Cher Sends Ratings Soaring

Viewers tuning in to watch Cher and her eye-popping dress helped the Academy Awards show rack up what may have been its best television ratings in five years.

The 3-hour, 33-minute show Monday night, broadcast live on ABC-TV, had a rating of 37.7 and a 59 share, according to an overnight survey of the 15 largest cities by the A. C. Nielsen Co. The numbers may change as other areas are counted. The last time the Oscars show rated higher was in 1983, when it got a 38.0 and 59. Last year, the show had a national rating of 27.5 and a 43 share, according to Nielsen.