Ratings from the 80's

[robbwolff]

I believe Peggy O’Shea was head writer that summer.

[beebs]

That would do it! I wouldn't wish O'Shea not to head to OLTL the next year, as her work there was exactly what rejuvenated that show in 85-87, but clearly her work on Capitol was resonating with viewers in a way that those who followed didn't. I expect the frequent turnover in the writers' room did that show NO favours.

[JAS0N47]

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 8/8/83-8/12/83 & 8/15/83-8/19/83:

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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS (FAST NATIONALS): WEEK OF 8/22/83-8/26/83:

[beebs]

Though it's a fast national, 8/22-8/26 is the first time since Spring 1980 that DAYS has been above a 7.0. Also nice to see SFT hitting a 4.0, their highest rating of their NBC run (so far?)

[kalbir]

We're heading into Fall 1983 and three tiers have formed.

Top tier: General Hospital, All My Children, Y&R, One Life to Live

Mid tier: As the World Turns, Guiding Light, Days, Capitol

Bottom tier: Another World, Ryan's Hope, The Edge of Night, Loving, Search for Tomorrow

[Soapsuds]

Philip found out that Alan wasn't his father and that Justin was. It was the Friday cliffhanger on Guiding Light.

Days numbers growing.

Capitol and AW numbers going up nicely.

Edited August 25, 2023 by Soapsuds

[Soapsuds]

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[TEdgeofNight]

Joanna Lee was killing it as SFT's EP during that period. 

Jean Arley was the Producer of OLTL at this time and the show sucked during her reign. She was not a right fit for OLTL. 

[Contessa Donatella]

 

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[JAS0N47]

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 8/29/83-9/2/83 & 9/5/83-9/9/83:

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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 9/12/83-9/16/83 & 9/19/83-9/23/83:

[TEdgeofNight]

Further down the line in 1984, at the end of Jean Arley's disastrous run at OLTL, the show had dropped to #8 and even Capitol was beating OLTL! ABC couldn't get Paul Rauch in there fast enough!

[Soapsuds]

I expected a bigger jump for GL and the Phillip reveal. 

Days ties for #5.

 

[kalbir]

September 8, 1983 Y&R Brenda Dickson return.

Y&R transition is complete and 1984 we'll see Y&R become Y&R as we know it today.

[Chrissy81730]

Welcome 

[BoldRestless]

Great to confirm more US Open Preemptions.

 

I am assuming the event that broke into soaps and preempted Search for Tomorrow was this event from September 1: A South Korean 747 was shot down in the Sea of Japan by a Soviet fighter near a Soviet island off Siberia, the United States announced. There were no known survivors aboard the plane carrying 269 people on a flight from New York to Seoul. American, Soviet and Japanese ships and planes fruitlessly searched the frigid seas north of Japan where the airliner apparently went down. There was an unconfirmed report that the long-missing plane had experienced radio difficulties and thus may have been unable to hear or respond to any Soviet warnings, but there was no clear explanation for the attack. 

 

Investigations continued into the next week with the Soviet Union admitting it on September 6, which accounts for the other interruptions (I have to remember that sometimes I need to look at NY Times news from the following day, since it was all in print back then!).