2008–09 United States Network Television Schedule

The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2007–08 season. The schedule omits the Public Broadcasting Service (whose programming is listed here).

NBC was the first to announce its fall schedule on April 2, 2008, followed by ABC and The CW on May 13, CBS on May 14, Fox on May 15, and MyNetworkTV on May 22. The CW unveiled its Sunday lineup on May 27, 2008.

PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcasts times for network shows may vary.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows released in May 2009 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.

Notes:

• On Sundays, The CW programming begins at 6:30 p.m. (EST).
• CBS' Sunday Night primetime lineup is often delayed due to NFL on CBS game coverage running longer than scheduled, except in the Pacific and Mountain time zones, where the lineup airs as scheduled.
• The 7 p.m. hour on Fox features animated series reruns in the Pacific and Mountain time zones during the NFL season.

Notes:

• The Moment of Truth was originally scheduled to air Thursdays at 8:00 on Fox, but was instead shelved, effectively canceling it.

ABC

CBS

The CW

Fox

MyNetworkTV

NBC

Full-season pickups

ABC

• Private Practice—On October 22, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.
• Samantha Who?—On October 31, 2008, it received a full-season order, adding seven episodes.

CBS

• Gary Unmarried—On November 14, 2008, it was picked up for a full 22-episode season.
• The Mentalist—On October 15, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.

The CW

• 90210—On September 22, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.

Fox

• Fringe—On October 1, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order.
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles—On October 17, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order, despite its declining ratings this season.
• 'Til Death—Despite lower ratings, Fox ordered a fourth season of the show.

MyNetworkTV

• WWE SmackDown—The only program to carry over in the network's conversion to a programming service.^{[citation needed]}

NBC

• Chuck—On August 28, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order, one month before the new season even premiered.
• Knight Rider—On October 21, 2008, it was picked up for a full-season order, then on December 3, 2008, NBC cut the order down to 17.
• Kath & Kim—On October 31, 2008, was given a full-season order.
• Life—On November 7, 2008, NBC picked up Life for a full season.
• Howie Do It—Twelve additional episodes were ordered by NBC.

Renewals

ABC

• America's Funniest Home Videos—Renewed for twentieth season on April 23, 2009.
• Brothers & Sisters—Renewed for a fourth season on April 23, 2009.
• Castle—Renewed for a second season on May 15, 2009.
• Desperate Housewives—Renewed for a sixth season on April 23, 2009.
• Grey's Anatomy—Renewed for a sixth season on April 23, 2009.
• Private Practice—Renewed for a third season on April 23. 2009.
• Scrubs—Renewed for a ninth season on April 23, 2009.
• Shark Tank—Renewed for a second season in August 2009.

CBS

• The Amazing Race—Renewed for a fifteenth season on April 17, 2009.
• The Big Bang Theory—Renewed for a third and fourth season on March 18, 2009.
• Cold Case—Renewed for a seventh season.
• Criminal Minds—Renewed for a fifth season.
• CSI: Crime Scene Investigation—Renewed for a tenth season.
• CSI: Miami—Renewed for an eighth season.
• CSI: NY—Renewed for a sixth season.
• How I Met Your Mother—Renewed for a fifth season.
• Gary Unmarried—Renewed for a second season.
• Ghost Whisperer—Renewed for a fifth season on March 13, 2009.
• The Mentalist—Renewed for a second season.
• NCIS—Renewed for a seventh season.
• The New Adventures of Old Christine—Renewed for a fifth season.
• Numb3rs—Renewed for a sixth season.
• Rules of Engagement—Renewed for a fourth season.
• Survivor—Renewed for a nineteenth and twentieth season on March 1, 2009.
• Two and a Half Men—Renewed for a seventh, eighth and ninth season on March 18, 2009.

The CW

• 90210—Renewed for a second and third season on February 24, 2009.
• Gossip Girl—Renewed for a fourth season on February 24, 2009.
• One Tree Hill—Renewed for a seventh season on February 24, 2009.
• Smallville—Renewed for a ninth season.
• Supernatural—Renewed for a fifth season on February 24, 2009.

Fox

• 24—Renewed for an eighth and final season on May 16, 2007.
• American Dad!—Renewed for a fifth and sixth season on October 30, 2008.
• Bones—Renewed for a fifth and sixth season on May 16, 2009.
• Dollhouse—Renewed for a second season on May 15, 2009.
• Family Guy—Renewed for an eighth season on May 5, 2008.
• Fringe – Renewed for a second season on April 26, 2009.
• House—Renewed for a sixth season.
• Lie to Me—Renewed for a second season on May 13, 2009.
• Kitchen Nightmares—Renewed for third season on March 22, 2009.
• The Simpsons—Renewed for a twenty-first and twenty-second season on February 26, 2009.
• So You Think You Can Dance—Renewed for a sixth and seventh season on May 15, 2009.
• 'Til Death—Renewed for a fourth season on January 9, 2009.

NBC

• 30 Rock—Renewed for a fourth season on January 15, 2009.
• The Apprentice—Renewed for a ninth season.
• Chuck—Renewed for a third season on May 17, 2009.
• Heroes—Renewed for a fourth season on March 5, 2008.
• Law & Order—Renewed for a twentieth season.
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit—Renewed for an eleventh season on April 3, 2009.
• The Office—Renewed for a sixth season on January 15, 2009.
• Parks and Recreation—Renewed for a second season.

Cancellations/Series endings

ABC

• According to Jim—Canceled on May 19, 2009, after eight seasons. The series concluded on June 2, 2009.
• Boston Legal—It was announced on May 13, 2008 that season five would be the final season. The series concluded on December 8, 2008.
• Cupid —Canceled on May 18, 2009.
• Defying Gravity—Canceled on October 29, 2009.
• Dirty Sexy Money—Canceled on November 20, 2008.
• Eli Stone—Canceled on November 20, 2008.
• The Goode Family—Canceled on August 8, 2009.
• Homeland Security USA—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• In the Motherhood—Canceled on May 15, 2009.
• Just for Laughs—Canceled on April 7, 2010, after three seasons.
• Life on Mars—Canceled on March 3, 2009. The series concluded on April 1, 2009.
• Opportunity Knocks—Canceled on October 16, 2008.
• Pushing Daisies—Canceled on November 20, 2008.
• Samantha Who?—Canceled on May 18, 2009, after two seasons.
• Surviving Suburbia—Canceled on August 8, 2009.
• The Unusuals—Canceled on May 17, 2009.

CBS

• Eleventh Hour – Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Elite XC Saturday Night Fights – On October 20, Elite XC shut down operations, thus cancelling the show.
• The Ex List – This was the first new drama of the season cancelled. The series was replaced with repeats of CBS dramas and new episodes of The Price Is Right Primetime.
• Game Show in My Head – Due to declining ratings, CBS decided not to air any more episodes.
• Harper's Island Cancelled on July 14, 2009.
• Million Dollar Password – Canceled due to declining ratings.
• The Unit – Canceled on May 19, 2009, after four seasons.
• Worst Week – Canceled on May 20, 2009.
• Without a Trace – Canceled on May 19, 2009, after seven seasons.

The CW

• 13: Fear Is Real—Canceled on May 21, 2009.
• Easy Money—MRC canceled the series on November 16, 2008.
• Everybody Hates Chris—Chris Rock chose to end the series after four seasons.
• The Game—Canceled on May 20, 2009. Moved to BET in January 2011.
• In Harm's Way—The CW decided to get end the MRC Sunday night on November 23, 2008, effectively canceling the show.
• Privileged—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Reaper—Canceled on May 20, 2009, after two seasons.
• Stylista—Canceled on May 21, 2009.
• Valentine—Canceled on November 23, 2008.

Fox

• Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?—Fox has announced that the show will not be returning for another season in the fall. On November 6, 2014, it was announced that the series would return for a fourth season.
• Do Not Disturb—Canceled on September 25, 2008, marking the first cancellation of the season.
• Don't Forget the Lyrics!—Canceled on August 4, 2009, after two seasons. On April 28, 2021, it was announced that the series would return for a third season.
• Hole in the Wall—Pulled from the schedule and canceled on May 18, 2009, due to poor ratings. On July 20, 2010, It was announced that Cartoon Network would pick up the series for another season.
• King of the Hill—It was announced on October 30, 2008, that season thirteen would be the final season. The series concluded on September 13, 2009. The last four episodes were aired on syndication on May 3 to 6, 2010. On January 31, 2023, it was announced that a revival on Hulu was officially confirmed to be ordered.
• Mental—Canceled on March 9, 2010.
• More to Love—Canceled on March 9, 2010.
• Osbournes Reloaded—Canceled on May 18, 2009.
• Prison Break—It was announced on January 13, 2009, that season four would be the final season. The series concluded on May 15, 2009. On January 15, 2016, it was announced that the series would return for a fifth season.
• Secret Millionaire—Canceled on May 18, 2009. On September 10, 2009, it was announced that ABC would pick up the series for another season.
• Sit Down, Shut Up – Canceled on May 18, 2009.
• Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles—Canceled on May 18, 2009, after two seasons.

MyNetworkTV

The entire schedule of programs for MyNetworkTV except for WWE Smackdown did not pass on to the 2009/10 season due to the network's conversion to a programming service.

• Celebrity Exposé
• Comics Unleashed (syndicated program on MyNetworkTV's schedule)
• Jail
• Magic's Biggest Secrets Revealed
• Masters of Illusion
• My Saturday Night Movie (the network's time on Saturday nights was given back to local affiliates for their own purposes)
• Street Patrol
• The Tony Rock Project
• The Twilight Zone (repeats of 2002 UPN series)
• Under One Roof
• Vice Squad
• World's Funniest Moments

NBC

• America's Toughest Jobs—Canceled on March 13, 2009.
• The Chopping Block—Canceled on March 26, 2009.
• Crusoe—The series concluded on January 31, 2009.
• Deal or No Deal—Canceled on May 19, 2009. The syndicated version of the show got picked up by MyNetworkTV when it transitioned to a programming service.
• ER—It was announced on April 2, 2008 that season fifteen would be the final season. The series concluded on April 2, 2009.
• Howie Do It—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Kath & Kim—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Kings—Canceled on April 21, 2009.
• Knight Rider—Canceled on May 19, 2009.
• Life—Canceled on May 4, 2009, after two seasons.
• Lipstick Jungle—Canceled on March 28, 2009, after two seasons.
• The Listener—Pulled from the schedule on July 23, 2009, after 8 episodes.
• Medium—It was announced on May 19, 2009 that Medium will be moving to CBS next season.
• Merlin—Canceled during the summer due to declining ratings.
• Momma's Boys—Canceled on March 13, 2009.
• My Name Is Earl—Canceled on May 19, 2009, after four seasons.
• My Own Worst Enemy—Canceled on November 12, 2008. The series concluded on December 15, 2008.
• The Philanthropist—Canceled on October 20, 2009.
• Superstars of Dance—Canceled on May 19, 2009.

• 2008–09 Canadian network television schedule
• 2008–09 United States network television schedule (late night)
• 2008–09 United States network television schedule (overnight)

• Data sources: AC Nielsen, TV by the Numbers

Total Viewers

18-49 Viewers