Rankings are Everything
Photo: trendchaser
One of the most important aspects of a television show staying on the air is the ratings and rankings. Obviously, if a show does well, it will stay on the air longer. During the first season, The Rifleman was considered the 4th most popular show on TV. However, the following seasons saw a steady decline and by 1963 the show had fallen out of the top 30 which ultimately led to it being canceled altogether.