NBC’s ’10.5’ rocks the ratings

NBC’s earthquake miniseries, “10.5,” proved that it’s possible to survive disasters -- or at least disastrous reviews.

Sunday’s Part 1 of “10.5,” about a distinctly mythical Big One wreaking all sorts of havoc on the West Coast, overcame a clutch of truly awful notices to become the most-watched TV movie on any network since CBS aired “9/11” more than two years ago. Overall, the temblor fest, which arrived on the first weekend of the May ratings sweeps, rounded up an average of 20.4 million viewers, rumbling right past CBS’ made-for-TV movie “The Book of Ruth” (11.6 million), according to preliminary figures from Nielsen Media Research. “10.5” also boosted its numbers as it went along, usually a sign of strong viewer interest, and one that augured well for Monday night’s two-hour finale.