Looking back...Primetime Ratings from the 80's

[victoria foxton]

I've been rewatching Archie Bunker's Place. The last time i saw it was when it originally aired. And i was a small child. I'm in S3. I like Billie and Gary. And Archie's Puerto Rican love interest Katherine. I noticed Archie's can be very bigoted like he was on All in The Family. Other times he was more progressive in his views.

[Paul Raven]

Thanks everyone for the Suzanne Somers info. I mixed up Cass Malloy with Suzie.

Don't know how ABC could claim Suzanne was playing Chrissy.

Anyway the CBS deal didn't get her a series but she probably made some money out of it.

Always wonder about the BTS stuff in moves like these. Was there some exec change that resulted in Suzanne being cast aside?

[Soapsuds]

First and only time Knots Landing hit #1 in the ratings.

1984-1985 season  May 20-26

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Edited March 13, 2022 by Soapsuds

[Franko]

It was the conclusion of the two-parter where Laura gave birth and Almanzo recovered from his stroke.

[Paul Raven]

That was the Knots season finale.

A lot of series programming would have been repeats and I'm assuming Hill St Blues up against Knots was a rerun.

That was also the Falcon Crest finale which did not have the usual Dallas lead in. Caddyshack ran 8-10 and only ranked 32nd so FC did well considering.

The #27 show 'International Airport' was a pilot for a Hotel like series starring Gil Gerard and aired Sat 9-11. Guess viewers used to watching Love Boat were quite happy to sit through it.

[Soaplovers]

Maybe CBS should have done a variety show with Suzanne.  She was an entertainer and would have gotten ABC off their back.

Pilot.was kinda cute.  I don't think it would have had legs long term, but she definitely wasn't playing Chrissy Snow in it.

[Khan]

I think it was a mistake for Suzanne Somers to try and rebound from "Three's Company" with another sitcom.  If I were her, I would have tried instead to find a gig on a one-hour series with some lightly comedic elements, like "Crazy Like a Fox" or "Scarecrow and Mrs. King."

Was this when Sheila told Harry [slow-mo]"they wanna take the babies!"[/slow-mo]?

[Soapsuds]

Yes...it was the year end cliffhanger.

The week before when they hit 20 HH and cracked the top #10 is when Mack and Karen cornered Dr. Ackerman who switched the babies and shot himself in front of them in his car.

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[Khan]

I remember when I watched that sequence with Dr. Ackerman for the first time that I thought, "There's no way they could have EVER topped that!"  Turns out, I was right.

[Soapsuds]

Here it is @Khan

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The lead ups and the cliffhangers for the 85 season were awesome. The mascare, Bobby death, and Knots....

Dallas, Dynasty cliffhanger numbers....Knots numbers for the Ackerman episode

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[Soapsuds]

1983-1984

Cliffhanger numbers for Knots Landing

 

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[Khan]

That was the resolution to the Wolfbridge Group storyline, when KL tried combining '70's conspiracy thriller with '80's primetime soap opera.  At the time, I'm sure it was very exciting to watch every week; but, in retrospect, I don't think it's an easy story to explain (although, certainly much easier than Empire Valley!) and it was probably a bit beyond KL's scope as a more middle-class and character-driven show than DALLAS or DYNASTY.

Edited March 14, 2022 by Khan

[Soapsuds]

I enjoyed the cliffhanger but Val was so annoying in it...lol

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[Khan]

I love the fact that Gary's "death" had real, emotional impact on everyone.  If that had happened during the Lechowicks' tenure, it would have been treated as just another plot point, with their customary shits-and-giggles.

As far as storylines go, the Wolfbridge storyline was pure adrenaline.  You knew something exciting and sinister was going on, you just didn't know what, lol.  In a way, watching it was like being inside a speeding car where the wheels are in danger of coming off at any moment.  It's a miracle that everyone made it to the end.

[Soapsuds]

1985-1986 Season

 

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