TV RATINGS

The familiar NBC ratings champs reappeared from their temporary, baseball-induced absences last week to once again dominate the latest Nielsen ratings, released Tuesday. The “Cosby”-led “A Different World” aside, most new series are beginning to settle into predictable positions on the Nielsen rankings. CBS’ “Beauty and the Beast,” moving up to No. 33 from No. 40, appears to be finding an audience, while ABC’s “thirtysomething” looks to be shedding some of its viewers (down to No. 45 from No. 23). Weekly network averages: NBC, 18.4 rating/30 share; ABC, 14.9/25; CBS, 13.4/22. Evening news ratings: CBS 11.6, ABC 10.2, NBC 10.0. (One Nielsen point equals 886,000 homes; share refers to the percentage of households watching a particular program.) The complete Nielsens appear on Page 5.

“Funny, You Don’t Look 200,” a comic look at the Constitution and its Bicentennial, didn’t work out too well for ABC. The show, hosted (and co-produced) by Richard Dreyfuss, featured such stars as Sir John Gielgud to Whoopi Goldberg--but it stiffed on the ratings.

SHOW POINTS SHARE WEEK 1. The Cosby Show 30.0 49 10/18 (NBC) 28.2 45 10/11 2. A Different World 26.7 43 10/18 (NBC) ---- -- 10/11 3. Cheers 25.3 40 10/18 (NBC) ---- -- 10/11 4. Growing Pains 24.6 38 10/18 (ABC) 23.1 37 10/11 5. Night Court 23.2 38 10/18 (NBC) ---- -- 10/11 Funny, You Don’t Look 200 6.1 10 10/18 (ABC) (special) ---- -- -----