I seem to notice that Thursday night has become the one night of the week that all networks like to throw out their heavy hitters. What makes this night so special and when did it start?

I seem to recall it starting back in the mid 80s with The Cosby Show on NBC and how everything after it or around it started to fare well in the ratings, but maybe it was around before then. I also remember the whole thing about NBC dominating with both Sienfeld and ER and how if they had a series with low confidence factor, they would throw it on in the slot between the two so they would be guaranteed and audience. However, it seems like that is the night major networks like to put out their best.

Past Thursday night heavy hitters

Seinfeld
Frasier-a few seasons
Cheers
Hill Street Blues
The Cosby Show
ER
Knots Landing
Friends
Magnum P.I.

I also notice that while Friday is lackluster comparatively speaking, that seems to be the strong night for Sci-Fi/niche audience shows, while Saturday is re-run city. When I was a kid I remember ABC had TGIF, and Saturday night having a pretty decent line-up as well. What changed this ?

Dont forget Simpsons seasons 2-5 where on Thursday nights.

Not entirely sure what the appeal is for Thursdays over other days of the week, but the ratings are certainly there. Maybe it's possible that with one more work day left in the week, the average American is willing to stay up a little later than normal and catch 10PM programming? Just a guess.

For as long as I can remember, though, it seems like Thursdays have been the spot for the heavy hitters. (The Simpsons, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Friends, ER, Seinfeld)

When Cosby premiered.

I've heard one reason it's a big night is because advertisers like it for showing commericals for movies (since Friday is traditional movie premiere day and Friday/Saturday are the biggest movie-going days).

This is the same explanation that I have heard. On Thursdays the networks can get the most ad revenue from upcoming movies.

/\ That actually makes a lot of sense.

Before DVRs, Thursday nights featured a lot of commericials for movies opening on Friday, but with people skipping past the commercials for the most part, the impact of the advertising push is lessening, plus the ratings are still declining and eroding (some of the blame goes to the Writer's strike in 2007 with some people finally tuning out on TV on a regular basis). This is not to say VCRs didn't have an impact, but multi-tuner DVRs really made it easier to do time-shifting of more than 1 show per timeslot, and it's much quicker to zip through the commercials and fit in more viewing while skipping more marketing efforts.

But, with the economy in the tank, I would not be surprised to see the ratings leveling off since TV is "free" and available to most households living on a stingier budget.

Maybe because Friday night is usually going out night or date night and the Sci-Fi audience doesn't do either.

I guess this is also a chicken and egg question: Did networks and advertisers decide Thursday night was going to be most popular and set it up that way or did the popularity of shows like Cosby and Seinfeld lead more networks to put the big guns on Thursday? If Cobsy was originally on Tuesdays, would Cosby have been less of a success or would Tuesday be the big TV day?

Frankly, I'm surprised it's Thursday since more people are willing to do other things than watch TV on a Thursday night because most people can sleepwalk through the Friday work day or can leave early. Meanwhile, putting the big shows on Monday or Tuesday makes sense because more people would be willing to sit at home those days and watch some TV. But that's just me.

Actually, Thursday night's became the biggest night on television on this date.

Jan 15, 1981

1 1-01 3021 15/Jan/81 Hill Street Station

I remember watching the first episode when the 2 cops got shot and I've been hooked on Thursday nights since then.

Cosby brought a lot more viewers and attention to Thursday nights, but Hill Street Blues was the show that started 'Must See TV' on Thursday nights.

And what Red Dog said is correct.

Chris

Also, Hill Street Blues is one of the few shows that I watched from beginning to end without missing an episode. Most series after the 5th season or so, I stop watching because they become the 'same ole'.

Chris

Hill Street Blues wasn't a ratings hit though. It did pretty well (in the top-30 or so), but the 'must see' is a bit of a misnomer.

L.A. Law was more of a ratings hit (top-20) when it took over that slot.

Well, it was a 'must see' for me.

Seriously though, every great thing has to be preceeded by something that laid the groundwork and Hill Street Blues was the show that NBC built all their Thursday night shows around.

Thursday nights:

1980: Buck Rogers in the 25th Century followed by Movie
1981: Harper Valley P.T.A., Lewis & Clark, Diff'rent Strokes, Gimme a Break!, Hill Street Blues
1982: Fame, Cheers, Taxi, Hill Street Blues
1983: Gimme a Break, Mama's Family, We Got It Made, Cheers, Hill Street Blues
1984: The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, Night Court, Hill Street Blues

Not great formatting cause I have it in Excel, but it gives a clear picture of how Thursday nights evolved into an NBC powerhouse, with the other networks following suit in the later years. But NBC ruled Thursday nights until the mid to late 90's.

Chris

I'd give that honor ("built around") to Cheers (for longevity and it being in the middle of primetime) or Cosby (as the ratings monster and lead-off show). It really wasn't Must See TV until Cosby and as I said, L.A. Law was a ratings hit compared to HSB.

Besides, it hard to build a primetime lineup 'around' a 10 pm show.

Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree, but my Thursday nights centered on television beginning with Hill Street Blues.

Chris

Here's a visual representation of me trying to program Thursday shows onto my DVR:

Life was so much easier before dvr's were invented.

Somehow in the 80's and 90's I managed to stay up until 11 pm watching Thursday night tv on NBC. Now with the dvr I'm in bed a little after 10 pm after having watched the previous nights shows.

Chris

Thursdays are pretty meh now for me - for the DVR. I only watch 4 OTA-network shows and two of those are Office/30R which is convenient. If Flash Forward disappoints, I'll be down to only Survivor and Office/30R.

Mondays are my problem. I can't dedicate a tuner to MNF (1st half).

I DVR Dollhouse so I can go out and be social, thank you very much! As I said in the Dollhouse thread, I think a lot of people do that, which is why its live ratings suck.

I also asked why Saturday has become such a graveyard where all you get are encore presentations. I remember that night having quite the line-up when I was growing up, such as Silver Spoons, Golden Girls, and Empty Nest, all of which lasted a good while on Saturdays. I also remember Friday having TGIF with all sorts of family oriented shows like Full House, Family Matters, and that show with Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Sommers.
My only guess as to why those nights have simmered down is the fact that as I said, they were big when I, and a lot of other people, were kids. Once we got older those nights became the time for socializing and such, and there was no need for those shows anymore.

That was me last year, but with ER, Scrubs and Earl done and Smallville moved to Friday I'm left with the Office and CSI. My Thursday viewing was cut in half.

Based on this info, I would say the answer to the original question is 1984.

The argument was about society in general, or at least people who watched TV, not you specifically.

Sorry 'oh great and mighty' The Bus!

Chris

I remember when i was younger, Thurs nite was all about Cosby/A Different World... then Fresh Prince of Belaire was added

and to some extent Fri was viable with TGIF Urkel and shit

When I was growing up THIS was the night you just sat back for a few hours and didn't turn the channel. Cosby, Family Ties, Cheers, and Night Court all in their prime!

I do remember the only great night to come close to this was Tuesdays on ABC in the early 80's:
Happy Days, Three's Company, Laverne & Shirley, Two Close for Comfort

You are spot on with both recollections (sp??). Though, I was never a fan of Night Court and wouldn't always watch it.

chris