we were talking about this on the FOL board. I was wondering if anyone else can complete the ratings for DS.

I know this much...
1978-1979: #27
1979-1980. #26
1980-1981. #17
1981-1982. ?
1982-1983. ?
1983-1984. ?
1984-1985. #43
1985-1986. #75

I know the first 3 because they were in the top 30 those years, and I lucked into finding stats for the last 2 seasons from old microfilm. Does anyone know the ratings standings from the 4-6 seasons? Also why did it fall so hard in season 4?

The last two seasons (Especially the last) were kinda tragic to see it falter so hard tho.

I can only guess that seasons 4-6 were in the 30's. From 1982-1985 they were on Saturdays which I don't think was a big night especially for the kids it was geared for. Friday was probably the best day for it to air.

Season 4 would have dropped because they moved it from Wednesdays to Thursdays. Their lead-in for 1981-1982 was something called Lewis & Clark. Remember that one? I didn't think so. 1980-1981 they had Real People as a lead-in and FOL following it so those were 2 good shows to be sandwhiched between.

the thing about Saturday nights would've been wondering what would've happened if NBC had kept it for the final season instead. Because the season they dropped DS was the season that Saturday became a big deal. With Golden Girls and 227. Even Facts scored it's highest ratings since the 3rd season when they moved it to Saturdays. I wonder if the ratings might've improved so much because of Sat night momentum to the point it could've run another season or 2 and had a proper sendoff episode.

I was really young, but Friday would've killed DS long before it died. Because Friday night was DUKES OF HAZZARD night for kids like me, and that DALLAS followed and was such a powerhouse. It was a Friday night when DS died it's tragic death on ABC.

Yeah your right about Friday nights, I don't know what I was thinking. I was never a Dukes of Hazzard fan or and Incredible Hulk fan (but I am today) but I can see now how they would have been killed there.

They were really on their last legs then by season 7, I don't know if it could have continued any further..but it would have been nice for them to finish on NBC with a true finale.

Sometimes a shows overall ranking does not matter much, they just care about how it does in its timeslot against the other networks programs.

[This message has been edited by TJ (edited 04-10-2001).]