ABC, NBC redos exhibit promise; 'Scared' scores
Peacock basketball flat
In its second airing in the Thursday 8:30 slot, this time in rerun, NBC's "Will & Grace" (11.3/18 Nielsen rating in homes, 7.8/23 in adults 18-49) retained 89% of its 18-49 lead-in from "Friends" (12.0/21 in homes, 8.8/29 in adults 18-49). That's a decent improvement over the 84% average of slot predecessor "Jesse," though somewhat modest given the onset of daylight savings time, which sometimes boosts 8:30 shows relative to lead-in.
The Peacock's nightlong 23 share in adults 18-49 was its lowest on a Thursday since New Year's Eve, the last time NBC programmed that lineup with all reruns. The low marks came despite a special "Just Shoot Me" (11.4/18 in homes, 8.0/21 in adults 18-49) at 9:30, which retained 100% of its 18-49 lead-in.
Also that night, UPN's "Scared Straight: 20 Years Later" (3.5/6 in homes, 2.4/7 in adults 18-49) more than doubled the netlet's season-to-date Thursday averages in homes and most key demos. It was UPN's third-highest-rated night this season.
In preliminary results for Friday, ABC's "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place" (6.6/12 in homes, a 3.6 rating in adults 18-49) slipped 8% in adults 18-49 vs. its first Friday try last week, but finished just two-tenths of a ratings point out of the slot lead in that demo.
ABC finished the night with that same 0.2 ratings-point deficit in adults 18-49 and just 0.3 out of first in homes, despite all reruns from 8-10 p.m. It was ABC's closest finish to the Friday 18-49 lead in nine weeks.
In 45 market Saturday overnights, NBC got bounced deep into last with primetime NBA basketball (3.5/6 in homes).
