This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1996–97 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research. Rank Program Network Rating 1 ER NBC 21.2 2 Seinfeld 20.5 3 Suddenly Susan 17.04 Friends 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 CBS 13.6 11 60 Minutes 13.3 12 20/20 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 11.718 NBC Sunday Movie NBC 11.5 The Drew Carey Show ABC 20 Dateline NBC — Tuesday NBC 11.421 Cosby CBS 11.2 The X-Files FOX23 Walker, Texas Ranger CBS 11.0 Mad About You NBC Caroline in the City NBC Monday Movie27 Law & Order 10.8 3rd Rock from the Sun 29 Ellen ABC 10.630 Chicago Hope CBS 10.5 Dateline NBC — Friday NBC Cybill CBS
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