NBC was the first to announce its fall schedule on May 12, 2019,[1] followed by
Fox on May 13,[2]ABC on May 14,[3]CBS on May 15,[4] and
The CW on May 16, 2019.[5]
PBS is not included, as member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.
Ion Television and
MyNetworkTV are also not included since both networks' schedules comprise syndicated reruns. The CW does not air network programming on Saturday nights.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by
Nielsen Media Research.[6]
The TV season was strongly affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic. While the full impact of the health catastrophe did not hit until March 2020, by which time the network shows had already filmed the majority of their seasons' scripts, the entire primetime slate halted production that spring and did not resume it until the fall of 2020.
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 regularly scheduled programs, including specials.
Yellow indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.
Cyan indicates the top-20 most watched programs of the season.
Magenta indicates the top-30 most watched programs of the season.
Note: As with the two previous seasons, NBC aired all new live episodes of Saturday Night Live in real time with the rest of the United States, placing it in that time period for the Pacific and Mountain time viewers beginning September 28, with a rebroadcast following the late local news in those time zones. The network's affiliates in Alaska, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands will continued to air the show on a delay. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three "At Home" editions of the series have aired, but have been pre-compiled and edited before broadcast, airing after the late local news in all time zones.
Note: Due to the
suspension of the 2019β20 NBA season, NBA Saturday Primetime games were replaced by encores of ABC programming, as well as docuseries The Last Dance. The 76ers-Warriors game on March 7 wound up being the "season finale" for NBA Saturday Primetime, as the
Warriors were not invited to Orlando when the NBA resumed play in July.
Note: Fox aired primetime PBC Fight Cards throughout its Late summer programming schedule.
Note: Series that were unable to fulfil their original or extended episode orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been indicated below.
Full season pickups
ABC
American HousewifeβPicked up for six additional episodes on November 7, 2019, bringing the episode count to 21; one episode remained unfilmed.[196][197]
Bless This MessβPicked up for six additional episodes on November 7, 2019, bringing the episode count to 19.[196]
The ConnersβPicked up for six additional episodes on May 14, 2019, bringing the episode count to 19.[198]
Mixed-ishβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 28, 2019.[200]
The RookieβPicked up for a 20-episode full season on October 28, 2019.[200]
SchooledβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on December 3, 2019; one episode remained unfilmed.[201][197]
StumptownβPicked up for five additional episodes on October 28, 2019, bringing the episode count to 18.[200]
CBS
All RiseβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 22, 2019; two episodes were unfilmed, with one original episode compiled through web conferencing platforms.[202][197]
Bob Hearts AbisholaβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 22, 2019; two episodes remained unfilmed.[202][197]
Carol's Second ActβPicked up for five additional episodes on October 22, 2019, bringing the episode count to 18.[202]
The Greatest #AtHome VideosβPicked up for four additional episodes on July 2, 2020, bringing this season's episode count to 5.[77]
MacGyverβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on November 6, 2019.[h][204]
The UnicornβPicked up for five additional episodes on October 22, 2019, bringing the episode count to 18.[202]
The CW
The 100βPicked up for three additional episodes on June 6, 2019, bringing the episode count to 16.[205]
All AmericanβPicked up for three additional episodes on October 8, 2019, bringing the episode count to 16.[206]
BatwomanβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 25, 2019; two episodes remained unfilmed.[207][197]
LegaciesβPicked up for four additional episodes on July 18, 2019, bringing the episode count to 20; four episodes remained unfilmed.[208][197]
Nancy DrewβPicked up a 22-episode full season on October 25, 2019; four episodes remained unfilmed.[207][197]
Fox
Prodigal SonβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 7, 2019; two episodes remained unfilmed.[209][210]
NBC
Good GirlsβPicked up for three additional episodes on August 14, 2019, bringing the episode count to 16; five episodes remained unfilmed.[211][197]
SuperstoreβPicked up for four additional episodes on November 5, 2019, bringing the episode count to 22; one episode remained unfilmed.[212][197]
Renewals
ABC
20/20βRenewed for a forty-third season on May 21, 2020.[213]
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.βIt was announced on July 18, 2019, that season seven would be the final season.[271][272] The series concluded on August 12, 2020.
Fresh Off the BoatβIt was announced on November 8, 2019, that season six would be the final season.[276] The series concluded on February 21, 2020.
How to Get Away with MurderβIt was announced on July 11, 2019, that season six would be the final season.[277][278] The series concluded on May 14, 2020.
Criminal MindsβIt was announced on January 10, 2019, that season fifteen would be the final season.[65] The series concluded on February 19, 2020.
God Friended MeβCanceled on April 14, 2020, after two seasons.[284] The series concluded on April 26, 2020.
Hawaii Five-0βIt was announced on February 28, 2020, that season ten would be the final season.[285] The series concluded on April 3, 2020.
Madam SecretaryβIt was announced on May 15, 2019, that season six would be the final season.[286][287] The series concluded on December 8, 2019.
Man with a PlanβCanceled on May 6, 2020, after four seasons.[283] The series concluded on June 11, 2020.
TommyβCanceled on May 6, 2020.[283] The series concluded the following day.
The CW
The 100βIt was announced on August 4, 2019, that season seven would be the final season.[288] The series concluded on September 30, 2020.
ArrowβIt was announced on March 6, 2019, that season eight would be the final season.[289] The series concluded on January 28, 2020.
Being ReubenβThe documentary miniseries was meant to run for one season only; it concluded on September 11, 2020.[290]
Katy KeeneβCanceled on July 2, 2020. This was the only cancellation of the season.[291]
TaskmasterβOn August 5, 2020, The CW pulled the series from its prime-time schedule.[292] The remaining episodes were made available on
CW Seed on August 10, 2020.[293]
SunnysideβOn October 15, 2019, NBC pulled the series from its prime-time schedule, marking the first cancellation of the season. The remaining unaired episodes aired on NBC's website.[305] The series was later canceled on June 15, 2020.[301]
Will & GraceβIt was announced on July 25, 2019, that season eleven would be the final season.[306][307] The series concluded on April 23, 2020.
^U.S. broadcast television run of
ESPN 10-part documentary series.
^Series revival, previously aired by CBS from 1979β2006.
^New episodes held from their originally intended airdate in the
2017β18 season.
^Episodes that aired this season only included updates to the cases explored during the 2018β19 season.
^U.S. broadcast television premiere; previously released on
CBS All Access.
^In March 2020, following production shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was taken to conclude the fourth season with 13 episodes. The remaining half-dozen episodes that had completed filming were retained as back-up programming for Fall 2020 and were aired as a part of season 5.[203]
NBC was the first to announce its fall schedule on May 12, 2019,[1] followed by
Fox on May 13,[2]ABC on May 14,[3]CBS on May 15,[4] and
The CW on May 16, 2019.[5]
PBS is not included, as member television stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary.
Ion Television and
MyNetworkTV are also not included since both networks' schedules comprise syndicated reruns. The CW does not air network programming on Saturday nights.
Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by
Nielsen Media Research.[6]
The TV season was strongly affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic. While the full impact of the health catastrophe did not hit until March 2020, by which time the network shows had already filmed the majority of their seasons' scripts, the entire primetime slate halted production that spring and did not resume it until the fall of 2020.
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 regularly scheduled programs, including specials.
Yellow indicates the top-10 most watched programs of the season.
Cyan indicates the top-20 most watched programs of the season.
Magenta indicates the top-30 most watched programs of the season.
Note: As with the two previous seasons, NBC aired all new live episodes of Saturday Night Live in real time with the rest of the United States, placing it in that time period for the Pacific and Mountain time viewers beginning September 28, with a rebroadcast following the late local news in those time zones. The network's affiliates in Alaska, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands will continued to air the show on a delay. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, three "At Home" editions of the series have aired, but have been pre-compiled and edited before broadcast, airing after the late local news in all time zones.
Note: Due to the
suspension of the 2019β20 NBA season, NBA Saturday Primetime games were replaced by encores of ABC programming, as well as docuseries The Last Dance. The 76ers-Warriors game on March 7 wound up being the "season finale" for NBA Saturday Primetime, as the
Warriors were not invited to Orlando when the NBA resumed play in July.
Note: Fox aired primetime PBC Fight Cards throughout its Late summer programming schedule.
Note: Series that were unable to fulfil their original or extended episode orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been indicated below.
Full season pickups
ABC
American HousewifeβPicked up for six additional episodes on November 7, 2019, bringing the episode count to 21; one episode remained unfilmed.[196][197]
Bless This MessβPicked up for six additional episodes on November 7, 2019, bringing the episode count to 19.[196]
The ConnersβPicked up for six additional episodes on May 14, 2019, bringing the episode count to 19.[198]
Mixed-ishβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 28, 2019.[200]
The RookieβPicked up for a 20-episode full season on October 28, 2019.[200]
SchooledβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on December 3, 2019; one episode remained unfilmed.[201][197]
StumptownβPicked up for five additional episodes on October 28, 2019, bringing the episode count to 18.[200]
CBS
All RiseβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 22, 2019; two episodes were unfilmed, with one original episode compiled through web conferencing platforms.[202][197]
Bob Hearts AbisholaβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 22, 2019; two episodes remained unfilmed.[202][197]
Carol's Second ActβPicked up for five additional episodes on October 22, 2019, bringing the episode count to 18.[202]
The Greatest #AtHome VideosβPicked up for four additional episodes on July 2, 2020, bringing this season's episode count to 5.[77]
MacGyverβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on November 6, 2019.[h][204]
The UnicornβPicked up for five additional episodes on October 22, 2019, bringing the episode count to 18.[202]
The CW
The 100βPicked up for three additional episodes on June 6, 2019, bringing the episode count to 16.[205]
All AmericanβPicked up for three additional episodes on October 8, 2019, bringing the episode count to 16.[206]
BatwomanβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 25, 2019; two episodes remained unfilmed.[207][197]
LegaciesβPicked up for four additional episodes on July 18, 2019, bringing the episode count to 20; four episodes remained unfilmed.[208][197]
Nancy DrewβPicked up a 22-episode full season on October 25, 2019; four episodes remained unfilmed.[207][197]
Fox
Prodigal SonβPicked up for a 22-episode full season on October 7, 2019; two episodes remained unfilmed.[209][210]
NBC
Good GirlsβPicked up for three additional episodes on August 14, 2019, bringing the episode count to 16; five episodes remained unfilmed.[211][197]
SuperstoreβPicked up for four additional episodes on November 5, 2019, bringing the episode count to 22; one episode remained unfilmed.[212][197]
Renewals
ABC
20/20βRenewed for a forty-third season on May 21, 2020.[213]
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.βIt was announced on July 18, 2019, that season seven would be the final season.[271][272] The series concluded on August 12, 2020.
Fresh Off the BoatβIt was announced on November 8, 2019, that season six would be the final season.[276] The series concluded on February 21, 2020.
How to Get Away with MurderβIt was announced on July 11, 2019, that season six would be the final season.[277][278] The series concluded on May 14, 2020.
Criminal MindsβIt was announced on January 10, 2019, that season fifteen would be the final season.[65] The series concluded on February 19, 2020.
God Friended MeβCanceled on April 14, 2020, after two seasons.[284] The series concluded on April 26, 2020.
Hawaii Five-0βIt was announced on February 28, 2020, that season ten would be the final season.[285] The series concluded on April 3, 2020.
Madam SecretaryβIt was announced on May 15, 2019, that season six would be the final season.[286][287] The series concluded on December 8, 2019.
Man with a PlanβCanceled on May 6, 2020, after four seasons.[283] The series concluded on June 11, 2020.
TommyβCanceled on May 6, 2020.[283] The series concluded the following day.
The CW
The 100βIt was announced on August 4, 2019, that season seven would be the final season.[288] The series concluded on September 30, 2020.
ArrowβIt was announced on March 6, 2019, that season eight would be the final season.[289] The series concluded on January 28, 2020.
Being ReubenβThe documentary miniseries was meant to run for one season only; it concluded on September 11, 2020.[290]
Katy KeeneβCanceled on July 2, 2020. This was the only cancellation of the season.[291]
TaskmasterβOn August 5, 2020, The CW pulled the series from its prime-time schedule.[292] The remaining episodes were made available on
CW Seed on August 10, 2020.[293]
SunnysideβOn October 15, 2019, NBC pulled the series from its prime-time schedule, marking the first cancellation of the season. The remaining unaired episodes aired on NBC's website.[305] The series was later canceled on June 15, 2020.[301]
Will & GraceβIt was announced on July 25, 2019, that season eleven would be the final season.[306][307] The series concluded on April 23, 2020.
^U.S. broadcast television run of
ESPN 10-part documentary series.
^Series revival, previously aired by CBS from 1979β2006.
^New episodes held from their originally intended airdate in the
2017β18 season.
^Episodes that aired this season only included updates to the cases explored during the 2018β19 season.
^U.S. broadcast television premiere; previously released on
CBS All Access.
^In March 2020, following production shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was taken to conclude the fourth season with 13 episodes. The remaining half-dozen episodes that had completed filming were retained as back-up programming for Fall 2020 and were aired as a part of season 5.[203]