• by Wayne Friedman , March 26, 2007

Thursday night network newcomers are settling into their lower-ratings groove--but those results aren't all that bad.

ABC's "October Road" results at 10 p.m. dropped 16% from its previous week premiere to a Nielsen preliminary 4.9 average rating. It had been at a 5.8. In addition, the show lost a big chunk of its viewers in its second half-hour--slipping to a 4.3/12 from its first half-hour, 5.5/15.

Still, overall numbers are somewhat better than "Men in Trees"--the show that "October Road" replaced in the time period. Both shows have a hard time keeping close to its blockbuster "Grey's Anatomy"'s lead-in. Last night, "Grey's" earned an 8.7.

At Fox, its high-flying "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" dipped again, to a less-learned series-low 3.6 at 8 p.m. That's down 20% from last week's 4.5, but it did win the time period.

"Smarter" is now at about one-third of the ratings it got some weeks back, leading out of "American Idol." In that coveted slot, it shocked analysts with eye-opening 9+ ratings among 18-49 viewers.

Hot competition from CBS' NCAA basketball tournament disturbed the typical Thursday night proceedings. For one, "Ugly Betty" sank to a series low 3.2 rating--two days after being picked up for a second season. The NCAA posted a 3.9 number for the night.

NBC went to a mix of repeats with "My Name is Earl" earlier in the evening--and a newcomer at 10 p.m.--the Jeff Goldblum-cop show, "Raines." "Raines" got a modest 2.5 number, well off the 5+ ratings that "ER" has been earning so far this season. Like other shows on the night, the NCAA games--as well as time-period winner, "October Road"--took its toll on "Raines."

Overall, ABC still came out ahead--a 5.6 rating/16 share--well ahead of CBS' 3.9/11. Even with lower "Smarter" numbers, Fox is doing a bit better on Thursdays--moving up to a 2.8/8 for the night. NBC was next, at 2.5/7. Then came the CW at 1.5/4.