NBC, which ruled network ratings for well over a decade with ‘must see’ shows like Friends, Frasier, Seinfeld and ER, last week suffered a humilitating turnaround when not one of its shows turned up anywhere in that’s week’s top ten rated programs. It didn’t help that the long-moribund ABC made the list with with three entirely new shows (Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy), not to mention that the lowly Fox network made the list thrice, not just with the two editions of American Idol but with the surprise hit House, MD (#7 for the week).
CBS led the week, on the strength of CSI (#1), Without a Trace (#5), the remarkably hardy Survivor (#6), and the NCAA Championship game (#9). I realize audiences are smaller all around, but it’s pretty incredible that CSI remains the number one show on TV when there are two direct spin-offs of it running at the same time, not to mention the look-alike shows Without a Trace and Cold Case.
