The Middle East crisis helped turn CBS' "60 Minutes" into the most watched show on television last week - the first time in two years the news magazine has dominated the weekly rankings.
A week earlier, network news broadcasts lured more viewers than primetime entertainment programs because of concern over the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.The latest figures showed primetime shows back on top with an average rating of 27.8, compared with 27 for evening news shows, according to ratings released Tuesday by the A.C. Nielsen Co.
Each ratings point represents 921,000 households.
In the overall network race, NBC was No. 1 for the 14th consecutive week, with an average of 9.7. CBS busted out of its usual last-place standing to become the No. 2 network with a 9.2 average. ABC had 8.9.
In entertainment programs, Fox Broadcasting Co.'s "The Simpsons" and "Married . . . With Children" were back in the top 10, landing in the No. 4 and No. 8 spots, respectively.
The wisecracking bar crowd on NBC's "Cheers" and the smart-aleck family on ABC's "Roseanne" tied for second place.
CBS' "Designing Women" apparently suffered no viewer loss from the public feud between star Delta Burke and executive producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. The situation comedy about four interior designers came in fifth during last week's ratings competition.
The first of Maria Shriver's occasional specials for NBC tied with the network's highly rated "The Cosby Show" for 12th place. The slickly produced first installment of "Cutting Edge with Maria Shriver" contained one-on-one discussions with former Los Angeles Raiders defensive end Lyle Alzado, Irish pop singer Sinead O'Connor and "Cheers" star Kirstie Alley.
In sixth place was NBC's "Empty Nest," followed by ABC's "America's Funniest Home Videos." Tying for eight with "Married . . . With Children" was ABC's "Coach." In the No. 10 spot, CBS' "Murphy Brown" tied with NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries."
Here are the top 10 shows, their network and rating:
1. "60 Minutes," CBS, 15.8; 2. (tie) "Cheers," NBC, and "Roseanne," ABC, 15.1; 4. "The Simpsons," Fox, 13.7; 5. "Designing Women," CBS, 13.6; 6. "Empty Nest," NBC, 13.4; 7. "America's Funniest Home Videos," ABC, 13; 8. (tie) "Coach," ABC, and "Married . . . With Children," Fox, 12.8; 9. (tie) "Murphy Brown," CBS, and "Unsolved Mysteries," NBC, 12.6.