[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Find your state contestant here

Television and Miss America: Over Forty-years of History

A true American institution, the Miss America competition has been broadcast live at one time or another by all three of the country's major television networks and remains one of the highest rated annual events on national television today.

In 2001, the Miss America telecast attracted ABC's largest Saturday night audience since January 29, 2000. Ratings for the telecast improved 7% from the previous year's delivery. In the 81st year of the competition Katie Harman was selected as Miss America and is the first contestant from Oregon to win the title of Miss America.

In 2000, for the first time ever, the pageant was held in October. In an effort to remain competitive for the year, the Organization and ABC agreed that October 14 at 8PM EST would be the best possible time slot. The Organization also celebrated its 80th anniversary, complete with sand sculptures, chocolate displays, and the return of King Neptune.

In 1997 the Miss America Pageant assumed a three-hour time slot, airing from 9 p.m. EDT until midnight and returned to ABC, where it debuted in 1954, enjoying excellent rating reports. The Associated Press noted, "Thanks to Miss America and Michael Jackson, ABC ended NBC's 18-week winning streak atop Neilsen Media Research's prime time television rankings." The Pageant ranked 7th for the week above popular favorites including Friends, Dateline, ER, 20/20, 60 Minutes, NFL Monday Showcase, The Drew Carey Show, and Home Improvement.

In 1996, the Pageant tied with the popular show Touched by an Angel for Top Show of the Week's fifth place, outranking Friends, Dateline, Home Improvement, 3rd Rock from the Sun (Sunday), ER, and Caroline in the City. In 1995, for the first time ever, in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Miss America, the telecast was broadcast live throughout the 50 states.

In 1954 ABC first televised the Miss America Pageant, capturing the crowning of Lee Meriwether and 39 percent of the television audience. The telecast moved to CBS in 1957 and by 1958 was expanded from 90 minutes to two hours. The ensuing boost in viewership found nearly two-thirds of all American television sets tuned into the show.

In 1966 the Miss America Pageant shifted to NBC and was first telecast in color. To counter this change, CBS scheduled an opening game of the National Football League directly opposite the Pageant program. The final ratings demonstrated that Miss America scored a three to one victory over the game.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Find your state and root her on!

[TheBigB]

Go Tennessee!

"I would like someday to have a wonderful home life and be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I'd also like to work with children. I'd prefer it if they were retarded, but that's not really a necessity."

[MaeWest]

There will be two tap dancers and one baton twirler. Thank goodness - what's a Miss America contest without a baton twirler.

[AppyPappy]

Sorry, HLL. I'm not gay. Can't do it. :)

[Unknown Freeper]

What are the early odds? At least it's a beautiful day in New Jersey today. No rain or wind. lol.

[PJ-Comix]

I need to see the contestants on the stage tonight to know where I would like to stick my root....err...I mean who to root for.

[Keith in Iowa]

There she is, miscellaneous…

[LWalk18]

Some interesting facts/observations- 1) Miss Wisconsin went to college at 14 and is now a MD at 22

2) Miss New York's name is Jessica Lynch

3) Miss Vermont is black and Miss DC is white.

[PJ-Comix]

Strange. I only had ONE SCHWING Alert---Miss Hawaii.

[oceanview]

do they allow breast implants for the contestants, or is that banned?

[KosmicKitty]

I'm hoping Miss Connecticut wins. She & my oldest son went all through elementary school & middle school together. I can't say that they were close friends, but this is the first time that I'm even close to knowing a contestant. :-)

[Fintan]

I forgot what I was gonna say.

 

[renosathug]

My pick: Miss OK.

[don-o]

Some times I might jump ugly on a Miss America thread - suspect I have in the past/

But my Tennessee Volunteers defeated the evil Florida Fighting Gators 24-10 today.

Does Miss Tennessee have a shot?

[mandingo republican]

I hear that some new catagories like 'casual wear" have been added. There is a rumor going around that next year their will be more new catagories like "birthday suit" and the lingerie portion of the show.

[renosathug]

Please, no more Bachelorette party. Pretty please?

[renosathug]

I'm out--OK not one of the finalists. Damn!

[Major_Risktaker]

5-Wisconsin

4-California

3-Florida

2-Hawaii

1-Maryland

Best Guess

[sfRummygirl]

California wants:


Career Ambition: To become an ordained minister in
the United Church of Christ



RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!

[renosathug]

Funny--the white girls don't know from bling-bling.