Sci Fi Shows in the Nielsen Top 30 Over the Years

Appendix FromWhy Were They Cancelled? The Plight of Science Fiction and Fantasy Television in the Face of the Unforgiving Nielsens and Networks.   Available now for only $1.99 on Kindle from Amazon.com. Science fiction and fantasy shows that have made it into the Nielsen Top 30 based on final season averages for total viewers from 1950 to 2011.

Total Genre Shows in the
Top 10
Top 20
Top 30
Totals
11
26
45
Season Beginning
Genre Shows in Top 10
Genre Shows in Top 20
Genre Shows in Top 30
Show and Rank
1950
0
1
1
Lights Out – 19
1951
0
0
0
1952
0
0
0
1953
0
0
0
1954
0
0
0
1955
0
0
0
1956
0
0
0
1957
0
0
0
1958
0
0
0
1959
0
0
0
1960
0
0
0
1961
0
0
0
1962
0
0
0
1963
1
1
1
My Favorite Martian –
10
1964
1
2
4
Bewitched – 2, The Munsters
– 18, The Addams Family – 23, My Favorite Martian – 24
1965
2
4
6
Batman – 4, Bewitched
– 7, Get Smart – 12, The Man from UNCLE – 13, Wild, Wild West – 23, I Dream
of Jeannie – 27
1966
1
1
2
Bewitched – 7, Get
Smart – 22
1967
0
1
1
Bewitched – 11
1968
0
2
2
Mission: Impossible –
11, Bewitched – 11
1969
0
0
1
Bewitched – 24
1970
0
0
0
1971
0
0
0
1972
0
0
0
1973
0
1
1
Six Million Dollar Man
– 11
1974
0
0
0
1975
2
2
2
The Bionic Woman – 5,
Six Million Dollar Man – 9
1976
1
2
2
Six Million Dollar Man
– 7, The Bionic Woman – 14
1977
0
1
2
Project U.F.O. – 19,
The Incredible Hulk – 26
1978
1
1
1
Mork & Mindy – 3
1979
0
0
1
Mork & Mindy – 27
1980
0
0
0
1981
0
0
0
1982
0
0
0
1983
0
0
1
Knight Rider – 25
1984
0
0
0
1985
0
0
0
1986
0
0
0
1987
1
1
1
Alf – 10
1988
0
1
1
Alf – 15
1989
0
0
0
1990
0
0
0
1991
0
0
0
1992
0
0
0
1993
0
0
0
1994
0
0
0
1995
0
0
1
Third Rock from the
Sun – 22
1996
0
0
2
The X-Files – 21,
Third Rock from the Sun – 27
1997
0
1
1
The X-Files – 19
1998
0
0
1
The X-Files – 28
1999
0
0
0
2000
0
0
0
2001
0
0
0
2002
0
0
0
2003
0
0
0
2004
0
1
2
Lost – 13, Medium – 18
2005
0
1
1
Lost – 18
2006
0
0
2
Lost – 22, Heroes 23
2007
0
1
1
Lost – 17
2008
0
0
2
Eleventh Hour – 22,
Lost – 28
2009
0
0
1
Lost – 25
2010
0
0
0
2011
1
1
1
Person of Interest –
12

 

Total Seasons Surveyed
62
Seasons w/No Shows in Top 10
53
Seasons w/No Shows in Top 20
43
Seasons w/No Shows in Top 30
34

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