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

[Paul Raven]

In the Fall 84 Preview issue, TV Guide editors picked their favorite new series 

On this page we tell you which of the new series we liked best—which is not the same as predicting which will succeed. If we could do that, we'd be home counting our money. The success of a TV series is one of life's great mysteries, depending on such factors as the night of the week, the time slot, the shows that precede and follow it, the competition, the way it's promoted and—who knows?— maybe even its quality. Our favorites, in no particular order:

The Cosby Show (NBC). Easily the season's best new comedy. The women are stunning and the kids are adorable in this half-hour comedy, but it's Bill Cosby's talent and inimitable delivery that make it all work—that, and the kind of humor that grows out of the situation, rather than relying on the usual sitcom formula of zingers and one-liners.

Paper Dolls (ABC). Glamour? Escapism? Soap opera? Beautiful people? Yes, this handsome, large-cast series has all these elements (that's what we like about it). But in addition to being pretty to look at, the story is well written and engrossing— like a good summer novel.

Miami Vice (NBC) is an unusual crime drama that's sure to be controversial. Indeed, critics of TV violence are already taking aim—or is that the wrong metaphor? The show is wry and savvy and tough yet handsomely filmed, with entire sequences done in a combination of music and videos. The creator of Miami Vice is Anthony Yerkovich, who wrote frequently for Hill Street Blues.

Who's the Boss? (ABC). Funny—Tony Danza doesnt /ook like a feminist. Actually, he's an engaging mix of macho man and liberated male in this half-hour comedy, and just right as a former ballplayer who takes a job as housekeeper for a beautiful executive (Judith Light).

Finder of Lost Loves (ABC). We'll admit it we liked this series. The notion of rekindling old flames and finding longlost loved ones is a corny but charming premise, and Tony Franciosa and Deborah Adair are appealing performers

. Hunter (NBC). There's a nice chemistry between Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer as two cops who reluctantly team up to foil their captain. Their plan is to be there for roll call, then go their separate ways— but somehow we don't think that will happen.

Jessie (ABC). If we must have cop shows this season, let some of the cops employ a psychiatrist—and please, Lord, let the psychiatrist be Lindsay Wagner. Amen.

As always, a few pilots were not available for screening. But we have high hopes for one of them—CBS's Murder, She Wrote, with Angela Lansbury; it's been too long since the commercial networks offered a good old-fashioned mystery series.

That's what we liked; now it's your turn. Read all about 'em—then sit back and enjoy the season.

Edited February 18 by Paul Raven

[kalbir]

@Paul Raven Thanks for the TV Guide article.

They were right on The Cosby Show; Murder, She Wrote; Miami Vice, Who's the Boss?, Hunter, but wrong on Paper Dolls, Finder of Lost Loves, Jessie.

[Khan]

Hey, just as long as they ADMITTED the premise was corny, lol!

WTB? had a really strong premise - a Tracy/Hepburn "battle of the sexes" for the '80's - but, as usual, the execution let it down.  The writing should've been much more witty; and the cast, save for Katherine Helmond, was truly limited in terms of comedic skills.

Edited February 18 by Khan

[DRW50]

Thanks @Paul Raven

I watched the whole of Paper Dolls on Soapnet and maybe I just wasn't in the right mood but I didn't think it was good even in the episodes that TV Guide seems to love. The story involving Mimi Rogers was a particular dirge for me.

[Khan]

To me, "Paper Dolls" seemed like two or three so-so primetime soaps merged into one.

[kalbir]

ABC was a mess in 1984/85 despite Dynasty reaching #1. Too many one season and done shows. Also, the Aaron Spelling hit factory was showing of signs of weakening.

Edited February 19 by kalbir

[Paul Raven]

ABC was really struggling that season,

They didn't seem to have much faith in 3's a Crowd and buried Who's The Boss on Thurs initially. 

Paper Dolls  Tues @9 where Bare Essence had flopped the year before. Launching a new soap @9 was foolish.

Matt Houston, TJ Hooker, Love Boat, Hardcastle & McCormack and Benson were all fading and Glitter, Jessie, Finder of Lost Loves and Hawaiian Heat were all rejected by the audience.

[Contessa Donatella]

Both Paper Dolls & Bare Essence are strong favorites of mine. I never understood why Paper Dolls was not a hit right out of the starting gate.

One interesting thing about it is that it has 4 different opening themes. The TV movie has an original composition. The pilot uses Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean". Then the series itself uses a totally different original composition. Then halfway through the episodes that were aired, they do a variation on that original composition. 

I have all of Paper Dolls. If anyone wants to see it, happy to oblige. I love Racine. Were they crazy? Only one word. And, is she named after a city in Wisconsin? REALLY?!! Roscoe Borne smiles more in this show than ever before, or since. Nicolette Sheridan & Terry Farrell are the ingénues being introduced. Brenda Vacarro is, well, she's herself.

 

 

Edited February 19 by Contessa Donatella

[soapfan770]

LOL @ Finder of Lost Loves. I remember someone posted a very scathing review of the show from The NY Times a while back lol. For some reason I remember this show in particular at my young age mainly because it so happened my grandparents were watching the show and my grandma, referring to Tony Franciosa, said “ I hope that creep never finds me!!”

Agree on WTB? as well. Helmond was always the best part.  WTB? (and Growing Pains) was a show I watched with the family but became very repulsed by once the clock hit 1990.

I too watched all of Paper Dolls on SoapNet as that was the first time I saw it. I think what I enjoyed the most was just seeing the amount of talent (Rambo, Beymer Farrell, Sheridan, Hutton and Fairchild) and I felt the show did get better as it progressed towards. However the writing could be sophomoric (hello Stern & Black!) but just seemed to be a fun little show that probably deserved better writing and a better time slot.

As for Mimi Rogers I know what you’re referring too but I’ve never been much a fan. Her recurring role on The X-Files was one of the most atrocious things both acting (and writing) wise I’ve ever seen and I was unimpressed with some of her other work.

You’re probably right which didn’t help. I also years back watched a bootleg copy of the original movie with Joan Collins as Racine, which obviously was the best part and Fairchild didn’t quite live up to the TV show.

Still beats Glitter though LOL.

 

Has there ever been other examples of when a last place network had a #1 show? 
 

@Paul Raven Thanks again I remember you explaining the birth of 80’s primetime soaps of how they lived or failed earlier in this thread. I’d say Paper Dolls should’ve aired after Dynasty while Hotel get paired with The Love Boat (or Hotel should have just become a flat out soap like it was called!!)

[kalbir]

Not that I know of.

IMO Dynasty got #1 in 1984/85 because Aaron Spelling pulled out all the stops to be bigger and better than Dallas. I broke down 1984/85 Dynasty in its thread.

[Paul Raven]

In 70/71 Marcus Welby was #1 but ABC was #3 for the season.

MW had the advantage of a strong lead in -Movie of the Week and no competition-CBS Newshour  and the 2nd hour of the NBC Movie/once a month news specials.

Using the Dynasty lead in to boost a new show was a strategy but ABC were probably loathe to tamper with their only winning night. Glitter or Paper Dolls could have fitted into that 10pm slot.

[kalbir]

Who's the Boss and Growing Pains were good until 1987/88. 1988/89 they felt off (after effects of the writer's strike and changing times), 1989/90 I started losing interest in them, and their final two seasons I didn't watch at all. Spring 1990 feels like their natural end point yet they both ended Spring 1992.

Edited February 22 by kalbir

[Paul Raven]

And then they were exiled to Sat night for their final seasons. Probably should have ended the season before instead.

[Khan]

Like so many other sitcoms from that era, "Who's the Boss?" and "Growing Pains" were pretty much shark bait once "Roseanne" took off.  Say what you will about HER, but her show was probably the biggest game-changer, sitcom-wise, in the '80's, more so than even "The Cosby Show."

[kalbir]

Yes, the breakout success of Roseanne changed the sitcom game. It was the first show to challenge The Cosby Show dominance and it basically killed off all the Reagan-era ideal family sitcoms.

1988/89: The Cosby Show #1. Roseanne first season 2nd. Growing Pains falls out of the Top 10. Family Ties below the Top 30 in its final season.

1989/90: The Cosby Show and Roseanne tie for #1. Who's the Boss falls out of the Top 10.

1990/91: Roseanne 3rd. The Cosby Show 5th. 

1991/92: Roseanne 2nd. The Cosby Show 18th in its final season. Who's the Boss below the Top 30 in its final season. Growing Pains below the Top 30 in its final season.