Ratings from the 80's

[Paul Raven]

I guess that would have meant moving AW to 3pm and I don't think the affiliates would have been happy. They wanted a good lead in to their local time. Although AW rated higher at 2 it probably would have done worse at 3 and didn't have the hype that SB had.

NBC kept promising that SB would build in the ratings and for the first couple of years that seemed likely and kept the affiliates on board, whereas AW was seen more as a failed soap. 

[Ryan Mason]

This was really interesting to see laid out like this! Awhile back, I posted that I remembered reading an article back in the day where someone involved with the show said that the ratings were on a roll until Mary got killed off in mid-July 1986 and then they dropped and never recovered. But it looks like in actuality, when you look at its weeks rated 5 and above, the show got its best ratings ever from November 1987-February 1988. (Only three of those 5+ weeks occurred outside of that time period--one in February 1986, one in late July/early August 1986, and one in July 1987.)

In terms of what was going on then: Cruz is on trial for Elena’s murder which leads to him going on the run with Eden (who regains use of her legs) and Kirk Cranston’s return, Pamela has just returned to town (and is recast with Marj Dusay at the end of 1987), Kelly and Jeffrey get married, Mason and Julia get together, Gina is temporarily blind, Sophia hires someone to blow up Pamela’s oil rig, Hayley is killed by a drunk driver, and the plots of Hal Clark’s murder years ago in the Capwell boathouse and the assassin known as the Fox (who seems to be newcomer Andrea) begin.

Edited October 30, 2023 by Ryan Mason

[1974mdp]

I was curious if anyone knew what was the highest rating SFT ever achieved on NBC.

[JAS0N47]

Search for Tomorrow: Top 50 Highest-Rated Weeks on NBC:

12/31/84-1/4/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    4.3    13    155    77    Preempted Tuesday- Tournament of Roses Parade                
8/8/83-8/12/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    4    14    164    81                    
8/15/83-8/19/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.8    13    164    81                    
1/28/85-2/1/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.8    12    151    74                    
12/24/84-12/28/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.8    11    153    76                    
8/22/83-8/26/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.7    13    160    80                    
7/9/84-7/13/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.7    12    157    78                    
7/23/84-7/27/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.7    12    155    78                    
8/20/84-8/24/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.7    12    152    76                    
3/29/82-4/2/82    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.6    15    182    91                    
1/23/84-1/27/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.6    12    158    79                    
7/16/84-7/20/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.6    12    156    78                    
11/19/84-11/23/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.6    12    149    74                    
1/7/85-1/11/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.6    12    153    75                    
12/26/83-12/30/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.6    10    159    79                    
8/1/83-8/5/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    13    164    81                    
11/21/83-11/25/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    12    158    79    Preempted Thursday- NFL Football                
6/18/84-6/22/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    12    158    79                    
8/13/84-8/17/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    12    153    76                    
8/27/84-8/31/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    12    154    76                    
2/27/84-3/2/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    11    158    79                    
8/6/84-8/10/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    11    152    76                    
1/14/85-1/18/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    11    152    75                    
2/11/85-2/15/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.5    11    151    74                    
4/26/82-4/30/82    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    14    186    92                    
9/24/84-9/28/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    13    154    77    Thursday episode- 12:36PM (24 minutes)                
7/11/83-7/15/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    164    81                    
7/25/83-7/29/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    164    81                    
2/6/84-2/10/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    158    79                    
2/13/84-2/17/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    158    79                    
2/20/84-2/24/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    158    79                    
3/5/84-3/9/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    158    97                    
3/26/84-3/30/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    158    78                    
4/16/84-4/20/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    157    78                    
12/3/84-12/7/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    154    76                    
2/18/85-2/22/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    151    74                    
6/10/85-6/14/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    151    76    Friday episode- 12:36PM (24 minutes)                
6/24/85-6/28/85    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    12    151    76                    
7/2/84-7/6/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    11    154    78                    
1/16/84-1/20/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.4    10    158    79                    
9/26/83-9/30/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    14    161    81                    
4/19/82-4/23/82    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    13    185    92                    
10/10/83-10/14/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    13    159    80                    
12/10/84-12/14/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    13    154    76                    
7/26/82-7/30/82    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    12    184    93                    
7/18/83-7/22/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    12    164    81                    
8/29/83-9/2/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    12    160    80    Preempted Friday- NBC Special Report                
9/5/83-9/9/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    12    152    78                    
12/5/83-12/9/83    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    12    160    80                    
3/12/84-3/16/84    Search for Tomorrow    NBC    3.3    12    158    79                    

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 11/7/88-11/11/88 & 11/14/88-11/18/88:

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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 11/21/88-11/25/88 & 11/28/88-12/2/88:

Edited October 30, 2023 by JAS0N47

[Contessa Donatella]

So, DAYS here, that was Steve & Kayla?

[Contessa Donatella]

So 2 YouTube clips showed up in my memories for today, Daytime Emmys 1982, GL for both Writing & Show: 

Marland win/Writing thanked Agnes Nixon, classy, Bob Short/Ed Trach of P&G, so great for so long, and with other CBS folks he thanked Brian Frons & I almost fell on the floor! Boy, the time's they been a'changing! Patrick Mulcahey is standing behind Marland.

When the EP was up for winning Best Show he said: we won 2 yrs ago & they told us we had no time & now they say we have no time so Doug Marland said it all, when we get up here we are driven to it & we are a family & we are #1. The GL Table was going wild!

[kalbir]

Yes.

Y&R November 1988 a pregnant Nikki leaves Genoa City and returns 2 months later w/ baby Nicholas. Exit storyline for Melody Thomas Scott pregnancy leave.

Y&R December 2, 1988 Eileen Davidson departure.  

[Soapsuds]

ATWT still getting to #3. Nice jump that week!

ATWT focus was on Lilieth and James.

[1974mdp]

Thanks so much for the SFT ratings! I wonder what NBC's expectations were ratings-wise when they picked up the show from CBS.

Edited October 30, 2023 by 1974mdp

[GLATWT88]

Thanks! It seems like ABC was a bit inconsistent with their Thanksgiving week schedule. In '97 and '99 GH had a new episode on Thanksgiving and preempted on Black Friday - while in 98, they aired Luke and Laura's wedding on Thanksgiving and preempted on Black Friday. I'm assuming ABC probably just aired new episodes all that week in '89.

Edited October 30, 2023 by GLATWT88

[Khan]

Wait, what?  Nikki gave birth to Nick off-screen?  Oh, the head writer in me just got a terrific story idea, lol.

[kalbir]

Yes.

Don't give Josh Griffith any ideas though 

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[JAS0N47]

FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 12/5/88-12/9/88 & 12/12/88-12/16/88:

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FROM THE VAULT: WEEKLY DAYTIME NIELSEN RATINGS: WEEKS OF 12/19/88-12/23/88 & 12/26/88-12/30/88:

[Contessa Donatella]

Good Grief! Look at DAYS - 4 consecutive weeks 6.2, 6.6, 7.4, 8.1   what a ride! 

[kalbir]

Y&R December 5, 1988 Brenda Epperson debut.

We saw Y&R December 23, 1988 as a holiday classic on Christmas Day 1998.

Edited October 31, 2023 by kalbir