TV Ratings : Viewers Cast a Vote for the Laughs

CBS’ “60 Minutes” and ABC’s “20/20” cracked the Top 10, but otherwise it was comedy that dominated America’s television viewing last week, according to ratings released Tuesday by the A. C. Nielsen Co. ABC’s “Home Improvement” (starring Tim Allen) and “Grace Under Fire” were on top, followed by NBC’s “Seinfeld” and “Frasier.”

Yet CBS edged out its rivals in the network race, thanks to strong showings on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, where “The Nanny,” running outside its usual time slot, tied at No. 17--its first finish in the Top 20. In its regular airing on Wednesday, it ranked 33rd.

Fox’s effort to transfer the daytime children’s hit “The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” to prime time met with an unenthusiastic response from most viewers. The Friday night telecast ranked 80th among the week’s 86 prime-time network programs--although Fox said it attracted 36% of the available children.

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. Home Improvement KABC 18.6 2. Roseanne KABC 17.1 3. Seinfeld KNBC 15.5 4. Frasier KNBC 15.4 5. Grace Under Fire KABC 14.9 6. Coach KABC 14.0 7. 60 Minutes KCBS 13.2 8. Sister, Sister KABC 12.6 9. The Simpsons KTTV 12.4 10. Wings KNBC

Weekly Averages

CBS: 8.9

ABC: 8.6

NBC: 8.6

FOX: 5.4

Season to Date

ABC: 11.7

NBC: 10.5

FOX: 6.9