Friday, January 13, 2006

Overnight Ratings -- Everybody Wins

Everyone found something to watch on Thursday night and every network had some good news. ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" tangoed to victory, Ashton Kutcher's surprisingly amusing "Beauty and the Geek" began its new season well, and Fred Savage's sitcom "Crumbs" got a huge sampling. (But will people come back for more?)

But the big news was NBC -- it's actually starting to have a Must-See lineup again on its most important night. The soon-to-disappear "Will & Grace" did well at 8 p.m. and the Seth Green sitcom "Four Kings" increased in viewers at 8:30. "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" (worth a look now) both improved mightily, helping even the aging "ER" win against a repeat of "Without A Trace." Both "Earl" and "Office" look like they'll settle in for a long stay. As Mediaweek's Marc Berman points out, whenever Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" returns, it won't be on Thursdays at 9. He's been fired from this timeslot.

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