Hearings Bump CBS From No. 1 Spot : TV Ratings

CBS’ three-week winning streak to start the season came to an abrupt halt, thanks in large measure to unprecedented low ratings for the network’s baseball coverage and the public’s fascination with the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on sexual harassment accusations leveled against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. CBS finished third last week, averaging a 12.3 rating, according to figures released Tuesday by the A.C. Nielsen Co. NBC, buoyed by the season premiere of “L.A. Law” and the rest of its powerful Thursday night lineup, was first at 13.4, with ABC second at 12.5. CBS’ four prime-time American League playoff games between the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays were the four lowest-rated prime-team postseason games ever. (Each rating point represents 921,000 homes.)

Show Points Share 1. “Roseanne” (ABC) 21.4 32 2. “Murphy Brown” (CBS) 20.1 30 3. “Cheers” (NBC) 19.5 29 4. “L.A. Law” (NBC) 18.9 32 5. “Designing Women” (CBS) 18.7 28 * “I’ll Fly Away” (NBC) 15.4 24

* Monday’s two-hour premiere of “I’ll Fly Away” flew into a tie for 17th with “The Cosby Show” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.” When it moved to its regularly scheduled 8 p.m. Tuesday slot, NBC’s drama, set in the late 1950s South, was second to ABC’s situation comedy duo of “Full House” and “Home Improvement” and, overall, tied with “The Simpsons” for 31st.