ABC - WRITERS FACING HARSH REALITY

Last week's ratings results could not have lifted the spirits of Writers Guild of America members. Of the top ten shows only three were scripted. ABC's Lost placed highest on the list -- tied, with two other shows four fourth place. CBS's Two and a Half Men came in at No. 8 and the network's NCIS tied for tenth. Once again, Fox's American Idol blew away the competition, with the Tuesday performance edition capturing first place with a 16.6 rating and a 25 share. Not quite making the top ten was NBC's 2-hour "backdoor pilot" of Knight Rider, which tied for twelfth. Overall, Fox came out on top for the week with an average 6.7 rating and an 11 share. NBC finished second with a 5.5/9, barely edging out CBS with a 5.2/8. ABC trailed with a 4.4/7.

The top ten shows of the week according to Nielsen Research:
1. American Idol (Tuesday), Fox, 16.6/25; 2. American Idol (Wednesday), Fox, 14.3/22; 3. Moment of Truth, Fox, 8.4/13; 4. 60 Minutes, CBS, 8.1/14; 4. (tie) Deal or No Deal, (Monday), NBC, 8.1/13; 4. (tie) Lost, ABC, 8.1/13; 7. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC, 7.8/12; 8. Two and a Half Men, CBS, 7.7/11; 9. Deal or No Deal 2/14 (Thursday), NBC, 7.6/13; 10. NCIS, CBS, 7.5/11; 10. Survivor: Micronesia, CBS, 7.5/12.

21/02/2008