Top-rated United States television programs of 1996–97
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}{{short description|none}}
This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1996–97 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Tim |last2=Marsh |first2=Earle |date=2007 |title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (Ninth Edition) |publisher=Ballantine Books |page=1694 |isbn=978-0-345-49773-4 }}
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ER | rowspan="6"|NBC | 21.2 |
| 2 | Seinfeld | 20.5 | |
| 3 | Suddenly Susan | 17.0 | |
| rowspan="2"|4 | Friends | rowspan="2"|16.8 | |
| The Naked Truth | |||
| 6 | Fired Up | 16.5 | |
| 7 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 16.0 |
| 8 | The Single Guy | NBC | 14.1 |
| 9 | Home Improvement | ABC | 14.0 |
| 10 | Touched by an Angel | rowspan="2"|CBS | 13.6 |
| 11 | 60 Minutes | 13.3 | |
| 12 | 20/20 | rowspan="2"|ABC | 12.8 |
| 13 | NYPD Blue | 12.5 | |
| 14 | CBS Sunday Movie | CBS | 12.1 |
| 15 | Primetime Live | ABC | 11.9 |
| 16 | Frasier | NBC | 11.8 |
| 17 | Spin City | ABC | 11.7 |
| rowspan="2"|18 | NBC Sunday Movie | NBC | rowspan="2"|11.5 |
| The Drew Carey Show | ABC | ||
| 20 | Dateline NBC — Tuesday | NBC | 11.4 |
| rowspan="2"|21 | Cosby | CBS | rowspan="2"|11.2 |
| The X-Files | FOX | ||
| rowspan="4"|23 | Walker, Texas Ranger | CBS | rowspan="4"|11.0 |
| Mad About You | rowspan="5"|NBC | ||
| Caroline in the City | |||
| NBC Monday Movie | |||
| rowspan="2"|27 | Law & Order | rowspan="2"|10.8 | |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun | |||
| 29 | Ellen | ABC | 10.6 |
| rowspan="3"|30 | Chicago Hope | CBS | rowspan="3"|10.5 |
| Dateline NBC — Friday | NBC | ||
| Cybill | CBS |
References
{{reflist}}
{{TopUSTVProgramsBySeason}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Top-rated United States television programs of 1996-97}}
Category:1996 in American television