Ah, Sweeps Month!
Three times a year, the Nielsen Company would do detailed measuring of audiences.
This would help them thumb the scales when setting rates with advertisers.
To boost their ratings, the networks would shelf their usual crap and roll huge attention-grabbing stunts.
Big stars on talk shows.
Major plot twists on the dramas and comedies.
Sweepstakes and viewer contests.
And the usual excuses to pixelate tits and ass on local newscasts.
Nowadays, most viewers use streaming or cable.
Everything is measured to the microsecond.
No more stunts. No more plot twists.
Just the endless river of mindless crap.