Classic TV Ratings and Rankings: 1980-81

CBS continues to rebuild the network and it has one of the hottest programs on TV. DALLAS, now in its third season, is the #1 program on TV. It has a 26% advantage over the #2 program, it's Friday night lead in, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD. Over 1/3 of all household are at home, watching TV. That is unheard of in today's (2013) TV environment.

In just two season, CBS went from just nine programs in the top 30, to 14 charting programs. It has the top four programs, plus #6 through #8. But most of its top shows are aging. ARCHIE BUNKERS PLACE is 10 years removied since the debut of ALL IN THE FAMILY. Korean war sitcom M*A*S*H began in 1972. THE JEFFERSONS have been on the air for seven seasons and ONE DAY AT A TIME is in its sixth season. Only one new series, MAGNUM P.I. made the top 30 for the season.

NBC has done some slight improvement. Its number of top 30 programs is up two from last season, for a total of six top 30 series. The network's top program is the veteran LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE.

ABC is still a strong network. It has produced 10 top 30 series, lead by Saturday night's THE LOVE BOAT. Former #1's HAPPY DAYS and LAVERNE & SHIRLEY have dropped to being top 20 hits. Last  season's #1 comedy, THREE'S COMPANY, dropped from #2 to #9, and is now just the #5 comedy on TV.

Notable freshmen series not in the top 30 are DYNASTY, ABC's answer to DALLAS. The DUKES OF HAZZARD spin-off ENOS kicked off Wednesday nights for CBS. Cult classic sitcom BOSOM BUDDIES, starring Tom Hanks, began in November of 1980. And the Variety show BARBARA MANDRELL AND THE MANDRELL SISTERS lead off NBC's Saturday nights.

Top 30 Programs, by household ratings
(households with TVs - 79.9 million)

1. 34.5 - Dallas (CBS)
2. 27.3 - The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
3. 27.0 - 60 Minutes (CBS)
4. 25.7 - M*A*S*H (CBS)
5. 24.3 - The Love Boat (ABC)
6. 23.5 - The Jeffersons (CBS)
7. 22.9 - Alice  (CBS)
8. 22.4 - House Calls (CBS)
9. 22.4 - Three's Company (ABC)
10. 22.1 - Little House on the Prairie (NBC) 
11. 22.0 - One Day at a Time (CBS)
12. 21.5 - Real People (NBC)
13. 21.4 - Archie Bunker's Place (CBS)
14. 21.0 - Magnum, P.I. (CBS)
15. 20.8 - Happy Days (ABC)
16. 20.8 - Too Close for Comfort (ABC)
17. 20.7 - Fantasy Island (ABC)
18. 20.7 - Trapper John, M.D. (CBS)
19. 20.7 - Diff'rent Strokes (NBC)
20. 20.6 - Monday Night Football (ABC)
21. 20.6 - Laverne & Shirley (ABC)
22. 20.5 - That's Incredible (ABC)
23. 19.9 - Hart to Hart (ABC)
24. 19.4 - ABC Sunday Night Movie (ABC)
25. 19.4 - CHiPS (NBC)
26. 19.3 - The Facts of Life (NBC)
27. 19.1 - Lou Grant (CBS)
28. 19.0 - Knots Landing (CBS)
29. 18.8 - NBC Monday Night Movie (NBC) 
30. 18.6 - The Waltons (CBS)