CBS steps into week’s top spot

Viewing levels took a dive as the November rating sweeps gave way to the Thanksgiving weekend. That allowed CBS to stroll off with a weekly victory thanks to “The Christmas Shoes,” based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

CBS’ ailing Sunday movie lurched to life with the Rob Lowe Christmas film, which drew the biggest audience for a TV movie this season. Indicating a healthy appetite for holiday fare, NBC also posted respectable numbers Friday with “It’s a Merry Muppet Christmas,” trouncing Fox’s made-for-TV sequel “The Bradys in the White House.”

Thursday didn’t give ABC much to be thankful for, as its two-hour premiere of “Dinotopia” drew the kind of audience that could easily lead to extinction, especially given that the competition was mostly reruns and specials.

Fox’s “Andy Richter Controls the Universe” also made an unimpressive second-season debut, falling 30% off its “Malcolm in the Middle” lead-in. So far, “The Simpsons” has been a pillar of strength for Fox, but the rest of its Sunday all-comedy lineup is suspect.

ABC’s two-hour Paul McCartney special hit a flat note as well, whereas the network’s prime-time college football coverage -- splitting the USC-Notre Dame and Florida-Florida State games -- placed first Saturday. The USC game was the week’s second-most-watched program in the Los Angeles viewing area, while the games ranked No. 36 nationally.

-- Brian Lowry