Logo

Premieres Struggle to Boost ABC, CBS

Nov 15, 2006  •  Post A Comment

Some midseason network hopes were dashed Tuesday night, as two premieres strained to bring in new viewers.

CBS’s new medical drama “3 Lbs” premiered in the 10 p.m. (ET) slot and pulled a 2.9 rating, according to Nielsen Media Research. That’s less than the three-week season average “Smith” had in the hour (3.2) earlier this season.

On ABC, which won the night, the 90-minute game show special “Show Me the Money” at 9:30 p.m. lost 49 percent of its huge “Dancing With the Stars” lead-in (7.5) to earn a 3.8. Still, that’s an improvement on usual time-slot occupants “Boston Legal” and “Help Me Help You.”

Fox finished in second place with 8 p.m.’s “Standoff,” which earned its lowest rating to date (2.0), and “House” (6.2). NBC was third with “Friday Night Lights” at 8 p.m. delivering its lowest rating to date (2.3), followed by “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (3.1) and “Law & Order: SVU” (5.3), which matched its highest rating since April. CBS’s procedural block was about on par with “NCIS” (4.1) and “The Unit” (3.5) followed by the aforementioned “3 Lbs.” On The CW, “Gilmore Girls” had its best night in a few weeks (2.0) and “Veronica Mars” (1.2) had its best ratings this season with teens.