Will Oscarcast Pluck NBC’s Feathers?

With four of the five most-watched shows of the week, ABC gave a run at derailing the NBC train last week but came up a bit short, allowing the Peacock Network to tie the industry record of finishing first in the prime-time ratings for 40 weeks in a row. It remains to be seen, however, whether ABC’s Oscar telecast tonight will push that network into the No. 1 slot next week and keep NBC from setting a network record. Figures released Tuesday by the A.C. Nielsen Co. showed that NBC’s programs were seen in an average of 13.5 million homes, compared to 13 million for ABC and 10.5 million for CBS. The full list of ratings is on Page 9.

* NBC had something else to crow about Tuesday: The ratings for the 1960 production of “Peter Pan,” which hadn’t been broadcast in 16 years. More than 14.5 million homes tuned in Friday night to see Mary Martin fly again. That not only won the 8-10 p.m. time period but also qualified as NBC’s highest-rated entertainment program in that slot this season.

TV RATINGS

Show Points Share 1.”Roseanne” 25.7 38 ABC 2.”The Women of Brewster Place” 24.5 38 ABC 3.”The Cosby Show” 22.5 38 NBC 4.”Who’s the Boss?” 21.8 34 ABC 5.”The Wonder Years” 20.8 32 ABC *”Peter Pan” 16.1 27 NBC