Summer 1980 Nielsen Ratings for The Facts of Life - Top 20

[RetroGuy2000]

We've all heard that ratings for The Facts of Life for the 1979-1980 season were dismal: according to one documentary, the series was in 74th place. But this number is only for the regular season: September to April.

Once the series was moved (from its Death Slot during the hits Fantasy Island and The Incredible Hulk) to a slot directly after its parent series, Diff'rent Strokes, the series rebounded. Indeed, even during the regular season, the show performed well when it followed Diff'rent Strokes, and only performed poorly when it was moved back to compete against already-established hits Fantasy Island and The Incredible Hulk.

I've been able to find several articles which talk about the ratings rebound, as well as (in some cases) specific ratings numbers during the summer, and during specials shown after Diff'rent Strokes. Here are those numbers:

March 10 - March 16: The Facts of Life, NBC, "in the Top 20" during a special after Diff'rent Strokes
June 16 - June 22: The Facts of Life, NBC, #20 >14 million viewers
July 28th - August 3: The Facts of Life, NBC #18, 15.4 million viewers

These numbers clearly show strong viewership, and highly-ranked Nielsen numbers; stronger, actually, than many other seasons of the show. Indeed, by July 1980, the series had already been renewed, and the new Nielsen numbers had brought the show up to a 24 share for the season: almost one in four TV viewers was watching The Facts of Life.

Below are the articles. These numbers come from the the Associated Press, the Columbia Missourian, the Reno Gazette-Journal, and the July 1980 issue of Panorama.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

March 10 - March 16: The Facts of Life, NBC, "in the Top 20" during a special after Diff'rent Strokes
June 16 - June 22: The Facts of Life, NBC, #20 >14 million viewers
July 28th - August 3: The Facts of Life, NBC #18, 15.4 million viewers

These numbers clearly show strong viewership, and highly-ranked Nielsen numbers; stronger, actually, than many other seasons of the show.

When searching ratings for The Facts of Life, I found this website where it shows the ratings for season 9 (God why this season) are higher than that of the season 1 repeats. Here are some ratings they were able to find for certain episodes:

30. The Facts of Life (NBC) (20.4 million)
Episode: 9-01 "Down & Out in Malibu pt1" (Season Premier)

14.The Facts of Life (NBC)(27.2)
Episode 910 "Up From Down Under"

22.The Facts of Life (NBC)(25.2 million)
Episode 9-7 "The More the Marrier"

16.The Facts of Life (NBC) (28.5 million)
Episode: 9-08 "A Rose By Any Other Age"

16.The Facts of Life (NBC)26.2 million
Episode: 9-09 "Adventures in Baby Sitting"

In another thread you stated this:

In fact, they were much bigger than the show's last couple of feeble years on the air, when no-one was tuning in anymore.

Obviously you are mistaken about this. The actresses even said NBC was wanting a 10th season and it's because the show was so popular from the changes made that they wanted to keep cashing in the millions that were still watching.

It's extremely obvious you're bitter and jealous that the lost girls were fired for the changes made in season 2. You are part of the minority of fans that couldn't keep the show going. The fact is ratings increased tremendously, more so than any season 1 episode new or repeated, and that is why NBC was for the changes that was made. So many millions of us love the changes and the show for what it was. Please stop acting like those Nancy fanatics years ago that make trying to talk about the show unbearable because they feel their opinion is all that matters. Thank you.

[RetroGuy2000]

I already knew you would attack me, Christopher. I wish you would stop telling me what I'm allowed to say or not say on this forum ("please stop acting..."). What I'm providing is actual historical data. If you don't like that, tough.

If you want to talk numbers, I'm happy to respond. If you want to call me "bitter" or "jealous", I don't think those types of attacks have any place on this forum. If you continue, you'll quickly find yourself ignored. Knock it off. One more word like that, and you go on Ignore.

Originally Posted by Christopher

When searching ratings for The Facts of Life, I found this website where it shows the ratings for season 9 (God why this season) are higher than that of the season 1 repeats. Here are some ratings they were able to find for certain episodes:

30. The Facts of Life (NBC) (20.4 million)
Episode: 9-01 "Down & Out in Malibu pt1" (Season Premier)

14.The Facts of Life (NBC)(27.2)
Episode 910 "Up From Down Under"

22.The Facts of Life (NBC)(25.2 million)
Episode 9-7 "The More the Marrier"

16.The Facts of Life (NBC) (28.5 million)
Episode: 9-08 "A Rose By Any Other Age"

16.The Facts of Life (NBC)26.2 million
Episode: 9-09 "Adventures in Baby Sitting"

Yes, and there is other data which shows many other late-era episodes were lowly rated. (I prepared them because I already knew you'd attack me personally, just for posting actual historical data).

The first is the May 11th-17th, 1987 ratings for FOL, showing the series was in 52nd place, with a 9 million rating. That's a significant drop in ratings, as anyone reasonable will admit.

The second is FOL at #8 in the Neilsen Ratings, at 18.6 million viewers, during the week of September 9th through the 15th, 1985. Those numbers are excellent, during FOL's peak era ratings-wise, and are not very much higher than the numbers posted for FOL Season 1 during the summer.

The link you've shared shows that several late-series episodes of The Facts of Life were getting fewer viewers than Summer 1980 episodes; for example, Episode 8-24: 11.7 million viewers, #43 for the week.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I already knew you would attack me, Christopher. I wish you would stop telling me what I'm allowed to say or not say on this forum ("please stop acting..."). What I'm providing is actual historical data. If you don't like that, tough.

If you want to talk numbers, I'm happy to respond. If you want to call me "bitter" or "jealous", I don't think those types of attacks have any place on this forum. If you continue, you'll quickly find yourself ignored. Knock it off. One more word like that, and you go on Ignore.

Whenever someone has a different opinion than you, you come at them. Look at the Miko thread. 80sSitcoms kept saying "Wait until Retro sees this" or "Retro will have more to say" because you post on here that you know everything and only your opinion matters. Remember when Impressions and I tried sharing our opinions about Pamela's interview of how she felt? You kept trying to make us feel we were wrong for how we felt. Even Impressions said you were acting cocky so please don't act all innocent when you're getting called out for behavior you do.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, and there is other data which shows many other late-era episodes were lowly rated.

That's not the point I was making. You said that the season 1 repeats were higher than any other season, even specifically saying the last few years were when no one was tuning in. That is a false statement since season 9 had episodes with higher ratings than season 1, new or repeated.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Christopher

you were acting cocky so please don't act all innocent when you're getting called out for behavior you do.

You've just gone on Ignore.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by Christopher

When searching ratings for The Facts of Life, I found this website where it shows the ratings for season 9 (God why this season) are higher than that of the season 1 repeats. Here are some ratings they were able to find for certain episodes:

30. The Facts of Life (NBC) (20.4 million)
Episode: 9-01 "Down & Out in Malibu pt1" (Season Premier)

14.The Facts of Life (NBC)(27.2)
Episode 910 "Up From Down Under"

22.The Facts of Life (NBC)(25.2 million)
Episode 9-7 "The More the Marrier"

16.The Facts of Life (NBC) (28.5 million)
Episode: 9-08 "A Rose By Any Other Age"

16.The Facts of Life (NBC)26.2 million
Episode: 9-09 "Adventures in Baby Sitting"

In another thread you stated this: Obviously you are mistaken about this. The actresses even said NBC was wanting a 10th season and it's because the show was so popular from the changes made that they wanted to keep cashing in the millions that were still watching.

It's extremely obvious you're bitter and jealous that the lost girls were fired for the changes made in season 2. You are part of the minority of fans that couldn't keep the show going. The fact is ratings increased tremendously, more so than any season 1 episode new or repeated, and that is why NBC was for the changes that was made. So many millions of us love the changes and the show for what it was. Please stop acting like those Nancy fanatics years ago that make trying to talk about the show unbearable because they feel their opinion is all that matters. Thank you.

Just the fact that FOL was repeating plots by Season 3 (see Americanization of Miko) and they needed to add more characters after Eastland showed they cut back on too many characters.

[Lorimar Television]

I really don't think Retro meant this post as a dig to the later seasons, it's unfortunate things got personal to the point of ignoring. I think some posts online can come across as a dig or know-it-all post when that was probably not the intention. It's unfortunate emotions don't translate into text so we can see if there's good intentions or malice.

I don't doubt the lost girl fans are in the minority, the FOL is famous for Mrs G and the 4 girls. But we are all here to discuss FOL, in it's many iterations. I for one enjoy every season, even if I prefer some over others. If my first episode hadn't been from the first season, and I didn't take a liking to Sue Ann right away, idk if I would feel less attached to the lost girls.

We all have different point of views which makes discussion boards more interesting. At the end of the day, we can see eye to eye or agree to disagree and move on.

[Christopher]

Lorimar, for years Retro has been on here complaining about the changes after season 1. From cutting the lost girls, to set changes, to the writing, and other aspects of the show. I don't get why he's on here almost every single day to complain about a show that was just for amusement. Whenever someone has a different opinion than him, he tries throwing out things to make it seem he knows more than they do. This ratings thread he created is just another example of that. I'm tired of the negativity of Retro and the fact people can't post their opinions without Retro coming in to say they're wrong. I looked back at that thread of Pamela's interview when Impressions and I were being hounded for having a different opinion than Retro. He was trying very hard to enforce his opinion on us to feel the way he was. He's so over the top and is just like those Nancy fanatics years ago that would be so arrogant on here about Nancy being the savior of the show.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Christopher

just like those Nancy fanatics years ago that would be so arrogant on here about Nancy being the savior of the show.

I was here in those days (the "Nancy McKeon Fan Brigade")---actually, I guess out of current posters, only Christopher and I were, and it was overwhelming. One of my strongest memories of those days is someone created a poll thread with the actual title "Besides Jo, who's your favorite?" thereby insinuating that everyone's favorite was Jo. It was overwhelming around here back then.

[Lorimar Television]

I'm sorry you feel that way Christopher, you're entitled to your feelings and opinion. I will say that Retro, while a lost girl fan, is also a fan of the Eastland years, 1-4. I've seen him and 80s disagree before as well.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I've seen him and 80s disagree before as well.

Yes, it's not been uncommon for he and I to have disagreements, and one thread in particular last year we really got unpleasantly arguing in frustration to an extent we'd never reached before, and I do own up to my part in it. I think I maybe even started the whole avalanche, and if I did, I'm sorry about that (I haven't gone to look because I like to let bygones be bygones). Unfortunately we really derailed that thread for a while, but it did get back on track. I'm glad that's in the past. I much prefer to than to

And it is unfortunate text is just "text" without tone, meaning, intonation, inflection, body language, etc.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Yes, it's not been uncommon for he and I to have disagreements, and one thread in particular last year we really got unpleasantly arguing in frustration to an extent we'd never reached before, and I do own up to my part in it. I think I maybe even started the whole avalanche, and if I did, I'm sorry about that (I haven't gone to look because I like to let bygones be bygones).

Oh, '80s, don't give it another thought: I don't. And I'm sorry about that, too. But that was a year ago. We'll always disagree on some things, and that's perfectly normal. And the nature of message boards makes it difficult to tell when someone is cracking wise.

You've provided such interesting content on this forum, from the silly (funny Muppets/FOL posts) to the profound (for example, the family life of four certain girls). I cannot tell you how much I learned just from reading your posts: think of the things we learned just from the screenshots you took of the first four seasons. I know I will never forget that. And you have never, ever attacked me personally, something I very much appreciate.

Don't take this the wrong way, but in some ways, you and I are too similar.

Unfortunately we really derailed that thread for a while, but it did get back on track. I'm glad that's in the past. I much prefer to than to

I know you do!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

I will say that Retro, while a lost girl fan, is also a fan of the Eastland years, 1-4.

Yes, and many of the EE episodes. I know I've highlighted what I feel are some of the best from all seasons, including the Halloween episode (S-5), the Gamma Gamma episode with the horrible Chinese food, the pizza episode, Mrs. Garrett's farewell episodes, "The Little Chill", and the final return to Eastland.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Yes, and many of the EE episodes. I know I've highlighted what I feel are some of the best from all seasons, including the Halloween episode (S-5), the Gamma Gamma episode with the horrible Chinese food, the pizza episode, Mrs. Garrett's farewell episodes, "The Little Chill", and the final return to Eastland.

Haha yes exactly. FOL is still great even without the lost girls

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

We'll always disagree on some things, and that's perfectly normal.

Yes, but it's also a perfect shame. This show is such a part of my life, that I wish we could all agree on everything about it and bask in the glow of harmonious "Facts"!

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

You've provided such interesting content on this forum, from the silly (funny Muppets/FOL posts) to the profound (for example, the family life of four certain girls). I cannot tell you how much I learned just from reading your posts: think of the things we learned just from the screenshots you took of the first four seasons. I know I will never forget that. And you have never, ever attacked me personally, something I very much appreciate.

Thanks, those things are my pleasure! And I too have learned from content you've shared here, sometimes proposing something I hadn't even conceived of or pondered, and then it's like, whoa, another way to look at that moment...

And screenshots of every locale in the classic era was just crying out to be done (at least IMO, lol). I just thought that would be so fun and cool to "catalog" and have as a reference for the future.

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Don't take this the wrong way, but in some ways, you and I are too similar.

Oh, totally! In fact, if you won't take this the wrong way, I often picture us guys here sharing that small room over the kitchen. And you (Jo) and me (Blair) sometimes getting along, but sometimes getting on each other's nerves. And poor Lorsie (Tootie) stuck in the middle!