2011–12 United States network television schedule

The 2011–12 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers prime time hours from September 2011 through August 2012. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2010–11 season.

NBC was the first to announce its fall schedule on May 15, 2011, followed by Fox on May 16, ABC on May 17, CBS on May 18 and The CW on May 19, 2011.

The CW was the first to announce their midseason schedule on November 2, 2011, followed by CBS and NBC on November 14, 2011, ABC on November 18, 2011 and Fox on December 1, 2011.

PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. MyNetworkTV is also not included since its programming comprises syndicated reruns, with limited original programming. The CW is not included on weekends, when it does not offer network programming. Ion Television primarily airs syndicated reruns, along with new episodes of Flashpoint.

New series are highlighted in bold.

All times are U.S. Eastern Time and Pacific Time (except for some live sports or events). Subtract one hour for Central and Mountain times.

From July 27 to August 12, 2012 all of NBC's primetime programming was preempted in favor of coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

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.

Light purple indicates movies.

Red indicates series being burned off and other regularly scheduled programs and including specials.

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

Cyan indicates the top-20 most watched programs of the season.

Magenta indicates the top-30 most watched programs of the season.

ABC
Returning series
 * 20/20
 * ABC Saturday Movie of the Week
 * America's Funniest Home Videos
 * The Bachelor
 * Bachelor Pad
 * The Bachelorette
 * Body of Proof
 * Castle
 * Cougar Town
 * Dancing with the Stars
 * Desperate Housewives
 * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
 * Grey's Anatomy
 * Happy Endings
 * The Middle
 * Modern Family
 * Primetime
 * Primetime: What Would You Do?
 * Private Practice
 * Saturday Night Football
 * Shark Tank
 * Wife Swap
 * Wipeout

New series
 * Charlie's Angels
 * Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 *
 * Duets *
 * Final Witness *
 * GCB *
 * The Glass House *
 * Last Man Standing
 * Man Up!
 * Missing *
 * NY Med *
 * Once Upon a Time
 * Pan Am
 * Revenge
 * The River *
 * Scandal *
 * Suburgatory
 * Trust Us with Your Life *
 * Work It *
 * You Deserve It

Not returning from 2010–11:
 * 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show
 * Better with You
 * Brothers & Sisters
 * Combat Hospital
 * Detroit 1-8-7
 * Expedition Impossible
 * Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
 * Mr. Sunshine
 * My Generation
 * No Ordinary Family
 * Off the Map
 * Skating with the Stars
 * Supernanny
 * Take the Money and Run
 * V
 * The Whole Truth

CBS
Returning series
 * 48 Hours
 * 60 Minutes
 * The Amazing Race
 * The Big Bang Theory
 * Blue Bloods
 * Criminal Minds
 * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
 * CSI: Miami
 * CSI: NY
 * The Good Wife
 * Hawaii Five-0
 * How I Met Your Mother
 * The Mentalist
 * Mike & Molly
 * NCIS
 * NCIS: Los Angeles
 * Rules of Engagement
 * Survivor
 * Two and a Half Men
 * Undercover Boss

New series
 * 2 Broke Girls
 * 3 *
 * Dogs in the City *
 * A Gifted Man
 * How to Be a Gentleman
 * NYC 22 *
 * Person of Interest
 * ¡Rob! *
 * Unforgettable

Not returning from 2010–11:
 * $#*! My Dad Says
 * CHAOS
 * Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
 * The Defenders
 * Flashpoint (moved to Ion Television)
 * Live to Dance
 * Mad Love
 * Medium

The CW
Returning series
 * 90210
 * America's Next Top Model
 * Gossip Girl
 * Nikita
 * One Tree Hill
 * Supernatural
 * The Vampire Diaries

New series
 * Breaking Pointe *
 * The Catalina *
 * H8R
 * Hart of Dixie
 * The L.A. Complex *
 * The Next: Fame Is at Your Doorstep *
 * Oh Sit! *
 * Remodeled *
 * Ringer
 * The Secret Circle

Not returning from 2010–11:
 * Hellcats
 * Life Unexpected
 * Shedding for the Wedding
 * Smallville

Fox
Returning series
 * American Dad!
 * American Idol
 * Bob's Burgers
 * Bones
 * Breaking In
 * The Cleveland Show
 * Cops
 * Family Guy
 * Fringe
 * Glee
 * Hell's Kitchen
 * House
 * Kitchen Nightmares
 * MasterChef
 * Mobbed
 * NFL on Fox
 * Raising Hope
 * The Simpsons
 * So You Think You Can Dance

New series
 * Alcatraz *
 * Allen Gregory *
 * Baseball Night in America *
 * The Choice *
 * The Finder *
 * I Hate My Teenage Daughter
 * Hotel Hell *
 * Napoleon Dynamite *
 * New Girl
 * Q'Viva! The Chosen *
 * Take Me Out *
 * Terra Nova
 * Touch *
 * The X Factor

Not returning from 2010–11:
 * America's Most Wanted (moved to Lifetime; returned to Fox in 2020–21)
 * The Chicago Code
 * The Good Guys
 * Human Target
 * Lie to Me
 * Lone Star
 * Million Dollar Money Drop
 * Running Wilde (burned off on FX)
 * Traffic Light

NBC
Returning series
 * 30 Rock
 * The Apprentice
 * The Biggest Loser
 * Chuck
 * Community
 * Dateline NBC
 * Fear Factor
 * Football Night in America
 * Harry's Law
 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
 * Love in the Wild
 * NBC Sunday Night Football
 * The Office
 * Parenthood
 * Parks and Recreation
 * The Sing-Off
 * The Voice
 * Who Do You Think You Are?

New series
 * Are You There, Chelsea? *
 * Awake *
 * Bent *
 * Best Friends Forever *
 * Betty White's Off Their Rockers *
 * Escape Routes *
 * Fashion Star *
 * The Firm *
 * Free Agents
 * Grimm
 * Maid in Manhattan
 * The Playboy Club
 * Prime Suspect
 * Rock Center with Brian Williams
 * Smash *
 * Stars Earn Stripes *
 * Up All Night
 * Whitney
 * Who's Still Standing?

Not returning from 2010–11:
 * America's Next Great Restaurant
 * The Cape (burned off on NBC.com)
 * Chase
 * The Event
 * Law & Order: LA
 * Outlaw
 * Outsourced
 * The Paul Reiser Show
 * Perfect Couples
 * School Pride
 * Undercovers

ABC

 * Happy Endings—Picked up for a full season on November 3, 2011.
 * Last Man Standing—Picked up for a full season on November 3, 2011.
 * Once Upon a Time—Picked up for a full season on November 3, 2011.
 * Revenge—Picked up for a full season on October 13, 2011.
 * Shark Tank—Picked up two additional episodes, totaling to 15 episodes on February 28, 2012.
 * Suburgatory—Picked up for a full season on October 13, 2011.

CBS

 * 2 Broke Girls—Picked up for a full season on October 5, 2011.
 * Person of Interest—Picked up for a full season on October 25, 2011.
 * Unforgettable—Picked up for a full season on October 25, 2011.

The CW

 * Hart of Dixie—Picked up for a full season on October 12, 2011.
 * Ringer—Picked up for a full season on October 12, 2011.
 * The Secret Circle—Picked up for a full season on October 12, 2011.

Fox

 * New Girl—Picked up for 24 episodes on September 28, 2011.

NBC

 * Grimm—Picked up for a full season on November 21, 2011.
 * Harry's Law—Picked up for a full season on January 6, 2012.
 * Up All Night—Picked up for a full season on October 4, 2011, plus an additional 2 episodes on November 21, 2011.
 * Whitney—Picked up for a full season on October 4, 2011.

ABC

 * 20/20—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a thirty-fifth season on May 15, 2012.
 * America's Funniest Home Videos—Picked up for a twenty-third season on May 11, 2012.
 * The Bachelor—Picked up for a seventeenth cycle on May 10, 2012.
 * Body of Proof—Picked up for a third season on May 11, 2012.
 * Castle—Picked up for a fifth season on May 10, 2012.
 * Dancing with the Stars—Picked up for a fifteenth cycle on May 10, 2012.
 * Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23—Picked up for a second season on May 11, 2012.
 * Grey's Anatomy—Picked up for a ninth season on May 10, 2012.
 * Happy Endings—Picked up for a third season on May 11, 2012.
 * Last Man Standing—Picked up for a second season on May 11, 2012.
 * The Middle—Picked up for a fourth season on May 10, 2012.
 * Modern Family—Picked up for a fourth season on May 10, 2012.
 * Once Upon a Time—Picked up for a second season on May 10, 2012.
 * Primetime—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a twenty-fourth season on May 15, 2012.
 * Private Practice—Picked up for a sixth and final season on May 11, 2012.
 * Revenge—Picked up for a second season on May 10, 2012.
 * Saturday Night Football—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a seventh season on May 15, 2012.
 * Scandal—Picked up for a second season on May 11, 2012.
 * Shark Tank—Picked up for a fourth season on May 10, 2012.
 * Suburgatory—Picked up for a second season on May 10, 2012.
 * Wife Swap—Picked up for an eighth season on May 11, 2012.

CBS

 * 2 Broke Girls—Picked up for a second season on March 14, 2012.
 * 48 Hours—Picked up for a twenty-fifth season on March 14, 2012.
 * 60 Minutes—Picked up for a forty-fifth season on March 14, 2012.
 * The Amazing Race—Picked up for a twenty-first cycle on March 14, 2012.
 * The Big Bang Theory—Picked up for two additional seasons on January 12, 2011, running through its seventh season in 2013/14.
 * Blue Bloods—Picked up for a third season on March 14, 2012.
 * Criminal Minds—Picked up for an eighth season on March 14, 2012.
 * CSI: Crime Scene Investigation—Picked up for a thirteenth season on March 14, 2012.
 * CSI: NY—Picked up for a ninth season on May 13, 2012.
 * The Good Wife—Picked up for a fourth season on March 14, 2012.
 * Hawaii Five-0—Picked up for a third season on March 14, 2012.
 * How I Met Your Mother—Picked up for an eighth season on March 4, 2011.
 * The Mentalist—Picked up for a fifth season on March 14, 2012.
 * Mike & Molly—Picked up for a third season on March 14, 2012.
 * NCIS—Picked up for a tenth season on March 14, 2012.
 * NCIS: Los Angeles—Picked up for a fourth season on March 14, 2012.
 * Person of Interest—Picked up for a second season on March 14, 2012.
 * Rules of Engagement—Picked up for a seventh season on May 21, 2012.
 * Survivor—Picked up for two more cycles in the 2012/13 season on November 17, 2011.
 * Two and a Half Men—Picked up for a tenth season on May 12, 2012, which is fully recovered from the firing of star Charlie Sheen.
 * Undercover Boss—Picked up for a fourth season on March 14, 2012.
 * Unforgettable—Revived for a second season on June 29, 2012.

The CW

 * 90210—Picked up for a fifth season on May 3, 2012.
 * America's Next Top Model—Picked up for a nineteenth cycle on February 21, 2012.
 * Gossip Girl—Picked up for a sixth and final season on May 11, 2012.
 * Hart of Dixie—Picked up for a second season on May 11, 2012.
 * Nikita—Picked up for a third season on May 11, 2012.
 * Supernatural—Picked up for an eighth season on May 3, 2012.
 * The Vampire Diaries—Picked up for a fourth season on May 3, 2012.

Fox

 * American Dad!—Picked up for a seventh production cycle on February 23, 2011.
 * American Idol—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a twelfth season on May 14, 2012.
 * Bob's Burgers—On October 31, 2011, Fox ordered 9 additional episodes to the second production cycle, leaving some episodes out, airing in the 2012/13 season.
 * Bones—Picked up for an eighth season on March 29, 2012.
 * The Cleveland Show—Picked up for a fourth season on May 9, 2011.
 * Family Guy—Picked up for an eleventh season on May 9, 2011.
 * Fringe—Picked up for a fifth and final season on April 26, 2012.
 * Glee—Picked up for a fourth season on April 9, 2012.
 * Kitchen Nightmares—Picked up for a fifth production cycle on February 2, 2012.
 * Mobbed—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for more specials on May 14, 2012.
 * New Girl—Picked up for a second season on April 9, 2012.
 * Raising Hope—Picked up for a third season on April 9, 2012.
 * The Simpsons—Picked up for a twenty-third production cycle on November 11, 2010, plus an additional extension through its twenty-fifth production cycle in 2013/14.
 * Touch—Picked up for a second season on May 9, 2012.
 * The X Factor—Picked up for a second season on November 2, 2011.

Ion Television

 * Flashpoint—Picked up for a fifth season on January 3, 2012.

NBC

 * 30 Rock—Picked up for a seventh and final season on May 10, 2012.
 * The Apprentice—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a thirteenth cycle on May 13, 2012.
 * Betty White's Off Their Rockers—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a second season on May 13, 2012.
 * The Biggest Loser—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a fourteenth cycle on May 13, 2012.
 * Community—Picked up for a fourth season on May 10, 2012.
 * Dateline NBC—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a twenty-second season on May 13, 2012.
 * Fashion Star—Picked up for a second season on May 11, 2012.
 * Football Night in America—On August 19, 2009, NBC announced they will extend NFL on NBC through 2013, plus an additional extension through 2022 on December 14, 2011.
 * Grimm—Picked up for a second season on March 16, 2012.
 * Law & Order: Special Victims Unit—Picked up for a fourteenth season on May 9, 2012.
 * NBC Sunday Night Football—On August 19, 2009, NBC announced they will extend NFL on NBC through 2013, plus an additional extension through 2022 on December 14, 2011.
 * The Office—Picked up for a ninth and final season on May 11, 2012.
 * Parenthood—Picked up for a fourth season on May 10, 2012.
 * Parks and Recreation—Picked up for a fifth season on May 11, 2012.
 * Rock Center with Brian Williams—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a second season on May 13, 2012.
 * Smash—Picked up for a second season on March 22, 2012.
 * Up All Night—Picked up for a second season on May 11, 2012.
 * The Voice—Announced on the 2012/13 schedule for a third season on May 13, 2012.
 * Whitney—Picked up for a second season on May 11, 2012.

ABC

 * Bachelor Pad—It was announced on March 16, 2013 that would not pick for the fourth season.
 * Charlie's Angels—Canceled on October 14, 2011 after seven low rated episodes. The remaining episodes aired through November 10, 2011.
 * Cougar Town—It was announced on May 10, 2012 that TBS would carry future seasons of the series, ending its run on ABC.
 * Desperate Housewives—It was announced on August 5, 2011 that season eight would be the final season. The series concluded on May 13, 2012.
 * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition—Canceled as a regular series on December 15, 2011. The series finale aired on January 13, 2012. Moved to HGTV in 2020. On June 7, 2023, the series moved from HGTV to ABC.
 * GCB—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * Man Up!—Canceled on December 8, 2011 after eight low rated episodes. The 5 remaining episodes were moved to ABC's online website.
 * Missing—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * Pan Am—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * The River—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * Work It—Canceled on January 13, 2012 due to low ratings, harsh reviews and controversy after airing only 2 episodes.
 * You Deserve It—Canceled on May 15, 2012.

CBS

 * CSI: Miami—Canceled on May 13, 2012 after ten seasons. The series was credited as a key player in the network's ratings rise. This is the first CSI series to be canceled.
 * A Gifted Man—Canceled on May 12, 2012.
 * How to Be a Gentleman—Canceled, cut back from 13 episodes to 9 episodes, and changed the airdate from Thursdays to Saturdays for the remaining episodes on October 7, 2011 after only 2 episodes airing. The series was later pulled from Saturdays on October 18, 2011 after only one episode airing on Saturday.
 * NYC 22—Canceled on May 13, 2012.
 * Rob—Canceled on May 13, 2012.

The CW

 * H8R—Canceled on October 6, 2011 after four low rated episodes.
 * One Tree Hill—It was announced on May 19, 2011 that season nine would be the final season. The series concluded on April 4, 2012.
 * Remodeled—Canceled on February 9, 2012 after four low rated episodes. The remaining episodes aired through between February 22; and the last two episodes were August 13 and 20, 2012.
 * Ringer—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * The Secret Circle—Canceled on May 11, 2012.

Fox

 * Alcatraz—Canceled on May 9, 2012.
 * Allen Gregory—Canceled on January 8, 2012.
 * Breaking In—Officially canceled on May 10, 2012.
 * The Finder—Canceled on May 9, 2012.
 * House—It was announced on February 8, 2012 that season eight would be the final season. The series concluded on May 21, 2012.
 * I Hate My Teenage Daughter—Canceled on May 10, 2012.
 * Napoleon Dynamite—Canceled on May 14, 2012.
 * Q'Viva! The Chosen—Canceled on May 14, 2012.
 * Terra Nova—Canceled on March 5, 2012, but being shopped to other networks.

NBC

 * Are You There, Chelsea?—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * Awake—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * Bent—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * Best Friends Forever—Canceled on May 11, 2012.
 * Chuck—It was announced on May 15, 2011 that season five would be the final season. The series concluded on January 27, 2012.
 * Escape Routes—Canceled on May 13, 2012.
 * Fear Factor—Canceled on May 13, 2012. Was revived for MTV in May 2017.
 * The Firm—Canceled on May 13, 2012.
 * Free Agents—Canceled on October 6, 2011 after four low rated episodes.
 * Harry's Law—Canceled on May 11, 2012 after two seasons.
 * The Playboy Club—Canceled on October 4, 2011 after three low rated episodes.  This was the first cancellation of the season.
 * Prime Suspect—Canceled on January 5, 2012.
 * The Sing-Off—Canceled on May 13, 2012. Renewed for a fourth season on March 14, 2013.
 * Who Do You Think You Are?—Canceled on May 13, 2012. Moved to TLC in July 2013. The series later returned to NBC in the 2021-22 schedule.
 * Who's Still Standing?—Canceled on May 13, 2012.

Top weekly ratings

 * Data sources: AC Nielsen, TV by the Numbers