A CBS Win: Two Specials, Most-Watched ‘CSI’ Episode

The unlikely tandem of the Country Music Assn. Awards and “I Love Lucy” played a spirited tune for CBS last week, as those specials combined with the most-watched episode yet of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” to lead the network to a first-place finish, based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

“ER” also continues to attract solid tune-in despite “CSI’s” dominance of the 9 p.m. hour versus the NBC comedies “Will & Grace” and “Just Shoot Me,” as the medical drama topped the prime-time standings for the third time in the last four weeks. “Survivor: Africa” also ticked upward, to the third edition’s best results since its premiere.

Fox, meanwhile, got off to only a so-so start with its first wave of new-season program launches despite heavy promotion during the World Series. “Temptation Island 2”--introduced last Wednesday before shifting to its regular Thursday slot--averaged 7.9 million viewers for the two telecasts, less than half the audience averaged by the first edition.

Fox mainstays “The Simpsons” and “Malcolm in the Middle” returned to solid ratings Sunday, but viewing for the ninth-season premiere of “The X-Files” slipped by a third compared to a year ago. The sci-fi series did face stiff competition from the “Lucy” anniversary show and ABC’s uncut telecast of “Saving Private Ryan,” the highest-rated theatrical movie in nearly two years.

Brian Lowry