Paula Jones and Tonya Harding on Fox's 'Celebrity Boxing'


NBC's 'Fear Factor'


CBS's 'Amazing Race 2'

 
Fox's big punch
with 'Celebrity Boxing'

Missed Tonya and Paula? Tune in tomorrow night.

By Mike Jasik

   What began as a very promising season for Fox has turned out less so with mixed performances by its edgy new series "The Tick," "Undeclared," "24" and "Bernie Mac."
   "Bernie Mac" is a clear hit, but the very oddball "Tick" was canceled, and "24," so highly touted by both the network and critics as innovative TV at its best, is not pulling in huge numbers of viewers. "Undeclared" is bumping along the bottom somewhere.
   But Fox executives, in addition to being masters of edge, are also aces when it comes to schlock, and last week they proved it again with "Celebrity Boxing," a special in which some of America's most disgraced and controversial public figures were pitted against one another in the boxing ring.
   Reviled by critics, Fox's "Celebrity Boxing" drew nearly 15.5 million viewers last Wednesday and was the fourth-highest-rated program of the week among adults 18-49 with a a 7.1 rating.
    More men ages 18-34 tuned to see Paula Jones and Tonya Harding go at it than tuned in to watch any other show that night, including CBS's "Survivor: Marquesas."
   The B-list brawl stands as the fourth-most-watched show for Fox this season, after the Super Bowl, World Series and the feature film "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace."
    It also ranks as Fox's highest-rated special since its disastrous  "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire," whose airing in 2000 was met by loud hoots from critics and followed by a series of nasty revelations about some of the contestants.
    In its aftermath, Fox executives said they were swearing off schlock specials once and for all.
    Buoyed by the success of "Celebrity Boxing," Fox has announced it  will re-air the three-fight punch-out this tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in place of the low-rated "Family Guy."
    It is also planning another "Boxing" special for May with a fresh cast of sluggers.
    Still, for all the attention paid to "Boxing" and the viewers it drew in, NBC won the week in households and adults 18-49 with a schedule heavy on repeats, edging out CBS, which was without its top-rated "CSI" due to NCAA college basketball coverage.
   NBC finished with a 4.4 adult 18-49 rating for the week. CBS had a 3.9, Fox a 3.6 and ABC a 3.4. UPN posted a 1.6; the WB a 1.4.
    Even transported to Wednesday night due to college ball on Thursday, viewers still flocked to CBS's "Survivor: Marquesas."
    The fourth installment of the series averaged an 8.9 adult 18-49 rating for the hour, just a hair below its debut numbers, and drew over 20 million viewers, the most of any show for the week.
    CBS's "March Madness" college basketball, on Thursday through Sunday, couldn't match those numbers, but it did log a 12 percent increase in household ratings over the year before in the same time frame.
    CBS's other reality entry, "The Amazing Race 2," benefited greatly from its "Survivor" lead-in. Its 18-49 rating rose 33 percent from its debut on Monday, to a 5.8, ranking 11th in the demo for the week.
    NBC's "Fear Factor" did even better. The expanded, 90-minute episode drew 17 million viewers, nearly 10 million of whom were adults 18-49. The gross-out reality series posted a 7.6 adult 18-49 rating, a 66 percent jump from the previous week.
    This didn't help the premiere of the "Colin Quinn Show," which lost a crushing 60 percent of the lead-in provided by the last half-hour of "Fear Factor."
    Though it wasn't news to most people, Rosie O'Donnell's step out of the closet on ABC's "Primetime Thursday" more than doubled its adult 18-49 rating from the week before. The special edition on gay adoption also finished as the network's highest-rated program for the week in households and second only to "The Practice" in adults 18-49.
   NBC took the week in households with a 7.9 rating and 13 share, followed closely by a 7.5/13 from CBS. ABC came in third place with a 6.2/13, Fox had a 4.9/8, UPN a 2.3/4 and the WB a 2.1/3.


PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
 RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
 Week Ending March 17, 2002

 

HOUSEHOLDS

PERSONS 2+ ADULTS 18-49

Net

Rtg
%

(000)

SHR

Rtg
%

(000)

SHR

Rtg
%

(000)

SHR
NBC 7.9 8300 13 4.3 11530 11 4.4 5620 12
CBS 7.5 7880 13 4.2 11320 11 3.9 4940 11
ABC 6.2 6530 10 3.4 9200 9 3.4 4310 9
FOX 4.9 5200 8 3.0 8040 8 3.6 4540 10
UPN 2.3 2430 4 1.4 3670 3 1.6 1990 4
WB 2.1 2260 3 1.2 3320 3 1.4 1770 4
PAX 1.0 1010 2 0.5 1350 1 0.3 410 1
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

SEASON-TO-DATE
 PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
 RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
 Sept. 24, 2001 through March 17, 2002

 

HOUSEHOLDS

PERSONS 2+

ADULTS 18-49

Net

Rtg
%

(000)

SHR

Rtg
%

(000)

SHR

Rtg
%

(000)

SHR
NBC 9.1 9610 15 5.2 13960 13 5.4 6860 14
CBS 8.1 8600 13 4.6 12300 12 3.9 4960 10
ABC 6.5 6820 11 3.7 9900 9 3.7 4690 10
FOX 6.1 6390 10 3.6 9800 9 4.2 5380 11
UPN 2.8 2910 4 1.6 4450 4 1.9 2440 5
WB 2.5 2600 4 1.4 3780 3 1.6 2040 4
PAX 0.9 960 1 0.5 1310 1 0.3 440 1
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

NETWORK TV
RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
 Week Ending March 17, 2002

 

 

 

HOUSEHOLDS

PERSONS 2+

#

PROGRAMS

Net

Rtg%

Shr

(000)

#

Rtg%

(000)
1 FRIENDS NBC 13.6 22 14299 2 7.5 20116
2 LAW AND ORDER NBC 11.6 20 12252 3 6.3 16987
3 SURVIVOR MARQUESAS- WED 1 CBS 11.5 19 12164 1 7.6 20455
4 60 MINUTES CBS 11.2 19 11768 8 5.8 15747
5 EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND CBS 10.9 16 11505 5 6.1 16554
6 JAG CBS 10.7 17 11256 5 6.1 16355
7 BECKER CBS 10.5 16 11102 7 6.0 16160
7 LEAP OF FAITH NBC 10.5 17 11045 10 5.6 15185
7 PRIMETIME THURSDAY ABC 10.5 17 11086 12 5.3 14411
10 WEST WING NBC 10.0 16 10595 12 5.3 14373
11 FEAR FACTOR NBC 9.8 15 10362 3 6.3 17061
11 FRASIER NBC 9.8 15 10345 11 5.5 14853
13 E.R. NBC 9.4 16 9928 14 5.1 13647
13 LAW AND ORDER:SVU NBC 9.4 17 9927 15 5.0 13624
15 WILL & GRACE NBC 9.2 14 9689 16 4.9 13288
16 CELEBRITY BOXING FOX 9.1 14 9646 9 5.7 15485
16 PRACTICE, THE ABC 9.1 15 9573 16 4.9 13270
18 GUARDIAN, THE CBS 8.6 13 9065 18 4.7 12628
19 DATELINE NBC-TUE NBC 8.4 14 8895 22 4.4 11759
20 DATELINE FRI NBC 8.2 15 8615 29 4.2 11210
20 JUST SHOOT ME NBC 8.2 13 8648 25 4.3 11684
20 KING OF QUEENS CBS 8.2 13 8695 18 4.7 12573
23 DATELINE WED-S NBC 8.1 13 8537 29 4.2 11342
24 LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT NBC 8.0 12 8487 22 4.4 11932
25 CBS SUNDAY MOVIE CBS 7.9 13 8300 25 4.3 11709
25 NYPD BLUE ABC 7.9 12 8369 22 4.4 11991
25 YES, DEAR CBS 7.9 12 8380 21 4.5 12176
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

NETWORK TV
RANKED ON ADULTS 18-49
Week Ending March 17, 2002

 

 

 

ADULTS 18-49

#

PROGRAMS

Net

Rtg%

Shr

(000)
1 FRIENDS NBC 9.6 27 12260
2 SURVIVOR MARQUESAS-WED 1 CBS 8.9 24 11330
3 FEAR FACTOR NBC 7.6 19 9630
4 CELEBRITY BOXING FOX 7.1 17 9010
5 LEAP OF FAITH NBC 7.0 18 8840
6 LAW AND ORDER NBC 6.6 18 8430
6 WILL & GRACE NBC 6.6 17 8360
8 ER NBC 6.4 17 8190
8 FRASIER NBC 6.4 16 8180
10 EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND CBS 6.0 14 7610
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

CABLE TV
RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
 Week Ending March 10, 2002
BASIC CABLE
     

House-
holds

 House- holds

Persons 2+

#

PROGRAM NAME

 Net

(000)

 Rtg %  (000)
1 CADET KELLY DSNY 4427 4.2 7753
2 WWF ENTERTAINMENT (WWF RAW ZONE) TNN 4083 3.9 5996
3 WWF ENTERTAINMENT (WWF RAW) TNN 3585 3.4 5476
4 SEASON ON BRINK-PREMIERE ESPN 2964 2.8 4270
5 REAL WORLD XI MTV 2828 2.7 3504
6 SPONGEBOB NICK 2760 2.6 3860
7 PRIME MOVIE (PATRON SAINT OF LIARS) LIF 2709 2.6 3501
8 SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARD(S)-03/10/2002 TNT 2707 2.6 3714
9 SUNDAY MOVIE II (HER FINAL FURY) LIF 2700 2.6 3691
10 SPONGEBOB NICK 2609 2.5 4033
11 SPONGEBOB NICK 2538 2.4 3509
12 SPONGEBOB NICK 2535 2.4 4233
13 CADET KELLY DSNY 2532 2.4 4221
14 ROCKET POWER NICK 2506 2.4 3835
15 RUGRATS NICK 2468 2.3 3875

PAY CABLE 
     

House-
holds

 House- holds

Persons 2+

#

PROGRAM NAME

 Net

(000)

 Rtg %

(000)
1 SIX FEET UNDER HBO 3158 3.0 4637
2 SOPRANOS, THE HBO 2355 2.2 3525
3 HBO BAD: 3/9/02 HBO 2342 2.2 3470
4 HBO BAD: 3/9/02 HBO 2290 2.2 3367
5 HBO BAD: 3/9/03 HBO 2181 2.1 3276
Total U.S. ratings and household projections are based on 105.5 million TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

SYNDICATION
RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending March 3, 2002

 

    

Households

Households

#

PROGRAM NAME

Syndicator

 Rtg % (000)
1 WHEEL OF FORTUNE KIN 10.2 10804
2 JEOPARDY KIN 8.7 9129
3 FRIENDS-SYN (AT) WB 7.3 7675
4 SEINFELD (AT) CTS 7.1 7463
5 ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) PRM 6.5 6852
6 EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) KIN 6.2 6561
7 JUDGE JUDY (AT) PRM 5.9 6225
7 OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) KIN 5.9 6190
9 WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND KIN 5.4 5704
10 SEINFELD-WKND (AT) CTS 5.2 5473
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending March 17, 2002

#

PROGRAMS

Net

NHTI*
Rtg%

Projection
(000)
1 AMIGAS Y RIVALES-WED UNV 26.6 2711
2 AMIGAS Y RIVALES-TUE UNV 25.5 2596
3 AMIGAS Y RIVALES-FRI UNV 24.5 2503
3 AMIGAS Y RIVALES-THU UNV 24.5 2498
5 AMIGAS Y RIVALES-MON UNV 24.1 2456
6 SALOME WED UNV 22.3 2271
7 SALOME FRI UNV 21.8 2225
8 SALOME THU UNV 21.6 2207
9 SALOME TUE UNV 21.1 2149
10 SALOME MON UNV 20.3 2066
11 INTRUSA WED UNV 20.2 2062
12 INTRUSA FRI UNV 20.1 2051
13 INTRUSA MON UNV 19.2 1960
14 INTRUSA TUE UNV 18.5 1890
15 PICA Y SE EXTIENDE THU UNV 18.2 1859
16 INTRUSA THU UNV 18.1 1845
17 CRISTINA-MON UNV 17.5 1782
18 SABADO GIGANTE-SAT UNV 17.2 1755
19 DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE UNV 16.0 1628
20 AQUI Y AHORA-TUE UNV 15.8 1612

SPANISH LANGUAGE CABLE NETWORKS

#

PROGRAMS

Net

NHTI
Rating

Projection
(000)
1 EL CHAVO (FRI) GALA 0.8 78
2 LO MEJOR DE FUTBOL MEXICA GALA 0.7 68
3 EN LA JUGADA GALA 0.6 66
3 LUCHA LIBRE GALA 0.6 64
5 BOXEO: EN ESTA ESQUINA GALA 0.5 54
5 QUE LOCOS (TUE) GALA 0.5 51
5 QUE LOCOS (SUN) GALA 0.5 49
5 DETRAS DE LAS CAMARA GALA 0.5 47
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index
NHTI ratings and projections are based on 10.2 million Hispanic TV homes in the U.S.
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

NETWORK SPORTS
RANKED ON HOUSEHOLDS
Week Ending March 10, 2002

 

      

House-
holds

House-
holds

House-
holds

Persons 2+

#

PROGRAMS

Net

Episode

US Rtg%

Shr

 (000)

(000)
1 FOX FOX NASCAR WINSTON CUP ATLANTA 500 PRES. BY HOME DEPO 6.0 15 6377 10026
2 NBC HONDA GOLF CLASSIC-SUN(S)-03/10/2002   3.4 8 3568 4328
3 UPN WWF SMACKDOWN!   3.4 5 3580 5623
4 CBS NCAA BG TN-SAT 1(S)-03/09/2002 ILLINOIS VS OHIO STATE 3.3 7 3502 4853
5 CBS NCAA BIG TEN-SAT 1-3/9(S)- 03/09/2002 ILLINOIS VS OHIO STATE 3.3 7 3462 4810
6 CBS NCAA PAC-10 CHAMP-
IONSHIP(S)-03/09/2002		 ARIZONA VS USC 3.2 7 3367 4276
7 CBS BIG TEN CHAMP-
IONSHIP(S)-03/10/2002		 IOWA VS OHIO STATE 3.2 7 3331 4368
8 NBC NBA BASKETBALL GM 2-SUN NEW YORK AT L.A. LAKERS 3.2 6 3377 4607
9 CBS NCAA BIG TEN-SAT(S)- 03/09/2002 IOWA VS INDIANA 2.9 8 3073 3890
10 CBS NCAA BIG TEN-SAT 1(S)-03/09/2002 ILLINOIS VS OHIO STATE 2.6 6 2716 3565
11 NBC HONDA GOLF CLASSIC-SAT(S)-03/09/2002   2.3 6 2412 3013
12 ABC ISU 4 CONTINENTS F.S.-SUN(S)-03/10/2002   2.0 5 2149 2638
13 CBS NCAA CONFERENCE USA(S)- 03/09/2002 CINC-
INNATI VS MAR-
QUETTE		 2.0 6 2156 2597
14 CBS NCAA SEC CHAMP-
IONSHIP(S)-03/10/2002		 ALABAMA VS MISS STATE 1.9 5 2012 2593
15 NBC NBA BASKETBALL TORONTO AT ORLANDO 1.8 5 1875 2216
16 ABC NHL ON ABC-SAT. 1 VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES 1.3 3 1373 1691
17 ABC USA SOCCER NAT VS ECUADOR(S)-03/10/2002   1.3 3 1335 1689
18 PAX TOSHIBA SENIOR CLSC(S)- 03/08/2002   0.2 1 160 169
19 PAX WAL-MART FLW TOUR   0.1 0 133 166
Source: Nielsen Media Research

 

March 20, 2002 © 2002 Media Life

-Mike Jasik is a staff writer for Media Life.


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