get renewed after it's 1st season? The show finished 68th ranked after the 74-75 season and was actually renewed:eek::eek::eek::eek:

http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2020/02/1974-75-ratings-history.html

The show finished 68th ranked after the 74-75 season and was actually renewed:eek::eek::eek::eek:

The TV Ratings Guide also states (http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2020/03/written-asking-where-cheers-is-by.html) that St. Elsewhere ranked 87TH (!) in its first year (1982-83); it's worse than fellow freshman Cheers's 74th ranking that same year. In fact, St. Elsewhere couldn't even rank above 47th place in the year-end Nielsen rankings during its six-year run. And that #47 ranking was for its last season! Except for that first year, St. Elsewhere's year-end average household ratings were always in the 13's range, and St. Elsewhere kept getting renewed because of its strength in the 18-49 age demographic.

But the first season of Barney Miller was a mid-season replacement with only about a dozen episodes.

And the 1st season of Gloria finished at #19 and cancelled:lol: Crazy:lol:

The TV Ratings Guide also states (http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/2020/03/written-asking-where-cheers-is-by.html) that St. Elsewhere ranked 87TH (!) in its first year (1982-83); it's worse than fellow freshman Cheers's 74th ranking that same year. In fact, St. Elsewhere couldn't even rank above 47th place in the year-end Nielsen rankings during its six-year run. And that #47 ranking was for its last season! Except for that first year, St. Elsewhere's year-end average household ratings were always in the 13's range, and St. Elsewhere kept getting renewed because of its strength in the 18-49 age demographic.

I ended up finding out other shows ranked lower and still got renewed which was shocking

A couple of key points, as SarahBellum noted Barney Miller was a midseason replacement. It was also up against mega-smash The Waltons which finished the year number 8 in the ratings. ABC was still running a distant third, a quality series with potential was enough to sell ABC on giving the series a chance to grow.

Shows that are high quality are worth sticking with even if they are low rated to start with. It paid off for ABC with Barney Miller and The Middle, NBC with Cheers, and CBS with The Dick Van Dyke Show.

A couple of key points, as SarahBellum noted Barney Miller was a midseason replacement. It was also up against mega-smash The Waltons which finished the year number 8 in the ratings. ABC was still running a distant third, a quality series with potential was enough to sell ABC on giving the series a chance to grow.

And didnt do all that great the next season when it went up against the waltons and didnt improve until it was not in competition with the waltons

Back then, sometimes the networks would see something worthwhile in a low rated series and give it a second season to find an audience.

But the first season of Barney Miller was a mid-season replacement with only about a dozen episodes.

Hill Street Blues was also a midseason replacement (with 17 episodes), and that one also ranked #87 (for the 1980 81 season, out of 96 shows).