Fox's retro laffer "Oliver Beene" is off to a very strong start, retaining all of its young-adult lead-in from "The Simpsons" and dominating its timeslot, according to preliminary nationals from Nielsen.
"Beene" (6.1/15 in adults 18-49, 13.8 million viewers overall) combined with "The Simpsons" (6.1/16 in adults 18-49, 14.4 million viewers overall) to crush the competish from 8 to 9. In total viewers, "Beene's" bow drew the largest aud for a premiering Fox laffer since "Titus" in March 2000. Fox, which won the night in all key measures, also led in 18-49 at 7:30 with "King of the Hill" (4.1/12) and at 9 with "Malcolm in the Middle" (5.0/12).
CBS comedy "My Big Fat Greek Life" came back to the levels CBS is used to seeing in the post-"60 Minutes" timeslot, as its 3.1/8 in adults 18-49 was good enough for only a third-place tie with NBC's "American Dreams" - a 30% drop week-to-week. The first "60 Minutes" featuring a debating Bob Dole and Bill Clinton, meanwhile, averaged a slot-leading 16.9 million viewers overall and 4.6/12 in adults 25-54; it was up week-to-week in total viewers but down in demos.
From 9 to 11, the Eye's "Batman" flashback movie "Return to the Batcave" scored a disappointing 2.9/7 in adults 18-49.
Each of NBC's dramas slipped week-to-week, but both "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (5.1/12 in adults 18-49, 14.9 million viewers overall) and "Boomtown" (3.9/11 in adults 18-49, 10.3 million viewers overall) won their hours.
ABC ran third in 18-49 on the night with repeats of "Tarzan" (3.1/9) and "Alias" (3.0/7) and an original "Dragnet" (3.1/8).
Reliable preliminary nationals weren't available for TNT's coverage of the "SAG Awards," but metered-market overnights show the kudocast spiking up 33% year-to-year to a best-ever 5.2 household rating.
Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: Fox, 4.8/13; NBC, 3.7/10; ABC, 3.1/8; CBS, 2.9/8.
In total viewers: Fox, 11.3 million; CBS, 10.9 million; NBC, 10.2 million; ABC, 8.9 million.
Contact Rick Kissell at
rick.kissell@variety.com