Explained by Buck Biggers in the July 1976 issue of the News Tribune, the ratings for CATM started to fall after NBC moved the show from Friday to Wednesday nights. So NBC decided to take the show of the air during the summer of 1976 and then once season 3 started, NBC put the show back on Friday nights after Sanford and Son. Then decided to add Della Reese to strengthen viewer loyal.



Why did they think Della would increase viewers because she was a sassy black woman like Aunt Esther on Sanford and Son?:lol::lol: