Last May, even NBC seemed to be losing confidence in “ER.” At the upfront, the network announced that the 13-year-old hospital drama would be replaced for 13 weeks at midseason with the highly touted new drama “The Black Donnellys,” after a season in which “ER’s” adults 18-49 average slipped 28 percent, from a 7.2 to a 5.2.
Two days later, CBS decided to move “Without a Trace” from Thursdays at 10, where it had been sapping “ER’s” ratings, to Sundays. And five months later, “ER” has reestablished itself as the dominant 10 p.m. drama on TV’s most lucrative night. It's one of this season’s biggest shockers.
“ER” has averaged a 6.4 rating thus far this season, up 23 percent over last year’s average, and its household average is also up 21 percent, from an 8.1 to a 9.8.
Part of show’s turnaround is certainly the lighter competition. With “Trace’s” exit from the timeslot. viewers no longer need choose between the two programs, and the show that took “Trace’s” place on CBS, “Shark,” has averaged a 4.1, compared to “Trace’s” 5.6 last year. ABC’s “Six Degrees,” which is averaging a 4.3, hasn’t provided much competition either.
But “ER” has also been stronger creatively this year, with new actors and plotlines giving the show fresh life. John Stamos has come on as a regular, and last week “Frasier’s” John Mahoney gave a moving guest performance as a closeted cross-dresser.
Tonight Forest Whitaker, who’s getting major Oscar buzz for the new movie “The Last King of Scotland,” begins a five-week stint on the show playing a stroke victim suing Kovacs for malpractice.
|
A look at this week’s top TV draws |
|
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
7 a.m. |
NBC |
"Today" (N) |
Sen. Barack Obama and the “Project Runway” winner both guest, and Vince Gill performs. |
|
8 p.m. |
NBC |
"My Name is Earl" (C) |
Earl's friendship with Ralph is in doubt when the latter finds out something surprising about his mother. |
|
8 p.m. |
ABC |
"Ugly Betty" (D) |
Wilhelmina and Daniel team up to finish a photo shoot by deadline. You read that right. |
|
8:30 p.m. |
NBC |
"The Office" (C) |
Dwight takes B.J. Novak, who also wrote the episode, on his first sales call while Jim continues to settle in at his new office. |
|
9 p.m. |
ABC |
"Grey's Anatomy" (D) |
The interns defend a resident at a staff meeting, and viewers rejoice at Meredith’s regained health. Meredith on morphine was even more annoying than drug-free Meredith. |
|
9 p.m. |
CBS |
"CSI" (D) |
A woman is found crucified at a Catholic church that's undergoing renovation. |
|
10 p.m. |
NBC |
"ER" (D) |
Forrest Whitaker guests as a stroke victim who sues the hospital for malpractice. |
|
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
7 a.m. |
CBS |
"The Early Show" (N) |
A guest spot for the latest “Survivor” loser, and Ryan Phillippe from the movie 'Flags of Our Fathers.' |
|
8 p.m. |
Fox |
"Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy" (R) |
Season premiere. A Christian from Kentucky trades places with a Jewish mother from Boston. |
|
8 p.m. |
NBC |
"1 vs 100" (G) |
Bob Saget adds another bullet to his already interesting resume. |
|
9 p.m. |
CBS |
"Close to Home" (D) |
A businessman's wife is murdered and he becomes a prime suspect. |
|
9 p.m. |
NBC |
"Las Vegas" (D) |
Season premiere. Delinda reveals she has feelings for Danny, but there's one problem: She's engaged to someone else. |
|
9 p.m. |
ESPN2 |
"Best of Baseball Tonight Web Gem Awards" (S) |
Batters get all the glory, but here's some recognition for the best defensive plays of the season. |
|
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
Noon |
ABC |
"College Football" (S) |
Huge Big 12 game in Lincoln between Texas and Nebraska. |
|
2:30 p.m. |
NBC |
"College Football" (S) |
The Bruins of UCLA travel to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. |
|
3:30 p.m. |
ABC |
"College Football" (S) |
Iowa takes on Michigan in a huge Big Ten game in the Big House. |
|
7:45 p.m. |
ESPN |
"College Football" (S) |
Georgia Tech versus Clemson in a big ACC game. |
|
8 p.m. |
Fox |
"Major League Baseball" (S) |
Game one of the World Series. |
|
9 p.m. |
Discovery Times |
"Kidnap and Rescue" (N) |
The story of an American contractor kidnapped in Iraq and held for 10 months. |
|
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 |
|
Time |
Network |
Program |
Description |
|
1 p.m. |
NBC |
"NASCAR Racing" (S) |
A Nextel Cup race from Martinsville, Va. |
|
7:05 p.m. |
Showtime |
"Dave Chappelle's Block Party" (N) |
Documenting a large music-centric block party thrown by Dave Chappelle in Brooklyn. |
|
7:30 p.m. |
Fox |
"Major League Baseball" (S) |
Game two of the World Series. |
|
9 p.m. |
ABC |
"Desperate Housewives" (D) |
Gaby and Carlos' divorce proceedings take a turn for the worst. |
|
9 p.m. |
VH1 |
"Hogan Knows Best" (R) |
Season premiere. The family lives it up in their new Miami palace. |
|
10 p.m. |
ABC |
"Brothers & Sisters" (D) |
Kitty agrees to go on a double date, but those rarely work out as originally planned. |
|
10 p.m. |
Showtime |
"Dexter" (D) |
The latest antics of the Ice Truck Killer start to mess with Dexter's head. |
|
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show. |
