Emmys get a ratings lift

Telecast up 30% in 18-49 demo

By RICK KISSELL

Perhaps owing to increased interest surrounding the Emmy-nominated blockbuster rookie shows "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives," Sunday's telecast of the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS took a step in the right ratings direction.

Three-hour kudocast averaged a winning 6.0 rating/15 share in adults 18-49 and 18.6 million viewers overall, according to Nielsen preliminary estimates -- up 30% in the demo vs. last year's show on ABC (4.6/12), which logged the event's weakest numbers in 15 years.

Although the ratings bounceback is an encouraging sign for the TV Academy, the show's Sunday perf repped merely the second-lowest 18-49 delivery in 15 years, coming in well behind the 7.1/19 that Fox commanded in 2003 and the 8.1/20 for NBC the year before that.

In total viewers, a category helped by population increases, the Emmys averaged their largest aud in three years, building by 35% over last year's 13.8 million.

Kudocast, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, peaked from 8:30 to 9:30, when it averaged a 6.6/17 in the 18-49 demo and about 20.3 million viewers overall. By 10:30, it had fallen under 17 million.

Show scored a strong 19.9/30 in New York but a relatively modest 14.5/19 in Los Angeles, where it aired on tape-delay. Among the top 10 markets, only Houston and Washington, D.C., rated lower than L.A.

E!'s "Live From the Red Carpet" pre-show (6-8 p.m.), hosted by Star Jones Reynolds, drew a 2.2 household rating in Nielsen's 56-market prelim averages, up about 15% year to year.

Nielsen will issue final results for all Sunday programs today.

CBS, which also benefited from an NFL overrun, easily led Sunday night but Fox was a solid runner-up thanks to firstrun episodes of its comedies.

"The Simpsons" (prelim 4.7/13 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) led the way at 8, but "Family Guy" was close behind at 9 (prelim 4.5/11, 9.4 million). In between, the second episode of "The War at Home" (prelim 3.9/10 in 18-49, 8.4 million) held up well, retaining a slightly better 83% of its lead-in among 18-49 and growing its 12-34 aud week-to-week.

"King of the Hill" was solid in its preem at 7:30 (prelim 3.2/10 in 18-49, 7.1 million), and at 9:30 "American Dad" (prelim 4.0/9 in 18-49, 8.6 million) held onto more of its lead-in than in the previous week and was the only Fox comedy to improve upon its season preem in 18-49 (4.0/9 vs. 3.8/9).

NBC again had a tough time attracting viewers to "The West Wing" in its new slot, as a repeat (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.1 million viewers overall) placed fifth among the broadcasters from 8 to 9.

ABC kept the lights on with a repeat of "Pearl Harbor" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall), but the WB didn't do much with its network preem of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall).

Frog's frisky Friday

The WB got off to a solid start with its Friday comedy block, led as usual by "Reba" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 4.27m), according to final Nielsen nationals.

Also of note was new 8:30 laffer "Twins" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 3.33m), starring Melanie Griffith and Sara Gilbert, which built slightly on its "What I Like About You" lead-in (1.4/5, 2.86m) in most key categories.

Overall for the night, the WB tied for second in 18-34 (1.5/6) and tied for first in women 18-34 (2.0/6).

At CBS, nationals for the preem of "Threshold" (2.9/9 in 18-49, 8.61m) virtually matched the prelim scores (Daily Variety, Sept. 19), with the sci-fi skein winning its two-hour slot in key demos.

UPN improved its standing on Friday as expected with the move of "WWE Smackdown" (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.47m). Net finished 1 share out of the night's 18-34 lead and ran first in men 18-34 (1.7/7) despite some baseball-related preemptions that reduced its clearance to 82%.