The 1991-92 Season FULL Nielsen Ratings...and other interesting tidbits - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

vampirevsrobot · 09-04-2014, 05:59 AM

Once again and via TV Guide...

The 1991-92 television season is something to remember and yet easily forgotten, as this was one of the weakest seasons for new major hits.

The highlights of the year include the long goodbyes:

"The Cosby Show" ends it's glorious run with somewhat of a whimper, #16 although the final episode is viewed by over 44 million viewers and easily lands #1 as Cosby and Rashad dance off the set for the final time.

(or did they?)

[and will TV pundits ever be able to explain how "A, Different World" topped "The Cosby Show" in it's final year?]

Meanwhile, on ABC:

"Who's the Boss?" (#80), "Growing Pains (#82) and MacGyver (#64) all end their long respective runs on the network.

After being shifted to the Saturday wasteland, the long running classic ABC shows got the last laugh (screw you NBC!).

"Who's the Boss" ends it's run with 20.5 million viewers (#26 for the week)
"Growing Pains" ends it's run with 21.1 million viewers (#22 for the week)

Also of note, MacGyver finished at 22.3 million viewers to finish at #15.

All three ended the same night, April 25th, 1992...

And the long-running trio easily helped ABC defeat NBC just before the all important MAY Sweeps period.

Also, over on the peacock, the once mega hit show "Dear John" ends it's run at near the bottom (#86)

Maybe, ABC knew what they were doing after all?

Meanwhile, we get very few hits...

The big breakout smash is "Home Improvement", which debuts at #5 but shockingly the next largest viewed show features former TV Superstars (Suzanne Somers of "Three's Company" and Patrick Duffy of "Dallas") in "Step by Step" which debuts at #29.

This is the year "Unsolved Mysteries", "Murphy Brown" and "Full House" all peaked.

Some semi popular shows debut:

"Nurses" on NBC & "The Commish" on ABC.

And Bob Saget get's the distinction of "top star", as he does just that:

Star of two separate shows in the top twenty!

Quite an achievement...

In other news, Redd Foxx collapses on the set of "The Royal Family" and sadly dies, Carol Burnett bombs in the 90's for CBS, and Johnny Carson says his final goodbye to 30 years of late night viewers on "The Tonight Show".

vampirevsrobot · 09-04-2014, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vampirevsrobot

..."Who's the Boss?" (#80), "Growing Pains (#82) and MacGyver (#64) all end their long respective runs on ABC.

After being shifted to the Saturday wasteland, the long running classic ABC shows get the last laugh.

"Who's the Boss" ends it's run with 20.5 million viewers (#26 for the week)
"Growing Pains" ends it's run with 21.1 million viewers (#22 for the week)

Also of note, MacGyver finished at 22.3 million viewers to finish at #15.

All three ended the same night, April 25th, 1992...

Thought I should most definitively reference this via some article in print for factual purposes.

I remember watching April 25, 1992...and I know I wasn't the only one that night!

Via USA Today (kudos to : TV-AHOLIC)

king of comedy · 09-04-2014, 07:09 AM

I've enjoyed A Differant World more than The Cosby Show.

JMas493 · 09-04-2014, 08:34 AM

I wonder why shows on The WB and UPN were not included in the ratings.

vampirevsrobot · 09-04-2014, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMas493

I wonder why shows on The WB and UPN were not included in the ratings.

This was 4 years before the WB or UPN (CW) premiered...

Frenky · 09-04-2014, 09:09 AM

Thanks for the list, it's hard to imagine that 22 yrs ago 20 million viewers wasn't enough to get you into top 20.

mets82 · 09-04-2014, 04:28 PM

Good stuff here. What was so great about Apr. 25, 1992? Sorry I'm a little dense on the matter.

Mace Dolex · 09-04-2014, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets82

Good stuff here. What was so great about Apr. 25, 1992? Sorry I'm a little dense on the matter.

Long running favorites like Who's The Boss?, Growing Pains and MacGyver ended, it was a night of farewell's.

boechsner · 09-04-2014, 07:59 PM

Yep, that was a good night of television. Me, my sister and my mom, watched the Who's the Boss? and Growing Pains finales. Meanwhile, over on the Golden Girls, Rose had a heart attack in part 1 of a two part episode.

That spring also saw the end of The Golden Girls and The Cosby Show. I also watched those finales too. It was a sad time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Long running favorites like Who's The Boss?, Growing Pains and MacGyver ended, it was a night of farewell's.

factsoflife · 09-04-2014, 08:30 PM

Didn't "The Golden Girls" also end that year (1992?)

Mace Dolex · 09-04-2014, 11:18 PM

I think in a weird way the year 1992 signaled the end of everything from the 1980's, all the big TV stars from the 80's took a back seat to the Urkel's, Seinfeld's, and little cute Olsen twins.

vampirevsrobot · 09-05-2014, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by factsoflife

Didn't "The Golden Girls" also end that year (1992?)

Yes, that was a glaring big mistake on my part. I guess in the back of my mind, I always mistake "The Golden Palace" as "The Golden Girls" which is most definitely is not.

So yes, it did end that year and in a very big way, finishing #4 with almost 30 million viewers on May 9th, 1992.

Frenky · 09-05-2014, 07:34 AM

I see that TV Guide didn't release numbers for Sunday and Monday movie nights.

king of comedy · 09-05-2014, 11:24 AM

I'm glad that Cosby ended. I thought it would never leave. It went 2 years too long.

mets82 · 09-05-2014, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

Long running favorites like Who's The Boss?, Growing Pains and MacGyver ended, it was a night of farewell's.

Oh wow. I will say that Growing Pains should've ended maybe a year or two earlier. Who's the Boss was pretty good and I never saw MacGyver.

09-04-2014, 05:59 AM	#1
vampirevsrobot Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2014 Posts: 170	The 1991-92 Season FULL Nielsen Ratings...and other interesting tidbits Once again and via TV Guide... The 1991-92 television season is something to remember and yet easily forgotten, as this was one of the weakest seasons for new major hits. The highlights of the year include the long goodbyes: "The Cosby Show" ends it's glorious run with somewhat of a whimper, #16 although the final episode is viewed by over 44 million viewers and easily lands #1 as Cosby and Rashad dance off the set for the final time. (or did they?) [and will TV pundits ever be able to explain how "A, Different World" topped "The Cosby Show" in it's final year?] Meanwhile, on ABC: "Who's the Boss?" (#80), "Growing Pains (#82) and MacGyver (#64) all end their long respective runs on the network. After being shifted to the Saturday wasteland, the long running classic ABC shows got the last laugh (screw you NBC!). "Who's the Boss" ends it's run with 20.5 million viewers (#26 for the week) "Growing Pains" ends it's run with 21.1 million viewers (#22 for the week) Also of note, MacGyver finished at 22.3 million viewers to finish at #15. All three ended the same night, April 25th, 1992... And the long-running trio easily helped ABC defeat NBC just before the all important MAY Sweeps period. Also, over on the peacock, the once mega hit show "Dear John" ends it's run at near the bottom (#86) Maybe, ABC knew what they were doing after all? Meanwhile, we get very few hits... The big breakout smash is "Home Improvement", which debuts at #5 but shockingly the next largest viewed show features former TV Superstars (Suzanne Somers of "Three's Company" and Patrick Duffy of "Dallas") in "Step by Step" which debuts at #29. This is the year "Unsolved Mysteries", "Murphy Brown" and "Full House" all peaked. Some semi popular shows debut: "Nurses" on NBC & "The Commish" on ABC. And Bob Saget get's the distinction of "top star", as he does just that: Star of two separate shows in the top twenty! Quite an achievement... In other news, Redd Foxx collapses on the set of "The Royal Family" and sadly dies, Carol Burnett bombs in the 90's for CBS, and Johnny Carson says his final goodbye to 30 years of late night viewers on "The Tonight Show". Attached Images
	__________________ *"I vaguely have a feeling that at one point I delivered a pizza to the Eisenhower's"* Last edited by vampirevsrobot; 09-04-2014 at 07:28 AM. Reason: typo

09-04-2014, 04:28 PM	#7
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Good stuff here. What was so great about Apr. 25, 1992? Sorry I'm a little dense on the matter.
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

09-04-2014, 08:30 PM	#10
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,741	Didn't "The Golden Girls" also end that year (1992?)
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

09-04-2014, 07:09 AM	#3
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I've enjoyed A Differant World more than The Cosby Show.

09-04-2014, 08:34 AM	#4
JMas493 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 03, 2005 Posts: 171	I wonder why shows on The WB and UPN were not included in the ratings.

09-04-2014, 09:09 AM	#6
Frenky Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 28, 2013 Posts: 146	Thanks for the list, it's hard to imagine that 22 yrs ago 20 million viewers wasn't enough to get you into top 20.

09-04-2014, 11:18 PM	#11
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,666	I think in a weird way the year 1992 signaled the end of everything from the 1980's, all the big TV stars from the 80's took a back seat to the Urkel's, Seinfeld's, and little cute Olsen twins.

09-05-2014, 07:34 AM	#13
Frenky Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 28, 2013 Posts: 146	I see that TV Guide didn't release numbers for Sunday and Monday movie nights.

09-05-2014, 11:24 AM	#14
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I'm glad that Cosby ended. I thought it would never leave. It went 2 years too long.