The most watched TV finales ever are iconic events that every fan remembers and feels a part of. All of us have been hooked on a TV series at one point in our lives, and when a particular show runs for some time you eventually get attached to the characters and their stories. So, when that show you love comes to an end, it is a big deal; and so it is for the other millions of fans out there. So, would you like to know which were the most watched TV finales ever?
Everyone knows that television has changed significantly in the last few decades, and if you take a closer look at the present list, you will see just how much. Of course, television is still a very profitable business (just check out the Top 10 Most Profitable TV Shows and see for yourself!), but with the opportunities we have of downloading episodes and watching them later, or watching them online even, using platforms like Netflix, there’s no need to follow a TV series on TV; despite how oxymoronic that sounds.
That’s probably why the latest show on our list aired its last episode in 2005, almost ten years ago! Naturally, none of the recent shows you probably expected to be on our countdown actually is, including House, Lost, Breaking Bad, Desperate Housewives or How I Met Your Mother; just to name some of the hottest series which have ended their runs in the last decade. However, there are some things that the top 14 most watched series finales in the U.S. have. On the one hand, all the shows ran for quite a long time, between 7 and 30 seasons. On the other hand, most of them are family wholesome shows with a twist, giving them the potential for large audiences.
Moreover, the finale is not necessarily the most watched episode of a TV series. But you’ll see that all of the shows in our list are considered TV classics anyway. So, let’s take a look at the countdown and find out which were the most watched TV finales ever.
14. Star Trek: The Next Generation
Episode name: “All Good Things…”
Air Date: May 23, 1994
Number of Viewers: 31 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 7 seasons, 178 episodes
Network: Syndication
13. Everybody Loves Raymond
Episode name: “The Finale”
Air Date: May 16, 2005
Number of Viewers: 32.9
Number of seasons and episodes: 9 seasons, 210 episodes
Network: CBS
12. Dallas
Episode name: “Conundrum”
Air Date: May 3, 1991
Number of Viewers: 33.3 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 14 seasons, 357 episodes
Network: CBS
11. Frasier
Episode name: “Goodnight, Seattle”
Air Date: May 13, 2004
Number of Viewers: 33.7 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 11 seasons, 264 episodes
Network: NBC
The top ten on our list of the most watched TV finales ever continues on the next page.
10. Home Improvement
Episode name: “The Long and Winding Road”
Air Date: May 25, 1999
Number of Viewers: 35.5 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 8 seasons, 204 episodes
Network: ABC
9. Family Ties
Episode name: “Alex Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”
Air Date: May 14, 1989
Number of Viewers: 36.3 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 7 seasons, 176 episodes
Network: NBC
8. All in the Family
Episode name: “Too Good Edith”
Air Date: April 8, 1979
Number of Viewers: 40.2
Number of seasons and episodes: 9 seasons, 208 episodes
Network: CBS
7. The Cosby Show
Episode name: “And So We Commence”
Air Date: April 30, 1992
Number of Viewers: 44.4 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 8 seasons, 202 episodes
Network: NBC
6. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Air Date: May 22, 1992
Number of Viewers: 50 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 30 seasons, 4531 episodes
Network: NBC
5. Magnum, P.I.
Episode name: “Resolutions”
Air Date: May 8, 1988
Number of Viewers: 50.7 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 8 seasons, 162 episodes
Network: CBS
4. Friends
Episode name: “The Last One”
Air Date: May 6, 2004
Number of Viewers: 52.46 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 10 seasons, 236 episodes
Network: NBC
3. Seinfeld
Episode name: “The Finale”
Air Date: May 14, 1998
Number of Viewers: 76.3 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 9 seasons, 180 episodes
Network: NBC
2. Cheers
Episode name: “One for the Road”
Air Date: May 20, 1993
Number of Viewers: 84.4 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 11 seasons, 270 episodes
Network: NBC
1. M*A*S*H
Episode name: “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”
Air Date: February 28, 1983
Number of Viewers: 105.9 million
Number of seasons and episodes: 11 seasons, 256 episodes
Network: CBS
