1979-88 NBC Nielsen Ratings Data

[80schild.com]

I'll use this tread to share articles and data I've collected. Any questions or episode requests, let me know.

First up: Feb 9-15 1987. Cupid's Revenge, and Facts of Life Down Under

[80schild.com]

Top Rated Season Eight Episodes:
Facts of life Down Under #13, 21.4 Rating/ 32 Share (Sun Feb 15 9PM)
Boy About the House #25, 18.3 Rating/ 31 Share (Sat Feb 28 8PM)
The Little Chill #20, 18.2 Rating/ 31 Share (Sat Nov 8 8PM)
Another Room #21, 18.1 Rating/ 32 Share (Sat Oct 11 8PM)
Wedding Day #23, 17.9 Rating/ 30 Share (Sat Nov 22 8PM)
62 Pick UP #26, 17.1 Rating/ 31 Share (Sat Feb 21 8PM)


Web Brass Dissect Past 86-87 Season: Variety April 22 1987.
Brandon Tartikoff NBC Ent President:
"I was surprised that 'ALF' worked as well as it did, not because of any fault of the writers and pro- ducers, but because I have had flops with high-concept shows in the past — 'Misfits Of Science' and 'Mam- mal' — and I couldn't bring myself to believe that one would finally work for me. And I was surprised that 'The Facts of Life' performed well this season, as, with a major cast change and all, I thought it might not perform as it had in the past" as NBC misjudged the ratings potential of ABC's "Life With Lucy." "Facts" has been renewed for next season.

[80schild.com]

top rated season 7 episodes: (based on ratings points)

3,2,1, #13, 21.1 Rating/ 34 Share (Nov 23 830PM)
Born Too Late, #15, 20.8 Rating/ 33 Share (Nov 16 830PM)
Come Back to the Truck Stop Natalie Green 19.3 Rating/ 31 Share (Nov 8 830PM)
We Get Letters #20, 19.0 Rating/ 31 Share (Nov 30 830PM)
The Reunion #22, 18.8 Rating/ 32 Share (Feb 1 830PM)
Atlantic City #23, 18.8 Rating/ 29 Share (Feb 15 830PM)
Out of the Fire #11, 18.7 Rating (Sep 14 830PM)
Into the Frying Pan #8, 18.6/ 34 Share (Sept 21 830PM)
Christmas Baby #20, 18.6/31 Share (Dec 14 830PM)

[kc0]

Did the Hub change the scheduling for Mork and Mindy and Sabrina the Teenage Witch because of poor Nielsen ratings? You can only see Mork and Mindy in the wee hours of the morning once a week. And every now and then instead of the Wednesday marathon of FOL they air the Scooby Doo movie for the millionth time. Are they phasing out the classic sitcoms to become just another kid's network or what?

[kc0]

Sorry, it just dawned on me you were talking about ratings for the original run.

[80schild.com]

Emmy advert Variety magazine July 1987

"We make America laugh."

[zombi2]

Do you know where it placed in the full season rankings during it's run?

As for episodes I'm curious about the first one with Geri, the one where Natalie lost her virginity and the final episode, don't know the titles.

[frodnew6]

I think The First Time, the episode where Natalie lost her virginity, was the highest rated episode of the whole series during the series' original run.

[80schild.com]

Originally Posted by zombi2

Do you know where it placed in the full season rankings during it's run?

As for episodes I'm curious about the first one with Geri, the one where Natalie lost her virginity and the final episode, don't know the titles.

I don't have the final numbers on Geri's first appearance yet - but i'll keep you posted. As for THE FIRST TIME - it was not the highest rated (it aired opposite the Calgary Olympics). Season 9 highest rated was A Rose By Any Other Age. The Finale ranked poorly as it aired in May on a Saturday Night - no one is home watching TV. If you want specific numbers i can provide.

I have about 95% of the numbers. it looks like Breaking Point and Fear Strikes Back are the highest rated episodes.

[80schild.com]

Originally Posted by frodnew6

I think The First Time, the episode where Natalie lost her virginity, was the highest rated episode of the whole series during the series' original run.

No, The First Time was not the highest rated (it aired against the 1988 Calgary Olympics), but did place #22 for the week. Brave New World and Fear Strikes Back are the highest rated

[80schild.com]

Facts of life Ep "We get Letters" from Nov 30th placed #20 for the week.

[80schild.com]

Jo's "Secret"

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80schild.com

The Finale ranked poorly as it aired in May on a Saturday Night - no one is home watching TV.

But this was back in the '80s, when Saturday night was the night to watch TV. NBC had a Top 10 smash with The Golden Girls, and big hits with Empty Nest, 227, and Amen.

[80schild.com]

In 1988 when 227 took over Facts of life's 8pm timeslot - ratings plummeted to below Facts of life average - and it placed #35 for the year. Empty Next had 9:30 and 9PM slots,
8PM is what Norman Fell of Three's company called the deadzone, he used the phrase when criticizing ABC for moving the show to Saturday at 8pm - where no one would be home to watch.
In my earlier post I was giving a reason why the a specific episode in May 1987 was lower than average. Historically Spring ratings are lower than winter months, especially in early timeslots...

[Frenky]

The First Time - 16.5/27, 23rd place
Finale Part 2 - 13.2/29, 32nd place
Fear Strikes Back - 22.2/34, 6th place
The Four Musketeers - 20.1/31, 17th place
Kids Can Be Cruel - 20.2/32, 19th place
Jo's Cousin - 20.2/32, 15th place
Big Fish/Little Fish - 20.4/30 15th place
Star at Langley - 20.6/30, 13th place
Born Too Late - 20.8/33, 15th place
3,2,1 - 21.1/34, 13th place
Graduation - 20.2/32, 5th place

The Facts of Life - 14.6 rating, 38th place (1987-88)
227 - 14.6 rating, 38th place (1988-89)

227 ratings plummeted next season reaching only 10% of households.