Score another easy knockout for reality programming, as both Fox's "Joe Millionaire" and NBC's "Fear Factor" surged to new ratings highs Monday and dominated their hours.
That one-two punch contributed to the bloodiest numbers yet for ABC's lineup, which fell further behind the WB among adults 18-49. It was unclear late Monday whether ABC planned to stick with its drama trio, anchored by "The Practice," for the final two weeks of sweeps.
According to Nielsen, the penultimate episode of Fox's "Joe Millionaire" crushed everything in sight from 9 to 10, drawing the net's best-ever ratings in the hour among adults 18-49 (12.9/28), adults 18-34 (14.6/34) and total viewers (24.06 million). It was up 19% week-to-week in 18-49 and beat CBS' second-place comedies by 153% (12.9 to 5.1).
The 12.9 rating in 18-49 is the fifth highest for any series telecast this season -- behind three episodes of "Friends" and one seg of "ER" -- and the best for any Fox skein since "The X-Files" in November 1997.
One hour earlier, a special "couples" edition of "Fear Factor" established all-time highs for the gross-out reality skein (7.8/20 in A18-49, 17.80m), sweeping its hour across the board and contributing to NBC's highest Monday rating with its regular sked this season (5.5/13). Red-hot "Fear" is bucking the trend of short-lived reality skeins by hitting a new high with its 81st telecast.
CBS drama "CSI: Miami" (6.5/16 in A18-49, 17.51m) won the 10 p.m. hour, but Fox's perf from 8 to 10 was enough to give it the night. In adults 18-49, Fox (8.6/20) towered over both NBC (5.5/13) and CBS (5.4/13) and has closed the gap with NBC for the February sweeps lead.
Through Monday (12 nights of the four-week sweep), NBC averaged a 5.1 rating/13 share in adults 18-49, followed by Fox (4.9/12), ABC (4.0/10), CBS (3.7/10), the WB (2.0/5) and UPN (1.6/4). NBC also leads in adults 25-54, Fox in adults 18-34 and CBS in total viewers.
Elsewhere Monday, the WB's "7th Heaven," with an episode that saw Kevin propose to Lucy, drew its largest aud of the season (9.27m) and easily defeated ABC's "Veritas: The Quest" (6.51m) in key demos.
The Alphabet's "The Practice" (2.4/5 in A18-49, 7.66m) and "Miracles" also placed last among the major nets from 9 to 11.
Contact Rick Kissell at
rick.kissell@variety.com