The following is the 2009–10 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 2009 through May 2010. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2008–09 season.
PBS is not included; member stations have local flexibility over most of their schedules and broadcast times for network shows may vary. NBC stripped The Jay Leno Show weeknights at 10 pm Eastern/9 p.m. Central, but removed it after the Winter Olympics. The CW eliminated its Sunday night programming block and returned that time to local affiliates. After three years as a network, MyNetworkTV became a syndication programming service, and therefore not recognized as a network, but its programs are still listed in this article. Fox announced its schedule on May 18, both ABC and NBC on May 19, CBS on May 20, and The CW on May 21.
Although Glee became a Top 10 series when it began airing after American Idol on April 13, it did not rank in the Top 30 prime time programs when averaged with its Fall 2009 airings. Likewise, V began as a Top 40 series during its Fall 2009 airings. As the season progressed, it averaged outside of the Top 50 programs.
ABC
Castle – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 20, 2009. An additional 2 episodes were ordered for a 24-episode season on January 27, 2010.
Cougar Town – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 8, 2009. An additional 2 episodes were ordered for a 24-episode season on January 6, 2010.
FlashForward – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 12, 2009. 3 additional episodes ordered later the same day for a 25-episode season.
The Forgotten – picked up for 5 additional episodes for an 18 episode season on November 10, 2009.
The Middle – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 8, 2009.
Modern Family – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 8, 2009.
CBS
Accidentally on Purpose – picked up for 5 additional episodes for an 18 episode season on November 3, 2009. Cancelled.
The Good Wife – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 7, 2009. One additional episode was later ordered for a 23-episode season.
NCIS: Los Angeles – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 7, 2009. An additional 2 episodes were picked up, making a 24-episode season on November 4, 2009.
The CW
Melrose Place- The CW ordered 6 additional scripts on September 24, 2009. Five of these were then picked up for an 18-episode season on October 21, 2009.
One Tree Hill – picked up for a full 22-episode season on September 24, 2009.
The Vampire Diaries – The CW ordered 9 additional scripts on September 24, 2009. Picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 21, 2009.
Fox
The Cleveland Show – picked up for a full 22-episode first season on November 10, 2008.
Glee – picked up for a full 22-episode season on September 21, 2009.
Lie to Me – picked up for a full 22-episode season on November 24, 2009
NBC
Chuck – picked up for an additional 6 episodes, bringing the total to 19, on October 28, 2009.
Community – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 23, 2009. An additional 3 episodes were ordered January 20, 2010 for a 25-episode season.
Law & Order – picked up for an additional 3 episodes on January 20, 2010 for a 22-episode season.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – picked up for an additional 2 episodes on January 20, 2010 for a 25-episode season.
Mercy – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 23, 2009.
Parks and Recreation – picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 23, 2009. An additional 3 episodes were ordered January 20, 2010 for a 25-episode season.
Trauma – picked up for an additional 3 episodes, bringing the total to 16, on November 19, 2009. An additional 4 episodes were ordered January 20, 2010 for a 20-episode season.
ABC
Brothers & Sisters – picked up for a fifth season on March 5, 2010.
Castle – picked up for a third season on March 30, 2010.
Cougar Town – picked up for a second season on January 12, 2010.
Desperate Housewives – picked up for a seventh season on May 14, 2010.
Grey's Anatomy – picked up for a seventh season on May 14, 2010.
The Middle – picked up for a second season on January 12, 2010.
Modern Family – picked up for a second season on January 12, 2010.
Private Practice – picked up for a fourth season on May 14, 2010.
Rookie Blue – picked up for a second season on July 12, 2010.
V – picked up for a second season on May 13, 2010.
CBS
The Amazing Race – picked up for a seventeenth season on January 25, 2010.
The Big Bang Theory – picked up for two additional seasons in March 2009, running through its fourth season in 2010/11.
The Good Wife – picked up for a second season on January 14, 2010.
How I Met Your Mother- Renewed for a sixth season on January 25, 2010.
The Mentalist – picked up for a third season on May 19, 2010.
NCIS – picked up for an eighth season on May 19, 2010.
NCIS: Los Angeles – picked up for a second season on January 14, 2010.
Rules of Engagement – picked up for a fifth season on May 18, 2010.
Survivor – picked up for two additional installments on January 25, 2010.
Two and a Half Men – picked up for three additional seasons in March 2009, running through its ninth season in 2011/12.
Undercover Boss – picked up for a second season on March 9, 2010.
The CW
90210 – picked up for a third season on February 16, 2010.
America's Next Top Model – renewed on February 16, 2010.
Gossip Girl – picked up for a fourth season on February 16, 2010.
Life Unexpected – picked up for a second season on May 18, 2010.
One Tree Hill – picked up for an eighth season on May 18, 2010.
Smallville – picked up for a tenth and final season on March 4, 2010.
Supernatural – picked up for a sixth season on February 16, 2010.
The Vampire Diaries – picked up for a second season on February 16, 2010.
Fox
American Dad! – picked up for an additional season in October 2009, running through its sixth season in 2010/11.
Bones – picked up for two additional seasons in May 2009, running through its sixth season in 2010/11.
The Cleveland Show – picked up for an additional season in October 2009, running through its second season in 2010/11.
Family Guy – picked up for a ninth season (airing 2010/11) prior to the 2009/10 season premiere.
Fringe – picked up for a third season on March 6, 2010.
Glee – picked up for a second season on January 11, 2010.
House – picked up for a seventh season on May 17, 2010.
Human Target – picked up for a second season on May 12, 2010.
Lie to Me – picked up for a third season on May 12, 2010.
The Simpsons – picked up for two additional seasons in February 2009, running through its twenty-second season in 2010/11.
NBC
30 Rock – picked up for a fifth season on March 5, 2010.
The Apprentice – picked up for a tenth season on March 17, 2010.
Chuck – picked up for a fourth season on May 13, 2010.
Community – picked up for a second season on March 5, 2010.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit – picked up for a twelfth season on May 14, 2010.
The Marriage Ref – picked up for a second season on April 5, 2010.
Minute to Win It – picked up for a second season on April 5, 2010.
The Office – picked up for a seventh season on March 5, 2010.
Parenthood – picked up for a second season on April 20, 2010.
Parks and Recreation – picked up for a third season on January 29, 2010
The Sing-Off – picked up for a second season on February 28, 2010.
Who Do You Think You Are? – picked up for a second season on April 5, 2010.
ABC
Better Off Ted – Officially canceled on May 13, 2010. ABC announced it would air the final two episodes in June 2010 if the 2010 NBA Finals did not require a seventh game, however a seventh game was played and the two episodes did not air on ABC.
The Deep End – Officially canceled on May 14, 2010.
Defying Gravity – Officially canceled due to low ratings during the summer.
Eastwick – Officially canceled on November 9, 2009.
FlashForward – Officially canceled on May 13, 2010.
The Forgotten – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Hank – Officially canceled on November 11, 2009.
Happy Town – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Lost – On January 19, 2010, ABC announced that Season 6 is the final season. The series finale aired on May 23, 2010.
Romantically Challenged – Officially canceled on May 13, 2010.
Scrubs – Officially canceled on May 13, 2010.
True Beauty – It was canceled with the last episode airing on July 19, 2010.
Ugly Betty – Officially canceled on April 14, 2010.
CBS
Accidentally On Purpose – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Cold Case – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Gary Unmarried – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Ghost Whisperer – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Miami Medical – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
The New Adventures of Old Christine – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Numb3rs – Officially canceled on May 18, 2010.
Three Rivers – Officially canceled on January 9, 2010.
The CW
The Beautiful Life: TBL – Canceled after two episodes on September 25, 2009 due to low ratings. This is the first cancellation of the 2009-10 season. The remaining episodes aired on YouTube on December 2009.
Blonde Charity Mafia – Officially canceled on May 20, 2010.
Fly Girls – Officially canceled on May 20, 2010.
High Society – Officially canceled on May 20, 2010.
Hitched or Ditched – Officially canceled on May 20, 2010.
Melrose Place – Canceled due to low ratings.
Fox
24 – Ended on May 24, 2010. It returned as a limited series, titled 24: Live Another Day in May, 2014.
Brothers – Officially canceled on March 29, 2010.
Dollhouse – Officially canceled on November 11, 2009.
King of the Hill – On August 14, 2008, FOX announced season 13 is the final season. The series finale aired on September 13, 2009.
Past Life – Canceled after three episodes on February 19, 2010 due to low ratings.
Sons of Tucson – Canceled after four episodes on April 5, 2010 due to low ratings.
'Til Death – Brad Garrett confirmed the show's cancellation on March 23, 2010.
MyNetworkTV
WWE SmackDown – Moved to Syfy in October 2010. The move leaves MyNetworkTV with no original programming.
NBC
Heroes – Officially canceled on May 14, 2010. It was returned as miniseries titled Heroes: Reborn in 2015.
The Jay Leno Show – Officially canceled on January 7, 2010. See the 2010 Tonight Show conflict.
Law & Order – On May 13, 2010, NBC decided to cancel Law & Order after 20 seasons on the air (tying it with Gunsmoke as the longest-running primetime drama). The final episode aired on May 24, 2010.
Mercy – Officially canceled on May 14, 2010.
The Philanthropist – Officially canceled on October 21, 2009.
Southland – Officially canceled on October 8, 2009. Moved to TNT in January.
Trauma – Officially canceled on May 14, 2010.
Data sources: AC Nielsen, TV By The Numbers
