ABC still flagging in new fall TV season

NEW YORK -- Just a few days into the fall TV season, hits and misses are already emerging. And with 25 of the networks' 34 new series on the air, ABC -- desperate to rebuild -- is still on shaky ground.

"It's a two-network race between CBS and NBC," summed up Marc Berman, an analyst for Mediaweek Online.

That theory seemed borne out by Thursday's clash of titans: According to Nielsen Media Research, CBS' "Survivor: Thailand" was a solid runnerup to NBC's "Friends"-and-"Scrubs" combo; "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" beat "Will & Grace" and "Good Morning Miami"; and crime drama "Without a Trace" premiered with about two-thirds the audience of "ER," somewhat narrowing that show's usually huge lead.

Bottom line: NBC carried the night with a huge 25 percent share of the viewing audience but was closely followed by CBS with 21 percent.

ABC along with Fox, UPN and the WB were also-rans.

ABC's brightest new performer is "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," a sitcom starring John Ritter.

Despite losing one-fourth of the audience from its Sept. 17 premiere, "8 Rules" in its second airing was beaten in households only by veteran CBS drama "JAG." And it bested the debut of "The In-Laws," a sitcom which NBC hoped would establish a beachhead Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

If "8 Rules" maintains that level, "I think ABC would be pleased," said Brad Adgate, senior vice president of Horizon Media. "But will it? Or will it continue to drop?"

ABC, whose collapse in the overall ratings was one of last season's big stories, may still be on the slide.

"Many people thought ABC hit rock-bottom last year," said Berman. "But I think it's going to hit rock-bottom this year. They've got too many holes in the schedule to fill."

Steve Sternberg isn't so sure. A media analyst with Magna Global USA, he's withholding judgment until the end of "Monday Night Football," which, he noted, has drawn more viewers than last year.