1973-74 TV Ratings History

The Ratings Junkie Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Written Monitoring Edited Movies by Bridger Cunningham

This article is an update to the August 11, 2017 Top 30 article, as TV Ratings Guide now is the first site to ever publicly disclose the 1973-74 ratings on the internet!  This publication also marks the first time The Brady Bunch's ratings have been made public, albeit the show did not make the cut this season on ABC.  Take a peek at the original newspaper article from 1974 down below, as TVRG owes a debt of gratitude for this rare jewel!

CBS marked a 19th season in 1st Place; not much to report for one of the most disastrous seasons to traipse the TV landscape.  The shocking trend is 8 movie nights registered in the top 30.  Home-use VCRs made their debuts in the 70's and would not become a common household fixture until well into the 80's with a top-loading mechanism.  Back on the color tube, CBS sitcoms followed in the issue-driven trend of 1st Place All in the Family.  Salty Sanford and Son gave NBC its leading icon of the 70's and was well-needed as only 3 shows registered in the top 30.  Irony would hand 10 of those spaces to 3rd Place ABC, which exhibited speculative growth since landing its record-setting 1st Place hit, Dr. Kildare, in 1970.


The Six Million Dollar Man and nostalgic sitcom Happy Days made debuts this season, both registering in the top-20 for the alphabet network.  Sophomore hits The Streets of San Francisco, The Rookies and Kung Fu held respectable measures down in the 20's.  And 1974 marked the end of an era as Here's Lucy went black after 6 seasons.  Its marquee star, Lucille Ball, birthed the sitcom as we know it in 1951 and until this season delivered 18 seasons of canned laughter.  Here's Lucy struggled in its last seasons, barely grazing the top 30.  It would be 12 seasons until Lucille Ball returned to television in ABC's failed venture, Lucy.  Rest in peace Lucille, as your legacy lives on with sitcoms still viable in the 2010's. 


The hard cut for earning a renewal this season was 43rd place, a high bar considering only 80 showings existed this season with 12 movie evenings.  NBC was hit the hardest, eroding down to levels where ABC resided in 3rd Place.




Trending Hot --  CBS sitcoms making viewers scream or cry rated well as All in the Family, Maude and MASH tackled abrasive social issues.  Police, fire and medical shows sounded their emergency sirens and alerted high Nielsen broadcasts.  Movie Nights gave viewers a gateway to enjoy their beloved older favorites in a pre-cable and VCR era.
Trending Tepid -- 50's and 60's Westerns began to kick up dust as their interest well dried.  ABC and NBC were hit hardest in one of the harshest Nielsen eras, only topped by the late 2000's/2010's.  Variety shows began to run out of material, most notably Sonny and Cher, who were forced to end their flagship show amidst a bitter divorce.
Trending Cold --  ABC and NBC sitcoms had a hard season with only Sanford and Son and Happy Days delivering ratings worth writing home about.  Sadly, this season would dispense of family-friendly sitcoms The Partridge Family and Brady Bunch ended their network run.  Albeit they would live on in syndication eternity decades later.  Sitcoms in general fell out of favor this season, as 22 of the 38 helpings did not make the cut.  Calling TV shows "New" went out of style fast as Dick Van Dyke and Perry Mason didn't hold the same thunder they did in the early 60's.

Source:



Finally Together: The Christmas Season Episode 10: New Years’ Eve (FINALE)



JOSH
Happy last day in our house everyone!

ANDREW
We’ve really appreciated you being here, but today’s the last day!

CHRIS
You sound a little too excited.

ANDREW
Don’t take this personally but it’s not exactly how we anticipated our holiday break going.

JOSH
Please tell me everyone made plans to get back home.

DAVID
I did. And my whole family is actually coming back with me! Mary, Chris, AND Julian!

DREW
And me.

DAVID
And Drew!

BRITNEY 2
Mom, I assume you’re ditching Nate to keep up with your track record of breaking up with guys at family reunions?

CATHERINE
No, I’m staying with Nate.

BRITNEY 2
And we’re sure Nate’s fine with that?

NATE
It’s either her or my mom living with me, so the choice is obvious.

BRITNEY 2
Was it really though?

NATE
Actually no.

BRITNEY
I know I’ve made travel plans too. Steve’s moving in with me!

WILLIAM
I would assume so. Where are you moving in to?

BRITNEY
I’m not moving anywhere. He’s moving in with us.

WILLIAM
I’m not sure that’s going to work.

DAISY
It’ll be fun! A step-mom and her step-daughter going through pregnancies and engagements at the same time and in the same house!

JULIAN
What happened to this family?

STEVE
I know, right?

CATHERINE
I don’t even care how complicated things are getting, this is going to do great for that blog of mine. Time to actually make some money!

JOSH
Can we join once the adoption is finished? We’re kind of out of money as well.

BRIAN
Does anyone in this house have any money?

DAISY
Me!

BRIAN
Do I want to know why?

DAISY
I was a performer.

BRIAN
So I didn’t want to know why then.

DAISY
What? I played some key parts in some really high-paying gigs;

WILLIAM
Daisy, we went over this, saying you were a “performer” suggests something else.

DAISY
Oh. Right.

DAVID
I’m getting by financially, but not by much.

FRAN
Your Dad and I are broke too. Brian, I would love to go back to Poland but we just can’t afford to live on our own there.

JOSH
Uh oh.

FRAN
I feel terrible about asking this but—

JOSH
No you don’t.

FRAN
I think we need to move in with someone.

BRIAN
I’ve already decided it’s not going to be with William, Daisy, Britney, Steve, Britney 2, and the two babies.

FRAN
And David, we should give you your space while you’re trying to keep your marriage together. Plus, Mary is a pro at raising kids!

MARY
I’ve done it two or three times.

DREW
You’ve done it three times.

FRAN
Catherine has no grandchildren for us to take care of—

CATHERINE
Yet.

FRAN
—And Josh and Andrew did promise me that I’d get to be the first to see their adopted child if they ever had one...

ANDREW
We did?

JOSH
I am so sorry Andrew.

FRAN
We’re moving in!

BRIAN
To this house? The one we just left?

FRAN
Yes.

JOSH
That’s it, we’re leaving.

ANDREW
Josh, maybe we could work something out? Split the house into two sections, maybe? We could use the money.

JOSH
That’s true. Alright, I’ll make you a deal. You can move in, but don’t expect us to be doing everything together with you.

FRAN
I can’t believe this! We’re finally back home!

BRIAN
Yay.

JOSH
Alright, now that this is settled, everyone take some leftover pizza pockets. Happy New Years’ everyone! Goodbye for now!

Monday TV Ratings 12/30/19: Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Neighborhood Repeat Top the Night (UPDATED)

Finals Update: Spider-Man: Homecoming (-0.1) adjusted down.
Time
Show
18-49 Rating/Share
Viewers (mil)
Channel
8 PMSpider-Man: Homecoming0.5/32.53ABC

The Neighborhood (R)0.6/45.12CBS

Ellen's Greatest Night of Giveaways (R)0.5/33.24NBC

9-1-1 (R)0.3/22.06Fox

iHeartRadio Music Festival (R)0.2/10.83The CW
8:30 PMBob Hearts Abishola (R)0.5/34.37CBS
9 PMManifest (R)0.4/32.50NBC

All Rise (R)0.4/23.69CBS

Prodigal Son (R)0.3/11.28Fox
10 PMBull (R)0.4/34.19CBS

Manifest (R)0.3/21.93NBC

Finally Together: The Christmas Season Episode 9: One Day Before Leaving


FRAN
It’s official everyone. We’re not going back to Poland.

BRIAN
Please?

FRAN
It’s too expensive for us. In fact, with all the money I spent on buying those Christmas presents, who knows where we can afford to live!

BRIAN
I’m sure we’ll find a place. So, Poland?

FRAN
I wonder where we could stay if we can’t find a house.

BRIAN
Poland.

FRAN (louder)
I said, I wonder where we could stay if we can’t find a house.

ANDREW (to JOSH)
She wants us out of here doesn’t she?

JOSH (to ANDREW)
Yes.

JOSH
Watch out Catherine, we might have to move back in with you the way things are going!

CATHERINE
Oh. About that, I sold that place.

ANDREW
Seriously?

NATE
Yep. My mom bought it.

CATHERINE
And the way things are going, Mary’s right there with her.

JULIAN
What’s that now?

CHRIS
Julian, Mom hates Dad.

DREW
He knows, everyone knows.

MARY
Actually, David and I have decided to stay together.

DAVID
We have? Why?

BRITNEY
I convinced her. Catherine, she’s going to help out with your mom blog, but she can’t have any material without her kids. Look at your posts, they’re pathetic!

CATHERINE
I started that up as a joke—

BRITNEY 2
Told you.

CATHERINE
—But I could use a way to make money. If it works, I’m good with it.

JOSH
Let me and Andrew join in then.

BRIAN
Why, you don’t have any money?

ANDREW
No, neither of us can get jobs. Happy? We said it.

JOSH
Actually you said it, this was supposed to be our secret!

ANDREW
It wouldn’t be a family reunion without us spilling a major secret.

JOSH
True.

DAISY
So about this mom blog...I can help every now and then.

BRITNEY 2
Daisy, you’re not a mom.

WILLIAM
She can be a step-mom though.

DAISY
What are you saying?

WILLIAM
I’m saying...

BRITNEY
No!

BRITNEY 2
THANK YOU!

BRITNEY
I’m first. Steve, will you marry me?

WILLIAM
No, me first! Daisy, will you marry me?

DAISY
Yes!

STEVE
Hold on.

BRITNEY
Uh oh.

STEVE
William, do I have permission to marry her?

DAISY
I don’t approve!

BRITNEY
What?

DAISY
Oh. I thought Steve was trying to marry me.

STEVE
And why would I be doing that?

BRITNEY
My answer is yes.

STEVE
OK then, I guess we’re getting married!

DAISY
By the way everyone: I’m pregnant!

MARY
Same! It’s the real reason I’m staying with David.

DAVID
Is it mine?

MARY
Who else?

JOSH
Is now a good time to say that Andrew and I are adopting a kid?

BRITNEY 2
Hold up. We’ve all been together for more than a week and this stuff is just being revealed now?

ANDREW
Obviously. With only one more day, anyone who doesn’t like the news will be gone until the next family reunion anyways.

FRAN
We should celebrate!

BRIAN
I think they’ve done enough so-called celebrating since everyone got here.

FRAN
We’ll celebrate anyways. Wow, all the more reason for us to not go back to Poland!

Drama Scorecard 2019-20, Week 15: 0.2s a CW Plenty, Thank God for Unrounded Ratings

Welcome to the Drama Scorecard for the 2019-20 season! We will be highlighting dramas per installment in addition to our sitcoms in the Sitcom Scorecard. Here are the standings, as of December 30. Just a disclaimer: the scorecards are separate from Renew/Cancel predictions. Play along, play along.





This week, I had to determine the number of seasons plus the year to year change on each show. By all accounts, most veteran shows are down double digits in percentages. The only exceptions are the Chicago shows, 9-1-1, All American, and A Million Little Things. All four kept their decline to the single digits so far. For everyone else, the double digit declines are pretty alarming but every year on average, ratings fall 5-10%. But this year is a special case. Ratings are projected to be down 20% with the projected league average standing at a 0.76. With that perspective, maybe things may not look as bad. We can all hope, as other factors such as profit margins are in play.

On the CW, notice how the ratings on the WB side are at least a tenth from each other when you take out the top 3 shows on the network? All are in the upper 0.2 levels, and have other factors in play. For the newbies, it's the HBO Max/CBS All Access deal. For the veterans, it's the Netflix deal. But how will the Viacom/CBS merger affect the CW? Probably not much for now. For the bottom 3, the CBS produced shows should take some solace that the production costs will be covered for at least another season, if not two. I'll cover more in the CW Renew/Cancel. But, man, these 0.2s are a plenty, and they are painful to look at for any ratings watcher.

In the anemic range, we have Bluff City Law, Emergence, and Almost Family with odds at -5%. For Bluff City Law, I may have to slap that "cancelled" label eventually. Anyways, all three shows had their episode orders capped at their initial orders due to their ratings. Throughout the entire fall season, I predicted that Almost Family is certain to be canceled. Though I also predicted that The Resident sitting in the middle of the pack will be leaning towards getting the ax, and that's reflected on the scorecard. In recent weeks before the holidays, however, The Resident's ratings looked better than Almost Family's or The Moodys'. No doubt that it's close to the FOX median. I'll reassess after New Year's. Space is a key factor, so that will be tested come midseason.

A lot of dramas dropped to middle of the pack this season. When I first tried my hand on the creation of the drama scorecard, it was a month ago. Things do change quickly. Until then, let's have at it in the comment section!

Sitcom Scorecard 2019-20, Week 15: A Three-Way Tie at the Middle, and NBC’s in Last Place

Hello peoples, long time no see! The Sitcom Scorecard is back with a bang, just in time for 2020. Here are the current standings, as of December 30. Just a disclaimer: the Scorecards are separate from the Renew/Cancel predictions. Play along, play along.



You heard it right, NBC is in last place, with the majority of the helpings in the anemic range. We know Sunnyside was put to the pasture, and The Good Place and Will and Grace are in final seasons. Perfect Harmony, the second lowest rated show on NBC, has its odds changed to -5%, after getting capped at 13 episodes. Regardless of The Good Place production treatment, Perfect Harmony is not long for this world. This is no Good Place.

Other than Perfect Harmony's obviously doomed fate at NBC, the other network's fates are not as clear cut. On ABC, the odds for Single Parents and Schooled have switched. With Schooled at 45%, being a Sony production with ABC co-ownership is a negative indicator. Single Parents is produced in-house. Not to mention, Schooled was the last ABC comedy to get a full season backorder. Currently in third place, ABC, like CBS, only has one new comedy on the bench compared to the other networks. And ABC only has one comedy total on the bench. And the fate for each comedy will only depend on development and space. The big news for the middle of the pack, there is a three-way tie for seventeenth place. The three comedies tied are Carol's Second Act, black-ish, and Single Parents.

FOX, at #1, holds the most entries at Leading the Pack. But this could change after the Super Bowl. Will The Simpsons hold on to #1, or could The Connors make it or break it and unseat The Simpsons? Only time will tell.

What other surprises await for 2020? Sound off in the comments below!

Sunday TV Ratings 12/29/19: Flirty Dancing Struggles, NFL on NBC Tops the Night (UPDATED)

Finals Update: Sunday Night Football (+1.4) and Flirty Dancing (+0.1) adjusted up. Football Night In America (-1.8, -2.5), and The OT (-0.2) adjusted down.
Time
Show
18-49 Rating/Share
Viewers (mil)
Channel
7 PMNFL Overrun3.9/1815.15Fox

Football Night In America0.9/1211.17NBC

NFL Overrun2.4/1111.51CBS

America's Funniest Home Videos (R)0.6/34.00ABC
7:30 PMThe OT2.8/1310.99Fox

60 Minutes1.1/57.62CBS
8 PMFootball Night In America2.7/2319.56NBC

Flirty Dancing (Series Premiere)1.0/43.17Fox

Kids Say The Darndest Things (R)0.4/22.73ABC

Batwoman (R)0.1/10.57The CW
8:30 PMSunday Night Football6.2/2217.35NBC

The Unicorn (R)0.4/23.15CBS
9 PMBless The Harts (R)0.4/21.33Fox

Shark Tank (R)0.4/22.26ABC

The Unicorn (R)0.3/12.46CBS

Supergirl (R)0.1/10.48The CW
9:30 PMFamily Guy (R)0.4/21.20Fox

Carol's Second Act (R)0.3/12.20CBS
10 PMShark Tank (R)0.4/22.07ABC

Carol's Second Act (R)0.2/12.06CBS
10:30 PMAll Rise (R)0.2/11.93CBS

Finally Together: The Christmas Season Episode 8: New Years’ Decorations



JULIAN
I need to ask this question: What are New Years’ decorations?

ANDREW
They’re basically just Christmas decorations, but without them.

JULIAN
So...nothing?

ANDREW
You got that right. Come on everyone, help me take down the decorations?

DAISY
What if we don’t want to?

ANDREW
It would be nice if you could help anyways.

DAISY
Sorry Brian, I guess you have to help.

BRIAN
Thanks for trying.

JOSH
How about everyone takes the ornament off the tree that they put up.

CHRIS
I have absolutely no idea which one that was.

DREW
I know what mine was.

BRITNEY
What was it?

DREW
Fine. I don’t know.

JOSH
That settles it, I’m taking them all down myself.

MARY
Thanks for helping him, David!

DAVID
What’s your problem?

MARY
That you didn’t help him!

DAVID
Or maybe you just hate me.

MARY
That’s right.

ANDREW
Everyone stop fighting! Can somebody take down the manger!

BRITNEY
I’ll do it! The baby in there gives me a resemblance of what I think Hannah will look like when she’s born.

BRITNEY 2
You think your daughter is gonna look like Jesus?

BRITNEY
I...guess. Why not?

BRITNEY
Just a hunch, but I think they’ll look very different.

STEVE
I told you this already Britney, Jesus didn’t have a biological father. Hannah does, and he’s here to stay.

MARY
Why can’t you be like that?

DAVID
I’ve stayed for decades! Why don’t you ask Catherine!

CATHERINE
I only regret not leaving earlier.

DAISY
I regret that you stayed so long too! And so does William!

CATHERINE
You’re cutting it close there.

WILLIAM
I do like Daisy better.

CATHERINE
Aw thanks!

NATE
Catherine, don’t get jealous.

CATHERINE
I’m not jealous!

BRITNEY 2
You sound it.

FRAN
Everyone, stop!

ANDREW
What is it Fran?

FRAN
I finished taking down all the decorations while you were busy fighting. Happy almost new year everyone.

Saturday TV Ratings 12/28/19: Live In Front of a Studio Audience Repeat Decent, Dateline Leads the Night (UPDATED)

Finals Update: The Faces of Family Separation (-0.1) and the repeat of SWAT (-0.1) adjusted down.
Time
Show
18-49 Rating/Share
Viewers (mil)
Channel
8 PMDateline NBC (R)0.5/23.19NBC

Live In Front of a Studio Audience (R)0.3/21.87ABC

9-1-1 (R)0.2/11.11Fox

NCIS: Los Angeles (R)0.2/12.29CBS
9 PMSWAT (R)0.2/12.01CBS

The Resident (R)0.2/11.01Fox
9:30 PMThe Conners (R)0.2/11.32ABC
10 PMSNL Vintage0.4/22.48NBC

20/20 (R)0.3/22.36ABC

The Faces of Family Separation0.1/11.35CBS

Finally Together: The Christmas Season Episode 7: Silence Night



FRAN
Family games time!

DAVID
Why?

MARY
Because she said so.

JOSH
Seriously though, what incentive do we have to win this?

FRAN
You’ll see.

BRIAN
We really aren’t going back to Poland, are we?

FRAN
You’ll see.

BRIAN
So no.

FRAN
Let’s break into the groups we were in for baking cookies. Really there’s only one challenge in these family games.

DREW
What is it?

FRAN
The silence game. If your team has the person who has been silent the longest in it, they win! Let’s start!

CATHERINE
Let’s not.

MARY
OK Catherine’s out.

DAVID
That means you are too, Mary.

BRITNEY
She is?

BRITNEY 2
Yes Britney, she is.

JULIAN
Did we start yet?

STEVE
Yes, we started.

DAISY
When does it end?

WILLIAM
Not sure, I kind of missed the rules.

DREW
Me too.

BRIAN
Fran, can you explain the rules again?

FRAN
No, you’re all out now because you weren’t quiet!

CHRIS
That means you are too.

FRAN
Crap! You’re right! Looks like only Josh and Nate are left.

NATE
And Britney.

FRAN
No, Britney already talked. Josh, our team wins! Congratulations to me, Josh, Brian, Catherine, and David!

CATHERINE
How fun.

BRIAN
Fran, this truly was boring.

FRAN
It doesn’t matter if you had fun as long as you won.

JOSH
Do I even want to know what we win?

FRAN
This house!

DAVID
Yeah no thanks.

CATHERINE
Same, I can’t afford another lifestyle change.

JOSH
Andrew and I already won this house the last time around, remember?

FRAN
Yeah, but this time Brian and I also won it.

ANDREW
So what you’re saying is...

FRAN
Oh I don’t know, maybe I want to move back in.

BRIAN
Or maybe you want to go back to Poland?

JOSH
Yeah, you probably want to move back to Poland.

FRAN
No I think I want to stay here.

ANDREW
You can’t stay here.

FRAN
Why not?

ANDREW
Because...Josh help me out.

JOSH
Not sure what to say.

DAISY
Parents moving back in with the kids sounds like a good idea to me!

BRITNEY 2
How about kids moving back in with the parents?

DAISY
Step-moms count!

BRITNEY 2
Huh?

JOSH
Everyone, we have some sorting out to do. I never knew it would be an issue to figure out who is living with who, but apparently with this family it is.

CHRIS
Or we could put up New Years’ decorations.

JOSH
Not sure if there’s such a thing but I would actually rather do that.

Off Topic -- Week 15 (2019-20 Season)

New week, new topics! Let's discuss away!

Friday TV Ratings 12/27/19: Christmas of Many Colors & CBS Repeats Solid, WWE Smackdown Down (UPDATED)

Finals Update: All shows held their preliminary ratings.
Time
Show
18-49 Rating/Share
Viewers (mil)
Channel
8 PMWWE Smackdown0.7/42.44Fox

Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors (R)0.5/33.69NBC

Hawaii Five-0 (R)0.5/34.81CBS

American Housewife (R)0.4/22.34ABC

Guitar Legends 30.1/10.59The CW
8:30 PMFresh Off the Boat (R)0.3/21.73ABC
9 PMMagnum PI (R)0.5/34.43CBS

20/200.4/22.19ABC

Popstar's Best of 20190.1/00.31The CW
10 PMBlue Bloods (R)0.4/24.78CBS

Dateline NBC (R)0.4/32.90NBC