Thursday primetime lifeblood
'ER,' 'CSI' set ratings pulse for Peacock, Eye
Because they don't face off against each other, both initialed series have carved out a dominant niche in the world of TV dramas. Both are also still at the top of their game: "ER" was No. 1 among all series last week with adults 18-49 (11.8 rating/31 share), while "CSI" was tops with all viewers (25.2 million).
On the flip side, "ER" was No. 2 with viewers (24.8 million), while "CSI" was third with adults 18 to 49 (only behind "Friends") at a 9.5/24.
Both shows were emblematic of their respective networks' primetime strength last week. NBC won the week among adults 18 to 49 (4.8/13), a feat it has accomplished seven out of the last eight weeks, while CBS --thanks also to the strength of the NCAA men's basketball tourney -- scored another win in total viewers (12.6 million), its 13th victory of the season.
News wasn't as good for the other two major webs, which shared some misery in the form of double-digit declines. ABC and Fox were both down 26% year-to-year among total viewers (9.4 million and 7.2 million, respectively), and both landed in third place among adults 18-49 with a 3.3/9 (ABC down 21%, Fox down 28%).
UPN took the weblet crown with 3.5 million viewers and a 1.5/4 in the adults 18-49 demo, while WB attracted 3 million viewers and a 1.3/4 in the demo.
Sunday
God still has some clout in primetime. ABC's 22nd showing of "The Ten Commandments" gave ABC a win for the night with viewers (12.6 million) and adults 18 to 49 (4.3/12).
An original "Simpsons" was the night's top series performer with adults 18-49 (5.5/15), while a repeat "Law & Order: SVU" helped out for NBC (14.1 million viewers). WB's "Jamie Kennedy Experiment" did well for the Frog with adults 18-34 (1.7/5).
Saturday
Whoa -- people watching network TV on Saturday? Apparently they'll still show up on the night for special events. CBS' coverage of the NCAA men's basketball Final Four gave the Eye a strong win in adults 18-49 (6.9/21) and viewers (17.8 million).
Maryland spanked Kansas in Game 2, which was seen by 18.5 million viewers; Game 1 between Indiana and Oklahoma pulled a crowd of 14.4 million.
Friday
Where are Maverick and Goose when you need them? Apparently not on CBS' "Top Gun"-themed reality skein "American Fighter Pilots," which pulled an anemic 1.4/5 with adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers.
ABC's "20/20" posted strong auds for Barbara Walter's look inside Saudi Arabia (12.8 million), while NBC won the night with adults 18-49 (4.0/13) and viewers (12.6 million). "20/20" was the highest-rated newsmag of the week, beating Sunday's "60 Minutes."
Thursday
The post- "Friends" curse is back. NBC's "Leap of Faith" averaged a 7.0/18 rating among adults 18-49 -- not bad, but still only holding on to 65% of its "Friends" (10.6/30) -- lower than all but one post-"Friends" airing of "Inside Schwartz."
Returning to Thursday after a two-week Wednesday sojourn, "Survivor: Marquesas" faced stiffer competish -- and posted its lowest number yet with adults 18-49 (8.2/22).
Wednesday
Hot: Fox's "Greg the Bunny" (4.8/12 adults 18-49, 10.1 million viewers), which improved on its "Bernie Mac" lead-in by 7% in the demo and won the half-hour with adults 18-49.
Warm: ABC's "George Lopez" (3.8/11 adults 18-49, 10.4 million viewers), which won its slot and was the week's most-watched debut with viewers.
Cold: ABC's "Wednesday 9:30 (8:30 Central)" (3.1/8 adults 18-49, 7.9 million viewers), which viewers couldn't even find -- despite the show's title.
Frigid: UPN's "March to Madness" (1.1 million viewers), which dropped a whopping 80% from its "Enterprise" lead-in.
Tuesday
Auds didn't like "The Court." They really, really didn't like "The Court." Debut of the Sally Field starrer came in third place with total viewers (10.1 million) and adults 18-49 (3.5/9). On the bright side, show held on to all of its aud in the second half hour.
Also at the Alphabet, "Dharma & Greg" (2.4/7) and "Spin City" (2.9/8) posted record lows in adults 18-49.
News was good at Fox, which garnered its best total viewer numbers for "24" (9.3 million) since the show's premiere, and the best adults 18-49 tally (4.6/11) for any drama of the night. Momentum also is good for "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" (4.4/12 adults 18-49), which won its slot in the demo and held on to 90% of its premiere rating.
Monday
It was good night for reality TV (NBC's "Fear Factor") and unreality TV (CBS' "Baby Bob"). "Fear Factor" scored its best-ever adults 18-49 score (7.2/18) and total viewers intake (15.8 million) for a non-celebrity edition.
Talking baby laffer "Baby Bob" did well its second week out, scoring a 5.0/12 among adults 18-49 (holding on to 100% of its "King of Queens" lead-in) and 14.2 million viewers.
ABC, meanwhile, did alright with the premiere of "The Bachelor," which averaged a 4.0/9 in the demo -- not a stellar number, but they're not picky at the Alphabet these days. Net was encouraged by "Bachelor's" half-hour gains; skein jumped 19% in its second half hour.
