Classic TV Ratings and Rankings: 1961-62 Season

What was the most popular program theat was NOT a TV Western? The comedy HAZEL, from NBC. The freshman program pulled in an average household rating of 27.7, besting other comedies like THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, DICK VAN DYKE and MY THREE SONS.

CBS lead the pack with 14 programs in the top 30. NBC followed with 10 top programs, including WALT DISNEY'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR, taken from ABC. ABC did manage seven charting series, but non made the top ten.

There were a lot of the "classic" TV series that we have grown up loving from this season/era. Not making the top 30, but still loved to day were The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Twilight Zone, Leave It to Beaver, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Top 30 Network Programs by household ratings

1. Wagon Train (NBC) - 32.1
2. Bonanza (NBC) - 30.0
3. Gunsmoke (CBS) - 28.3
4. Hazel (NBC) - 27.7
5. Perry Mason (CBS) - 27.3
6. The Red Skelton Show (CBS) - 27.1
7. The Andy Griffith Show (CBS) - 27.0
8. The Danny Thomas Show (CBS) - 26.1
9. Dr. Kildare (NBC) - 25.6
10. Candid Camera (CBS) - 25.5
11. My Three Sons (ABC) - 24.7
12. The Gary More Show (CBS) - 24.6
13. Rawhide (CBS) - 24.5
14. The Real McCoys (ABC) - 24.2

15. Lassie (CBS) - 24.0
15. Sing Along with Mitch (NBC) - 24.0
17. Dennis The Menace (CBS) - 23.8
18. Ben Casey (ABC) - 23.7
19. The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) - 23.5
20. Car 54 Where Are You? (NBC) - 23.2
21. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (CBS) - 22.9
22. The Flintstones (ABC) - 22.9
23. Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (NBC) - 22.7
24. The Joey Bishop Show (NBC) - 22.6
25. The Perry Como Show (NBC) 22.5
26. The Defenders (CBS) - 22.4
27. The Rifleman (ABC) - 22.3
27. The Price Is Right (NBC) - 22.3
29. Have Gun, Will Travel (CBS) - 22.2
30. The Donna Reed Show (ABC) - 21.9
30. 77 Sunset Strip (ABC) - 21.9