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

[soapfan770]

Miami Vice was really a flash in the pan wasn’t it? Even when NBC moved it back to the 10 PM timeslot for the 87-88 season the show just lost all its momentum and popularity and even ranked a spot behind Falcon Crest for that season overall. 
 

 

[kalbir]

That's why I will always refer to Miami Vice as the new hotness.

Angela Lansbury threw the most elegant and classy shade ever when she called it Miami Heat. It will never not be funny to me that Murder, She Wrote clean swept Miami Vice.

The last time I remember seeing Miami Vice reruns was early 2000s. Even then it hadn't aged well. It was like watching an hour long music video pretending to be a police procedural.

[Soapsuds]

@Paul Raven

Do you happen to have the ratings number for the February 7, 1986 episode of Falcon Crest?

It's missing on my end. It is weird that it was left off.

[Paul Raven]

@Soapsuds Falcon Crest 18.0/30 ranked 21st. Miami Vice 18.5/33 #17.

[Soapsuds]

Thank You!

[kalbir]

 

Miami Vice was a repeat on February 7, 1986, episode Buddies. Original broadcast November 1, 1985 had rating 20.6, 11th for the week.

1985/86 Miami Vice new episodes clean swept Falcon Crest.

[soapfan770]

Re: Charlie & Co on CBS. Wow I don’t remember this at all:

”Chicago’s south side was the setting for this domestic comedy which was CBS’s answer to, and which many critics accused of being a poor man’s version of NBC’s The Cosby Show. Variety show legend Flip Wilson starred Charlie Richmond, an administrative assistant with the Chicago Department of Highways. He and his wife, Diana, played by the legendary Gladys Knignt, who was a eloquent schoolteacher had three outspoken children in Junior (Kristoff St. John), Lauren (Fran Robinson), and Robert (Jaleel White). Since none of them were afflicted with shyness life at home, particularly at meals, was a verbal free for all. Walter Simpson (Ray Girardin) was Charlie’s boss, and Biberman (Richard Karron), Sandler (Kip King), Coyle (Terry McGovern), and Miguel (Eddie Velez) were his co-workers. Early in 1986, Diana’s favorite sarcastic Aunt Rachel (Della Reese), not one of Charlie’s favorite people, turned up, adding to the already contentious atmosphere in Charlie’s home”.

The show, which ended up #68 in the ratings for the 85-86 season initially aired at in the 9:00ET/8:00 CT on Wednesday nights against #7 Dynasty before being to Tuesday nights against #17 Growning Pains.

Was the show any good? Sounds like a lot of talent sorry it just didn’t work out. 

Seems CBS tried really hard to have a Wednesday night comedy block and a drama but failed miserably. Sitcoms Stir Crazy, Foley Square, and the Mary Tyler Moore sitcom Mary all failed and flopped against Highway to Heaven. CBS later moved the once successful Crazy Like a Fox to Wednesday nights and it bombed. Only the Equalizer survived, and it was #63 compared to time-slot rivals #22 Hotel and #53 St. Elsewhere. 

[Soapsuds]

https://youtu.be/zmtu2PrPxDU

I remember it and watching.

[kalbir]

I had no memory of Charlie & Co. from when it was originally broadcast. I learned about it years later and I've watched the episodes that have surfaced online. It had a talented cast but I feel CBS didn't have a lot of faith in it.

Jaleel White was so cute and natural in his role and he and Kristoff St. John (RIP) had a good connection as brothers. Just think, if Charlie & Co. had taken off and become a hit, we might not have gotten Urkel or Neil.

Edited August 18, 2023 by kalbir

[Paul Raven]

Wed @9 was a tough timeslot. CBS tried series there every couple of seasons and they always flopped.

Good counterprogramming to Dynasty and Helltown on NBC. CBS didn't have many slots available for a comedy. Every 8pm slot was taken by comedy throughout the week .

I guess they were hoping for a solid #2 in the slot like how Facts of Life operated in that slot for years. But with no lead in and so so reviews it got moved to a CBS  dead zone Tues @ 8.30.

NBC couldn't find an acceptable show either trying Helltown and Blacke's Magic before moving Gimme A Break to Wed @9.

Charlie & Co was #19 in its first airing up against Helltown #7 and a 3hr doco on ABC #50

The following week up against the premiere of Dynasty it fell to # 68 and so was pretty much DOA.

Edited August 19, 2023 by Paul Raven

[kalbir]

All three networks had a primetime mess era in the 1980s.

CBS: Starting when Dallas fell out of the Top 10 in Spring 1987 to the end of the decade.

ABC: Fall 1984 to Spring 1987, despite Dynasty reaching #1 in Spring 1985 and the Tuesday rebound in 1985/86 with Who's the Boss, Growing Pains, Moonlighting. Saved in 1987/88 by the Tuesday lineup, World Series, Super Bowl, Winter Olympics.

NBC: From the beginning of the decade until The Cosby Show premiered in Fall 1984.

Edited August 19, 2023 by kalbir

[I Am A Swede]

Wouldn't that have been lovely?! 

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There have been very few characters, if any, more annoying than Steve Urkel! 

[kalbir]

Come on now, don't knock Urkel  He saved Family Matters from cancellation. 

[I Am A Swede]

If a show needed an Urkel to save it, then it wasn't worth saving.....

[kalbir]

Going back to Miami Vice being the new hotness, I compiled how the episodes of 1985/86 compared in the ratings vs. the primetime soaps, 1984/85 rookie hits, and 1985/86 rookie hit.

Top 5 episodes (1)

November 22, 1985: Bushido, rating 23.7, 5th for the week. Finished ahead of The Golden Girls (November 23: Heart Attack (episode 10), rating 23.6), Dynasty (November 20: The Decision, rating 22.4), Dallas (November 22: Suffer the Little Children, rating 22.0), Knots Landing (November 21: Until Parted by Death, rating 19.9), and Falcon Crest (November 22: Storm Warning, rating 19.5). The Cosby Show (November 21: Clair’s Sister, rating 35.3) was #1 and Murder, She Wrote (November 24: Dead Heat, rating 25.0) was 3rd.

Top 10 episodes (12)

September 27, 1985: Prodigal Son (season 2 premiere; 2 hours), rating 23.2, 8th for the week. Finished ahead of Knots Landing (September 26: The Longest Day (season 7 premiere), rating 21.9) and The Golden Girls (September 28: Rose the Prude (episode 3), rating 19.0). The Cosby Show (September 26: First Day of School (season 2 premiere), rating 31.6) was #1, Dynasty (September 25: The Aftermath (season 5 premiere), rating 28.1 (series high)) was 3rd; Murder, She Wrote (September 29: Widow, Weep for Me (season 2 premiere), rating 24.4) was 6th, and Dallas (September 27: The Family Ewing (Part 1 of season 9 premiere)/Rock Bottom (Part 2 of season 9 premiere), rating 23.9) was 7th. No Falcon Crest on September 27.

November 15, 1985: Tale of the Goat, rating 22.1, 10th for the week. Finished ahead of Knots Landing (November 14: Pictures at a Wedding, rating 21.3) and Falcon Crest (November 15: Changing Partners, rating 18.9). The Cosby Show (November 14: Denise Drives, rating 31.7) was #1, Dynasty (November 13: The Titans, rating 24.2) was 5th, The Golden Girls (November 16: Blanche and the Younger Man (episode 9), rating 23.2) was 7th, and Dallas (November 15: Close Encounters, rating 23.1) was 9th. No Murder, She Wrote on November 17.

November 29, 1985: Bought and Paid For, rating 24.3 (series high), 6th for the week. Finished ahead of The Golden Girls (November 30: The Return of Dorothy’s Ex (episode 11), rating 23.2), Dallas (November 29: The Prize, rating 21.4), Dynasty (November 27: The Proposal, rating 20.6), and Falcon Crest (November 29: The Naked Truth, rating 17.4). Murder, She Wrote (December 1: Jessica Behind Bars, rating 26.4) was 4th. The Cosby Show was a repeat on November 28. No Knots Landing on November 28.

December 6, 1985: Back in the World, rating 23.2, 6th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (December 6: En Passant, rating 22.0), Dynasty (December 4: The Close Call, rating 21.8), The Golden Girls (December 7: The Custody Battle (episode 12), rating 20.3), Knots Landing (December 5: Rise and Fall, rating 19.3), and Falcon Crest (December 6: Inconceivable Affairs, rating 18.6). The Cosby Show (December 5: Clair’s Toe, rating 36.2) was #1. No Murder, She Wrote on December 8.

December 13, 1985: Phil the Shill, rating 23.9, 7th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (December 13: Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen; rating 22.6), The Golden Girls (December 14: A Little Romance (episode 13), rating 21.9), Dynasty (December 11: The Quarrels, rating 21.4), Knots Landing (December 12: To Sing His Praise, rating 20.4), and Falcon Crest (December 13: Strange Bedfellows, rating 19.7). The Cosby Show (December 12: Denise’s Friend, rating 35.4) was #1 and Murder, She Wrote (December 15: Sticks & Stones, rating 26.5) was 3rd.

January 10, 1986: Definitely Miami, rating 24.0, 8th for the week. Tied with The Golden Girls (January 11: In a Bed of Rose’s (episode 15), rating 24.0). Finished ahead of Dallas (January 10: Twenty Four Hours, rating 22.1), Knots Landing (January 9: Web of Lies, rating 21.5), Dynasty (January 8: Suspicions, rating 21.1), and Falcon Crest (January 10: Conundrum, rating 18.3). The Cosby Show (January 9: The Auction, rating 35.9) was #1 and Murder, She Wrote (January 12: Trial by Error, rating 28.5) was 3rd.

January 17, 1986: Yankee Dollar, rating 22.2, 10th for the week. Finished ahead of Knots Landing (January 16: The Confession, rating 20.7), Dynasty (January 15: The Alarm, rating 20.4), and Falcon Crest (January 17: Checkmate, rating 19.1). The Cosby Show (January 16: Vanessa’s Bad Grade, rating 38.5) was #1; Murder, She Wrote (January 19: Keep the Home Fries Burning, rating 28.1) was 3rd, The Golden Girls (January 18: The Truth Will Out (episode 16), rating 24.2) was 7th, and Dallas (January 17: The Deadly Game, rating 23.2) was 8th.

January 24, 1986: One-Way Ticket, rating 24.1, 6th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (January 24: Blame it on Bogota, rating 22.0), Knots Landing (January 23: Altercations, rating 20.6), and Falcon Crest (January 24: Collison Course, rating 18.5). Dynasty (January 22: The Vigil, rating 24.2) was 5th. The Cosby Show was a repeat on January 23. The Golden Girls was a repeat on January 25. Murder, She Wrote was a repeat on January 26.

February 14, 1986: Florence Italy, rating 21.8, 9th for the week. Finished ahead of The Golden Girls (February 15: Second Motherhood (episode 19), rating 21.7), Dallas (February 14: Dire Straits, rating 21.0), Knots Landing (February 13: A Very Special Gift, rating 20.3), and Falcon Crest (February 14: Finders and Losers, rating 17.4). The Cosby Show (February 13: Play it Again, Russell; rating 35.2) was #1; Murder, She Wrote (February 16: Murder in the Electric Cathedral, rating 26.5) was 3rd, and Dynasty (February 12: The Divorce, rating 22.5) was 6th.

February 21, 1986: French Twist, rating 23.3, 7th for the week. Finished ahead of Dynasty (February 19: The Dismissal, rating 22.6), Dallas (February 21: Overture, rating 20.8), Knots Landing (February 20: Irrevocably Yours, rating 18.6), and Falcon Crest (February 21: Flesh and Blood, rating 16.8). The Cosby Show (February 20: A Touch of Wonder, rating 36.4) was #1; Murder, She Wrote (February 23: One Good Bid Deserves a Murder, rating 26.4) was 3rd, and The Golden Girls (February 22: Adult Education (episode 20), rating 25.2 (season high)) was 5th.

March 7, 1986: The Fix, rating 21.1, 10th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (March 7: Masquerade, rating 20.9), Knots Landing (March 6: High School Confidential, rating 18.4), and Falcon Crest (March 7: Hidden Meanings, rating 16.8). Murder, She Wrote (March 9: If a Body Meet a Body, rating 26.4) was 3rd, The Golden Girls (March 8: Job Hunting (episode 22), rating 22.3) was 6th, and Dynasty (March 5: Masquerade, rating 22.0) was 7th. The Cosby Show was a repeat on March 6.

March 14, 1986: Payback, rating 21.2, 10th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (March 14: Just Deserts, rating 19.9), Knots Landing (March 13: Distant Rumblings, rating 17.8), and Falcon Crest (March 14: In Absentia, rating 16.5). The Cosby Show (March 13: Close to Home, rating 34.8) was #1 and Dynasty (March 12: The Subpoenas, rating 22.6) was 6th. The Golden Girls was a repeat on March 15. No Murder, She Wrote on March 16.

Top 15 episodes (7)

October 25, 1985: The Dutch Oven, rating 19.8, 15th for the week. Finished ahead of Knots Landing (October 24: A Little Assistance, rating 18.9), The Golden Girls (October 26: On Golden Girls (episode 6), rating 18.6), and Falcon Crest (October 25: Echoes, rating 17.9). The Cosby Show (October 24: Theo and the Older Woman, rating 29.0) was 2nd, Dallas (October 25: Mothers, rating 22.7) was 8th, and Murder, She Wrote (October 27: Sing a Song of Murder, rating 21.1) was 10th. No Dynasty on October 23.

November 1, 1985: Buddies, rating 20.6, 11th for the week. Finished ahead of The Golden Girls (November 2: The Competition (episode 7), rating 19.6), Falcon Crest (November 1: Ingress and Egress, rating 19.2), and Knots Landing (October 31: A Question of Trust, rating 18.5). The Cosby Show (October 31: Halloween, rating 30.1) was #1; Murder, She Wrote (November 3: Reflections of the Mind, rating 26.2) was 3rd, Dallas (November 1: The Wind of Change, rating 23.5) was 7th, and Dynasty (October 30: The Gown, rating 22.0) was 9th.

November 8, 1985: Junk Love, rating 22.0, 12th for the week. Finished ahead of The Golden Girls (November 9: Break-In (episode 8), rating 19.0), Falcon Crest (November 8: Sharps and Flats, rating 17.8), and Knots Landing (November 7: Awakenings, rating 16.0). The Cosby Show (November 7: Rudy Suits Up, rating 31.9) was #1; Murder, She Wrote (November 10: A Lady in the Lake, rating 26.9) was 5th, and Dallas (November 8: Quandary, rating 22.7) was 11th. No Dynasty on November 6.

January 31, 1986: Little Miss Dangerous, rating 21.4, 11th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (January 31: Shadow Games, rating 20.9), Knots Landing (January 30: Friendly Enemies, rating 19.4), and Falcon Crest (January 31: Shattered Dreams, rating 18.0). The Cosby Show (January 30: Theo and Cockroach, rating 36.0) was #1, The Cosby Show special episode (February 2: The Dentist, rating 27.6) was 3rd, Dynasty (January 29: The Accident, rating 23.9) was 4th, and The Golden Girls (February 1: Nice and Easy (episode 17), rating 22.8) was 10th. No Murder, She Wrote on February 2.

April 4, 1986: Free Verse, rating 21.0, 13th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (April 4: J.R.’s Rising, rating 19.8), Knots Landing (April 3: The Legacy, rating 18.5), and Falcon Crest (April 4: Unholy Alliance, rating 17.2). The Cosby Show (April 3: Theo’s Holiday, rating 34.3) was #1; Murder, She Wrote (April 6: Menace, Anyone?; rating 25.7) was 3rd, and Dynasty (April 2: The Vote, rating 21.1) was 11th. The Golden Girls was a repeat on April 5.

May 2, 1986: Trust Fund Pirates, rating 19.2, 13th for the week. Finished ahead of Knots Landing (May 1: His Brother’s Keeper, rating 18.6) and Falcon Crest (May 2: Cease and Desist, rating 16.9). The Golden Girls (May 3: Big Daddy (episode 24), rating 21.7) was 5th, Dallas (May 2: Thrice in a Lifetime, rating 19.7) was 11th, and Dynasty (April 30: The Rescue, rating 19.5) was 12th. The Cosby Show was a repeat on May 1. Murder, She Wrote was a repeat on May 4.

May 9, 1986: Sons and Lovers (season 2 finale), rating 18.8, 14th for the week. Finished ahead of Dallas (May 9: Hello-Goodbye-Hello, rating 18.6), Falcon Crest (May 9: Consumed, rating 16.5), and Knots Landing (May 8: Thicker than Water, rating 14.0). The Cosby Show (May 8: Off to the Races, rating 28.3) was #1 and The Golden Girls (May 10: The Way We Met (season 1 finale), rating 19.9) was 11th. No Dynasty on May 7. Murder, She Wrote was a repeat on May 11.

Top 20 episodes (2)

October 4, 1985: Whatever Works, rating 21.0, 16th for the week. Finished ahead of Falcon Crest (October 4: The Phoenix (season 5 premiere), rating 19.3). The Cosby Show (October 3: The Juicer, rating 30.9) was #1, Dallas (October 4: Those Eyes, rating 23.8) was 3rd; Murder, She Wrote (October 6: Joshua Peabody Died Here…Possibly, rating 23.5) was 4th, Dynasty (October 2: The Homecoming, rating 23.4) was 5th, The Golden Girls (October 5: Transplant (episode 4), rating 21.8) was 12th, and Knots Landing (October 3: Here in My Arms, rating 21.7) was 13th.

October 18, 1985: Out Where the Buses Don’t Run, rating 19.9, 18th for the week. Finished ahead of The Golden Girls (October 19: The Triangle (episode 5), rating 18.6) and Falcon Crest (October 20: Blood Brothers, rating 17.8). The Cosby Show (October 17: Cliff in Love, rating 31.1) was #1; Murder, She Wrote (October 20: School for Scandal, rating 23.8) was 3rd, Dallas (October 18: Saving Grace, rating 22.3) was 9th, Dynasty (October 16: The Man, rating 20.6) was 15th, and Knots Landing (October 17: The Christening, rating 20.2) was 17th.

On a win-loss basis, Miami Vice results vs. each show were

Falcon Crest 21-0

Knots Landing 19-2

Dallas 13-9

The Golden Girls 10-8, plus 1 tie

Dynasty 7-12

Murder, She Wrote 0-15

The Cosby Show 0-19

The final ratings were 1. The Cosby Show; 3. Murder, She Wrote; 6. Dallas, 7. Dynasty, 7. The Golden Girls, 9. Miami Vice, 17. Knots Landing, 24. Falcon Crest

Although Miami Vice finished behind Dallas in the final ratings, I think NBC took notice of the win-loss result and that could have been a factor in the move to Friday 9 pm the following season.

Edited September 20, 2023 by kalbir