ABC laffers deliver
Cubs playoff hits Fox ratings homer
Fox also hit a homer with its first postseason baseball game, as the Chicago Cubs proved to be a good ratings draw.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the second of the final three episodes of "8 Simple Rules" featuring the late John Ritter ranked as Tuesday's top-rated program in adults 18-49 (6.2/19), down from last week but well ahead of all others in the 8 o'clock timeslot.
New romantic comedy "I'm With Her" (5.3/15 in A18-49, 11.96 million viewers overall) retained a potent 85% of the "Rules" 18-49 lead-in, topping premiere week's 81%.
From 9 to 10, both "According to Jim" (5.5/14) and "Less Than Perfect" (4.6/12) also led their slots in 18-49, with the former giving ABC its best regular-program perf on Tuesday at 9 since September 2001 and the latter hitting a series high.
At 10 ABC's "NYPD Blue" (4.0/11 in adults 18-49, 10.44m) was up week-to-week, closing the gap with NBC's slot-leading "Law & Order: SVU" (4.9/13 in adults 18-49). CBS drama "Judging Amy" was well behind in 18-49 (2.8/7) but led the hour in total viewers (11.81m).
ABC wins in 18-49
ABC captured primetime in 18-49 (4.9/13), with NBC (4.1/11) and Fox (4.0/11) battling for second. CBS led in total viewers (12 million).
For NBC, "Frasier" again looked solid at 9 (second-place 4.6/12 in adults 18-49) and the second-season premiere of "Good Morning Miami" on its new night retained a healthy 91% of that aud (4.2/11 in 18-49). From 8 to 9, both "Whoopi" (3.0/9) and "Happy Family" (3.2/9) were on pace with last week's scores and placed third.
New CBS drama "Navy NCIS" (2.6/7 in A18-49, 12.12m) was flat week-to-week and again placed second in 25-54, while "The Guardian" (2.6/7 in A18-49, 12.12m) was also flat with its preem.
UPN and the WB finished the night tied among adults 18-34 (1.8/5), with both showing some week-to-week growth.
At UPN, "All of Us" achieved a new high with its third episode (2.4/8 in 18-34), beating out the second half of the WB's "Gilmore Girls" (2.3/8). And although "Rock Me Baby" (1.6/5 in 18-34) and "The Mullets" (1.3/4) aren't doing great numbers, they mark an upgrade in the 9 o'clock hour over last season's short-lived "Haunted" (1.1/3)
'Tree' ratings grow
The WB's new drama "One Tree Hill" was up sharply over its anemic bow of a week earlier, including 56% in 18-34 (1.4/4), finishing in a virtual tie with UPN for the hour and dominating in female teens (5.2/19). Lead-in "Gilmore Girls" was up a tick week-to-week in 18-34 from its soft preem (2.2/7).
As for Fox's baseball, the Cubs-Atlanta Braves contest became the most-watched Division Series opener ever with 10.86 million viewers. In adults 18-49, its 4.1/12 is the best for any DS game since the American League's deciding fifth game in 2001 (Athletics-Yankees).
This bodes well for Fox, especially if the underdog Cubs can go far.
And on the cable side, FX's "Nip/Tuck" delivered another strong showing opposite the broadcast nets, with its 1.8 rating in adults 18-49 (2.34 million viewers in the demo), a 5% improvement on its season average.
