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1992-93 Sitcoms -- Ratings on The Technology Cusp

Written Tied to Coax Cables by Bridger Cunningham

What a year.  In 1992, America was engulfed in an economic recession triggered by real estate, similar to the recent devastating economy American culture has known since 2007.  Paid television became readily available.  An urban delight in the 1980's, extensive upgrades reached sub-rural regions.  $20 guaranteed subscribers could access 36-78 channels, some of which were paid platforms offered at $10 per installation.  And those too far out to tap into the grid could mount a satellite dish the size of a smart car on their land to enjoy what urban folks were raving about.  Televisions tied their futures with built-in coax options, allowing the masses to not only enjoy an exciting proliferation of channels, but also link up VCR's so viewers could "watch TV on their own schedule."

Politics remain polarized, as a then-aggressive smear presidential campaign would prove to be then the messiest fares involving the Bush and Clinton clans, like two soap opera families showing up over odd periods of time.  This, of course paled to 2016's political Dumpster Fire, which divided people regardless of preference and support.  Such economic and political conditions played the perfect platform for pace-setting sitcoms like Murphy Brown, Roseanne and The Simpsons to convey political messages.  Compared with the recently posted 1989-90 scorecard of sitcom performances, 1992-93 showed now only a 30-percent drop in sitcom performance, but also a shift in demand for sitcoms.  In 1989, the top-rated shows were sitcoms which all pulled in over 30 millions viewers for season averages.  By 1992, sitcoms which placed in the top 10 averaged between 15.8-20.7 million.

Three years made a noticeable dent in acceptable sitcom ratings.  Back in 1989, 55 shows were offered vs. 1992's 53, a stable retention in offerings.  However, a 15.8 or lower rating presented an unlikely renewal in 1989, whereas shows rating above a 12.0 in 1992 were almost certain for renewal.  Three years earlier, NBC colored the top of the chart blue, followed by ABC maintaining a close second.  CBS trailed in third from the Middle of the Pack downward, followed by FOX landing mostly in the Abyss.  The network rankings outside sitcoms followed the same hierarchy.

Flash forward to 1993, that dynamic changed.  ABC led the charge with 19 sitcoms airing, with 8 placing among the top 20 sitcoms.  However, the sitcom average was sharply below CBS's 11 sitcoms with 4 showings placing 13th Place or above.  NBC, once dominant in sitcom fares, plunged to an abysmal 3rd place among its sitcoms with 5 of its sitcoms placing in the top 20.  And of course FOX remained in 4th, with no top 20 showings.  However, FOX gained momentum and closely matched NBC's sitcom average, growing from 4 to 9 sitcoms with the Simpsons finally reaching the "Leading the Pack" classification after debuting in the Abyss.  Unlike 1992, the overall network rankings did not follow sitcom performances.  ABC narrowly edged a weakened NBC into 1st, CBS was still 3rd and FOX in 4th.

1992-93 presented heavy-hitters in transition, as well as modest and previously heavy-hitting sitcoms reaching cancellation.  Spring 1992 saw NBC's tentpole players, Golden Girls and Cosby, ending after 7-8 years having anchored Thursday and Saturday evenings.  In addition, Cheers declared its 11th season would be its last in 1993 and steadily lost steam.  Saturdays went soft, and Thursdays waded in transition.  Over at ABC, aged sitcoms Growing Pains and Who's The Boss also ended 7 and 8 year runs in Spring 1992, and faltering Perfect Strangers was declared finished after 8 seasons in 1993.  In addition, several shows ranging between 4-7 seasons declined and networks axed them.

CBS experienced this misfortune with Designing Women and Major Dad declining, first being shuffled to Fridays from their plum Monday homes before CBS pulled the plug in Spring.  ABC Wednesdays also suffered this hemorrhage, as The Wonder Years and Doogie Howser continued freefalls from the previous season and cancelled.  Back in 1989, A Different World enjoyed healthy 4th Place cushion behind The Cosby Show.  After its parent defected, A Different World struggled down to 74th before NBC rested the longstanding bohemian piece.

Out of the ashes, networks made proper decisions to groom predecessors to take their place.  On the cusp of "Must See TV", NBC mad-marketed "Thursdays on NBC".  A wise decision, as they stood poised to reclaim the glory of Cosby/Family Ties/Cheers from a land not too far ago.  ABC reveled in mild glory, as Rosanne burned strong, Home Improvement burgeoned stronger and Fridays ruled.  CBS reigned in Mondays and that is where the buck hoofed.  FOX expanded Sunday, whilst attacking Thursdays.

The aftermath spells results in ratings.  ABC tentpoles held like steel, with half of the offerings rusting before their prime.  CBS took the Monday victories with the sitcom lead, yet failed miserably to steal TGIF ratings.  FOX swam close to the ground, feeding higher as the primary three sank.  And NBC went anemic on Saturdays, yet marketed Thursdays to groom new viewers.

The technology cusp year left the dynamics to shift, as we shall explore the fallout of May 1993 in upcoming passages.

1991-92 Sitcom Scorecard -- Mid-80's Sitcoms Meet Their Ends, Thursdays and Saturdays Weakened

Written Working on Home Improvement by Bridger Cunningham

The Mid-80's era was coming to an end, as NBC and ABC cleared out five longstanding shows which frequented the top 10 range.  If a show debuted between the 1984 and 1985, it either ended In the wake of the political climate being controversial, CBS' Murphy Brown pushed its way toward the top with the entire Monday lineup ranking 15th or higher.  FOX also experienced renewed interest in The Simpsons and Married... With Children experienced surges due to Cosby's decline and another controversy putting Married... With Children in the headlines.

Politics are messy, and CBS' incorporation of the George HW Bush and Bill Clinton election helped it reclaim 1st place for the first time since the 1984-85 season.  Poetically the same season The Cosby Show led to the Tiffany Network being dethroned.  The same finale season which Cosby fell out of the top 10, Murphy Brown became the name everyone knew, as Vice President made a speech denouncing the series as the principle became pregnant out of wedlock this season.  Writers utilized the ill-advised statement and watched the series drive into 3rd Place.  Also, Designing Women went through much-publicized cast changes, trading out Delta Burke and Jean Smart in favor of Newhart alum Julia Duffy and SNL genius Jan Hooks.

ABC Tuesdays again were red-hot as a renewed interest in Roseanne, mainly due to plot developments mirroring the country's recession.  The network stood in 2nd place, again, yet had plenty of Nielsen power with its sitcom arena.  Outside of political undertones, Full House left the TGIF block for Tuesdays at 8pm, reaching its zenith in 8th Place.  It led into powered-up freshman sitcom Home Improvement, which landed in 6th Place.  And Coach enjoyed Roseanne as its lead-in, reaching its record high in 5th Place.



Wednesdays delivered weaker results as Doogie Howser and Wonder Years aged.  TGIF sensation Dinosaurs rated soft, and the remaining timeslot housed by poorly scheduled Anything But Love led to its cancellation as it only amassed 56 episodes in 4 seasons.  Friday fortunes remained mixed, as Family Matters now led the TGIF block.  It's follow-up was the successful Step by Step, featuring Dallas' Patrick Duffy and Three's Company's Suzanne Somers as newlyweds blending two hostile families together.  Perfect Strangers began to age, so ABC mixed its scheduling between Fridays and Saturdays, damaging its Nielsen performance.  And Baby Talk, a poorly-reviewed sitcom based on Look Who's Talking, met its end in spite of several hyped cast changes.



During this season, ABC devised a TGIF knockoff called "I Luv Saturday Nights."  This evening, however, provided a dumping ground for aging shows such as Who's the Boss, Growing Pains and Perfect Strangers.  The first two met their ends at the conclusion of the season, falling out of the top 25 for the first time ever.  Only Perfect Strangers received a summer sendoff in 1993.

NBC's fortunes dropped them back to 3rd place for the first time since early 1984, as Must See TV's fares weakened.  Cosby ended its 8-year run, and spinoff A Different World began to experience erosion.  Cheers concluded its 10th season in 4th place, as Ted Danson declared the next season would be his last.  And Wings rode the current and finished in 18th Place.  Saturday prominence became a passing trend, as Golden Girls finished its last season failing to crack the top 20, along with its spinoff, Empty Nest.  Freshman series The Torkelsons and Nurses provided modest or struggling ratings, and the evening declined.

Elsewhere, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Blossom succeeded on Mondays.  Night Court, relegated to Wednesdays, was cancelled after 9 seasons.  Incidentally, its then-unknown neighbor, Seinfeld, earned a stay of cancellation and ranked 41st.  NBC's golden era bronzed, but FOX experienced more attention.  Not because of a foul-mouthed child on The Simpsons.  But rather, another controversy circled Married... With Children.  No, Al Bundy didn't get caught in another adult boutique, but rather had an accident, resulting in a pregnant Peggy.  Outside the set, Katey Sagal became pregnant, and the writers wrote the twist into the show, making her pregnant right along side Marcy (Amanda Bearse).  Tragically, Sagal miscarried in real-life, leaving writers to scramble and undo the twist out of sensitivity to the actress.  The entire twist was rewritten as a dream, and the press heavily covered the development.



The tragedy pushed MWC into the top-30, as well as bolster surrounding Freshman Sitcoms Herman's Head and Roc.  Simpsons held up well, yet its follow-up, Drexel's Class, was expelled after failing to capitalize on plum placement between The Simpsons and Beverly Hills, 90210.  Indeed, the mid-80's era had come and gone, and folks were seeking shows with grit and reality.

1990-91 Sitcom Scorecard -- TGIF Grows, Helping ABC Take On Aging NBC Comedies

Written Asking "Did I Do That?" by Bridger Cunningham

Five seasons of dominating 1st Place ended for NBC, as a narrow race among the top three networks ended with ABC taking 1st place for the first time since the early 80's.  NBC of course claimed Thursdays, but a newfound glory on Fridays with ABC franchise TGIF helped the alphabet network nudge their way into the front of the pack.

Overall network rankings went in the order of ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX.  When it came to sitcoms, NBC and ABC went neck to neck with the peacock narrowly claiming the victory.  CBS Mondays created a formidable competitor, thanks to a top-20 clad lineup of sitcoms.  Beyond these phenomena, Roseanne reigned in Tuesdays.  Head of the Class, Who's the Boss and Growing Pains were all aging.  Due to the loss of lead Howard Hessman, Head of the Class ended its run after 5 seasons.  Doogie Howser and Wonder Years faded in a comically dramatic fashion, and ABC was due for some upgrades to its Tuesday and Wednesday blocks.

Fridays were red-hot, thanks to Full House cracking into 15th Place, followed by 22nd place Family Matters.  Perfect Strangers held up respectively, but the 9:30 timeslot would never recover as it continually rotated players for the remainder of TGIF history.  Over at NBC, their Saturday comedy block eroded as Amen was sidelined, and 227 ended the last season.  Several unsuccessful fares populated the 8-9pm hours, and NBC found their stable of sitcoms needing creative energizing.  Night Court, a regular top-20 player, slid down to 50th Place as it landed in pioneering Wednesday territory.  Mondays, however, experienced a makeover as the network traded orange for black as Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel Air replaced ALF.  After stumbling through the fall, NBC hit paydirt as Mayim Bialik's Blossom became a compatible fit.

And of course, there's FOX.  Seeing two saucy, sensational hits, they separated Married... With Children and the Simpsons, shipping off The Simpsons to take on The Cosby Show head on.  It appears FOX chipped away at NBC's tentpole, who slid to 5th place among the shows.  FOX did not generate sensational hits like they did in the last season, yet managed to place FOX higher on people's radars, even if the networks resided on UHF affiliates.

1989-90 Sitcom Scorecard -- ABC and NBC Vie in Prominence, FOX is Coming Up

Written Flushing a Full House of Sitcoms by Bridger Cunningham

The 2016-17 season is over, with 25 of 34 main season entries renewed.  This season delivered a hearty helping of sitcoms after years of reduced comedies.  However, those numbers pale in comparison to the glory days of the 80's.  Back in the 1989-90 season, the four networks bolstered a whopping 55 entries, with 31 network renewals.  32 returned, as the Hogan Family was resurrected on CBS after a 5-season run on NBC.  This season presented changes in the heart of the Family-First era, which dominated airwaves from 1984-92.

Back in 1989, the first president Bush entered into the White House, presenting the first time since 1929 that the Republican party had a president in a consecutive third term.  The Cold War which terrorized America like a passive-aggressive threat began to thaw; perhaps Global Warming aided the end to the longest war of the 20th century.  November 9 cracked the Berlin Wall after standing  for 28 years, and the US Government overthrew Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega on December 20.  These developments were indeed heavy, offset by topical issues such as the AIDS crisis and escalated drug usage.  Fittingly, TV presented a wholesome escape for Americans tired of everyday troubles.

Viewers were in the center of the Family First Era, which emerged due to The Cosby Show's prominence in 1984.  This year also presented the rebirth after a quieter 8-year Escapism era which sitcoms took a backseat to fantasy fares like Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, Dallas and The Love Boat.  Every evening this season featured a family-friendly sitcom, with ABC cornering the market with its Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday offerings.  1989-90 also featured a rise in workplace laughs for adults with an equal number of 25 offerings.  Seven sitcoms split the emphasis of subgenres of Hangout, Workplace or Family themes, of which five were renewed.

Above is the breakdown of the 55 sitcoms offered, minus the current covered 18-49 demographic.  Although these numbers were tracked by Nielsen, the target moneymaker with ratings was the share, or percentage of American viewers watching.  A show with a healthy 13.9 share meant 13.9% of the population was watching.  Also valued were overall Nielsens.  7 of the top 10 programs of this season were sitcoms scattered across Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between ABC and NBC, both of which assured viewers 4 sitcoms at all times during the schedule.  Stacked against the current Sitcom Scorecards, the 4 classifications would break down with 21.9M overall viewers to break into the "Leading the Pack" range, 16M to enter the "Middle of the Pack", the delta of the "Anemic" range would be 11M, and everything below in "The Abyss".  

The 1989-90 breakdown differs from the 2016-17 classifications as majority of the Anemic range was cancelled, and The Abyss featured a true toss-up due to FOX dominating this region.  Nielsen winners and losers received their ratings by evenings.  Here were the evenings for sitcoms, by strongest evenings (out of order):

THURSDAY

Competitors knew to steer clearn and place softer fares on this evening, as NBC Thursdays featured three Top-4 players scattered between 8-9:30pm, with the 9:30 timeslot less prominent and scattered between 4 sitcoms.  Two weaker players who aired later in 1990 in that slot, Wings and Seinfeld, would become sleeper hits who ran until 1997 and 1998, respectively.  All four 9:30 shows were renewed, with Grand burning off the grid the following season, and Dear John making it to 85 episodes by 1992.  

TUESDAY

Cosby narrowly tied with ABC Tuesday's Roseanne, which built its pre-audience with The Wonder Years placing 6th at 8:30 and aging Who's the Boss taking 8th at 8pm.  Like Thursdays, the 9:30 ABC timeslot shadowed the earlier block with forgotten Chicken Soup and establishing hit Coach.  Chicken Soup placed 9th, yet was cancelled due to star Jackie Mason's controversial political remarks, making it the highest rated cancellation.  Successor Coach placed 16th that season, yet cost less as its marquee stars were Craig T. Nelson and Shelley Fabares against powerhouses of CS, Jackie Mason and Lynn Redgrave.

SATURDAY

NBC cornered this market with shares of gold, thanks to our polished seniors on Golden Girls placing 5th in Overall Nielsens and Shares (and 6th Place in overall network measures outside of sitcoms).  It led into Empty Nest, who retained nearly 95-percent of Nielsens and Shares.  The 8pm Hour rated 30-percent lighter by comparison, shared by aging fares 227, Amen, Hogan Family and ALF.  ALF and Hogan family relocated after 4 and 5 seasons from Monday as NBC opted to reinvent said evening against CBS' moderately rated sitcom block.  Of the four helpings, only Amen would survive as NBC opted against renewal.  Spring 1990 saw changes again as the 8pm slot went to dramatic piece A Home For Joe, and NBC's lowest rated and properly forgotten workplace sitcom 13 East at 8:30.  The 10pm hour opened the gates for Carol Burnett vehicle Carol and Company (14th Place) and Down Home (32nd).  Both fares were renewed, yet burned off the following season.  ABC made mild attempts at laughs with aging Mr. Belvedere and Who's the Boss spinoff Living Dolls (featuring upcoming stars Halle Berry and Leah Remini).  Both discontinued in December, with Mr. Belvedere receiving a one-evening sendoff in July 1990.

The remaining four evenings held less prominence, yet delivered respectable performances.  

WEDNESDAY

Aging ABC laughers  Growing Pains and Head of the Class placed 2nd in their timeslots against NBC's Unsolved Mysteries, the 9-10pm hour delivered respectable ratings with Anything But Love and Doogie Howser, MD.  After the young doctor outperformed Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis' ABL, it was sidelined, Doogie moved to 9pm and dramatic pices complimented Doogie with lackluster results.  Seeing softer ABC performances, NBC and CBS assembled half-hour affairs in each hour.  NBC's Night Court emerged victorious against ABL, yet Cloris Leachman workplace sitcom The Nutt House placed 3rd in its timeslot and roasted over an open fire.  Spring sitcom FM failed against Doogie Howser and faded out by Season's End.

FRIDAY

TGIF debuted this year with soaring results blazed by increasingly popular Full House (12th) and freshman Family Matters (17th).  Its parent spinoff, Perfect Strangers, held its ground in 25th Place, with 9:30 follow-up Just the Ten of Us retaining an impressive 95% in 26th Place.  The Growing Pains spinoff outrated CBS' ailing soap Dallas by 3 million viewers, yet received an unwarranted pink slip by the season's end.  The network's reasoning?  The 8-9:30 hours were produced by Miller-Boyett productions, who demanded a monopoly over the 8-10pm hour.  Subsequently, the 9:30pm timeslot struggled in succeeding years to find a suitable replacement, cancelling nearly all 1990-2000 players in this slot by season's ends.  CBS made a minor play for laughs in the springtime in the 8-9pm hour with Baghdad Cafe and Sugar and Spice.  The results?  Baghdad Cafe faltered mid-season the next year, and Sugar and Spice soured to staleness by May 1990.

MONDAY

However did Mondays rate weaker than Fridays in sitcoms!?  CBS managed to build a praised feminist workplace 9pm hour with Murphy Brown and Designing Women.  8pm launched moderately successful family/workplace fare Major Dad.  Beyond that, CBS took scheduling risks with the entire season housing sitcoms from 8-11pm from September-May.  The final season of Newhart disintegrated, moving from 10:30 to 10pm, and finally at 8pm after three failed freshman comedies faltered.  Among them: Wes Craven helmed The People Next Door, Teddy Z and City.  Teddy Z started in the plum 9:30 timeslot, then moved after The People Next Door died.  CBS reverted Newhart upward with freshman sitcoms Doctor Doctor and His & Hers, with the last dying in a cursed timeslot.  DD lasted another season, yet hemorrhaged at 9:30 in a soft order the following year.  Over at NBC, ALF and the Hogan Family declined and relocated to Saturdays.

SUNDAY

A sitcom wasteland, the greatest laugh was only two sitcoms (Married With Children, The Simpsons) survived among the three networks, and both rated in the scheduling Abyss.  ABC newbies Free Spirit and Homeroom lost spirituality and a sense of space early in the season, killing ABC's attempts at laughs.  NBC straddled three sitcoms over the 8pm Hour which landed in the Middle of the Pack -- Sister Kate, My Two Dads and Ann Jillian.  All failed to outrate CBS procedural Murder She Wrote and ABC reality platform America's Funniest Home Videos and learned N-ew B-usinesses C-rashed by May.  Conversely, FOX landed Share-d success with MWC and Simpsons.  Open House closed, as did original mainstays Tracy Ullman and Garry Shandling.

1989 was a successful television year as it offset the world's problems with 55 sitcoms over 4 networks.  32 returned (The Hogan family moved to CBS), with several lasting well into 1998.  And the Simpsons carries on....

Shows Which Enjoyed 4+ Seasons on this roster beyond May 1990:

The Simpsons (Ongoing in 29th season)

1998 Finale:

Murphy Brown (10 Seasons)
Seinfeld (9 Seasons)
Family Matters (9 Seasons)

1997 Finale:

Roseanne (9 Seasons)
Coach (9 Seasons)
Wings (8 Seasons)

1995 Finales:

Full House (8 Seasons)
Empty Nest (7 Seasons)

1993 Finales:

Cheers (11 Seasons)
Perfect Strangers (8 Seasons)
Designing Women (7 Seasons)
A Different World (6 Seasons)
The Wonder Years (6 Seasons)
Doogie Howser, MD (4 Years)
Anything But Love (4 Years)
Major Dad (4 Seasons)

1992 Finales:

Night Court (9 Seasons)
The Cosby Show (8 Seasons)
Who's The Boss (8 Seasons)
Growing Pains (7 Seasons)
Golden Girls (7 Seasons)
Dear John (4 Seasons)

1991 Finales:

The Hogan Family (6 Seasons)
Head of the Class (5 Seasons)
Amen (5 Seasons)

1987-88 Sitcom Scorecard -- Unilateral Drops as ABC Rebounds, CBS Plunges and FOX Is a Joke

Written Widening the Sitcom Berth by Bridger Cunningham

The 1987-88 experienced the expansion of 17 sitcoms, albeit the primary three networks' averages dropped drastically from the season before.  Why?  That is because a 4th network's debut, FOX, demanded changes.  As the data counted for shows which debuted by the close of March, FOX was omitted from previous data.  In order to include the full compass, the window widened into the summer window.  Two laughing stocks made their entrance into Nielsen data during the 1987-88 season.  FOX's ratings were so poor, they called for their own classification in this table beneath the Anemic range.  The second "embarrassment" to debut this season was ABC's Full House, which registered in 71st place among the 124 entries.  It's a good thing ABC opted to renew this show over other failed Friday entries, as it remained a mainstay for 8 seasons and in 2016 would debut as one of Netflix's leading draws.

It is obvious from the blue paint covering the top of the chart NBC once again ruled the sitcom (and network) franchise.  Their ratings were down as their leaders "plunged" into the 20's (ha!), yet they possessed 9 sitcoms in the top 20 for the entire season.  ABC had its share of stinkers in the lower end of the register, and it somehow stabilized so it could overtake CBS on both the sitcom and overall Nielsen measures, ending a 4-year downturn of fortune.  CBS took ABC's 3rd place by a winder margin in sitcoms, followed by overall network ranks being nosed out in spring 1988.

The hype surrounding NBC's Cosby faded (slightly), yet Thursdays ruled as all four sitcoms ranked 7th place or higher.  Saturdays also presented the peacock with prominence as The Golden Girls bolstered its surrounding company into winning their timeslots.  The only casualty this evening was the final season of The Facts of Life, ending the only entry left from the 1970's as the girls bowed out.  Family Ties took a sharp plunge after moving from its plum Thursday timeslot to Sundays, yet managed to stabilize the network's soft Sunday lineup.  Making Mondays hairy paid off, as ALF hit its zenith during its second season.  Not only did it launch the greatest Halloween mask of the 80's only second to Jason's hockey mask, but it also helped stabilize the turbulence that hit Valerie's Family (previously Valerie, next to become the Hogan Family) amidst Valerie Harper's infamous dismissal from NBC.

The peacock managed to avoid two high-profile cast changes with their sitcoms remaining afloat.  In addition to Harper's dismissal (which resulted in the bittersweet killing off of the title character), Cheers fans were reeling from Shelley Long walking away from her landmark role, Diane Chambers as the series gained momentum.  The result?  NBC hired Kirstie Alley to play harried businesswoman Rebecca Howe.  The ratings were down from 1986-87 due to Cosby's loss, yet the show remained the 3rd place tentpole.  The network experienced mild hemorrhages from middling performers, yet The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd shipped off to cable network Lifetime in the first-ever broadcast to cable reprieve.

Blending comedy and drama added four additional entries into the sitcom roster, with ABC's The Wonder Years breaking into the top-10.  John Ritter dramedy Hooperman experienced moderate success on ABC, while CBS faltered with Frank's Place and NBC turned blue, literally, with Rags to Riches.  The Family-First era of sitcoms proved kind to ABC, as its sitcom roster enhanced surrounding Growing Pains and Who's the Boss anchoring Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Initially powering through Tuesdays, ABC moved Growing Pains to Wednesday to liven up its soft ratings.  After Growing Pains moved mid-season, it helped launch new dramedy Wonder Years, as well as modest spinoff Just the Ten of Us.  Perfect Strangers moved to Fridays and helped mesh a disastrous lineup.

ABC Fridays experienced a cavalcade of scheduling mixups scattering 10 shows over the four timeslots.  After a last-minute renewal, Mr. Belvedere returned to embarrassing ratings.  It struggled to support a new lineup, leading ABC to move Perfect Strangers to anchor the evening in early 1988.  This move enabled the struggling Full House to gain momentum, as well as cement 90 minutes of programming.  CBS lost its stranglehold over Fridays with its soaps Dallas and Falcon Crest, and ABC seized the opportunity.  Seeing improved performance with its spring configuration, ABC opted to enlist Just the Ten of Us to move the next season and enrich its third comedy block evening.

CBS added 3 additional sitcoms to its roster, yet only renewed 3 of its 9 entries.  Designing Women maintained a respectable performance, yet Newhart and Kate and Allie experienced declines as they aged.  My Sister Sam blazed into 17th place the previous season, yet tanked in 100th place as the network egregiously moved it to an ill-fated Saturday timeslot.  Mid-season, CBS attempted to take on ABC Tuesdays to be trounced, dispensing of several sitcoms including My Sister Sam.  The Tiffany network tarnished, and their adult-based sitcoms failed to generate the heat of NBC sitcoms and ABC's family-friendly offerings.

The greatest laugh FOX created was how far down its sitcoms rated.  Married... With Children managed to outshine its fellow sitcoms, some of which could fit both of their ratings inside their meager measure.  FOX was ahead of its time belting out laughs from incarcerated dames with Women in Prison, a G-rated fare compared to Netflix's 2013 powerhouse Orange is the New Black.  The tone changed in the 1987-88 season as ABC and NBC displayed solid evenings, CBS lost its touch and FOX scraped the barrel.

1985-86 Sitcoms -- NBC Soars as Its Competition Plunges

Written Shattering Nielsen Library Volumes by Bridger Cunningham

NBC was the three letter word to know in the 1985-86 season.  Only three short years earlier, the network was scraping for hits to advertise as passable.  The fortunes changed as two years in a row, they found landmark sitcoms to anchor two prominent evenings -- The Cosby Show on Thursdays, and Golden Girls on Saturdays.  Each show bolstered the surrounding shows, as well as increase soft interest in middling shows like Miami Vice.  The network increased 20% from the year before, primarily due to sitcoms Cosby, Cheers, Family Ties and The Golden Girls blazing bright at the top of the charts.  The reverse fortune beguiled ABC and CBS, both of which dropped 8% and 13.5%, respectively.  NBC's surge left CBS in the middle of the pack, as ABC drifted further from its next competitor.

The season augmented two additional entries in sitcoms to 27 entries over the 3 networks.  NBC held steady to 12 entries, yet salvaged 2 additional shows.  CBS shopped one less entry and only spared its Monday entries, while ABC added three additional helpings of sitcoms, only to spare 4 shows total.  NBC Thursdays were untouchable, landing at the top of the pack.  Saturdays returned from the dead (ratings) due to Golden Girls, with The Facts of Life and Gimme a Break receiving a mild bump.  New entry 227 maintained a modest status of Golden Girls' valued standard, leading to a renaissance for a once silent evening.  NBC also took interest in launching Monday sitcoms, and retired the Sunday 7pm comedies as both landed in the bottom of the ratings.  However, both experienced syndicated renaissances.

Over at ABC, they reclaimed Tuesdays with family-friendly sitcoms Who's The Boss and Growing Pains, both reigning in the top 20 as two of ABC's leading treasures of the season.  Please note Perfect Strangers was omitted from the season average as it debuted late in the season.   It was ABC's soft 5th sitcom renewal and would appear the following season.  Fridays presented a mixed fortune, as Webster and Mr. Belvedere experienced mild declines, yet landed in the top 50.  The 9pm hour shuffled several failed sitcoms, leading to the axing of longstanding early 80's fares Benson and Diff'rent Strokes (which ABC fished out of NBC's rubbish pile the previous season.  Another attempt at Saturday sitcoms met with tumultuous waters, with all fares scrapped.

CBS held its course with Monday dynamos Newhart and Kate &Allie.  Both remained steady or grew, while the Wednesday sitcom block experienced disastrous results.  All helpings, including Mary Tyler Moore's sitcom Mary, were bladed as they landed in the bottom third of the overall ratings.  The Middle of the Pack and Anemic ranges often present outlying renewals and cancellations, but 1986 kept to cold hard numbers.  The lowest-rated sitcom to be renewed was ABC's Mr. Belvedere in 45th Place, which also aired on Fridays.  Anything rating below these standards was discarded.

NBC's strategies for comedy blocks succeeded, while ABC's one attempt met with mixed results.  CBS appeared to have little foresight for sitcom futures, as they were scattered over two limited hours or burned off over undesirable timeslots.  The upcoming seasons succeeded with sitcom block entries, explaining NBC's windfall during this era.

Nielsen released numbers at the end of April, and a sitcom needed 7 collected episodes aired to be counted in the season average.  This left CBS entries Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Melba off the radar, as well as ABC's Perfect Strangers.  16 out of 27 entries presented a positive season for sitcoms and a demand for the following season to bank more entries to keep relevant with the family-friendly 80's.

1984-85 Sitcoms -- NBC Says No to Soaps as ABC and CBS Binge on Dynasty and Dallas Cocaine

Written Doing a Flashdance by Bridger Cunningham

Welcome back to 1984, the year sitcoms experienced their first of many rebirths.  After the late 1970's fantasy bubble, plus the saucy primetime soap deliveries of the early 1980's, fans tired of the fast burn and crash.  Much like cocaine swept the country like an endemic, Escapist and Soap fares became a tiring trend.  Enter NBC, who never flourished during these trends.  They had a few middling 60-minute showings and several soft sitcoms.  Then, they tapped Bill Cosby to deliver a sitcom about everyday life for an upscale New York City black family.  Fans flocked, and NBC's fortunes changed.

Unlike the last two entries, which centered on 4 networks in the height of sitcom demand, 1984-85 was the first year of recovery as the previous crop of sitcoms aged, burned off or failed to capture landmark ratings.  Only 25 entries straddled the season, with 14 returning the following year.  This is less than half of the 1989-90 and 1992-93 seasons which tried out 55 and 53 sitcoms, respectively.  Of these 25 entries, NBC poised 48% of that market with 12 entries.  The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers and Night Court graced the solid Thursday evenings, placing between 3rd and 19th Place among all shows, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th highest as sitcoms.  CBS, who took 1st place the previous season, delivered successful Monday night laughs with Newhart and Kate and Allie, who placed 16th and 17th for the season, as well as 5th and 6th highest in this table.

ABC's biggest laughs were generated from Dynasty, which binged on enough vice to 1st place.  Sadly, that was not classified as a comedy, and it burned off like a wild night out.  ABC's highest-rated sitcom for the season was Webster, as it placed 23rd for the season.  Its minor success story is this season laid the bedrock for two sitcoms, as well as a stronghold on the Friday sitcom market which would continue well through the 90's.  Who's the Boss started soft and built momentum, while Mr. Belvedere held the Friday fort until critically-acclaimed sitcoms to join them in upcoming seasons.  It fared better than mid-season entry Off The Rack, which is only remembered as it featured Michael J. Fox's Back to the Future Girlfriend, Claudia Wells.

ABC struggled mid-decade to reinvent itself after reigning in the last eras.  As Three's Company aged, ABC attempted a rebirth centered on John Ritter, which crashed and burned.  Too many late nights of 70's jokes were irrelevant during the mid-80's.  Like ABC, CBS had to part with it's 70's kitsch and parted with Alice, the Jeffersons and spinoff After-MASH like bell bottoms and old social topics.  They also dispensed Happy Days sensation Scott Baio, an odd choice as his sitcom flourished in original syndication.  CBS seemed to be out of era in past and future, as they axed George Clooney's E/R.  No, not the powerhouse who ruled the 90's and 2000's on NBC.  But rather a sitcom which inappropriately cast a 23-year old as a doctor.  Viewers could not suspend disbelief.  Well, not until 1989's Doogie Howser that is.  Perhaps E/R may have succeeded had Clooney been typecast as a 16-year old Doctor.  Though CBS narrowly took 2nd place from ABC, this season left CBS in deficit for sitcoms.

While NBC ruled Thursdays, they also sported several soft sitcoms.  Silver Spoons and Punky Brewster teetered on rating in the Abyss, yet they stabilized a soft timeslot on Sundays and provided family-friendly laughs.  Gimme a Break! never excelled like 1982 entries Cheers and Family Ties.  Like Cheers' death of Nicolas Colasanto, Gimme a Break! was affected by the death of Dolph Sweet in early 1985.  Break stood in threat of cancellation, yet NBC treated its sitcoms loyal as they bolstered the network in leaner years.  That same fortune did not greet Diff'Rent Strokes, which was cancelled after 7 seasons.  However, their spinoff, Facts of Life, managed to settle the soft Saturdays.

NBC and ABC laid groundwork for future enterprises, the greatest victory of the season.  Who's the Boss would anchor ABC Tuesdays, whilst Mr. Belvedere waited around and gave ABC a purpose for sitcoms on Fridays.  NBC staked Thursdays to strong perfection for the next 20 years, and Gimme a Break! provided a need for laughs on Saturdays.  Mondays on CBS belonged to NBC, who two seasons later would have 4 sitcoms at all times on this evening for 28 years.  Most fittingly, NBC reclaimed 1st place, which it would retain for 14 of the 16 seasons.

1983-84 Sitcom Scorecard -- No More Happy Days for One Day at a Time as Three's Company Becomes a Crowd

Written Astounded at The Asinine Sitcoms Served This Season by Bridger Cunningham



Before delving into one of the most devastating seasons for the sitcom genre, take a moment and celebrate a landmark moment, as TV Ratings Guide has finally located the complete data from the 1983-84 season!  Prior to this post, the hard cut for complete data was 1984 with little data displayed from Nielsen besides the garden variety "Top 30 Shows."  While this gives the fickle readers "the only information they need to know," how will fans of longstanding shows find out how their shows fared?  Cheers rated abysmally its first season and did not crack into the top 30 until the 1984-85 season.  TVRG will continue ongoing efforts to locate the data to display to readers as Ratings History is not only entertaining to folks who track it, but also educational as it tells what was going on in America at that time.

A hearty 36 sitcoms traipsed the TV landscape over the three networks, and a high body count of 21 cancellations spelled trouble for the genre.  NBC hemorrhaged the most as a slew of failed sitcoms could not stick.  Not a single freshman show offered to viewers in the Autumn of 1983 were renewed as a few scant mid-season entries were picked up such as Night Court.  The peacock suffered the longest downturn in history as it anchored at 3rd place since 1975.  CBS fared better this season with the majority of their brand landing in the top 50, and ABC began its mid-80's decline in early 1984 as their late 70's/early 80's era shows aged or ended.  ABC and CBS cancelled three longstanding sitcoms aged between 8-11 seasons as Happy Days, Three's Company and One Day at a Time were cancelled.  This season was not a welcome market for sitcoms, as a scant three placed in the top 20, of which two would end the following season.

All good things come to an end, including longstanding sitcoms.  The three longstanding shows cancelled, One Day at a Time, Happy Days and Three's Company, all suffered ratings declines and frequent cast changes.  Happy Days shuffled the most, followed closely by One Day at a Time.  Late 1983 had One Day at a Time plunged in controversial headlines as troubled starlet Mackenzie Phillips (Julie Cooper Horvath) was dismissed a second time due to substance abuse issues.  The exit soured the remainder of the season in tone, and the actors agreed it was time to move on.  The longstanding Norman Lear sitcom endured an alarming 16 moves during its 9 seasons and miraculously remained in the top 20 until 1983.  Though a saddening loss to viewers not to see Mackenzie Phillips return for the finale, she did manage to make an appearance in the reboot in a therapy group!

Another oddity occurred as ODAT alum Glenn Scarpelli (Alex Handris) exited the series from his popular role to land on a dreadful cancellation on NBC titled Jennifer Slept Here.  Valerie Bertenelli of course had a promising career ahead of her and is still gracing our TV screens.  Incidentally, Rita Moreno also stars in the revival of ODAT, and this season saw her sitcom, 9 to 5 halted as ABC stopped its clock.  ABC purged the majority of their 70's staples as Happy Days ended a tired run after 11 years.  A top 20 nostalgia delight for the majority of its run, it dropped to 63rd place and endured a plethora of cast changes throughout its run.  Erin Moran returned for the final season after spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi tanked, and the series left ABC Tuesdays.

Three's Company finally recovered two seasons earlier after Suzanne Somers' controversial dismissal over a salary dispute, but the ratings eroded by early 1984.  Feeling the concept was dated, ABC opted to reboot the series around John Ritter (Jack Tripper) which his character married.  Three's a Crowd was chewed up and mashed in the garbage disposal by 1985.  Despite poor ratings and crafting some of the worst sitcoms this season (Mr. Smith, starring an orangutan and ghostly Jennifer Slept Here), NBC fostered several hits which would carry it through the mid-late 80's.  Cheers picked up steam after a dreadful 1st season, Family Ties perked up in popularity due to Michael J. Fox and Night Court entered the legal wranglings as John Larroquette's lecherous Dan Fielding became the symbol of wealth and sloth.

The peacock worked desperately to revive is depressed network and made the first efforts to block sitcoms together on Thursdays, birthing a tradition which reigned uninterrupted through to the mid-2000's.  NBC's starving in the Nielsens paid off, as the 1984-85 season would reward their suffering as Bill Cosby shook up Thursday evenings.


Source -- Take a special glance at where this article originated from, as this Akron Beacon Journal advertised the overall ranks for the referenced season.

Akron Beacon Journal, May 27, 1984. https://www.newspapers.com/image/153710465/

1982-83 Sitcom Scorecard -- Cheers Is Nearly Cancelled

Written Collecting Ratings Jewels by Bridger Cunningham

As promised, TVRG has been actively searching archives to give readers missing years of data in television history.  And now, the illusive 1982-83 data has been located!  Now, TVRG has contiguous sitcom coverage from 1981-2017, and several outliers in the prior decades.  Only ranks are available for most shows beyond 33rd place, but the ranks help paint a precise picture of what went on this season.

Longtime favorites such as Laverne and Shirley, as well as MASH and All in the Family spinoff Archie Bunker's Place left the air after lengthy runs, leaving multiple holes in the schedule.  After multiple years of failure in 3rd Place, NBC devised a plan of saturating its lineup with laughs.  7 of the 10 shows survived (and barely), the highest number among any network as only 16 of the 39 sitcoms displayed this season made it to the 1983-84 season.  CBS cancelled the highest number of top-30 players, with 5 of their 15 shows surviving.  And ABC's luck followed a similar traectory, with only 4 of its 14 shows being renewed.

Please note three additional installments for Historic Sitcom Scorecards are planned for this year -- 1975-76, 1979-80 and 2017-18, bringing the total to 46 years of sitcom data to report.

Several shows bit the dust this season, several of which had runs of 5+ years.  Among them, Archie Bunker's Place (4 seasons in title, 13 with Carroll O'Connor's household name headlining), MASH (11 seasons), Laverne and Shirley (8 seasons) and Taxi (5 seasons), which faltered after jumping from ABC to NBC this season.  This chart also features several players which eventually revived in syndication -- Mama's Family (cancelled the next season, revived in syndication from 1986-90), Silver Spoons (cancelled in 1986, revived for one more season in syndication) and 9 to 5 (Cancelled later in 1983, revived in syndication from 1986-88).

Where the 1982-83 season was a pioneer year was NBC's investments in sitcoms which ultimately saved the network in 1984.  The Facts of Life was picking up momentum in its 4th season, while parent Diff'rent Strokes showed signs of aging.  And reviving Taxi from ABC did not ignite the fire NBC desired.  However, the fortunes lay in the new pilots -- Silver Spoons, Family Ties and Cheers.  Silver Spoons made an ideal show to shuffle around the schedule, while Family Ties and Cheers helped ignite a powerhouse comedy block on Thursdays, Must-See-TV.  

Source -- https://www.newspapers.com/image/200821230/?terms=nielsen%2Babc%2Bnbc%2Bcbs%2Bsquare%2Bpegs&match=143