UPN's 'Model' sashays way to young fans

Show's best perf among women

By RICK KISSELL

UPN reality skein "America's Next Top Model" strutted to strong ratings with its second-season premiere on Tuesday, including some of the net's best-ever scores in the timeslot.

From 9 to 10, the Tyra Banks-hosted "Top Model" averaged a 2.2/6 in adults 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall, improvements of 47% and 66% respectively vs. the first edition's opener last May, according to Nielsen.

Biggest demo story, as expected, came among young women, with "Top Model" leading the hour among women 18-34 (3.9/11) and female teens (3.9/12). In most categories, these were UPN's best perfs in Tuesday's 9 o'clock hour since May 2002.

And compared with the same night a year ago, net improved its standing in the hour by a big 160% in its target adults 18-34 demo (2.6/8 vs. 1.0/3).

As "Top Model" was kicking off its 10-week season, Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown" concluded its season with a two-hour finale (8-10 p.m.) that delivered series-best scores (0.8/2 in 18-49, 1.74m). "King of Queens" thesp Nicole Sullivan was crowned the winner.

Opposite "Top Model," ABC's "According to Jim" was an 18-49 winner at 9, drawing its best-ever score for a repeat seg (4.5/11). That beat the firstrun deliveries in its slot of Fox's "24" (4.0/10) and NBC's "Frasier" (3.8/10).

In the night's opening hour, Fox's "The Simple Life" (5.5/15 in 18-49, 10.97m) dominated in all key demo categories with a reunion special. CBS drama "Navy NCIS" (3.1/9 in 18-49, 14.00m) again looked solid, matching its high in 18-49, placing second in adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and winning in total viewers.

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