‘Smackdown!’ Takes Down UPN’s ‘Family Affair’ Premiere

On a night that unofficially marked the start of the fall television season, two wrestlers on the precipice of a same-sex marriage earned UPN’s wrestling show “Smackdown!” an average 6.2 million viewers Thursday night, the show’s highest ratings since April.

Meanwhile, over on the WB, the premiere of the first new series of the fall, “Family Affair,” a remake of the 1960s sitcom, drew an average 4.6 million viewers.

Both “Smackdown” and “Family Affair” air Thursday nights at 8, so their competition will get tougher when new episodes of NBC’s “Friends” and CBS’ “Survivor” begin.

The “Smackdown!” episode featured wrestlers Billy and Chuck about to exchange vows, at which point--shockingly--the event was revealed as a publicity stunt and a fight broke out.

More new series begin next week, although the season doesn’t officially begin until Sept. 23.

Paul Brownfield