Weekly Nielsen Ratings for The Facts of Life

[RetroGuy2000]

This is a work in progress. Where possible, I have shown my work.

Date Episode name Rank Rating Share Households Credit

Season 1
[The Facts of Life debuts on Friday nights]
Aug 24, 1979: "Rough Housing, #30 [Credit: Los Angeles Times, Aug 30, 1979]
Aug 31, 1979: "Like Mother, Like Daughter" #34 [Credit: Alexandria (LA) Town Talk, Sept 7, 1979]
Week ending Sept 28, 1979 - repeat episode - #50 [Credit: St. Cloud (MN) Times, Oct 1, 1980]
[Series is placed on a six-month hiatus]
Wed Mar 12, 1980: "Overachieving", #16 during a special after Diff'rent Strokes [Credit: Palm Beach Post, March 20, 1980]
Fri Mar 14, 1980: "Emily Dickinson", #53 regular timeslot [Credit: Paducah (KY) Sun, March 19, 1980]
Week ending May 24, 1980 - repeat episode - #19 [Credit: Hazleton (PA) Standard-Speaker, May 28, 1980]
[Series is moved to Wednesdays]
Wed Jun 11, 1980 - "Dope" - #16 [Credit: Tallahassee Democrat, June 19, 1980]
Week ending Jun 22, 1980 - repeat episode - #20 >14 million viewers
Week ending June 29, 1980 - repeat episode - #16 (tie) [Credit: Alexandria (LA) Town Talk, July 5, 1980]
Week ending July 13, 1980 - repeat episode - #20 (tie), 14.5 million [Credit: Paris (TX) News, July 18, 1980]
Week ending Aug 3, 1980 - repeat episode - #18, 15.4 million viewers
[Series is moved back to Fridays]

Season-to-date ratings for The Facts of Life: #50 [Sioux City Journal, October 3, 1980]

Season 2
[Series is moved to Wednesdays]
Jan 28, 1981 "Breaking Point" #4 27.4 Rating/41 share [Credit: Minneapolis Star, Feb 6, 1981]
Feb 7, 1981 "Sex Symbol" #11 [Credit: Palm Beach Post, Feb 12, 1981]
Week ending Apr 26, 1981 - repeat episode - #10, 20 rating, 15.6 million [Credit: Bridgewater (NJ) Courier-News, Apr 29, 1981]
Week ending Jun 7, 1981 - repeat episode - #7, 19.4 rating, 15.5 million households [Credit: Spokane Spokesman-Review, Jun 10, 1981]
Week ending July 5, 1981 - repeat episode - #11, 17.1 rating [Credit: New Braunfels (TX) Herald-Zeitung, Jul 8, 1981]
Week ending July 19, 1981 - repeat episode - #8 [Credit: Tampa Bay Times, July 24, 1981]
Week ending Aug 2, 1981 - repeat episode - #6 (tie) 18.3 or 14.6 million [Credit: New Braunfels (TX) Herald-Zeitung Aug 5, 1981]
Week ending Aug 9, 1981 - repeat episode - #1 21.7 rating, 17.3 million homes [Credit: Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph, Aug 13, 1981]
Week ending Aug 16, 1981 - repeat episode - #12 (tie) [Credit: Palm Beach Post, Aug 20, 1981]
Week ending Aug 30, 1981 - repeat episode - #7 [Credit: Ottawa Citizen, Sept 4, 1981]
Week ending Oct 4, 1981 -repeat episode - #17 [Credit: El Paso Times, Oct 9, 1981]

Season 3
Nov 4, 1981 "Fear Strikes Back" - #6, 22.2/34 [Credit: Frenky/80sChild/Lansing State Journal, Nov 15, 1981]
Week ending Nov 22, 1981 "A Friend in Deed" #12 [Credit: Jackson (TN) Sun, Nov 27, 1981]
Jan 20, 1982 "Green-Eyed Monster" #13 (3-way tie) [Credit: The (Helena) Independent-Record, Jan 20, 1982]
Feb 10, 1982 "The Four Musketeers" - #17, 20.1/31 [Credit: Frenky/Lancaster (PA) New Era, Feb 17, 1982]
Week ending Feb 21, 1982 "The Affair" #17 (tie) [Credit: Santa Cruz (CA) Sentinel, Feb 24, 1982]
Week ending Mar 14, 1982 - repeat episode - #18 (tie) [Credit: Bloomington (IL) Pantagraph, Mar 18, 1982]
Mar 17, 1982 "Kids Can Be Cruel" - #19, 20.2/32 [Credit: Frenky/Sitka Daily Sentinel, Mar 26, 1982]
Apr 14, 1982 "Jo's Cousin" - #15, 20.2/32
Week ending Apr 25, 1982 - repeat episode - #20 [Credit: Sitka Daily Sentinel, Apr 30, 1982]
Week ending May 2, 1982 - repeat episode - #13 (tie) [Credit: Anniston Star, May 5, 1982]
Week ending May 30, 1982 - repeat episode - #10 (tie) 16.5 rating, 13.2 million [Credit: Paris (TX) News, Jun 4, 1982]
Jul 4-10, 1982 - repeat episode - #15 [Credit: Wilmington News Journal, July 14, 1982]
Week ending Aug 22, 1982 - repeat episode - #13 [Credit: Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, Aug 26, 1982]
Week ending Aug 29, 1982 - repeat episode - #15 [Credit: Lansing State Journal, Sep 5, 1982]

Season 4
09/25/1982 "The Facts of Life Goes to Paris" 18.2 rating, 31 share [Credit: TV Tango]
Week ending Oct 10, 1982 "The Source" - #12 (tie) [Credit: Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, Oct 14, 1982]
02/09/1983 "Let's Party" 15.6 rating, 22 share
02/16/1983 "Best Sister" (Part 1) 15.2 rating, 22 share
03/09/1983 "Guess What's Coming to Dinner?" 18.3 rating, 27 share
04/27/1983 "Take My Finals, Please" 15.3 rating, 23 share
May 4, 1983 "Graduation, 1 and 2" - #5, 20.2 rating, 32 share
Week ending May 29, 1983 - repeat episode - #19 14.9 rating, 12.4 million [Credit: Lubbock Evening Journal, June 3, 1983]
Week ending Jun 23, 1983 - repeat episode - #6 (tie) [Credit: The Paris (TX) News, June 29, 1983]
Week ending July 17, 1983 - repeat episode - #19, >12.2 million [Credit: Lubbock Evening Journal, Jul 21, 1983]
Week ending Aug 14, 1983 - repeat episode - #11, 16.3 rating, 15.5 million households [Credit: Reno Gazette, Aug 17, 1983]
Week ending Aug 21, 1983 - repeat episode - #9, 13.6 million [Paris (TX) News, Aug 26, 1983]
Sep 11, 1983 - repeat episode - #17 (tie), 15.1, 12.6 million households [Credit: Greenwood Index-Journal, Sep 14, 1983]

Season 5
9/21/1983 Brave New World (Part 1) 19 rating, 29 share [Credit: TV Tango]
9/21/1983 Brave New World (Part 2) 19 rating, 29 share [Credit: TV Tango]
9/28/1983 Gamma Gamma or Bust 17.5 rating, 26 share [Credit: TV Tango]
10/12/1983 Just My Bill 16.8 rating, 24 share [Credit: TV Tango]
10/19/1983 What Price Glory? 16.1 rating, 25 share [Credit: TV Tango]
10/26/1983 The Halloween Show 18.7 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
11/2/1983 Advanced Placement 19.7 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
11/9/1983 I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can 17.2 rating, 25 share [Credit: TV Tango]
11/16/1983 Small But Dangerous 15.2 rating, 22 share [Credit: TV Tango]
11/30/1983 Store Games 17.3 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
12/14/1983 The Second Time Around 17.9 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
12/21/1983 The Christmas Show 18.5 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
[some kind of error on the below]
12/28/1983 Chain Letter 16.3 [Credit: TV Tango]
Week ending Dec 25, 1983 "September Song", #14 [Indianapolis Star, Dec 29, 1983]
[some kind of error on the above]
1/4/1984 Next Door 19.2 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
1/11/1984 Crossing the Line 16.9 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
1/18/1984 All or Nothing 16.1 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
2/1/1984 A Death in the Family 18.4 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
2/8/1984 Big Fish/Little Fish #15, 20.4/30 17 million households [Credit: 80sChild/Palm Beach Post, Feb 16, 1984]
Feb 15, 1984 "Star at Langley" - #13, 20.6/30 [Credit: 80sChild]
2/22/1984 Dream Marriage 16.4 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
2/29/1984 Mother and Daughter 17.9 rating, 26 share [Credit: TV Tango]
3/14/1984 All by Herself 18.5 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
3/21/1984 Seems Like Old Times 17.3 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
4/18/1984 repeat episode - #7, 18.8 rating/30 share [Credit: Philadelphia Daily News, Apr 25, 1984]
Week ending Sep 2, 1984 - repeat episode - #6, 14.9 or 12.4 million [Credit: Reno Gazette-Journal, Sep 6, 1984]

Season 6
Week ending Dec 30, 1984 - repeat episode, #16 17.3 rating, 14.6 million homes [Credit:San Bernardino County Sun, Jan 4, 1985]
Wed Jun 19, 1985 - repeat episode - #8, 16.4 rating/29 share [Credit: 80sChild]
Wed Jul 3, 1985 - repeat episode - #6, 14.6 rating/29 share [Credit: 80sChild]
Wed Jul 17, 1985 - repeat episode - #4, 16.3 rating/30 share [Credit: 80sChild]
Wed July 24 1985 - repeat episode - #5, 16.7 rating/30 share [Credit: 80sChild]
Wed Aug 7 1985 - repeat episode - #5, 17.4 rating/31 share [Credit: 80sChild]
Wed Aug 21 1985 - repeat episode - #20, 14.2 rating/26 share [Credit: 80sChild]
Wed Aug 26 1985 - repeat episode - #6, 16.4 rating/28 share [Credit: 80sChild]
[Series is moved to Saturdays]

Season 7
Sep 14, 1985 "Out of the Fire" #11, 18.7 Rating [Credit: 80sChild]
Sep 21, 1985 "Into the Frying Pan" #8, 18.6/34 [Credit: Facts of Life Site]
Nov 8, 1985 "Come Back to the Truck Stop Natalie Green" #19, 19.3 Rating/31 [Credit: 80sChild]
Nov 16, 1985 "Born Too Late" - #15 20.8/33 [Credit: 80sChild]
Nov 23, 1985 "3,2,1" - #13, 21.1/34 [Credit: 80sChild]
Nov 30, 1985 "We Get Letters" #20, 19.0 Rating/31 [Credit: 80sChild]
Dec 14, 1985 "Christmas Baby" #20, 18.6/31 [Credit: 80sChild]
Feb 1, 1986 "The Reunion" #22, 18.8 Rating/32
Feb 15, 1986 "Atlantic City" #23, 18.8 Rating/29
Week ending Apr 6, 1986 - Repeat episode - #17, 18.0 Rating [Credit: Facts of Life Site]
Week ending Apr 26, 1986 - Repeat episode - #15, 16.5 Rating [Credit: Facts of Life Site]
Week ending Sep 14, 1986 - repeat episode - #21 [Credit: The Hackensack Record, Sep 17, 1986]

Season 8
Sep 27, 1986 "Out of Peekskill, pt 1 and 2" #30, 15.6 rating [Credit: White Plains Journal-News, Oct 3, 1986/TV Tango]
10/4/1986 Ready or Not 15.2 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
Sat Oct 11, 1986 "Another Room" #21, 18.1 Rating/32 share [Credit: 80sChild/TV Tango]
11/1/1986 "Off Broadway Baby" 15.8 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
Sat Nov 8, 1986 "The Little Chill" #20, 18.2 Rating/31 share [Credit: 80sChild]
11/15/1986 "The Ratings Game" 18 rating [Credit:TV Tango]
Sat Nov 22, 1986 "Wedding Day" #23, 17.9 Rating/30 share [Credit: 80sChild/TV Tango]
11/29/1986 Fast Food 17 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
12/6/1986 Where's Poppa? 15.4 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
12/13/1986 Write & Wrong 15.7 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
Sat Jan 3, 1987 "Seven Little Indians" #24, 16.3 Rating [Credit: Facts of Life Site]
1/10/1987 The Greek Connection 16.7 [Credit: TV Tango]
Sat Jan 17, 1987 "Post-Christmas Card" #25. 17.3 rating/29 share [Credit:80sChild]
Sat Jan 25, 1987 repeat episode ("The Little Chill") #25. 17.9 rating/30 share [Credit:80sChild]
Sat Jan 31, 1987 "A Star is Torn" #24. 16.7 rating/28 share [Credit:80sChild/TV Tango]
Sat Feb 8, 1987 "A Winter's Tale" #30, 16.6 Rating/29 share [Credit: Gettysburg Times, Feb 8, 1987]
Sat Feb 14, 1987 "Cupid's Revenge" #38, 15.4 Rating/26 share [Credit: Variety/tvvideotrader]
Sun Feb 15, 1987 "The Facts of life Down Under" #13, 21.4 Rating/32 share [Credit: 80sChild/TV Tango]
Sat Feb 21, 1987 "62 Pick Up" #26, 17.1 rating/31 share [Credit: 80sChild]
Sat Feb 28, 1987 "Boy About the House" #25, 18.3 Rating/31 share [Credit: 80sChild/TV Tango]
3/7/1987 Ex Marks the Spot 15.9 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
3/21/1987 Younger Than Springtime 17.1 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
4/18/1987 This Is Only a Test 13 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
5/2/1987 Rites of Passage (Part 1 of 2) 12 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
Sat May 9, 1987 "Rites of Passage Too" #43, 11.7 Rating [Credit: Facts of Life Site/TV Tango]
[Series is moved to Wednesdays]
Jun 10, 1987 Repeat episode ("Cupid's Revenge"), #32 [Credit: Variety/tvvideotrader]
Week ending Jul 9, 1987 Repeat episode ("Facts of Life Down Under") #14, 14.1 Rating/12.3 million homes [Credit: Facts of Life Site/Palm Beach Post, July 23, 1987]
[Series is returned to Saturdays]
Aug 3-9, 1987 - repeat episode - #45, 9.0 Rating [Credit: LA Times, Aug 12, 1987]


Season 9
Sep 26, 1987 "Down and Out in Malibu part 1" #30, 14.8 rating 20.4 million households [Credit: Facts of Life Site/TV Tango]
Oct 3, 1987 "Down and Out in Malibu part 2" #30, 15.4 rating/29 share, 13.6 million households [Credit: Facts of Life Site]
10/17/1987 Rumor Has It 13.5 rating
10/24/1987 Before the Fall 14.5 rating
11/7/1987 Sweet Charity 15 rating
Nov 14, 1987 "Up From Down Under" #14, 16.1 rating 27.2 million [Credit: Facts of Life Site/TV Tango]
Nov 21, 1987 "The More the Marrier" #22, 16.3 rating 25.2 million households [Credit: Facts of Life Site/TV Tango]
11/28/1987 A Rose by Any Other Age 16.4 rating [Credit:TV Tango]
12/5/1987 Adventures in Baileysitting 16.1 rating [Credit:TV Tango]
12/12/1987 It's a Wonderful Christmas 14.1 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
Week ending Dec 27, 1987 - repeat episode - #33 (tie), 11.8 rating [Credit: Alexandria (LA) Town Talk, Jan 1, 1988]
1/2/1988 Golden Oldies 16.4 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
1/9/1988 A Thousand Frowns 16.1 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
1/16/1988 Something in Common 14.4 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
1/23/1988 Peekskill Law 13.5 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
1/30/1988 A House Divided 14.4 rating, 24 share, 21 million viewers [Credit: TV Tango]
Feb 6, 1988 "The First Time" - #23, 16.5 rating/27 share [Credit: Frenky/TV Tango]
2/13/1988 Let's Face the Music 15.2 rating [Credit:TV Tango]
2/20/1988 Less Than Perfect 13 rating 22 share, 19.1 million viewers [Credit:TV Tango]
2/27/1988 Till Marriage Do Us Part 15 rating [Credit:TV Tango]
3/5/1988 Present Imperfect 14.3 rating
[something wrong below]
Week ending Mar 13, 1988 "On the Edge" #30, 15.5 rating [Credit: San Bernardino County Sun, Mar 17, 1988]
3/12/1988 On the Edge 13.5 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
[something wrong above]
3/19/1988 Big Apple Blues 14 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
Week ending Apr 3, 1988 - repeat episode #30 [Credit: Cincinnati Enquirer, Apr 6, 1988]
Week ending Apr 24, 1988 - repeat episode - #46, 10.6 rating [Credit: San Bernardino County Sun, Apr 28, 1988]
4/30/1988 The Beginning of the End 12.3 rating [Credit: TV Tango]
May 7, 1988 "The Beginning of the Beginning" - #32, 13.2 rating/29 share [Credit: Frenky]
Week ending May 29, 1988 - repeat episode - #38, 10.0 million [Credit:Alexandria (LA) Town Talk, Jun 4, 1988]
Week ending July 3, 1988 - repeat episode - #37, 9.7 rating [Credit: San Bernardino County Sun, Jul 8, 1988]
Aug 15-21, 1988 - repeat episode - #45, 9.8 rating/23 share [Credit: Bloomington Pantagraph, August 27, 1988]
Week ending Sep 11, 1988 - repeat episode #24, 12.1 rating [Credit: Anniston Star, Sep 14, 1988]

Season N/A
11/18/2001 The Facts of Life Reunion - 7.1 rating, 11 share 11.5 million households [Credit: TV Tango]

['80sSitcoms]

Very interesting!

Is there a # rank for "Cupid's Revenge"?

Also, the "Emily Dickinson" one sounds a bit odd: "during a special after DS". Does this mean they actually aired this one season 1 episode right after its parent show?

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Where possible, I have shown my work.

You're a teacher, but now you sound like a student! (a diligent student!)

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Very interesting!

Is there a # rank for "Cupid's Revenge"?

Not that I have found, so far. But it's likely in another source.

Also, the "Emily Dickinson" one sounds a bit odd: "during a special after DS". Does this mean they actually aired this one season 1 episode right after its parent show?

Yep. That's exactly right. It's the only "Spring" 1980 episode that was highly rated until they moved the series permanently to after DS, in late May.

You're a teacher, but now you sound like a student! (a diligent student!)

Just trying to practice FACT!

I'll update this list next week with some corrections and more dates/ratings.

['80sSitcoms]

That's so weird to air only 1 out of 13 episodes where they all should have been---right after the parent show. To think the show may have found its footing with all 7 girls and we may have had more seasons (!).

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

That's so weird to air only 1 out of 13 episodes where they all should have been---right after the parent show. To think the show may have found its footing with all 7 girls and we may have had more seasons (!).

Oh, "Molly's Holiday" and "Dope" also aired right after the parent show; by May 1979, NBC execs realized their mistake and moved the show. However, it was already a case of "too little, too late": the top series of the season were determined by Nielsen by comparing the ratings of only the episodes that aired between September 1979 and April 1979, so by the time The Facts of Life was moved in May, the "regular" season had already been ranked.

The September to April ranking also meant that the August episodes of The Facts of Life don't figure into those ratings. That means only eight or nine episodes were measured for that #74 ranking.

However, rankings for a longer period, August to August(ish) also exist, with sources, and I'll eventually post that info as well. The Facts of Life's first season was a Top 20 hit under that measurement. Moving nights greatly changed its fortunes.

['80sSitcoms]

Ooooo, stay tuned...

[Lorimar Television]

Nice work Retro!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Nice work Retro!

Just building on the foundations of others!

[tvvideotrader]

The original airing of "Cupid's Revenge" (2/14/87) ranked #38 for the week ending 2/15/85. The NBC primetime rerun aired on Wed. 6/10/87 and ranked #32 for the week.

[80schild.com]

here is some interesting data i found. The popularity of the show surged during the summer of 1985. Many of the below summer rerun episodes beat out reruns of Cosby, Family Ties, and Cheers. These are the last broadcasts in the Wednesday 9PM timeslot, the show moved to Saturday 8:30 in September 1985. Going into season 7 the show had a lot of momentum.


Date/Weekly#Ranking/Ratings Point/Share

Wed June 19 1985 #8. Facts of Life NBC 16.4/29
Wed July 3 1985 #6. Facts of Life NBC 14.6/29
Wed July 17 1985 #4. Facts of Life NBC 16.3/30
Wed July 24 1985 #5. Facts of Life NBC 16.7/30
Wed Aug 7 1985 #5. Facts of Life NBC 17.4/31
Wed Aug 21 1985 #20. Facts of life NBC 14.2/26
Wed Aug 26 1985 # 6. Facts of Life NBC 16.4/28



i love this topic

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Oh, "Molly's Holiday" and "Dope" also aired right after the parent show; by May 1979, NBC execs realized their mistake and moved the show. However, it was already a case of "too little, too late": the top series of the season were determined by Nielsen by comparing the ratings of only the episodes that aired between September 1979 and April 1979, so by the time The Facts of Life was moved in May, the "regular" season had already been ranked.

The September to April ranking also meant that the August episodes of The Facts of Life don't figure into those ratings. That means only eight or nine episodes were measured for that #74 ranking.

However, rankings for a longer period, August to August(ish) also exist, with sources, and I'll eventually post that info as well. The Facts of Life's first season was a Top 20 hit under that measurement. Moving nights greatly changed its fortunes.

People assumed that Nancy McKeon single handily saved the show. This provided evidence that the show had good ratings before the second season. Ironic that Nancy McKeon is the most Nancied of the 8 girls on this board in recent years.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

People assumed that Nancy McKeon single handily saved the show. This provided evidence that the show had good ratings before the second season. Ironic that Nancy McKeon is the most Nancied of the 8 girls on this board in recent years.

NANCY MKEON may be Nancied on this board, but if you go to the Facebook pages she still remains the star! (Some people even have the impertinence to post that she really did save the show lol!)

:hell

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by tvvideotrader

The original airing of "Cupid's Revenge" (2/14/87) ranked #38 for the week ending 2/15/85. The NBC primetime rerun aired on Wed. 6/10/87 and ranked #32 for the week.

Thank you, tvvideotrader! I have added your info to the OP, with credit.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by 80schild.com

here is some interesting data i found. The popularity of the show surged during the summer of 1985. Many of the below summer rerun episodes beat out reruns of Cosby, Family Ties, and Cheers. These are the last broadcasts in the Wednesday 9PM timeslot, the show moved to Saturday 8:30 in September 1985. Going into season 7 the show had a lot of momentum.


Date/Weekly#Ranking/Ratings Point/Share

Wed June 19 1985 #8. Facts of Life NBC 16.4/29
Wed July 3 1985 #6. Facts of Life NBC 14.6/29
Wed July 17 1985 #4. Facts of Life NBC 16.3/30
Wed July 24 1985 #5. Facts of Life NBC 16.7/30
Wed Aug 7 1985 #5. Facts of Life NBC 17.4/31
Wed Aug 21 1985 #20. Facts of life NBC 14.2/26
Wed Aug 26 1985 # 6. Facts of Life NBC 16.4/28



i love this topic

Awesome info, 80sChild! I'm adding this info to the OP, crediting you, of course. You can see I already grabbed what info you had previously already provided.

This is very helpful info! Thank you!

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

NANCY MKEON may be Nancied on this board, but if you go to the Facebook pages she still remains the star! (Some people even have the impertinence to post that she really did save the show lol!)

:hell

Which Facebook page? Some of the Facts of Life groups I am in have lots of Lost Girl fans.