Classic TV Ratings and Rankings: 1957-58 Season

The fall of 1957 was a slightly weaker CBS because of the loss of I LOVE LUCY, however the EYE network did air repeats of the hit sitcom on Thursday night. Also down, but not out, was THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. Last season it was the #2 program on TV, but 1957-58 it fell 25 spots to #27. but don't worry, ED still has another dozen or so years left in him.

CBS did still have 6 top 10 series and a total of 16 programs in the top 30. GUNSMOKE, in its third season, was now the #1 series on TV. It reflects the growing trend of western series. Now, 5 of the top 10 shows are Westerns. It is westerns that brings NBC back up to compete against CBS.

Lead by TALES OF WELLS FARGO, THE RESTLESS GUN and WAGON TRAIN, NBC adds six shows to the top 30, for a total of 10. ABC has a total of THREE shows placing in the top 30, all three are TV westerns.

Top 30 Network Programs by household ratings

(41.92 million television homes)

1. Gunsmoke (CBS) - 43.1
2. The Danny Thomas Show (CBS) - 35.3
3. Tales of Wells Fargo (NBC) - 35.2
4. Have Gun-Will Travel (CBS) -  33.7
5. I've Got a Secret (CBS) - 33.4
6. Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (ABC) - 32.6
7. General Electric Theater (CBS) - 31.5
8. The Restless Gun (NBC) - 31.4
9. December Bride (CBS) - 30.7
10. You Bet Your Life (NBC) - 30.6
11. The Perry Como Show (NBC) - 30.5
12. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (CBS) - 30.3
13. Cheyenne (ABC) - 30.3
14. The Ford Show w/ Tennessee Ernie Ford (NBC) - 29.7
15. The Red Skelton Show (CBS) - 28.9
16. The Gale Storm Show (CBS) - 28.8
17. The Millionaire (CBS) - 28.5
18. The Lineup (CBS) - 28.4
19. This I Your Life (NBC) - 28.1
20. The $64,000 Question (CBS) - 28.1
21. Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater (CBS) - 27.9
22. Lassie (CBS) - 27.8
23. Wagon Train (NBC) - 27.7
24. Father Knows Best (NBC) - 27.7
25. Sugarfoot (ABC) - 27.7
26. Twenty One (NBC) - 27.6
27. The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) - 27.3
28. The Jack Benny Program (CBS) - 27.1 
29. People Are Funny (NBC) - 27.0
30. The Loretta Young Show (NBC) - 26.6