This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 2004–05 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.5 | ||
| 2 | American Idol — Tuesday | 15.7 | |
| 3 | American Idol — Wednesday | 15.3 | |
| 4 | Desperate Housewives | 14.5 | |
| 5 | CBS | 12.4 | |
| 6 | Without a Trace | 12.3 | |
| 7 | Survivor | 12.0 | |
| 8 | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | 11.6 |
| 9 | Everybody Loves Raymond | CBS | 11.2 |
| 10 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 10.8 |
| 11 | Two and a Half Men | CBS | 10.6 |
| 12 | ER | 10.4 | |
| 13 | Lost | ABC | 9.8 |
| 14 | Cold Case | CBS | 9.7 |
| The Apprentice | NBC | ||
| 16 | 9.2 | ||
| 60 Minutes | CBS | ||
| 18 | ABC | 9.1 | |
| Medium | NBC | ||
| 20 | Law & Order | 8.9 | |
| CBS | |||
| 22 | NCIS | 8.8 | |
| 23 | House | FOX | 8.3 |
| 24 | Boston Legal | ABC | 8.1 |
| 25 | NBC | 7.9 | |
| 26 | Crossing Jordan | 7.7 | |
| 27 | CBS | 7.6 | |
| The Amazing Race | |||
| 29 | Judging Amy | 7.4 | |
| The West Wing | NBC |