Is there any site that lists the Nielsen ranking for TV shows through the years. I have tried to search Google but never get anything useful. I would be looking for a site that lists the Number One show for each year. The top ten shows for each year would be better.
Thanks
There’s a book by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh: The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows that lists the top shows all the way back to when ratings began. It’s updated every couple of years.
Don’t know anything online, though.
1950-2000 can be found here (assuming their information is accurate, they don’t give source that I see).
That site lists the Top 30 shows of each year. Here are the top each year:
1950 - Texaco Star Theater
1951 - Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
1952-1954 - I Love Lucy
1955 - The $64,000 Question
1956 - I Love Lucy
1957-1960 - Gunsmoke
1961 - Wagon Train
1962-1963 - The Beverly Hillbillies
1964-1966 - Bonanza
1967 - The Andy Griffith Show
1968-1969 - Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In
1970 - Marcus Welby, M.D.
1971-1975 - All in the Family
1976 - Happy Days
1977-1978 - Laverne & Shirley
1979 - 60 Minutes
1980-1981 - Dallas
1982 - 60 Minutes
1983 - Dallas
1984 - Dynasty
1985-1989 - The Cosby Show
1990 - Cheers
1991-1993 - 60 Minutes
1994 - Seinfeld
1995-1996 - ER
1997 - Seinfeld
1998 - ER
1999 - Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (Tuesday) - NOTE: Millionaire hold the top three spots that year on different nights.
Darn, I came in here looking for the 2000 winner. Is that information available?
Wikipedia lists Millionaire.