Here are the top ten programs for the two-week period covering Sunday, November 27th through Saturday, December 10th, 1955. The first table lists the top ten by households and the second by rating.
By this point in the 1955-1956 season, viewing patterns appear to have become relatively set with the same shows appearing in the top ten lists. There were some exceptions. Making its first appearance on either of the lists was CBS anthology series The Millionaire.
| Number of TV Homes Reached | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ## | Program | Network | Homes |
| 1. | $64,000 Question | CBS | 15,098,000 |
| 2. | I Love Lucy | CBS | 14,628,000 |
| 3. | Ed Sullivan Show | CBS | 12,883,000 |
| Jack Benny Show | CBS | 12,883,000 | |
| 5. | Dragnet | NBC | 11,944,000 |
| 6. | Disneyland | ABC | 11,843,000 |
| 7. | You Bet Your Life | NBC | 11,608,000 |
| 8. | December Bride | CBS | 11,508,000 |
| 9. | The Millionaire | CBS | 11,105,000 |
| Ford Theatre | NBC | 11,105,000 | |
| Percent of TV Homes Reached | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ## | Program | Network | Rating (%) |
| 1. | $64,000 Question | CBS | 47.2 |
| 2. | I Love Lucy | CBS | 44.9 |
| 3. | Jack Benny Show | CBS | 40.9 |
| 4. | Ed Sullivan Show | CBS | 40.5 |
| 5. | Disneyland | ABC | 36.6 |
| December Bride | CBS | 36.6 | |
| 7. | Dragnet | NBC | 36.5 |
| 8. | You Be Your Life | NBC | 35.6 |
| 9. | The Millionaire | NBC | 35.5 |
| 10. | I’ve Got a Secret | CBS | 34.8 |
Copyright 1956 by A. C. Nielsen Co.
Note: Prior to July 1960, Nielsen ratings were not based on the total number of television households in the United States. From 1950 to 1953, ratings were a percentage of households in cities/markets in which the program was broadcast. From 1953 to 1960, ratings were a percentage of households capable of viewing a program.
Source:
“Latest Ratings: Nielsen.” Broadcasting*Telecasting. 9 Jan. 1956: 33.
This is what America was watching when my parents got married on December 3, 1955!