Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Irascible doc signals a hit in the 'House'
The American Idol segment of March 15, featuring Tampa's Jessica Sierra, was seen by 28.4-million viewers.+
Associated Press
Published March 25, 2005
NEW YORK - Score one for irascible doctors.
Fox's drama House, starring Hugh Laurie as a doctor with absolutely no bedside manner, hit a series high and was the most popular scripted series in prime time last week, according to Nielsen Media Research.
With a huge assist from American Idol, the series is a budding hit. It was seen by 17.3-million people last week.
It obviously helped that it was on directly after an American Idol episode watched by 28.4-million people. The House audience instantly doubled in January when it took the time slot after Idol.
But in two months, House has gained 5-million viewers from that first airing after American Idol, suggesting word-of-mouth is helping.
Another popular freshman series, Medium, was the most popular show on NBC last week, benefiting from a rerun of CSI: Miami in the same time slot.
ABC is having little luck with a highly touted new series. The network showed four episodes of Jake in Progress in a row last week and none could get much more than 7-million viewers.
CBS won the week, averaging 12-million viewers and finishing just behind Fox among viewers ages 18 to 49. Fox had 9.7-million viewers, NBC had 9.4-million, ABC 8.2-million, UPN 3.2-million, the WB 2.7-million and Pax TV 600,000.
The evening news ratings race tightened to a virtual dead-heat. NBC's Nightly News averaged 9.68-million viewers, while ABC's World News Tonight had 9.66-million. CBS Evening News had 7.6-million.
1. Idol-Tue., Fox, 28.4
2. Idol-Wed., Fox, 24.7
3. Survivor, CBS, 18.4
4. House, Fox, 17.3
5. Cold Case, CBS, 17.3
6. 60 Minutes, CBS, 16
7. Medium, NBC, 15.4
8. Raymond, CBS, 15.2
9. Two & Half Men, CBS, 15
10. CSI: Miami, CBS, 14.6
11. Housewives, ABC, 13.3
12. Amazing Race, CBS, 12.7
13. Simple Life, Fox, 12.6
14. Basketball-Sun, CBS, 12.5
15. Criminal Intent, NBC, 12.4
16. Las Vegas, NBC, 12.1
17. 24, Fox, 12.1
18. Law & Order, NBC, 12
19. Makeover, ABC, 11.8
20. Apprentice, NBC, 11.6
[Last modified March 24, 2005, 11:22:03]
Share your thoughts on this story
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
