Interesting ABC Ratings Info I found - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

USTVFanFromUK · 06-21-2005, 06:27 PM

From USA Today
Only three ABC sitcoms have ever topped the seasonal ratings: Roseanne, Laverne & Shirley (the network's highest-rated ever) and the show that spawned Laverne, Happy Days.

Apparently Home Improvement came close, but lost on a technicality to 60 Minutes at the time.

I find it hard to believe CBS and NBC have so much more #1 ratings winners than ANC ever had.

JT · 06-21-2005, 07:13 PM

Hasn't there always been a dispute that "Three's Company" beat "Laverne & Shirley" in the 1979-1980 season?

USTVFanFromUK · 06-21-2005, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

Hasn't there always been a dispute that "Three's Company" beat "Laverne & Shirley" in the 1979-1980 season?

Laverne & Shirly wasn't even in the top 30 ratings in the 1979-1980 season. Three's Company was #2 behind 60 Minutes. 60 Minutes averaged 28.4 million viewers that season and Three's Comapany averaged 26.3 million viewers that season.

Sean Snow · 06-21-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

Hasn't there always been a dispute that "Three's Company" beat "Laverne & Shirley" in the 1979-1980 season?

Some books (like Total Television by Alex McNeil) list TC as being #1 in the 1978-1979 season; however, the majority of books and other sources list L&S as being #1 with TC as #2.

Mr. Television · 06-21-2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Snow

Some books (like Total Television by Alex McNeil) list TC as being #1 in the 1978-1979 season; however, the majority of books and other sources list L&S as being #1 with TC as #2.

Yea they were practically tied for number 1. The same thing happened between HI and 60 Minutes in 1993-1994 and Roseanne and The Cosby Show in 1989-1990.

Sean Snow · 06-21-2005, 08:06 PM

CBS and NBC beat ABC by only 1 show each:

Sitcoms that have ranked #1 (by network)

ABC [3]
Happy Days (1976-1977)
Laverne & Shirley (1977-1978, 1978-1979)
Roseanne (1989-1990, tied with Cosby Show)

CBS [4]
I Love Lucy (1952-1953, 1953-1954, 1954-1955, 1956-1957)
The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1963, 1963-1964)
The Andy Griffith Show (1967-1968)
All in the Family (1971-1972, 1972-1973, 1973-1974, 1974-1975, 1975-1976)

NBC [4]
The Cosby Show (1985-1986, 1986-1987, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 1989-1990)
Cheers (1990-1991)
Seinfeld (1994-1995, 1997-1998)
Friends (2001-2002)

barwars · 06-21-2005, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Snow

CBS and NBC beat ABC by only 1 show each:

Sitcoms that have ranked #1 (by network)

ABC [3]
Happy Days (1976-1977)
Laverne & Shirley (1977-1978, 1978-1979)
Roseanne (1989-1990, tied with Cosby Show)

CBS [4]
I Love Lucy (1952-1953, 1953-1954, 1954-1955, 1956-1957)
The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1963, 1963-1964)
The Andy Griffith Show (1967-1968)
All in the Family (1971-1972, 1972-1973, 1973-1974, 1974-1975, 1975-1976)

NBC [4]
The Cosby Show (1985-1986, 1986-1987, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 1989-1990)
Cheers (1990-1991)
Seinfeld (1994-1995, 1997-1998)
Friends (2001-2002)

America had great taste.
Now we get American Idol.... blah.

Pavan · 06-21-2005, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean Snow

Some books (like Total Television by Alex McNeil) list TC as being #1 in the 1978-1979 season; however, the majority of books and other sources list L&S as being #1 with TC as #2.

I think TC was #1 in total viewers or households, while L&S was #1 in total viewers or households. One of them won one each. I think TC won that season, if you ask me.

USTVFanFromUK · 06-21-2005, 11:56 PM

During the 1978-1979 season, Laverne & Shirley averaged a 30.5 rating whereas Three's Company averaged a 30.3 rating. However, both shows were tied with households.

L&S's estimated audience was 22,722,500
TC's estimated audience was 22,573,500

http://www.chez.com/fbibler/tvstats/..._us_index.html

Dean Winchester · 06-21-2005, 11:57 PM

so now it's been proven that Roseanne was #1. I remember a long time ago when Friends and Frasier were ending, I pointed out that NBC does a better job at sending high-profile shows out, and mentioned Roseanne is a case of a ABC show they could've sent off with more promotion, and somebody replied with "surely you can't compare Roseanne with Friends, it's not like it was ever a #1 hit", so now I'm glad to know that I was INDEED right.

Dean Winchester · 06-22-2005, 12:01 AM

what caused the big L&S backlash of the 1979-1980 season? it's kinda weird how it spent 4 seasons in the top 3, with the last 2 at #1, and then suddenly fell out of the top 35 the fifth season. What caused it to plummet so badly over one season? Granted, no show stays at #1 forever, unless they end it early like Seinfeld or I Love Lucy, but I don't understand why the ratings dropped so drastically that year, especially since the #2 show of the 78-79 season, TC, was still #2 in 79-80.

USTVFanFromUK · 06-22-2005, 12:01 AM

'Roseanne' was basically tied for #1 with 60 Minutes during the 1992-1993 season as well.

Damn '60 Minutes' had a good run...

Dean Winchester · 06-22-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USTVFanFromUK

'Roseanne' was basically tied for #1 with 60 Minutes during the 1992-1993 season as well.

Damn '60 Minutes' had a good run...

the fifth season of Roseanne was probably the best year, so it's not too shocking that it would've been so strong in the ratings that year.

Mr. Television · 06-22-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

what caused the big L&S backlash of the 1979-1980 season? it's kinda weird how it spent 4 seasons in the top 3, with the last 2 at #1, and then suddenly fell out of the top 35 the fifth season. What caused it to plummet so badly over one season? Granted, no show stays at #1 forever, unless they end it early like Seinfeld or I Love Lucy, but I don't understand why the ratings dropped so drastically that year, especially since the #2 show of the 78-79 season, TC, was still #2 in 79-80.

It was moved to Thursday nights at the start of the 1979-1980 season and the audience didn't follow them.

TVFactFan · 06-23-2005, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

what caused the big L&S backlash of the 1979-1980 season? it's kinda weird how it spent 4 seasons in the top 3, with the last 2 at #1, and then suddenly fell out of the top 35 the fifth season. What caused it to plummet so badly over one season? Granted, no show stays at #1 forever, unless they end it early like Seinfeld or I Love Lucy, but I don't understand why the ratings dropped so drastically that year, especially since the #2 show of the 78-79 season, TC, was still #2 in 79-80.

Maybe these reasons

Couldn;t compete with the Waltons
Setting of the show moved to California

06-21-2005, 06:27 PM	#1
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	Interesting ABC Ratings Info I found From USA Today Only three ABC sitcoms have ever topped the seasonal ratings: Roseanne, Laverne & Shirley (the network's highest-rated ever) and the show that spawned Laverne, Happy Days. Apparently Home Improvement came close, but lost on a technicality to 60 Minutes at the time. I find it hard to believe CBS and NBC have so much more #1 ratings winners than ANC ever had.

06-21-2005, 07:13 PM	#2
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	Hasn't there always been a dispute that "Three's Company" beat "Laverne & Shirley" in the 1979-1980 season?
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

06-21-2005, 08:06 PM	#6
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	CBS and NBC beat ABC by only 1 show each: Sitcoms that have ranked #1 (by network) ABC [3] Happy Days (1976-1977) Laverne & Shirley (1977-1978, 1978-1979) Roseanne (1989-1990, tied with Cosby Show) CBS [4] I Love Lucy (1952-1953, 1953-1954, 1954-1955, 1956-1957) The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1963, 1963-1964) The Andy Griffith Show (1967-1968) All in the Family (1971-1972, 1972-1973, 1973-1974, 1974-1975, 1975-1976) NBC [4] The Cosby Show (1985-1986, 1986-1987, 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 1989-1990) Cheers (1990-1991) Seinfeld (1994-1995, 1997-1998) Friends (2001-2002)

06-21-2005, 11:56 PM	#9
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	During the 1978-1979 season, Laverne & Shirley averaged a 30.5 rating whereas Three's Company averaged a 30.3 rating. However, both shows were tied with households. L&S's estimated audience was 22,722,500 TC's estimated audience was 22,573,500 http://www.chez.com/fbibler/tvstats/..._us_index.html

06-21-2005, 11:57 PM	#10
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	so now it's been proven that Roseanne was #1. I remember a long time ago when Friends and Frasier were ending, I pointed out that NBC does a better job at sending high-profile shows out, and mentioned Roseanne is a case of a ABC show they could've sent off with more promotion, and somebody replied with "surely you can't compare Roseanne with Friends, it's not like it was ever a #1 hit", so now I'm glad to know that I was INDEED right.

06-22-2005, 12:01 AM	#11
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	what caused the big L&S backlash of the 1979-1980 season? it's kinda weird how it spent 4 seasons in the top 3, with the last 2 at #1, and then suddenly fell out of the top 35 the fifth season. What caused it to plummet so badly over one season? Granted, no show stays at #1 forever, unless they end it early like Seinfeld or I Love Lucy, but I don't understand why the ratings dropped so drastically that year, especially since the #2 show of the 78-79 season, TC, was still #2 in 79-80.