This Was the Top-Rated TV Show 40 Years Ago Today
What were you doing in the fall of 1985 … and what were you watching? There was one show that dominated the Nielsen ratings in 1985: The Cosby Show. The family sitcom, which centered on the Huxtable family in Brooklyn, led by comedian Bill Cosby as the patriarch debuted the previous fall. By the premiere of its second season, on September 26, 1985, the series was unstoppable, completely reshaping Thursday nights.
According to Television Obscurities, The Cosby Show hit the top of the Nielsen ratings on September 30th, 1985 … and October 7, 1985 … and October 14, 1985. It was the highest-rated program of the 1985–1986 season, ranking first a shocking 27 times during the official run and 46 times over the course of the year — it was only unseated from its #1 slot by sports coverage and a Perry Mason TV movie. For NBC, it helped the network climb to first place in the Nielsen ratings for the first time in its history.
NBC/Everett Collection
What were the top 10 TV shows of 1985?
Right behind The Cosby Show was Family Ties, which solidified Michael J. Fox as a breakout star. Next on the list, CBS also had a massive hit with Angela Lansbury‘s Murder, She Wrote, at number three. 60 Minutes remained a Sunday night staple at number four. Cheers, still thriving in its fourth season, rounded out the top five. Golden Girls, Dallas, Dynasty, Who’s the Boss? and Miami Vice filled out the bottom five slots of the top 10.
It was a season filled with variety, from comedies to soaps to investigative journalism, but the clear leader was The Cosby Show. Its success marked a turning point for NBC, proving that family sitcoms could not only dominate prime time but also set the cultural tone for years to come.
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’80s Where Are They Now
March 2023
Who can forget all the great TV shows, movies and music of the ‘80s? See what your favs are up to now!
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