2003–04 United States network television schedule

The following is the 2003–04 network television schedule for the six major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 2003 through August 2004. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 2002–03 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.

New series are highlighted in bold.

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

  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

  •   Light blue indicates local programming.
  •   Gray indicates encore programming.
  •   Blue-gray indicates news programming.
  •   Light green indicates sporting events.
  •   Light Purple indicates movies.
  •   Red indicates series being burned off and other scheduled programs, including specials.

PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. Also not included are stations affiliated with Pax TV, as its schedule is composed mainly of syndicated reruns although it also carried a limited schedule of first-run programs.

The 2003–2004 season marked the final time that the major networks scheduled substantial original scripted drama series on Saturdays. After years of declining ratings on that particular evening, beginning with the 2004–2005 season the networks ceased scheduling original dramas on Saturdays, choosing instead to fill the schedule with non-fiction programming and reruns.

From August 13 to 29, 2004, all of NBC's primetime programming was preempted in favor of coverage of the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Sunday

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Network 7:00 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 Fall America's Funniest Home Videos 10-8: Officers on Duty Alias The Practice
Winter Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
CBS 60 Minutes (16/9.4) Cold Case (17/9.3) CBS Sunday Movie (#23/7.8)
(Tied with The West Wing and Navy: NCIS)
Fox Fall King of the Hill (R) King of the Hill The Simpsons The Bernie Mac Show Malcolm in the Middle Arrested Development Local programming
Winter King of the Hill Oliver Beene
Spring King of the Hill (R) King of the Hill The Simpsons (R)
Late spring Oliver Beene Arrested Development (R)
Summer King of the Hill (R) Malcolm in the Middle (R) The Simple Life (R) Quintuplets (R)
Mid-summer The Casino
NBC Fall Dateline NBC American Dreams Law & Order: Criminal Intent (19/8.6)
(Tied with Crossing Jordan)
The Lyon's Den
Winter Crossing Jordan (19/8.6)
(Tied with Law & Order: Criminal Intent)
The WB Fall Smallville (R) Charmed Tarzan Local programming
Late fall One Tree Hill
Winter The Surreal Life
Spring High School Reunion
Late spring Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge (R) Charmed (R)

NOTE: On Fox, The Ortegas was supposed to air at 8:30-9, but it was cancelled.

Monday

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Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall Primetime Monday Monday Night Football (#9/11.2)
(Tied with Everybody Loves Raymond)
Winter The ABC Monday Night Movie
Summer My Wife & Kids George Lopez According to Jim Hope & Faith Weddings Gone Wacky, Wonderful & Wild: Anything for Love
CBS Yes, Dear Still Standing (#26/7.7)
(Tied with Judging Amy)
Everybody Loves Raymond (#9/11.2)
(Tied with Monday Night Football)
Two and a Half Men (#14/9.9)
(Tied with My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance)
CSI: Miami (#8/11.9)
Fox Fall The Next Joe Millionaire Skin Local Programming
December Fox Night at the Movies
Winter American Idol My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance (#14/9.9)
(Tied with Two and a Half Men)
March That '70s Show (R) Cracking Up Forever Eden
Follow Up The Bernie Mac Show That '70s Show (R)
Spring The Bernie Mac Show The Swan
Summer North Shore The Casino
NBC Fall Fear Factor (#22/7.9) Las Vegas (#28/7.6) Third Watch
Follow Up Average Joe (#29/7.4)
Spring The Restaurant
Summer For Love or Money Who Wants to Marry My Dad?
UPN Fall The Parkers Eve Girlfriends Half & Half Local Programming
Summer One on One Half & Half
The WB Fall 7th Heaven Everwood
Summer Superstar USA
Follow Up Summerland (Repeats)

Tuesday

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Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall 8 Simple Rules I'm with Her According to Jim Less than Perfect NYPD Blue
Winter Line of Fire
Follow Up NYPD Blue
Spring It's All Relative
Follow Up Less than Perfect
Summer NYPD 24/7
Mid-Summer Extreme Makeover: Home Edition In the Jury Room
CBS Fall Navy: NCIS (#23/7.8)
(Tied with The West Wing and the CBS Sunday Movie)
The Guardian Judging Amy (#26/7.7)
(Tied with Still Standing)
Spring Century City
Follow Up The Guardian
Mid-Summer Big Brother The Amazing Race
Fox Fall MLB Post-Season Games / World Series
November Encore programming 24 Local Programming
December That '70s Show (R) The Simple Life
Winter American Idol (#2/14.9)
Summer The Bernie Mac Show Method & Red (R) The Jury
Mid-Summer Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy That '70s Show (R) Quintuplets (R)
NBC Fall Whoopi Happy Family Frasier (#30/7.3)
(Tied with The King of Queens)
Good Morning, Miami Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (#18/8.7)
Winter The Tracy Morgan Show Whoopi Happy Family
Follow-up Whoopi Happy Family Scrubs
Spring Fear Factor
Summer Next Action Star Last Comic Standing
Mid-Summer Scrubs Happy Family
UPN Fall One on One All of Us Rock Me Baby The Mullets Local Programming
Follow-up Girlfriends (Repeats)
Winter America's Next Top Model 2
Spring Rock Me Baby One on One
Summer All of Us Eve America's Next Top Model
August The Player
The WB Fall Gilmore Girls One Tree Hill
Spring High School Reunion
Follow Up One Tree Hill
Summer Summerland

NOTE: On The WB, Fearless was supposed to have started in the Fall at 9–10, but it was delayed to midseason, then it was cancelled both due to production difficulties.

Wednesday

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Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall My Wife & Kids It's All Relative The Bachelor/The Bachelorette (#21/8.3) Karen Sisco
Winter Celebrity Mole: Yucatán
Spring My Wife & Kids Extreme Makeover Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital
Follow-up The Bachelor (#21/8.3) Extreme Makeover
Summer The Drew Carey Show The Drew Carey Show The Ultimate Love Test
CBS Fall 60 Minutes II The King of Queens (#30/7.3)
(Tied with Frasier)
Becker The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire
Winter 48 Hours Investigates
Spring The Stones
Follow Up Yes, Dear
Fox Fall That '70s Show A Minute with Stan Hooper The O.C. Local Programming
December The Simple Life
February American Idol (#3/14.1)
Summer Quintuplets The Simple Life Method & Red
NBC Fall Ed The West Wing (#23/7.8)
(Tied with the CBS Sunday Movie and Navy: NCIS)
Law & Order (#12/10.8)
Winter The Apprentice (Repeats)
Spring Third Watch
Summer Next Action Star Law & Order
UPN Fall Star Trek: Enterprise Jake 2.0 Local Programming
Winter America's Next Top Model (Repeats)
March Game Over The Mullets Star Trek: Enterprise
April Star Trek: Enterprise I'm Still Alive
Summer Star Trek: Enterprise
Mid-Summer Amish in the City The Player
The WB Fall Smallville Angel
Summer Flix from the Frog
Mid-Summer Smallville Smallville

Thursday

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Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall Threat Matrix Extreme Makeover Primetime
February Extreme Makeover
Spring Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Repeats) Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital
Summer Whose Line Is It Anyway? Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Mid-Summer Extreme Makeover Extreme Makeover
CBS Fall Survivor: Pearl Islands (#7/12.3) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (#1/15.9) Without a Trace (#11/11.1)
Winter CSI: Miami (Repeats)
Spring Survivor: All-Stars (#7/12.3)
Summer Joan of Arcadia
Mid-Summer Big Brother
Fox Fall MLB Post-Season Games / World Series
November Tru Calling Various Encore Programming Local Programming
December The Simple Life (Repeats) The Simple Life (Repeats)
Mid-January My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance (Repeats)
Spring Various Encore Programming
Summer North Shore Tru Calling
Mid-Summer Fox Night at the Movies
NBC Fall Friends (#4/13.6) Scrubs Will & Grace (#13/10.4) Coupling ER (#6/12.9)
November Good Morning, Miami Scrubs
Winter Will & Grace (#13/10.4) The Apprentice (#5/13.0)
Spring Frasier Will & Grace (#13/10.4) Scrubs
Summer Come to Papa
Mid-Summer Will & Grace Scrubs Last Comic Standing
UPN WWE Thursday Night SmackDown Local Programming
The WB Fall Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge The Jamie Kennedy Experiment What I Like About You Run of the House
Winter All About the Andersons The Jamie Kennedy Experiment
Follow Up The Surreal Life
Spring Like Family The Jamie Kennedy Experiment The Jamie Kennedy Experiment
Follow Up Flix from the Frog
Summer Pepsi Smash The Jamie Kennedy Experiment Reba
Mid-Summer Blue Collar TV Reba Blue Collar TV

NOTE: On Fox, The O.C. was supposed to air at 9-10 after Tru Calling, but at the last minute stick with repeats.

Friday

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Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall George Lopez Married to the Kellys Hope & Faith Life with Bonnie 20/20
Spring The Big House The D.A.
Follow-up Married to the Kellys 20/20
Summer Married to the Kellys Life with Bonnie
Mid-Summer 8 Simple Rules Less than Perfect
CBS Fall Joan of Arcadia JAG The Handler
Spring CSI: Miami (Repeats)
Summer 48 Hours
Fox Fall Wanda at Large Luis Boston Public Local Programming
Follow-up Fox Night at the Movies
Winter Totally Outrageous Behavior World's Craziest Videos Boston Public
Spring Boston Public Wonderfalls
Follow-up Totally Outrageous Behavior World's Craziest Videos Forever Eden
May Fox Night at the Movies
Summer The Bernie Mac Show Method & Red The Jury
NBC Fall Miss Match Dateline NBC Boomtown
Follow-up Dateline NBC Miss Match Third Watch
Winter Ed
Spring Dateline NBC
Summer Las Vegas
UPN Fall UPN's Night at the Movies Local Programming
Spring Game Over All of Us Star Trek: Enterprise
Follow-up UPN's Night at the Movies
Mid-Summer Star Trek: Enterprise Amish in the City
The WB Fall Reba Like Family Grounded for Life All About the Andersons
Winter What I Like About You Like Family
Spring The Help
Follow-up Run of the House
Summer What I Like About You Grounded for Life Reba Reba
Mid-Summer Blue Collar TV

Saturday

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Network 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 Fall The Wonderful World of Disney LA Dragnet
Winter America's Funniest Home Videos (R)
Summer Whose Line Is It Anyway? Whose Line Is It Anyway? (R)
CBS Fall 48 Hours Investigates Hack The District
Winter Star Search
Spring CBS Saturday Night Movie
Summer The Amazing Race (R) Big Brother Various programming
Fox COPS COPS (R) America's Most Wanted Local programming
NBC Fall NBC Saturday Night Movie Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (R)
Winter The Tracy Morgan Show Whoopi (R) Law & Order (R)
Spring NBC Saturday Night Movie
Summer Law & Order: Crime & Punishment

By network

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

Renewals and cancellations

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Renewals

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The WB

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Cancellations/series endings

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The WB

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References

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  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. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.