JustTV
was
nothing short of amazing. Yes, it did have a lead-in of 28.8 million
viewers,
but the show could have easily collapsed under the weight of
competition
like "Will & Grace" (19.5 mil- 7th) & "Who Wants To Be A
Millionaire"
(16.6 mil- 15th). But it didn't. Instead of flailing like it's lead-out
"48 Hours" (10.0mil- 58th), "CSI" thrived, drawing 21.4 million viewers
in 4th spot. That's 43.6% above its average during the regular season.
And with "ER" (27.0 mil- 2nd) going into a heavy repeat period this
spring,
it will be tv's top rated drama through March & April.
Maybe
even through sweeps May.The first Thursday after sweeps a new "CSI"
drew
24.1 million viewers- just behind a new "ER"s 25.5. This is
tv's
next drama franchise.
CBS: For
the first
time since 1999, CBS actually won a sweeps period and came pretty close
in
adults. It's 4.4
rating
tied ABC for third, within view of NBC & Fox's 5.3 rating. The
obvious
answer for the eye's good luck is "Survivor," but there are many other
success stories. Besides the aforementioned "CSI," "Everybody Loves
Raymond"
(19.0 mil- 9th) continues to assend the ratings chart, joined there by
"60 Minutes" (17.2 mil- 13th) & "Becker" (16.0 mil- 19th). "JAG"
(15.5
mil- 21st) is growing anew and the net has a solid Saturday base in
"The
District" (13.8 mil- 28th). And with "Survivor" likely growing until
the
end, it's only up from here.
Survivor: Duh.
Fox Sunday:
Sunday
simply rocked for Fox, even without the huge football lead-in that
carried
it for most of last fall. "Futurama" (9.2 mil- 65th) & "King of The
Hill" (10.5 mil- 51st) got the 
evening
started off right, but it really took off with "The Simpsons" &
"Malcolm
In The Middle" (both 16.6 mil- 15th). Both series were up about 10%
over
their season averages. It all came to a head at 9pm, where "The
X-Files"
finally caught some of its lead-in's fire. Averaging 15.2 million
viewers
in 22nd position, it was up 15% during sweeps. Too bad it's probably
ending
this May.
WB Friday:
It's no
surprize that two whole nights on the WB made our "Survivors" list. The
net on a whole was up a very nice 15% in adults 18-49, and even more in
teens. And most of
that increasecan be directely attributed to this night- Friday. The
combo
of "Sabrina" (4.4 mil, 91st) & "Popstars" (4.6 mil- 90th) lock in
female
teens, delivering them right to "Popular" (3.7 mil- 100th), which was
up
over 23%. Popular indeed.
Fox Monday:
After
showing big losses last season, Fox's Monday night line-up is really
looking 
up.
"Boston Public" (13.3 mil- 32nd) is Fox's biggest 8pm
Monday hit since "Melrose Place." And it's growing. It's up 17% over
it's
season average. "Ally McBeal" is also showing signs of life after a
dismal
3rd season. Averaging 13.1 million viewers, it sits in 34th spot. And
although
it no longer wins its slot in adults, it comes a close second and is up
11% over its season average. And with Anne Heche & Robert Downey
Jr.
both hanging in the show, things can only get better.
The Practice:
Yes,
"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" (20.6 mil- 6th) is descending the
ratings 
chart,
but this top rated drama certainly isn't. Averaging 20.9 million
viewers,
it's at its highest chart position ever- 5th. Its sweeps performance
was
up 17.4% over its season average. And, unlike any other ABC series,
it's
drawing above its "Millionaire" lead-in. That's something that a
sliding
ABC needs- desparately. May we suggest spinoffs? How about:"The
Practice:
Special Clients Unit?"
Friends:
Against
TV's new number one, "Friends" didn't die like it was supposed to do.
But
it didn't quite thrive either. Down slightly from last February, the
show
still drew 21.9 million viewers, good enough for 3rd place. In adults
it
was down slightly as well. But compared to its season numbers, it was
up
a slight, but important 3%. It must have friends in some very high
places.
Providence:
The
last time this show made any list was during it's premiere season in
1999 
when
it tore up the tv charts. But since then the new has been nothing but
bad
as it slid last season and again last fall. But February sweeps has
done
the show a big favor, landing it at 13.6 million viewers in 29th place,
up 15% from its season to date numbers.
WB Tuesday:
Though
still retaining hit status, both "Buffy" & "Angel" were off this
fall,
the 
first
showing
some age fatigue and the latter hurting again the similarly titled
"Dark
Angel." But both caught on fire this February. "Buffy" (5.7 mil- 85th)
got over its malaise, growing 14%. "Angel" was no louse itself, coming
in at 4.8 mil - 88th, growing 13%. It may not have taken down its
"Dark"er
cousin, but it sure did take a bite out of it. It was down 1%.