Mayberry memories
Eye's 'Andy Griffith' reunion spec rules night
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According to national ratings estimates from Nielsen, "The Andy Griffith Show Reunion" won the 8 o'clock hour for CBS in adults 18-49 (4.7/13) with its best rating since January 2002 ("JAG") and dominated the competish in adults 25-54 (6.7/16).
In overall average audience, show's 21.64 million is the best with entertainment programming in the hour for CBS since its annual airing of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1995.
Spec, which reunited Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts and Jim Nabors from the classic 1960s series, tapped into some of the same hankering for nostalgia that made a "Carol Burnett Show" reunion a huge success on CBS two years ago.
"Griffith" won its hour handily in local overnight household ratings in top markets New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and scored a big 41 share in Nashville, a 35 in Louisville and a 33 in Greensboro, N.C.
Boost for 'Guardian'
"Griffith" helped boost lead-out drama "The Guardian" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 12.62m) to its best scores of the season. Net remained fourth on the night in 18-49 although it moved up to second in 25-54 and first in total viewers.
ABC easily took the night in 18-49 (5.1/13) on the strength of the exclusive Lynch interview, "Private Jessica Lynch: An America Story" (5.9/15 in 18-49, 15.68m) -- ABC's best showing from 9:30 to 11 on a Tuesday in two years.
Among 18-49, the special edition of "Primetime" ranks as TV's highest-rated news program of the season. It also performed a bit better than NBC's high-rated original movie last Sunday on Lynch's ordeal (5.4/13 in 18-49, 14.91m).
'Rules' of gravity
ABC kicked off the night with the second episode of comedy "8 Simple Rules" without John Ritter, which tied for the 18-49 lead with "Griffith" (4.4/13) and drew 11.61 million viewers overall.
Although down sharply from last week's emotional one-hour return for the show, it's a strong showing given the three other comedies on the broadcast nets in the slot, including a repeat of Fox's "That '70s Show" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 6.15m) that beat out in demos NBC's "Whoopi" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 8.04m).
Elsewhere, ABC's "According to Jim" (slot-leading 4.9/12) and "NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" (4.9/13) tied as the night's No. 2 program in 18-49, and Fox's "24" looked a bit healthier (4.0/10 in 18-49, 8.84m) thanks in part to a stronger lead-in.
The WB's "Gilmore Girls" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 5.31m), which has performed sluggishly this season compared to last, picked it up on Tuesday to win the 8 o'clock hour in femmes 12-34 (season-high 4.3/13).
