TV Ratings : Networks’ Fall Warm-Up Gets Cool Reception

In the final tuneup before the official launch of the 1995-96 season, the networks unveiled 16 series last week, but only one of them, ABC’s “The Jeff Foxworthy Show,” cracked the Top 10 in the prime-time ratings released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

And even that was misleading, in that Foxworthy’s sitcom premiered outside its normal time slot. Showcased in ABC’s strong Tuesday lineup, it finished No. 6 among the week’s 108 prime-time network programs, attracting an estimated 24.2 million viewers. But the episode that was shown in the regular time period Saturday tied for 50th, with about 12.8 million viewers.

Among other newcomers, ABC’s “The Naked Truth” was 17th, ABC’s “The Drew Carey Show” tied for 30th, CBS’ “Courthouse” was 47th, CBS’ “Almost Perfect” was 48th, CBS’ “Bless This House” and “Central Park West” tied for 61st with Fox’s “Partners,” and NBC’s “Minor Adjustments” tied for 93rd with Fox’s “The Preston Episodes.”

It was a big week for Fox nonetheless. “The Simpsons” won its time period on Sunday night and the network finished third in the weekly averages, ahead of CBS. It was the first time Fox has beaten one of its three rivals since expanding to a seven-night-a-week schedule in 1993.

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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.

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Program Network Rating 1. Seinfeld KNBC 20.7 2. The Simpsons KTTV 19.8 3. Mad About You KNBC 18.0 -. ER KNBC 18.0 5. Married ... With Children KTTV 17.3 6. Home Improvement KABC 16.1 7. Friends KNBC 15.8 -. The Jeff Foxworthy Show KABC 15.8 9. Beverly Hills, 90210 KTTV 15.3 10. Coach KABC 15.1

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Weekly Averages

ABC: 11.3

NBC: 9.8

FOX: 8.4

CBS: 8.0

UPN: 3.6

WB: 1.9

Season to Date

ABC: 10.9

NBC: 10.6

CBS: 9.9

FOX: 6.8

UPN: 3.4

WB: 1.9

Source: A.C. Nielsen