The most-watched TV broadcasts in US history (excluding the Super Bowl)
The top 3 according to 10 votes from people: M*A*S*H: "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" · Gulf War coverage · First Clinton–Trump presidential debate. (Updated Oct 11, 2026.)
The M*A*S*H finale, the Gulf War, the Clinton–Trump debate, Dallas's "who shot J.R.?" and the Seinfeld finale: the broadcasts with the largest average audience in American TV history outside the Super Bowl, according to Wikipedia.
Automatically translated (original in Português). See the original
Top 10
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1
M*A*S*H: "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen"
106.0 million average viewers (CBS, February 28, 1983).
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2
Gulf War coverage
85.6 million average viewers (multiple networks, January 16, 1991).
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3
First Clinton–Trump presidential debate
84.0 million average viewers (multiple networks, September 26, 2016).
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4
Carter–Reagan presidential debate
80.6 million average viewers (multiple networks, October 28, 1980).
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5
Cheers: "One for the Road" (series finale)
80.5 million average viewers (NBC, May 20, 1993).
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6
The Day After
77.4 million average viewers (ABC, November 20, 1983).
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7
Roots, part VIII
76.7 million average viewers (ABC, January 30, 1977).
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8
Dallas: "Who Done It" (who shot J.R.?)
83.6 million average viewers (CBS, November 21, 1980).
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9
1994 Winter Olympics ladies' figure skating
78.8 million average viewers (CBS, February 23, 1994).
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10
Seinfeld: "The Finale"
76.3 million average viewers (NBC, May 14, 1998).
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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