Here are the top 5 highest-rated TV shows of 2015, as compiled by Nielsen: In fifth place was Empire, the popular series led by Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard which debuted in January. In fourth place was NCIS: New Orleans, followed by investigative news journal 60 Minutes, then The Big Bang Theory: the family-friendly sitcom about a group of nerdy scientists. And topping all others was NCIS, in which Mark Harmon and special agents solve crimes related to the Navy and Marine Corps.