Was Lucy the most successful tv actor/actress? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Will and Grace Fanatic · 08-17-2015, 02:27 PM

How many other television stars have had 3 tv shows that were in the top 10 nielsens? I know others have had success with 2 shows, but some of those didn't even end up in the top 10.

MichaelKeith · 08-17-2015, 03:05 PM

She probably was. Certainly the most successful female tv actress. Another very successful tv actress was Mary Tyler Moore. There are several male actors who were almost as successful as Lucy--Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, Raymond Burr, Buddy Ebsen.

Mr. Television · 08-17-2015, 05:17 PM

Michael Landon had 3 hit shows.

MichaelKeith · 08-17-2015, 05:46 PM

you're right, I forgot about Michael Landon and he did star in three great shows!

king of comedy · 08-17-2015, 06:07 PM

She opened the door for women.

Marvo301 · 08-18-2015, 02:07 PM

I would rank Betty White ahead of Lucy. Betty's career on television has lasted over 60 years and no one else, no even Lucy, can make that claim.

scrapple · 10-08-2015, 09:18 PM

I have to disagree with those choosing James Arness or Betty White. True, Gunsmoke was on for 20 years, but it was just one show. What else did Arness do? And, truth be told, he was phoning it in for the last several years of the show. He'd be there at the beginning, then be "out of Dodge" for the next 40 minutes, then return for the last ten minutes.
As for White, she had a fairly small role during the last couple years on one show (Mary Tyler Moore) and was one-fourth of the lead in another (Golden Girls) Don't get me wrong, she's a great comic actress, but she's never had to carry a show by herself.
If I had to rank TV actors based on their long-term popularity, I'd put Lucy No.1, Michael Landon 2, Raymond Burr 3, Bob Newhart 4 and Kelsey Grammer 5.

OH Nuts! · 10-08-2015, 09:45 PM

As an actress she was respectable but not spectacular.... as a Comedienne...the very very best!

gidgetgrape · 10-08-2015, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrapple

I have to disagree with those choosing James Arness or Betty White. True, Gunsmoke was on for 20 years, but it was just one show. What else did Arness do? And, truth be told, he was phoning it in for the last several years of the show. He'd be there at the beginning, then be "out of Dodge" for the next 40 minutes, then return for the last ten minutes.
As for White, she had a fairly small role during the last couple years on one show (Mary Tyler Moore) and was one-fourth of the lead in another (Golden Girls) Don't get me wrong, she's a great comic actress, but she's never had to carry a show by herself.
If I had to rank TV actors based on their long-term popularity, I'd put Lucy No.1, Michael Landon 2, Raymond Burr 3, Bob Newhart 4 and Kelsey Grammer 5.

I agree with your assessment of Betty White. Love her to death, but she's more of a supporting actress than a lead. Her work as a lead has always been short lived and a bit unmemorable ("Life with Elizabeth" - 2 seasons, "Date With the Angels" - 2 seasons, "The Betty White Show" - 1 season).

I would also like to throw out another name, Lee Majors. His hits include "The Big Valley" "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Fall Guy."

LittleRickyII · 10-09-2015, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

Bill Cosby's ratings were almost unique. Top ratings have fallen over time, so the No. 1 show has always had lower ratings than the No. 1 from ten years before. Cosby reversed that - his ratings from the mid-80s were higher than All in the Family's in the mid-70s.

There are all kinds of ways you can look at that. There were a couple seasons where The Cosby Show scored higher ratings than All in the Family, but Cosby's super high ratings only lasted about three years, whereas All in the Family maintained super high ratings (above 30 share) for five years. And looking at eight full seasons of each series (not including the initial half-season of AITF, All in the Family averaged a 28.88 share, but Cosby averaged 26.06. Both shows were #1 for five seasons, although one of the five seasons, Cosby was tied with Roseanne for the top position. So All in the Family's dominance really lasted a bit longer than Cosby's.

All in the Family
1971-2: 34.0
1972-3: 33.3
1973-4: 31.2
1974-5: 30.2
1975-6: 30.1
1976-7: 22.9
1977-8: 24.4
1978-9: 24.9

The Cosby Show
1984-5: 24.2
1985-6: 33.7
1986-7: 34.9
1987-8: 34.9
1988-9: 25.6
1989-90: 23.1
1990-1: 17.1
1991-2: 15.0

LittleRickyII · 10-09-2015, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will and Grace Fanatic

How many other television stars have had 3 tv shows that were in the top 10 nielsens? I know others have had success with 2 shows, but some of those didn't even end up in the top 10.

I can think of no other television star who has had that kind of record. And there is certainly no other television star who keeps winding up near the top of the Nielsen's more than a quarter century after her death. And I'm referring to these I Love Lucy prime time rebroadcasts CBS has been doing a couple times a year for the last several years. What other show gets rerun on network television in prime time years after it filmed its last episode? What other show has this beginning and (so far) ending point:

First network broadcast: October 15, 1951 (CBS)
Last network broadcast: May 17, 2015 (CBS)

Of course, that "last network broadcast" date is ever changing for I Love Lucy because there is no end in sight to CBS bringing it back. CBS is already planning (again) to put I Love Lucy on in prime time during upcoming holidays in a few months.

Putting this in perspective, imagine a show debuting this month, October 2015. Imagine that same show still being broadcast in the year 2079!

Babalu · 12-25-2015, 07:29 PM

I don't think Lucy was the most successful actress so much as I Love Lucy was the best show. The Lucy Show would never have been a hit if I Love Lucy didn't come first and Here's Lucy would have never been on.

OH Nuts! · 12-25-2015, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babalu

I don't think Lucy was the most successful actress so much as I Love Lucy was the best show. The Lucy Show would never have been a hit if I Love Lucy didn't come first and Here's Lucy would have never been on.

ABSOLUTELY I Love Lucy is the best show. It pioneered so many techniques . True ILL gave her later shows momentum, but they were very entertaining in their own right. And Lucy was still stunning well into her 50s! And still had that flaiir for outrageous comedy that nobody else, no matter how hard they tried, could top.

king of comedy · 12-25-2015, 09:54 PM

Very true Oh Nuts. She hot ever since she made her movie debut and she was beautiful.

OH Nuts! · 12-25-2015, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

Very true Oh Nuts. She hot ever since she made her movie debut and she was beautiful.

Darn tootin! Everyone in the 40s and 50s carried on about Betty Grable's legs but IMO they don't hold a candle to Lucy's!

08-17-2015, 02:27 PM	#1
Will and Grace Fanatic be happy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 15, 2002 Location: seattle, washington Posts: 2,746	Was Lucy the most successful tv actor/actress? How many other television stars have had 3 tv shows that were in the top 10 nielsens? I know others have had success with 2 shows, but some of those didn't even end up in the top 10.
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08-17-2015, 05:17 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Michael Landon had 3 hit shows.
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08-18-2015, 02:07 PM	#6
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I would rank Betty White ahead of Lucy. Betty's career on television has lasted over 60 years and no one else, no even Lucy, can make that claim.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

12-25-2015, 07:29 PM	#12
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	I don't think Lucy was the most successful actress so much as I Love Lucy was the best show. The Lucy Show would never have been a hit if I Love Lucy didn't come first and Here's Lucy would have never been on.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

08-17-2015, 03:05 PM	#2
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	She probably was. Certainly the most successful female tv actress. Another very successful tv actress was Mary Tyler Moore. There are several male actors who were almost as successful as Lucy--Dick Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, Raymond Burr, Buddy Ebsen.

08-17-2015, 05:46 PM	#4
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	you're right, I forgot about Michael Landon and he did star in three great shows!

08-17-2015, 06:07 PM	#5
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	She opened the door for women.

10-08-2015, 09:18 PM	#7
scrapple Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 259	I have to disagree with those choosing James Arness or Betty White. True, Gunsmoke was on for 20 years, but it was just one show. What else did Arness do? And, truth be told, he was phoning it in for the last several years of the show. He'd be there at the beginning, then be "out of Dodge" for the next 40 minutes, then return for the last ten minutes. As for White, she had a fairly small role during the last couple years on one show (Mary Tyler Moore) and was one-fourth of the lead in another (Golden Girls) Don't get me wrong, she's a great comic actress, but she's never had to carry a show by herself. If I had to rank TV actors based on their long-term popularity, I'd put Lucy No.1, Michael Landon 2, Raymond Burr 3, Bob Newhart 4 and Kelsey Grammer 5.

10-08-2015, 09:45 PM	#8
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	As an actress she was respectable but not spectacular.... as a Comedienne...the very very best!

12-25-2015, 09:54 PM	#14
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Very true Oh Nuts. She hot ever since she made her movie debut and she was beautiful.