TV Ratings : ‘Gulliver’s,’ Tuesday Lineup Give NBC Added Punch

Last week it was the Super Bowl that sent NBC’s ratings skyrocketing. This week the network dominated the prime-time race on the sheer strength of its entertainment programming--not only with its usual Thursday powerhouse lineup but also a surging Tuesday schedule and the first part of its movie “Gulliver’s Travels.”

NBC’s “ER,” “Seinfeld” and “Friends” topped the ratings list released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research, followed by Sunday night’s opening installment of “Gulliver’s Travels,” starring Ted Danson. The adaptation of Jonathan Swift’s novel was NBC’s highest rated TV movie since April 1991. (Monday’s Part 2 also delivered big numbers, which will be reflected in the ratings next week.)

More significant, however, was that, for the first time, all four of NBC’s Tuesday night comedies beat their sitcom rivals on ABC, led by “Frasier,” with Kelsey Grammer, which finished No. 8 overall, just ahead of formerly top-rated “Home Improvement.” “3rd Rock From the Sun” was 13th and “Wings” and “The John Larroquette Show” tied for 26th.

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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. ER KNBC 25.3 2. Friends KNBC 23.7 3. Seinfeld KNBC 22.8 4. “Gulliver’s Travels” Part 1 KNBC 22.4 5. “American Music Awards” KABC 20.8 6. Caroline in the City KNBC 18.4 7. 60 Minutes KCBS 17.7 8. Frasier KNBC 17.0 9. The Single Guy KNBC 16.8 10. 3rd Rock From the Sun KNBC 16.1

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Weekly Averages

NBC: 13.1

ABC: 11.1

CBS: 10.3

FOX: 8.0

UPN: 3.5

WB: 2.9

Season to Date

NBC: 12.0

ABC: 11.2

CBS: 9.6

FOX: 7.5

UPN: 3.1

WB : 2.4

Source: A.C. Nielsen