Ratings from the 80's

[kalbir]

Y&R this week Nikki learns she is pregnant. MTS real life pregnancy written in Nikki's storyline. 

Supercouple Days one year into the Steve/Kayla years and its paying off. I wonder how much of it is due to change in competition. Bo/Hope years were facing off w/ strong All My Children, rising Y&R, middle ranked As the World Turns. Steve/Kayla years were facing off w/ strong Y&R, not yet a hit B&B, weakened All My Children.

Edited October 24, 2023 by kalbir

[JoeCool]

Eventually All My Children fends off Days in 1989. Agnes Nixon returns to AMC in late 1988. Children finishes No 4 for the 88-89 season and edges out Days. OLTL finishes No. 3 but that is it. Beginning in 1989, AMC becomes a solid strong No. 3 and then bumps off GH for the No. 2 spot. OLTL brutally falls after 1989 and 1990 and would never be a major competitor in the top 5 again.

 

What most forget is that AMC was a strong competitor since 1975 and was always near the top during the many weekly races. But when AMC was moved for Ryan's Hope in July  75 that slowed Children's momentum. But it finished near the top in the 1977-1978 season and was always in the top 4 through 1989 then got back to No. 3 in 1990 then No. 2 until 1996.

Edited October 25, 2023 by JoeCool

[beebs]

I see OLTL is starting to struggle after the goofy Old West story got bogged down and confused by the scab writers who couldn't decide if it was fantasy or reality. A real shame since they'd been in SUCH a strong position going into the strike.

[kalbir]

I think the summer ratings will show the affects of the writer's strike.

[JAS0N47]

FIRST HALF OF 1989: PREEMPTIONS:

With the first half of 1989 now fully typed up, here's a sneak peek at the preemptions for each show. These will eventually be added into the other years to make a full preemption list for each soap.

 

1/2/89-1/6/89    All My Children    Preempted Monday- Tournament of Roses Parade & Florida Citrus Bowl
1/16/89-1/20/89    All My Children    Friday episode- 1:08PM (52 minutes)
5/29/89-6/2/89    All My Children    Friday episode- 1-151 & 157-2PM (54 minutes)
6/5/89-6/9/89    All My Children    Tuesday episode- 1-106 & 124-2PM (42 minutes)
1/2/89-1/6/89    Another World    Preempted Monday- Hall of Fame Game
1/16/89-1/20/89    Another World    Preempted Friday- Inauguration '89
2/6/89-2/10/89    Another World    Mon ep- 2:37PM (23 minutes); 2-237PM PBO (177 affs; 4.9/15)
3/6/89-3/10/89    Another World    Fri ep- 2-204 & 230-3PM (34 minutes); 204-230PM PBO (176 affs; 3.7/14)
4/24/89-4/28/89    Another World    Friday episode- 2-221 & 239-3PM (42 minutes)
5/1/89-5/5/89    Another World    Thursday episode- 214-230PM (16 mins); 238-3PM PBO (72 affs; 1.0/4)
5/8/89-5/12/89    Another World    Thursday episode- 2-203 & 224-3PM (39 minutes); 203-224PM PBO (176 affs; 3.6/14)
7/3/89-7/7/89    Another World    Preempted Thu- Wiimbledon Men's Quarterfinal/Fri- Wimbledon Men's Semifinal
1/2/89-1/6/89    As the World Turns    Preempted Monday- Cotton Bowl
1/16/89-1/20/89    As the World Turns    Preempted Friday- Presidential Inauguration '89
2/6/89-2/10/89    As the World Turns    Mon ep- 2-209 & 239-3PM (30 minutes); 209-239PM PBO (186 affs; 6.4/20)
2/20/89-2/24/89    As the World Turns    Preempted Monday- NBA on CBS
3/6/89-3/10/89    As the World Turns    Fri ep- 2-206 & 228-3PM (38 minutes); 206-228PM PBO (176 affs; 5.4/20)
4/24/89-4/28/89    As the World Turns    Mon ep- 2-205 & 213-3PM (52 minutes); Fri ep- 2-220 & 243-3PM (37 minutes)
5/1/89-5/5/89    As the World Turns    Thursday episode- 211-226PM (15 minutes)
5/8/89-5/12/89    As the World Turns    Thursday episode- 2-203 & 222-3PM (41 minutes); 203-222PM PBO (181 affs; 5.4/21)
5/29/89-6/2/89    As the World Turns    Wednesday episode (183 affiliates; breakout; 5.5/20; not counted in ratings)
6/5/89-6/9/89    As the World Turns    Tuesday episode- 2:13PM (47 minutes)
1/2/89-1/6/89    Bold and the Beautiful    Preempted Monday- Cotton Bowl
1/16/89-1/20/89    Bold and the Beautiful    Preempted Friday- Price Is Right 2
2/20/89-2/24/89    Bold and the Beautiful    Preempted Monday- NBA on CBS
1/2/89-1/6/89    Days of Our Lives    Preempted Monday- Hall of Fame Game
1/16/89-1/20/89    Days of Our Lives    Preempted Friday- Inauguration '89
5/1/89-5/5/89    Days of Our Lives    Thursday episode (50 minutes)
7/3/89-7/7/89    Days of Our Lives    Preempted Friday- Wimbledon Men's Semfinal
1/2/89-1/6/89    General Hospital    Preempted Monday- Florida Citrus Bowl
1/16/89-1/20/89    General Hospital    Preempted Friday- Inauguration '89
5/1/89-5/5/89    General Hospital    Thursday episode- 3:06PM (54 minutes)
6/5/89-6/9/89    Generations    Preempted Friday- French Open Tennis
7/3/89-7/7/89    Generations    Preempted Friday- Wimbledon Men's Semifinal
1/2/89-1/6/89    Guiding Light    Preempted Monday- Cotton Bowl
1/16/89-1/20/89    Guiding Light    Preempted Friday- Presidential Inauguration '89
2/20/89-2/24/89    Guiding Light    Preempted Monday- NBA on CBS
4/10/89-4/14/89    Guiding Light    Thursday episode- 3:21PM (39 minutes)
4/17/89-4/21/89    Guiding Light    Wednesday episode- 3-325 & 333-4PM (52 minutes)
5/1/89-5/5/89    Guiding Light    Thursday episode- 3:12PM (48 minutes)
5/8/89-5/12/89    Guiding Light    Monday episode- 3-336 & 345-4PM (51 minutes)
5/29/89-6/2/89    Guiding Light    Preempted Monday- NBA Playoff Game
6/5/89-6/9/89    Guiding Light    Mon ep- 3-340 & 348-4PM (52 mins); Tue ep- 3-340 & 349-4PM (51 mins); Wed ep- 3-341 & 349-4PM (52 mins)
1/2/89-1/6/89    Loving    Preempted Monday- Tournament of Roses Parade
1/16/89-1/20/89    Loving    Preempted Friday- Inauguration '89
5/22/89-5/26/89    Loving    Wednesday episode- 1230-1240 & 1246-1PM (24 minutes)
1/2/89-1/6/89    One Life to Live    Preempted Monday- Florida Citrus Bowl
1/16/89-1/20/89    One Life to Live    Preempted Friday- Inauguration '89
2/6/89-2/10/89    One Life to Live    Mon ep- 2:39PM (21 minutes); 2-239PM PBO (197 affs; 7.1/22)
3/6/89-3/10/89    One Life to Live    Fri ep- 2-204 & 229-3PM (35 minutes); 204-229PM PBO (194 affs; 5.3/20)
4/24/89-4/28/89    One Life to Live    Friday episode- 2-221 & 239-3PM (42 minutes)
5/1/89-5/5/89    One Life to Live    Thursday episode- 2-202 & 215-235PM (22 minutes)
5/8/89-5/12/89    One Life to Live    Thursday episode- 2-203 & 225-3PM (38 minutes); 203-225PM PBO (203 affs; 5.2/20)
5/29/89-6/2/89    One Life to Live    Wednesday episode (202 affiliates; breakout; 5.7/20; not counted in ratings)
1/2/89-1/6/89    Ryan's Hope    Preempted Monday- Tournament of Roses Parade
1/2/89-1/6/89    Santa Barbara    Preempted Monday- Hall of Fame Game
1/16/89-1/20/89    Santa Barbara    Preempted Mon- Soap Opera Awards/Fri- Inauguration '89
5/1/89-5/5/89    Santa Barbara    Thursday episode- 3:08PM (52 minutes)
6/5/89-6/9/89    Santa Barbara    Tuesday episode- 3:06PM (54 minutes)
6/26/89-6/30/89    Santa Barbara    Preempted Thursday- Daytime Emmy Awards
7/3/89-7/7/89    Santa Barbara    Preempted Thu- Wiimbledon Men's Quarterfinal/Fri- Wimbledon Men's Semifinal
1/2/89-1/6/89    Young and the Restless    Preempted Monday- Tournament of Roses Parade
1/16/89-1/20/89    Young and the Restless    Preempted Friday- Presidential Inauguration '89 & Price Is Right 1
2/20/89-2/24/89    Young and the Restless    Preempted Monday- Price Is Right 1 & Price Is Right 2
4/24/89-4/28/89    Young and the Restless    Fri ep- 1230-1250 & 113-130PM (37 mins); 1250-113PM PBO (184 affs; 7.1/29)
5/1/89-5/5/89    Young and the Restless    Thursday episode- 1230-1256PM (26 mins); 1256-130PM PBO (194 affs; 6,6/26)

[JAS0N47]

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 6/20/88-6/24/88 & 6/27/88-7/1/88:

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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 7/4/88-7/8/88 & 7/11/88-7/15/88:

[MichaelGL]

So trying to get the timeline right, Harding Lemary returned to AW and then the writers strike happened, and then Donna Swajeski took over after the strike? 

[Soapsuds]

Bad numbers for GL again.

[kalbir]

Y&R hanging on to its audience during the writer's strike.

Days on the verge of reaching #1 for two weeks. Its summer so lots of kids are watching. All those elementary schoolers that were too young in the Bo/Hope years became the middle schoolers/high schoolers that came on board during the Steve/Kayla years.

ABC big three and Marland As the World Turns are jockeying for position in the Top 5.

 

It looked like GL was regaining lost ground w/ Pamela Long return as HW but it wasn't. May 1988 I think was Chris Bernau departure. 

Robert Calhoun cannot get to GL fast enough but as we know from the annual ratings, there was a drop during his run as EP which I think is unfortunate as I really enjoyed his run.

[Soapsuds]

I'm surprised at how well ATWT was still doing after the brilliant year that preceded it. It had a lot of drama and involved the entire cast. A winning formula....

Doug will start shifting to social issues and Lilieth which will cause ATWT to drop significantly in the coming weeks. I don't think fans were ready or wanted social issues on ATWT. Hank being gay, Lien's story. It wiped all the momentum ATWT had.

 

GL was just too boring and full of fluff. It's got stuck at #7 for almost the entire 88 season. I believe even BB passes them soon and they drop to #8 in the ratings.

Edited October 25, 2023 by Soapsuds

[kalbir]

There's also the EP change in October 1988 from Robert Calhoun to Laurence Caso. 

B&B still has issues with clearances. B&B doesn't really hit its stride until Darlene Conley (RIP) arrives in December 1988.

Edited October 26, 2023 by kalbir

[soapfave06]

Did the Old West plot hurt OLTL that bad in the ratings? I actually enjoyed it on rewatch and location sequences and wardrobe were stunning. Although comparing year to year the shows had a steep drop across the board except DAYS and Y&R so maybe it is hard to say. 
 

I am glad to see ATWT finally getting its due, I would love to see the entire Marland years in great quality. 

[JAS0N47]

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 7/18/88-7/22/88 & 7/25/88-7/29/88:

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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 8/1/88-8/5/88 & 8/8/88-8/12/88:

[Gray Bunny]

Boom! There it is  Congrats to DAYS, 35 years later 

[JAS0N47]

Woohoo!! 

And now that we're on Peacock, it will never happen since I started watching in 1990. Oh well, at least we have this chart to enjoy, and eventually the one from the early 1970's!

The Days demos for this week...Line A is for the week. Line B is the quarterly average. Line C is the yearly average.