Grammys, ‘Survivor’ Help CBS

A first wave of midseason series followed the dousing of the Olympic flame, with NBC generating respectable tune-in for two new comedies, the Julia Louis-Dreyfus showcase “Watching Ellie” and “Friends” companion “Leap of Faith,” while CBS’ launch of the fourth “Survivor” combined with the Grammy Awards to end NBC’s winning streak at three weeks, based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

CBS’ “Survivor: Marquesas” made its debut to a slightly smaller audience than the last go-round, as the big Thursday story was another record for “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” which drew more viewers than NBC’s “ER” did in the following hour. Grammy ratings dove more than 25% compared to 2001 but still provided CBS a rare Wednesday night victory.

HBO premiered the second season of “Six Feet Under” on Sunday, drawing an estimated 6.2 million viewers--an impressive number given that the program plays on a channel received by less than one-third of U.S. homes.

Another critically acclaimed drama, Fox’s “24,” has been a bit of a ratings disappointment but exhibited stronger life signs last week, attracting its highest rating among adults ages 18 to 49.

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National Nielsen Viewership

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