Did you know that Barney Miller was the lowest rated TV show in TV History to - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-21-2020, 09:23 PM

get renewed after it's 1st season? The show finished 68th ranked after the 74-75 season and was actually renewed

http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/202...s-history.html

James28 · 10-25-2021, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The show finished 68th ranked after the 74-75 season and was actually renewed

The TV Ratings Guide also states that St. Elsewhere ranked 87TH (!) in its first year (1982-83); it's worse than fellow freshman Cheers's 74th ranking that same year. In fact, St. Elsewhere couldn't even rank above 47th place in the year-end Nielsen rankings during its six-year run. And that #47 ranking was for its last season! Except for that first year, St. Elsewhere's year-end average household ratings were always in the 13's range, and St. Elsewhere kept getting renewed because of its strength in the 18-49 age demographic.

SarahBellum · 10-25-2021, 11:59 AM

But the first season of Barney Miller was a mid-season replacement with only about a dozen episodes.

TVFactFan · 10-25-2021, 08:40 PM

And the 1st season of Gloria finished at #19 and cancelled

Crazy

TVFactFan · 10-25-2021, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James28

The TV Ratings Guide also states that St. Elsewhere ranked 87TH (!) in its first year (1982-83); it's worse than fellow freshman Cheers's 74th ranking that same year. In fact, St. Elsewhere couldn't even rank above 47th place in the year-end Nielsen rankings during its six-year run. And that #47 ranking was for its last season! Except for that first year, St. Elsewhere's year-end average household ratings were always in the 13's range, and St. Elsewhere kept getting renewed because of its strength in the 18-49 age demographic.

I ended up finding out other shows ranked lower and still got renewed which was shocking

Duster76 · 11-02-2021, 02:04 PM

A couple of key points, as SarahBellum noted Barney Miller was a midseason replacement. It was also up against mega-smash The Waltons which finished the year number 8 in the ratings. ABC was still running a distant third, a quality series with potential was enough to sell ABC on giving the series a chance to grow.

icecream · 11-02-2021, 03:40 PM

Shows that are high quality are worth sticking with even if they are low rated to start with. It paid off for ABC with Barney Miller and The Middle, NBC with Cheers, and CBS with The Dick Van Dyke Show.

TVFactFan · 11-02-2021, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

A couple of key points, as SarahBellum noted Barney Miller was a midseason replacement. It was also up against mega-smash The Waltons which finished the year number 8 in the ratings. ABC was still running a distant third, a quality series with potential was enough to sell ABC on giving the series a chance to grow.

And didnt do all that great the next season when it went up against the waltons and didnt improve until it was not in competition with the waltons

Dr. Thong · 11-03-2021, 05:56 PM

Back then, sometimes the networks would see something worthwhile in a low rated series and give it a second season to find an audience.

James28 · 11-03-2021, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahBellum

But the first season of Barney Miller was a mid-season replacement with only about a dozen episodes.

Hill Street Blues was also a midseason replacement (with 17 episodes), and that one also ranked #87 (for the 1980 81 season, out of 96 shows).

11-02-2021, 03:40 PM	#7
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,602	Shows that are high quality are worth sticking with even if they are low rated to start with. It paid off for ABC with Barney Miller and The Middle, NBC with Cheers, and CBS with The Dick Van Dyke Show.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

11-03-2021, 05:56 PM	#9
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,545	Back then, sometimes the networks would see something worthwhile in a low rated series and give it a second season to find an audience.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

03-21-2020, 09:23 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,949	Did you know that Barney Miller was the lowest rated TV show in TV History to get renewed after it's 1st season? The show finished 68th ranked after the 74-75 season and was actually renewed http://www.thetvratingsguide.com/202...s-history.html

10-25-2021, 11:59 AM	#3
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	But the first season of Barney Miller was a mid-season replacement with only about a dozen episodes.

10-25-2021, 08:40 PM	#4
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,949	And the 1st season of Gloria finished at #19 and cancelled Crazy

11-02-2021, 02:04 PM	#6
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	A couple of key points, as SarahBellum noted Barney Miller was a midseason replacement. It was also up against mega-smash The Waltons which finished the year number 8 in the ratings. ABC was still running a distant third, a quality series with potential was enough to sell ABC on giving the series a chance to grow.