1997–98 United States network television schedule explained

The following is the 1997–98 network television schedule for the six major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 1997 through August 1998. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 1996–97 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.

New series highlighted in bold.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.[1] and [2]

Yellow indicates the programs in the top 10 for the season.

Cyan indicates the programs in the top 20 for the season.

Magenta indicates the programs in the top 30 for the season.Other Legend

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

From February 7 to 22, 1998, all of CBS' primetime programming was preempted in favor of coverage of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

For new series debuting during the season, it would ultimately prove to be one of the weakest seasons in American television history, as only ten shows would be picked up for a second season. Of those ten shows, only five (Dharma & Greg, Two Guys and a Girl, Ally McBeal, For Your Love and Dawson's Creek) would last beyond three seasons, and would all end their runs within six seasons.

For its tenth and final season, onetime CBS powerhouse Murphy Brown was moved from its lifelong home of Monday nights to Wednesday, where it lost a significant number of viewers. For its last block of episodes in the spring, the show was put back into the familiar timeslot that it had once used to anchor the CBS Monday night lineup.

Sunday

Network7:00 p.m.7:30 p.m.8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCThe Wonderful World of DisneyThe ABC Sunday Night Movie
CBS60 Minutes Touched by an Angel CBS Sunday Movie
FoxFallThe World's Funniest!The Simpsons King of the Hill The X-Files Local programming
WinterDamon
SpringKing of the Hill
NBCFallDateline SundayMen Behaving BadlyJennyNBC Sunday Night Movie
WinterDateline Sunday
SummerFrasier Working Law & Order
Mid-summer NBC Sunday Night Movie
The WBFallThe Parent 'HoodThe Jamie Foxx ShowUnhappily Ever AfterThe Tom ShowAlright AlreadyLocal programming
Mid-fallThe Tom ShowUnhappily Ever After
WinterThe Tom ShowThe Parent 'HoodThe Jamie Foxx Show
SpringThe Parent 'Hood Sister, Sister
Mid-springThe Parent 'Hood Kelly Kelly
Early summer The Parent 'Hood
SummerThe Parent 'Hood Smart Guy The Steve Harvey Show

Monday

Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCFallTimecopMonday Night Football
Mid-fallSpecial programming
WinterAmerica's Funniest Home Videos20/20 The Practice
CBSFallCosby Everybody Loves Raymond CybillGeorge and LeoBrooklyn South
WinterGeorge and LeoStyle & Substance
Late winterThe CloserGeorge and Leo
SpringMurphy Brown
Late springCybillGeorge and Leo Michael Hayes
SummerEverybody Loves Raymond Murphy Brown 48 Hours
FoxFallMelrose PlaceAlly McBealLocal programming
SpringDamonGetting Personal
SummerMelrose Place
NBCFallSuddenly SusanFired UpCaroline in the CityThe Naked TruthDateline Monday (14/11.4)
Late fallJenny
WinterFired Up
Late winterHouse Rules
SummerCaroline in the City Veronica's Closet
UPNFallIn the HouseMalcolm & EddieGood NewsSparksLocal programming
SpringSpecial programming
Late springClueless
SummerIn the House Malcolm & Eddie Good News Sparks
The WBFall7th HeavenBuffy the Vampire Slayer
WinterThree
Spring7th Heaven
Late springBuffy the Vampire Slayer

Tuesday

Network8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallHome Improvement (Repeats)Soul ManHome Improvement Hiller and Diller NYPD Blue
Follow UpSoul ManOver the Top
NovemberGrace Under FireSoul ManSpin City (Repeats)
WinterThe Drew Carey Show (Repeats)Home Improvement (Repeats)
SpringHome Improvement (Repeats)Something So RightThat's Life
Follow UpSoul ManSomething So Right
SummerSoul ManSomething So RightTwo Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place
Mid-SummerHome ImprovementSoul ManSpin CityDharma & GregMaximum Bob
CBSFallJAGMichael HayesDellaventura
WinterCBS Tuesday Movie
MarchPublic Eye with Bryant GumbelFour Corners
Follow Up48 Hours
SummerCBS Tuesday Movie
FoxFallFox Tuesday Night MovieLocal Programming
SummerKing of the Hill (Repeats)King of the Hill (Repeats)Guinness World Records Primetime
NBCFallMad About You NewsRadioFrasier Just Shoot Me! Dateline NBC
SpringFor Your LoveLateLine
Follow UpNewsRadioJust Shoot Me!
Summer3rd Rock from the Sun
UPNFallCluelessMoeshaHitzHead Over HeelsLocal Programming
Follow UpMoeshaCluelessMalcolm & EddieHitz
WinterClueless
SpringIn the House
Follow UpGood News
SummerIn the House
Mid-SummerCluelessIn the HouseClueless
The WBWinter
(began Jan. 20th)
Buffy the Vampire SlayerDawson's Creek
SummerInvasion AmericaInvasion America
Mid-SummerDawson's Creek

Wednesday

Network8:00 PM 8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PM
ABCFallSpin CityDharma & Greg The Drew Carey Show EllenPrimetime Live
SpringTwo Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place
SummerEllen
AugustWhose Line Is It Anyway?
CBSFallThe NannyMurphy BrownPublic Eye with Bryant GumbelChicago Hope
SpringCybillMichael Hayes
SummerThe Simple LifePublic Eye with Bryant Gumbel
Follow UpStyle & Substance
FoxFallBeverly Hills, 90210Party of FiveLocal Programming
SpringSignificant Others
Follow UpParty of Five
SummerFox Wednesday Night Movie
NBCFallThe Tony Danza ShowBuilt to Last3rd Rock from the SunWorkingLaw & Order
Follow UpDateline NBC
December3rd Rock from the Sun (Repeats)The Tony Danza Show
WinterSeinfeld (Repeats)
SpringNewsRadio
Follow Up3rd Rock from the Sun (Repeats)NewsRadio
SummerThe Pretender
AugustDateline NBCStressed Eric
UPNFallThe SentinelLocal Programming
Late FallThe Sentinel
SpringThe Sentinel
The WBFallSister, SisterSmart GuyThe Wayans Bros.The Steve Harvey Show
SpringSmart GuySister, Sister (Repeats)
SummerSmart Guy
Mid-SummerThe Wayans Bros.The Jamie Foxx Show

Thursday

Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCFallNothing SacredCracker20/20 Thursday
WinterPreyThe ABC Thursday Night Movie
SpringVarious programming
Late springC-16PreyABC News programming
SummerSpecial programmingABC News programmingNightline in Primetime
CBSPromised Land 48 Hours
FoxFallLiving SingleBetween Brothers413 Hope St.Local programming
WinterVarious programmingAsk HarrietNew York Undercover
Late winterVarious programming
SpringWorld's Wildest Police VideosSpecial programming
Late springNew York Undercover
SummerFox Files
NBCFallFriends Union Square Seinfeld Veronica's Closet ER
WinterJust Shoot Me!
SummerSuddenly Susan Just Shoot Me!
NOTE: On Fox, Rewind was supposed to air 8-8:30, but it was cancelled due to production troubles.

Friday

Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCFallSabrina the Teenage WitchBoy Meets WorldYou WishTeen Angel20/20 Friday
WinterSabrina the Teenage Witch Sabrina the Teenage Witch
SpringBoy Meets World
Late springYou WishBoy Meets World Teen Angel
CBSFallFamily MattersMeegoThe Gregory Hines ShowStep by StepNash Bridges
Mid-fallSpecial programmingFamily Matters
WinterKids Say the Darndest ThingsThe Gregory Hines Show
SpringCandid CameraUnsolved Mysteries
Late springFamily MattersStep by Step
SummerUnsolved Mysteries
FoxFallThe VisitorMillenniumLocal programming
Winter
SummerGetting PersonalGetting Personal
NBCFallPlayersDateline Friday
SpringSpecial programming
Late springDateline FridayNBA on NBC
Early summerNBC Friday Night Movie
SummerNBC Friday Night MovieDateline Friday

Saturday

Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.
ABCFallC-16Total SecurityThe Practice
Mid-fallSpecial programming
WinterNothing SacredCrackerABC News Saturday Night
Late winterABC Saturday Night Movie
SpringTimecopABC Saturday Night Movie
Summer20/20
CBSFallDr. Quinn, Medicine WomanEarly EditionWalker, Texas Ranger
WinterThe Magnificent Seven
Late winterDr. Quinn, Medicine WomanThe Magnificent Seven
SpringEarly Edition
SummerEarly EditionThe Magnificent Seven
FoxCOPSCOPS America's Most Wanted:
America Fights Back
Local programming
NBCFallThe Pretender NBC Saturday Night Movie
Mid-fallThe PretenderSleepwalkersProfiler
Late fallSpecial programmingThe Pretender
WinterAll Star TV Bloopers
SpringNBC Saturday Night Movie
SummerAll Star TV BloopersNBC Saturday Night Movie

By network

ABC

Returning series
New series

Not returning from 1996–97:

CBS

Returning series
New series

Not returning from 1996–97:

Fox

Returning series
New series

Not returning from 1996–97:

NBC

Returning series
New series

Not returning from 1996–97:

UPN

Returning series
New series

Not returning from 1996–97:

The WB

Returning series
New series

Not returning from 1996–97:

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

Notes and References

  1. Highest-rated series is based on the annual top-rated programs list compiled by Nielsen Media Research and reported in: Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine. .
  2. News: What ranked and what tanked. Entertainment Weekly Published in issue No. 434 May 29, 1998. April 8, 2020. May 29, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/20191013011112/https://ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked/. October 13, 2019. live.