NBC gets out broom
Peacock locks up sweeps race in key demo
According to prelim nationals for Nielsen, the Peacock edged ABC on Wednesday in adults 18-49 and then scored more convincing victories on Thursday and Friday. Leading the way were dominant showings by, among others, Thursday's "Will & Grace" (prelim 9.3/24) and "ER" (prelim 12.4/31) and Friday's two-hour "Providence" movie (prelim 4.7/13).
ABC captured Saturday in adults 18-49 (prelim 4.1/11) behind the network preem of "Jingle All the Way," but the network is destined for a second-place demo finish one year after surprising everyone by winning November behind an 18-night marathon of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."
Based on estimates from prelim Nielsens for Wednesday through Saturday, NBC leads after 24 of 28 nights in adults 18-49 with a 5.6/14 (up 2% in rating vs. a year ago), followed by ABC (4.9/13, down 7%), Fox (4.6/12, down 4%) and CBS (3.7/9, down 3%).
ABC needs to hustle
The Alphabet can still claim the month's total-viewer crown, but will have to rally to surpass NBC -- a tough task since the Peacock aired "Titanic," the No. 1 movie of all time, on Sunday.
Through Saturday, NBC leads in viewers with an estimated 13.8 million (up 1%), followed by ABC (13.6m, down 12%), CBS (11.9m, down 7%) and Fox (9.7m, down 4%).
On Wednesday, NBC won the final three half-hours in adults 18-49 to top ABC for the night (prelim 5.0/14 to 4.5/13). Key was a 9-share victory at 10 for "Law & Order" (prelim 6.4/18) over ABC's "Gideon's Crossing" (3.3/9), just one week after the latter had closed the gap to 6 shares.
The Peacock also won the night in viewers (14.2 million), although ABC's "Millionaire" (19.0m) was the most-watched program.
At Fox, "Malcolm in the Middle" notched a demo victory at 8 (prelim 4.3/13 in A18-49) and also drew its largest Wednesday aud in three tries (9.8m). At 8:30, though, "Normal, Ohio" retained a lowest-yet 77% of "Malcolm's" 18-49 lead-in (prelim 3.3/10).
CBS' "Bette" continued its slide after a very strong start last month, slipping to season lows in viewers (prelim 7.7m) and 18-49 (2.6/8).
Soft victory
On Thursday, NBC cruised to a 14-share victory in adults 18-49 despite the lower viewing levels on Thanksgiving night limiting "Friends" (7.3/22) and "ER" (12.4/31) to their softest marks of the season. A one-hour "Will & Grace" that flashed back to 1985 ruled the 9 o'clock hour (prelim 9.3/24), easily topping the first family edition of "Millionaire."
The quizzer had a fairly strong showing, though, topping its last four Thursday scores (not including last week's celeb seg) in adults 18-49 (prelim 4.7/12).
CBS, which fared well over the long weekend, posted rare second-place finishes in total viewers (11.3 million) and 18-49 (3.9/11) on Thursday behind a Faith Hill concert spec and a 75th anniversary tribute to the Grand Ole Opry. It was the Eye's best Thursday in the 52 weeks since a Thanksgiving 1999 that included a Shania Twain concert spec.
"Faith" was second for its hour in 18-49 (prelim 4.5/13) and viewers (13.9m), pulling ahead of NBC's "Just Shoot Me" in the latter at 8:30.
Fox is fourth in viewers
Preem of "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" kept Fox fourth in viewers (prelim 8.2 million) and 18-49 (3.3/11) even though the net had a substantial edge with a late-afternoon Cowboys-Vikings NFL game.
NBC won Friday by 3 shares in 18-49 (prelim 4.9/14) and by nearly 4 million viewers (prelim 15.6 million) with its best scores since February.
A two-hour Thanksgiving-themed seg of "Providence" delivered the show's best numbers of the season (prelim 15.7m, 4.7/13 in A18-49), while "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" notched its best ratings since February (15.4m, 5.4/15).
CBS was second in viewers (prelim 11.5 million) and tied Fox for runner-up in 18-49 (3.9/11), with its best rating in six weeks. The Eye, which won the night in men 18-49 (3.8/11), did it despite rookie hit "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" matching its season low in adults 18-49 (prelim 4.5/12). "CSI" placed second to "Providence's" second hour in 18-49 but prevailed in male demos.
'Fugitive' is hot
CBS' "The Fugitive" (9.4m, 2.7/8 in A18-49) and "Nash Bridges" (12.1m, 4.5/13) came through with their best numbers in six weeks.
ABC placed third Friday in viewers (11.2 million) and fourth in 18-49 (3.5/10), led by a 9 p.m. family edition of "Millionaire" (14.9m, 4.2/11 in A18-49).
Fox's repeat of "The Nutty Professor" (prelim 9.7m, 3.9/11 in A18-49) won its two-hour block in adults 18-34 (3.6/12) and men 18-49 (3.7/10).
On Saturday, CBS won in viewers (prelim 11.3 million) and women 25-54 (4.8/12) with its best showing since premiere night.
"That's Life" remains a demo laggard (2.4/7 in A18-49) but grabbed its largest aud in five weeks (8.1 million), while "Walker, Texas Ranger" (prelim 11.4m, 3.1/9) and "The District" (14.6m, 4.1/11) each delivered best-since-premiere numbers.
In an oddity, "The District" tied with ABC's "Best Commercials" spec and the third hour of NBC's "Jurassic Park" in adults 18-49 (all at 4.1/11), with the Craig T. Nelson first-year drama pulling ahead in 25-54 (5.7/14).
ABC won the night in 18-49 (4.1/11) and women 18-49 (4.2/10) behind the preem of "Jingle All the Way" (4.1/11) -- the net's second best Saturday pic result of the season. "Jingle" also won from 8 to 10 in total viewers (prelim 11.2 million).
Fox was a strong second in 18-49 (3.9/11) with reality series "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted," and won the night in men 18-49 (4.1/11) and adults 18-34 (3.7/12).
