Television Ratings: 1950s Part 4

A TOP 10 Nielsen ratings that charts changes over two seasons for selected popular shows of the 1950s. Check out my TOP 20 ratings charts (Parts 1-6) for the 1960s and (Parts 1-5) for the 1970s.

Wrapping up the 1950s, Westerns dominated the top 10 spots with the top three unwavering. Have Gun, Will Travel finished its run in top form. Wanted: Dead or Alive made its only appearance in its next-to-last season. The Danny Thomas Show remained solid among all the dusty gunplay, while the popular Father Knows Best finished its run with its highest rating.

Television Ratings: 1950s Part 3

A TOP 10 Nielsen ratings that charts changes over two seasons for selected popular shows of the 1950s. Check out my TOP 20 ratings charts (Parts 1-6) for the 1960s and (Parts 1-5) for the 1970s.

1956-58: I Love Lucy ended its run in the top spot, allowing Gunsmoke to shoot to number one. Two other long-running Westerns, Have Gun, Will Travel and The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp, were solid at mid-pack starting in 1957. I've Got A Secret was on an upward trajectory, offering the occasional format twists featuring host Garry Moore. December Bride remained solid until the end.

Television Ratings: 1950s Part 2

A TOP 10 Nielsen ratings that charts changes over two seasons for selected popular shows of the 1950s. Check out my TOP 20 ratings charts (Parts 1-6) for the 1960s and (Parts 1-5) for the 1970s.

1954-56: Some famous shows easily finished out the decade and beyond. I Love Lucy held the top spot, and its lead helped December Bride. Both The Jackie Gleason Show and Dragnet never returned to this ratings level. 

Television Ratings: 1950s Part 1

A TOP 10 Nielsen ratings that charts changes over two seasons for selected popular shows of the 1950s. Check out my TOP 20 ratings charts (Parts 1-6) for the 1960s and (Parts 1-5) for the 1970s.

1952-54: A few shows picked up steam in homes across America. I Love Lucy reigns as number one, and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts makes a strong showing. While still enjoying radio success, Dragnet remains in top form since its debut in 1951, as has You Bet Your Life. The Colgate Comedy Hour finished its fifth of six seasons in respectable form.

Television Ratings: 1970s Part 5

TV NIELSENS 1970s: (L-R: 78-79/79-80) 

The ABC network was riding high in 1978-79. Two purple blocks show lost viewers, but One Day At A Time remained in the top 20. Eight Is Enough (red) remained steady. Three's Company (dark green) was riding high while its spin-off, The Ropers, had its highest viewership. As the 1970s close out, ABC's two shows were the only chink in a solid CBS domination. Taxi and Happy Days (blue) hit their high and low points, respectively. Both Charlie's Angels and Barney Miller (purple) ratings were down over the previous season.

Television Ratings: 1970s Part 4

TV NIELSENS 1970s: (L-R: 76-77/77-78) 

A viewer shift began as two nostalgia sitcoms, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, traded the number one spot. Baretta (gray) broke into the top ten for the only time. Charlie's Angels remained steady while Welcome Back, Kotter reached its high point before disappearing after the novelty wore thin. Two shows (lavender) remained solid, with The Love Boat honing in at 14. Jack Webb's 1978 series, Project UFO (yellow), made its only appearance in the top 20 before being canceled in 1979. Of note is the umbrella program, The Big Event 1976-77 (orange), re-titled from NBC Sunday Night Movie in the hope that something from the network might stick. The production was shown at various times and days to gauge viewership patterns. In addition to the major films it broadcast, it also featured concerts, sporting events, and original television movies. 

Television Ratings: 1970s Part 3

TV NIELSENS 1970s: (L-R: 74-75/75-76)

The new fad in sitcoms where serious issues are juxtaposed with comedy is led by All In The Family. Four shows (orange) premiered strongly, as did two The Mary Tyler Moore Show spin-offs (yellow). Moore's show, The Waltons, and M.A.S.H. dropped viewership while seven gimmick police/P.I. shows (gray) remain in the bottom ten. The Rockford Files never again ranked in the top twenty, but its fan base skyrocketed in syndication. 

Television Ratings: 1970s Part 2

TV NIELSENS 1970s: (L-R: 72-73/73-74)

There is consistent viewership for the top six shows. Norman Lear's invasion with All In The Family and Maude proved to be strong contenders. Cannon and The Bob Newhart Show increased their popularity while The Six Million Dollar Man, Happy Days, and Good Times (yellow) started their series on a positive. Gunsmoke remains the only primetime western in the top 20, but the sun is setting for Here's Lucy and The Partridge Family (orange).

Television Ratings: 1970s Part 1

TV NIELSENS 1970s: (L-R: 70-71/71-72)

Note Robert Young's popularity in Marcus Welby, M.D., Medical Center and Ironside lost viewers; Adam-12 unwavering about mid-pack; Mannix hit its stride with a big jump; The debut of Sanford and Son (gray) proved to be a winner from its 1972 debut. The Doris Day Show (gray) squeaked in a respectable showing for its second season. Rather remarkable considering her character changed every season, from a widow to a single, carefree career woman, i.e., Mary Tyler Moore's hit series. 

Note: Not color-highlighted yet, interesting to note, the Carl Reiner inspiration, The New Dick Van Dyke Show (#18/right column), had its only top 20 rating in its first season with an ideal time slot. However, its ratings were lower than its supporting shows, and it was subsequently moved to the graveyard of doom, Sunday nights. A fourth season never materialized, due mostly to a controversy between Reiner and CBS. A network he refused to work with again.

Television Ratings: 1960s Part 5

The ups and downs of shows where Green Acres took the biggest tumble while The Dean Martin Show and Family Affair shot upward. The Fugitive (ABC) was not in the top 30, but the 1967 2-part finale was the most-watched show ever until 1983. (1966-1968 Oct-Apr)

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Television Ratings: 1960s Part 4

There were only three NBC series making Nielsen's top 20 for 1964-65. They gained one show the following season. Branded did not return and both Get Smart and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. fell from the top 20 after 1966. (1964-66 Oct-Apr)

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Television Ratings: 1960s Part 3

The mid-decade of loyal or new CBS viewers. These highlighted shows either increased in popularity or remained steady. (1962-64 Oct-Apr)

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Television Ratings: 1960s Part 2

Nielsen viewers made downward adjustments in their top 20 programs over two seasons (L-R: 1960-62 Oct-Apr). The Red Skelton Show is a noted exception. Shows ending their run in 1960-61 are irrelevant to the right column of shows.

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Television Ratings: 1960s Part 1

There were significant changes in the top 20 Nielsen ratings from (L-R) 1958-60 (Oct-Apr). The Red Skelton Show and Perry Mason gained viewers while The Rifleman looked to be running out of steam at about the mid-series point and the popular The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp was hanging in there by loyal viewers only as it neared its series run.

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