32 years ago the last new episode of the FOL aired.

[80s Dude]

32 years ago "The Beginning of the Beginning" aired as the final new episode of the Facts of Life.

While that episode failed to spin off in a new series, it introduced 3 future stars to us.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

32 years ago "The Beginning of the Beginning" aired as the final new episode of the Facts of Life.

While that episode failed to spin off in a new series, it introduced 3 future stars to us.

Can you find out what the ratings were for the final episode? I had long tuned out by then and I suspect many viewers did too and the show unfortunately went out with a whimper.

I think ending a couple of seasons earlier with a big graduation celebration episode and Mrs. G still there would've been such a better closing to the series.

[80s Dude]

I think the shows rating were pretty consistent from Season 2 to Season 9. It was never a top 10 or even Top 15 show. The final 2 episodes probably reflect that. I think the show became more popular in syndication than when it ran new episodes. Just like Star Trek and The Brady Bunch did.

[cfr1970]

I found this site that shows the finale got a 13.2 rating. Yet it also says repeat in parenthesis. It may just be an error, but a 13.2 rating is pretty good and unheard of for today.

In comparison The Golden Girls got a 21.2 rating for a regular episode...so perhaps that 13.2 isn't so great after all.

Here's the page:

http://www.tvtango.com/listings/1988/05/07

[cfr1970]

If you go to 4/30/88 the week before it shows Pt. 1 of the finale and that got a 12.3 rating, so there was a slight uptick for the 2nd part finale. I just wish it showed the number of viewers too.

I'll have to do some more digging.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I think ending a couple of seasons earlier with a big graduation celebration episode and Mrs. G still there would've been such a better closing to the series.

Wait'll you end season 8.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I think the shows rating were pretty consistent from Season 2 to Season 9. It was never a top 10 or even Top 15 show. The final 2 episodes probably reflect that. I think the show became more popular in syndication than when it ran new episodes. Just like Star Trek and The Brady Bunch did.

I feel it probably was at its highest in daily syndicated reruns in the early to mid-eighties.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I found this site that shows the finale got a 13.2 rating. Yet it also says repeat in parenthesis. It may just be an error, but a 13.2 rating is pretty good and unheard of for today.

In comparison The Golden Girls got a 21.2 rating for a regular episode...so perhaps that 13.2 isn't so great after all.

Here's the page:

http://www.tvtango.com/listings/1988/05/07

Yup, those Golden Girls really were---"golden"!

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

If you go to 4/30/88 the week before it shows Pt. 1 of the finale and that got a 12.3 rating, so there was a slight uptick for the 2nd part finale. I just wish it showed the number of viewers too.

I'll have to do some more digging.

That's our archaeologist, good ol' "Digger" cfr!

⛏⛏⛏

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

32 years ago "The Beginning of the Beginning" aired as the final new episode of the Facts of Life.

It was the end of an era...

While that episode failed to spin off in a new series, it introduced 3 future stars to us.

Yeah, kinda crazy to think of! (And also crazy to think that Seth Green was still playing a high school student, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ten years later! )

[RetroGuy2000]

The May 1988 finale got 18.2 million viewers, so it ranked #25 for the week. It won its timeslot, over Dolly on ABC, and a repeat of High Mountain Rangers on CBS.

[cfr1970]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

The May 1988 finale got 18.2 million viewers, so it ranked #25 for the week. It won its timeslot, over Dolly on ABC, and a repeat of High Mountain Rangers on CBS.

WOW! 18 MILLION?! That's unheard of today for any sitcom and still very good for the finale in that time. I'm trying to recall if I personally watched it then or not. I think I had to have because in May of 88 I was working night crew at the A&P so at 8pm on Sat night I most likely would've had the TV on in my room while getting ready for work.

I have an old spiral notebook journal from 1988, but I seriously doubt I wrote down "I watched the Facts of Life series finale tonight" for May 7th entry LOL. At 18, i'm sure I had more pressing matters that needed jotting down.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

WOW! 18 MILLION?! That's unheard of today for any sitcom and still very good for the finale in that time.

Yup---"The Golden Girls" series finale had 27.2 million!

Originally Posted by cfr1970

I have an old spiral notebook journal from 1988, but I seriously doubt I wrote down "I watched the Facts of Life series finale tonight" for May 7th entry LOL. At 18, i'm sure I had more pressing matters that needed jotting down.

[Lorimar Television]

Originally Posted by cfr1970

WOW! 18 MILLION?! That's unheard of today for any sitcom and still very good for the finale in that time. I'm trying to recall if I personally watched it then or not. I think I had to have because in May of 88 I was working night crew at the A&P so at 8pm on Sat night I most likely would've had the TV on in my room while getting ready for work.

I have an old spiral notebook journal from 1988, but I seriously doubt I wrote down "I watched the Facts of Life series finale tonight" for May 7th entry LOL. At 18, i'm sure I had more pressing matters that needed jotting down.

Yep the Roseanne revival got that much a few years ago and it was the highest ratings in years

[Fallon97]

Aww...I remember being sad when the last episode aired.