September 26, 2024 | Jesse Singer

The Most Watched Shows The Year You Graduated High School


What Was Everyone Watching?

Looking at the Nielsen data, we've put together a ranking of the top three most watched shows in primetime for every television season, dating back to 1950, through to 2019. 

 Ncis Big Bang

1950

Texaco Star Theater: 61.6

Fireside Theatre: 52.6

The Philco Television Playhouse: 45.3

A screenshot of the TV show Texaco Star TheaterNBC, Texaco Star Theater (1948 - 1956)

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1951

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts: 53.8

Texaco Star Theater: 52.0

I Love Lucy: 50.9

A screenshot of the TV show Talent ScoutsCBS, Talent Scouts (1948 - 1958)

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1952

I Love Lucy: 67.3

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts: 54.7

Arthur Godfrey and His Friends: 47.1

A screenshot of the TV show I Love LucyDesilu, I love Lucy (1951 - 1957)

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1953

I Love Lucy: 58.8

Dragnet: 53.2

Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts: 43.6

You Bet Your Life: 43.6

A screenshot of the TV show You Bet Your LifeFilmCraft Productions, You Bet Your Life (1950 - 1961)

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1954

I Love Lucy: 49.3

The Jackie Gleason Show: 42.4

Dragnet: 42.1

The Jackie Gleason ShowCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1955

The $64,000 Question: 47.5

I Love Lucy: 46.1

The Ed Sullivan Show: 39.5

The $64,000 Question TV ShowTV Guide, Wikimedia Commons

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1956

I Love Lucy: 43.7

The Ed Sullivan Show: 38.4

General Electric Theater: 36.9

The Ed Sullivan ShowCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1957

Gunsmoke: 43.1

The Danny Thomas Show: 35.3

Tales of Wells Fargo: 35.2

TV Show GunsmokeCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1958

Gunsmoke: 39.6

Wagon Train: 36.1

Have Gun – Will Travel: 34.3

TV Show - Wagon TrainNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1959

Gunsmoke: 40.3

Wagon Train: 38.4

Have Gun – Will Travel: 34.7

TV Show - Have Gun – Will TravelCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1960

Gunsmoke: 37.3

Wagon Train: 34.2

Have Gun – Will Travel: 30.9

TV Show GunsmokeCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1961

Wagon Train: 32.1

Bonanza: 30.0

Gunsmoke: 28.3

TV Show - Wagon TrainNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1962

The Beverly Hillbillies: 36.0

Candid Camera: 31.1

The Red Skelton Show: 31.1

TV Show - The Beverly HillbilliesCBS, Wikimedia Commons

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1963

The Beverly Hillbillies: 39.1

Bonanza: 36.9

The Dick Van Dyke Show: 33.3

TV Show - The Beverly HillbilliesCBS, Wikimedia Commons

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1964

Bonanza: 36.3

Bewitched: 31.0

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: 30.7

TV Show - BonanzaNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1965

Bonanza: 31.8

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: 27.8

The Lucy Show: 27.7

TV Show - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.CCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1966

Bonanza: 29.1

The Red Skelton Hour: 28.2

The Andy Griffith Show: 27.4

TV Show - The Red Skelton HourCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1967

The Andy Griffith Show: 27.6

The Lucy Show: 27.0

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: 25.6

The Andy Griffith ShowCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1968

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: 31.8

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.: 27.2

Bonanza: 26.6

A screenshot of the TV show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InRomart Inc., Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967 - 1973)

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1969

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In: 26.3

Gunsmoke: 25.9

Bonanza: 24.8

TV Show - Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1970

Marcus Welby, M.D.: 29.6

The Flip Wilson Show: 27.9

Here's Lucy: 26.1

TV Show - Marcus Welby, M.D.Universal TV/ABC, Wikimedia Commons

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1971

All in the Family: 34.0

The Flip Wilson Show: 28.2

Marcus Welby, M.D.: 27.8

TV Show - All in the FamilyCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1972

All in the Family: 33.3

Sanford and Son: 27.6

Hawaii Five-O: 25.2

A screenshot of the TV show Sanford and SonTandem Productions, Sanford and Son (1972 - 1978)

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1973

All in the Family: 31.2

The Waltons: 28.1

Sanford and Son: 27.5

A screenshot of the TV show The WaltonsLorimar Television, The Waltons (1972 - 1981)

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1974

All in the Family: 30.2

Sanford and Son: 29.6

Chico and the Man: 28.5

A screenshot of the TV show Chico and the ManWolper Productions, Chico and the Man (1974 - 1978)

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1975

All in the Family: 30.1

Rich Man, Poor Man: 28.0

Laverne & Shirley: 27.5

A screenshot of the TV show All in the FamilyTandem Productions, All in the Family (1971 - 1979)

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1976

Happy Days: 31.5

Laverne & Shirley: 30.9

ABC Monday Night Movie: 26.0

TV Show - Happy DaysABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1977

Laverne & Shirley: 31.6

Happy Days: 31.4

Three's Company: 28.3

A screenshot of the TV show Laverne & ShirleyParamount Television, Laverne & Shirley (1976 - 1983)

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1978

Laverne & Shirley: 30.5

Three's Company: 30.3

Mork & Mindy: 28.6

Happy Days: 28.6

A screenshot of the TV show Three's CompanyDLT Entertainment, Three's Company (1976 - 1984)

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1979

60 Minutes: 28.4

Three's Company: 26.3

That's Incredible!: 25.8

60 Minutes TV ShowCBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

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1980

Dallas: 34.5

The Dukes of Hazzard: 27.3

60 Minutes: 27.0

A screenshot of the TV show DallasLorimar Productions, Dallas (1978 - 1991)

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1981

Dallas: 28.4

60 Minutes: 27.7

The Jeffersons: 23.4

A screenshot of the TV show DallasLorimar Productions, Dallas (1978 - 1991)

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1982

60 Minutes: 25.5

Dallas: 24.6

M*A*S*H: 22.6

Magnum, P.I.: 22.6

A screenshot of the TV show 60 MinutesCBS, 60 minutes (1968 - )

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1983

Dallas: 25.7

60 Minutes: 24.2

Dynasty: 24.1

A screenshot of the TV show DynastyAaron Spelling Productions, Dynasty (1981 - 1989)

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1984

Dynasty: 25.0

Dallas: 24.7

The Cosby Show: 24.2

A screenshot of the TV show DynastyAaron Spelling Productions, Dynasty (1981 - 1989)

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1985

The Cosby Show: 33.7

Family Ties: 30.0

Murder, She Wrote: 25.3

A screenshot of the TV show The Cosby ShowCarsey-Werner Company, The Cosby Show (1984 - 1992)

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1986

The Cosby Show: 34.9

Family Ties: 32.7

Cheers: 27.2

A screenshot of the TV show Family TiesParamount Television, Family Ties (1982 - 1989)

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1987

The Cosby Show: 27.8

A Different World: 25.0

Cheers: 23.4

A screenshot of the TV show A Different WorldCarsey-Werner Company, A Different World (1987 - 1993)

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1988

The Cosby Show: 25.6

Roseanne: 23.8

A Different World: 23.0

A screenshot of the TV show The Cosby ShowCarsey-Werner Company, The Cosby Show (1984 - 1992)

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1989

The Cosby Show: 23.1

Roseanne: 23.1

Cheers: 22.7

A screenshot of the TV show RoseanneWind Dancer Productions, Roseanne (1988 - 2018)

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1990

Cheers: 21.3

60 Minutes: 20.6

Roseanne: 18.1

A screenshot of the TV show CheersParamount Television, Cheers (1982 - 1993)

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1991

60 Minutes: 21.9

Roseanne: 19.9

Murphy Brown: 18.6

A screenshot of the TV show Murphy BrownWarner Bros. Television, Murphy Brown (1988 - 2018)

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1992

60 Minutes: 21.9

Roseanne: 20.7

Home Improvement: 19.4

A screenshot of the TV show Home ImprovementWind Dancer Productions, Home Improvement (1991 - 1999)

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1993

60 Minutes: 20.9

Home Improvement: 20.4

Seinfeld: 19.4

A screenshot of the TV show SeinfeldWest-Shapiro, Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)

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1994

Seinfeld: 20.6

ER: 20.0

Home Improvement: 19.5

A screenshot of the TV show SeinfeldWest-Shapiro, Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)

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1995

ER: 22.0

Seinfeld: 21.2

Friends: 18.7

A screenshot of the TV show FriendsWarner Bros. Television, Friends (1994 - 2004)

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1996

ER: 21.2

Seinfeld: 20.5

Suddenly Susan: 17.0

A screenshot of the TV show ERAmblin Television, ER (1994 - 2009)

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1997

Seinfeld: 34.1

ER: 30.2

Veronica's Closet: 24.4

A screenshot of the TV show ERAmblin Television, ER (1994 - 2009)

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1998

ER: 17.8

Friends: 15.7

Frasier: 15.6

A screenshot of the TV show FriendsWarner Bros. Television, Friends (1994 - 2004)

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1999

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Tuesday: 18.6

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Thursday: 17.5

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Sunday: 17.1

Who Wants To Be A MillionaireLiaison Agency, Getty Images

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2000

Survivor: 17.4

ER: 15.0

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Wednesday: 13.7

A screenshot of the TV show Survivor: BorneoCBS Productions, Survivor (2000 - )

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2001

Friends: 15.0

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 14.5

ER: 14.2

A screenshot of the TV show FriendsWarner Bros. Television, Friends (1994 - 2004)

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2002

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 16.3

Friends: 13.9

Joe Millionaire: 13.3

A screenshot of the TV show CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationAlliance Atlantis, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000 - 2015)

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2003

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 15.9

American Idol — Tuesday: 14.9

American Idol — Wednesday: 14.1

A screenshot of the TV show CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationAlliance Atlantis, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000 - 2015)

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2004

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 16.5

American Idol — Tuesday: 15.7

American Idol — Wednesday: 15.3

A screenshot of the TV show CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationAlliance Atlantis, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000 - 2015)

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2005

American Idol — Tuesday: 17.6

American Idol — Wednesday: 17.2

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: 15.6

American Idol Original TableGary Todd, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

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2006

American Idol — Wednesday: 17.3

American Idol — Tuesday: 16.8

Dancing with the Stars — Monday: 12.7

Dancing with the Stars — Tuesday: 12.7

Dancing with the Stars — Wednesday: 12.7

Dancing with the Stars 2006BBC Studios, Dancing with the Stars (2005 - )

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2007

American Idol — Tuesday: 16.1

American Idol — Wednesday: 15.9

Dancing with the Stars — Monday: 14.0

A screenshot of the TV show American IdolFremantle Media, American Idol (2002 - )

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2008

American Idol — Wednesday: 15.1

American Idol — Tuesday: 14.6

Dancing with the Stars — Monday: 12.9

A screenshot of the TV show American IdolFremantle Media, American Idol (2002 - )

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2009

American Idol — Tuesday: 13.7

American Idol — Wednesday: 13.3

Dancing with the Stars: 12.6

American Idol Judgesfriskytuna, Flickr

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2010

American Idol — Wednesday: 14.5

Dancing with the Stars: 13.8

American Idol — Thursday: 13.4

Dancing with the Stars 2010BBC Studios, Dancing with the Stars (2005 - )

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2011

Sunday Night Football: 12.4

NCIS: 12.3

Dancing with the Stars: 12.0

A screenshot of the TV show Sunday Night FootballNBC Sports, Sunday Night Football (2006 - )

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2012

NCIS: 13.5

Sunday Night Football: 12.4

The Big Bang Theory: 11.6

A screenshot of the TV show NCISCBS, NCIS (2003 - )

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2013

Sunday Night Football: 12.6

NCIS: 12.6

The Big Bang Theory: 12.3

A screenshot of the TV show Sunday Night FootballNBC Sports, Sunday Night Football (2006 - )

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2014

Sunday Night Football: 12.3

The Big Bang Theory: 11.6

NCIS: 11.6

A screenshot of the TV show Sunday Night FootballNBC Sports, Sunday Night Football (2006 - )

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2015

NCIS: 12.8

Sunday Night Football: 12.6

The Big Bang Theory: 12.5

A screenshot of the TV show NCISCBS, NCIS (2003 - )

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2016

The Big Bang Theory: 11.5

NCIS: 11.4

Sunday Night Football: 11.1

A screenshot of the TV show The Big Bang TheoryChuck Lorre Productions, The Big Bang Theory (2007 - 2019)

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2017

The Big Bang Theory: 11.1

NCIS: 10.3

Sunday Night Football: 10.3

A screenshot of the TV show The Big Bang TheoryChuck Lorre Productions, The Big Bang Theory (2007 - 2019)

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2018

Sunday Night Football: 10.9

The Big Bang Theory: 10.6

NCIS: 9.6

A screenshot of the TV show The Big Bang TheoryChuck Lorre Productions, The Big Bang Theory (2007 - 2019)

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2019

Sunday Night Football: 20.1

NCIS: 15.3

Thursday Night Football (Fox): 15.0

A screenshot of the TV show Sunday Night FootballNBC Sports, Sunday Night Football (2006 - )


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