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

[Soapsuds]

Week 15

1986-1987 season

 

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[kalbir]

I had no idea Murder, She Wrote had an episode that reached #1. 1986/87 Murder, She Wrote finished 4th, behind the NBC Thursday powerhouses The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers.

[Khan]

And look who landed the No. 2 spot that week?  "The Golden Girls."  Two series (GG and MSW) about women who weren't under 30* managed, at least for one week, to top the Fiesta Bowl, "60 Minutes," all four primetime soaps (although, to be fair, they were all in decline anyway) and every single prestige series (like "Hill Street Blues," "St. Elsewhere" and "Moonlighting") that routinely won the lion's share of Emmy nominations and critical acclaim.

That's why it has always pissed me off how the industry, Madison Avenue and others snub their noses at MSW in particular.  A hit show is still a hit show, people, regardless of the age(s) of its' cast.

(*But don't tell Blanche Devereaux that!)

[kalbir]

Even though The Golden Girls centered on four 50+ women, it appealed to viewers of all walks of life. The Golden Girls was the breakout hit of 1985/86, finishing 7th, and it breathed new life into NBC's Saturday night lineup. 1986/87 The Golden Girls finished 5th. 1987/88 was it's highest finish, 4th, behind The Cosby Show, A Different World, Cheers. NBC really had the sitcom game on lock in the second half of the 1980s.

[BetterForgotten]

Both MSW and TGG continue to be in high demand in international syndication as well. Some shows can't translate well to foreign audiences, but two shows centered around elderly women somehow managed to. 

[Forever8]

I assume Northern Exposure and Chicago Hope isn't streaming because of music rights?!

[Faulkner]

That’s what I heard regarding NE. Don’t know about CH.

[Forever8]

I say that about Chicago Hope because of clips and few episodes I've seen they would play music during the operations. Though someone told me that Chicago Hope was on Hulu a few years ago but episodes were missing. IDK. 

[Soapsuds]

And it's one of my least favorite episodes..

"Night of the Headless Horseman"

 

The Golden Girls episode that hit #2 was when Sophia sister visits for her birthday party.

[Khan]

Oh, God, it was THAT episode that hit number one?  Sheesh.

Ironically, for an episode where the victim is literally beheaded, "Horseman" was so dull to watch.  Jessica's friend (and obligatory falsely accused party) was such a nerd; the object of his affections, who clearly was not into him, was irritatingly self-absorbed; and Judy Landers was, well, Judy Landers.

Say what you will about "Menace, Anyone?" and its' blatant rewrites that rendered the whole effort a violent and incomprehensible mess, but at least it didn't bore you to tears!

Edited April 24, 2022 by Khan

[I Am A Swede]

I loved when she came to visit, and the curses Sophia and Angela would exchange.  

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"May you put your dentures in upside down and chew your head off!"

"May the bags under your eyes grow so large your head falls in them!"

"May you take a diuretic and not be able to get your pantyhose off!"

and the one Sophia reacted to most:

"May your marinarasauce never cling to your pasta!"

[Soapsuds]

Week ending March 8, 1987

 

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[Khan]

I remember watching "Judith Krantz's I'll Take Manhattan" when it premiered on CBS and thinking Valerie Bertinelli was the greatest.

Edited April 25, 2022 by Khan

[Soapsuds]

Nielsen Ratings: Week Ending October 11, 1987

 

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[kalbir]

I loved those big 1980s network miniseries based on best-selling novels. They are now relegated to Lifetime.