'Lost' is found by millions
Doubles 18-49 aud, powers 'Invasion'
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The Alphabet also got its new drama "Invasion" off to a good start behind "Lost," and UPN's "America's Next Top Model" had a solid premiere. But things are looking bleak for Fox's rookie drama "Head Cases."
Overall, ABC rolled on the opening Wednesday of the season, capturing every half-hour in adults 18-49 en route to its best premiere-week average on the night (7.6/20) since 1996, according to Nielsen. CBS was a surprise second-place finisher (3.5/9), ahead of NBC (2.9/8).
Second-season preem of "Lost" (10.2 rating/25 share in adults 18-49, 23.47 million viewers overall) crushed the competish in every category from 9 to 10, racking up its best delivery to date across the board. It was up a big 50% in 18-49 vs. last year's strong premiere at 8 (6.8/20).
It's also the strongest fall drama premiere for ABC since "NYPD Blue" in 1996.
Alphabet, which won the night's opening hour with the recap spec "Destination: Lost" (5.9/17 in 18-49, 15.27m), was on top at 10 as well with the premiere of Warner Bros. Television's "Invasion" (6.8/17, 16.43m), which racked up the best series score in the hour for ABC in the five years it has aired dramas there (newsmags aired before).
ABC is hoping "Invasion" can consistently hold onto a big chunk of its compatible lead-in much as CBS has enjoyed success on Thursday with crime drama "Without a Trace" airing behind "CSI."
As for NBC, Wednesday was clearly a disappointment for its combo of "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" (2.3/7, 7.06m) and "E-Ring" (2.5/6, 9.11m), which placed third and fourth in key categories.
"Martha," a spinoff of the successful Thursday night edition of "The Apprentice," failed to draw even first-week looky-loos, as its averages put it behind the preem of last fall's short-lived drama "Hawaii" in the hour.
And that weak start didn't help Pentagon drama "E-Ring," which placed third, behind "Lost" and the first hour of a two-hour "CSI" repeat on CBS.
Sluggish perf earlier in the evening also hurt NBC at 10, where the 16th-season opener of "Law & Order" ran third (4.0/10 in 18-49, 13.03m), down 27% year-to-year. The last half of CBS' special "CSI" scored a 4.5 demo rating in the hour.
CBS didn't get a lot of help, though, from opening-hour comedies "Still Standing" (2.2/7 in 18-49, 6.91m) and "Yes, Dear" (2.5/7, 7.20m).
And Fox's "Head Cases" (1.2/3 in 18-49, 3.07m) declined a sharp 48% from its soft week-earlier preem and is already a candidate for cancellation. It held little more than half of the lead-in provided by unscripted skein "So You Think You Can Dance" (2.5/7, 6.09m), which faded opposite tougher competish.
UPN went with a two-hour preem of "America's Next Top Model" (2.3/6, 4.77m), which grew with each half-hour and gave the net its biggest Wednesday ever. From 8 to 10, the net placed second in adults 18-34 (3.0/9), women 18-34 (4.7/13) and women 18-49 (3.5/8).
UPN's "Veronica Mars" begins its second season at 9 on Wednesday, which also sees the season opener of ABC laffer "George Lopez" and the timeslot preem of CBS drama "Criminal Minds."
