• by Wayne Friedman , February 5, 2007

Early-season leader ABC had taken a backseat in January as Fox and CBS have moved up. But for the first day of the February sweeps, the momentum moved back to reciting the alphabet.

ABC easily handled CBS on Thursday night.

ABC grabbed first with a Nielsen preliminary 6.3 rating/16 share. CBS was a distant second at 4.7/12. CBS had to fight off a plucky NBC, at 4.3/11. Fox, which had been having its way with everyone via its "Idol" this month, could only manage a 1.8/4.

The alphabet net was particularly proud of "Ugly Betty" during the 8 p.m. hour. It came in with a 4.7/12--its best results since the fall. NBC also earned its stripes at 8 p.m., as "My Name is Earl" (a 4.5/12) and "The Office" (a 5.0/12) either tied or bettered their respective seasonal bests.

ABC then opened the big guns at 9 p.m., as "Grey's Anatomy" blew down the house with a powerful 10.3/24--easily outdistancing a 6.8/16 for CBS' "CSI."

At 10 p.m. it was time for NBC to step up again with its comeback player of the year, "ER", as it pulled in with a 5.1/13. Two rookie shows--CBS' "Shark" (with a 3.9/10) and ABC's "Men In Trees" (a 3.6/9)--did well in their first February sweeps, but were no match for NBC's longtime medical drama.

The CW came out fighting with "Smallville," which posted a decent 2.0/5 and "Supernatural," which grabbed a 1.4. Still, it wound up just behind Fox and Univision for last place with a 1.7/4.

Fox's best was new comedy "'Til Death," posting a 2.3. The young teen/adult drama "The O.C.," which is ending its run this month, could only muster a 1.6. Overall, Fox tied Univision for fourth with a 1.8/4.