CBS, NBC log weekly victories
'Idol' hands Fox strong numbers
Fox's summer temperature is rising behind reality hit "American Idol," which helped the net capture both Tuesday and Wednesday in key demos. "Idol" episodes on these nights ranked as the week's top two programs in adults 18-49 (5.2/15 and 4.7/14) and adults 18-34 (6.4/20 and 5.5/19). The net also was boosted by laffers "Bernie Mac" and "The Simpsons."
It's the first time since August 1990 that Fox series have held down a week's top two spots in adults 18-49.
For the week, Fox won four nights in adults 18-49 (NBC took the other three) and five nights in adults 18-34. It was the only net up across the board vs. the same week a year ago.
CBS -- whose "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (15.01 million), "Everybody Loves Raymond" (13.25m), "48 Hours" (12.19m) and "Becker" (11.66m) were the week's top four shows -- ended NBC's seven-week winning streak in total viewers, taking every night but Friday.
With sports action no longer giving it a boost, NBC's margin of victory in adults 18-49 was reduced to a tick (2.7/9 to Fox's 2.6/9), although that was good enough for the net's 13th straight weekly win in the key demo.
Peacock, which received solid summer perfs from original alternative series "Dog Eat Dog," "Spy TV" and "Crime and Punishment," also saw newsmag "Dateline" win three of its four hours in adults 18-49.
ABC languished in fourth in both 18-49 and viewers, as neither of its new unscripted series -- Tuesday's "Houston Medical" and Wednesday's "State v." -- wowed auds. Two low-rated James Bond pics (Monday and Saturday) didn't help either, as the net fell 30% off the pace of a year ago.
In an uneventful weblet week, UPN edged the WB in both adults 18-49 and total viewers, with the nets tying among adults 18-34.
USA, led by "The Dead Zone," was the top-rated basic cabler for the week in adults 18-49 (1.1 rating), with TNT second (0.9). In total viewers, Lifetime was on top (1.70 million), with TNT close behind (1.64m).
Monday
"Dog Eat Dog" virtually matched its 18-49 preem score on June 24 (4.5/13 vs. 4.6/13), helping NBC take its 13th straight Monday in the demo. CBS was tops in total viewers.
USA grabbed solid numbers with the "AFI Tribute to Tom Hanks" (4.63m, 2.1/6 in A18-49).
Sunday
Fox's comedies each won their half-hours in adults 18-49, but reality series "Bachelorettes in Alaska" (2.6/8) couldn't continue the momentum at 9, falling behind a repeat of NBC drama "Law & Order: CI" (2.7/8).
NBC's "Crime and Punishment" won its 10 o'clock hour (8.15m, 3.0/8) but was down from its week-earlier preem, when its numbers were inflated by the net's U.S. Open golf coverage.
Saturday
Fox swept in all key demos, led by "America's Most Wanted" (6.83m, 2.6/10), while CBS edged out Fox in total viewers and was second in demos.
Repeats of movies "The Spy Who Loved Me" (ABC) and "Uprising" (NBC) managed a meager 4 share apiece in 18-49.
Friday
NBC cruised, as "Law & Order: SVU" (10.15m, 3.7/13) was the dominant show, improving upon its year-ago demo score by an impressive 48%.
CBS' "48 Hours" bowed in its intended fall timeslot (8 p.m.) and won in total viewers (7.81m).
Thursday
"Friends" (3.9/15) and a one-hour "Will & Grace" (3.8/13) kept NBC on top in adults 18-49. CBS again won in viewers, with "The Price Is Right" (9.93m) and "CSI" (15.01m) taking their hours.
ABC's "Primetime" won the 10 p.m. hour in total viewers (9.43m) and tied with "My Wife and Kids" as the net's top-rated show of the week in adults 18-49 (2.9 rating).
Wednesday
Fox's "American Idol" (9.47m, 4.7/14 in 18-49) dominated at 9:30, taking key demos and total viewers. Leading into "Idol" was a repeat "Bernie Mac" (7.76m, 3.6/12 in 18-49) that won its slot in all key categories.
ABC's new series "State v." bowed with a mediocre 2.4/7 in adults 18-49 and 5.93 million viewers overall.
Although not its target demo, CBS' "60 Minutes II" delivered an almost unheard-of 0 share in teens (including a 0.0 rating at 8:30). Because of its typically large adults 50-plus aud, though, the newsmag won in viewers (8.17m) -- and CBS won the night.
NBC's "Ed," which doesn't repeat well anyway, really struggled in its first summer perf (4.04m, 1.4/5 in 18-49), but the net's "Law & Order" was the night's most-watched show (10.99m).
Tuesday
"American Idol" (10.30m, 5.2/15 in 18-49) was the night's No. 1 program in virtually every category, improving vs. its 90-minute preem of the previous week (Daily Variety, June 20).
NBC was second in demos, as "Spy TV" won its half-hours in 18-49 and at 10, "Dateline" topped ABC's premiering "Houston Medical" by 46% in the demo (3.5/11 vs. 2.4/7).
Monday
Preem of "Dog Eat Dog" lifted NBC to another demo victory June 17, while CBS won easily in viewers.
