This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 2008–09 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Idol — Wednesday | FOX | 15.1 |
| 2 | American Idol — Tuesday | 14.6 | |
| 3 | Dancing with the Stars — Monday | ABC | 12.9 |
| 4 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | CBS | 11.5 |
| 5 | NCIS | 10.9 | |
| 6 | The Mentalist | 10.8 | |
| 7 | Dancing with the Stars — Tuesday | ABC | 10.7 |
| 8 | Sunday Night Football | NBC | 10.0 |
| 9 | Desperate Housewives | ABC | 9.9 |
| 10 | Grey's Anatomy | 9.6 | |
| 11 | Criminal Minds | CBS | 9.4 |
| 12 | Two and a Half Men | 9.1 | |
| CSI: Miami | |||
| 14 | 60 Minutes | 8.9 | |
| 15 | CSI: NY | 8.6 | |
| 16 | Without a Trace | 8.4 | |
| 17 | House | FOX | 8.1 |
| 18 | Survivor | CBS | 7.8 |
| Eleventh Hour | |||
| 20 | Cold Case | 7.5 | |
| The Bachelor | ABC | ||
| 22 | 24 | FOX | 7.3 |
| 23 | Brothers & Sisters | ABC | 7.2 |
| 24 | Rules of Engagement | CBS | 7.1 |
| 25 | Castle | ABC | 6.9 |
| 26 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | NBC | 6.7 |
| ER | |||
| Bones | FOX | ||
| 29 | Ghost Whisperer | CBS | 6.6 |
| Lost | ABC | ||
| NUMB3RS | CBS |