NBC's competish was green with envy on the second Sunday of the February sweep, as the network preem of theatrical blockbuster "Shrek" was a big winner, paving the way for the Peacock to win each of the evening's half-hours among young adults.
Also, ABC enjoyed its best Sunday of the season with series programming, thanks to a perky premiere perf by "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
According to prelim nationals from Nielsen, "Shrek" (5.4/15 in adults 18-49, 13.4 million viewers overall) cruised in key demos from 7 to 9 and scored the highest 18-49 rating for a theatrical on any net since ABC's "The Santa Clause" in November 2002. Among NBC pics, it matches last November's original "Saving Jessica Lynch" as the net's highest-rated since "Titanic" bowed in November 2000.
Pair pump Peacock
NBC also scored with both "American Dreams" at 9, which notched its best 18-49 rating in 15 months (4.4/10), and at 10 with "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (5.7/15 in adults 18-49, 13.4 million viewers), which delivered the net's best series scores in the hour this season. Both "Dreams" and "CI" were pushed back an hour due to "Shrek."
ABC saw the series premiere of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" score solid ratings from 8 to 9 (4.0/10, 10.8m), jumping 2 share points on the half-hour and significantly improving the net's time-period average. It brought a younger aud to the net too, as its adults 18-34 rating was the best for a regular program in the timeslot since November 2002 ("The Santa Clause").
That helped "Alias" to improved second-place numbers at 9 (4.0/9 in 18-49, 9.7m), but "The Practice" fell off at 10 (3.3/8 in 18-49, 8.8m).
'60 Minutes' strong
CBS ran second in demos and first in total viewers from 7 to 9 with "60 Minutes" (3.2/9 in adults 18-49, 15.0m) and "Cold Case" (4.1/10 in adults 18-49, 17.2m). "Cold," facing no drama competish on either ABC or NBC for the first time, surged to regular-slot series highs (4.1/10 in 18-49, 17.2m), winning its hour in total viewers and a strong second in 25-54 (6.0/13).
And from 9 to 11, Ted Danson-Mary Steenburgen original movie "It Must Be Love" did an OK 3.1/8 in 18-49 and 14.6 million viewers overall.
Fox was hit hard by both "Shrek" and the NBA All-Star Game on TNT, as it placed fourth in 18-49. "The Simpsons" led the way as usual (4.2/11 in 18-49, 9.3m), but 9:30 laffer "Arrested Development" (2.2/5 in 18-49, 5.3m) fell to fifth in demos, behind the second half-hour of the WB's "Surreal Life" (2.5/6 in 18-49, 4.7m).
NBC won the night in 18-49 (5.3/13), 25-54 (5.8/13), 18-34 (4.2/13) and kids (3.8/6) while CBS led easily in total viewers (15.4 million).
Contact Rick Kissell at
rick.kissell@variety.com