‘Tonight’ First In Ratings For 14th Straight Week

NBC’s “Tonight” scored its 14th straight first-place weekly ratings finish in the latest faceoff, the week of Nov. 20.

“Tonight” averaged a 5.2 rating (percentage of the nation’s 95.9 million TV homes) and a 15 share (percentage of the sets in use), while CBS’ “Late Show” averaged a 3.7 rating and 11 share.

“Tonight” also topped “Late Show” in the advertiser-desired categories of 18- to 49-year-old and 25- to 54-year-old viewers.

Williams show gets date

“Matt Waters,” a new drama starring talk-show host Montel Williams, and the controversial “American Gothic” join the CBS’ schedule Jan. 3 at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.

The shows will fill a vacancy left open a few weeks ago when the network put “Central Park West” into hiatus and canceled “Courthouse.”

“Matt Waters” features Williams as a tough Navy veteran who returns to his old urban neighborhood to teach school.

“American Gothic,” a dark drama starring Gary Cole, Paige Turco, Nicholas Searcy, Jake Weber and Lucas Black, had aired on Friday nights before being shelved in early November.

O’Grady quits ‘NYPD Blue’

Gail O’Grady, who has risen to fame as receptionist Donna Abandando at the “NYPD Blue” precinct, will check out of the series at season’s end.

She has inked a deal with Fox to star in a yet-unspecified program next season.

A spokeswoman for the actress said she wasn’t available for comment nor did she have a statement.

O’Grady took a short leave a year ago from the ABC series to film a TV movie. Since joining “NYPD Blue” three seasons ago, O’Grady has starred in the TV pics “Tailhook” and “Nothing Last Forever.” She’s also set to appear in the theatrical “Celtic Pride.”

A spokeswoman for the program said it was too early to say if O’Grady would be replaced or how her departure would be handled.

HBO big CableACE winner

HBO once again swept the coveted CableACE Awards field, winning nine of the 17 major prizes announced during Saturday night’s program, televised on TNT from Los Angeles.

In all, HBO won 27 of the 81 performance and craft awards during the 17th annual event, spread over three days in November and December this year. A record 21 cable networks were honored.

Among the big winners Saturday:

HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show,” produced by and starring Garry Shandling, won three during the evening (four overall), including one for best comedy series and one for Shandling as best actor in a comedy series. Shandling also was named best entertainment host for his role in “HBO Comedy Hour: The 1995 Young Comedians Special.”

Jane Wallace won the program interviewer award for her just-canceled “Under Scrutiny With Jane Wallace” show on the fX channel.

Linda Hamilton was named best actress in a movie or miniseries for “A Mother’s Prayer” on USA Network. The late Raul Julia was honored as best actor in a movie or miniseries for HBO’s “The Burning Season.’ And Paula Jai Parker was named best actress in a dramatic special or series for HBO’s “Cosmic Slop: Tang.”

HBO’s “Citizen X” was named best movie or miniseries.

Bond BMW Roadster contest

You could be your very own James Bond and win a 1996 BMW Roadster (similar to the one driven by Pierce Brosnan in “GoldenEye”). The sweepstakes is being conducted by TBS during its “13 Days of 007,” which began Saturday. You may enter by sending a postcard with your name, address and phone number to: 13 Days/26Ways, P.O. Box 641818, Omaha, NE 68614. Or for $1.99 you may call (900) 454-BOND to enter.

Boss talks to ‘60 Minutes’

CBS’ “60 Minutes” has landed rocker Bruce Springsteen for his first-ever extensive network television interview. The air date is still to be set.

The program taped portions of his recent concerts in New Jersey, which will be mixed with footage of a sit-down between Springsteen and “60 Minutes” correspondent Ed Bradley.

Springsteen has done interviews in the past with MTV, although he’s never done one with a network prime-time newsmagazine.

In years past, the Boss rarely used television to promote his work, but that seems to be changing.

Last week, he appeared on NBC’s “Tonight” show, and on Dec. 14, he’ll turn up to perform on David Letterman’s “Late Show.” He’s also part of ABC’s tribute to Frank Sinatra, airing on the same night.

NBC, Gumbel negotiating

NBC News says the network is “of course” continuing negotiations with “Today” co-host Bryant Gumbel, whose contract has just run out but whose co-host, Katie Couric, is about to run out for some maternity leave, which makes the chances of NBC not signing Gumbel for another couple of years just about zilch.