ABC triumphs, but Fox captures young vote
Quizzer wins Sunday, but 'X-Files,' 'Simpsons,' 'Malcolm' fuel demo win
According to prelim nationals from Nielsen, the Alphabet net averaged nearly 20 million viewers on the night, easily topping second-place Fox (15.2 million). It was ABC's biggest Sunday crowd (excluding the Oscars) since February.
"Millionaire" (25.1 million) led the way for ABC, but the net was also well-represented by season-best numbers for "The Practice" (19.8 million) and a very strong showing for an original adaptation of "The Miracle Worker" (17.4 million), which delivered the largest aud for a "Wonderful World of Disney" pic since November 1999 ("The Santa Clause").
Fox also had a big night, topping ABC in adults 18-49 (7.7/17 to 6.9/16) with its best Sunday showing since Jan. 23. Net's "The X-Files" (prelim 8.5/18), "The Simpsons" (8.2/18) and "Malcolm in the Middle" (8.1/17) were the night's top three rated shows in the demo.
CBS and NBC, which did not fare nearly as well with their high-profile miniseries, placed third and fourth on the night, respectively, in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
The night's results will help ABC and Fox inch closer to NBC for the week in adults 18-49. When Nielsen issues its averages today, the Peacock is projected to win the week of Nov. 6-12 with a 5.5, followed by ABC (5.2), Fox (4.4) and CBS (3.9).
ABC has to feel upbeat about the results for the first of five editions of celebrity "Millionaire," which rated considerably higher than what the quizzer has earned with regular editions this season. Still, it was down about 30% from the opening night of the mammoth ratings for May's celeb editions.
Sunday's "Millionaire" delivered the show's largest aud and best 18-49 rating (prelim 8.0/17) for any episode since June 11 and its best rating among teens and women 18-49 since the celeb segs.
For NBC and CBS, it was a reversal of their usual Sunday movie perfs. The Peacock entry, mini "In the Beginning," drew more viewers (prelim 12.7 million) while the Eye's mini "American Tragedy" prevailed in adults 18-49 (5.2/11 to 4.6/10).
Even given the low overall turnout for O.J. Simpson trial saga "Tragedy" (prelim 10.3 million), the opener did produce the net's best Sunday pic 18-49 rating since May 14 ("Jesus").
Fox, which was aided by a strong NFL overrun (Rams-Giants), won five of its six Sunday half-hours in adults 18-49, with only "King of the Hill" (prelim 5.5/13) placing as low as second (to "Miracle Worker's" 5.8/14). At 8:30, "Malcolm in the Middle" earned its best rating in the demo (8.2/13) since March 19.
"King" and "The Simpsons" are off to great starts this season, up 25%-30% in both viewers and demos vs. a year ago.
