Classic TV Ratings and Rankings: 1970-71

Second year medical drama MARCUS WELBY, M.D. is the new #1 program on TV. The program stars Robert Young (FATHER KNOWS BEST) and James Brolin. The program was the 10:00 p.m. anchor to ABC's successful Tuesday night line up, featuring THE MOD SQUAD (#11) and the Movie of the week (#6).

ABC now has eight top 30 programs, up two from last season, and now four in the top 11. This was the first time since the 66-67 season ABC had a top 10 program.

NBC had good and bad news for the season.Former #1 program, ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN, dropped 12 spots to #13. Its prize western which had never fallen below #4, is now ranked 9th. However new series THE FLIP WILSON SHOW quickly became  the #2 program on TV and kicked of a Thursday night line up that NBC won over the course of the season. In all, NBC placed nine shows in the top 30.

CBS is still the #1 network, generating 13 top 30 programs. HERE''S LUCY is the #3 program on TV and longtime veteran western GUNSMOKE is ranked #5. However, some of their stronger series from past seasons are sliding down the chart. MAYBERRY R.F.D. dropped to #15 and THE JIM NEIGHBORS HOUR fell to #29. I wonder what CBS will do next season....

Notable new shows from this season are THE MARY TYLER MORE (#22) on CBS and THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY (#25) on ABC. NBC's THE DON KNOTTS SHOW, airing on Tuesdays, failed to make the top 30 chart. ALL IN THE FAMILY, a mid-season replacement series, also failed to chart.

THE RED SKELTON SHOW jumped over to NBC, but failed to make the top 30.

Top 30 Network Programs by household ratings (Households with TVs - 60.10 million)

1. 29.6 - Marcus Welby M.D. (ABC)
2. 27.9 - The Flip Wilson Show (NBC)
3. 25.9 - Here's Lucy (CBS)
4. 25.7 - Ironside (NBC)
5. 25.5 - Gunsmoke (CBS)
6. 25.1 - ABC Movie of the Week (ABC)
7. 25.0 - Hawaii Five-0 (CBS)
8. 24.5 - Medical Center (CBS)
9. 23.9 - Bonanaza (NBC)
10. 23.0 - The F.B.I. (ABC)
11. 22.7 - The Mod Squad (ABC)
12. 22.6 - Adam 12 (NBC)
13. 22.4 - The Wonderful World of Disney (NBC)
13. 22.4 - Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (NBC)
15. 22.3 - Mayberry R.F.D. (CBS)
16. 21.4 - Hee Haw (CBS) 
17. 21.3 - Manixx (CBS)
18. 21.2 - The Men from Shiloh (ABC)
19. 20.8 - My Three Sons (CBS)
20. 20.7 - The Doris Day Show (CBS)
21. 20.6 - The Smith Family(ABC)
22. 20.3 - The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS)
23. 20.1 - NBC Saturday at the Movies (NBC)
24. 20.0 - The Dean Martin Show (NBC)
25. 19.8 - The Carol Burnett Show (CBS)
25. 19.8 - NBC Night at the Movies (NBC)
25. 19.8 - The Partridge Family (ABC)
28. 19.7 - ABC Sunday Night Movie (ABC)
29. 19.5 - The Jim Neighbors Hour (CBS)
30. 19.3 - CBS Thursday Night Movies (CBS)