Prime-Time TV Rankings

CBS continues to successfully program its way through the holidays, edging NBC last week thanks in part to the top-rated “60 Minutes” since April, based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

The Eye network also received a boost from its Monday comedy tandem of “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Becker,” as the Ted Danson sitcom retained enough of “Raymond’s” audience to achieve its highest rating ever.

NBC was still the commanding leader in key young-adult demographics, as “Frasier”--advancing the Niles-Daphne plot line--delivered its biggest audience since the program’s first season, helping “Stark Raving Mad” corral its highest rating so far. Even so, the freshman sitcom still fumbled away 27% of the audience that viewed “Frasier.”

“Law & Order” continued its stellar year with a season-high rating as well, while lead-in “The West Wing” flew off with its best Nielsen polling numbers since early October.

Another bright spot for NBC was the network’s annual telecast of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” as the holiday perennial--shown Sunday, when TV viewing tends to be highest--rewarded the network with almost 2 million more viewers than its year-ago airing on a Saturday, when tune-in is generally lower.