<P> American Idol holds the record for most consecutive seasons at No. 1 (also its total), with eight . Note however that American Idol usually airs two episodes a week; for the 2005 - 2006 season, only the Tuesday show was ranked No. 1, overall American Idol was ranked No. 2 that season . For the show taken as a whole, it was No. 1 for six consecutive seasons . All in the Family, and The Cosby Show share second place for most consecutive (and total) seasons at No. 1, with five each . Counting in for total seasons at No. 1, 60 Minutes also holds a share of a three - way second place, and is the first (and currently only) U.S. primetime television show to lead the annual Nielsen ratings in at least 3 separate decades - 1970s, 1980s and 1990s . </P> <P> The most watched series per year was determined by the number of households viewing it from the 1950--1951 television season to the 1996--1997 television season . It has been determined by the number of persons viewing it since the 1997--1998 television season . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Season </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Live </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Live + 3 DVR </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Live + 7 DVR </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Show </Th> <Th> Network </Th> <Th> Viewers / Households (in millions) </Th> <Th> Show </Th> <Th> Network </Th> <Th> Viewers (in millions) </Th> <Th> Show </Th> <Th> Network </Th> <Th> Viewers (in millions) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> 1950s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1950--1951 </Td> <Td> Texaco Star Theatre </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 6.28 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1951--1952 </Td> <Td> Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 8.23 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1952--1953 </Td> <Td> I Love Lucy </Td> <Td> 13.73 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1953--1954 </Td> <Td> 15.29 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1954--1955 </Td> <Td> 15.14 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1955--1956 </Td> <Td> The $64,000 Question </Td> <Td> 16.58 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1956--1957 </Td> <Td> I Love Lucy </Td> <Td> 17.00 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1957--1958 </Td> <Td> Gunsmoke </Td> <Td> 18.07 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1958--1959 </Td> <Td> 17.40 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1959--1960 </Td> <Td> 18.44 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> 1960s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1960--1961 </Td> <Td> Gunsmoke </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 17.61 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1961--1962 </Td> <Td> Wagon Train </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 15.59 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1962--1963 </Td> <Td> The Beverly Hillbillies </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 18.11 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1963--1964 </Td> <Td> 20.18 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1964--1965 </Td> <Td> Bonanza </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 19.13 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1965--1966 </Td> <Td> 17.12 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1966--1967 </Td> <Td> 16.04 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1967--1968 </Td> <Td> The Andy Griffith Show </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 15.64 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1968--1969 </Td> <Td> Rowan & Martin's Laugh - In </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 18.52 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1969--1970 </Td> <Td> 15.39 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> 1970s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1970--1971 </Td> <Td> Marcus Welby, M.D. </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> <Td> 17.79 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1971--1972 </Td> <Td> All in the Family </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 21.11 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1972--1973 </Td> <Td> 21.58 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1973--1974 </Td> <Td> 20.65 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1974--1975 </Td> <Td> 20.69 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1975--1976 </Td> <Td> 20.95 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1976--1977 </Td> <Td> Happy Days </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> <Td> 22.43 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1977--1978 </Td> <Td> Laverne & Shirley </Td> <Td> 23.04 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978--1979 </Td> <Td> 22.72 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1979--1980 </Td> <Td> 60 Minutes </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 21.67 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> 1980s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980--1981 </Td> <Td> Dallas </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 27.57 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1981--1982 </Td> <Td> 23.15 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982--1983 </Td> <Td> 60 Minutes </Td> <Td> 21.24 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1983--1984 </Td> <Td> Dallas </Td> <Td> 21.54 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1984--1985 </Td> <Td> Dynasty </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> <Td> 21.23 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1985--1986 </Td> <Td> The Cosby Show </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 28.95 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986--1987 </Td> <Td> 30.50 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1987--1988 </Td> <Td> Unknown </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1988--1989 </Td> <Td> 23.14 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1989--1990 </Td> <Td> 21.28 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Roseanne </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> 1990s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1990--1991 </Td> <Td> Cheers </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 19.83 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1991--1992 </Td> <Td> 60 Minutes </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 20.17 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1992--1993 </Td> <Td> 20.39 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1993--1994 </Td> <Td> 19.69 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994--1995 </Td> <Td> Seinfeld </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 19.65 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1995--1996 </Td> <Td> ER </Td> <Td> 21.10 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1996--1997 </Td> <Td> 30.79 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1997--1998 </Td> <Td> Seinfeld </Td> <Td> 34.10 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998--1999 </Td> <Td> ER </Td> <Td> 25.40 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999--2000 </Td> <Td> Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Tues) </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> <Td> Unknown </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> 2000s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000--2001 </Td> <Td> Survivor </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 29.80 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001--2002 </Td> <Td> Friends </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 24.50 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002--2003 </Td> <Td> CSI: Crime Scene Investigation </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 26.12 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003--2004 </Td> <Td> American Idol (Tues) </Td> <Td> Fox </Td> <Td> 25.73 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2004--2005 </Td> <Td> 27.32 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005--2006 </Td> <Td> 31.17 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006--2007 </Td> <Td> American Idol (Wed) </Td> <Td> 30.58 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007--2008 </Td> <Td> American Idol (Tues) </Td> <Td> 28.80 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008--2009 </Td> <Td> American Idol (Wed) </Td> <Td> 25.53 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> American Idol (Wed) </Td> <Td> Fox </Td> <Td> 26.88 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009--2010 </Td> <Td> American Idol (Tues) </Td> <Td> 22.97 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> American Idol (Tues) </Td> <Td> 24.71 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="10"> 2010s </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2010--2011 </Td> <Td> American Idol (Wed) </Td> <Td> Fox </Td> <Td> 23.37 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> American Idol (Wed) </Td> <Td> Fox </Td> <Td> 25.97 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011--2012 </Td> <Td> NBC Sunday Night Football </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> Unknown </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> NBC Sunday Night Football </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 20.74 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012--2013 </Td> <Td> Unknown </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> NCIS </Td> <Td> CBS </Td> <Td> 21.34 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013--2014 </Td> <Td> 21.42 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> The Big Bang Theory </Td> <Td> 23.01 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014--2015 </Td> <Td> 20.69 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> NBC Sunday Night Football </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 20.81 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015--2016 </Td> <Td> 21.30 </Td> <Td> NBC Sunday Night Football </Td> <Td> NBC </Td> <Td> 21.38 </Td> <Td> 21.39 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016--2017 </Td> <Td> 19.63 </Td> <Td> 19.73 </Td> <Td> 19.75 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017--2018 </Td> <Td> 17.58 </Td> <Td> Roseanne </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> <Td> 18.21 </Td> <Td> Roseanne </Td> <Td> ABC </Td> <Td> 19.96 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Season </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Live </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Live + 3 DVR </Th> <Th_colspan="3"> Live + 7 DVR </Th> </Tr>

What is the most watched tv series in history