'Lucy' and laffers lift CBS, Fox
'X-Files' looks shaky, falters behind Alphabet's 'Ryan'
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"Ryan" ranks as the most-watched theatrical on television in two years, while "Lucy" gave CBS the largest aud in what's usually its movie time period in 18 months. Fox won the night in 18-49 behind "The Simpsons" and "Malcolm in the Middle," although its "X-Files" looked very shaky.
Results helped bunch the networks closer together in adults 18-49 for the week. When Nielsen issues weekly averages today, first-place NBC (projected 4.9 rating) and fourth-place ABC (4.2) will be separated by about seven-tenths of a ratings point, with CBS and Fox (4.6 each) in a close battle for second.
CBS will win in total viewers for the second time in three weeks and should finish right on the tail of the Peacock in adults 25-54. It will likely be the Eye's strongest weekly demo score since February.
Fox will finish on top in adults 18-34 for the first time this season thanks to a dominant victory in the younger demo on Sunday, topping ABC by about 6 shares.
The season premieres of "The Simpsons" (projected 14.4 million viewers, 6.9/16 in adults 18-49) and "Malcolm in the Middle" (projected 14.6m, 7.0/16) boosted Fox to victory Sunday in adults 18-49 as well (prelim 6.1/15), with each winning its half-hour; both were down vs. a year ago.
Net's "X-Files" (projected 11 million viewers, 5.7/13 rating in adults 18-49) fell by a much bigger 35% from its year-ago season premiere in the demo (9.0/19). It finished second in 18-49 to ABC's "Ryan" (prelim 6.8/15) and declined in its second half-hour.
Perhaps making things tougher for "X-Files" was the additional drama competish from NBC's solid "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (prelim 11.8m, 4.2/9 in 18-49). And next week, ABC's "Alias" returns to the hour.
"Saving Private Ryan," which aired uncut from 8 to 11 and with limited commercials, averaged a prelim 17.9 million viewers and a big 6.7/16 in adults 18-49 -- the largest aud for any theatrical since November 1999 (preem of "The Santa Clause" on ABC) and the best demo score for a feature film since "Titanic" set sail for the first time on NBC last November.
In men 18-49, "Ryan's" 7.9/18 is the best for any movie on television since the premiere of "Men in Black" on NBC in November 1999.
"Ryan" teamed with a special Armed Forces-themed "Millionaire" (prelim 10.6m) to give ABC the night in total viewers (16.1 million) -- its largest aud on a Sunday since the Academy Awards in March. ABC will finish the Nov. 5-11 frame with its strongest scores since premiere week.
From 9 to 11, ABC's "Ryan" topped CBS' "I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special" in overall audience (prelim 18.4m to 17.4m). For CBS, it was the biggest gathering from 9 to 11 on Sunday (excepting the Super Bowl) since the mini "Jesus" in May 2000.
The ABC pic did especially well in men 25-54 (prelim 8.6/18) while the Eye spec excelled in women 25-54 (9.0/19).
CBS' troubled drama "The Education of Max Bickford," meanwhile, continued to lose viewers, dropping again to the net's smallest firstrun aud on record in the Sunday-at-8 hour (prelim 10 million). It finished fourth by all key measures.
NBC's "UC: Undercover" also looked shaky, dropping to a season low in adults 18-49 (3.0/7).
