| Rank |
Series |
Number of Viewers
(in millions) |
Percent of Households |
Share |
Date |
Network |
| 1 |
M*A*S*H |
105.9 |
60.2% |
77% |
February 28, 1983 |
CBS |
| 2 |
Cheers |
80.4 |
45.5% |
64% |
May 20, 1993 |
NBC |
| 3 |
Friends |
52.5 |
29.8% |
43% |
2004 |
NBC |
| 5 |
Magnum, P.I. |
50.7 |
32.0% |
48% |
May 1, 1988 |
CBS |
| 6 |
The Tonight Show
Starring Johnny Carson |
50.0 |
? |
? |
May 22, 1992 |
NBC |
| 7 |
The Cosby Show |
44.4 |
28.0% |
45% |
April 30, 1992 |
NBC |
| 8 |
Family Ties |
36.3 |
20.8% |
35% |
May 14, 1989 |
NBC |
| 10 |
Home Improvement |
35.5 |
21.6% |
34% |
May 25, 1999 |
ABC |
| 11 |
Dallas |
33.3 |
22.0% |
38% |
May 3, 1991 |
CBS |
| 12 |
Everybody Loves Raymond |
32.9 |
20.2% |
29% |
May 16, 2005 |
CBS |
| 13 |
Gunsmoke |
30.9 |
? |
? |
March 31, 1975 |
CBS |
| 14 |
The Fugitive |
30.0 |
45.9% |
72% |
August 29, 1967 |
ABC |
| 15 |
Newhart |
29.5 |
18.7% |
29% |
1May 21, 1990 |
CBS |
| 16 |
Star Trek: The Next Generation |
27.8 |
20% |
34% |
May 23, 1994 |
Syndication |
| 17 |
The Golden Girls |
27.2 |
18.9% |
38% |
May 9, 1992 |
NBC |
| 18 |
Frasier |
25.2 |
16.3% |
25% |
May 13, 2004 |
NBC |
| 19 |
Night Court |
24.6 |
16.5% |
26% |
May 13, 1992 |
NBC |
| 20 |
Full House |
24.3 |
14.6% |
25% |
May 23, 1995 |
ABC |
| 21 |
St. Elsewhere |
22.5 |
? |
? |
May 25, 1988 |
NBC |
| 22 |
MacGyver |
22.3 |
13.8% |
26% |
May 21, 1992 |
ABC |
| 23 |
Miami Vice |
22.2 |
14.7% |
23% |
May 21, 1989 |
NBC |
| 24 |
L.A. Law |
22.1 |
15.9% |
27% |
May 19, 1994 |
NBC |
| 25 |
ALF |
21.7 |
13.1% |
24% |
March 24, 1990 |
NBC |
| 26 |
Growing Pains |
21.1 |
13.3% |
24% |
April 25, 1992 |
ABC |
| 27 |
The Wonder Years |
21.0 |
13.9% |
23% |
May 12, 1993 |
ABC |
| 28 |
Quantum Leap |
20.6 |
13.7% |
23% |
1May 5, 1993 |
NBC |
| 29 |
Who's the Boss? |
20.5 |
12.7% |
24% |
April 25, 1992 |
ABC |
| 30 |
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air |
19.9 |
13.1% |
22% |
May 20, 1996 |
NBC |
| 31 |
Mad About You |
19.8 |
13.6% |
20% |
May 24, 1999 |
NBC |
| 32 |
Knots Landing |
19.6 |
13.9% |
22% |
May 13, 1993 |
CBS |
| 33 |
Bonanza |
19.3 |
? |
? |
January 16, 1973 |
NBC |
| 34 |
Designing Women |
18.8 |
14.2% |
22% |
May 24, 1993 |
CBS |
| 35 |
Matlock |
18.7 |
13.2% |
20% |
May 7, 1995 |
ABC |
| 36 |
Will & Grace |
18.4 |
11.7% |
18% |
May 18, 2006 |
NBC |
| 37 |
The Facts of Life |
18.2 |
13.2% |
29% |
May 7, 1988 |
NBC |
| 38 |
Jake and the Fatman |
18.1 |
12.9% |
20% |
May 6, 1992 |
CBS |
| 39 |
Major Dad |
17.9 |
12.6% |
20% |
April 16, 1993 |
CBS |
| 40 |
Murphy Brown |
17.5 |
12.3% |
19% |
May 18, 1998 |
CBS |
| 41 |
Roseanne |
16.6 |
11.6% |
19% |
May 20, 1997 |
ABC |
| 42 |
Murder, She Wrote |
16.5 |
12.3% |
21% |
May 19, 1996 |
CBS |
| 43 |
ER |
16.4 |
10.4% |
17% |
April 2, 2009 |
NBC |
| 44 |
NYPD Blue |
16.1 |
10.4% |
17% |
March 1, 2005 |
ABC |
| 44 |
Miami Vice |
16.1 |
11.0% |
21% |
June 28, 1989 |
NBC |
| 46 |
Married... with Children |
15.2 |
10.0% |
16% |
1May 5, 1997 |
Fox |
| 47 |
In the Heat of the Night |
15.0 |
10.9% |
17% |
May 16, 1995 |
CBS |
| 48 |
Kate & Allie |
14.9 |
11.9% |
20% |
May 22, 1989 |
CBS |
| 49 |
Dynasty |
14.7 |
10.8% |
17% |
May 11, 1989 |
ABC |
| 50 |
Monday Night Football |
14.4 |
9.2% |
16% |
December 26, 2005 |
ABC |
| 50 |
Beverly Hills, 90210 |
14.4 |
9.6% |
15% |
May 17, 2000 |
Fox |
| 52 |
Wings |
14.2 |
10.2% |
16% |
May 21, 1997 |
NBC |
| 53 |
JAG |
14.0 |
9.0% |
15% |
April 29, 2005 |
CBS |
| 54 |
Mr. Belvedere |
13.8 |
8.5% |
16% |
July 8, 1990 |
ABC |
| 55 |
Evening Shade |
13.5 |
9.6% |
15% |
May 23, 1994 |
CBS |
| 55 |
The King of Queens |
13.5 |
8.8% |
13% |
May 14, 2007 |
CBS |
| 57 |
Doogie Howser, M.D. |
13.4 |
9.2% |
14% |
March 24, 1993 |
ABC |
| 58 |
Providence |
13.3 |
9.0% |
16% |
December 20, 2002 |
NBC |
| 59 |
Life Goes On |
13.2 |
8.9% |
17% |
May 23, 1993 |
ABC |
| 59 |
he X-Files |
13.2 |
7.9% |
12% |
May 19, 2002 |
FOX |
| 61 |
Coach |
13.1 |
9.3% |
16% |
May 14, 1997 |
ABC |
| 62 |
Touched by an Angel |
12.9 |
8.9% |
15% |
April 27, 2003 |
CBS |
| 62 |
Amen |
12.9 |
8.3% |
19% |
May 11, 1991 |
NBC |
| 64 |
Falcon Crest |
12.3 |
9.3% |
15% |
May 17, 1990 |
CBS |
| 65 |
a href="/3rdRockFromTheSun.html">3rd Rock from the Sun |
11.9 |
7.9% |
13% |
May 22, 2001 |
NBC |
| 65 |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno |
11.9 |
? |
? |
May 29, 2009 |
NBC |
| 65 |
The Sopranos |
11.9 |
? |
? |
June 10, 2007 |
HBO |
| 68 |
Empty Nest |
11.6 |
8.7% |
17% |
April 29, 1995 |
NBC |
| 69 |
Ally McBeal |
11.5 |
7.5% |
11% |
May 20, 2002 |
Fox |
| 70 |
Homicide: Life on the Street |
11.4 |
8.4% |
15% |
May 21, 1999 |
NBC |
| 71 |
Without a Trace |
11.2 |
7.3% |
12% |
May 19, 2009 |
CBS |
| 72 |
The Nanny |
11.1 |
8.1% |
14% |
May 12, 1999 |
CBS |
| 72 |
Picket Fences |
11.1 |
8.2% |
14% |
April 24, 1996 |
CBS |
| 74 |
The Practice |
10.9 |
7.5% |
13% |
May 16, 2004 |
ABC |
| 75 |
Walker, Texas Ranger |
10.8 |
6.8% |
13% |
May 19, 2001 |
CBS |
| 75 |
Judging Amy |
10.8 |
7.6% |
12% |
May 3, 2005 |
CBS |
| 77 |
Sex and the City |
10.6 |
? |
? |
February 22, 2004 |
HBO |
| 77 |
Becker |
10.6 |
7.3% |
11% |
January 28, 2004 |
CBS |
| 79 |
Grace Under Fire |
10.5 |
7.4% |
11% |
1February 17, 1998 |
ABC |
| 79 |
Highway to Heaven |
10.5 |
7.1% |
16% |
August 4, 1989 |
NBC |
| 81 |
Melrose Place |
10.4 |
7.3% |
12% |
May 24, 1999 |
Fox |
| 82 |
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman |
10.2 |
6.7% |
15% |
May 16, 1998 |
CBS |
| 83 |
Sisters |
10.1 |
7.1% |
14% |
May 4, 1996 |
NBC |
| 83 |
The West Wing |
10.1 |
6.2% |
10% |
May 14, 2006 |
NBC |
| 85 |
That '70s Show |
10.0 |
6.0% |
10% |
May 18, 2006 |
Fox |
| 85 |
Boy Meets World |
10.0 |
6.1% |
12% |
May 5, 2000 |
ABC |
| 87 |
Boston Legal |
9.9 |
6.2% |
10% |
December 8, 2008 |
ABC |
| 87 |
Ellen |
9.9 |
7.1% |
11% |
1May 13, 1998 |
ABC |
| 89 |
The Unit |
9.6 |
5.8% |
10% |
May 10, 2009 |
CBS |
| 90 |
A Different World |
9.3 |
6.6% |
14% |
May 8, 1993 |
NBC |
| 91 |
Nash Bridges |
9.1 |
6.3% |
12% |
May 4, 2001 |
CBS |
| 92 |
The Pretender |
9.0 |
6.2% |
12% |
May 13, <2000 |
NBC |
| 92 |
Third Watch |
9.0 |
6.1% |
11% |
May 6, 2005 |
NBC |
| 94 |
Star Trek: Voyager |
8.8 |
5.5% |
9% |
May 23, 2001 |
UPN |
| 95 |
Martin |
8.6 |
5.8% |
11% |
May 1, 1997 |
Fox |
| 95 |
NewsRadio |
8.6 |
6.5% |
11% |
May 4, 1999 |
NBC |
| 95 |
Moonlighting |
8.6 |
5.7% |
10% |
May 14, 1989 |
ABC |
| 98 |
Ed |
8.2 |
5.8% |
10% |
February 6, 2004 |
NBC |
| 99 |
Caroline in the City |
8.1 |
6.3% |
10% |
April 26, 1999 |
NBC |
| 100 |
Las Vegas |
8.0 |
5.0% |
9% |
February 15, 2008 |
NBC |
| 101 |
Cosby |
7.9 |
5.2% |
10% |
April 28, 2000 |
CBS |
| 102 |
227 |
7.5 |
5.0% |
8% |
May 6, 1990 |
NBC |
| 102 |
Chicago Hope |
7.5 |
5.8% |
9% |
May 4, 2000 |
CBS |
| 104 |
Malcolm in the Middle |
7.4 |
4.3% |
7% |
May 14, 2006 |
Fox |
| 105 |
Dawson's Creek |
7.3 |
4.8% |
7% |
May 14, 2003 |
WB |
| 106 |
Profiler |
7.2 |
5.2% |
10% |
May 6, 2000 |
NBC |
| 107 |
Spin City |
6.9 |
4.8% |
7% |
April 30, 2002 |
ABC |
| 108 |
Alias |
6.7 |
4.5% |
7% |
May 22, 2006 |
ABC |
| 108 |
Dharma & Greg |
6.7 |
4.7% |
8% |
April 30, 2002 |
ABC |
| 110 |
The O.C. |
6.6 |
4.2% |
6% |
February 22, 2007 |
Fox |
| 110 |
Diagnosis Murder |
6.6 |
4.9% |
10% |
May 11, 2001 |
CBS |
| 112 |
Party of Five |
6.5 |
4.8% |
8% |
May 3, 2000 |
Fox |
| 112 |
Yes, Dear |
6.5 |
4.4% |
6% |
February 15, 2006 |
CBS |
| 112 |
Living Single |
6.5 |
4.5% |
7% |
January 1, 1998 |
Fox |
| 115 |
Crossing Jordan |
6.4 |
4.3% |
7% |
May 16, 2007 |
NBC |
| 116 |
Step by Step |
6.3 |
4.3% |
8% |
June 26, 1998 |
CBS |
| 117 |
My Wife and Kids |
5.9 |
4.2% |
7% |
May 17, 2005 |
ABC |
| 118 |
The Drew Carey Show |
5.4 |
3.7% |
6% |
September 8, 2004 |
ABC |
| 119 |
Angel |
5.3 |
3.3% |
5% |
May 19, 2004 |
WB |
| 120 |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
4.9 |
2.9% |
5% |
May 20, 2003 |
UPN |
| 120 |
Gilmore Girls |
4.9 |
3.1% |
5% |
May 15, 2007 |
CW |
| 122 |
My Name Is Earl |
4.8 |
3.2% |
6% |
May 14, 2009 |
NBC |
| 123 |
Sister, Sister |
4.7 |
3.3% |
6% |
May 23, 1999 |
WB |
| 124 |
George Lopez |
4.6 |
3.1% |
5% |
May 8, 2007 |
ABC |
| 125 |
Charmed |
4.5 |
2.8% |
5% |
May 21, 2006 |
WB |
| 126 |
The Parkers |
4.4 |
2.8% |
5% |
May 10, 2004 |
UPN |
The most-watched finale is not necessarily a show's most-watched episode.
(Sources: WikiPedia, Reuters, Variety, Nielsen Media Research, ratings data from USA Today weekly ratings charts)
|
Show Ratings 
