The classic sitcom M*A*S*H has been bombed right out of the record books.
The 1983 finale of the show, which had held the record as the most-watched television program in television history, has been overshadowed by this weekend’s Super Bowl game.
Back in ’83, just less than 106 million people tuned in to see Hawkeye, B.J., Hot Lips and the rest of the 4077th head home from the Korean War. On Sunday,  more than 106.5 million watched the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts.
Not only that, but right after the game ended, during the 9:30pm quarter-hour, viewership peaked at a 71 share. That means that 71% of all televisions tuned to something were tuned to the Super Bowl!
And that, in case you haven’t guessed, is the kind of rating that would make a television exec walk on cloud nine.
Not to mention all of those advertisers whose commercials were seen by an audience that big.
I think the MASH results are still more significant, most likely. What was its share? Fewer people had televisions back then. But, then, there were fewer options to watch, as well.
The M*A*S*H finale earned a 77 share, so the percentage of people actually watching that program out of all people actually watching anything was still higher. But in sheer numbers of viewers, this year’s Super Bowl had more eyes.
Doesn’t seem fair. Ok, think of 1983…how many tvs then? Did this also include accessing the show via computer or a live stream on a pda or something? And .5 more I would think even more! Kinda like converting what money bought then verses now. I think there should be some type of adjustment! If M*A*S*H had all those avenues for viewing would it be different? To me it is almost like comparing how many homeruns in 1983 vs today on Steroids! HA!