2009–10 United States network television schedule


The following is the 2009–10 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 2009 through May 2010. The schedule is followed by a [|list per network] of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2008–09 season.
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. NBC stripped The Jay Leno Show weeknights at 10 pm Eastern/9 p.m. Central, but removed it after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The CW eliminated its Sunday night programming block and returned that time to local affiliates; it returned to programming Sunday nights in the 2018–19 season. After three years as a network, MyNetworkTV became a syndication programming service, and therefore not recognized as a network. Fox announced its schedule on May 18, followed by ABC and NBC on May 19, CBS on May 20 and The CW on May 21.
New series are highlighted in bold.
All times given are in U.S. Eastern Time and Pacific Time. There are certain exceptions, such as NBC Sunday Night Football, that are aired live in all time zones.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

NOTE: On NBC, Parenthood was supposed to have started the night at 8-9, but it was delayed to midseason at the last minute and placed Mercy instead.

Thursday

Friday

NOTE: On NBC, Southland would have to be aired 9-10, but it was cancelled at the last minute and it was picked up by TNT.

Saturday

By network

ABC">American Broadcasting Company">ABC

Returning series:
New series:
Not returning from 2008–09:
Returning series:
New series:
  • Accidentally on Purpose
  • Arranged Marriage
  • The Bridge
  • The Good Wife
  • Miami Medical
  • Three Rivers
  • Undercover Boss
Not returning from 2008–09:'
Returning series:
New series:
Not returning from 2008–09:
Returning series:
New series:
  • Brothers
  • The Cleveland Show
  • Glee
  • The Good Guys
  • Human Target
  • MasterChef
  • Past Life
  • Sons of Tucson
Not returning from 2008–09:
Returning series:
New series:
Not returning from 2008–09:
Returning series:
New series:
  • 100 Questions
  • Community
  • Losing It with Jillian
  • The Jay Leno Show
  • The Marriage Ref
  • Mercy
  • Minute to Win It
  • Parenthood
  • Persons Unknown
  • The Sing-Off
  • Trauma
  • Who Do You Think You Are?
Not returning from 2008–09:'

Full season pickups

ABC
CBS
The CW
  • Melrose Place- The CW ordered 6 additional scripts on September 24, 2009. Five of these were then picked up for an 18-episode season on October 21, 2009.
  • One Tree Hill – picked up for a full 22-episode season on September 24, 2009.
  • The Vampire Diaries – The CW ordered 9 additional scripts on September 24, 2009. Picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 21, 2009.
Fox
  • The Cleveland Show – picked up for a full 22-episode first season on November 10, 2008.
  • Glee – picked up for a full 22-episode season on September 21, 2009.
  • Lie to Me – picked up for a full 22-episode season on November 24, 2009
NBC
ABC
CBS
The CW
  • 90210 – Renewed for a third season on February 16, 2010.
  • America's Next Top Model – Renewed on February 16, 2010.
  • Gossip Girl – Renewed for a fourth season on February 16, 2010.
  • Life Unexpected – Renewed for a second season on May 18, 2010.
  • One Tree Hill – Renewed for an eighth season on May 18, 2010.
  • Smallville – Renewed for a tenth and final season on March 4, 2010.
  • Supernatural – Renewed for a sixth season on February 16, 2010.
  • The Vampire Diaries – Renewed for a second season on February 16, 2010.
Fox
  • American Dad! – picked up for an additional season in October 2009, running through its sixth season in 2010/11.
  • Bones – picked up for two additional seasons in May 2009, running through its sixth season in 2010/11.
  • The Cleveland Show – picked up for an additional season in October 2009, running through its second season in 2010/11.
  • Family Guy – picked up for a ninth season prior to the 2009/10 season premiere.
  • Fringe – picked up for a third season on March 6, 2010.
  • Glee – picked up for a second season on January 11, 2010.
  • House – picked up for a seventh season on May 17, 2010.
  • Human Target – picked up for a second season on May 12, 2010.
  • Lie to Me – picked up for a third season on May 12, 2010.
  • The Simpsons – picked up for two additional seasons in February 2009, running through its twenty-second season in 2010/11.
NBC

ABC

18–49 viewers

WeekNameViewers
Network
August 31–September 6Hell's Kitchen3.4FOX
September 7–September 13Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers8.6NBC
September 14–September 20Sunday Night Football: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys9.8NBC
September 21–September 27Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals6.8NBC
September 28–October 4Sunday Night Football: San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers7.4NBC
October 5–October 11Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans6.2NBC
October 12–October 18Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons7.2NBC
October 19–October 25Sunday Night Football: Arizona Cardinals at New York Giants5.9NBC
October 26–November 12009 World Series Game 4: New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies7.8FOX
November 2–November 8Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles8.5NBC
November 9–November 15Sunday Night Football: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts8.6NBC
November 16–November 22Sunday Night Football: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears6.6NBC
November 23–November 29Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens7.7NBC
November 30–December 6Sunday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals7.8NBC
December 7–December 13Sunday Night Football: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants7.8NBC
December 14–December 20Sunday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers8.6NBC
December 21–December 27Sunday Night Football: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins6.9NBC
December 28–January 3Sunday Night Football: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets6.1NBC
January 4–January 10NFC Wild Card Playoff: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys11.8NBC
January 11–January 17American Idol 1/1211.8FOX
January 18–January 24NFC Championship Game: Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints21.3FOX
January 25–January 3152nd Grammy Awards9.9CBS
February 1–February 7Super Bowl XLIV: New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts38.6CBS
February 8–February 14American Idol 2/910.1FOX
February 15–February 21American Idol 2/168.2FOX
February 22–February 28American Idol 2/239.0FOX
March 1–March 782nd Academy Awards 3/313.3ABC
March 8–March 14American Idol 3/98.2FOX
March 15–March 21American Idol 3/168.1FOX
March 22–March 28American Idol 3/238.4FOX
March 29–April 4American Idol 3/307.7FOX
April 5–April 112010 Final Four National Championship: Butler vs. Duke8.2CBS
April 12–April 18American Idol 4/137.3FOX
April 19–April 25American Idol 4/207.1FOX
April 26–May 2American Idol 4/276.9FOX
May 3–May 9American Idol 5/56.5FOX
May 10–May 16American Idol 5/116.8FOX
May 17–May 23American Idol 5/186.7FOX
May 24–May 30American Idol 5/268.2FOX
May 31–June 62010 NBA Finals Game 2: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers6.5ABC
June 7–June 132010 NBA Finals Game 5: Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics7.2ABC
June 14–June 202010 NBA Finals Game 7: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers11.4ABC
June 21–June 27America's Got Talent 6/233.5NBC
June 28–July 4America's Got Talent 6/303.5NBC
July 5–July 11America's Got Talent 7/63.4NBC
July 12–July 182010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game3.8FOX
July 19–July 25The Bachelorette3.4ABC
July 26–August 1Hell's Kitchen2.9FOX
August 2–August 82010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys4.2NBC
August 9–August 15Hell's Kitchen3.3FOX
August 16–August 22NFL Preseason Football: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers3.6NBC
August 23–August 2962nd Primetime Emmy Awards4.1NBC