The 2004–05 network television schedule for the six major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2004 to August 2005. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2003–04 television season.
Beginning this season, largely resulting from continuing declines in prime time television viewership on that night of the week, the major networks ceased producing original scripted programs for broadcast on Saturday evenings (an exception being ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney, although it often featured rebroadcast material, mainly in the form of Disney theatrical films). From this point on, Saturday prime time network schedules would instead consist of nonfiction reality-based programs, rebroadcasts of scripted prime time series (most commonly featuring dramatic series), unaired episodes of de facto cancelled series that were being "burned off" after having been pulled from their previous timeslot on a different night, theatrical or made-for-television movies, and/or sporting events (which became increasingly common in the time period beginning with the 2012–13 season).
CBS unveiled it's fall line up on May 19, 2004. PBS is not included, as member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. Pax TV (now Ion Television) is also not included; although the network aired a few original first-run series, Pax's schedule at the time consisted primarily of syndicated reruns and movies.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows released in May 2005 is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.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. .
New series are highlighted in bold.
Repeat airings or same-day rebroadcasts are indicated by .
All times are U.S. Eastern and Pacific Time, except for certain live events (such as Monday Night Football) that are broadcast simultaneously in all time zones. Subtract one hour for Central, Mountain, Alaska, and Hawaii–Aleutian times.
All sporting events air live in all time zones, with local and/or late-night programming (including those normally aired by Fox affiliates during the 10:00 p.m. ET/PT hour) being shown after the game's completion.
Legend
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.ABC FallAmerica's Funniest Home VideosExtreme Makeover: Home Edition Desperate Housewives Boston Legal Winter SpringGrey's Anatomy SummerMy Kind of TownDesperate Housewives CBS60 Minutes Cold Case CBS Sunday Movie Fox FallKing of the HillMalcolm in the MiddleThe SimpsonsArrested DevelopmentMy Big Fat Obnoxious BossLocal programming Winter Family Guy The Simpsons Late winter The Simpsons Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show Spring The SimpsonsFamily GuyAmerican Dad! SummerMalcolm in the Middle King of the Hill The Simpsons Mid-summer The Princes of Malibu Late summerThe Simpsons NBC FallDateline NBCAmerican DreamsLaw & Order: Criminal Intent Crossing Jordan WinterThe Contender Spring SummerDateline NBCThe WB FallSteve Harvey's Big Time ChallengeCharmedJack & BobbyLocal programming Mid-fallThe Mountain WinterSummerlandSteve Harvey's Big Time Challenge SpringCharmed Summer WB Sunday Movie
Monday Network8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PMABC FallThe BenefactorNFL Monday ShowcaseMonday Night Football NovemberLife of Luxury WinterExtreme Makeover: Home Edition: How'd They Do That?The BacheloretteSupernanny SpringThe Bachelor SummerThe ScholarThe ABC Monday Night Movie Mid-SummerThe ABC Monday Night MovieCBSFall Still StandingListen UpEverybody Loves Raymond Two and a Half Men CSI: Miami WinterSpringMay Everybody Loves Raymond (R)SummerStill Standing Mid-SummerThe King of Queens (R)Everybody Loves Raymond Two and a Half Men Rock StarFox FallNorth ShoreRenovate My FamilyLocal programming Follow-upTrading Spouses: Meet Your New MommyThe Swan Winter24 Late WinterAmerican Idol SpringNanny 911 SummerHell's KitchenNBC FallFear FactorLas VegasLAX November$25 Million Dollar Hoax December Various Programming WinterMedium Spring SummerUPN FallOne on One Half & HalfGirlfriends Second Time AroundLocal programming WinterCutsHalf & Half Spring Summer All of UsThe WB Fall7th HeavenEverwood Winter SpringSummerland Follow-upEverwood SummerSummerland Note: Fox originally scheduled Athens (a drama series that was to center on the lives of a group of young adults in a fictional New England college town) as a midseason replacement in the 8:00 p.m. ET slot; however, the network cancelled the series last-minute.
Tuesday Network8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PMABC FallMy Wife & KidsGeorge LopezAccording to JimRodneyNYPD Blue Winter SpringBlind Justice Summer Mid-SummerEmpire Late Summer According to Jim Rodney Boston LegalCBS FallNCIS ClubhouseJudging Amy NovemberThe Amazing Race Winter Spring SummerFire Me...Please48 Hours Mid-SummerBig BrotherRock StarFox FallTrading Spouses: Meet Your New MommyThe Next Great ChampLocal programming Late FallThe Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the BestHouse WinterAmerican Idol Spring SummerTrading Spouses: Meet Your New MommyNBC FallLast Comic Standing Father of the PrideScrubsLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit Late FallThe Biggest Loser WinterThe Biggest LoserScrubsCommitted Mid-Winter Most Outrageous Moments / Law & Order: Criminal Intent (R) Spring Will & Grace (R) Scrubs (R)The Office Late SpringMost Outrageous MomentsMost Outrageous Moments SummerAverage Joe: The Joes Strike BackI Want To Be a Hilton Mid-SummerMeet Mister Mom Late Summer Various Programming Tommy Lee Goes to College The OfficeUPN FallAll of UsEveVeronica MarsLocal programming Winter Spring Late Spring Britney and Kevin: ChaoticThe Bad Girl's Guide Summer Half & HalfGirlfriends Mid-SummerOne on One All of Us Half & Half Late Summer EveR U the Girl with T-Boz and ChilliThe WB FallGilmore GirlsOne Tree Hill WinterHigh School Reunion Mid-WinterOne Tree Hill SpringThe Starlet Follow-upOne Tree Hill Summer Notes: NBC originally intended for Average Joe to air on its Fall schedule in the 8:00 p.m. ET slot; it chose to delay the reality dating series to Summer. The network originally scheduled The Contender to premiere on March 1, 2005 in the 8:00 p.m. ET slot, but opted to delay its premiere to March 9, before switching timeslots with American Dreams, which had been airing on Sundays during that hour. Fox originally intended to air a Fall run of legal drama The Jury (which premiered on June 8) in its existing Tuesday slot prior to November; however on July 27, it cancelled the series due to low ratings. (The two remaining episodes of its 10-episode order aired as scheduled on July 30 and August 6.)
Wednesday Network8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PMABC FallLost The BachelorWife Swap WinterAlias SpringEyes SummerSupernannyDancing with the StarsLost Mid-SummerBrat CampBrat CampCBS Fall60 MinutesCSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: NY Follow-up60 Minutes WednesdayThe King of Queens Center of the Universe WinterYes, Dear Spring Summer Mid-SummerThe CutRock StarThe King of Queens Follow-up Still Standing Yes, DearFox FallThat '70s ShowQuintuplets The Bernie Mac Show The Bernie Mac ShowLocal programming Follow-upNanny 911 WinterThe Simple LifeAmerican Idol Spring American Idol Life on a Stick Mid-Spring The Simple Life Stacked Late Spring That '70s Show That '70s Show Stacked Summer StackedThe Inside Mid-SummerSo You Think You Can Dance The Bernie Mac ShowNBC FallHawaiiThe West WingLaw & Order Follow-upLAX WinterSports Illustrated Swimsuit Model Search SpringAmerican Dreams Follow-upDateline NBCRevelations SummerPsychic DetectivesLaw & Order Mid-SummerMost Outrageous MomentsMost Outrageous Moments Late SummerMeet Mister MomUPN FallAmerica's Next Top ModelKevin HillLocal programming WinterThe Road to Stardom with Missy ElliottSpringAmerica's Next Top Model Summer Eve EveVeronica Mars Mid-SummerR U the Girl with T-Boz and ChilliThe WB FallSmallvilleThe Mountain Follow-upJack & Bobby Late FallBig Man on Campus WinterJack & Bobby Spring SummerBeauty and the GeekSmallville Mid-SummerOne Tree Hill Note: Fox originally intended for Method & Red to remain in the 9:30 p.m. ET slot, but cancelled it due to low ratings. The network also intended to air Life on a Stick at 8:30 p.m. ET and The Bernie Mac Show at 9:30 p.m. ET in midseason, but ultimately chose instead to air That '70s Show and Life on a Stick in those respective timeslots.
Thursday Network8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PMABC FallExtreme MakeoverLife as We Know ItPrimetime Live Winter JanuaryLife as We Know ItExtreme Makeover Follow-upExtreme Makeover Spring Jake in Progress Jake in Progress Follow-upABC Thursday Night Movie Summer Mid-SummerExtreme MakeoverHooking UpCBS FallSurvivor: Vanuatu – Islands of Fire CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Without a Trace Winter JanuaryWickedly Perfect FebruarySurvivor: Palau Spring SummerThe Cut Mid-SummerBig BrotherFox FallThe O.C.North ShoreLocal programming WinterPoint Pleasant SpringTru Calling SummerThe O.C. Mid-Summer That '70s Show That '70s ShowNBC FallJoeyWill & GraceThe ApprenticeER Winter Spring JuneHit Me Baby, One More Time Summer July Joey Will & Grace Will & Grace Follow-upWill & GraceThe Law Firm August Scrubs Will & GraceUPNWWE Thursday Night SmackDown!Local programmingThe WB Fall Blue Collar TV Drew Carey's Green Screen ShowVarious drama encores (R) Follow-upThe WB Thursday Night Movie Winter SpringBlue Collar TVBlue Collar TV Blue Collar TV Blue Collar TV SummerBeauty and the Geek Mid-SummerSmallvilleEverwood Note: Fox originally intended to place Tru Calling in the 9:00 p.m. ET slot, but elected to push up its second season to Spring and run North Shore in the Fall instead.
Friday Network8:00 PM8:30 PM9:00 PM9:30 PM10:00 PM10:30 PMABC Fall8 Simple Rules Complete SavagesHope & FaithLess than Perfect20/20 Winter8 Simple Rules (R) SpringAmerica's Funniest Home Videos Summer 8 Simple Rules Hope & FaithCBS FallJoan of ArcadiaJAGDr. Vegas Follow-upCSI: Miami (R) WinterNumb3rs Spring SummerJAG Mid-Summer60 Minutes IIThe CutFox FallThe Complex: MalibuThe Next Great Champ (R) Local programming Follow-up The Simpsons (R) That '70s Show (R)The Complex: Malibu Late FallTotally Outrageous BehaviorWorld's Craziest VideosRenovate My Family DecemberFox Friday Night Movie WinterThe Bernie Mac Show The Bernie Mac ShowJonny Zero Spring Malcolm in the MiddleThat '70s Show (R) Follow-upFox Friday Night Movie Summer Late SummerThe Bernie Mac ShowArrested DevelopmentMalcolm in the MiddleArrested DevelopmentNBC FallDateline NBCThird WatchMedical Investigation Winter SpringMedical InvestigationLaw & Order: Trial by Jury Mid-SpringThird Watch SummerDateline NBC Late SummerCrossing JordanUPN FallStar Trek: EnterpriseAmerica's Next Top Model (R)Local programming WinterThe Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott (R) SpringAmerica's Next Top Model (R) SummerUPN's Night at the MoviesThe WB FallWhat I Like About YouGrounded for LifeReba Blue Collar TV Follow-up Reba (R) Late FallBlue Collar TV Winter Blue Collar TV Spring Reba (R)Living With Fran Summer What I Like About You Mid-Summer Blue Collar TV Notes: Fox originally planned to keep The Jury on Fridays, while also slotting The Next Great Champ as its lead-in in the 8:00 p.m. ET hour; because of The Jurys cancellation, The Complex: Malibu was picked up last-minute to occupy the slot. The network also originally scheduled The Inside in the 8:00 p.m. ET hour (leading into Jonny Zero) for midseason.