News Shorts

A Tuesday win for Fox in 18-49s, led by '24'
A lineup of repeats on ABC opened the way for Fox to handily win Tuesday in the adult 18-49 demographic. Fox’s “24,” in fact, was the night’s highest-rated show with a 5.2 rating. The critically lauded drama competed head-to-head with a “Frasier” repeat and “In-Laws” on NBC and repeats of “Life with Bonnie” and “Less Than Perfect” on ABC. Fox was No. 1 for three of four half-hours, with “That 70s Show” kicking things off at 8 p.m. The network only had a minor stumble at 8:30 p.m., when “Grounded for Life,” the show leaving the network for the WB, dipped into second place behind ABC’s “According to Jim.” Fox averaged a 4.9 adult 18-49 rating, based on Nielsen fast nationals. NBC had a 3.9 and was the highest-ranked network at 10 p.m. with “Dateline’s” Mariah Carey interview. ABC had a 3.8 and CBS had a 1.8. NBC ranked No. 1 in households with a 6.7 rating and 11 share. ABC and CBS had a 6.4/10 and Fox had a 6/9.

ABC's 'MNF' takes 18-49s and households
ABC’s Monday Night Football gave the network a win in the adult 18-49 and household demographics against a schedule dominated by repeats on the other Big Four networks. ABC averaged a 5.8 adult 18-49 rating and ranked No. 1 from 9 p.m. until the end of primetime. NBC had a 4.9 and won the 8 p.m. hour with “Fear Factor.” CBS had a 4.4 with repeats of its Monday lineup, including “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “CSI: Miami.” Fox trailed with a 3.9. While Fox was competitive at 8 p.m. with “Boston Public,” the network is struggling at 9 p.m., the time slot previously held by “Ally McBeal” and the quickly canceled “girls club.” The network aired a repeat of “The World’s Funniest Movie Outtakes,” which came in fourth place and lost nearly 13 percent of its rating in its second half-hour. ABC ranked No. 1 in households with a 9.8 rating and 15 share, based on Nielsen fast nationals. CBS had an 8.2/13, NBC had a 7.9/12 and Fox had a 5.7/9.

NBC wins 18-49s race in November sweeps
NBC captured the November sweeps crown in 18-49s, dropping 2 percent from its average last year to a 5.0 rating and 13 share. CBS held off NBC for No. 1 in households with an 8.7 rating and 14 share, also off 2 percent from 2001, but lost ground in 18-49s. ABC’s 8 percent improvement in that demo helped it leapfrog CBS into second place with a 4.2 rating and 11 share, one-tenth of a point ahead of CBS. ABC took third in households with a 6.9 rating and 11 share, up 3 percent versus 2001. Fox fell by nearly a third in households and 18-49s, finishing fourth in both. The WB showed gains in households and 18-34s, where it increased by 14 percent to a 2.4 rating and 7 share. UPN, on the other hand, dropped 14 percent in both households and 18-34s, finishing with a 1.8 rating and 5 share in the latter.

'60 Minutes' creator: I'm still going strong, thanks
Coming up on his 80th birthday, "60 Minutes" creator and producer Don Hewitt still insists that he won't retire willingly despite talk that CBS is anxious to replace him with someone who didn't live through the Great Depression. Hewitt went on CNN's "Larry King Live" Monday to say he'll be producing for years to come, at another network if necessary. "I think the problem is that [CBS executives] don't know that I'm not the ordinary, run-of-the-mill, everyday 80-year-old," he told King. Be that as it may, the average audience for "60 Minutes" has shrunk from 16 million to 14 million viewers over the past two years. Speculation over a replacement focuses on "60 Minutes II" producer Jeff Fager, who is 47. CBS News chief Andrew Hayward says the network have no plans to replace Hewitt and that the producer's upcoming birthday "has triggered nothing except a birthday party that I am hosting and looking forward to." Hewitt's contract is up for discussion in February.

At last, a glimpse of the real Chuck Woolery
Just in case there’s anyone out there who doesn’t think this whole reality TV trend has gone way, way too far: The Game Show Network is developing a series about the off-camera life of Chuck Woolery. The show, called "Chuck Woolery: Behind the Lingo," will debut in the spring. Woolery was the original host of "Wheel of Fortune," and his other game show credits include "Love Connection," "Greed" and "Scrabble." He has also played himself in appearances on "Melrose Place," "Sister, Sister," "227" and "It’s Garry Shandling’s Show." "Chuck Woolery: Behind the Lingo" will take a backstage look at Woolery’s work on the Game Show Network program "Lingo" as well as his family life.

Old Navy gives NYC cabs the warm fuzzies
Old Navy commercials: They're not just for C-list celebrities anymore. You can star in one of your own, in a manner of speaking, thanks to a promotion in which some New York City taxis have been outfitted with red fleece seat covers courtesy of the clothing retailer. The campaign, which will last two weeks, is the first allowed inside taxis by the city. The Taxi and Limousine Commission says that mayor Michael Bloomberg approved the move because it will raise $100,000 for his favorite charity, New York Cares. Four hundred cabs will get the seat cover makeover, being coordinated by Medallion Taxi Media. Car-top advertising has been accepted practice for years in NYC, and Medallion promises that the seat covers will cause minimal annoyance (unlike those TV commercials).

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