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


Paul Raven

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What happened on the soaps and the two rookie hits that week.

Dynasty - That Holiday Spirit: Amanda asks Dex to put a stop to his wedding plans with Alexis. Dominique joins the Carringtons for a Christmas gala, where Blake makes an important announcement. Blake strikes a deal with racehorse owner Daniel Reese.

Dallas - Deja Vu: Bobby finds Jenna with Marchetta. Pam travels to the Caribbean to search for Mark. Cliff and J.R. work to keep Pam and Bobby separated.

The Cosby Show - Father's Day (episode 13): The children surprise Cliff with unique Father's Day gifts in December.

Knots Landing - Distant Locations: Karen finds out that Val went to the bus station, but when she was seen there, four busses left. Abby and Gary have lunch with Galveston, and Galveston notices that Abby's not happy with Gary's preoccupation with Val.

Falcon Crest - Winner Take All: Greg threatens Cole and Melissa's impending marriage. Angela exploits Charlotte's gambling weakness. Lance and Joel race for $5000.

Murder, She Wrote was a repeat on December 23.

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CBS 16.1 ABC 16.0 NBC 14.8

Mon 

ABC win Call to Glory #48/NFL Football highest score of the season #2

CBS Christmas Carol Movie Special #10/Cagney & Lacey#25

NBC TV Bloopers #19/  'Bless All the Dear Children' Little House on Prairie special movie #18

Tues

NBC win A Team #5 /Riptide #9 /Remington Steele #15

ABC 3's A Crowd #36 /Who's the Boss #39 /Glitter debut @9  #61 10.0/16 (season low) Paper Dolls #62

CBS Yogi Bear #53 Muppet Babies # 63 Movie He's Fired/She's Hired #32

Wed

ABC win Fall Guy #17 /Dynasty #1 /Hotel #8

NBC Highway to Heaven #27/ Facts of Life #31 /It' Your Move #35/ St Elsewhere #45

CBS Charles in Charge # 40/ E/R #47/ Movie Private Benjamin #42

Thurs

CBS win Magnum #14/Simon & Simon #3 /Knots #7

NBC Cosby #6 /Family Ties #12 /Cheers #20 /Night Court #26 /Hill St Blues #37 (rpt season low)

ABC Battle of Network Stars  #49 19 share 20/20 #24 16.4/27 (season high)

Fri

CBS win Dukes #52 /Dallas #4 /Falcon Crest #16 (all season lows)

ABC Benson #23 /Webster #22 /Hawaiian Heat #56 /Matt Houston #34 13.9/24 (2nd best of the season)

NBC V #41/ Hunter #64/ Hot Pursuit #65

Sat

ABC win TJ Hooker #46 /Love Boat # 38 13.5/24 (best score of the night) Finder of Lost Loves #44

NBC  Smurfs Special #43/ Double Trouble  #54/ Gimme A Break #50 (season low)/Spencer #57/Partners In Crime #60

CBS Airwolf #56(season low)/ Movie More than Murder #51

Sun

ABC win Ripley's #55 /Superman #13

CBS 60 Min #11/ Murder She Wrote #21/ Alice #28/ Jeffersons #29/ Trapper John#30

NBC Punky Brester #59/Sound of Music 14.1/23

Edited by Paul Raven
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Week of September 26-October 2, 1983 was the season premieres for all the primetime soaps.

Dallas - The Road Back: Miss Ellie is sedated after the fire. Bobby and Pam grow closer. Sue Ellen learns the truth about the accident and swears off drinking.

Dynasty - The Arrest: Mark Jennings saves Alexis and Krystle from the burning cabin. The police find there are multiple suspects but arrest Mark. Fallon tries to find out more about Adam's first case with the toxic chemicals.

Falcon Crest - Cimmerean Dawn: Accused murderer Julia prefers jail to Falcon Crest. Dr. Michael Ranson arrives. Melissa faces her father's murderer.

Knots Landing - The People vs. Gary Ewing: Gary fights his indictment for Ciji's murder. Abby makes marriage plans. Karen awaits news from Diana. Mack searches for Chip.

@Soapsuds a request for you, week ending April 21, 1985. I don't think it was posted before. A pivotal week in CBS primetime history. Thank you

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Edited by kalbir
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I refer to the week of April 21, 1985 as pivotal in CBS primetime history because it was the first time that Murder, She Wrote finished ahead of Dallas. 

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

The Cosby Show was a repeat on April 18.

Murder, She Wrote - Funeral at Fifty-Mile (season 1 finale): At a Wyoming rancher's grave, a man shocks mourners -- including the deceased's daughter -- by claiming to be the true heir. This episode was also the season high.

Dallas - The Ewing Connection: J.R. presents Jack's deal to Bobby and Ray. Lucy and her ex-husband Mitch meet. John Ross is rushed to the hospital for appendicitis.

Falcon Crest - The Decline...: Angela alienates the Giobertis by offering Maggie the post of acting publisher of The New Globe. Lorraine and Emma search for Lance.

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I don't know what episode it was, but I'd guess it was an episode from before Super Bowl week.

ETA: Got the answer from Google News Archive. Episode was Play it Again, Vanessa (episode 8 ), original broadcast November 8, 1984. The original broadcast rating 21.2, 7th for the week. 

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World Series Game 7 was Sunday October 27, thus Murder, She Wrote having their 1985/86 season low that week.

1985/86 Murder, She Wrote became the highest-rated drama series across the broadcast networks and CBS's highest-rated scripted program. Who would've thought sweet unassuming Angela Lansbury would beat the diva of all divas of 1980s primetime soaps Joan Collins, knock big bad Larry Hagman off the throne at CBS, and clean sweep the new hotness Miami Heat, I mean Miami Vice.

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Angela Lansbury always maintained that the network and the advertisers misread the show's demographics entirely.  They thought that MSW appealed only to older viewers, but, in fact, MSW attracted viewers of all ages on a regular basis.  I think families in particular enjoyed watching the show, because they knew that the show wasn't gory or sensationalistic.  It was also nice to see a weekly series where the bad guys were punished, the good guys were vindicated and everything was tied up in a nice bow at the end.  MSW might not have been cutting-edge; nevertheless, it was always a very satisfying show to watch.

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