# Which of these highly rated events did you see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019 "2012-01-10T05:13:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/1 "2012-01-10T05:13:13Z")
The last two years’ Super Bowls, according to Nielsen, are the most watched programs of all time. It got me wondering about the previous recordholders. How many of them did you see? How many did you intentionally or accidentally miss? What do you remember about the buildup to these shows and did they live up to the hype? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/2 "2012-01-10T07:16:36Z")
I put MASH and Roots. I’m a bit young for The Beatles and The Fugitive. I don’t remember GWtW being on TV and I never cared for Dallas. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/3 "2012-01-10T12:38:46Z")
Possibly M_A_S\*H, but not Dallas and I’m too young to remember the others. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/4 "2012-01-10T12:56:19Z")
I saw four of them, all but _The Fugitive_ and _Dallas._ Plus the moon landing, which you left out. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/5 "2012-01-10T12:59:56Z")
Only one of those I saw live was the finale of M_A_S\*H. Which, considering the subject matter and the fact that I was 7 years old, may not have been the most stellar parenting decision my folks ever made. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/6 "2012-01-10T13:11:48Z")
I take it that watching recordings years after the fact doesn’t count…? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/7 "2012-01-10T13:20:28Z")
Showing my age here. The Beatles’ first appearance on Ed Sullivan remains the television event that I most eagerly awaited before it happened. I can still remember the excitement I felt in the days and hours leading up to the show. I was ten years old and had been playing the drums for a few years. When I saw the Beatles perform for the first time, I immediately realized I wanted to play the guitar and sing. I got my first guitar for Christmas 1964 and have been playing and singing ever since. The Fugitive was a show my father liked. I remember us leaving some family event early so that we could be home in time to watch the last episode. I missed the other TV events in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/8 "2012-01-10T13:24:37Z")
None. In fact, the only ones I’ve even seen recorded versions of are the MASH finale and the Beatles on Sullivan. I think I’ve seen the 10 seconds where JR’s shooter is revealed, too, but never the whole episode. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/9 "2012-01-10T13:24:38Z")
MASH is the only one. That was the last time TV/movie/book/song/etc. made me cry. I was 8. To the best of my recollection my mom didn’t watch Dallas (even if it was unlikely I’d be up to watch it with her) but I do remember the “Who Shot JR” buzz around it. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/10 "2012-01-10T13:29:12Z")
I checked all but _The Fugitive_, but now that I come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I didn’t watch _Dallas_, but just read about it later. I was really young for the Beatles on _Ed Sullivan_, but I know I watched it because my older sister and her friends were absolutely insane about it. We had three or four screaming girls in our house. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/11 "2012-01-10T13:45:43Z")
Saw all but Roots and Fugitive when first on, caught those two later on. I could be wrong but isn’t the highest rated regular episode for a TV series the “Beverly Hillbillies” where Granny mistakes a kangaroo for a jackrabbit? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/12 "2012-01-10T13:46:46Z")
Saw the Beatles and **The Fugitive**. The others were shows I never watched (I had given up on **M_A_S\*H** a few seasons before), so didn’t care. And **Gone With The Wind** was too long to being with; once commercials were added, I had better things to do with my life. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/13 "2012-01-10T13:53:57Z")
I may or may not have seen the Beatles on Ed. We generally watched the show, but I don’t recall that one. At that age, I was more of a fan of Topo Gigio than of any pop band. I never watched the Fugitive. I definitely saw the JR episode as I was a Dallas fan anyway. The M_A_S\*H episode was another can’t miss event for me. GWTW on network TV- meh. I’d already seen the movie a couple times in the theater. I didn’t watch Roots, it didn’t seem to be a phenomenon until it was half over. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/14 "2012-01-10T13:55:40Z")
None of the above. I was born in 1973, and only peripherally aware of\* M_A_S_H_ at the time it stopped producing new episodes. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/15 "2012-01-10T14:22:47Z")
Well I voted even though I am not in the US. I watched zero episodes of _Roots_, maybe less episodes of _Dallas_ and had already seen, and hated, \*Gone With the Wind \* at the university movie club. The rest I saw plus the moon landing, the last episode of _Cheers_, the last episode of _Seinfeld_, and the last episode of _Newhart_. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/16 "2012-01-10T14:52:04Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I put MASH and Roots. I’m a bit young for The Beatles and The Fugitive. I don’t remember GWtW being on TV and I never cared for Dallas. You’re me only in zebra form. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/17 "2012-01-10T14:54:46Z")
Moon landing. That’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/18 "2012-01-10T15:04:33Z")
I only voted for M_A_S\*H. I was born in 71 and I definitely didn’t watch Dallas at all. My parents likely watched Gone With The Wind, but if they did, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t paying attention to it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/19 "2012-01-10T15:13:36Z")
Saw three, but did not see the last two (or even 10) Superbowls. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019/20 "2012-01-10T16:08:58Z")
None. I also didn’t see the finale of _Seinfeld_ or \*The Sopranos, \*and I sure as hell didn’t see the finale of _Friends_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-of-these-highly-rated-events-did-you-see/609019.md?page=2)