<Table> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> <Th colspan="3"> Nielsen ratings </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First aired </Th> <Th> Last aired </Th> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Rating </Th> <Th> Tied with </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 20 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> January 9 , 1996 ( 1996 - 01 - 09 ) </Td> <Td> May 21 , 1996 ( 1996 - 05 - 21 ) </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> 12.1 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 26 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 22 , 1996 ( 1996 - 09 - 22 ) </Td> <Td> May 18 , 1997 ( 1997 - 05 - 18 ) </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 10.8 </Td> <Td> Law & Order </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 27 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 24 , 1997 ( 1997 - 09 - 24 ) </Td> <Td> May 20 , 1998 ( 1998 - 05 - 20 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 24 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 23 , 1998 ( 1998 - 09 - 23 ) </Td> <Td> May 25 , 1999 ( 1999 - 05 - 25 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> 5 </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 22 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 21 , 1999 ( 1999 - 09 - 21 ) </Td> <Td> May 23 , 2000 ( 2000 - 05 - 23 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> 6 </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 20 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> October 24 , 2000 ( 2000 - 10 - 24 ) </Td> <Td> May 22 , 2001 ( 2001 - 05 - 22 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> </Table>
<Table> <Tr> <Th colspan="2"> Season </Th> <Th colspan="2"> Episodes </Th> <Th colspan="2"> Originally aired </Th> <Th colspan="3"> Nielsen ratings </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> First aired </Th> <Th> Last aired </Th> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Rating </Th> <Th> Tied with </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 20 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> January 9 , 1996 ( 1996 - 01 - 09 ) </Td> <Td> May 21 , 1996 ( 1996 - 05 - 21 ) </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> 12.1 </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 26 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 22 , 1996 ( 1996 - 09 - 22 ) </Td> <Td> May 18 , 1997 ( 1997 - 05 - 18 ) </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 10.8 </Td> <Td> Law & Order </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 27 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 24 , 1997 ( 1997 - 09 - 24 ) </Td> <Td> May 20 , 1998 ( 1998 - 05 - 20 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 24 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 23 , 1998 ( 1998 - 09 - 23 ) </Td> <Td> May 25 , 1999 ( 1999 - 05 - 25 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> 5 </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 22 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> September 21 , 1999 ( 1999 - 09 - 21 ) </Td> <Td> May 23 , 2000 ( 2000 - 05 - 23 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td colspan="1"> 6 </Td> <Td colspan="2"> 20 </Td> <Td colspan="1"> October 24 , 2000 ( 2000 - 10 - 24 ) </Td> <Td> May 22 , 2001 ( 2001 - 05 - 22 ) </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> <Td> N / A </Td> </Tr> </Table>
when did third rock from the sun start
when did third rock from the sun start
January 9 , 1996
January 9 , 1996