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CBS's "Big Brother 4" will close the season
next week after its highest-rated summer ever. What was once a mere place-filler on
the network's schedule actually performed pretty well this year.
The Wednesday episodes have won their time slot
among adults 18-49 and 25-54 every week. Last week's Tuesday episode
was up 71 percent versus last year among 18-49s.
The difference this year seems to have been stepping up the sex
factor with the ex factor. This year saw the first-ever incidence
of in-house sex between the roommates, a situation exacerbated by
the fact that one of the roomies was the willing woman's ex, who
was clearly upset.
High drama ensued. People watched. They even, for the first time
since summer 2000, seemed to care. Tonight eviction No. 10
happens, leading to next week's finale.
Which means that "Big Brother 5" is pretty much a lock
for next season. Though the show likely will never reach the huge
popularity it enjoys in Europe, from which it was imported, it's
become a solid performer for CBS. As long as it stays in the summer.
| A
look at this week's top TV draws
|
WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 17
|
| Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
| 8
p.m. |
NBC
|
“Ed”
(D) |
Watch
the third-season finale again and see Ed pick Carol before
next week's premiere. |
| 9
p.m. |
CBS
|
“Big
Brother 4” (R) |
The fourth-year show notched its best ratings ever
this season. |
| 9
p.m. |
TBS
|
“Ripley's
Believe it or Not” (N) |
Season
premiere. The show returns with scorpion-devouring men. |
| 10
p.m. |
AMC
|
“Fang
vs. Fiction: The Real Underworld of Vampires and Werewolves”
(A) |
People
interviewed for this special actually claim to be real vampires.
|
THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 18
|
| Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
| 8
p.m. |
CBS
|
“Survivor:
Pearl Islands” (R) |
Season
premiere. This time they get snarky in Panama. |
| 8:30
p.m. |
WB
|
“The
Jamie Kennedy Experiment” (T) |
Season
premiere. Who would have thought this show would make it to
year three? |
| 9
p.m. |
A&E
|
“Paul
McCartney in Red Square” (A) |
Sir
Paul performs for the Russians. |
| 9
p.m. |
ABC
|
“Extreme
Makeover” (R) |
Season
premiere. The show has one week to enjoy viewership before
“CSI” and “Will & Grace” return. |
| 10
p.m. |
Cinemax
|
“Secretary”
(M) |
The
S&M movie makes its pay cable debut. Check out James Spader
in his pre-“Practice” role. |
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER
19 |
| Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
| 1
p.m. |
TLC
|
“Second
Chance” (R) |
This
new daytime series gives obsessives a chance to find out “What
would have happened if …” |
| 8
p.m. |
Fox
|
“Wanda
at Large” (C) |
Season
premiere. Buoyed by “American Idol,” the show was a Wednesday
hit. Taller order here on Fridays. |
| 8
p.m. |
Comedy
Central |
“Tracy
Morgan: One Mic” (C) |
The
former “Saturday Night Live” comic, who stars in a midseason
replacement for NBC, riffs on life. |
| 9
p.m. |
Fox
|
“Boston
Public” (D) |
Season
premiere. In the wake of Kobe Bryant's arrest, the show examines
consent. |
SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 20
|
| Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
| 8
p.m. |
ABC
|
"Miss
America Pageant" (A) |
Tom
Bergeron hosts. |
| 10
p.m. |
TLC
|
“Date
Patrol” (R) |
Series
premiere. Clueless singles get dating advice from alleged
experts. |
SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 21
|
| Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
| 12:30
p.m. |
ABC
|
Women's
World Cup (S) |
First-round
game: U.S. versus Sweden. The Americans begin defense of their
1999 title. |
| 8
p.m. |
Fox
|
Primetime
Emmy Awards (A) |
Eleven
hosts won't mean a longer show, will it? |
| 9
p.m. |
Nickelodeon
|
"Roseanne"
(C) |
Travel
back to the days when Roseanne Barr wasn't a two-time reality
show loser in this five-day marathon celebrating "Roseanne's"
debut on Nick at Nite. Runs to 6 a.m. nightly. |
| A
= Awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, K = kids,
M = movie, N = News/Documentary, R = reality, S = Sports,
T = Talk/Variety show. |
|
