NBC Reform Theory: Patience Quality and Luck Lift Network
The Chronicle-Telegram reports NBC’s rise in the 1985-86 season with five weeks left, noting NBC’s first prime-time Nielsen win and CBS and ABC losses. It credits Grant Tinker’s stable leadership and Bill Cosby’s impact, while also acknowledging earlier groundwork that preceded his tenure. The piece frames the turnaround as a mix of myth and measurable gains.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
NBC
CBS
ABC
Fred Silverman
Grant Tinker
Bill Cosby
Tinker
NBC Ratings Rise and Fall Tied to Luck and Moscow Boycott
The article traces NBC under Silverman from 1978 decline to rivalry with CBS and ABC, noting luck as a key factor. It recalls ABC blocks with Rich Man Poor Man and Roots, then CBS surges with Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas. The 1980 Moscow boycott ends hopes for an Olympics ratings push.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Silverman
ABC
NBC
CBS
Dallas
U.S
Moscow
Hill Street Blues helped NBC regain credibility in early 1980s
John Darling and Silverman faced layoffs as NBC restructured under MTM’s Tinker, while Hill Street Blues built an intelligent audience, earned respect and strong reviews, and boosted pride with Emmy wins. NBC’s ratings turnaround began after Super Bowl XVII in 1983, with The A Team following as a top hit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Silverman
NBC
Washington Redskins
Miami Dolphins
NBC Entertainment
Brandon Tartikoff
NBC’s Top Shows and Strategic Shifts in Scheduling
NBC kept four series in the Top 25 led by A Team TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes and Riptide while HSB ranked 21st. The season’s four highest rated shows built mass appeal for Tartikoff and Tinker, allowing lower ratings for highly regarded dramas and comedies like HSB St. Elsewhere Family Ties and Cheers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
HSB
NBC
Tartikoff and
Tinker
St. Elsewhere
TV Highlights and Movie List for Evening Broadcasts
A verbose schedule lists films and shows across HBO CINEMAX TMC and Showtime. Titles include Brain Storm Arthur The V S P s The Front Fast Charlie The Moonbeam Rider Robin Hood The Candidate Midnight Express The Rose First Blood Triple Cross Tomorrow and more with stars such as Walken Wood Natalie Wood Redford Burton Keith and Midler along with times and channels.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Showtime
Christopher Walken
Natalie Wood
Cinemax
Arthur
Dudley Moore
Liza Minnelli
TMC
Lizabeth Taylor
Richard Burton
London
HBO
Woody Allen
Zero Mostel
Robin Hood
Nottingham
Jason Connery
Robert Redford
Peter Boyle
U.S. Senate
Brad Davis
John Hurt
Billy Hayes
Turkey
Nightly TV Highlights Featuring Classic Films and Specials
A mixed schedule showcases Against All Odds with Rachel Ward and Jeff Bridges, Bachelor Party with Tom Hanks, Island Of Love, The Candidate, Airplane!, The Big Street, Manhattan, The Hunter, 9 To 5, The Flamingo Kid, and Dot And The Bunny. Includes Easter animated short and music concert.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rachel Ward
Jeff Bridges
Carson Teri Garr
Toni Tennille
Roy Blount Jr
Cinemax
Tom Hanks
Tawny Kitaen
Dele
Sigrid Thornton
Brenton
John Waters
Showtime
Robert Hays
Julie Hagerty
Henry Fonda
Lucille Ball
HBO
Timothy Bottoms
Deana Jurgens
Also Mentioned on This Page
Prarch
Chronicle-Telegram
David Bianculli
Knight-Ridder Newspapers
V News
Shannon Jewell
John Darling
MTM Enterprises
Joan
Holly
BY Batiuk
Shamray
Cleveland
Hollywood
Billy Kidd
Hardcastle and
McCormick
Mark
Kate & Allie
McArdles
Lowells
Chip
Fast Charlie
David Carradine
Brenda Vaccaro
Bette Midler
Alan Bates
Valerie Brainy
Newhart
Larry
Darryl
Darry
Sylvester Stallone
Richard Crenna
Ted Wass
Markie Post
Tracy
Paris
Cooper
Interpol
Richard Kiley
Madelyn Smith
Mae Keith
Lila Kedrova
Melvyn Douglas
Brooke Adams
Dennis Morgan
Arlene Dahl
Chauncey Olcott
Desiree
Marion Brando
Jean Simmons
Napoleon Bonaparte
Peyton Place
Carol Lynley
Jeff Chandler
Jamie Lee Curtis
James Keach
Alec Guinness
Cecil Parker
Killing Fields
Sam Waterston
Haing S. Ngor
New York Times
Sydney Schanberg
Dith Pran
Cambodia
John Hyams
Texas
Harry Dean Stanton
Nastassja
Kinski
L.A
Robert Preston
Tony Randall
Greece
Paign
U.S. Air Force
Burt Lancaster
Virginia Mayo
IPM
IMC
Manhattan
Woody Alien
Diane Keaton
New York
Guy Madison
Joan Weldon
Wyoming
Michael Davis
Steve McQueen
Eli Wallach
Ralph “Papa" Thorson
Jane Fonda
Dolly Parton
Matt Dillon
Brooklyn
Dot and
the Bunny
Dot
Carson
Letterman
Apsycays
Eure
Eosin Fron
H-T Moore
Sanford
Paladelphia Thers
Cleveland Cavaliers
isa _faielonen
SSS
Rane
Max
Mavis
Jv Romana
Aio
The
V.lp
Midnight Express
Lorain County
Greater Lorain County
Stewart’ ‘Lay Hogwild
Fisher
Hitachi
Toshiba
Magnavox
Sylvania
Stewart
Elyria
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