Ratings breaker? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 04-25-2004, 03:12 PM

a friend and I were discussing this. Considering how huge Friends is, and the media attention the series finale has been getting, does anyone in here think this could possibly top M*A*S*H's "Goodbye, Farewell, Amen" as the most watched program in television history?

Central Perk · 04-25-2004, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
a friend and I were discussing this. Considering how huge Friends is, and the media attention the series finale has been getting, does anyone in here think this could possibly top M*A*S*H's "Goodbye, Farewell, Amen" as the most watched program in television history?

I don't think so, but I think it will defintely do very well. There are just so many more channels to choose from now that it would be impossible to match the same audience that M*A*S*H's finale had, imo.

DukeDevils9192 · 04-25-2004, 07:29 PM

I highly doubt it. Three out of every four televisions in use that night watched M*A*S*H. Seinfeld couldn't even top that episode and Seinfeld is actually a bigger pop culture icon than Friends.

Just won't happen, though, it will perform well.

Will and Grace Fanatic · 04-27-2004, 09:20 PM

It won't likely pass up MASH reason being the MASH finale aired back in 1983 when there were only 3 major networks and cable wasn't that big and cable didn't even have a lot of channels.

spunkygirl · 04-29-2004, 03:24 PM

They did something about this I think it was on Access Hollywood, that they think that the series finale won't really be a ratings breaker like M*A*S*H and other highly rated series finalies.

I do think it will do really well, especially if Ross and Rachel do reunite, that's what alot of fans have waited for, for years!

TJL · 04-29-2004, 03:39 PM

As many of you have stated, TV is a lot differnt now than when M*A*S*H was on.
Friends will probably come close though. They're estimating 80-85 million will tune in. That's pretty darn good, if you ask me.

BowWowsBreezy · 04-29-2004, 04:10 PM

if it broke M*A*S*H ratings i would be truly shocked....because my mom was telling me that she was supposed to be in class the day of the M*A*S*H finale but her professors cancelled classes because of it lol..i mean thats pretty big but then again you never know.

FriendsFanForever · 05-01-2004, 12:22 AM

Oh, I definetly do not think that it's impossible it could beat MASH. I'd like it too, though.

barwars · 05-01-2004, 11:39 AM

It wont beat MASH, because if you didnt watch the finale of MASH when it originally aired -- you were COMPLETELY left out of the conversations at work/school for days.

But nowadays, theres 100s of things people can watch on TV, and "Friends" will definately win the night (as will "Frasier" the next week), but I doubt itll get "MASH numbers"

"Cheers" is supposedly the 4th most watched finale ever.
What are numbers 2 and 3?? (MASH being #1)

Dean Winchester · 05-02-2004, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
It wont beat MASH, because if you didnt watch the finale of MASH when it originally aired -- you were COMPLETELY left out of the conversations at work/school for days.

But nowadays, theres 100s of things people can watch on TV, and "Friends" will definately win the night (as will "Frasier" the next week), but I doubt itll get "MASH numbers"

"Cheers" is supposedly the 4th most watched finale ever.
What are numbers 2 and 3?? (MASH being #1)

I'm sure Seinfeld was one of them, not sure what the other is, it might be Cosby Show or Family Ties though.

barwars · 05-02-2004, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I'm sure Seinfeld was one of them, not sure what the other is, it might be Cosby Show or Family Ties though.

Family Ties maybe..... but I think I read somewhere that TCS's finale ratings weren't all that great -- suits 'em right, the final season wasnt all that great.

barwars · 05-02-2004, 09:51 AM

I just realized something -- with the exception of MASH, NBC has the biggest series finales ever -- poor, poor ABC

Dean Winchester · 05-02-2004, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars88
I just realized something -- with the exception of MASH, NBC has the biggest series finales ever -- poor, poor ABC

the funny/saddest thing is that in 92, ABC had one big "finale night". The last episodes of Who's The Boss, Growing Pains and MacGyver all on the same night, and none of them cracked the top 20 that week.

Even worse was that the series finale of Roseanne only made it to #15 it's final episode, because more people wanted to see Helen Hunt give birth on Mad About You. I liked MAY also, but I was shocked that a show as big as Roseanne's final episode WASN'T #1 or at least top 5 for the week, considering how Cosby and Family Ties didn't have such hot final seasons and they both were #1 the week of their finales

USTVFanFromUK · 05-02-2004, 09:15 PM

Mash Finale- 105.4 million viewers
Cheers Finale- 80 million viewers
The Cosby Show Finale- 44 million viewers
Seinfeld Finale- 76 million viewers

Analysts expect the Friends finale to draw in at least 50 million viewers.

04-27-2004, 09:20 PM	#4
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	It won't likely pass up MASH reason being the MASH finale aired back in 1983 when there were only 3 major networks and cable wasn't that big and cable didn't even have a lot of channels.
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04-29-2004, 03:39 PM	#6
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	As many of you have stated, TV is a lot differnt now than when MAS*H was on. Friends will probably come close though. They're estimating 80-85 million will tune in. That's pretty darn good, if you ask me.
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04-29-2004, 04:10 PM	#7
BowWowsBreezy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 08, 2003 Location: PA (to far from LA) Posts: 410	if it broke MASH ratings i would be truly shocked....because my mom was telling me that she was supposed to be in class the day of the MASH finale but her professors cancelled classes because of it lol..i mean thats pretty big but then again you never know.
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04-25-2004, 03:12 PM	#1
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	Ratings breaker? a friend and I were discussing this. Considering how huge Friends is, and the media attention the series finale has been getting, does anyone in here think this could possibly top MAS*H's "Goodbye, Farewell, Amen" as the most watched program in television history?

04-25-2004, 07:29 PM	#3
DukeDevils9192 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 287	I highly doubt it. Three out of every four televisions in use that night watched MAS*H. Seinfeld couldn't even top that episode and Seinfeld is actually a bigger pop culture icon than Friends. Just won't happen, though, it will perform well.

04-29-2004, 03:24 PM	#5
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	They did something about this I think it was on Access Hollywood, that they think that the series finale won't really be a ratings breaker like MAS*H and other highly rated series finalies. I do think it will do really well, especially if Ross and Rachel do reunite, that's what alot of fans have waited for, for years!

05-01-2004, 12:22 AM	#8
FriendsFanForever Friends (1994-2004) Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 30	Oh, I definetly do not think that it's impossible it could beat MASH. I'd like it too, though.

05-01-2004, 11:39 AM	#9
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	It wont beat MASH, because if you didnt watch the finale of MASH when it originally aired -- you were COMPLETELY left out of the conversations at work/school for days. But nowadays, theres 100s of things people can watch on TV, and "Friends" will definately win the night (as will "Frasier" the next week), but I doubt itll get "MASH numbers" "Cheers" is supposedly the 4th most watched finale ever. What are numbers 2 and 3?? (MASH being #1)

05-02-2004, 09:51 AM	#12
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	I just realized something -- with the exception of MASH, NBC has the biggest series finales ever -- poor, poor ABC

05-02-2004, 09:15 PM	#14
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	Mash Finale- 105.4 million viewers Cheers Finale- 80 million viewers The Cosby Show Finale- 44 million viewers Seinfeld Finale- 76 million viewers Analysts expect the Friends finale to draw in at least 50 million viewers.