Dinosaurs Trample Lawyers

The ongoing parade of nostalgia marched out for the current rating sweeps has delivered a mixed bag ratings-wise, with NBC’s “L.A. Law” reunion movie overshadowed Sunday by ABC’s performance that night with the fantasy miniseries “Dinotopia,” based on viewing estimates issued Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research.

“Dinotopia’s” opening installment drew ABC’s biggest audience for “The Wonderful World of Disney” since a remake of “The Miracle Worker” 18 months ago. That lead-in audience helped the season finale of ABC’s “Alias” post its highest rating since October, although time-period competitor “The X-Files”--which concludes its run this Sunday--also recorded its highest tune-in since the ninth-season premiere in November.

Even with “L.A. Law” failing to produce fireworks, NBC won the week by a solid margin, as “ER” received a boost from Anthony Edwards’ final appearance, attracting the largest audience for any program since the Academy Awards. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” also scored its second-highest rating ever, as did CBS’ “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Among the various specials last week, ratings were modest for “The Honeymooners” retrospective, “Laverne & Shirley” reunion and “Favorite Stars: Then and Now.”

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National Nielsen Viewership

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