May 2020 is eight months removed from the September 2019 kickoff to the traditional broadcast TV season, but it feels like it's been eight years.
Below are the 14 highest-rated primetime series of a very memorable (much as we'd like to forget) and particularly front-loaded fall, winter and spring television season.
Could've been worse for these particular CBS, NBC, Fox and ABC series: Click here to find the lowest-rated shows of 2019-2020.
CBS
Rank: 11 (tie) Series: "NCIS" Network: CBS 18-49 rating: 1.7
But you should see the size of this procedural's (older) audience.
Also Read: Spock-Led ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Spinoff ‘Strange New Worlds’ Set at CBS All Access
Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC
Rank: 11 (tie) Series: "The Voice" (Mondays, performances) Network: NBC 18-49 rating: 1.7
No longer TV's highest-rated singing competition, but still TV's highest-rated *serious* singing competition.
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Photo by: Francisco Roman/NBC
Rank: 11 (tie) Series: "New Amsterdam" Network: NBC 18-49 rating: 1.7
Fairly McDreamy ratings, but not as high as "Grey's Anatomy."
Also Read: NBC Acquires Canadian Medical Drama ‘Transplant’
NBC
Rank: 11 (tie)Series: "Chicago Med" Network: NBC 18-49 rating: 1.7 O
"One Chicago" shows appear three times on this list.
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Fox
Rank: 10 Series: "9-1-1: Lone Star" Network: Fox 18-49 rating: 1.8
Rob Lowe drama is not "9-1-1," but it's certainly not "Almost Family," either.
Also Read: Here’s the Fall 2020 TV Schedule for Broadcast Networks – So Far
Ray Mickshaw/FOX
Rank: 7 (tie) Series: "Lego Masters" Network: Fox 18-49 rating: 1.9
It's good to follow "The Masked Singer." (Just don't rub these ratings in with the folks over at "After the Mask.")
Also Read: Univision Has Beaten Telemundo in TV Ratings for 28 Straight Seasons (at Least)
CBS
Rank: 7 (tie) Series: "Survivor" Network: CBS 18-49 rating: 1.9
CBS' highest-rated series among viewers 18-49 is not just surviving -- but thriving -- in its incredible 40th season.
Also Read: Why Discovery’s Lifestyle Boss Doesn’t Mind Poaching Viewers From Her Own Networks
Photo by: Elizabeth Morris
Rank: 7 (tie) Series: "Chicago Fire" Network: NBC 18-49 rating: 1.9
On fire.
Also Read: Summer TV: More Reruns, Half as Many Original Shows as Pandemic Shuffles Broadcast Networks’ Plans
Photo by: Matt Dinerstein/NBC
Rank: 6 Series: "Chicago P.D." Network: NBC 18-49 rating: 2.0
We're seriously running out of pithy things to say about Dick Wolf's Chicago-set dramas. Good ratings. There.
Also Read: TV Upfronts in the Coronavirus Era: Industry Braces for a Sluggish Ad Market
Fox
Rank: 5 Series: "9-1-1" Network: Fox 18-49 rating: 2.2
"9-1-1" is a Top 5 series, Top 3 if you're only counting scripted shows.
Also Read: When Will We Get This Fall’s Full TV Schedule? (Hint: Not This Week, as Previously Planned)
ABC
Rank: 4 Series: "Grey's Anatomy" Network: ABC 18-49 rating: 2.3
Still blue skies for "Grey's" in Season 16.
Also Read: All the Summer Broadcast TV Shows Completed Pre-Pandemic, From ‘Titan Games’ to ‘Agents of SHIELD’
ABC
Rank: 3 Series: "The Bachelor" Network: ABC 18-49 rating: 2.4
Certainly not to be confused with "The Bachelor: Listen to Your Heart." Oof.
Also Read: ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance’ Scores Record 5.6 Million Viewers
Photo by: Ron Batzdorff/NBC
Rank: 2 Series: "This Is Us" Network: NBC 18-49 rating: 2.9
This is the highest-rated scripted series on television.
Also Read: ‘Snowpiercer’ Premieres to 3.3 Million Viewers on TNT and TBS
Michael Becker / FOX. © 2020 FOX Media LLC.
Rank: 1 Series: "The Masked Singer" Network: Fox 18-49 rating: 3.1
Now the No. 1 show for two TV seasons in a row (by virtue of a tie with "This Is Us" last year), this impressive Nielsen average includes both Seasons 2 and 3 of the oddball reality competition.
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