1985-86 and 1986-87 Nielsen ratings - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Frenky · 08-29-2014, 09:54 AM

Here are final numbers and some demographics data.

1985-86 TV season

Code:

           Rating/share    A18-49
1. NBC      17.5/28         12.5
2. CBS      16.7/26          9.9
3. ABC      14.9/23          9.6

Code:

#	T10 Sitcoms 85-86	Web	HH	A18-49
1	Cosby Show	        NBC	34.0	26.3
2	Family Ties	        NBC	30.5	23.2
3	Cheers     	        NBC	23.8	19.0
4	Golden Girls	        NBC	21.9	12.6
5	Who's the Boss	        ABC	21.4	14.5
6	Night Court	        NBC	21.0	17.1
7	Kate & Allie	        CBS	20.1	12.3
8	Growing Pains	        ABC	19.8	14.1
9	Newhart 	        CBS	19.6	12.8
10	Webster  	        ABC	15.3	 7.8

Code:

SHOW             W18-49  W25-54  M18-49  M25-54  TEENS  CH. 2-11
  
The Cosby Show    29.1    30.2    23.5    22.0   32.8     32.7
Family Ties       27.5    28.2    18.8    20.3   29.7     27.6
Cheers            21.0    21.3    16.9    18.3   17.3     11.8
Golden Girls      16.0    17.9     9.2    10.6   14.8     14.6
Who's The Boss    17.7    18.5    11.3    12.5   18.5     15.4
Night Court       18.9    19.1    15.2    16.6   14.3      8.0
Kate & Allie      15.3    15.2     9.2    10.6   13.3      8.9
Growing Pains     17.1    17.6    11.0    11.9   19.7     13.8
Newhart           15.6    17.5    10.0    11.7   11.0      6.4
Webster           10.1    11.4     5.5     6.4    9.7     14.5

1986-87 TV season

Code:

              Rating/share
1. NBC         17.8/28
2. CBS         15.8/25
3. ABC         14.1/22

Final 1985-86 and 1986-87 ratings:

boechsner · 08-29-2014, 11:06 AM

Looking at these ratings, the big thing that pops in my head is Valerie Harper's negotiations for Valerie. The show dropped to #40 after Season 2. Demanding more money seems like an unwise thing to do, especially for a show that could have easily have been cancelled.

From a business standpoint, looking strictly at the ratings, I am not surprised a shakeup occurred and then to deal with a star refusing to come to work due to contract negotiations.

Don't get me wrong, I love Valerie but it just seems like a risky thing to pull.

Frenky · 08-30-2014, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boechsner

Looking at these ratings, the big thing that pops in my head is Valerie Harper's negotiations for Valerie. The show dropped to #40 after Season 2. Demanding more money seems like an unwise thing to do, especially for a show that could have easily have been cancelled.

From a business standpoint, looking strictly at the ratings, I am not surprised a shakeup occurred and then to deal with a star refusing to come to work due to contract negotiations.

Don't get me wrong, I love Valerie but it just seems like a risky thing to pull.

Valerie was only time-slot hit, it aired after Alf until its very end.

boechsner · 08-30-2014, 08:29 PM

Actually, most of season 2, 1986-1987, was spent on Sunday nights after Our House and before Easy Street. By March 1987, they moved it after ALF and it held on to some of ALF's viewers until 1990 when it moved to CBS.

But the point is, what was Valerie thinking??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenky

Valerie was only time-slot hit, it aired after Alf until its very end.

vampirevsrobot · 08-30-2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boechsner

Actually, most of season 2, 1986-1987, was spent on Sunday nights after Our House and before Easy Street. By March 1987, they moved it after ALF and it held on to some of ALF's viewers until 1990 when it moved to CBS.

But the point is, what was Valerie thinking??

Money???

It was a gigantic mistake, then further along down the road she starred in a CBS series called, "The City". Ironically, the show aired opposite "The Hogan Family" and featured actress, LuAnne Ponce who was the sister of Danny Ponce who played Wille on the Hogan Famiy.

The ratings that year were:

"The Hogan Family" --#32
"The City"--#59

Anyway, if you haven't seen it yet here's a video of her explaining her version of the situation:

http://www.emmytvlegends.org/intervi...e-aka-valerie#

Click Valerie Harper, it should start at the 44 minute mark and last 13 minutes or so.

CJOVideo24 · 07-31-2021, 11:27 PM

A lot of NBC's mid to late 80s dominance was due to its insanely strong Thursday night lineup anchored by The Cosby Show, and to a slightly lesser extent its equally strong Saturday night lineup anchored by The Golden Girls.

Sal · 08-01-2021, 09:41 AM

If you're looking to find other seasons with more complete data and info on TV ratings from the early days to today, you can go here:

TV Ratings History 1950-2021

TVFactFan · 08-01-2021, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenky

Here are final numbers and some demographics data.

1985-86 TV season

Code:

           Rating/share    A18-49
1. NBC      17.5/28         12.5
2. CBS      16.7/26          9.9
3. ABC      14.9/23          9.6

Code:

#	T10 Sitcoms 85-86	Web	HH	A18-49
1	Cosby Show	        NBC	34.0	26.3
2	Family Ties	        NBC	30.5	23.2
3	Cheers     	        NBC	23.8	19.0
4	Golden Girls	        NBC	21.9	12.6
5	Who's the Boss	        ABC	21.4	14.5
6	Night Court	        NBC	21.0	17.1
7	Kate & Allie	        CBS	20.1	12.3
8	Growing Pains	        ABC	19.8	14.1
9	Newhart 	        CBS	19.6	12.8
10	Webster  	        ABC	15.3	 7.8

Code:

SHOW             W18-49  W25-54  M18-49  M25-54  TEENS  CH. 2-11
  
The Cosby Show    29.1    30.2    23.5    22.0   32.8     32.7
Family Ties       27.5    28.2    18.8    20.3   29.7     27.6
Cheers            21.0    21.3    16.9    18.3   17.3     11.8
Golden Girls      16.0    17.9     9.2    10.6   14.8     14.6
Who's The Boss    17.7    18.5    11.3    12.5   18.5     15.4
Night Court       18.9    19.1    15.2    16.6   14.3      8.0
Kate & Allie      15.3    15.2     9.2    10.6   13.3      8.9
Growing Pains     17.1    17.6    11.0    11.9   19.7     13.8
Newhart           15.6    17.5    10.0    11.7   11.0      6.4
Webster           10.1    11.4     5.5     6.4    9.7     14.5

1986-87 TV season

Code:

              Rating/share
1. NBC         17.8/28
2. CBS         15.8/25
3. ABC         14.1/22

Final 1985-86 and 1986-87 ratings:

Now if you can do this for the 1979-80 and 1980-81 season I will be so grateful

TVFactFan · 08-01-2021, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sal

If you're looking to find other seasons with more complete data and info on TV ratings from the early days to today, you can go here:

TV Ratings History 1950-2021

79-80 and 80-81 is still missing

I want to know the ratings for these shows

Angie
Hello Larry
Ropers
Flo
Checking In
Sanford

Mace Dolex · 08-01-2021, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenky

Valerie was only time-slot hit, it aired after Alf until its very end.

I never saw the show when it aired and just saw it on Antenna TV and it is damn garbage crap.

Just shows what a testament to just how few viewing options there were in the 80's with just three networks that audiences were forced to watch insipid crap, and then to pair it up with ALF holy geez what a nightmare!

CJOVideo24 · 09-21-2021, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenky

Here are final numbers and some demographics data.

1985-86 TV season

Code:

           Rating/share    A18-49
1. NBC      17.5/28         12.5
2. CBS      16.7/26          9.9
3. ABC      14.9/23          9.6

Code:

#	T10 Sitcoms 85-86	Web	HH	A18-49
1	Cosby Show	        NBC	34.0	26.3
2	Family Ties	        NBC	30.5	23.2
3	Cheers     	        NBC	23.8	19.0
4	Golden Girls	        NBC	21.9	12.6
5	Who's the Boss	        ABC	21.4	14.5
6	Night Court	        NBC	21.0	17.1
7	Kate & Allie	        CBS	20.1	12.3
8	Growing Pains	        ABC	19.8	14.1
9	Newhart 	        CBS	19.6	12.8
10	Webster  	        ABC	15.3	 7.8

Code:

SHOW             W18-49  W25-54  M18-49  M25-54  TEENS  CH. 2-11
  
The Cosby Show    29.1    30.2    23.5    22.0   32.8     32.7
Family Ties       27.5    28.2    18.8    20.3   29.7     27.6
Cheers            21.0    21.3    16.9    18.3   17.3     11.8
Golden Girls      16.0    17.9     9.2    10.6   14.8     14.6
Who's The Boss    17.7    18.5    11.3    12.5   18.5     15.4
Night Court       18.9    19.1    15.2    16.6   14.3      8.0
Kate & Allie      15.3    15.2     9.2    10.6   13.3      8.9
Growing Pains     17.1    17.6    11.0    11.9   19.7     13.8
Newhart           15.6    17.5    10.0    11.7   11.0      6.4
Webster           10.1    11.4     5.5     6.4    9.7     14.5

1986-87 TV season

Code:

              Rating/share
1. NBC         17.8/28
2. CBS         15.8/25
3. ABC         14.1/22

Final 1985-86 and 1986-87 ratings:

The Golden Girls ranked surprisingly high with Teens 12-17 and Kids 2-11.

08-29-2014, 09:54 AM	#1
Frenky Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 28, 2013 Posts: 146	1985-86 and 1986-87 Nielsen ratings Here are final numbers and some demographics data. 1985-86 TV season Code: Rating/share A18-49 1. NBC 17.5/28 12.5 2. CBS 16.7/26 9.9 3. ABC 14.9/23 9.6 Code: # T10 Sitcoms 85-86 Web HH A18-49 1 Cosby Show NBC 34.0 26.3 2 Family Ties NBC 30.5 23.2 3 Cheers NBC 23.8 19.0 4 Golden Girls NBC 21.9 12.6 5 Who's the Boss ABC 21.4 14.5 6 Night Court NBC 21.0 17.1 7 Kate & Allie CBS 20.1 12.3 8 Growing Pains ABC 19.8 14.1 9 Newhart CBS 19.6 12.8 10 Webster ABC 15.3 7.8 Code: SHOW W18-49 W25-54 M18-49 M25-54 TEENS CH. 2-11 The Cosby Show 29.1 30.2 23.5 22.0 32.8 32.7 Family Ties 27.5 28.2 18.8 20.3 29.7 27.6 Cheers 21.0 21.3 16.9 18.3 17.3 11.8 Golden Girls 16.0 17.9 9.2 10.6 14.8 14.6 Who's The Boss 17.7 18.5 11.3 12.5 18.5 15.4 Night Court 18.9 19.1 15.2 16.6 14.3 8.0 Kate & Allie 15.3 15.2 9.2 10.6 13.3 8.9 Growing Pains 17.1 17.6 11.0 11.9 19.7 13.8 Newhart 15.6 17.5 10.0 11.7 11.0 6.4 Webster 10.1 11.4 5.5 6.4 9.7 14.5 1986-87 TV season Code: Rating/share 1. NBC 17.8/28 2. CBS 15.8/25 3. ABC 14.1/22 Final 1985-86 and 1986-87 ratings: Attached Images

08-01-2021, 09:41 AM	#7
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,181	If you're looking to find other seasons with more complete data and info on TV ratings from the early days to today, you can go here: TV Ratings History 1950-2021
	__________________ LIVE TV - Updated By Request - April 2026 ANTENNA TV ME TV ME TV TOONS Zerostream - LIVE TV Guide

08-29-2014, 11:06 AM	#2
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	Looking at these ratings, the big thing that pops in my head is Valerie Harper's negotiations for Valerie. The show dropped to #40 after Season 2. Demanding more money seems like an unwise thing to do, especially for a show that could have easily have been cancelled. From a business standpoint, looking strictly at the ratings, I am not surprised a shakeup occurred and then to deal with a star refusing to come to work due to contract negotiations. Don't get me wrong, I love Valerie but it just seems like a risky thing to pull.

07-31-2021, 11:27 PM	#6
CJOVideo24 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2014 Posts: 12	A lot of NBC's mid to late 80s dominance was due to its insanely strong Thursday night lineup anchored by The Cosby Show, and to a slightly lesser extent its equally strong Saturday night lineup anchored by The Golden Girls.