Classic TV Ratings and Rankings: 1981-82

For the second straight season DALLAS is TV's #1 program. JR and the gang are hitting their peak, both creatively and in the ratings. The series is now the flag ship series for the network and is beginning to create other series with the same themes, like FALCON CREST. The Friday night One-Two punch of DALLAS and FALCON CREST proves to be a great match up as both are in the top 15. Add in THE DUKES OF HAZZARD at 8 p.m. and CBS has an unbeatable night.

Sundays nights are also a strong night for CBS all six series on the night finish in the top 15. THE JEFFERSONS rebound back to be a top 3 show. it is one of the few show to survive the bad CBS scheduling of just a few seasons earlier.

In all, CBS placed 12 programs in the top 30. but that is two less than ABC, which had 14. ABC was lead by veteran sitcom THREE'S COMPANY and its combo MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL/Monday Night at the Movies. A majority of the ABC programs reside in spots 14 and below.

NBC is still a few years out from its rise to the top, but in 1981-82, the network only manages four programs in the top 30, all of which are ranked below the 20th spot.

Notable first year series to start this season, not in the top 30, were HAPPY DAYS spin off JOANIE LOVES CHACHI. NBC brings in two 19th century dramas in FATHER MURPHY and the remake of BRET MAVERIC. ABC's heavily hyped Erma Bombeck sitcom MAGGIE debuted, but lasted just 8 episodes.

Top 30 Programs, by household ratings
(households with TVs - 81.5 million)

1. 28.4 - Dallas (CBS)
2. 27.7 - 60 Minutes (CBS)
3. 23.4 - The Jeffersons (CBS)
4. 23.3 - Three's Company (ABC)
5. 22.7 - Alice (CBS)
6. 22.6 - The Dukes of Hazzard (CBS)
6. 22.6 - Too Close for Comfort  (ABC)
8. 22.5 - ABC Monday Night Movie (ABC)
9. 22.3 - M*A*S*H (CBS)
10. 22.0 - One Day at a Time (CBS)
11. 21.8 - Monday Night Football (ABC) 
12. 21.6 - Archie Bunker's Place (CBS)
13. 21.4 - Falcon Crest (CBS)
14. 21.2 - The Love Boat (ABC)
15. 21.1 - Hart to Hart (ABC)
15. 21.1 - Trapper John, M.D. (CBS)
17. 20.9 - Magnum, P.I. (CBS)
18. 20.6 - Happy Days (ABC)
19. 20.2 - Dynasty (ABC)
20. 19.9 - Laverne & Shirley (ABC) 
21. 19.7 - Real People (NBC)
22. 19.5 - ABC Sunday Night Movie (ABC)
23. 19.2 - House Calls (CBS)
24. 19.1 - The Facts of Life (NBC)
24. 19.1 - Little House on the Prairie (NBC)
26. 19.0 - The Fall Guy (ABC) 
27. 18.6 - Hill Street Blues (NBC)
28. 18.4 - That's Incredible (ABC)
28. 18.4 - T.J. Hooker (ABC)
30. 18.3 - Fantasy Island (ABC)