Grammy Awards Push Cbs To Top

CBS, third in this season’s ratings race, posted its first weekly win in nearly six months with help from the Grammy Awards and Elizabeth Taylor.

Strong showings by “60 Minutes” and comedies “Murphy Brown” and “The Nanny” also contributed to CBS’ first-place finish for Feb. 26-March 3, according to figures released Tuesday by Nielsen Media Research. The two sitcoms benefited from an appearance by Taylor, who appeared on four CBS sitcoms Feb. 26 - the others were “Can’t Hurry Love” and “High Society” - and boosted ratings for all of them.

For the week, CBS posted an 11.4 average rating and 19 share. NBC, the consistent ratings champ this season, was second with a 10.6 rating and 17 share. ABC was third with a 9.4 rating and 15 share.

The Tiffany network, which has seen its programs routinely shut out of the top 10 this season, had four in the group, including the Grammy broadcast Feb. 28. NBC’s Thursday night lineup, however, kept its hold on the top ranks even with reruns, with “Seinfeld” at No. 1.

ABC’s “Home Improvement” was that network’s sole top 10 finisher. Fox Broadcasting Co., which programs 15 of the 22 prime-time hours, earned a 7.7 rating and 12 share.

Prime-time ratings as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for Feb. 26 to March 3. Top 20 listings include the week’s ranking, season-to-date rankings in parentheses, rating for the week and total homes.

An “X” in parentheses denotes one-time-only presentation. A rating measures the percentage of the nation’s 95.9 million TV homes. Each ratings point represents 959,000 households.

1. (2) “Seinfeld,” NBC, 21.2, 20.3 million homes.

2. (3) “Friends,” NBC, 19.5, 18.7 million homes.

3. (4) “Caroline in the City,” NBC, 18.2, 17.5 million homes.

4. (1) “ER,” NBC, 18.1, 17.4 million homes.

5. (7) “Home Improvement,” ABC, 16.1, 15.4 million homes.

6. (6) “Single Guy,” NBC, 16.0, 15.3 million homes.

7. (15) “Murphy Brown,” CBS, 15.3, 14.7 million homes.

7. (9) “60 Minutes,” CBS, 15.3, 14.7 million homes.

9. (X) “Grammy Awards,” CBS, 14.6, 14.0 million homes.

10. (15) “Nanny,” CBS, 14.5, 13.9 million homes.

11. (10) “Frasier,” NBC, 14.3, 13.7 million homes.

12. (27) “Can’t Hurry Love,” CBS, 13.6, 13.0 million homes.

13. (8) “NYPD Blue,” ABC, 13.3, 12.8 million homes.

14. (17) “NBC Monday Night Movies: Seduced by Madness Part 2,” NBC, 13.2, 12.7 million homes.

14. (17) “Roseanne,” ABC, 13.2, 12.7 million homes.