▁begin ▁their ▁prime ▁time ▁line ups ▁on ▁all ▁seven ▁night s ▁of ▁the ▁week ); ▁Fox , ▁The ▁C W ▁and ▁My Network TV , ▁in ▁contrast , ▁do ▁not ▁carry ▁any ▁programming ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 0 : 0 0 / 9 : 0 0   p . m . ▁hour ▁and ▁leave ▁that ▁hour ▁for ▁their ▁affili ates ▁to ▁provide ▁programming ▁of ▁their ▁own . ▁ ▁Typ ically , ▁family - orient ed ▁comedy ▁programs ▁led ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁part ▁of ▁prime ▁time , ▁although ▁in ▁recent ▁years , ▁reality ▁television ▁programs ▁( such ▁as ▁Dan cing ▁with ▁the ▁Stars ▁and ▁American ▁Id ol ), ▁and ▁more ▁adult - orient ed ▁script ed ▁programs ▁– ▁both ▁com ed ies ▁and ▁dram as ▁– ▁have ▁largely ▁replaced ▁them . ▁Later ▁in ▁the ▁evening , ▁drama ▁series ▁of ▁various ▁types ▁( such ▁as ▁NC IS , ▁Law ▁& ▁Order : ▁Special ▁Vict ims ▁Unit ▁and ▁Grey ' s ▁An atom y ) ▁air . ▁Sunday ▁is ▁the ▁most - watch ed ▁night ▁on ▁American ▁television , ▁with ▁many ▁of ▁TV ' s ▁most ▁popular ▁shows ▁air ing ▁on ▁that ▁night . ▁View ership ▁tends ▁to ▁then ▁decl ine ▁throughout ▁the ▁week , ▁cul min ating ▁in ▁the ▁lowest ▁ratings ▁being ▁registered ▁on ▁Friday ▁and ▁Saturday ▁night ; ▁most ▁broadcast ▁networks ▁abandoned ▁the ▁programming ▁of ▁first - run ▁script ed ▁fare ▁on ▁S atur days ▁by ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁in ▁favor ▁of ▁sports , ▁new sm ag az ines ▁and ▁burn