NBC had seven of the top 10 shows last week to lead the prime-time Nielsen ratings, with ABC a close second and CBS a distant third.

For the week of March 4-10, NBC had a 10.4 rating and a 17 percent share of the audience; ABC had a 10.0 rating, 16 share, and CBS trailed with a 9.2 rating, 15 share.

The Fox Broadcasting Co., which programs 15 of 22 prime-time hours, earned a 7.7 rating, 12 share.

Top-rated among midseason premieres was “Muppets Tonight,” which finished 38th for the week. CBS’ “Good Company” was in a three-way tie for 52nd; ABC’s DreamWorks SKG drama, “High Incident” was 55th; CBS’ “Bonnie” was 58th, and NBC’s teen soap “Malibu Shores” was 87th of 107 shows.

Here are the Top 20 shows, their networks and ratings: One ratings point is the equivalent of 1 percent of the nation’s 95.9 million TV homes, or about 959,000 households; share measures the percentage of sets tuned in during a specified time period.

“Seinfeld,” NBC, 21.7; “Friends,” NBC, 18.6; “Caroline in the City,” NBC, 16.7; “ER,” NBC, 16.7; “Home Improvement,” ABC, 16.6; “The Single Guy,” NBC, 16.2; “60 Minutes,” CBS, 15.2; “20/20,” ABC, 14.4; “Frasier - Special,” NBC, 13.8; “Seinfeld - Special,” NBC, 13.4.

“ABC Sunday Night Movie: Frequent Flyer,” ABC, 13.3; “Nanny,” CBS, 12.5; “Walker, Texas Ranger,” CBS, 12.5; “PrimeTime Live,” ABC, 12.1; “Touched by an Angel,” CBS, 12.1; “Dateline NBC,” (Tuesday) NBC, 12.0; “American Comedy Awards,” ABC, 11.8; “Buddies Special,” ABC, 11.8; “America’s Funniest Home Videos 2,” ABC, 11.7; “Frasier,” NBC, 11.7; “3rd Rock From the Sun,” NBC, 11.7.