When the show premiered on CBS at the beginning of the 1972-73 season, most media pundits felt it didn't have a chance, airing as it did opposite two proven ratings powerhouses.
"The Flip Wilson Show" (1970) on NBC, had been the number one show in America for the previous two seasons, and ABC's
"The Mod Squad" (1968) was a long-standing favorite, as well. "The Waltons" out-performed both shows in the ratings by a wide margin. "Mod Squad" was cancelled by the end of the season, and Flip Wilson, rather than have the same thing happen to his show, announced that the 1973-74 season would be his last. All this happened just a year after CBS felt that rural shows were "out," and set out to prove it, in a highly controversial move, by canceling several long-running series, such as
"The Beverly Hillbillies" (1962) and
"Green Acres" (1965) which were still doing well in the ratings.
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