- This was the United States broadcast television schedule on all six commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 1997. All times are Eastern and Pacific.
New series highlighted in bold.
The highest-rated show for the year is highlighted in lime. The top ten rated programs are highlighted in yellow. The top 20 rated programs are highlighted in cyan. The top 30 rated programs are highlighted in magenta. The top 40 rated programs are highlighted in orange. The top 50 rated programs are highlighted in silver. Rankings determined by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, was in operation, but the schedule was set by each local station.
For new series debuting during the season, it would ultimately prove to be one of the weakest in television history, as only seven shows would be picked up for a second season. Of those seven, only Dharma & Greg and Ally McBeal would last beyond three seasons, and would both end their runs at the end of the 2001-02 season just five years later.
Fall Schedule[]
Sunday[]
| Network | 7:00 PM | 7:30 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:30 PM | 9:00 PM | 9:30 PM | 10:00 PM | 10:30 PM | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | The Wonderful World of Disney #30 (tied) 13.5 million (7.9/13) | ABC Sunday Night Movie #38 (tied) 12.8 million (8.5/13) | ||||||||
| CBS | 60 Minutes #8 19.8 million (13.9/24) | Touched by an Angel #5 21.8 million (14.4/22) | CBS Sunday Movies #9 19.4 million (13.3/21) | |||||||
| Fox | The World's Funniest! #93 9.5 million (6.5/11) | The Simpsons #17 (tied) 15.3 million (9.3/15) | King of the Hill #15 16.3 million (10.3/16) | The X-Files #11 17.1 million (10.8/16) | Local | |||||
| NBC | Dateline Sunday #71 10.8 million (7.7/13) | Men Behaving Badly #97 (tied) 9.1 million (6.5/10) | Jenny #92 9.7 million (7.0/10) | NBC Sunday Night Movie #22 (tied) 14.2 million (9.5/15) | ||||||
| WB | Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher #152 (tied) 2.8 million (1.9/3) | The Parent 'Hood #149 3.4 million (2.3/4) | The Jamie Foxx Show #143 (tied) 3.9 million (2.7/4) | Unhappily Ever After #145 (tied) 3.8 million (2.7/4) | The Tom Show #152 (tied) 2.8 million (2.1/3) | Alright Already #156 (tied) 2.7 million (2.0/3) | Local | |||
Monday[]
| PM | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Timecop #120 6.7 million (4.9/7) | Monday Night Football #6 21.0 million (15.0/26) | ||||
| CBS | Cosby | Everybody Loves Raymond | Cybill | George & Leo | Brooklyn South | |
| FOX | Melrose Place | Ally McBeal | Local | |||
| NBC | Suddenly Susan #71 (tied) 10.8 million (7.9/13) | Fired Up #78 (tied) 10.3 million (7.5/11) | Caroline in the City #51 (tied) 11.7 million (8.4/13) | The Naked Truth #74 (tied) 10.7 million (7.8/12) | Dateline Monday #16 15.4 million (11.4/19) | |
| UPN | In the House #141 (tied) 4.0 million (2.8/4) | Malcolm & Eddie #140 4.3 million (3.0/5) | Good News #143 (tied) 3.9 million (2.8/4) | Sparks #145 (tied) 3.8 million (2.6/4) | Local | |
| WB | 7th Heaven #131 5.8 million (3.8/6) | Buffy the Vampire Slayer #133 5.2 million (3.5/6) | Local | |||
Note: On the WB, Three premiered on February 2, 1998 as a midseason replacement for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when Buffy moved to Tuesdays on January 20, 1998.
Tuesday[]
| PM | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Soul Man | Over the Top #29 13.6 million (9.1/14) | Home Improvement #10 18.4 million (12.0/18) | Hiller and Diller #30 (tied) 13.5 million (9.3/15) | NYPD Blue #19 (tied) 15.0 million (10.8/18) | |
| CBS | JAG #36 (tied) 12.9 million (8.9/14) | Michael Hayes #82 (tied) 10.0 million (7.3/11) | Dellaventura #94 (tied) 9.3 million (6.8/12) | |||
| Fox | Fox Tuesday Night Movie #96 9.2 million (6.2/10) | Local | ||||
| NBC | Mad About You #32 13.4 million (9.7/16) | NewsRadio #68 11.0 million (8.0/14) | Frasier #13 (tied) 16.7 million (12.0/18) | Just Shoot Me! #12 17.0 million (12.0/19) | Dateline Tuesday #17 (tied) 15.3 million (11.5/20) | |
| UPN | Clueless #148 3.6 million (2.6/4) | Moesha #141 (tied) 4.0 million (2.9/5) | Hitz #151 3.1 million (2.3/4) | Head Over Heels #156 (tied) 2.7 million (2.1/3) | Local | |
Note: On January 20, 1998, the WB launched its "New Tuesday" line up with Buffy the Vampire Slayer at 8 p.m., and a new series, Dawson's Creek, at 9 p.m.
Wednesday[]
| PM | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Spin City #47 12.0 million (8.4/14) | Dharma & Greg #25 (tied) 13.9 million (9.5/15) | The Drew Carey Show #13 (tied) 16.7 million (11.1/17) | Ellen #42 12.4 million (8.8/14) | Primetime Live #22 (tied) 14.2 million (10.8/18) | |
| CBS | The Nanny #56 (tied) 11.5 million (8.3/14) | Murphy Brown #86 (tied) 9.9 million (7.8/12) | Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel #82 (tied) 10.0 million (7.4/12) | Chicago Hope #45 (tied) 12.1 million (8.9/15) | ||
| Fox | Beverly Hills, 90210 #59 (tied) 11.4 million (8.3/14) | Party of Five #56 (tied) 11.5 million (8.2/13) | Local | |||
| NBC | The Tony Danza Show #112 7.9 million (5.7/9) | Built to Last #13 6.2 million (4.4/7) | 3rd Rock from the Sun #43 (tied) 12.3 million (8.5/13) | Working #59 (tied) 11.4 million (8.0/12) | Law & Order #24 14.1 million (10.1/17) | |
| UPN | The Sentinel #147 3.7 million (2.7/4) | Star Trek: Voyager #132 5.4 million (3.9/6) | Local | |||
| WB | Sister, Sister #139 4.7 million (3.0/5) | Smart Guy #136 (tied) 5.0 million (3.4/5) | The Wayans Bros. #134 (tied) 5.1 million (3.5/5) | The Steve Harvey Show #134 (tied) 5.1 million (3.4/5) | Local | |
Thursday[]
| PM | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Nothing Sacred #127 6.1 million (4.7/8) | Cracker #129 (tied) 5.9 million (4.7/7) | 20/20 Thursday #71 (tied) 10.8 million (8.5/14) | |||
| CBS | Promised Land #35 13.1 million (8.9/14) | Diagnosis: Murder #25 (tied) 13.9 million (9.8/15) | 48 Hours #69 (tied) 10.9 million (8.1/13) | |||
| Fox | Rewind #117 7.0 million (5.0/8) | Between Brothers #118 (tied) 6.8 million (4.7/8) | 413 Hope St. #129 (tied) 5.9 million (4.5/7) | Local | ||
| NBC | Friends #4 24.0 million (16.4/27) | Union Square #7 19.9 million (13.6/21) | Seinfeld #1 34.9 million (22.0/33) | Veronica's Closet #3 24.4 million (16.8/26) | ER #2 30.2 million (20.7/34) | |
Note: On FOX, World's Wildest Police Videos premiered on April 2, 1998 at 8 p.m.
Friday[]
| PM | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch #63 11.3 million (7.4/14) | Boy Meets World #55 11.6 million (7.5/14) | You Wish #69 (tied) 10.9 million (7.0/13) | Teen Angel #76 10.6 million (6.8/12) | 20/20 Friday #19 (tied) 15.0 million (10.9/20) | |
| CBS | Family Matters #99 8.9 million (5.9/11) | Meego #109 (tied) 8.0 million (5.6/11) | The Gregory Hines Show #104 (tied) 8.2 million (5.7/10) | Step By Step #102 8.4 million (5.8/10) | Nash Bridges #51 (tied) 11.7 million (7.9/15) | |
| Fox | The Visitor #114 7.5 million (5.2/10) | Millennium #104 (tied) 8.2 million (5.5/10) | Local | |||
| NBC | Players #113 7.8 million (5.4/10) | Dateline Friday #34 13.2 million (9.5/15) | Homicide: Life on the Street #74 (tied) 10.7 million (7.7/14) | |||
NOTE: Meego was canceled October 24, 1997, and The Gregory Hines Show was canceled February 27, 1998.
Saturday[]
| PM | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | C-16 #124 6.4 million (4.5/8) | Total Security #125 6.3 million (4.5/8) | The Practice #82 (tied) 10.0 million (7.3/13) | |||
| CBS | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman #51(tied) 11.7 million (7.7/15) | Early Edition #48 (tied) 11.9 million (7.8/14) | Walker, Texas Ranger #21 14.4 million (9.5/17) | |||
| Fox | COPS #100 8.7 million (5.7/11) | Dave & John | America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back #91 9.8 million (6.4/12) | Local | ||
| NBC | Sleepwalkers #104 (tied) 8.2 million (5.5/10) | The Pretender #59 (tied) 11.4 million (7.4/13) | Profiler #86 (tied) 9.9 million (6.8/13) | |||
Pickups and Shows[]
Full Season Shows[]
ABC
- 20/20
- America's Funniest Home Videos
- Boy Meets World
- C-16
- Cracker
- Dharma & Greg
- The Drew Carey Show
- Ellen
- Grace Under Fire
- Hiller and Diller
- Home Improvement
- Monday Night Football
- Nothing Sacred
- NYPD Blue
- The Practice
- Primetime
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
- Something So Right
- Soul Man
- Spin City
- Teen Angel
- Timecop
- Total Security
- Turning Point
- Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place
- The Wonderful World of Disney
- You Wish
CBS
- 48 Hours
- 60 Minutes
- Brooklyn South
- Chicago Hope
- Cosby
- Dellaventura
- Diagnosis Murder
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
- Early Edition
- Everybody Loves Raymond
- Family Matters
- George and Leo
- The Gregory Hines Show
- JAG
- Meego
- Michael Hayes
- Murphy Brown
- The Nanny
- Nash Bridges
- Promised Land
- Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel
- Step by Step
- Touched by an Angel
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Walker, Texas, Ranger
Fox
- 413 Hope St.
- Ally McBeal
- America's Most Wanted
- Ask Harriet
- Between Brothers
- Beverly Hills, 90210
- Beyond Belief: Fact Or Fiction
- COPS
- Damon
- King of the Hill
- Living Single
- Melrose Place
- Millennium
- New York Undercover
- Party of Five
- Significant Others
- The Simpsons
- The Visitor
- World's Wildest Police Videos
- The X-Files
NBC
- 3rd Rock from The Sun
- Built To Last
- Caroline In The City
- Dateline NBC
- ER
- Fired Up
- Fraiser
- Friends
- Homicide: Life on the Street
- Jenny
- Just Shoot Me!
- Law and Order
- Mad About You
- Men Behaving Badly
- Michelle
- The Naked Truth
- NewsRadio
- Players
- The Pretender
- Profiler
- Seinfeld
- Suddenly Susan
- The Tony Danza Show
- Union Square
- Veronica's Closet
- Working
UPN
- Clueless
- Good News
- Head Over Heels
- Hitz
- In The House
- The Love Boat: The Next Wave
- Malcolm and Eddie
- Moesha
- The Sentinel
- Sparks
- Star Trek: Voyager
- Sweet Valley High
The WB
- 7th Heaven
- Alright Already
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Dawson's Creek
- The Jamie Foxx Show
- Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher
- The Parent 'Hood
- The Tom Show
- Sister, Sister
- Smart Guy
- The Steve Harvey Show
- Three
- Unhappily Ever After
- The Wayans Bros.
References[]
- In The 90s prime time TV schedule
- Wikipedia article listing top rated TV shows
- ↑ "1997-1998 Television Season Top Rated Shows". Archived from the original on 2006-10-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20061031060234/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/ratings/1997_1998.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
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