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.
Contents |
| 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 | |||
| 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 #28 13.8 million (9.5/15) | Everybody Loves Raymond #33 13.3 million (9.2/14) | Cybill #67 11.2 million (8.3/13) | George & Leo #63 (tied) 11.3 million (8.2/12) | Brooklyn South #94 9.3 million (6.9/12) | |
| Fox | Melrose Place #80 10.2 million (7.5/11) | Ally McBeal #59 (tied) 11.4 million (8.1/12) | 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.
| PM | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 | 10:00 | 10:30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | Various repeats | Soul Man #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.
| 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) | Michelle #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 | |
| 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 | Living Single #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.
| 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.
| 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) | COPS 2 #82 (tied) 10.0 million (6.5/12) | 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) | |||
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