CBS Isn’t Smiling as New Comedies Fail to Win Viewers

CBS’ plan to liven up its schedule with a rash of new half-hour comedies was a ratings failure in its first week, according to Nielsen ratings figures released today. ABC, meanwhile, put the critically praised comedy “The Wonder Years” into the Nielsen top 10.

NBC won the week handily. CBS finished slightly ahead of ABC for the week but continued to lag in season-to-date ratings and seems destined to finish the season in last place for the first time.

The good news for CBS was that “CBS Evening News” was still in first place, ABC’s “World News Tonight” was second.