Yet ABC has defied many negative reviews, and so far has won the first battle with the show. Counting on the outstanding awareness levels--coming from the similar-themed Geico insurance TV commercials --the debut episode on Tuesday night scored a solid, but not spectacular, Nielsen preliminary 3.3 adults 18-49 rating, a live-plus-same-day program rating. That tied CBS' "NCIS" for the lead in the 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. time period.

But the true test for this unusual-looking show is whether those curious viewers will stick around in the weeks to come.

Critics have also been tough on ABC's other new half-hour comedy, "Carpoolers." Still, the debut episode grabbed a strong 3.4 rating.

Among the other notable rookie shows, CBS' "Cane" had another rough outing--dipping 14% to a 2.5 number from a week ago, at 10 p.m. "Reaper," the critically acclaimed new dramedy from CW, moved south by 11% to a 1.6 rating among 18-34 viewers from its 1.8 premiere a week ago. Still, it built on its "Beauty and the Geek" lead-in. Tuesday's established network shows continued to prosper, continuing their winning ways.

Fox's "House" offered another muscular 7.1 rating, winning the 9 p.m. time period; NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" scored another top number with a 4.5 rating, winning the 10 p.m. time period; and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars: Results Show" pulled in a steady 4.3 rating, a distant second to "House" in the time period.

For the night, Fox finished first among viewers 18-49 with a "House"-powered 5.0/13. ABC was way back at 3.6/9. NBC was just behind, with a 3.5/9. CBS was at the bottom of the big four with a 3.1/8. Univision and CW tied for fifth, at 1.3/3.

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