and the Geek Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants CW Now[28] Farmer Wants a Wife (moved to Fox in 2022–23) Girlfriends[29] Life Is Wild[18][30] Online Nation[31] Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious[32] WWE SmackDown[33] (moved to MyNetworkTV)

Fox

Main article: Fox Broadcasting Company

Returning series: 24[34] America's Most Wanted[5] American Dad![5] American Idol Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?[5] Bones[5] Cops[5] Don't Forget the Lyrics![5] Family Guy[5] Hell's Kitchen House[5] King of the Hill[5] Kitchen Nightmares[5] NFL on Fox[5] The OT[5] Prison Break[5] The Simpsons[5] So You Think You Can Dance Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles[5] 'Til Death[5]

New series: Dollhouse * Do Not Disturb[5] Fringe[5] Hole in the Wall Lie to Me Mental * More to Love * Osbournes Reloaded * Secret Millionaire Sit Down, Shut Up *

Not returning from 2007–08: Back to You[35] Canterbury's Law Fox Friday Night Movie K-Ville[18][36] The Moment of Truth Nashville[37] New Amsterdam[38] The Next Great American Band The Return of Jezebel James[39] Unhitched

MyNetworkTV

Main article: MyNetworkTV

Returning series: Magic's Biggest Secrets Revealed[6] Celebrity Exposé[6] Jail[6] Masters of Illusion[40] My Thursday Night Movie[6] My Saturday Night Movie[6] Street Patrol[6] Under One Roof[6] WWE SmackDown (moved from The CW)[6]

New series: Dead Man Running The Tony Rock Project[6] Vice Squad The World's Funniest Moments[6]

Not returning from 2007–08: The Academy The Best of In Living Color Control Room Presents Decision House IFL Battleground[41] Meet My Folks My Friday Night Movie NFL Total Access Paradise Hotel 2 Whacked Out Videos

NBC

Main article: NBC

Returning series: 30 Rock[1] America's Got Talent The Celebrity Apprentice 2 The Biggest Loser Chuck[1] Dateline NBC[1] Deal or No Deal[1] ER[1] Football Night in America[1] Heroes[1] I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Law & Order[42] Law & Order: Special Victims Unit[43] Life[44] Lipstick Jungle[1] Medium[44] My Name Is Earl[1] NBC Sunday Night Football[1] The Office[1]

New series: America's Toughest Jobs[1] The Chopping Block * Crusoe[1] The Great American Road Trip * Howie Do It[1] Kath & Kim Kings * Knight Rider[1] The Listener * Merlin * Momma's Boys[1] My Own Worst Enemy[1] Parks and Recreation * The Philanthropist * Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday[1] Southland * Superstars of Dance *

Not returning from 2007–08: 1 vs. 100 (moved to GSN) American Gladiators Amnesia The Baby Borrowers Bionic Woman[30] Celebrity Circus Celebrity Family Feud (moved to ABC in 2014–15) Clash of the Choirs Fear Itself Friday Night Lights (moved to The 101 Network) Journeyman[45][46] Last Comic Standing Las Vegas[47] Most Outrageous Moments My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad Nashville Star Phenomenon[48] Quarterlife[49] Scrubs (moved to ABC)[50] The Singing Bee (moved to CMT)

Renewals and cancellations

Full-season pickups

ABC

• Private Practice—On October 22, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.^[51]
• Samantha Who?—On October 31, 2008, it received a full-season order, adding seven episodes.^[52]

CBS

• Gary Unmarried—On November 14, 2008, it was picked up for a full 22-episode season.^[53]
• The Mentalist—On October 15, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.^[54]

The CW

• 90210—On September 22, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.^[55]

Fox

• Fringe—On October 1, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.^[56]
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles—On October 17, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order, despite its declining ratings this season.^[57]
• 'Til Death—Despite lower ratings, Fox ordered a fourth season of the show.^[58]

MyNetworkTV

• WWE SmackDown—The only program to carry over in the network's conversion to a programming service.^{[citation needed]}

NBC

• Chuck—On August 28, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order, one month before the new season even premiered.^[59]
• Knight Rider—On October 21, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order,^[60] then on December 3, 2008, NBC cut the order down to 17.^[61]
• Kath & Kim—On October 31, 2008, was given a full-season order.^[62]
• Life—On November 7, 2008, NBC picked up Life for a full season.^[63]
• Howie Do It—Twelve additional episodes were ordered by NBC.^[64]

Renewals

ABC

• America's Funniest Home Videos—Renewed for twentieth season on April 23, 2009.^[65]
• Brothers & Sisters—Renewed for a fourth season on April 23, 2009.^[65]
• Castle—Renewed for a second season on May 15, 2009.^[66][67]
• Desperate Housewives—Renewed for a sixth season on April 23, 2009.^[65]
• Grey's Anatomy—Renewed for a sixth season on April 23, 2009.^[65]
• Private Practice—Renewed for a third season on April 23. 2009.^[65]
• Scrubs—Renewed for a ninth season on April 23, 2009.^[65]
• Shark Tank—Renewed for a second season in August 2009.

CBS

• The Amazing Race—Renewed for a fifteenth season on April 17, 2009.^[68][69]
• The Big Bang Theory—Renewed for a third and fourth season on March 18, 2009.^[70]
• Cold Case—Renewed for a seventh season.
• Criminal Minds—Renewed for a fifth season.
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation—Renewed for a tenth season.
• CSI: Miami—Renewed for an eighth season.
• CSI: NY—Renewed for a sixth season.
• How I Met Your Mother—Renewed for a fifth season.
• Gary Unmarried—Renewed for a second season.
• Ghost Whisperer—Renewed for a fifth season on March 13, 2009.^[71]
• The Mentalist—Renewed for a second season.
• NCIS—Renewed for a seventh season.
• The New Adventures of Old Christine—Renewed for a fifth season.
• Numb3rs—Renewed for a sixth season.
• Rules of Engagement—Renewed for a fourth season.
• Survivor—Renewed for a nineteenth and twentieth season on March 1, 2009.^[72]
• Two and a Half Men—Renewed for a seventh, eighth and ninth season on March 18, 2009.^[70]

The CW

• 90210—Renewed for a second and third season on February 24, 2009.^[73]
• Gossip Girl—Renewed for a fourth season on February 24, 2009.^[74]
• One Tree Hill—Renewed for a seventh season on February 24, 2009.^[74]
• Smallville—Renewed for a ninth season.
• Supernatural—Renewed for a fifth season on February 24, 2009.^[74]

Fox

• 24—Renewed for an eighth and final season on May 16, 2007.^[34]
• American Dad!—Renewed for a fifth and sixth season on October 30, 2008.^[75]
• Bones—Renewed for a fifth and sixth season on May 16, 2009.^[76]
• Dollhouse—Renewed for a second season on May 15, 2009.^[77]
• Family Guy—Renewed for an eighth season on May 5, 2008.^[78]
• Fringe – Renewed for a second season on April 26, 2009.^[79]
• House—Renewed for a sixth season.
• Lie to Me—Renewed for a second season on May 13, 2009.^[80]
• Kitchen Nightmares—Renewed for third season on March 22, 2009.^[81]
• The Simpsons—Renewed for a twenty-first and twenty-second season on February 26, 2009.^[82]
• So You Think You Can Dance—Renewed for a sixth and seventh season on May 15, 2009.^[83]
• 'Til Death—Renewed for a fourth season on January 9, 2009.^[84]

NBC

• 30 Rock—Renewed for a fourth season on January 15, 2009.^[85]
• The Apprentice—Renewed for a ninth season.
• Chuck—Renewed for a third season on May 17, 2009.^[86]
• Heroes—Renewed for a fourth season on March 5, 2008.^[87]
• Law & Order—Renewed for a twentieth season.
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit—Renewed for an eleventh season on April 3, 2009.^[43]
• The Office—Renewed for a sixth season on January 15, 2009.^[85]
• Parks and Recreation—Renewed for a second season.

Cancellations/Series endings

ABC

• According to Jim—Canceled on May 19, 2009, after eight seasons. The series concluded on June 2, 2009.
• Boston Legal—It was announced on May 13, 2008 that season five would be the final season. The series concluded on December 8, 2008.
• Cupid —Canceled on May 18, 2009.
• Defying Gravity—Canceled on October 29, 2009.
• Dirty Sexy Money—Canceled on November 20, 2008 six episodes into the second season.^[88]
• Eli Stone—Canceled on November 20, 2008 five episodes into the second season.^[88]
• The Goode Family—Canceled on August 8, 2009.
• Homeland Security USA—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• In the Motherhood—Canceled on May 15, 2009.
• Just for Laughs—Canceled on April 7, 2010, after three seasons.
• Life on Mars—Canceled on March 3, 2009. The series concluded on April 1, 2009.
• Opportunity Knocks—Canceled on October 16, 2008.^[89]
• Pushing Daisies—Canceled on November 20, 2008 six episodes into the second season.^[88]
• Samantha Who?—Canceled on May 18, 2009, after two seasons.
• Surviving Suburbia—Canceled on August 8, 2009.
• The Unusuals—Canceled on May 17, 2009.^[90]

CBS

• Eleventh Hour – Canceled on May 19, 2009.^[91]
• Elite XC Saturday Night Fights – On October 20, Elite XC shut down operations, thus cancelling the show.^[92]
• The Ex List – This was the first new drama of the season cancelled. The series was replaced with repeats of CBS dramas and new episodes of The Price Is Right Primetime.^[93]
• Game Show in My Head – Due to declining ratings, CBS decided not to air any more episodes.
• Harper's Island Cancelled on July 14, 2009.^[94]
• Million Dollar Password – Canceled due to declining ratings.^[95]
• The Unit – Canceled on May 19, 2009, after four seasons.^[96]
• Worst Week – Canceled on May 20, 2009.^[95]
• Without a Trace – Canceled on May 19, 2009, after seven seasons.^[95]

The CW

• 13: Fear Is Real—Canceled on May 21, 2009.
• Easy Money—MRC canceled the series on November 16, 2008.^[97]
• Everybody Hates Chris—Chris Rock chose to end the series after four seasons.^[98]
• The Game—Canceled on May 20, 2009. Moved to BET in January 2011.
• In Harm's Way—The CW decided to get end the MRC Sunday night on November 23, 2008, effectively canceling the show.^[99]
• Privileged—Canceled on May 19, 2009.^[100]
• Reaper—Canceled on May 20, 2009, after two seasons.
• Stylista—Canceled on May 21, 2009.
• Valentine—Canceled on November 23, 2008.^[97]

Fox

• Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?—It was announced on August 4, 2009, that the series would move to syndication.^[101] On November 6, 2014, it was announced that the series would return for a fourth season.^[102]
• Do Not Disturb—Canceled on September 25, 2008, marking the first cancellation of the season.^[103]
• Don't Forget the Lyrics!—Canceled on August 3, 2009, after two seasons. On January 25, 2010, it was announced that the series would move to syndication. On April 28, 2021, it was announced that the series would return for a third season.^[104]
• Hole in the Wall—Pulled from the schedule and canceled on May 18, 2009, due to poor ratings.^[105] On July 20, 2010, It was announced that Cartoon Network would pick up the series for another season.^[106]
• King of the Hill—It was announced on October 30, 2008, that season thirteen would be the final season.^[107] The series concluded on September 13, 2009.^[108] The last four episodes were aired on syndication on May 3 to 6, 2010.^[109] On January 31, 2023, it was announced that a revival on Hulu was officially confirmed to be ordered.^[110]
• Mental—Canceled on March 9, 2010.
• More to Love—Canceled on March 9, 2010.
• Osbournes Reloaded—Canceled on May 18, 2009.^[105]
• Prison Break—It was announced on January 13, 2009, that season four would be the final season.^[111] The series concluded on May 15, 2009. On January 15, 2016, it was announced that the series would return for a fifth season.^[112]
• Secret Millionaire—Canceled on May 18, 2009.^[105] On September 10, 2009, it was announced that ABC would pick up the series for another season.^[113]
• Sit Down, Shut Up—Pulled from the schedule and canceled on May 18, 2009.^[105] The remaining nine episodes aired on Saturdays at midnight from later in the year.
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles—Canceled on May 18, 2009, after two seasons.^[105]

MyNetworkTV

The entire schedule of programs for MyNetworkTV except for WWE SmackDown did not pass on to the 2009/10 season due to the network's conversion to a programming service.

• Celebrity Exposé
• Comics Unleashed (syndicated program on MyNetworkTV's schedule)
• Jail
• Magic's Biggest Secrets Revealed
• Masters of Illusion
• My Saturday Night Movie (the network's time on Saturday nights was given back to local affiliates for their own purposes)
• Street Patrol
• The Tony Rock Project
• The Twilight Zone (repeats of 2002 UPN series)
• Under One Roof
• Vice Squad
• World's Funniest Moments

NBC

• America's Toughest Jobs—Canceled on March 13, 2009.
• The Chopping Block—Canceled on March 26, 2009.
• Crusoe—The series concluded on January 31, 2009.
• Deal or No Deal—Canceled on May 19, 2009. The syndicated version of the show got picked up by MyNetworkTV when it transitioned to a programming service.
• ER—It was announced on April 2, 2008 that season fifteen would be the final season.^[114] The series concluded on April 2, 2009.^[115]
• Howie Do It—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Kath & Kim—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Kings—Canceled on April 21, 2009.
• Knight Rider—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Life—Canceled on May 4, 2009, after two seasons.
• Lipstick Jungle—Canceled on March 28, 2009, after two seasons.
• The Listener—Pulled from the schedule on July 23, 2009, after 8 episodes.
• Medium—It was announced on May 19, 2009 that Medium will be moving to CBS next season.
• Merlin—Canceled during the summer due to declining ratings.
• Momma's Boys—Canceled on March 13, 2009.
• My Name Is Earl—Canceled on May 19, 2009, after four seasons.
• My Own Worst Enemy—Canceled on November 12, 2008.^[116] The series concluded on December 15, 2008.
• The Philanthropist—Canceled on October 20, 2009.
• Superstars of Dance—Canceled on May 19, 2009.

See also

• 2008–09 Canadian network television schedule
• 2008–09 United States network television schedule (late night)
• 2008–09 United States network television schedule (overnight)

Top weekly ratings

• Data sources: AC Nielsen, TV by the Numbers

Total Viewers

Week	Name	Viewers (in millions)	Network
August 25-August 31	America's Got Talent 9/1[117]	11.12	NBC
September 1-September 7	Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts[118]	18.35	NBC
September 8-September 14	Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns[119]	17.83	NBC
September 15-September 21	Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers[120]	22.23	NBC
September 22-September 28	Dancing with the Stars 9/22[121]	21.34	ABC
September 29-October 5	Dancing with the Stars 9/29[122]	18.88	ABC
October 6-October 12	CSI[123]	23.49	CBS
October 13-October 19	CSI[124]	19.28	CBS
October 20-October 26	CSI[125]	19.49	CBS
October 27-November 2	2008 World Series Game 5: Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies (conclusion)[126]	19.84	FOX
November 3-November 9	60 Minutes[127]	18.47	CBS
November 10-November 16	60 Minutes[128]	25.10	CBS
November 17-November 23	Dancing with the Stars 11/17[129]	19.63	ABC
November 24-November 30	Dancing with the Stars 11/24[130]	21.10	ABC
December 1-December 7	The Mentalist[131]	18.74	CBS
December 8-December 14	Sunday Night Football: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys[132]	23.05	NBC
December 15-December 21	NCIS (Repeat)[133]	19.94	CBS
December 22-December 28	Sunday Night Football: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers[134]	14.85	NBC
December 29-January 4	AFC Wild Card Playoff: Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers[135]	27.79	NBC
January 5-January 11	2009 BCS National Championship Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma[136]	26.77	FOX
January 12-January 18	AFC Championship Game: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers[137]	40.65	CBS
January 19-January 25	American Idol 1/21[138]	25.90	FOX
January 26-February 1	Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals[139]	98.73	NBC
February 2-February 8	American Idol 2/3[140]	26.60	FOX
February 9-February 15	American Idol 2/10[141]	24.94	FOX
February 16-February 22	81st Academy Awards[142]	36.31	ABC
February 23-March 1	American Idol 2/25[143]	24.54	FOX
March 2-March 8	American Idol 3/3[144]	24.31	FOX
March 9-March 15	American Idol 3/10[145]	25.77	FOX
March 16-March 22	American Idol 3/18[146]	23.71	FOX
March 23-March 29	American Idol 3/25[147]	26.03	FOX
March 30-April 5	American Idol 3/31[148]	24.41	FOX
April 6-April 12	American Idol 4/8[149]	22.98	FOX
April 13-April 19	American Idol 4/14[150]	24.38	FOX
April 20-April 26	American Idol 4/21[151]	23.96	FOX
April 27-May 3	American Idol 4/28[152]	23.26	FOX
May 4-May 10	American Idol 5/6[153]	23.57	FOX
May 11-May 17	American Idol 5/13[154]	24.67	FOX
May 18-May 24	American Idol 5/20[155]	28.84	FOX
May 25-May 31	NCIS (Repeat)[156]	12.46	CBS
June 1-June 7	2009 NBA Finals Game 2: Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers[157]	14.06	ABC
June 8-June 14	2009 NBA Finals Game 4: Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic[158]	15.96	ABC
June 15-June 21	NCIS (Repeat)[159]	10.39	CBS
June 22-June 28	America's Got Talent 6/23[160]	11.46	NBC
June 29-July 5	America's Got Talent 6/30[161]	13.15	NBC
July 6-July 12	America's Got Talent 7/8[162]	11.91	NBC
July 13-July 19	2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game[163]	14.59	FOX
July 20-July 26	America's Got Talent 7/21[164]	13.75	NBC
July 27-August 2	America's Got Talent 7/28[165]	13.25	NBC
August 3-August 9	America's Got Talent 8/4[166]	12.96	NBC
August 10-August 16	America's Got Talent 8/11[167]	12.88	NBC
August 17-August 23	America's Got Talent 8/18[168]	11.88	NBC
August 24-August 30	America's Got Talent 8/25[169]	11.46	NBC

18-49 Viewers

Week	Name	Viewers (in millions)	Network
August 25-August 31	America's Got Talent 9/1[170]	3.1	NBC
September 1-September 7	Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts[171]	7.4	NBC
September 8-September 14	Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns[172]	7.2	NBC
September 15-September 21	Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers[173]	9.0	NBC
September 22-September 28	Grey's Anatomy[174]	7.4	ABC
September 29-October 5	Desperate Housewives[175]	5.9	ABC
October 6-October 12	CSI[176]	7.1	CBS
October 13-October 19	Grey's Anatomy[177]	5.9	ABC
October 20-October 26	Desperate Housewives[178]	5.8	ABC
October 27-November 2	2008 World Series Game 5: Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies (conclusion)[179]	6.2	FOX
November 3-November 9	Sunday Night Football: New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles[180]	6.7	NBC
November 10-November 16	Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins[181]	7.4	NBC
November 17-November 23	Grey's Anatomy[182]	6.2	ABC
November 24-November 30	Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings[183]	6.1	NBC
December 1-December 7	The OT[184]	6.3	FOX
December 8-December 14	Sunday Night Football: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys[185]	8.6	NBC
December 15-December 21	Sunday Night Football: Carolina Panthers at New York Giants[186]	6.8	NBC
December 22-December 28	Sunday Night Football: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers[187]	5.4	NBC
December 29-January 4	AFC Wild Card Playoff: Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers[188]	10.0	NBC
January 5-January 11	2009 BCS National Championship Game: Florida vs. Oklahoma[189]	9.5	FOX
January 12-January 18	AFC Championship Game: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers[190]	14.7	CBS
January 19-January 25	American Idol 1/21[191]	9.2	FOX
January 26-February 1	Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals[192]	36.7	NBC
February 2-February 8	American Idol 2/3[193]	10.0	FOX
February 9-February 15	American Idol 2/11[194]	9.5	FOX
February 16-February 22	81st Academy Awards[195]	12.1	ABC
February 23-March 1	American Idol 2/25[196]	9.1	FOX
March 2-March 8	American Idol 3/3[197]	9.0	FOX
March 9-March 15	American Idol 3/10[198]	9.5	FOX
March 16-March 22	American Idol 3/18[199]	8.7	FOX
March 23-March 29	American Idol 3/25[200]	9.3	FOX
March 30-April 5	American Idol 3/31[201]	8.9	FOX
April 6-April 12	American Idol 4/7[202]	8.1	FOX
April 13-April 19	American Idol 4/14[203]	8.5	FOX
April 20-April 26	American Idol 4/22[151]	8.3	FOX
April 27-May 3	American Idol 4/28[152]	8.1	FOX
May 4-May 10	American Idol 5/5[153]	8.3	FOX
May 11-May 17	American Idol 5/13[154]	8.7	FOX
May 18-May 24	American Idol 5/20[155]	10.0	FOX
May 25-May 31	So You Think You Can Dance 5/28[156]	3.6	FOX
June 1-June 7	2009 NBA Finals Game 2: Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers[204]	5.8	ABC
June 8-June 14	2009 NBA Finals Game 4: Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic[158]	6.4	ABC
June 15-June 21	So You Think You Can Dance 6/17[159]	3.1	FOX
June 22-June 28	America's Got Talent 6/23[160]	3.2	NBC
June 29-July 5	America's Got Talent 6/30[161]	3.7	NBC
July 6-July 12	America's Got Talent 7/8[162]	3.3	NBC
July 13-July 19	2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game[163]	4.7	FOX
July 20-July 26	America's Got Talent 7/21[164]	3.4	NBC
July 27-August 2	America's Got Talent 7/28[165]	3.5	NBC
August 3-August 9	America's Got Talent 8/4[166]	3.6	NBC
August 10-August 16	America's Got Talent 8/11[167]	3.6	NBC
August 17-August 23	Hell's Kitchen[168]	3.5	FOX
August 24-August 30	Hell's Kitchen[169]	3.6	FOX

Notes

1. Originally aired on CBS
2. On select weeks when Jericho airs regular 60-minute episodes at 6:30 p.m., an additional episode of The CW Sunday Night Movie will air at 7:30 p.m. on top of its regular 8 p.m. airing.^[9][10]
3. A CBS original series; airs repeats.