Final ‘NYPD’ draws 16.1 million viewers

Viewers lined up to say goodbye to the cops of the 15th Precinct as the series finale of “NYPD Blue” hit some of its highest ratings in three years.

The ground-breaking show ended its 12-season run Tuesday night in front of 16.1 million people, its biggest audience since November 2001. It had averaged 9.8 million viewers this season.

The finale also helped ABC to its best Tuesday performance (excluding sports) since November 2003, despite airing opposite the premiere of a new “Amazing Race” on CBS.

The seventh “Amazing Race” picked up pretty much where its predecessor ended, drawing an average of 11.8 million viewers for its two-hour premiere.

‘North Shore’ takes its leave

Fox television’s Oahu-based drama series “North Shore” has been canceled.

Producer Harry Bring said he was told Wednesday that the network will not renew the hotel drama, which shut down in December two episodes short of its planned 22-episode season.

The hourlong drama about the young staff at a posh Hawaiian hotel was savaged by critics and failed to attract big ratings.

‘Enterprise’ fund grows

Three anonymous donors have contributed $3 million to a campaign to persuade UPN and Paramount TV to bring “Star Trek: Enterprise” back for a fifth season.

The anonymous investors are apparently in the commercial space flight industry. In a statement to TrekUnited.com, they say that at least half of the entrepreneurs in their business have been inspired by the “Star Trek” franchise.

The donations bring TrekUnited’s total to almost $3.1 million, still far short of the group’s goal of $32 million, which it estimates is needed to underwrite a new “Enterprise” season.