Does Anyone Know How Benson Did In ?The Ratings
When It Was On The ABC Televison Network.

Aaron

I found the rankings for you:

Season 1: #23
Season 2: #35
Season 3: #35
Season 4: #41
Season 5: #50
Season 6: #49
Season 7: #71

ratings info for shows back then, callmetootie? I have the big television book (that lists the top 30 for each season), but have been looking for more info. I've seen random info by looking on library microfilm and such, but... Thanks for any assistance you can provide. :)

Benson really dropped in theratings its final season- I think it had moved to a new time slot, which killed it.

Where did you get those ratings from?

You can find ratings for the past 50 years in the The Complete Directory to Primetime Television.

Yeah- that's the book I referenced in my earlier post. But, it only lists the top 30 for each season (which is a nice treat). I was wondering where to find full-season ranks for shows, like the ones found for Benson.

I found the rankings for you:

Season 1: #23
Season 2: #35
Season 3: #35
Season 4: #41
Season 5: #50
Season 6: #49
Season 7: #71

By the Spring of '86, this show was dead. And that my friend is true.

I found the rankings for you:

Season 1: #23
Season 2: #35
Season 3: #35
Season 4: #41
Season 5: #50
Season 6: #49
Season 7: #71

Come on, that's good enough to be released on DVD :D

By the Spring of '86, this show was dead. And that my friend is true.

Yeah, by that time other shows were taking over prime time....Who's The Boss, The Cosby Show, and Growing Pains come to mind. But at least it lasted as long as it did. Many shows never get past 1 or 2 seasons. ;)

Yeah, by that time other shows were taking over prime time....Who's The Boss, The Cosby Show, and Growing Pains come to mind. But at least it lasted as long as it did. Many shows never get past 1 or 2 seasons. ;)



Well that #71 probably was the result of Benson going up against the Big Hit on CBS during the mid 80's on Friday Nights, "DALLAS"

I found the rankings for you:

Season 1: #23
Season 2: #35
Season 3: #35
Season 4: #41
Season 5: #50
Season 6: #49
Season 7: #71

Damn, that is a big drop to 71 in season 7. I guess if it didn't get into 49th place in season six it probably would have recieved the ax then. But why would the show go out on a cliffhanger if the ratings were that that low in season 7?

Damn, that is a big drop to 71 in season 7. I guess if it didn't get into 49th place in season six it probably would have recieved the ax then. But why would the show go out on a cliffhanger if the ratings were that that low in season 7?
The show filmed 4 different endings and decided to use the cliffhanger. I remember watching that episode and it pissed me off.

The show filmed 4 different endings and decided to use the cliffhanger. I remember watching that episode and it pissed me off.

Same here, I saw it on the TVLand marathon this weekend. It would have been nice to see some closure to a show that has been on for several seasons.

Damn, that is a big drop to 71 in season 7. I guess if it didn't get into 49th place in season six it probably would have recieved the ax then. But why would the show go out on a cliffhanger if the ratings were that that low in season 7?



Can we really take those ratings seriously since the person never stated the source. She never said where she got that information

The show filmed 4 different endings and decided to use the cliffhanger. I remember watching that episode and it pissed me off.

Me too, although I often wondered if they left it open to another sequel? Of course, you would think if this was their plan, they would have had Benson win the election. Maybe they just thought there wouldn't be enough change. Then Benson would move into the Governor's mansion and it would be the same setting all over again.

Me too, although I often wondered if they left it open to another sequel? Of course, you would think if this was their plan, they would have had Benson win the election. Maybe they just thought there wouldn't be enough change. Then Benson would move into the Governor's mansion and it would be the same setting all over again.
I think they just wanted to leave it up to each viewer to decide for themselves what happened. I didn't like it very much because I always like closure and having watched Benson for 7 years I thought I deserved it.

I think they just wanted to leave it up to each viewer to decide for themselves what happened. I didn't like it very much because I always like closure and having watched Benson for 7 years I thought I deserved it.

I guess they were more concerned about syndication sales and if the series ended cliche no one would care to watch it over and over. I say this because that's why 'Who's the Boss' ended the way they did rather than doing the obvious of marrying Tony and Angela. This was reported on E True Hollywood story last year.

...it was scheduled on Thursdays at 8:30pm(et), right after "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY". By mid-season, "MORK & MINDY" was its lead-in, and was watched by more than enough people to convince the network to move the show to Fridays at 8pm in the fall of 1980 to "jump start" that evening's schedule. There, "BENSON" flourished, always attracting a comfortable audience and doing quite well...until late 1984, when the ratings started to decline a bit. ABC decided to move the show to 9:30pm in the fall of 1985....with "DIFF'RENT STROKES" as its lead-in [which had just moved from NBC]. That may have contributed to the series' cancellation (and competition from "DALLAS" as well). ABC was undergoing some big changes in its program management, and the new "suits" decided that "BENSON" had run its course.

:tv:

...it was scheduled on Thursdays at 8:30pm(et), right after "LAVERNE & SHIRLEY". By mid-season, "MORK & MINDY" was its lead-in, and was watched by more than enough people to convince the network to move the show to Fridays at 8pm in the fall of 1980 to "jump start" that evening's schedule. There, "BENSON" flourished, always attracting a comfortable audience and doing quite well...until late 1984, when the ratings started to decline a bit. ABC decided to move the show to 9:30pm in the fall of 1985....with "DIFF'RENT STROKES" as its lead-in [which had just moved from NBC]. That may have contributed to the series' cancellation (and competition from "DALLAS" as well). ABC was undergoing some big changes in its program management, and the new "suits" decided that "BENSON" had run its course.

:tv:

That was a dumb move by the network. Different Strokes and Benson had two different audiences so I can see why that moved failed for both of those shows. Different Strokes was quickly cancelled after one season on ABC. I guess its safe to say ABC was trying to go the family route after Benson was given the ax.

If my Memory is Correct I think during The Last Season of Benson
The ABC Televison Network aired Benson aired on Saturday Night
at 8:30 pm Easten 7:30 pm Central

If my Memory is Correct I think during The Last Season of Benson
The ABC Televison Network aired Benson aired on Saturday Night
at 8:30 pm Easten 7:30 pm Central
That is correct.

....in April 1986, ABC moved the series "out of the way" to Saturday nights at 8:30(et) to burn off the remaining repeats, and give "another show" the 9:30pm Friday time period (we all know what THAT one was!). ABC"s track record on Saturdays is still the same...that's why they're showing movies now.

:tv:

....in April 1986, ABC moved the series "out of the way" to Saturday nights at 8:30(et) to burn off the remaining repeats, and give "another show" the 9:30pm Friday time period (we all know what THAT one was!). ABC"s track record on Saturdays is still the same...that's why they're showing movies now.

:tv:


Well moving a show to Saturday Night when it's already on it's last leg is a good way to get rid of it-lol

I was sad when Benson Ended on The ABC Televison Network

....in April 1986, ABC moved the series "out of the way" to Saturday nights at 8:30(et) to burn off the remaining repeats, and give "another show" the 9:30pm Friday time period (we all know what THAT one was!). ABC"s track record on Saturdays is still the same...that's why they're showing movies now.

:tv:

LOL, NBC had the success of Saturday night programming in the 1980's but by the mid 1990's, cable was taking over and more people were going out on Saturday nights. CBS does well with the programming for the older adults and Fox always did well with Cops and Americas Most Wanted.

Well moving a show to Saturday Night when it's already on it's last leg is a good way to get rid of it-lol

LOL, each network has its worst night they move people for cancellations. Fox has Fridays!

I think Benson could have Stayed on for Another Year

....ABC DIDN'T. They'd rather take a gamble with a new series that costs a bit less in its inital season than continue to pay for an established one (like "BENSON") that lost most of its loyal viewers and didn't justify the cost of renewing it for another one. That's how TV works, 'agmfox8'.

:mad:

I found the rankings for you:

Season 1: #23
Season 2: #35
Season 3: #35
Season 4: #41
Season 5: #50
Season 6: #49
Season 7: #71


Just want everyone to know that I knew these numbers were false because she never stated where she got the Info. Benson was not ranked #35 after it's 3rd season, the final ranking for that season was #63. Info found in TV Book-American Television, by Marc Eliot

callmetootie liked to make things up. He is no longer around here thankfully.