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‘Friends’ Is Most Watched Show of the Decade

List puts NBC comedy series as the number one earner these past ten years

Dec 5, 2009 10:22 GMT  ·  By
Series finale of “Friends” pulled the highest ratings (52.2m viewers) of the decade
   Series finale of “Friends” pulled the highest ratings (52.2m viewers) of the decade

NBC’s “Friends,” telling the story of six friends, three boys and three girls, is officially the most watched television show of the decade, The Hollywood Reporter says, recently revealing the list with the other series that have also made the cut. The show’s finale, “The Last One” episode, marked a high in terms of television ratings, with 52.2 million viewers tuning in to say goodbye to Chandler, Monica, Joey, Rachel, Ross and Phoebe, the characters on the show.

“Titled ‘The Last One,’ the ‘Friends’ series finale closed a modern-day Golden Age of comedy TV – and marked the end of the NBC’s ‘Must-See TV’ era. At the time, the final ‘Friends’ was the most-watched entertainment telecast in six years, and it has never been surpassed. A finale that stayed true to the series, the ‘Friends’ closer was well-liked by fans and concluded with slow pan across Monica and Chandler’s empty apartment.” THR says of the episode that aired on May 6, 2004.

Not all shows that made the cut are comedy series, though. The number 2 and 3 spot go to Survivor: Borneo (51.7 million for the August 23, 2000 episode) and Joe Millionaire (40 million on February 17, 2003), respectively. Medical drama “ER” comes in at number 4, with 39.4 million viewers tuning in to see the February 17, 2000 episode. American Idol is next, with an audience of 38.1 million recorded on January 16, 2007.

“Grey’s Anatomy,” the post-Super Bowl episode in 2007 comes in at number 6 with 38 million, followed by Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2000, with 36 million viewers. “Frasier” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” come in at number 8 and 9, with 33.7 million and 32.9 million viewers, respectively. The top 10 is rounded off by “Spin City,” which had a record 32.8 million viewers for the May 24, 2000 episode.

“Yes, we were surprised, too – and it’s not for the series finale.” THR says of “Spin City” making the final cut. “This was the final episode starring Michael J. Fox, who left the show because of his worsening Parkinson’s symptoms. Charlie Sheen took the lead role for two more ‘Spins’ seasons, though Fox had a brief return in the final year.” the same publication further explains.