"ANNIVERSARY SURPRISE" in March of 1979. The Nielsen ratings for episode "An Anniversary Surprise" that aired on March 13, 1979, made Three's Company the most watched TV show in Television History, The episode was watched by more than 70 Million people in nearly 30 million homes. Of all the homes in the country with a TV set, 38.5% saw atleast part of the show.

It was the most watched TV show at the time in March of 1979. It has since been passed by other shows. It's still probably in the top 10-15 of all time as far as TV shows.

The Ropers retained a large part of the audience with a a 36.0 / 55 rating/share. The Big Event / Bob Hope Special and a repeat of a CBS TV movie were no match for them.

This is from ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/share/69330623-4554-800c-97bb-0ef0e726b5a1):

2. Most-Watched NON-Sports Telecasts (U.S.)

These are the real comparables to Three’s Company.

Top Non-Sports Broadcasts
Rank Broadcast Year Viewers
1 M*A*S*H – “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” 1983 ~106 million
2 Dallas – “Who Done It?” (Who Shot J.R.) 1980 ~83 million
3 Roots (miniseries, finale) 1977 ~80 million
4 The Fugitive (finale) 1967 ~78 million
5 Cheers finale 1993 ~84 million households tuned in live at some point (≈ 80+ million viewers estimated)
6 Seinfeld finale 1998 ~76 million
7 Survivor Season 1 finale 2000 ~51 million
8 Friends finale 2004 ~52 million
9 The Simpsons “Bart Gets an F” (record episode) 1990 ~33.6 million
10 Three’s Company – “An Anniversary Surprise” 1979 ~70+ million viewers

3. Where “An Anniversary Surprise” Fits Historically
Why the episode was huge

It aired when ABC was the #1 network.

Three’s Company was at its cultural peak.

Only 3 major networks existed, so audience concentration was enormous.

Nielsen measured homes tuned in, not individual viewers; applying viewers-per-household yields the “70+ million” figure.

Its place in history

It is one of the most-watched sitcom episodes ever.

Among all scripted prime-time episodes, it lands in the top 10–15 depending on methodology.

It was briefly the #1 TV show in the U.S. the week it aired and, as you noted, was heavily publicized for its extraordinary reach.

But it has never been the #1 most-watched broadcast of all time—events like M*A*S*H and later Super Bowls dwarf all entertainment programming.

Their math is off. 70 million would put Three's Company at #7: easily ahead of Friends, Survivor, and The Simpsons.

It was the most watched TV show at the time in March of 1979. It has since been passed by other shows. It's still probably in the top 10-15 of all time as far as TV shows.

The Ropers retained a large part of the audience with a a 36.0 / 55 rating/share. The Big Event / Bob Hope Special and a repeat of a CBS TV movie were no match for them.

This is from ChatGPT (https://chatgpt.com/share/69330623-4554-800c-97bb-0ef0e726b5a1):

2. Most-Watched NON-Sports Telecasts (U.S.)

These are the real comparables to Three’s Company.

Top Non-Sports Broadcasts
Rank Broadcast Year Viewers
1 M*A*S*H – “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” 1983 ~106 million
2 Dallas – “Who Done It?” (Who Shot J.R.) 1980 ~83 million
3 Roots (miniseries, finale) 1977 ~80 million
4 The Fugitive (finale) 1967 ~78 million
5 Cheers finale 1993 ~84 million households tuned in live at some point (≈ 80+ million viewers estimated)
6 Seinfeld finale 1998 ~76 million
7 Survivor Season 1 finale 2000 ~51 million
8 Friends finale 2004 ~52 million
9 The Simpsons “Bart Gets an F” (record episode) 1990 ~33.6 million
10 Three’s Company – “An Anniversary Surprise” 1979 ~70+ million viewers

3. Where “An Anniversary Surprise” Fits Historically
Why the episode was huge

It aired when ABC was the #1 network.

Three’s Company was at its cultural peak.

Only 3 major networks existed, so audience concentration was enormous.

Nielsen measured homes tuned in, not individual viewers; applying viewers-per-household yields the “70+ million” figure.

Its place in history

It is one of the most-watched sitcom episodes ever.

Among all scripted prime-time episodes, it lands in the top 10–15 depending on methodology.

It was briefly the #1 TV show in the U.S. the week it aired and, as you noted, was heavily publicized for its extraordinary reach.

But it has never been the #1 most-watched broadcast of all time—events like M*A*S*H and later Super Bowls dwarf all entertainment programming.

I mentioned that in the beginning TJ lol

Lead in Threes Company (1) beat The Ropers (2) but lead in Happy Days (4) lost to Laverne and Shirley (3). (And always good to see Valerie top ten)

Finales of long running hit shows usually do well. What’d the TC finale get?

Finales of long running hit shows usually do well. What’d the TC finale get?

ranked #9 and had 15.1 million

ranked #9 and had 15.1 million

Thanks.

One more ratings question. You got the numbers for the first Three’s A Crowd?

It does not surprise me it was Three's Company's highest rated show. I remember in real time everyone watching how the Ropers were going to spun off to their own show. They were leaving the show when it was at its peak so it was a big deal. The Ropers were part of making TC a success. If you watch the pilot and early episodes, they had so much airtime themselves not including their interaction with the kids. Many episodes would actually begin in the Roper's apartment. And some of the biggest laughs came from Helen or Stanely's insult to the other.

It does not surprise me it was Three's Company's highest rated show. I remember in real time everyone watching how the Ropers were going to spun off to their own show. They were leaving the show when it was at its peak so it was a big deal. The Ropers were part of making TC a success. If you watch the pilot and early episodes, they had so much airtime themselves not including their interaction with the kids. Many episodes would actually begin in the Roper's apartment. And some of the biggest laughs came from Helen or Stanely's insult to the other.

Somehow the excitement and interest in the Ropers fizzled out relatively quickly.

Thanks.

One more ratings question. You got the numbers for the first Three’s A Crowd?

Not horrible but not that great either

Not horrible but not that great either

Ok, thanks again. No further questions at this time.

Ok, thanks again. No further questions at this time.

The TV facts guy dont get bothered by history questions:lol:

Somehow the excitement and interest in the Ropers fizzled out relatively quickly.
Yes for many reasons. The Ropers were the spice of Threes Company. They sometimes had the funniest lines of the show. But it was hard to carry an entire sitcom on just them. Plus the show The Ropers was put together all wrong. Mr Roper was the foil and Helen played the heroine many times for the kids. But now the Ropers had nothing to do all day. They let Jeffrey the neighbor become the foil to Roper. It just did not work well sadly. Don Knots was fantastic but I wish the Ropers never left TC.

You could still watch in theaters Superman The Movie and Halloween in 1979 too back when movies stayed longer in cinemas.

Ok, thanks again. No further questions at this time.

Does the defense rest ? :lol:

Question for TVFactFan - obviously this info is inaccurate - 10 Three’s Company – “An Anniversary Surprise” 1979 ~70+ million viewers - do you have any idea what the correct number is ? Just curious. Thanks :)

Question for TVFactFan - obviously this info is inaccurate - 10 Three’s Company – “An Anniversary Surprise” 1979 ~70+ million viewers - do you have any idea what the correct number is ? Just curious. Thanks :)

More accurate:lol:

So almost 29 million perfect. Thanks !

You realize how insane those numbers are? Hit shows don't even get 10 million anymore.

"ANNIVERSARY SURPRISE" in March of 1979. I dunno if I have ever seen that one Solomon!!

But that top 10 list makes me sad....... What happend?

You realize how insane those numbers are? Hit shows don't even get 10 million anymore.

I was surprised the research side of me didnt want to know why everyone was so interested in this particular episode:lol::lol:

I was surprised the research side of me didnt want to know why everyone was so interested in this particular episode:lol::lol:
I was only 9 but I actually remember watching it in real time. It was such a big deal that the Ropers were announcing they were leaving the show.