October 1976 article from the index Journal reports

The premiere episode of VDAC finished ranked #17th best show on TV. After the 2nd broadcast, viewers bailed on the show and it finished #56 after just one week. The show competed with Monday Night Football

October 1976 article from the index Journal reports

The premiere episode of TNDVS finished ranked #17th best show on TV. After the 2nd broadcast, viewers bailed on the show and it finished #56 after just one week. The show competed with Monday Night Football

A couple of points, the show Van Dyke and Company did get off to a good start but that was largely because of the lead-in, the first network showing of Airport 1975. The film ran from 8pm-10pm that Monday evening with the Van Dyke show holding most of the audience at 10pm. The problem, Van Dyke and Company's regular timeslot was Thursday night at 10, Thursday nights for NBC were the badlands of the TV week. Gemini Man at 8pm bombed finishing in 82nd place, at 9pm Best Sellers this show consisted of several miniseries based on recent bestselling books it finished in 73rd place with the Van Dyke show pulling up the rear finishing in 89th place. To make matters worse in November Van Dyke and Company was moved up to the 8pm slot against The Waltons and Welcome Back Kotter!

A couple of points, the show Van Dyke and Company did get off to a good start but that was largely because of the lead-in, the first network showing of Airport 1975. The film ran from 8pm-10pm that Monday evening with the Van Dyke show holding most of the audience at 10pm. The problem, Van Dyke and Company's regular timeslot was Thursday night at 10, Thursday nights for NBC were the badlands of the TV week. Gemini Man at 8pm bombed finishing in 82nd place, at 9pm Best Sellers this show consisted of several miniseries based on recent bestselling books it finished in 73rd place with the Van Dyke show pulling up the rear finishing in 89th place. To make matters worse in November Van Dyke and Company was moved up to the 8pm slot against The Waltons and Welcome Back Kotter!

I just made a quick edit because I realized that this info I posted is for The 1976 Comedy Van Dyke and Company not the New Dick Van Dyke show from from 1971 to 1974.

A couple of points, the show Van Dyke and Company did get off to a good start but that was largely because of the lead-in, the first network showing of Airport 1975. The film ran from 8pm-10pm that Monday evening with the Van Dyke show holding most of the audience at 10pm. The problem, Van Dyke and Company's regular timeslot was Thursday night at 10, Thursday nights for NBC were the badlands of the TV week. Gemini Man at 8pm bombed finishing in 82nd place, at 9pm Best Sellers this show consisted of several miniseries based on recent bestselling books it finished in 73rd place with the Van Dyke show pulling up the rear finishing in 89th place. To make matters worse in November Van Dyke and Company was moved up to the 8pm slot against The Waltons and Welcome Back Kotter!


The ranking after the first airing on the new night was 57th, so it was consistent with its numbers lol