SHORT TAKES : NBC Has a ‘Grand’ Time, but ‘Simpsons’ Is the Big Surprise

“Grand” had a grand premiere on NBC as the network won the prime-time ratings race for the 82nd time in the last 83 weeks--but look out, folks, here comes Fox’s “The Simpsons,” according to figures reported today.

“Grand” came in fifth on the Nielsen ratings list, in one of those protected berths NBC can provide a new sitcom. It followed “Cheers,” which was the No. 1 show of the week.

The show it displaced, “Dear John,” won its time period but came in tied for 33rd in its new Wednesday home, replacing “My Two Dads.” That’s not as good as its 10th place finish the previous week when it was still on the Thursday schedule, but a marked improvement on “Dads” which, in its last Wednesday showing, came in 57th.

Preston Beckman, NBC’s director of audience research, said the show is holding on to the comedy audience from “Night Court” and providing better audience flow into the 10 p.m. time period and “Quantum Leap.”

For a real success story, take a look at “The Simpsons,” the outrageous adult cartoon show on Fox. It tied for 28th, despite the fact that its lead-in, “America’s Most Wanted,” tied for 64th. In its premiere the previous week, “The Simpsons” was in 48th place.

TOP 10 SHOWS

Here are ratings for national prime-time television last week (Jan. 15-21), as compiled by the A. C. Nielsen Co.

Program (Network): Rating

1. Cheers (NBC): 24.7

2. The Cosby Show (NBC): 23.4

3. Roseanne (ABC): 23.4

4. 60 Minutes (CBS): 22.7

5. Grand (NBC): 21.6

6. A Different World (NBC): 20.8

7. Murder, She Wrote (CBS): 20.5

8. “The Operation” (CBS): 20.0

9. The Wonder Years (ABC): 19.9

10. Unsolved Mysteries (NBC): 19.4