2009–10 United States network television schedule

The 2009–10 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers primetime hours from September 2009 through August 2010. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2008–09 season.

Fox was the first to announce its fall schedule on May 18, 2009, followed by ABC and NBC on May 19, CBS on May 20, and The CW on May 21, 2009.

PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcasts times for network shows may vary. NBC stripped The Jay Leno Show weeknights at 10 p.m. 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 four years as a network, MyNetworkTV became a programming service, and therefore not recognized as a network.

New series are highlighted in bold.

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.

Note: From February 12 to February 28, 2010, all NBC primetime programming was pre-empted for coverage of 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.

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.

Light gold indicates programming produced outside of the United States.

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.

Wednesday
NOTES: 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. On Fox, Our Little Genius was supposed to debut on January 10, 2010 but was cancelled and replaced with American Idol.

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.

ABC
Returning series:
 * 20/20
 * ABC Saturday Movie of the Week
 * America's Funniest Home Videos
 * The Bachelor
 * The Bachelorette
 * Better Off Ted
 * Brothers & Sisters
 * Castle
 * Dancing with the Stars
 * Dating in the Dark
 * Desperate Housewives
 * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
 * Grey's Anatomy
 * Lost
 * Primetime
 * Primetime: What Would You Do?
 * Private Practice
 * Saturday Night Football
 * Scrubs
 * Shaq Vs.
 * Shark Tank
 * Supernanny
 * True Beauty
 * Ugly Betty
 * Wipeout
 * Wife Swap

New series:
 * Bachelor Pad *
 * Cougar Town
 * The Deep End *
 * Downfall *
 * Eastwick
 * Find My Family
 * FlashForward
 * The Forgotten
 * The Gates *
 * Hank
 * Happy Town *
 * Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution *
 * The Middle
 * Modern Family
 * Romantically Challenged *
 * Rookie Blue *
 * Scoundrels *
 * V

Not returning from 2008–09:
 * According to Jim
 * Boston Legal
 * Crash Course
 * Cupid
 * Dirty Sexy Money
 * Eli Stone
 * The Goode Family
 * Homeland Security USA
 * In the Motherhood
 * I Survived a Japanese Game Show
 * Life on Mars
 * Opportunity Knocks
 * Pushing Daisies
 * Samantha Who?
 * The Superstars
 * Surviving Suburbia
 * The Unusuals

CBS
Returning series:
 * 48 Hours
 * 60 Minutes
 * The Amazing Race
 * The Big Bang Theory
 * Cold Case
 * Criminal Minds
 * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
 * CSI: Miami
 * CSI: NY
 * Flashpoint
 * Gary Unmarried
 * Ghost Whisperer
 * How I Met Your Mother
 * Medium (moved from NBC)
 * The Mentalist
 * NCIS
 * The New Adventures of Old Christine
 * Numb3rs
 * Rules of Engagement
 * Survivor
 * Two and a Half Men

New series:
 * Accidentally on Purpose
 * Arranged Marriage
 * The Bridge *
 * The Good Wife
 * Miami Medical *
 * NCIS: Los Angeles
 * Three Rivers
 * Undercover Boss *

Not returning from 2008–09:
 * Eleventh Hour
 * The Ex List
 * Game Show in My Head
 * Harper's Island
 * Million Dollar Password
 * The Unit
 * Without a Trace
 * Worst Week

The CW
Returning series:
 * 90210
 * America's Next Top Model
 * Gossip Girl
 * Moonlight (only reruns, previously on CBS)
 * One Tree Hill
 * Smallville
 * Supernatural

New series:
 * 18 to Life *
 * The Beautiful Life: TBL
 * Blonde Charity Mafia (Canceled before airing any episodes)
 * Fly Girls *
 * High Society *
 * Life Unexpected *
 * Melrose Place
 * Plain Jane *
 * The Vampire Diaries

Not returning from 2008–09:
 * 13: Fear Is Real
 * 4Real
 * The CW Sunday Night Movie
 * Easy Money
 * Everybody Hates Chris
 * The Game (moved to BET in 2010)
 * In Harm's Way
 * Privileged
 * Reaper
 * Stylista
 * Valentine

Fox
Returning series:
 * 24
 * America's Most Wanted
 * American Dad!
 * American Idol
 * Bones
 * Cops
 * Dollhouse
 * Family Guy
 * Fringe
 * Hell's Kitchen
 * House
 * Kitchen Nightmares
 * Lie to Me
 * NFL on Fox
 * The OT
 * The Simpsons
 * So You Think You Can Dance
 * 'Til Death

New series:
 * Brothers
 * The Cleveland Show
 * Glee
 * The Good Guys *
 * Human Target *
 * MasterChef *
 * Past Life *
 * Sons of Tucson *

Not returning from 2008–09:
 * Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (returned for 2014–15)
 * Do Not Disturb
 * Don't Forget the Lyrics! (revived for 2021–22)
 * Hole in the Wall (moved to Cartoon Network)
 * King of the Hill (moved to syndication in 2010)
 * Mad TV (returning on The CW in 2016)
 * Mental
 * More to Love
 * Osbournes Reloaded
 * Prison Break (returned for 2016–17)
 * Secret Millionaire (moved to ABC in 2010–11)
 * Sit Down, Shut Up
 * Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

MyNetworkTV
Returning series:
 * Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? (first run syndication)
 * Magic's Biggest Secrets Revealed (repeats, airs in place of movies some weeks)
 * Deal or No Deal (first run syndication)
 * Law & Order: Criminal Intent (syndicated repeats)
 * My Thursday Night Movie (feature film repeats)
 * The Unit (syndicated repeats)
 * WWE SmackDown

New series:
 * None, due to MyNetworkTV's decision to air syndicated programming only

Not returning from 2008–09:
 * Celebrity Exposé
 * Comics Unleashed
 * Jail
 * Masters of Illusion
 * My Saturday Night Movie
 * Street Patrol
 * The Tony Rock Project
 * The Twilight Zone
 * Under One Roof
 * Vice Squad
 * Whacked Out Videos
 * World's Funniest Moments

NBC
Returning series:
 * 30 Rock
 * America's Got Talent
 * The Apprentice
 * The Biggest Loser
 * Chuck
 * Football Night in America
 * Heroes
 * Last Comic Standing
 * Law & Order
 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
 * NBC Sunday Night Football
 * The Office
 * Parks and Recreation
 * Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday

New series:
 * 100 Questions *
 * Community
 * The Jay Leno Show
 * Losing It with Jillian *
 * 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:
 * America's Toughest Jobs
 * The Chopping Block
 * Crusoe
 * Deal or No Deal (revived by CNBC in 2018)
 * ER
 * The Great American Road Trip
 * Howie Do It
 * I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
 * Kath & Kim
 * Kings
 * Knight Rider
 * Life
 * Lipstick Jungle
 * The Listener (moved to Ion Television in 2012–13)
 * Medium (moved to CBS)
 * Merlin (moved to Syfy)
 * Momma's Boys
 * My Name Is Earl
 * My Own Worst Enemy
 * The Philanthropist
 * Southland (moved to TNT)
 * Superstars of Dance

Full season pickups
ABC
 * Castle – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 20, 2009. An additional 2 episodes were ordered for a 24-episode season on January 27, 2010.
 * Cougar Town – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 8, 2009. An additional 2 episodes were ordered for a 24-episode season on January 6, 2010.
 * FlashForward – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 12, 2009. 3 additional episodes ordered later the same day for a 25-episode season.
 * The Forgotten – picked up for 5 additional episodes for an 18-episode season on November 10, 2009.
 * The Middle – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 8, 2009.
 * Modern Family – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 8, 2009.

CBS
 * Accidentally on Purpose – picked up for 5 additional episodes for an 18-episode season on November 3, 2009. Cancelled.
 * The Good Wife – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 7, 2009. One additional episode was later ordered for a 23-episode season.
 * NCIS: Los Angeles – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 7, 2009. An additional 2 episodes were picked up, making a 24-episode season on November 4, 2009.

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
 * Chuck – picked up for an additional 6 episodes, bringing the total to 19, on October 28, 2009.
 * Community – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 23, 2009. An additional 3 episodes were ordered January 20, 2010 for a 25-episode season.
 * Law & Order – picked up for an additional 3 episodes on January 20, 2010, for a 22-episode season.
 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – picked up for an additional 2 episodes on January 20, 2010, for a 25-episode season.
 * Mercy – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 23, 2009.
 * Parks and Recreation – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 23, 2009. An additional 3 episodes were ordered January 20, 2010 for a 25-episode season.
 * Trauma – picked up for an additional 3 episodes, bringing the total to 16, on November 19, 2009. An additional 4 episodes were ordered January 20, 2010 for a 20-episode season.

Renewals
ABC
 * Brothers & Sisters – Renewed for a fifth season on March 5, 2010.
 * Castle – Renewed for a third season on March 30, 2010.
 * Cougar Town – Renewed for a second season on January 12, 2010.
 * Desperate Housewives – Renewed for a seventh season on May 14, 2010.
 * Grey's Anatomy – Renewed for a seventh season on May 14, 2010.
 * The Middle – Renewed for a second season on January 12, 2010.
 * Modern Family – Renewed for a second season on January 12, 2010.
 * Private Practice – Renewed for a fourth season on May 14, 2010.
 * Rookie Blue – Renewed for a second season on July 12, 2010.
 * V – Renewed for a second season on May 13, 2010.

CBS
 * The Amazing Race – Renewed for a seventeenth season on January 25, 2010.
 * The Big Bang Theory – Renewed for two additional seasons in March 2009, running through its fourth season in 2010/11.
 * The Good Wife – Renewed for a second season on January 14, 2010.
 * How I Met Your Mother - Renewed for a sixth season on January 25, 2010.
 * The Mentalist – Renewed for a third season on May 19, 2010.
 * NCIS – Renewed for an eighth season on May 19, 2010.
 * NCIS: Los Angeles – Renewed for a second season on January 14, 2010.
 * Rules of Engagement – Renewed for a fifth season on May 18, 2010.
 * Survivor – Renewed for two additional installments on January 25, 2010.
 * Two and a Half Men – Renewed for three additional seasons in March 2009, running through its ninth season in 2011/12.
 * Undercover Boss – Renewed for a second season on March 9, 2010.

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! – Renewed for an additional season in October 2009, running through its sixth season in 2010/11.
 * Bones – Renewed for two additional seasons in May 2009, running through its sixth season in 2010/11.
 * The Cleveland Show – Renewed for an additional season in October 2009, running through its second season in 2010/11.
 * Family Guy – Renewed for a ninth season (airing 2010/11) prior to the 2009/10 season premiere.
 * Fringe – Renewed for a third season on March 6, 2010.
 * Glee – Renewed for a second season on January 11, 2010.
 * House – Renewed for a seventh season on May 17, 2010.
 * Human Target – Renewed for a second season on May 12, 2010.
 * Lie to Me – Renewed for a third season on May 12, 2010.
 * The Simpsons – Renewed for two additional seasons in February 2009, running through its twenty-second season in 2010/11.

NBC
 * 30 Rock – Renewed for a fifth season on March 5, 2010.
 * The Apprentice – Renewed for a tenth season on March 17, 2010.
 * Chuck – Renewed for a fourth season on May 13, 2010.
 * Community – Renewed for a second season on March 5, 2010.
 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – Renewed for a twelfth season on May 14, 2010.
 * The Marriage Ref – Renewed for a second season on April 5, 2010.
 * Minute to Win It – Renewed for a second season on April 5, 2010.
 * The Office – Renewed for a seventh season on March 5, 2010.
 * Parenthood – Renewed for a second season on April 20, 2010.
 * Parks and Recreation – Renewed for a third season on January 29, 2010
 * The Sing-Off – Renewed for a second season on February 28, 2010.
 * Who Do You Think You Are? – Renewed for a second season on April 5, 2010.

ABC

 * Better Off Ted – Canceled on May 13, 2010, after two seasons. ABC announced it would air the final two episodes in June 2010 if the 2010 NBA Finals did not require a seventh game, however a seventh game was played and the two episodes did not air on ABC.
 * The Deep End – Canceled on May 14, 2010.
 * Defying Gravity – Canceled due to low ratings during the summer.
 * Eastwick – Canceled on November 9, 2009.
 * FlashForward – Canceled on May 13, 2010.
 * The Forgotten – Canceled on May 18, 2010.
 * Hank – Canceled on November 11, 2009.
 * Happy Town – Canceled on May 18, 2010.
 * Lost – It was announced on January 19, 2010, that season six would be the final season. The series concluded on May 23, 2010.
 * Romantically Challenged – Canceled on May 13, 2010.
 * Scrubs – Canceled on May 13, 2010, after nine seasons. The series concluded on March 17, 2010
 * True Beauty – It was canceled with the last episode airing on July 19, 2010.
 * Ugly Betty – Canceled on April 14, 2010, after four seasons.

CBS

 * Accidentally On Purpose – Canceled on May 18, 2010.
 * Cold Case – Canceled on May 18, 2010, after seven seasons.
 * Gary Unmarried – Canceled on May 18, 2010, after two seasons.
 * Ghost Whisperer – Canceled on May 18, 2010, after five seasons.
 * Miami Medical – Canceled on May 18, 2010.
 * The New Adventures of Old Christine – Canceled on May 18, 2010, after five seasons.
 * Numb3rs – Canceled on May 18, 2010, after six seasons.
 * Three Rivers – Canceled on January 9, 2010.

The CW

 * The Beautiful Life: TBL – Canceled on September 25, 2009, after two low rated episodes. This is the first cancellation of the 2009–10 season. The remaining episodes aired on YouTube in December 2009.
 * Blonde Charity Mafia – Canceled on May 20, 2010.
 * Fly Girls – Canceled on May 20, 2010.
 * High Society – Canceled on May 20, 2010.
 * Hitched or Ditched – Canceled on May 20, 2010.
 * Melrose Place – Canceled on May 20, 2010.

Fox

 * 24 – It was announced on March 26, 2010, that season eight would be the final season. The series concluded on May 24, 2010. On May 13, 2013, it was announced that the series would return as a limited series, titled 24: Live Another Day in May 2014.
 * Brothers – Canceled on March 29, 2010.
 * Dollhouse – Canceled on November 11, 2009, after two seasons.
 * Past Life – Canceled after three episodes on February 19, 2010, due to low ratings.
 * Sons of Tucson – Canceled after four episodes on April 5, 2010, due to low ratings.
 * 'Til Death – Brad Garrett confirmed the show's cancellation on March 23, 2010.

MyNetworkTV

 * WWE SmackDown – Moved to Syfy in October 2010. The move leaves MyNetworkTV with no original programming.

NBC

 * Heroes – Canceled on May 14, 2010, after four seasons. It was returned as miniseries titled Heroes: Reborn in 2015.
 * The Jay Leno Show – Canceled on January 7, 2010. See the 2010 Tonight Show conflict.
 * Law & Order – Canceled on May 13, 2010, after twenty seasons (tying it with Gunsmoke as the longest-running primetime drama). The series concluded on May 24, 2010. On September 28, 2021, it was announced that the series would return for a twenty-first season.
 * Mercy – Canceled on May 14, 2010.
 * The Philanthropist – Canceled on October 21, 2009.
 * Southland – Canceled on October 8, 2009. The series moved to TNT in January 2010.
 * Trauma – Canceled on May 14, 2010.

Top weekly ratings

 * Data sources: AC Nielsen, TV by the Numbers