The following is the 2002–03 network television schedule for the six major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 2002 through June 2003. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 2001–02 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.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. .
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.
Sunday
Network7:00 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 FallThe Wonderful World of DisneyAliasThe Practice WinterL.A. Dragnet SpringThe Practice SummerCBS FallBecker Bram & AliceCBS Sunday Movie Mid-fall WinterMy Big Fat Greek Life Becker Spring Summer Becker Charlie Lawrence Mid-summerWithout a Trace Fox FallMLB on Fox Mid-fallFuturamaThe Simpsons The SimpsonsKing of the HillMalcolm in the MiddleMalcolm in the Middle Local programming Late fallKing of the Hill Andy Richter Controls the Universe WinterThe Simpsons Malcolm in the Middle Spring Oliver Beene The Pitts Mid-springKing of the Hill The Simpsons Oliver Beene SummerFuturamaKing of the Hill Mid-summer BanzaiMalcolm in the Middle Late summer BanzaiKing of the Hill NBC FallDateline SundayAmerican DreamsLaw & Order: Criminal Intent Boomtown WinterKingpin SpringBoomtown SummerDateline Sunday Law & Order: Crime & Punishment Mid-summer The Restaurant Late summerDateline SundayAmerican DreamsThe WB FallGilmore Girls CharmedAngelLocal programming WinterHigh School Reunion SpringBlack Sash Mid-springCharmed SummerBoarding House: North Shore Mid-summerCharmed
NOTE: Fox was to have aired Oliver Beene and The Grubbs on Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., respectively, but instead made last-minute changes by postponing Oliver Beene to the following spring and canceling The Grubbs. In their places, King of the Hill and reruns of Malcolm in the Middle were slotted.
Monday Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PMABC Fall The Drew Carey Show Whose Line Is It Anyway?NFL Monday ShowcaseMonday Night Football Mid-fallSpecial programming Late fallMonk WinterVeritas: The QuestThe PracticeMiracles Late winterABC News programming SpringThe Practice Late springVarious programmingPrimetime Live: Special Edition SummerABC Sports programmingCBS FallThe King of Queens Yes, Dear Everybody Loves Raymond Still Standing CSI: Miami Winter Spring SummerYes, Dear Still Standing The King of Queens Fox FallSpecial programmingLocal programming Mid-fallBoston PublicSpecial programming WinterJoe Millionaire Late winterMarried by America Spring Mr. Personality Summer Anything for LoveStupid Behavior Caught on Tape Paradise Hotel Mid-summerThe O.C. NBC FallFear Factor Third WatchCrossing Jordan Winter Spring SummerFor Love or MoneyWho Wants to Marry My Dad?UPN The Parkers One on One Girlfriends Half & HalfLocal programmingThe WB Fall7th HeavenEverwood Winter Spring Summer7th Heaven
Tuesday Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PMABC Fall8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage DaughterAccording to Jim Life with Bonnie Less than Perfect NYPD Blue (#29/7.8) Spring According to JimLost at Home Follow Up Less than Perfect Summer 8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter Mid-Summer Life with BonnieCBS FallJAG (#22/8.9)The Guardian (#27/8.3)Judging Amy (#18/9.5) Winter Spring Summer Mid-Summer Big Brother CupidFox Fall That '70s Show Grounded for Life Various SpecialsLocal Programming Follow Up MLB on FOX Late FallThat '70s Show That '70s Show (Repeats)24Local Programming December Andy Richter Controls the Universe WinterAmerican Idol (#5/12.6) Summer American Juniors Keen Eddie Mid-Summer The O.C. Late Summer Performing As...NBC Fall Just Shoot Me! In-LawsFrasier (#26/8.4) Hidden HillsDateline NBC Winter In-Laws Just Shoot Me!A.U.S.A. Kingpin MarchLet's Make a DealDateline NBC Follow Up Just Shoot Me! Good Morning Miami Watching Ellie SummerDog Eat DogLast Comic Standing Mid-Summer Law & Order: Special Victims UnitUPN FallBuffy the Vampire SlayerHaunted Local Programming November Girlfriends (Repeats) Various Comedy Encores Winter Abby Girlfriends (Repeats) March Various Comedy & Drama Encores Spring Platinum Follow Up America's Next Top Model Summer America's Next Top Model (Repeats) Mid-Summer One on One AbbyBuffy the Vampire SlayerThe WBGilmore GirlsSmallville
NOTE: Grounded for Life was also originally scheduled to run on Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on Fox, but it was pulled after two new episodes in September, and one in early December. The show moved to The WB in the spring in 2003.
Wednesday Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PMABC FallMy Wife & KidsGeorge LopezThe Bachelor (#16/9.9)MDs Follow Up Various ABC News Programs DecemberExtreme Makeover JanuaryThe Bachelorette (#16/9.9) The Mole Mid-February I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Various Specials SpringThe Bachelor (#16/9.9)All American Girl Late AprilExtreme Makeover Summer The Drew Carey Show The Drew Carey ShowThe Dating Experiment AugustThe Real Roseanne Show The Family Follow Up George Lopez The Drew Carey ShowCBS Fall 60 Minutes II The Amazing Race Presidio Med Winter Star Search 60 Minutes II 48 Hours Investigates Spring June Various Specials Mid-Summer 60 Minutes II Big Brother Cupid Late summer 48 Hours InvestigatesFox Fall The Bernie Mac Show Cedric the Entertainer PresentsFastlaneLocal Programming WinterThat '70s ShowAmerican Idol (#6/12.5) The Bernie Mac Show Cedric the Entertainer Presents SpringAmerican Idol (#6/12.5)Wanda at Large Follow UpAmerican Idol (#6/12.5) The Bernie Mac Show Summer American Juniors Paradise HotelNBC FallEdThe West Wing (#21/9.0)Law & Order (#9/11.7) Winter SpringDateline NBC Summer Fame Law & Order Mid-Summer Race to the Altar The West Wing (#21/9.0)UPNStar Trek: EnterpriseThe Twilight ZoneLocal ProgrammingThe WB Fall Dawson's Creek Birds of Prey Winter Angel Spring Summer Boarding House: North Shore The Jamie Kennedy Experiment The Jamie Kennedy Experiment Mid-Summer Smallville Pepsi Smash
Thursday
Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.ABC FallMonk Push, Nevada Primetime Thursday Late fallDinotopiaSpecial programming WinterSpecial programming Mid-winterProfiles from the Front LineAre You Hot?: The Search for America's Sexiest People SpringSpecial programming Mid-springNBA on ABC Late springABC Thursday Night MoviePrimetime Thursday SummerVarious programmingCBS FallSurvivor: Thailand CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Without a Trace WinterStar Search Mid-winterSurvivor: The Amazon SpringThe Amazing RaceFox FallMLB on Fox Mid-fall30 Seconds to FameSpecial programmingLocal programming Late fallFox Thursday Night Movie WinterJoe Millionaire The Pulse SpringVarious programming Late spring Stupid Behavior Caught on Tape 30 Seconds to Fame SummerVarious programmingTemptation IslandNBC FallFriends Scrubs Will & Grace Good Morning, Miami ER Winter SpringFrasier UPN WWE SmackDown!Local programmingThe WB FallFamily AffairDo OverThe Jamie Kennedy Experiment Off Centre Late fallThe Jamie Kennedy Experiment Winter High School Reunion (Repeats) The Surreal Life The Jamie Kennedy Experiment Late winterSabrina the Teenage Witch Family AffairThe Jamie Kennedy Experiment SpringVarious programming The Jamie Kennedy Experiment On the Spot Mid-springThe WB Thursday Night Movie Late springVarious programming The O'KeefesThe Jamie Kennedy Experiment SummerThe WB Thursday Night Movie
NOTE: Movies, baseball games, reruns, and specials comprised most of the programming Thursday nights on Fox. Septuplets was supposed to air at 9-10, but it was cancelled at the last minute.
Friday Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PMABC FallAmerica's Funniest Home VideosVarious programming20/20 Mid-fall Whose Line Is It Anyway? The Drew Carey Show Spring8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter Regular Joe Mid-springAmerica's Funniest Home Videos SummerWhose Line Is It Anyway?CBS Fall48 HoursHackRobbery Homicide Division Late fallSpecial programming WinterStar Search48 Hours Spring Baby BobYes, Dear SummerBig BrotherJAG Fox FallFireflyJohn Doe Local programming WinterFastlane Spring SummerThe Bernie Mac Show Wanda at Large Boston Public NBC FallProvidenceDateline FridayLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit WinterMister Sterling SpringAmerica's Most Talented KidEd Mid-springDateline FridayUPNUPN's Night at the MoviesLocal programmingThe WB FallWhat I Like About YouSabrina the Teenage WitchReba Greetings from Tucson WinterGrounded for Life Spring Greetings from Tucson
Saturday Network8:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.9:00 p.m.9:30 p.m.10:00 p.m.10:30 p.m.ABCABC Saturday Movie of the WeekCBSTouched by an AngelThe DistrictThe AgencyFox COPSCOPS America's Most Wanted:America Fights BackLocal programmingNBC FallNBC Saturday Night Movie Winter Law & Order Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Special Victims Unit SpringHunter Law & Order Late springNBC Saturday Night Movie Summer Just Shoot Me! NBC Saturday Night Movie
By network ABC
Returning series 20/20 ABC Saturday Movie of the Week ABC Thursday Night Movie According to Jim Alias America's Funniest Home Videos The Bachelor The Drew Carey Show George Lopez The Mole Monday Night Football Monk My Wife and Kids NYPD Blue The Practice Primetime Whose Line is it Anyway? The Wonderful World of Disney
New series 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter Are You Hot?: The Search for America's Sexiest People * The Bachelorette The Dating Experiment * Dinotopia Extreme Makeover * The Family * I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here * L.A. Dragnet * Less than Perfect Life with Bonnie Lost at Home * MDs Miracles Profiles from the Front Line * Push, Nevada The Real Roseanne Show * Regular Joe * That Was Then Veritas: The Quest *
Not returning from 2001–02: ABC Big Picture Show The ABC Monday Night Movie Bob Patterson The Chair The Court Dharma & Greg Houston Medical The Job Once and Again Philly Spin City Thieves Vanished The Wayne Brady Show Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central) What About Joan? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (moved to syndication) Widows
CBS
Returning series 48 Hours 60 Minutes 60 Minutes II The Agency The Amazing Race Baby Bob Becker Big Brother CBS Sunday Movie CSI: Crime Scene Investigation The District Everybody Loves Raymond The Guardian JAG Judging Amy The King of Queens Survivor Touched by an Angel Yes, Dear
New series Bram & Alice Charlie Lawrence * CSI: Miami Hack My Big Fat Greek Life * Presidio Med Queens Supreme * Robbery Homicide Division Star Search * Still Standing Without a Trace
Not returning from 2001–02: Citizen Baines Danny The Education of Max Bickford The Ellen Show Family Law First Monday That's Life Wolf Lake
Fox
Returning series 24 30 Seconds to Fame American Idol