Surprised to find out this sitcom from the 1950's didn't do well in the ratings - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 05-26-2015, 04:40 PM

Found out today that the show "Leave it to Beaver" didn't do well in the ratings when the show aired on network television from 1957 to 1963. Just starting to watch the show on Antenna TV and I think it's really good for a show that aired almost 60 years ago. All of the characters great and the funniest character is Wally's friend Eddie. Wonder why this show had trouble catching on in the 1950's when it wasn't much competition in those days on television.

icecream · 05-26-2015, 06:28 PM

It's one of those shows like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island that became a lot bigger in syndication than the original run.

TVFactFan · 05-26-2015, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsrule

It's one of those shows like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island that became a lot bigger in syndication than the original run.

Yeah I see it's complete on DVD and it's on my buy list before 2016

Mr. Television · 05-26-2015, 06:39 PM

I discovered in in reruns in the 1970's. One of the best 1950's sitcoms.

TVFactFan · 05-26-2015, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

I discovered in in reruns in the 1970's. One of the best 1950's sitcoms.

Just wish the shet came on at 8pm and after

treky · 05-27-2015, 12:04 AM

I first discovered it way back in the 70s when a local station(channel 10, Sol if you see this) used to show the reruns in the wee, wee hours of the morning on Saturdays (the time always varied depending on when their movie ended but it was always -let's see-I guess 3 to 4 or 4:30 am). Then in 1980 the same station started showing it weekday mornings at 9:30. (I remember reading in the paper at that time that a lot of young people were starting to discover it.)

treky · 05-27-2015, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Yeah I see it's complete on DVD and it's on my buy list before 2016

Sol, I thought you said on here once that you don't like black-and-white sitcoms.

TVFactFan · 05-27-2015, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

Sol, I thought you said on here once that you don't like black-and-white sitcoms.

Only 2 from 50's

Leave to Beaver

Honeymooners

Bonniegirl · 05-27-2015, 01:54 AM

Glad you discovered it ! It really is a good show!

That surprises me that is wasn't higher in the ratings back than! I know my Dad loved and always watched LITB first run! He was happy when my sister and I started watching it!

Bonniegirl · 05-27-2015, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

I first discovered it way back in the 70s when a local station(channel 10, Sol if you see this) used to show the reruns in the wee, wee hours of the morning on Saturdays (the time always varied depending on when their movie ended but it was always -let's see-I guess 3 to 4 or 4:30 am). Then in 1980 the same station started showing it weekday mornings at 9:30. (I remember reading in the paper at that time that a lot of young people were starting to discover it.)

Treky, I remember at one time early 80's when it was on around noon weekdays . I was still living in Philly than. It came on along with Mc Hales navy and Gomer Pyle if I remember correctly? I thought on channel 48,29 or 17?

Edward216 · 05-27-2015, 02:50 AM

It's weird to me that if the ratings were never that good it ran for 7 seasons. That certainly wouldn't ever happen today! I think it's one of the best family sitcoms ever. I mean sometimes the episodes were kind of silly and corny but at least they are good family viewing. I just find it hard to believe that it wasn't more popular originally when from what I can tell it wasn't any different from other sitcoms back then.

But yeah sometimes a show really becomes a "hit" only later in reruns. It's the same story with the original Star Trek. It only originally ran for 3 seasons, and NBC wanted to cancel it after season 1 and season 2 and finally did cancel it after season 3. I've read in its original run it never even made it into the top 20. And it was only saved from cancellation the first two times by a small loyal fan base doing a letter writing campaign to NBC.

Ed.

Patty Duke · 05-27-2015, 10:37 AM

Leave It to Beaver ran for six full 39-week seasons (234 episodes), had its debut on CBS on October 4, 1957. The following season, the show moved to ABC, where it stayed until completing its run on June 20, 1963. During the whole of the show's run, the series was shot with a single camera on black-and-white 35mm film.

Although the show never broke into the Nielsen ratings top-30 nor won any awards, it placed on TIME magazine's unranked 2007 list of "The 100 Best TV Shows of all-time."

LUNCH · 05-27-2015, 12:53 PM

Great show,and it's one of the few shows I can think of that does not have even one weak episode.They're all good,some better than others of course.As far as the show not doing good in the ratings.Lets say it only got 15-20 million households viewing it every week,and I'm just guessing,it could have been a lot more.Considering the population of the country back than was less than half of what it is now,it still got a lot of viewers during it's initial run even though it may not have been a ratings winner.

TVFactFan · 05-27-2015, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

Treky, I remember at one time early 80's when it was on around noon weekdays . I was still living in Philly than. It came on along with Mc Hales navy and Gomer Pyle if I remember correctly? I thought on channel 48,29 or 17?

All this time and I'm just finding out you used to live in philly? Lol

Bonniegirl · 05-27-2015, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

All this time and I'm just finding out you used to live in philly? Lol

I told you before I thought? I've been away since 1985 though!

05-26-2015, 04:40 PM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,949	Surprised to find out this sitcom from the 1950's didn't do well in the ratings Found out today that the show "Leave it to Beaver" didn't do well in the ratings when the show aired on network television from 1957 to 1963. Just starting to watch the show on Antenna TV and I think it's really good for a show that aired almost 60 years ago. All of the characters great and the funniest character is Wally's friend Eddie. Wonder why this show had trouble catching on in the 1950's when it wasn't much competition in those days on television.

05-26-2015, 06:28 PM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,599	It's one of those shows like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island that became a lot bigger in syndication than the original run.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

05-26-2015, 06:39 PM	#4
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I discovered in in reruns in the 1970's. One of the best 1950's sitcoms.
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05-27-2015, 12:04 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I first discovered it way back in the 70s when a local station(channel 10, Sol if you see this) used to show the reruns in the wee, wee hours of the morning on Saturdays (the time always varied depending on when their movie ended but it was always -let's see-I guess 3 to 4 or 4:30 am). Then in 1980 the same station started showing it weekday mornings at 9:30. (I remember reading in the paper at that time that a lot of young people were starting to discover it.)
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

05-27-2015, 02:50 AM	#11
Edward216 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 18, 2014 Location: Central Time Zone Posts: 4,625	It's weird to me that if the ratings were never that good it ran for 7 seasons. That certainly wouldn't ever happen today! I think it's one of the best family sitcoms ever. I mean sometimes the episodes were kind of silly and corny but at least they are good family viewing. I just find it hard to believe that it wasn't more popular originally when from what I can tell it wasn't any different from other sitcoms back then. But yeah sometimes a show really becomes a "hit" only later in reruns. It's the same story with the original Star Trek. It only originally ran for 3 seasons, and NBC wanted to cancel it after season 1 and season 2 and finally did cancel it after season 3. I've read in its original run it never even made it into the top 20. And it was only saved from cancellation the first two times by a small loyal fan base doing a letter writing campaign to NBC. Ed.
	Last edited by Edward216; 05-28-2015 at 11:46 PM.

05-27-2015, 01:54 AM	#9
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,398	Glad you discovered it ! It really is a good show! That surprises me that is wasn't higher in the ratings back than! I know my Dad loved and always watched LITB first run! He was happy when my sister and I started watching it!

05-27-2015, 10:37 AM	#12
Patty Duke Good night, John Boy Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 09, 2013 Location: The Land of Milk and Honey Posts: 788	Leave It to Beaver ran for six full 39-week seasons (234 episodes), had its debut on CBS on October 4, 1957. The following season, the show moved to ABC, where it stayed until completing its run on June 20, 1963. During the whole of the show's run, the series was shot with a single camera on black-and-white 35mm film. Although the show never broke into the Nielsen ratings top-30 nor won any awards, it placed on TIME magazine's unranked 2007 list of "The 100 Best TV Shows of all-time."
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05-27-2015, 12:53 PM	#13
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	Great show,and it's one of the few shows I can think of that does not have even one weak episode.They're all good,some better than others of course.As far as the show not doing good in the ratings.Lets say it only got 15-20 million households viewing it every week,and I'm just guessing,it could have been a lot more.Considering the population of the country back than was less than half of what it is now,it still got a lot of viewers during it's initial run even though it may not have been a ratings winner.