Broadcastingcable.com -- Bette Midler's tossed a bombshell into the Wednesday night ratings, with her debut in Bette producing an 11 rating, 15 share in Nielsen fast national numbers. Bette drew 15.1
million viewers, scoring a 5.1/15 among adults 18-49, and beating up on baseball in that half-hour. The first game of the New York Mets-St. Louis Cardinals National League Championship Series game on
Fox gathered momentum as it went on, going from a 5.4/9 during the first half-hour to a 7/12 in the 10:30-11 (ET) time slot. The game averaged 6.4/10, drawing nearly 10 million viewers at its high
point. Meanwhile, the polite debate between Al Gore and George Bush laid a big egg. ABC hit a 9.1/14, with NBC at a 6.4/10, and CBS at a 5.8 for a cumulative live audience of 29.4 million viewers.
In a contrasting commentary on the mood of the electorate, ABC's "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" was the big winner on the night, hitting a 13.5/21.5, drawing 17.9 million viewers. Gore v. Bush
fumbled the lead-in. (http://www.broadcastingcable.com)
