Believe it or not, there was once a time when tens of millions of people would watch network television. The “Big 4” networks dominated in the pre-streaming era, with sitcoms usually near the top of the viewership charts. In the ’80s, it was Cheers, followed by Seinfeld and Frasier in the ’90s. Friends and The Big Bang Theory ruled the 2000s, with Modern Family and Young Sheldon closing out the 2010s and 2020s. For at least the last 40 years, a comedy has been one of the most-watched shows on American television, though that could be about to change.
The Big Bang Theory was the last sitcom that could pull 10, 15, and even 20 million viewers. As times changed, so did viewership methods. Throughout its seven seasons, Young Sheldon was one of the most-watched network shows. But its 6 to 7 million average was a far cry from the heyday of sitcoms. Now that Young Sheldon is done, could any comedy take its place at the top? Or is the era of huge network sitcoms officially over? There are a few possible contenders, so let’s look at what we know.
The History of Sitcom Domination
Sitcoms have been a broadcast staple for almost as long as network TV has existed. One of the earliest and biggest hits was I Love Lucy in the 1950s. Its highest-rated episodes could bring in over 40 million viewers in an era when TV sets in homes were far less common. With the population increasing since the ’50s, that 40 million would be even more today, though audiences are also spread far more thin than ever before.
Sitcoms really hit their stride in the ’80s and ’90s. The first major example of this sitcom takeover was the series finale of M*A*S*H in 1983. That episode brought in a staggering 106 million viewers. It stood as the most-watched American TV broadcast of all time until it was surpassed three decades later by the 2010 Super Bowl. Later in that decade, Cheers emerged as another leading contender, as did Seinfeld in the early ’90s.
Friends and Frasier‘s mid-90s arrival gave NBC near total dominance in the sitcom field. 25, 30, and 35 million viewers were routine for this bunch. But NBC couldn’t keep this up with their next crop of shows. While 30 Rock, The Office, Parks and Rec, and Community were all lauded as hits in their own right, they failed to take off in the ratings, often averaging just 5 million on a good day.
The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon’s Time to Shine
CBS took over as the sitcom king after Friends ended. In 2007, they launched The Big Bang Theory, which jumped to the top of the heap a few seasons in. It brought back the 20 million plus viewers that sitcoms hadn’t seen in a few years. After Big Bang ended, Young Sheldon naturally succeeded it as network TV’s premier comedy. However, Young Sheldon aired just as the streaming boom began to take away the last remaining linear TV watchers. It was still at the top but with roughly 9 million viewers in its final seasons instead of 20+.
The favored candidate for new sitcom king is the upcoming Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. It will almost certainly bring in a big audience when it launches just due to the TBBT connections. But will it be able to sustain that with new characters and storylines and no Sheldon Cooper? It will drop in the ratings, but by how much will be the key. Will it be a minimal dip that still keeps it at the top? Or will it become just another run-of-the-mill spinoff? It’s too early to tell. However, CBS could keep its crown through another show. Ghosts is TV’s number two sitcom, with several episodes matching or passing what Young Sheldon scores. If Ghosts can maintain those figures without its YS lead-in, then it will be the new comedy leader.
While there are a few candidates to take over from Young Sheldon, it’s unlikely that any will match its total viewership numbers. As linear TV continues to decline, the bar for what makes a hit falls as well. The days of 10 million plus for comedies, or any network series for that matter, seem to be behind us.
The Dominance of Streaming
Hold on, Young Sheldon is the last hit sitcom? What about something like ABC’s Abbott Elementary? In terms of critical and audience reception, Abbott is certainly on top. But that reception doesn’t translate to viewership. Abbott averages about 2 to 2.5 million weekly viewers, less than a third of what Young Sheldon drew. However, you’d never know that from looking at the online engagement. Abbott Elementary leads the trends on Twitter just about every single week.
Compare that to Young Sheldon, which rarely does (with exceptions for season finales and other notable moments) despite having three times as many viewers. This is another example of the shifting audience demographics. Most of Abbott‘s viewers are on the younger side of the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic. That age range socially engages with the show while also watching predominantly on streaming.
The bulk of Young Sheldon‘s viewers have aged out of the 18-49 demo. The Gen X and Boomer crowd are far less likely to use social media when watching. They also overwhelmingly tune in to traditional TV over streaming, explaining the much higher same-day viewers for Young Sheldon. When factoring in all platforms, it’s possible that Abbott Elementary beats Young Sheldon in viewership and engagement.
The days of enormous sitcom ratings are clearly over for linear TV. But maybe shows like Abbott Elementary are the way forward. They enjoy critical praise while attracting most of their viewers from streaming services. Networks should get with the times and factor streaming data into their viewership tallies. While Young Sheldon may be the last “hit” network comedy, dozens more lesser-viewed shows on broadcast and streaming deserve their moment in the sun as well. Young Sheldon is streaming on Max and Netflix.
