Charts
Top 100 TV Shows of All Time
Top Network Telecasts ranked by Household Ratings Last updated Aug. 6, 2000 |
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Rank | Program | Net | Avg. Aud. | (000) | Share | Date B'cast | Duration (min.) |
1 | M*A*S*H Final Episode | CBS | 60.2 | 50,150 | 77 | Feb. 28, 1983 | 150 |
2 | Dallas | CBS | 53.3 | 41,470 | 76 | Nov. 21, 1980 | 60 |
3 | Roots Pt. VIII | ABC | 51.1 | 36,380 | 71 | Jan. 30, 1977 | 115 |
4 | Super Bowl XVI Game | CBS | 49.1 | 40,020 | 73 | Jan. 24, 1982 | 213 |
5 | Super Bowl XVII Game | NBC | 48.6 | 40,480 | 69 | Jan 30, 1983 | 204 |
6 | XVII Winter Olympics - Wed-2 | CBS | 48.5 | 45,690 | 64 | Feb. 23, 1994 | 180 |
7 | Super Bowl XX Game | NBC | 48.3 | 41,490 | 70 | Jan. 26, 1986 | 231 |
8 | Gone With The Wind-Pt.1 (Big Event-Pt 1) | NBC | 47.7 | 33,960 | 65 | Nov. 7, 1976 | 179 |
9 | Gone With The Wind-Pt.2 (NBC Mon. Movie) | NBC | 47.4 | 33,750 | 64 | Nov. 8, 1976 | 119 |
10 | Super Bowl XII Game | CBS | 47.2 | 34,410 | 67 | Jan. 15, 1978 | 218 |
11 | Super Bowl XIII Game | NBC | 47.1 | 35,090 | 74 | Jan. 21, 1979 | 230 |
12 | Bob Hope Christmas Show | NBC | 46.6 | 27,260 | 64 | Jan. 15, 1970 | 90 |
13 | Super Bowl XVIII Game | CBS | 46.4 | 38,880 | 71 | Jan. 22, 1984 | 218 |
13 | Super Bowl XIX Game | ABC | 46.4 | 39,390 | 63 | Jan. 20, 1985 | 218 |
15 | Super Bowl XIV Game | CBS | 46.3 | 35,330 | 67 | Jan. 20, 1980 | 178 |
16 | Super Bowl XXX Game | NBC | 46.0 | 44,150 | 68 | Jan 28, 1996 | 201 |
16 | ABC Sunday Night Movie (The Day After) | ABC | 46.0 | 38,550 | 62 | Nov. 20, 1983 | 144 |
18 | Roots Pt. VI | ABC | 45.9 | 32,680 | 66 | Jan. 28, 1977 | 120 |
18 | The Fugitive | ABC | 45.9 | 25,700 | 72 | Aug. 29, 1967 | 60 |
20 | Super Bowl XXI Game | CBS | 45.8 | 40,030 | 66 | Jan. 25, 1987 | 206 |
21 | Roots Pt. V | ABC | 45.7 | 32,540 | 71 | Jan. 27, 1977 | 60 |
22 | Super Bowl XXVIII Game | NBC | 45.5 | 42,860 | 66 | Jan. 30, 1994 | 199 |
22 | Cheers | NBC | 45.5 | 42,360 | 64 | May 20, 1993 | 98 |
24 | Ed Sullivan | CBS | 45.3 | 23,240 | 60 | Feb. 9, 1964 | 60 |
25 | Super Bowl XXVII | NBC | 45.1 | 41,990 | 66 | Jan. 31, 1993 | 203 |
26 | Bob Hope Christmas Show | NBC | 45.0 | 27,050 | 61 | Jan. 14, 1971 | 90 |
27 | Roots Pt. III | ABC | 44.8 | 31,900 | 68 | Jan. 25, 1977 | 60 |
28 | Super Bowl XXXII Game | NBC | 44.5 | 43,630 | 67 | Jan. 25, 1998 | 208 |
29 | Super Bowl XI Game | NBC | 44.4 | 31,610 | 73 | Jan. 9, 1977 | 204 |
29 | Super Bowl XV Game | NBC | 44.4 | 34,540 | 63 | Jan. 25, 1981 | 220 |
31 | Super Bowl VI Game | CBS | 44.2 | 27,450 | 74 | Jan. 16, 1972 | 170 |
32 | XVII Winter Olympics - Fri-2 | CBS | 44.1 | 41,540 | 64 | Feb. 25, 1994 | 210 |
32 | Roots Pt. II | ABC | 44.1 | 31,400 | 62 | Jan. 24, 1977 | 120 |
34 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 44.0 | 22,570 | 65 | Jan. 8, 1964 | 30 |
35 | Roots Pt. IV | ABC | 43.8 | 31,190 | 66 | Jan. 26, 1977 | 60 |
35 | Ed Sullivan | CBS | 43.8 | 22,445 | 60 | Feb. 16, 1964 | 60 |
37 | Super Bowl XXIII Game | NBC | 43.5 | 39,320 | 68 | Jan. 22, 1989 | 213 |
38 | Academy Awards | ABC | 43.4 | 25,390 | 78 | Apr. 7, 1970 | 145 |
39 | Super Bowl XXXIV Game | ABC | 43.3 | 43,620 | 63 | Jan. 30, 2000 | 212 |
39 | Super Bowl XXXI Game | FOX | 43.3 | 42,000 | 65 | Jan. 26, 1997 | 206 |
41 | Thorn Birds Pt. III | ABC | 43.2 | 35,990 | 62 | Mar. 29, 1983 | 120 |
42 | Thorn Birds Pt. IV | ABC | 43.1 | 35,900 | 62 | Mar. 30, 1983 | 180 |
43 | CBS NFC Championship Game | CBS | 42.9 | 34,960 | 62 | Jan. 10, 1982 | 195 |
44 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 42.8 | 21,960 | 62 | Jan. 15, 1964 | 30 |
45 | Super Bowl VII Game | NBC | 42.7 | 27,670 | 72 | Jan. 14, 1973 | 185 |
46 | Thorn Birds Pt. II | ABC | 42.5 | 35,400 | 59 | Mar. 28, 1983 | 120 |
47 | Super Bowl IX Game | NBC | 42.4 | 29,040 | 72 | Jan. 12, 1975 | 190 |
47 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 42.4 | 21,750 | 60 | Feb. 26, 1964 | 30 |
49 | Super Bowl X Game | CBS | 42.3 | 29,440 | 78 | Jan. 18, 1976 | 200 |
49 | Airport (Movie Specials) | ABC | 42.3 | 28,000 | 63 | Nov. 11, 1973 | 170 |
49 | Love Story (Sun. Night Movie) | ABC | 42.3 | 27,410 | 62 | Oct. 1, 1972 | 120 |
49 | Cinderella | CBS | 42.3 | 22,250 | 59 | Feb. 22, 1965 | 90 |
49 | Roots Pt. VII | ABC | 42.3 | 30,120 | 65 | Jan. 29, 1977 | 60 |
54 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 42.2 | 21,650 | 59 | Mar. 25, 1964 | 30 |
55 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 42.0 | 21,550 | 61 | Feb. 5, 1964 | 30 |
56 | Super Bowl XXV Game | ABC | 41.9 | 39,010 | 63 | Jan. 27, 1991 | 208 |
56 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 41.9 | 21,490 | 62 | Jan. 29, 1964 | 30 |
56 | Super Bowl XXII Game | ABC | 41.9 | 37,120 | 62 | Jan. 31, 1988 | 229 |
59 | Miss America Pageant | CBS | 41.8 | 19,600 | 75 | Sept. 9, 1961 | 150 |
59 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 41.8 | 21,440 | 59 | Jan. 1, 1964 | 30 |
61 | Super Bowl VIII Game | CBS | 41.6 | 27,540 | 73 | Jan. 13, 1974 | 160 |
61 | Bonanza | NBC | 41.6 | 21,340 | 62 | Mar. 8, 1964 | 60 |
63 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 41.5 | 21,290 | 61 | Jan. 22, 1964 | 30 |
64 | Bonanza | NBC | 41.4 | 21,240 | 60 | Feb. 16, 1964 | 60 |
65 | Seinfeld | NBC | 41.3 | 40,510 | 58 | May 14, 1998 | 75 |
65 | Super Bowl XXIX Game | ABC | 41.3 | 39,400 | 62 | Jan. 29, 1995 | 221 |
65 | Bill Cosby Show | NBC | 41.3 | 36,100 | 56 | Jan. 22, 1987 | 30 |
68 | Academy Awards | ABC | 41.2 | 22,620 | 75 | Apr. 10, 1967 | 150 |
69 | Winds Of War - Part 7 | ABC | 41.0 | 34,150 | 56 | Feb. 13, 1983 | 177 |
69 | Bonanza | NBC | 41.0 | 21,030 | 58 | Feb. 9, 1964 | 60 |
71 | Gunsmoke | CBS | 40.9 | 19,180 | 65 | Jan. 28, 1961 | 30 |
72 | Bonanza | NBC | 40.8 | 21,460 | 63 | Mar. 28, 1965 | 60 |
73 | All In The Family | CBS | 40.7 | 25,270 | 62 | Jan. 8, 1972 | 30 |
73 | Bonanza | NBC | 40.7 | 21,410 | 61 | Mar. 7, 1965 | 60 |
75 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 40.6 | 20,220 | 59 | Feb. 20, 1963 | 30 |
76 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 40.5 | 20,170 | 62 | May 1, 1963 | 30 |
76 | Gunsmoke | CBS | 40.5 | 18,995 | 64 | Feb. 25, 1961 | 30 |
76 | Roots Pt. I | ABC | 40.5 | 28,840 | 61 | Jan. 23, 1977 | 120 |
76 | Bonanza | NBC | 40.5 | 20,780 | 58 | Feb. 2, 1964 | 60 |
80 | Bonanza | NBC | 40.4 | 21,250 | 61 | Feb. 21, 1965 | 60 |
81 | Miss America | CBS | 40.3 | 21,200 | 68 | Sept. 12, 1964 | 120 |
81 | Super Bowl XXVI | CBS | 40.3 | 37,120 | 61 | Jan. 26, 1992 | 228 |
81 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 40.3 | 20,070 | 54 | Jan. 23, 1963 | 30 |
84 | Super Bowl XXXIII Game | FOX | 40.2 | 39,990 | 61 | Jan. 31, 1999 | 204 |
84 | Winds Of War - Part 2 | ABC | 40.2 | 33,490 | 54 | Feb. 7, 1983 | 170 |
86 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 40.1 | 20,570 | 60 | Apr. 8, 1964 | 30 |
86 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 40.1 | 19,970 | 58 | Feb. 13, 1963 | 30 |
86 | Gunsmoke | CBS | 40.1 | 18,810 | 61 | Feb. 4, 1961 | 30 |
86 | Gunsmoke | CBS | 40.1 | 18,810 | 65 | Feb. 11, 1961 | 30 |
86 | Bonanza | NBC | 40.1 | 21,090 | 57 | Feb. 14, 1965 | 60 |
91 | Miss America | CBS | 40.0 | 20,520 | 72 | Sept. 7, 1963 | 120 |
91 | Dallas (B) | CBS | 40.0 | 31,120 | 59 | Nov. 9, 1980 | 60 |
91 | World Series - Game 6 | NBC | 40.0 | 31,120 | 60 | Oct. 21, 1980 | 205 |
91 | All In The Family | CBS | 40.0 | 24,840 | 58 | Jan. 15, 1972 | 30 |
95 | Bonanza | NBC | 39.9 | 20,990 | 62 | Apr. 4, 1965 | 60 |
95 | Super Bowl Game V | NBC | 39.9 | 23,980 | 75 | Jan. 17, 1971 | 180 |
95 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 39.9 | 20,470 | 58 | Dec. 11, 1963 | 30 |
98 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 39.7 | 19,770 | 58 | Mar. 20, 1963 | 30 |
98 | Beverly Hillbillies | CBS | 39.7 | 20,370 | 60 | Mar. 11, 1964 | 30 |
98 | Gunsmoke | CBS | 39.7 | 18,620 | 66 | Apr. 15, 1961 | 30 |
NOTE:
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