This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 2009–10 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.[1]
| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Idol — Tuesday | FOX | 13.7 |
| 2 | American Idol — Wednesday | 13.3 | |
| 3 | Dancing with the Stars | ABC | 12.6 |
| 4 | NCIS | CBS | 11.5 |
| 5 | Sunday Night Football | NBC | 11.3 |
| 6 | The Mentalist | CBS | 10.6 |
| 7 | Dancing with the Stars — Results | ABC | 9.9 |
| 8 | NCIS: Los Angeles | CBS | 9.8 |
| Undercover Boss | |||
| 10 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 9.7 | |
| 11 | Grey's Anatomy | ABC | 9.0 |
| 12 | Two and a Half Men | CBS | 8.9 |
| 13 | Desperate Housewives | ABC | 8.8 |
| 14 | The Big Bang Theory | CBS | 8.5 |
| Criminal Minds | |||
| The Good Wife | |||
| 17 | 60 Minutes | 8.4 | |
| 18 | CSI: Miami | 8.1 | |
| 19 | CSI: NY | 7.9 | |
| Survivor | |||
| 21 | The Bachelor | ABC | 7.8 |
| 22 | House | FOX | 7.5 |
| 23 | Brothers & Sisters | ABC | 7.0 |
| 24 | Castle | 6.9 | |
| Lost | |||
| 26 | The Amazing Race | CBS | 6.6 |
| 27 | Bones | FOX | 6.5 |
| 28 | 24 | 6.4 | |
| 29 | Cold Case | CBS | 6.3 |
| Private Practice | ABC |