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JohnMcMillin · 09-10-2000, 01:21 PM

why wasn't Diff'rent Strokes ever as big in the ratings like everyone remembers it as.

It's peak was #17 in 1980-1981, yet for a generation of us who grew up in the 80's, it's shocking the show wasn't a top 5 smash. Same applies with Facts Of Life.

How weren't these shows anywhere as big in the ratings as they should've been and like everyone remembers?

ThomasE · 09-23-2000, 12:51 AM

Oh man I can tell you that there are a lot of shows that were not top 10 shows but are truly popular today:

Different Strokes
The Facts of Life
Family Matters
The Brady Bunch (Duh, right?)
Martin
Living Single
Sister Sister
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Married with Children
Clueless
Moesha
Sabrina, the teenage witch
Gilligan's Island

and there are more. It seems once these shows hit syndication, people are more prone to watch them

JohnMcMillin · 09-23-2000, 05:51 PM

I have to agree about the syndication helping. Diff'rent Strokes hit syndication fairly early in it's run (yet where is it today

) so kids like me who were barely alive when it first hit in 78 were able to see the early reruns as a kid, and then see new episodes at night.

God I miss this show!!!

TJ · 10-31-2000, 09:50 PM

It may have never been a huge ratings winner, but I think it was consistently in the top 30 until the final 2 seasons which slipped badly.. The Facts of Life was in similar ratings spots - both had very long, successful runs..

callmetootie · 09-23-2001, 12:00 PM

Actually, the best rating that it ever had was #19...and FOL did alot better then DS for most of the seasons. Did you actually know that DS had top 50 ratings for it's last season...but then dropped down mid-way?

------------------
Andrew Carden

09-10-2000, 01:21 PM	#1
JohnMcMillin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2000 Location: louisville, ky, USA Posts: 380	ratings why wasn't Diff'rent Strokes ever as big in the ratings like everyone remembers it as. It's peak was #17 in 1980-1981, yet for a generation of us who grew up in the 80's, it's shocking the show wasn't a top 5 smash. Same applies with Facts Of Life. How weren't these shows anywhere as big in the ratings as they should've been and like everyone remembers?

09-23-2000, 12:51 AM	#2
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Oh man I can tell you that there are a lot of shows that were not top 10 shows but are truly popular today: Different Strokes The Facts of Life Family Matters The Brady Bunch (Duh, right?) Martin Living Single Sister Sister Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Married with Children Clueless Moesha Sabrina, the teenage witch Gilligan's Island and there are more. It seems once these shows hit syndication, people are more prone to watch them

09-23-2000, 05:51 PM	#3
JohnMcMillin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2000 Location: louisville, ky, USA Posts: 380	I have to agree about the syndication helping. Diff'rent Strokes hit syndication fairly early in it's run (yet where is it today ) so kids like me who were barely alive when it first hit in 78 were able to see the early reruns as a kid, and then see new episodes at night. God I miss this show!!!

10-31-2000, 09:50 PM	#4
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,656	It may have never been a huge ratings winner, but I think it was consistently in the top 30 until the final 2 seasons which slipped badly.. The Facts of Life was in similar ratings spots - both had very long, successful runs..

09-23-2001, 12:00 PM	#5
callmetootie Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2001 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 4,768	Actually, the best rating that it ever had was #19...and FOL did alot better then DS for most of the seasons. Did you actually know that DS had top 50 ratings for it's last season...but then dropped down mid-way? ------------------ Andrew Carden