ABC's dance moves

Alphabet has nice step; 'Geek' rises at WB

By RICK KISSELL

ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars,' with Evander Holyfield and Edyta Sliwinska, improved in its second week Wednesday, with more than 15 million viewers.

Even more viewers were ready to rumba Wednesday night as ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" rose in key demos in its second week and topped 15 million viewers overall.

The WB also saw some week-two gains Wednesday for its "Beauty and the Geek." Fox was on the outside looking in with a tame premiere for police procedural "The Inside."

At ABC, the second episode of "Dancing With the Stars" (4.8 rating/14 share in adults 18-49, 15.09 million viewers overall) delivered the top numbers for any telecast in the two weeks since the end of the broadcast season -- rising 12% from its preem.

The 18-49 aud for "Dancing" was again about 70% female, but the show is proving to be popular among all ages. In addition to 18-49 and total viewers, it led the 9 o'clock hour in adults 25-54 (5.8/15), persons 12-34 (3.3/11) and kids 2-11 (2.0/9).

On the WB, "Beauty and the Geek" rose week-to-week in adults 18-49 (1.8/6 vs. 1.6/5) and total viewers (3.75 million vs. 3.17m), tying with Fox's repeat comedies for the hour's lead in adults 18-34 (2.1/8).

Meanwhile, over on Fox, as the net found last year with weak-performing "The Jury," summer is a tough time to launch a heavy drama. On Wednesday, "Inside" (2.0/6 in 18-49, 4.79m) ran fourth in 18-49 during the 9 o'clock hour.

At TBS, the two-hour second-season premiere of "The Real Gilligan's Island 2" averaged a 3 share in 18-49 and 1.9 million viewers overall.