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of CBS's 'Baby Bob'
Ignoring critics, viewers rally behind fill-in sitcom
By Mike Jasik
Critical success does not always translate into popularity. Just look at Fox's "24."
But neither does condemnation by critics spell certain death, as CBS's "Baby Bob" is proving.
Though roundly panned by critics, the show about a talking baby appears to be on its way to becoming a solid hit after only two airings.
Its premiere, on March 18, exceeded all expectations by building on the audience of solid lead-in "King of Queens" to capture a 5.2 adult 18-49 rating, putting it ahead of "King of Queens," which managed only a 5.0 in the demo, and putting it in 15th place for the week.
Then on Monday night "Baby Bob" kept nearly all of its audience from the previous week, earning a 5.1 in adults 18-49.
Just why the show is proving so popular defies explanation.
Media Life TV reviewer Ethan Alter, echoing a number of TV critics, named "Baby Bob" the worst show of the midseason, after the canceled WB teen series "As If," calling it "a bad idea made worse by lousy execution."
The sitcom, which takes its cue from a series of commercials featuring a talking baby, follows a six-month old tot with the gift of adult gab and parents determined to keep his gift a secret from the world.
The idea is hardly new.
There was the "Look Who's Talking" trio of films of the late 80s and early 90s featuring babies whose thoughts could be heard, which in turn inspired "Baby Talk," a 1991 ABC midseason sitcom featuring the voice of Tony Danza and also starring Scott Baio and George Clooney.
Among other midseason starters, the only other show pulling decent numbers is NBC's "Leap of Faith."
The show has kept more of its "Friends" lead-in than many of its predecessors, averaging a 20-22 percent drop, comparable to the declines CBS's "Becker" experiences following "Everybody Loves Raymond."
But both Fox's "American Embassy" and NBC's "Colin Quinn Show" look like their days are numbered.
Created as a possible replacement for the shaky "Ally McBeal," "American Embassy" tied for 40th in adults 18-49 for the week ended March 24, garnering only a 3.5 in the demo.
In its airing this Monday, following a repeat of "Boston Public," the London-based series dropped significantly, averaging a 2.5 among adults 18-49, based on preliminary Nielsen ratings.
NBC's "Colin Quinn Show" performed slightly better in its second try last week, drawing a 3.7 in the demo, but it did so with a huge lead-in from "Fear Factor."
But on Monday, following "Just Shoot Me," the show fell to 2.8 adult 18-49 rating.
Also at risk of being sent to the scrap heap is NBC's midseason Julia-Louis Dreyfus comedy "Watching Ellie" whose 3.6 adult 18-49 rating last week represents a 50 percent drop from its debut three weeks earlier.
Officially, NBC is saying it's still behind the show but all indications are that it's merely face-saving talk after the huge buildup the network gave the show during the Olympics.
The other day the network revealed that it is pulling the show off the air after the next two episodes and that it will hold the last two for airing next season.
Still in the category of wait-and-see, with just its debut to go by, is Fox's "Andy Richter Controls the Universe," which last week posted a strong 4.9 adult 18-49 rating for an easy win in its Tuesday 8:30 p.m. slot.
Though ABC's Academy Awards special on Sunday was the lowest-rated Oscars telecast ever, it nonetheless did well enough to give the network a rare win in both households and adults 18-49 for the week.
ABC posted a 4.5 adult 18-49 rating, CBS and NBC a 4.2 and Fox a 3.6. UPN drew a 1.6 and the WB a 1.4.
ABC took households for the week with a 8.5/14 rating and share. CBS had a 7.6/13, NBC a 7.2/12, Fox a 5.1/8, UPN a 2.4/4 and the WB a 2.2/4.
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PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK |
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|
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ | ADULTS 18-49 | ||||||
|
Net |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
| ABC | 8.5 | 8960 | 14 | 4.8 | 12950 | 13 | 4.5 | 5770 | 12 |
| CBS | 7.6 | 8010 | 13 | 4.4 | 11740 | 12 | 4.2 | 5290 | 11 |
| NBC | 7.2 | 7620 | 12 | 3.9 | 10590 | 10 | 4.2 | 5400 | 11 |
| FOX | 5.1 | 5420 | 8 | 3.1 | 8230 | 8 | 3.6 | 4640 | 10 |
| UPN | 2.4 | 2490 | 4 | 1.4 | 3810 | 4 | 1.6 | 2030 | 4 |
| WB | 2.2 | 2370 | 4 | 1.2 | 3320 | 3 | 1.4 | 1770 | 4 |
| PAX | 1.0 | 1020 | 2 | 0.5 | 1390 | 1 | 0.4 | 450 | 1 |
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Source: Nielsen Media
Research |
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SEASON-TO-DATE |
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|
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
ADULTS 18-49 |
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|
Net |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
Rtg |
(000) |
SHR |
| NBC | 9.0 | 9530 | 15 | 5.1 | 13830 | 13 | 5.3 | 6800 | 14 |
| CBS | 8.1 | 8570 | 13 | 4.5 | 12280 | 12 | 3.9 | 4970 | 10 |
| ABC | 6.5 | 6900 | 11 | 3.7 | 10020 | 10 | 3.7 | 4730 | 10 |
| FOX | 6.0 | 6350 | 10 | 3.6 | 9750 | 9 | 4.2 | 5360 | 11 |
| UPN | 2.7 | 2900 | 4 | 1.6 | 4440 | 4 | 1.9 | 2430 | 5 |
| WB | 2.5 | 2590 | 4 | 1.4 | 3760 | 3 | 1.6 | 2030 | 4 |
| PAX | 0.9 | 970 | 1 | 0.5 | 1310 | 1 | 0.3 | 440 | 1 |
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Source: Nielsen Media
Research |
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NETWORK TV |
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ADULTS 18-49 |
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# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
| 1 | ACADEMY AWARDS | ABC | 16.1 | 39 | 20450 |
| 2 | ON RED CARPET: OSCARS | ABC | 9.9 | 26 | 12540 |
| 3 | FRIENDS | NBC | 9.7 | 27 | 12300 |
| 4 | SURVIVOR: MARQUESAS | CBS | 9.5 | 26 | 12140 |
| 5 | LEAP OF FAITH | NBC | 7.5 | 19 | 9500 |
| 5 | WILL & GRACE | NBC | 7.5 | 19 | 9520 |
| 7 | EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND | CBS | 7.3 | 17 | 9280 |
| 8 | JUST SHOOT ME | NBC | 7.1 | 17 | 9090 |
| 9 | FEAR FACTOR | NBC | 7.0 | 18 | 8950 |
| 10 | ER | NBC | 6.6 | 18 | 8430 |
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Source: Nielsen Media
Research |
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NETWORK TV |
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HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
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# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
| 1 | ACADEMY AWARDS | ABC | 25.4 | 42 | 26832 | 1 | 15.5 | 41782 |
| 2 | ON RED CARPET: OSCARS 2002 | ABC | 17.1 | 28 | 17999 | 2 | 9.6 | 25951 |
| 3 | EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND | CBS | 13.4 | 20 | 14186 | 4 | 7.9 | 21237 |
| 4 | FRIENDS | NBC | 13.0 | 21 | 13707 | 5 | 7.4 | 20045 |
| 5 | SURVIVOR: MARQUESAS- WED 2 | CBS | 12.6 | 20 | 13251 | 3 | 8.4 | 22805 |
| 6 | BARBARA WALTERS SP | ABC | 11.8 | 20 | 12478 | 7 | 6.3 | 16978 |
| 7 | BECKER | CBS | 11.5 | 18 | 12127 | 6 | 6.7 | 17982 |
| 8 | LAW AND ORDER | NBC | 11.1 | 20 | 11721 | 8 | 6.0 | 16164 |
| 9 | LEAP OF FAITH | NBC | 10.0 | 16 | 10599 | 11 | 5.6 | 15196 |
| 10 | E.R. | NBC | 9.9 | 17 | 10471 | 14 | 5.2 | 13918 |
| 11 | BABY BOB | CBS | 9.7 | 15 | 10207 | 9 | 5.8 | 15618 |
| 11 | WILL & GRACE | NBC | 9.7 | 15 | 10282 | 12 | 5.5 | 14750 |
| 13 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 9.5 | 17 | 9996 | 17 | 5.0 | 13451 |
| 14 | WEST WING | NBC | 9.4 | 15 | 9955 | 15 | 5.1 | 13815 |
| 15 | JUST SHOOT ME | NBC | 9.3 | 15 | 9801 | 15 | 5.1 | 13869 |
| 16 | KING OF QUEENS | CBS | 9.2 | 14 | 9654 | 13 | 5.3 | 14234 |
| 17 | FEAR FACTOR | NBC | 8.9 | 14 | 9419 | 10 | 5.7 | 15257 |
| 18 | DATELINE FRI | NBC | 8.7 | 15 | 9181 | 21 | 4.5 | 12061 |
| 19 | CROSSING JORDAN | NBC | 8.4 | 14 | 8886 | 19 | 4.6 | 12344 |
| 20 | NYPD BLUE | ABC | 8.3 | 13 | 8782 | 19 | 4.6 | 12335 |
| 21 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 8.2 | 13 | 8675 | 21 | 4.5 | 12123 |
| 22 | FRASIER | NBC | 8.1 | 13 | 8577 | 25 | 4.2 | 11454 |
| 23 | AMAZING RACE: 2 | CBS | 7.8 | 12 | 8232 | 18 | 4.9 | 13294 |
| 23 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP FR 2 | CBS | 7.8 | 15 | 8213 | 21 | 4.5 | 12243 |
| 23 | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP TH 1 | CBS | 7.8 | 13 | 8274 | 24 | 4.4 | 11972 |
| 23 | DATELINE NBC-TUE | NBC | 7.8 | 13 | 8185 | 30 | 3.9 | 10417 |
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Source: Nielsen Media
Research |
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CABLE TV |
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| BASIC CABLE | |||||
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House- |
House- holds |
Persons 2+ |
|||
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# |
PROGRAM NAME |
Net |
(000) |
Rtg % | (000) |
| 1 | WWF ENTERTAINMENT (RAW ZONE) | TNN | 4056 | 3.8 | 6300 |
| 2 | WWF ENTERTAINMENT (RAW) | TNN | 3552 | 3.4 | 5842 |
| 3 | SUNDAY MOVIE I (MURDER AT 75 BIRCH) | LIF | 3519 | 3.3 | 4603 |
| 4 | MOVIE, USA (BIG DADDY) | USA | 3457 | 3.3 | 5819 |
| 5 | PRIME MOVIE (HER BEST FRIENDS HUSBAND) | LIF | 3167 | 3.0 | 4347 |
| 6 | THE SHIELD | FX | 3116 | 3.0 | 4827 |
| 7 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | 3089 | 2.9 | 4847 |
| 8 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | 3060 | 2.9 | 4619 |
| 9 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | 2915 | 2.8 | 4781 |
| 10 | REAL WORLD XI | MTV | 2851 | 2.7 | 3838 |
| 11 | SUNDAY MOVIE II (HER BEST FRIENDS HUSBAND) | LIF | 2763 | 2.6 | 3585 |
| 12 | OSBOURNES | MTV | 2689 | 2.5 | 3561 |
| 13 | MOVIE, USA (WATERBOY, THE) | USA | 2661 | 2.5 | 4102 |
| 14 | MOVIE, USA (BIG DADDY) | USA | 2650 | 2.5 | 4034 |
| 15 | SPONGEBOB | NICK | 2641 | 2.5 | 4401 |
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PAY CABLE |
|||||
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House- |
House- holds |
Persons 2+ |
|||
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# |
PROGRAM NAME |
Net |
(000) |
Rtg % |
(000) |
| 1 | SIX FEET UNDER | HBO | 3695 | 3.5 | 5678 |
| 2 | EXIT WOUNDS | HBO | 3095 | 2.9 | 4656 |
| 3 | SOPRANOS, THE | HBO | 2522 | 2.4 | 3900 |
| 4 | EXECUTION OF WANDA (AU) | HBO | 2003 | 1.9 | 2685 |
| 5 | SIX FEET UNDER | HBO | 1914 | 1.8 | 2710 |
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Total U.S. ratings and household projections are based
on 105.5 million TV homes. Source: Nielsen Media Research |
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SYNDICATION |
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|
Households |
Households |
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# |
PROGRAM NAME |
Syndicator |
Rtg % | (000) |
| 1 | WHEEL OF FORTUNE | KIN | 10.1 | 10666 |
| 2 | JEOPARDY | KIN | 8.5 | 8947 |
| 3 | FRIENDS-SYN (AT) | WB | 7.4 | 7761 |
| 4 | SEINFELD (AT) | CTS | 6.7 | 7085 |
| 5 | ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) | PRM | 6.1 | 6412 |
| 6 | JUDGE JUDY (AT) | PRM | 6.0 | 6328 |
| 7 | EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) | KIN | 5.8 | 6141 |
| 8 | OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) | KIN | 5.5 | 5760 |
| 9 | SEINFELD-WKND (AT) | CTS | 5.2 | 5460 |
| 10 | ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD | PRM | 4.4 | 4626 |
| 10 | BUENA VISTA III | BV | 4.4 | 4608 |
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Source: Nielsen Media
Research |
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SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
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||||
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# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI* |
Projection |
| 1 | AMIGAS Y RIVALES-THU | UNV | 26.2 | 2676 |
| 2 | AMIGAS Y RIVALES-TUE | UNV | 25.8 | 2635 |
| 3 | AMIGAS Y RIVALES-MON | UNV | 25.3 | 2581 |
| 4 | AMIGAS Y RIVALES-WED | UNV | 24.8 | 2531 |
| 5 | AMIGAS Y RIVALES-FRI | UNV | 22.9 | 2333 |
| 6 | SALOME THU | UNV | 22.5 | 2292 |
| 7 | INTRUSA MON | UNV | 22.2 | 2265 |
| 8 | SALOME WED | UNV | 21.5 | 2196 |
| 9 | SALOME MON | UNV | 21.1 | 2148 |
| 10 | SALOME TUE | UNV | 20.9 | 2133 |
| 11 | INTRUSA TUE | UNV | 20.7 | 2110 |
| 12 | SALOME FRI | UNV | 20.2 | 2061 |
| 13 | INTRUSA THU | UNV | 19.8 | 2019 |
| 14 | INTRUSA WED | UNV | 18.9 | 1930 |
| 15 | INTRUSA FRI | UNV | 18.4 | 1880 |
| 16 | NOT UNI PRESENTA 3/19(S)-03/19/2002 | UNV | 17.5 | 1790 |
| 17 | CRISTINA-MON | UNV | 17.1 | 1745 |
| 18 | DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE | UNV | 16.2 | 1657 |
| 19 | METICHES-FRI | UNV | 15.9 | 1626 |
| 20 | SABADO GIGANTE-SAT | UNV | 15.8 | 1616 |
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SPANISH LANGUAGE CABLE NETWORKS |
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# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
Projection |
| 1 | EN LA JUGADA | GALA | 0.8 | 78 |
| 2 | LO MEJOR DE FUTBOL MEXICA | GALA | 0.6 | 65 |
| 3 | FUTBOL AFONDO | GALA | 0.5 | 50 |
| 3 | VIDEO MIX: BRIEF | GALA | 0.5 | 49 |
| 3 | BOXEO: EN ESTA ESQUINA | GALA | 0.5 | 47 |
| 3 | FURCIO | GALA | 0.5 | 47 |
| *
Nielsen Hispanic Television Index NHTI ratings and projections are based on 10.2 million Hispanic TV homes in the U.S. Source: Nielsen Media Research |
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NETWORK
SPORTS |
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|
House- |
House- |
House- |
Persons 2+ |
|||
|
# |
Net |
PROGRAMS |
Episode |
US Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
(000) |
| 1 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP-SU-3(S)-03/17/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 7.2 | 15 | 7577 | 10443 |
| 2 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-EVETH1(S)-03/14/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 6.8 | 11 | 7187 | 10143 |
| 3 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP-SA-3(S)-03/16/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 6.5 | 15 | 6806 | 9395 |
| 4 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP-SU-2(S)-03/17/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 6.3 | 14 | 6653 | 9264 |
| 5 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP-SA-1(S)-03/16/2002 | DUKE VS NOTRE DAME | 6.2 | 17 | 6493 | 8443 |
| 6 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP-SA-2(S)-03/16/2002 | MO VS OH ST/ALA VS KENT ST | 6.0 | 16 | 6338 | 8394 |
| 7 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP-SA-4(S)-03/16/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 5.9 | 11 | 6276 | 9507 |
| 8 | FOX | FOX NASCAR WINSTON CUP | CAROLINA DODGE DLRS 400-DARLIN | 5.8 | 14 | 6149 | 9563 |
| 9 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL-SU-2-3/17(S)-03/17/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 5.6 | 12 | 5931 | 7841 |
| 10 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-EVEFR1(S)-03/15/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 5.4 | 10 | 5678 | 7782 |
| 11 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHMP-SU-1(S)-03/17/2002 | CINCINNATI VS UCLA | 5.2 | 13 | 5450 | 7194 |
| 11 | NBC | BAY HILL INVIT-GOLF SUN(S)-03/17/2002 | 5.2 | 11 | 5483 | 7160 | |
| 13 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-EVEFR2(S)-03/15/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 5.1 | 10 | 5427 | 7588 |
| 14 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-EVETH2(S)-03/14/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 5.0 | 11 | 5241 | 6924 |
| 15 | UPN | WWF SMACK- DOWN! |
4.0 | 6 | 4244 | 6791 | |
| 16 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-DAYFR2(S)-03/15/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 3.8 | 12 | 4016 | 4680 |
| 17 | NBC | BAY HILL INVIT-GOLF SAT(S)-03/16/2002 | 3.5 | 9 | 3704 | 4880 | |
| 18 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-DAYTH2(S)-03/14/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 3.4 | 10 | 3554 | 4238 |
| 18 | CBS | CBS NCAA CHMP GM EXT COVG(S)-03/15/2002 | ILLINOIS VS SD STATE | 3.4 | 9 | 3570 | 4220 |
| 20 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-DAYFR1(S)-03/15/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 3.3 | 12 | 3492 | 3988 |
| 21 | CBS | CBS NCAA BSKBL CHP-DAYTH1(S)-03/14/2002 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 3.2 | 12 | 3355 | 3915 |
| 22 | UPN | WWF DIVAS(S)-03/13/2002 | 1.8 | 3 | 1911 | 2723 | |
| 23 | NBC | NBA BASKETBALL | ORLANDO AT PHILA- DELPHIA |
1.5 | 4 | 1593 | 1967 |
| 24 | ABC | NHL ON ABC-SAT. 1 | VARIOUS TEAMS AND TIMES | 1.2 | 3 | 1251 | 1549 |
| 24 | ABC | BOMBARDIER ATV INDY 200(S)-03/17/2002 | 1.2 | 3 | 1235 | 1557 | |
| 26 | ABC | PT LIFE OPEN-INDIAN WELLS(S)-03/17/2002 | 0.8 | 2 | 866 | 984 | |
| 27 | PAX | SIEBEL CLSC-SLICN VLY(S)-03/15/2002 | 0.2 | 1 | 167 | 217 | |
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Source: Nielsen Media Research |
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March 27, 2002 � 2002 Media Life
-Mike Jasik is a staff writer for Media Life
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