2001–02 United States network television schedule

The following is the 2001–02 network television schedule for the six major English language commercial broadcast networks in the United States. The schedule covers primetime hours from September 2001 through June 2002. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series cancelled after the 2000–01 season. All times are Eastern and Pacific, with certain exceptions, such as Monday Night Football.

New fall series are highlighted in bold.

From February 8 to 24, 2002, all of NBC's primetime programming was preempted in favor of coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Each of the 30 highest-rated shows is listed with its rank and rating as determined by Nielsen Media Research.[1]

  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.

Impact of the September 11 attacks

During the week of September 11, 2001, the major television networks aired continuous news coverage of the September 11 attacks. The news coverage preempted the networks' primetime schedules between September 11 and September 15, with regular programming resuming on September 16. As a result of the preemptions, the programs that were set to begin airing new seasons in mid-September had their premieres delayed until late September and early October. The Amazing Race was the first program to premiere in the 2001–02 season; the show's first season premiered on September 5, but had its second episode postponed from September 12 to September 19 due to the aforementioned news coverage. As a result of the scheduling oddities that were necessitated by the news coverage, the 2001–02 season was the second of four instances where the start of the season was delayed due to issues outside of the control of the major television networks; the other instances were the 1988–89 season (due to the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike) and the 2020–21 season (due to a suspension of television productions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic). The next major disruption to the primetime television schedules of the major television networks would not occur until the 2007–08 season, which was affected by the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, The fourth major disruption to the primetime television schedules of the major television networks is the ongoing 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike

The 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards, which were planned for September 16, were initially postponed to October 7, but news coverage of the United States invasion of Afghanistan prompted the awards to be postponed for a second time; the awards would be eventually held on November 4.

Sunday

Network 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC The Wonderful World of Disney Alias The Practice (#23/8.3)
(tied with NYPD Blue)
CBS Fall 60 Minutes (#13/10.1) The Education of Max Bickford CBS Sunday Movie
Summer Touched by an Angel
Mid-Summer Everybody Loves Raymond Becker
Fox Fall Futurama King of the Hill The Simpsons Malcolm in the Middle The X-Files Local programming
Summer Looking for Love: Bachelorettes in Alaska
Mid-Summer Greg the Bunny King of the Hill Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle
NBC Fall Dateline NBC The Weakest Link Law & Order: Criminal Intent (#27/7.9)
(Tied with Fear Factor and Providence)
UC: Undercover
Spring NBA on NBC Various Encore Programming
Summer Dateline NBC Law & Order: Crime & Punishment
Mid-Summer Various Encore Programming
The WB Fall Ripley's Believe It or Not! [lower-alpha 1] The Steve Harvey Show Men, Women & Dogs Nikki Off Centre Local Programming
Follow Up Off Centre Nikki
December Nikki Men, Women & Dogs
Winter The Steve Harvey Show The Steve Harvey Show The Jamie Kennedy Experiment For Your Love
Spring No Boundaries The Jamie Kennedy Experiment
Follow Up Flix from the Frog The Jamie Kennedy Experiment Off Centre
Summer Angel
Follow Up For Your Love For Your Love Charmed

NOTE: FOX aired 2 episodes of The Chamber in mid-January 2002. During the fall, Futurama and King of the Hill were preempted by overruns of NFL games. On The WB, Lost in the USA was supposed to air at 7–8, but it was cancelled due to 9/11 problems.

Monday

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall Who Wants to Be a Millionaire NFL Monday Showcase Monday Night Football (#7/11.5)
Winter The ABC Monday Night Movie
Spring My Wife & Kids (Repeats) The Wayne Brady Show Various Specials Once and Again
Follow Up America's Funniest Home Videos The Bachelor
May ABC Monday Night Movie
August NFL Preseason Football
CBS Fall The King of Queens (#19/8.9) Yes, Dear (#20/8.8)
(Tied with Crossing Jordan)
Everybody Loves Raymond (#4/12.8) Becker (#11/10.7) Family Law (#30/7.7)
(Tied with 60 Minutes II)
December The Ellen Show
January Yes, Dear (#20/8.8)
(Tied with Crossing Jordan)
Spring Yes, Dear (#20/8.8)
(Tied with Crossing Jordan)
Baby Bob (#25/8.1)
(Tied with Dateline NBC)
Follow Up The King of Queens (#19/8.9) Yes, Dear (#20/8.8)
(Tied with Crossing Jordan)
48 Hours
Fox Fall Boston Public Ally McBeal Local Programming
Spring The American Embassy
Follow Up Ally McBeal
Mid-July Titus Titus
Mid-August Boston Public
NBC Fall The Weakest Link Dateline NBC Crossing Jordan (#20/8.8)
(Tied with Yes, Dear)
Follow Up Third Watch
Winter Fear Factor (#27/7.9)
(Tied with Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Providence)
Summer Dog Eat Dog
Mid-Summer Meet My Folks
UPN The Hughleys One on One The Parkers Girlfriends Local Programming
The WB 7th Heaven Angel

Note: On ABC, The Runner was supposed to start when ESPN Monday Night Football concludes, but it was cancelled due to production problems.

Tuesday

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall Dharma & Greg What About Joan? Bob Patterson Spin City Philly
October Spin City NYPD Blue (#23/8.3)
(Tied with The Practice)
Winter The Chair
Spring Dharma & Greg Spin City
Follow Up The Court
Mid-Spring Philly
May Various Specials NYPD Blue (#23/8.3)
(Tied with The Practice)
June Spin City Spin City The Mole Houston Medical
July According to Jim According to Jim
August Monk[lower-alpha 2] Widows
CBS JAG (#14/9.9)
(Tied with Frasier)
The Guardian (#22/8.4) Judging Amy (#16/9.8)
(Tied with Inside Schwartz)
Fox Fall That '70s Show Undeclared Love Cruise Local Programming
Follow Up 24
Spring Andy Richter Controls the Universe
May That '70s Show (Repeats)
Summer American Idol: The Search for a Superstar
August Grounded for Life
NBC Fall Emeril Three Sisters Frasier (#14/9.9)
(Tied with JAG)
Scrubs Dateline Tuesday
Winter Imagine That
Follow Up Frasier (Repeats)
Spring Watching Ellie
May Various Specials
Summer Spy TV Spy TV
August Just Shoot Me! The Rerun Show
UPN Fall Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roswell Local Programming
Spring As If The Random Years
Follow Up Various Encore Programming
Late Spring Roswell
June Various Comedy Encores Various Comedy Encores
July Under One Roof
August Various Comedy Encores Various Comedy Encores
The WB Gilmore Girls Smallville

Note: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Roswell moved to UPN from The WB this season.

Wednesday

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall My Wife & Kids According to Jim The Drew Carey Show Whose Line is it Anyway? 20/20 Downtown
Mid October Bob Patterson
Follow Up Whose Line is it Anyway?
Winter The Job
Spring George Lopez Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)
Follow Up According to Jim The Job
Summer The Drew Carey Show
Mid-Summer My Wife & Kids
CBS Fall 60 Minutes II (#30/7.7)
(Tied with Family Law)
The Amazing Race Wolf Lake
November Various Specials
Winter CBS Wednesday Movie
Spring The Amazing Race 48 Hours
Summer CBS Wednesday Movie
Mid-Summer Big Brother 48 Hours
Fox Fall Malcolm in the Middle Grounded for Life The Bernie Mac Show Titus Local Programming
Winter That '80s Show
Spring Greg the Bunny
May That '70s Show The Bernie Mac Show
Summer Various Comedy Repeats American Idol: The Search for a Superstar
Mid-Summer 30 Seconds to Fame Meet the Marks
Follow Up 30 Seconds to Fame
NBC Fall Ed The West Wing (#8/11.4) Law & Order (#5/12.6)
Mid-Summer Various Specials
UPN Fall Star Trek: Enterprise Special Unit 2 Local Programming
Mid-February Various Specials
Spring Wolf Lake
May Star Trek: Enterprise
June Wolf Lake
Mid-Summer Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The WB Fall Dawson's Creek Felicity
Winter Glory Days
Spring Felicity
Summer Dawson's Creek
Mid-Summer WB Wednesday Movie

NOTE: When ABC announced their 2001 Fall Schedule, originally the plan was for The Job to air after The Drew Carey Show starting in mid-September and NYPD Blue would air in the 10pm ET timeslot after 20/20 Downtown returned to Friday nights in late December.[2] However, after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, ABC decided to not air The Job until 2002 because the show was set in New York City. In October, when the sitcom Bob Patterson was not doing well in the ratings on Tuesday nights, they moved the show to the Wednesday 9:30pm ET timeslot and put NYPD Blue in the Tuesday 9pm ET timeslot.

Thursday

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall Whose Line Is It Anyway? Whose Line Is It Anyway? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Primetime
Mid-Summer ABC Big Picture Show
CBS Fall Survivor: Africa (#6/11.8) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (#2/14.5) The Agency
Winter CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Repeats) / CBS Special Presentations
Spring Survivor: Marquesas (#6/11.8)
Summer The Price is Right Salutes
Mid-Summer Big Brother
Fox Fall Family Guy The Tick Temptation Island Local Programming
February Family Guy (Repeats)
March King of the Hill (Repeats) Futurama (Repeats)
April Greg the Bunny (Repeats) Andy Richter Controls the Universe (Repeats)
Follow Up Fox Thursday Night Movie
Mid-Summer Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction The Pulse
NBC Fall Friends (#1/15.0) Inside Schwartz (#16/9.8)
(Tied with Judging Amy)
Will & Grace (#9/11.0)
(Tied with Leap of Faith)
Just Shoot Me! (#18/9.3) ER (#3/14.2)
November Friends (Repeats)
December Inside Schwartz (#16/9.8)
(Tied with Judging Amy)
January Will & Grace (Repeats)
March Leap of Faith (#9/11.0)
(Tied with Will & Grace)
April Friends (Repeats)
Summer Scrubs
August The Rerun Show
UPN WWF Thursday Night SmackDown Local Programming
The WB Fall Popstars Elimidate Deluxe Charmed
Follow Up Popstars
December Popstars Maybe It's Me (Repeats)
Winter Various Drama Encores
March My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star
Spring Gilmore Girls (Repeats)
Follow Up Charmed (Repeats)
Summer The Jamie Kennedy Experiment The Jamie Kennedy Experiment
Mid-Summer Reba The Jamie Kennedy Experiment Off Centre

Friday

Network 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM
ABC Fall The Mole: The Next Betrayal Thieves Once and Again
Follow Up America's Funniest Home Videos
December Various Specials
Winter Once and Again Vanished
Follow Up Various Specials 20/20
Summer America's Funniest Home Videos
Mid-Summer Whose Line Is It Anyway? Whose Line Is It Anyway?
CBS Fall The Ellen Show Danny That's Life 48 Hours
Follow Up The King of Queens (Repeats)
November Yes, Dear (Repeats) The Ellen Show
December Various Specials
January JAG (Repeats) First Monday
Spring AFP: American Fighter Pilot
May CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Repeats)
Summer 48 Hours CBS Friday Night Movie
Mid-Summer Various Specials & Encore Programming
Fox Fall Dark Angel Pasadena Local Programming
Follow Up 24 (Repeats)
Spring That '70s Show (Repeats) Various Comedy Encores Dark Angel
Summer Dark Angel The X-Files
Mid-Summer Invasion of the Hidden Cameras Invasion of the Hidden Cameras
NBC Fall Providence (#27/7.9)
(Tied with Fear Factor and Law & Order: Criminal Intent)
Dateline NBC (#25/8.1)
(Tied with Baby Bob)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (#12/10.4)
Summer Dateline Friday (#25/8.1)
(Tied with Baby Bob)
August Dateline NBC (#25/8.1)
(Tied with Baby Bob)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Repeats)
UPN Fall UPN's Night at the Movies Local Programming
Spring Under One Roof As If As If
Follow Up UPN's Night at the Movies
The WB Fall Sabrina the Teenage Witch Maybe It's Me Reba Raising Dad
Winter Raising Dad Maybe It's Me
Mid-Summer Sabrina the Teenage Witch Raising Dad

NOTE: Fox aired The Chamber on January 25, 2002, after two preview airings on past Sunday nights. The show was cancelled after its Friday night airing.

Saturday

Network 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 ABC Saturday Night Movie
CBS Fall Touched by an Angel Citizen Baines The District
Mid-fall Various programming
Summer Big Brother The District The Agency (R)
Fox COPS COPS (R) America's Most Wanted:
America Fights Back
Local programming
NBC Special programming NBC Saturday Night Movie

By network

ABC

CBS

Fox

NBC

UPN

The WB

Note: The * indicates that the program was introduced in midseason.

Renewals and cancellations

ABC

CBS

Fox

NBC

UPN

The WB

ABC

CBS

Fox

NBC

UPN

The WB

References

  1. 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. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4.
  2. Carter, Bill (16 May 2001). "TV NOTES; '20/20' Bouncing and Vanishing". The New York Times.

Notes

  1. Originally aired on TBS Superstation
  2. Originally aired on USA Network
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