'Brother' helps turn up 'Power'

CBS gameshow gets a boost from reality hit

By RICK KISSELL

CBS gameshow "Power of 10" delivered its best performance to date Tuesday night thanks to a big assist from "Big Brother."

In a synergistic move, two current houseguests on "Big Brother" were flown to New York to appear as contestants on the Drew Carey-hosted quizzer -- and the stunt paid off. According to preliminary nationals from Nielsen, "Power of 10" averaged a 2.8 rating/9 share in adults 18-49 and 9.7 million viewers overall, edging out the show's premiere averages (2.7/9 in 18-49, 9.2 million viewers overall) and standing as the night's most-watched program overall. Audience peaked in the first half-hour when "Big Brother's" Amber Tomcavage competed for the big bucks before settling for a $1,000 prize.

"Big Brother" also was on the high side Tuesday night (3.2/9 in 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall), easily winning its hour in demos and standing as the night's No. 1 program in 18-49. It matched or set the show's best performance for any night this summer in key demos as well as total viewers.

ABC averaged a 2.1/7 in 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers overall from 8 to 9 p.m. for an original and repeat of hidden-camera series "Just For Laughs," but then fell off with original segs of news programs "I-Caught" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall) and "Primetime: Crime" (1.7/5 in 18-49, 5.1 million viewers overall).

NBC, with "America's Got Talent" having ended its run a week ago, earned a 2.1/6 in 18-49 and 6 million viewers overall for a repeat of its two-hour spec "Live From New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live."

And at Fox, the time-period debut of "Bones" delivered a 1.5/5 in 18-49 and 5.2 million viewers overall for a repeat at 8, with the net moving up to second place at 9 o'clock with a repeat of "House" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall).

CBS gameshow "Power of 10" delivered its best performance to date Tuesday night thanks to a big assist