CBS’ ‘Smart’ wins TV movie duel

CBS squeaked out a victory over NBC in Sunday night’s showdown of the made-for-TV movies featuring young blonds in peril, according to Nielsen data released Monday.

More than 15.7 million viewers tuned in to “The Elizabeth Smart Story” on CBS, in which Amber Marshall starred as the abducted Utah teenager, while about 14.9 million viewers watched NBC’s “Saving Jessica Lynch,” with Laura Regan portraying the young Army soldier captured in Iraq. The movies went head to head in what was one of the key conflicts in the November ratings sweeps, a monthlong period that helps determine the rates TV stations charge advertisers.

Two episodes of Fox’s “The Simpsons” also performed well from 8 to 9 p.m. Sunday, averaging 12.3 million viewers.

Greg Braxton