Classic TV Ratings and Rankings: 1978-79

For the second straight season, LAVERNE & SHIRLEY are the most watched TV program. In fact, HAPPY DAYS (#3) and its two spin-off series make out three of the to four programs (MORK & MINDY #4). ABC's TUESDAY NIGHT is the 70's version of "Must See TV." The line up of HAPPY DAYS, LAVERNE & SHIRLEY, THREE'S COMPANY, and TAXI are all top 10 shows. Ad in the mid-season spin-off THE ROPERS at 10:00 p.m. and ABC has 5 top 10 comedies on Tuesday nights.

In addition to the Tuesday night dominance of ABC, the network dominates the rest of the week. The network generates 17 series in the top 30. Only Friday nights don't have a hit TV show for the network.

CBS is still feeling the sting from all that movement a couple of years back. The network only produces nine top 30 shows, just three in the top 10. When you look at the CBS schedule, you see tons of classic TV programs that are not producing big ratings. RHODA, DALLAS, THE JEFFERSONS, ONE DAY AT A TIME, THE WALTONS, HAWAII FIVE-O and a few more.

This is the era NBC was hitting its low point (Until the 21st century). It has just four top 30 programs. Its top program is at #14, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. But when they dilevir programs like GRANDPA GOES TO WASHINGTON, SWORD OF JUSTICE and WHO'S WATCHING THE KIDS, plus four nights of movies, it no wonder they have sunk so low.

Sitcoms is the dominate genre. Nine of the top 10 shows are comedies, plus an additional seven in the top 30. There is twice as many on the schedule of the three networks that didn't make the top 30. Shows like WELCOME BACK KOTTER, GOOD TIMES and CARTER COUNTRY.

Top 30 Programs, by household ratings
(households with TVs - 74.5)

1. 30.5 - Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
2. 30.3 - Three's Company (ABC)
3. 28.6 - Happy Days (ABC)
4. 28.6 - Mork & Mindy (ABC)
5. 26.7 - Angie (ABC)
6. 25.5 - 60 Minutes (CBS)
7. 25.2 - The Ropers (ABC)
8. 25.4 - M*A*S*H (CBS)
9. 24.9 - All In The Family (CBS)
10. 24.9 - Taxi (ABC)
11. 24.8 - Eight Is Enough (ABC)
12. 24.4 - Charlies Angels (ABC)
13. 23.2 - Alice (CBS)
14. 23.1 - Little House on the Prairie (NBC)
15. 22.6 - Barney Miller (ABC)
16. 22.6 - ABC Sunday Night Movie (ABC)
17. 22.1 - The Love Boat (ABC)
18. 21.6 - One Day At A Time (CBS)
19. 21.3 - Soap (ABC)
20. 21.0 - The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
21. 20.9 - NBC Monday Night at the Movies (NBC)
22. 20.8 - Fantasy Island (ABC)
23. 20.6 - Vega$ (ABC)
24. 20.5 - Barnaby Jones (CBS)
25. 20.3 - CHiPS (NBC)
26. 20.2 - Stockerd Channing in Just Friends (CBS)
27. 19.9 - Diff'rent Strokes (NBC)
28. 19.8 - Monday Night Football (ABC)
29. 19.8 - What's Happening (ABC)
30. 19.7 - Lou Grant (CBS)