kalbir

World Series Game 7 was Sunday October 27, thus Murder, She Wrote having their 1985/86 season low that week. 1985/86 Murder, She Wrote became the highest-rated drama series across the broadcast networks and CBS's highest-rated scripted program. Who would've thought sweet unassuming Angela Lansbury would beat the diva of all divas of 1980s primetime soaps Joan Collins, knock big bad Larry Hagman off the throne at CBS, and clean sweep the new hotness Miami Heat, I mean Miami Vice.

Hopefully this is good. Jerry Douglas deserves to be recognized for what he brought to Y&R.

That was across all three CBS primetime soaps. Granted, Dallas was the only one of the three that had no long-time female cast members left in the final season. Falcon Crest would have been that way too if Jane Wyman hadn't returned for the final three episodes.

If Josh/Tangie worked, there might not have been Annie Dutton.

May 2, 1991 was The Cosby Show season 7 finale, Theo and the Kids (Part 2). Rating 15.2, 15th for the week.

I don't know what episode it was, but I'd guess it was an episode from before Super Bowl week. ETA: Got the answer from Google News Archive. Episode was Play it Again, Vanessa (episode 8 ), original broadcast November 8, 1984. The original broadcast rating 21.2, 7th for the week.

I refer to the week of April 21, 1985 as pivotal in CBS primetime history because it was the first time that Murder, She Wrote finished ahead of Dallas. Here's what happened on the soaps and the two rookie hits that week. The Cosby Show was a repeat on April 18. Murder, She Wrote - Funeral at Fifty-Mile (season 1 finale): At a Wyoming rancher's grave, a man shocks mourners -- including the deceased's daughter -- by claiming to be the true heir. This episode was also the season high. Dallas - The Ewing Connection: J.R. presents Jack's deal to Bobby and Ray. Lucy and her ex-husband Mitch meet. John Ross is rushed to the hospital for appendicitis. Falcon Crest - The Decline...: Angela alienates the Giobertis by offering Maggie the post of acting publisher of The New Globe. Lorraine and Emma search for Lance.

The kids were off school. Clearly the momentum carried through the fall.

Week of September 26-October 2, 1983 was the season premieres for all the primetime soaps. Dallas - The Road Back: Miss Ellie is sedated after the fire. Bobby and Pam grow closer. Sue Ellen learns the truth about the accident and swears off drinking. Dynasty - The Arrest: Mark Jennings saves Alexis and Krystle from the burning cabin. The police find there are multiple suspects but arrest Mark. Fallon tries to find out more about Adam's first case with the toxic chemicals. Falcon Crest - Cimmerean Dawn: Accused murderer Julia prefers jail to Falcon Crest. Dr. Michael Ranson arrives. Melissa faces her father's murderer. Knots Landing - The People vs. Gary Ewing: Gary fights his indictment for Ciji's murder. Abby makes marriage plans. Karen awaits news from Diana. Mack searches for Chip. @Soapsuds a request for you, week ending April 21, 1985. I don't think it was posted before. A pivotal week in CBS primetime history. Thank you

@SoapDope Also The Simpsons "Who Shot Mr. Burns" referenced it was all a dream.

@yrfan1983 I don't think Chase got a proper exit story, just disappeared without an explanation. Bill Bell then replaced Chase with Ryan.

Because of it was all a dream?

Did your mother eventually change her mind about Y&R?

Malcolm/Neil.

I wonder what grandmas BITD thought of Y&R. It must have been scandalous and shocking to them.

Casey was introduced as the new doctor in town (from the 1978 recaps it seems as though she was brought on to be a Chris Brooks replacement) and her troublemaking younger sister Nikki followed not long after. Casey left in 1981 while Nikki remained. Casey made on-and-off appearances from 1984-1989 but she got replaced as the go-to doctor by Scott and later Olivia.

I remember William R Moses from Melrose Place when I was a teen and he scared the crap out of me. It's quite jarring for me to see him as this golden fairy tale prince character. In a way Cole was like an early 1980s version of 90210 Brandon.

GL had a bit of cast purge in the early months of 1991. Grant Aleksander, Beth Chamberlin, Kassie DePaiva (then Wesley), Robert Newman, Michael O'Leary all left. That cast purge also overlapped w/ the HW change from Pamela Long to Nancy Curlee.

IIRC Robert Newman 1991 exit story was that Josh thought he saw Reva on a news segment from Italy and moved there to track her down.

Did Cliff ever have a genuine love? Maybe Afton. IIRC he too was alone at the end of the original series.

Days is an interesting case. It's three most definitive eras are the Bill Bell years, the supercouple years, and Reilly's sci-fi years. The years in between each of those definitive eras are not really remembered it seems. Late 1970s/early 1980s ABC set the template that Days took to a whole other level in the supercouple years.

I'd say the huge rise of ABC shook up both CBS and P&G. Then the February 4, 1980 CBS soap schedule change didn't help either.

That makes sense. P&G was old and busted, ABC was the new hotness.

@Soapsuds Wow, you're starting the tanking era.