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

[kalbir]

1984/85 Simon & Simon got weakened when Cheers started showing growth. 1985/86 Simon & Simon got clobbered by Cheers. 1986/87 the ill-fated move to Thursday 8 pm where it would be DOA vs. The Cosby Show and despite the return to Thursday 9 pm the damage was already done and was effectively over the end of the season. 1987/88 short season with a late start. 1988/89 the move to Saturday 9 pm and a short final season.

Edited December 30, 2024 by kalbir

[Paul Raven]

That's why moving Simon in tandem with Magnum might have been a smart move.

There was precedence for this at CBS.

In 1975 CBS moved Hawaii 5-0 /Barnaby Jones from Tues 9-11 to Fri 9-11 and the following season to Thurs 9-11 where they flourished for several more seasons.

Then in 1977 the 9-11 line up of Mash/One day at a Time/Lou Grant was under threat  from ABC (Three's Company/Soap) so at mid season they moved those shows to Mon 9-11 where they once again became hits.

[kalbir]

40 years ago. Week of January 28-February 3, 1985. The Cosby Show finishes ahead of Dallas for the first time. This week was also The Cosby Show's third finish ahead of Dynasty.

Here's what happened on the soaps and two rookie hits that week.

The Cosby Show - Jitterbug Break (episode 16, January 31): Denise's friends show off the latest break-dancing steps while Cliff's buddies demonstrate the jitterbug.

Dynasty - Triangles (January 30): Blake refuses to include Krystle on a business trip. Alexis wants in on Blake's South China Sea oil deal. Dominique turns to Blake instead of Brady when her company is threatened. Amanda moves into the mansion.

Dallas - Legacy of Hate (February 1): Jamie and Cliff sue the Ewing clan for their share of Ewing Oil. Bobby and JR have a fist fight. Sue Ellen rallies around her husband's battle to save Ewing Oil.

Knots Landing - Lead Me to the Altar (January 31): Joshua's ego is getting really big. Joshua tells Cathy she needs to mend her ways and sing in church, not in a bar, and he breaks up with her.

Murder, She Wrote - Murder to a Jazz Beat (episode 13, February 3): A talk-show host and a cab driver help Jessica solve the murder of a New Orleans jazz musician.

Falcon Crest - The Showdown (February 1): Chase's investigation endangers Gustav's plans.  Lorraine learns that she's pregnant. Mary Giannini tells about her husband's murder.

Edited February 4 by kalbir

[Soapsuds]

@kalbir

Forty years! It doesn't seem it's been that long. I was looking at the music charts just the other day, and Madonna was at #1 with "Like a Virgin" this time 40 years ago.

 

I miss the '80s. The music and TV shows were top-notch.

 

Falcon Crest was the only soap opera that did not surpass Murder, She Wrote in the ratings.

Edited February 4 by Soapsuds

[kalbir]

@Soapsuds 1984/85 was the best and most pivotal television season of the 1980s. Pre-Super Bowl was Dallas vs. Dynasty, post-Super Bowl The Cosby Show blew up and Murder, She Wrote would shock the world.

[Khan]

By my count, Jessica Fletcher traveled to New Orleans four times; and out of those four, Olivia Cole ("Roots," "The Women of Brewster Place") appeared in three - "Jazz Beat," "Judge Not" and "Big Easy Murder" - as essentially the same character, lol.

The music and TV shows are about the only things that I miss about the '80's, lol.

 

[Paul Raven]

It was also the beginning of the end of Aaron Spellings ABC 'Dynasty' 

Love Boat, Dynasty and Hotel began to falter and his new offerings like The Colbys, Hollywood Beat, Life with Lucy were all duds.

The halcyon  days of Charlie's Angels, Vegas, Hart to Hart, Fantasy Island etc were but a dim memory.

[Khan]

In retrospect, I think we just reached a point where we grew tired beautiful people getting themselves into trouble every week.  We needed something with more substance. 

Come to think of it, that's probably why "L.A. Law" took off like it did (once NBC changed its' time slot).  In a way, that show was a perfect marriage of early- and mid-'80's style and late-'80's substance.  It was "Hill Street Blues" and "St. Elsewhere" for viewers who thought HSB and "Elsewhere" were too gritty or too depressing.

[kalbir]

Aaron Spelling hit factory best showings during the 1980s.

1980/81: 5. The Love Boat, 17. Fantasy Island, 23. Hart to Hart

1981/82: 14. The Love Boat, 15. Hart to Hart, 19. Dynasty, 28. T.J. Hooker (first season), 30. Fantasy Island

1982/83: 5. Dynasty, 9. The Love Boat, 17. Hart to Hart

1983/84: 3. Dynasty, 9. Hotel (first season), 17. The Love Boat

1984/85: 1. Dynasty, 12. Hotel

1985/86: 7. Dynasty, 22. Hotel

1986/87: 24. Dynasty

 

[Khan]

As junky as Aaron Spelling's shows often were, at the same time, you can't deny that he had his fingers on the pulse of what viewers wanted to see - for awhile, anyway.

[Paul Raven]

Spelling had a guarantee at one point -maybe 75-85? -from ABC that at least one of his shows would be scheduled each season, and as we can see that was mutually beneficial for both sides for a long time.

But there were flops along the way in those hit years

San Pedro Beach Bums 1977

Friends 1979

BAD Cats 1980

Strike Force 1981

Aloha Paradise 1981

 

[kalbir]

Aaron Spelling shows are very much products of their time and they haven't aged well.

[Wendy]

Macgruder and Loud, 1985. I remember as a pre-teen the huge ad push that got, and it tanked.

[Contessa Donatella]

I remember that show & I liked it. Trying to recall, ... I guess it was the woman that I liked. 

[Khan]

No, they haven't, lol.  I still enjoy "Hart to Hart" and the first couple of seasons of "Charlie's Angels" whenever I find them; but, no, they don't hold up well at all.