Rated...
[From Mediaweek.com]
Primetime Metered Market Wednesday Ratings: NBC Wins, ABC Picks Up Steam
Thu Dec 5, 4:56 PM ET
Yesterday's Winners:
Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC), My Wife and Kids (ABC), Primetime (ABC), Law &
Order R (NBC)
Yesterday's Losers:
The Amazing Race 3 (CBS), MDs (ABC)
-Ratings Breakdown:
Although the Whitney Houston interview on ABC's special
edition of Primetime (15.1/22 at 9 p.m.) was the number one rated show overall, the return
of lead-out dud MDs (#3: 6.1/ 9 at 10:00 p.m.) cost ABC the night. Thanks to the strength
of a repeat of Law & Order (#1: 13.1/21 at 10 p.m.), NBC won its umpteenth Wednesday
-- six percent above ABC. Not only did the Whitney Houston interview beat a repeat of
NBC's fading West Wing (#2: 8.8/12) by 72 percent, it build by 82 percent out of lead-in
George Lopez (#2: 8.3/12). Earlier in the evening, ABC's always reliable My Wife and Kids
(#2: 9.1/14) remained just that despite airing opposite NBC's annual Christmas in
Rockefeller Center special (#1: 9.8/15 from 8-9 p.m.).
Say what you want about Whitney -- and there's plenty to say -- she knows how to attract
an audience!
Over at CBS, a two-hour edition of The Amazing Race 3 (so long, John Vito and Jill) failed
to impress with a 6.2/ 9 from 9-11 p.m. -- 16 percent below incompatible lead-in 60
Minutes II (#3: 7.4/11).
On Fox's soon-to-be revamped Wednesday, there was nothing unusual to report with its
combination of Bernie Mac (news) (#4: 6.1/ 9), Cedric the Entertainer Presents (#4: 5.5/
8) and Fastlane (#4: 4.3/ 6). I hate to say I told you so but Bernie Mac at 8 p.m. was
never a good idea to begin with. As for Fastlane moving to Friday, Tiffani Thiessen (news)
had better hope for a Saved By the Bell or Beverly Hills, 90210 reunion -- she's likely to
be out of work soon.
On the WB, 8 p.m. special Return to Middle Earth (the preview of upcoming theatrical Lord
of the Rings: The Two Towers) averaged a time period improved 4.5/ 7 followed by a repeat
of the canceled Birds of Prey at a fifth place 2.7/ 4.
On UPN's repeat (there's that pesky word again) Wednesday, Enterprise opened the
night with a 2.7/ 4 followed by The Twilight Zone at a 1.9/ 3. Considering Birds of Prey
was canceled and Twilight Zone wasn't, a 42 percent advantage for Birds is an interesting
observation. Why was the WB in such a rush to cancel this drama?
Wednesday 12/04/02
HH
Rtg/Shr
NBC 10.6/16
ABC 10.0/15
CBS 6.5/10
Fox 5.0/ 7
WB 3.6/ 5
UPN 2.4/ 3
Source: Nielsen Media Research
-- Marc Berman
NEWSFILE: 5 DECEMBER 2002
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