* Different Rating Systems: There are multiple ways to measure TV show popularity, including:
* Nielsen Ratings: These are the most common and focus on household viewership.
* Critical Acclaim: Ratings from critics and reviewers.
* Audience Reviews: Ratings from viewers on platforms like IMDb.
* Specific Time Period: We need to define if we're looking at the entire year of 1996 or a specific season (Fall/Winter/Spring).
To help you find the answer, please specify:
1. Which rating system you're interested in (Nielsen, critical, audience, etc.)
2. Which time period you're interested in (the entire year or a specific season).
Once you provide this information, I can help you find the highest-rated TV show of 1996.