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Abc Moves ‘Roseanne,’ ‘Ellen’ To New Time Slots

From Wire Reports

ABC has finally given “Roseanne” a new time period and with it, perhaps, a new lease on life. On March 29, the Wednesday 9 p.m. show, along with its 9:30 companion, “Ellen,” will move up one hour.

We can look at this intriguing move in a “glass half-full” or “glass half-empty” way. Let’s start with the half-full: ABC’s been struggling Wednesdays at 8 longer than it cares to admit . By moving the still-potent “Roseanne” to 8, ABC finally has a shot at banging home a win over Fox’s “Beverly Hills, 90210.”

“Rosey” also has the potential of setting up the whole night - a crucial task because “Grace Under Fire” will be moving to Wednesdays at 9, from Tuesdays at 9:30. “Grace” will then be the lead-in to the new sitcom “Bringing Up Jack,” starring Jack Gallagher.

The half-empty: “Roseanne” has slipped at least four share points from last year’s performance at this time. By moving the show to 8, ABC can perhaps rejuvenate it - for now. A bit of truth to both scenarios, we think.

‘ER’ mania at NBC

NBC executives may be needing a little medical attention this week. The malady? Acute excitement.

The network’s blockbuster freshman drama, “ER,” hit yet another all-time high Thursday night, pulling in a 24.3 rating (percentage of the nation’s 95.4 million TV households) and 40 share (percentage of TV sets in use).

This makes “ER” the first show on any network to hit a 40 share or better since “Moonlighting’s” Sept. 29, 1987, season premiere, which garnered a 25.9 rating/40 share.

NBC itself hasn’t seen ratings like this since “Miami Vice” earned a 24.3 on Nov. 29, 1985. In fact, no network drama has pulled Nielsen numbers like this in over six years: Thursday’s “ER” drew the highest ratings since CBS’ “Murder She Wrote” earned a 25.9 on Feb. 5, 1989.

You want more? Thursday’s “ER” is now the highest-rated regularly scheduled new fall drama since “Murder She Wrote” (24.5) on April 21, 1985 and NBC’s highest-rated new drama since “A Team” (25.3) on September 20, 1983.

But it was more than just the red-hot “ER” that got NBC’s blood a-pumping.

The net’s freshman sitcom, “Friends,” also hit its series high, pulling in a 20.8/31. “Friends” aired as a two-parter, at 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., as part of the Peacock’s ploy to get viewers accustomed to the show’s new, post-“Seinfeld,” pre-“ER” time slot.