2005–06 United States network television schedule

The 2005–06 network television schedule for the six major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the primetime hours from September 2005 to August 2006. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2004–05 season.

This would be the final season of broadcasting for both UPN and The WB; their respective parent companies, CBS Corporation and Time Warner (now Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery, respectively), would consolidate the two networks to form The CW the following season. It was also the final season in which Monday Night Football would be regularly broadcast on ABC; the long-running "game of the week" showcase would move to ESPN after the 2005 NFL season, following a 35-year run on ABC (which would resume airing MNF—albeit only for selected regular season and wild card games simulcast with ESPN—in 2021.) From February 10 to 26, 2006, NBC preempted its regular prime time schedule in order to air coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

PBS is not included, as member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. i: Independent Television (renamed from its original brand, Pax TV, on July 1, and now known as 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 2006 is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.

New series 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 (including Fox affiliates during the 10 p.m. ET/PT hour) by affiliates after game completion.

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 regularly scheduled programs, including specials and movies.

Yellow highlights indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.

Cyan highlights indicates numbers 11-20 most watched programs of the season.

Magenta highlights indicates numbers 21-30 most watched programs of the season.

Highlights indicates that it falls in multiple of the above categories.

Sunday
Note: On September 17, 2006, The WB aired The Night of Favorites and Farewells starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. The special included the pilot episodes of Felicity, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Dawson's Creek. The special served as the network's last nationally scheduled broadcast.

Monday

 * Note: Emily's Reasons Why Not and Jake in Progress premiered on ABC on January 9, 2006, at 8:00 and 8:30 p.m. respectively, and were removed from the schedule after airing one episode.
 * Note: One Ocean View premiered on ABC on July 31, 2006, at 10 p.m. and was removed from the schedule after airing two episodes.

Tuesday

 * Note: Get This Party Started premiered on UPN on February 7, 2006, at 9:00 p.m. and was removed from the schedule after airing two episodes.
 * Note: Tuesday Night Book Club premiered on CBS on June 13, 2006, at 10:00 p.m. and was removed from the schedule after airing two episodes.

Friday

 * Note: Inconceivable premiered on NBC on September 23, 2005, at 10:00 p.m. and was removed from the schedule after airing two episodes.

ABC
Returning series:
 * 20/20
 * ABC Thursday Night Movie
 * ABC Saturday Movie of the Week
 * According to Jim
 * America's Funniest Home Videos
 * Alias
 * The Bachelor
 * Boston Legal
 * Dancing with the Stars
 * Desperate Housewives
 * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
 * George Lopez
 * Grey's Anatomy
 * Hope & Faith
 * Jake in Progress
 * Less than Perfect
 * Lost
 * Monday Night Football
 * Primetime
 * Rodney
 * Supernanny
 * Wife Swap
 * The Wonderful World of Disney

New series:
 * American Inventor
 * Commander in Chief
 * Crumbs
 * Emily's Reasons Why Not
 * The Evidence
 * Freddie
 * Hot Properties
 * How to Get the Guy
 * In Justice
 * Invasion
 * Master of Champions
 * Miracle Workers
 * Night Stalker
 * The One: Making a Music Star
 * One Ocean View
 * Sons & Daughters
 * What About Brian

Not returning from 2004–05:
 * 8 Simple Rules
 * The ABC Monday Night Movie
 * The Bachelorette (revived and returned for 2007–08)
 * The Benefactor
 * Blind Justice
 * Complete Savages
 * Extreme Makeover
 * Eyes
 * Life as We Know It
 * Life of Luxury
 * My Wife and Kids
 * NYPD Blue

CBS
Returning series:
 * 48 Hours
 * 60 Minutes
 * The Amazing Race
 * Big Brother
 * CBS Sunday Movie
 * Cold Case
 * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
 * CSI: Miami
 * CSI: NY
 * The King of Queens
 * NCIS
 * Numbers
 * Still Standing
 * Survivor
 * Two and a Half Men
 * Without a Trace
 * Yes, Dear

New series:
 * Close to Home
 * Courting Alex
 * Criminal Minds
 * Gameshow Marathon
 * Ghost Whisperer
 * How I Met Your Mother
 * Love Monkey
 * The New Adventures of Old Christine
 * Out of Practice
 * Threshold
 * Tuesday Night Book Club
 * The Unit

Not returning from 2004–05:
 * Center of the Universe
 * Clubhouse
 * Dr. Vegas
 * Everybody Loves Raymond
 * JAG
 * Joan of Arcadia
 * Judging Amy
 * Listen Up
 * Wickedly Perfect
 * The Will

Fox
Returning series:
 * 24
 * America's Most Wanted
 * American Dad!
 * American Idol
 * Arrested Development
 * The Bernie Mac Show
 * Cops
 * Family Guy
 * Hell's Kitchen
 * House
 * King of the Hill
 * Malcolm in the Middle
 * MLB on Fox
 * Nanny 911
 * The O.C.
 * The Simpsons
 * So You Think You Can Dance
 * Stacked
 * That '70s Show
 * Trading Spouses

New series:
 * Bones
 * Free Ride
 * Killer Instinct
 * Kitchen Confidential
 * The Loop
 * The OT
 * Prison Break
 * Reunion
 * Skating with Celebrities
 * Unan1mous
 * The War at Home

Not returning from 2004–05:
 * The Inside
 * Jonny Zero
 * Life on a Stick
 * Method & Red
 * My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss
 * North Shore
 * Point Pleasant
 * Quintuplets
 * The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best
 * Renovate My Family
 * The Simple Life
 * The Sketch Show
 * Totally Outrageous Behavior
 * Tru Calling (revived by Syfy in 2008)
 * Who's Your Daddy?
 * World's Craziest Videos

NBC
Returning series:
 * The Apprentice
 * The Biggest Loser
 * The Contender
 * Crossing Jordan
 * Dateline NBC
 * ER
 * Fear Factor
 * Joey
 * Las Vegas
 * Last Comic Standing
 * Law & Order
 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
 * Law & Order: Criminal Intent
 * Law & Order: Trial by Jury
 * Medium
 * Most Outrageous Moments
 * The Office
 * Scrubs
 * The West Wing
 * Will & Grace

New series:
 * America's Got Talent
 * The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
 * The Book of Daniel
 * Celebrity Cooking Showdown
 * Conviction
 * Deal or No Deal
 * E-Ring
 * Four Kings
 * Heist
 * Inconceivable
 * My Name Is Earl
 * Surface
 * Teachers
 * Three Wishes
 * Treasure Hunters
 * Windfall

Not returning from 2004–05:
 * American Dreams
 * Committed
 * Father of the Pride
 * Hawaii
 * LAX
 * Medical Investigation
 * Revelations
 * Third Watch

UPN
Returning series:
 * All of Us
 * America's Next Top Model
 * Cuts
 * Eve
 * Girlfriends
 * Half & Half
 * One on One
 * UPN's Night at the Movies
 * Veronica Mars
 * WWE SmackDown!

New series:
 * Everybody Hates Chris
 * Get This Party Started
 * Love, Inc.
 * Sex, Love & Secrets
 * South Beach

Not returning from 2004–05:
 * The Bad Girl's Guide
 * Britney and Kevin: Chaotic
 * Kevin Hill
 * The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott
 * R U the Girl with T-Boz & Chilli
 * Second Time Around
 * Star Trek: Enterprise

The WB
Returning series:
 * 7th Heaven
 * Beauty and the Geek
 * Blue Collar TV
 * Charmed
 * Everwood
 * Gilmore Girls
 * Living With Fran
 * One Tree Hill
 * Reba
 * Smallville
 * What I Like About You

New series:
 * The Bedford Diaries
 * Just Legal
 * Misconceptions
 * Modern Men
 * Pepper Dennis
 * Related
 * Supernatural
 * Survival of the Richest
 * Twins

Not returning from 2004–05:
 * Big Man on Campus
 * Commando Nanny
 * Drew Carey's Green Screen Show
 * Grounded for Life
 * High School Reunion
 * Jack & Bobby
 * The Mountain
 * The Starlet
 * Steve Harvey's Big Time
 * Summerland

ABC

 * Boston Legal—Renewed for a third season on May 3, 2006.
 * Dancing with the Stars—Renewed for a third and fourth seasons.
 * Desperate Housewives—Renewed for a third season.
 * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition—Renewed for a fourth season.
 * Grey's Anatomy—Renewed for a third season.
 * Lost—Renewed for a third season.

CBS

 * Close to Home—Renewed for a second season.
 * Criminal Minds—Renewed for a second season.
 * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation—Renewed for a seventh season.
 * CSI: Miami—Renewed for a fifth season.
 * CSI: NY—Renewed for a third season.
 * Ghost Whisperer—Renewed for a second season.
 * How I Met Your Mother—Renewed for a second season.
 * NCIS—Renewed for a fourth season.
 * The New Adventures of Old Christine—Renewed for a second season.
 * Numb3rs—Renewed for a third season.
 * Two and a Half Men—Renewed for a fourth season.

Fox

 * American Dad!—Renewed for a second season.
 * Bones—Renewed for a second season.
 * Family Guy—Renewed for fifth season.
 * Futurama—Renewed for an eighth season.
 * House—Renewed for a third season.
 * Prison Break—Renewed for a second season.
 * The Simpsons—Renewed for an eighteenth season.
 * The War at Home—Renewed for a second season.

NBC

 * The Biggest Loser—Renewed for a third season.
 * ER—Renewed for a thirteenth season.
 * Law & Order: Criminal Intent—Renewed for a sixth season.
 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit—Renewed for an eighth season.
 * My Name Is Earl—Renewed for a second season.
 * Law & Order—Renewed for a seventeenth season.
 * The Office—Renewed for a third season.

UPN

 * All of Us—Renewed for a fourth season and moving to The CW.
 * America's Next Top Model—Renewed for a seventh and eighth seasons and moving to The CW.
 * Everybody Hates Chris—Renewed for a second season and moving to The CW.
 * Girlfriends—Renewed for a seventh season and moving to The CW.
 * Veronica Mars—Renewed for a third season and moving to The CW.

The WB

 * 7th Heaven—Renewed for an eleventh season and moving to The CW.
 * Gilmore Girls—Renewed for a seventh season and moving to The CW.
 * One Tree Hill—Renewed for a fourth season and moving to The CW.
 * Reba—Renewed for a sixth season and moving to The CW.
 * Smallville—Renewed for a sixth season and moving to The CW.
 * Supernatural—Renewed for a second season and moving to The CW.

ABC

 * Alias—The series concluded on May 22, 2006.
 * Commander in Chief—Canceled after one season.
 * Crumbs—Canceled after one season.
 * Emily's Reasons Why Not—Canceled after one episode due to low ratings.
 * The Evidence—Canceled after one season.
 * Freddie—Canceled after one season. The series concluded on May 31, 2006.
 * Hope & Faith—Ended after three seasons.
 * Hot Properties—Canceled after one season.
 * How to Get the Guy
 * In Justice—Canceled after one season.
 * Invasion—Canceled after one season.
 * Jake in Progress—Canceled after two seasons.
 * Less than Perfect—Ended after four seasons.
 * Master of Champions
 * Miracle Workers
 * Night Stalker—Canceled after one season.
 * The One: Making a Music Star
 * One Ocean View
 * Rodney—Canceled after two seasons.
 * Sons & Daughters—Canceled after one season.

CBS

 * Courting Alex—Canceled after one season.
 * CBS Sunday Movie—Cancelled on May 17, 2006.
 * Gameshow Marathon
 * Love Monkey—Canceled by CBS after three episodes. The last five unaired episodes aired from April 18, 2006, until May 16, 2006, on VH1.
 * Out of Practice—Canceled after one season.
 * Still Standing—Ended after four seasons.
 * Threshold—Canceled after one season.
 * Tuesday Night Book Club
 * Yes, Dear—Ended after six seasons.

Fox

 * Arrested Development—In March 2006, it was revealed the series was cancelled. The series was later revived in 2013 on Netflix.
 * The Bernie Mac Show—Ended after five seasons. Bernie Mac died on August 9, 2008, at the age of 50.
 * Free Ride—Canceled after one season.
 * Head Cases—Canceled after one season.
 * Killer Instinct—Canceled after one season.
 * Kitchen Confidential—Canceled after one season.
 * Malcolm in the Middle—Ended after seven seasons.
 * Reunion—On November 29, 2005, it was announced Fox was not ordering any additional episodes, essentially cancelling it.
 * Skating with Celebrities
 * Stacked—Canceled after two seasons.
 * That '70s Show—It was announced on January 17, 2006, that season eight would be the final season. The series concluded on May 18, 2006.
 * Unan1mous

NBC

 * The Book of Daniel—Canceled after one season.
 * Celebrity Cooking Showdown
 * Conviction—Canceled after one season.
 * E-Ring—Canceled after one season.
 * Fear Factor—Cancelled in May 2006. It was later revived in 2011.
 * Four Kings—Canceled after one season.
 * Heist—Canceled after one season.
 * Inconceivable—Canceled after one season.
 * Joey—Canceled after two seasons.
 * Law & Order: Trial By Jury—The final episode aired on January 21, 2006, on Court TV.
 * Surface—Canceled after one season.
 * Teachers—Canceled after one season.
 * Thick & Thin—It was announced that the show will not air on NBC.
 * Three Wishes
 * Treasure Hunters
 * The West Wing—Ended after seven seasons.
 * Will & Grace—Revived in January 2017.
 * Windfall

UPN

 * Cuts—Canceled after two seasons.
 * Eve—Ended after three seasons.
 * Get This Party Started
 * Half & Half—Ended after four seasons.
 * Love, Inc.—Canceled after one season.
 * One on One—Ended after five seasons.
 * Sex, Love & Secrets—Canceled after one season.
 * South Beach—Canceled after one season.

The WB

 * The Bedford Diaries—Canceled after one season.
 * Blue Collar TV—Canceled after two seasons.
 * Charmed—Ended after eight seasons.
 * Everwood—Ended after four seasons.
 * Just Legal—Canceled after one season. The series concluded on September 10, 2006.
 * Living with Fran—Canceled after two seasons.
 * Misconceptions
 * Modern Men—Canceled after one season.
 * Pepper Dennis—Canceled after one season. The series concluded on July 4, 2006.
 * Related—Canceled after one season.
 * Survival of the Richest
 * Twins—Canceled after one season.
 * What I Like About You—Ended after four seasons.