TV Ratings : And a Child Shall Lead Them to the Promised Land

With the help of a prominent child and a famous son--Macaulay Culkin and Michael Landon Jr., respectively--NBC managed to tie CBS for leadership in the prime-time ratings last week, the first time NBC has had even a piece of the weekly lead since last June. Its strongest performers were Culkin’s “Home Alone” on Thursday night, which ranked No. 3 for the week, and Landon’s “Bonanza: The Return” on Sunday, which placed No. 6.

The “Bonanza” revival was not the top-rated movie Sunday, however. It was narrowly beatenby the Oprah Winfrey film on ABC, “There Are No Children Here,” which was No. 5 among the week’s 84 network programs.

None of the many specials on TV last week fared well overall. ABC’s “A Gala for the President at Ford’s Theater” on Wednesday ranked 32nd, and NBC’s Mariah Carey showcase on Thursday was 34th. NBC’s “Comedy Hall of Fame” on Wednesday was 37th, CBS’ “Circus of the Stars” on Friday finished 44th, and ABC’s “American Music Awards 20th Anniversary” on Saturday was 55th.

Southland Ratings

Here are A. C. Nielsen’s Top 10 prime-time programs in the Los Angeles area during the same week. Each rating point equals 50,064 households.

Program Station Rating 1. 60 Minutes KCBS 19.6 2. Roseanne KABC 16.3 3. “There Are No Children Here” KABC 15.9 4. Home Improvement KABC 15.7 5. Murder, She Wrote KCBS 15.7 6. “Home Alone” KNBC 15.5 7. Beverly Hills, 90210 KTTV 14.3 8. Melrose Place KTTV 13.6 9. “Bonanza: The Return” KNBC 12.7 10. “Beethoven” KTTV 12.7

Weekly Averages

CBS: 12.1

NBC: 12.1

ABC: 11.8

FOX: 7.6

Season to Date

CBS: 13.3

ABC: 12.9

NBC: 11.3

FOX: 7.3