In season 1 ratings, Cheers finished 74th out of 99 regularly scheduled shows.
The sitcom premiered on NBC on September 30, 1982, and initially struggled to attract viewers. Its first-season ranking reflected the crowded television market rather than a lack of critical promise. NBC nonetheless renewed the series, giving it time to find an audience.
A common mix-up comes from the show's premiere: Cheers ranked 74th out of 77 programs in its first-week ratings. The season-wide figure used a larger comparison group of 99 regularly scheduled shows, so 99—not 77—is the answer to this question.
The show's fortunes changed dramatically during summer reruns in 1983, when episodes climbed into the ratings' top 20. Cheers eventually became one of NBC's signature Thursday-night programs and finished its 11-season run with 275 episodes.