The Practice, Mondays at 9 p.m.
    David E. Kelley has been steamed ever since January, when ABC moved the court drama to Monday from its cushy Sunday 10 p.m. slot. The show’s 18-49 ratings have plummeted by more than one-third in a much more competitive time slot.
   Numbers improved after Fox competitor “Joe Millionaire” finished its run. With a special two-episode showing last week, “The Practice” scored its best 18-49 rating since moving to Monday, averaging a 3.5 during the first hour.
   That may be too little improvement, though, to keep on the air a show whose audience didn’t move with it and whose producer has made unkind comments about the intelligence of network executives.

Miracles, Mondays at 10 p.m.
   About the only positive thing to say about this show, ratings-wise, is that it managed to stick around longer than Monday companion “Veritas: The Quest,” which also debuted in January.
   Two other 10 p.m. dramas, CBS’s “CSI: Miami” and NBC’s “Crossing Jordan,” consistently draw double the 18-49 audience of “Miracles,” which had a season low in viewers Monday.
   Although it got some critical praise, it likely will not make the fall schedule. It has a slight possibility as a midseason replacement.

The District, Saturdays at 9 p.m.
   This show doesn’t seem in any immediate danger. Although ratings aren’t spectacular, “The District” attracts a decent 25-54 crowd for a Saturday night and is especially popular among women.
   The death of series co-star Lynne Thigpen may, sick as it sounds, boost ratings for the series’ final episodes of the season as lapsed fans tune in to see what happens to her character on the show.

American Dreams, Sundays at 8 p.m.
   Ratings have cooled for this family drama since the fall. Although it generally takes second place to Fox’s comedy lineup among 18-49s during the hour, it’s not significantly ahead of CBS’s “My Big Fat Greek Life” or even the WB’s “Charmed.”
   The show averaged a 3.4 adult 18-49 rating and 8 share Sunday, tying for No. 44 for the week. It doesn’t fit well as a companion to the edgier (and higher-rated) “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” at 9 p.m.
   But NBC may like the attention the show has gotten for its array of guest stars performing as “Bandstand” musical acts. And there’s no guarantee another show can get better ratings in this slot when Fox’s “Simpsons” will continue to rule at 8 p.m.

Boomtown, Sundays at 10 p.m.
   Since “The Practice” moved to Mondays and ABC replaced it with “Dragnet,” ratings have improved for NBC time slot competitor “Boomtown.” Sunday’s new episode averaged a 3.8 adult 18-49 rating and a 10 share, about 15 percent better than “Dragnet” performed.
   Although it retained only 78 percent of lead-in “Law & Order: CI’s” audience, “Boomtown” will likely be renewed. It’s the most critically lauded of all the new dramas this season and, like ABC’s “Alias” and Fox’s “24” last summer, could make a big first-year showing at the Emmys.

Fastlane, Fridays at 8 p.m.
    A time slot change is seldom good. “Fastlane” began on Wednesdays and was switched to Fridays after first-year western “Firefly” flamed out.
   The show was fourth in its time slot and finished tied for 75 overall on the week. With no high-brow credit to win over Fox executives, such as carried then low-rated “24” to renewal last year, “Fastlane” probably won’t make it.

Twilight Zone, Wednesdays at 9 p.m.
   This show’s ratings have been atrocious for repeats, with last week’s episode averaging a 0.9 adult 18-49 rating to place fourth-to-last overall for the week.
   But ratings have been off in general for UPN this year. “Twilight Zone” is a show produced by a star, Forest Whitaker, with lots of recognizable guest stars, such as Jason Alexander and Christopher Titus.
   Still, this is a valuable slot for UPN. Lead-in “Enterprise” is the network’s highest-rated scripted program. If “Zone” does return, it may move to another night to give another new show a better chance.

WB

Angel, Wednesdays at 9 p.m.
     The show’s a cult hit but not a mainstream draw. It bettered faded lead-in “Dawson’s Creek’s” rating last week among 18-49s, drawing a 1.7, but finished tied for 87 for the week.
   “Angel” didn’t perform as well as hoped when paired with “Charmed” on Sundays earlier in the year. And even critical praise and a compelling plotline have not lifted 18-49 ratings above a 2 for the fourth-year show.
   If the WB doesn’t renew “Angel,” UPN may snap it up as it did sister show “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.”