• by Paul Gough , July 10, 2003

Two back-to-back showings of the Sandra Bullock flick Miss Congeniality topped primetime cable's highest-rated shows over the holiday week ended Sunday, Nielsen Media Research said Thursday.

Miss Congeniality's 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. broadcasts brought TBS to the ratings pincacle, with the earlier showing reaching a 3.9 rating and an estimated 6.3 million people tuning in. Another 4.4 million tuned in for the 10:15 p.m. movie. The movies were TBS' only two showings in the top 15 programs in total household audience, although sister network TNT's two airings of Law & Order were also among the top 15. Five Nickelodeon shows were also in the top 15, along with a USA movie - Terminator 2 - one airing of Trading Spaces on TLC, two WWE Entertainment on TNN and MTV's The Osbournes and Real World XIII.

In pay cable, Sex and the City drew a 4.6 rating and 6.9 million viewers. The remaining top four programs in pay cable were also on HBO. In syndication, Wheel of Fortune (7,8, 8.2 million) remained on top, followed by Jeopady, Friends, Seinfeld, Seinfeld Weekend, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Judge Judy, Entertainment Tonight and The Dr. Phil Show.

The top 15 programs in primetime cable for the week of June 30-July 6, according to Nielsen Media Research:

1. Miss Congeniality (TBS), 3.9, 6.3 million. (8 p.m. Sunday)

2. WWE Raw Zone (TNN), 3.1, 4.7 million. (10 p.m. Monday).

3. Miss Congeniality (TBS), 3.0, 4.4 milllion. (10:15 p.m. Sunday)

4. WWE Raw (TNN), 2.7, 4.1 million. (9 p.m. Monday).

5. The Osbournes (MTV), 2.5, 3.4 million. (10:30 p.m. Tuesday).

6. Law & Order (TNT), 2.4, 3.3 million. (9 p.m. Tuesday).

7. Real World XIII (MTV), 2.3, 2.7 million. (10 p.m. Tuesday).

8. Spongebob (Nick), 2.3, 3.4 million. (9:30 a.m. Thursday).

9. Fairly Odd Parents (Nick), 2.3, 3.4 million. (3 p.m. Thursday).

10. Terminator 2 Movie (USA), 2.2, 3.1 million. (8 p.m. Wednesday).

11. Spongebob (Nick), 2.2, 3.1 million. (9:30 a.m. Tuesday).

12. Law & Order (TNT), 2.2, 3 million. (8 p.m. Tuesday).

13. Spongebob (Nick), 2.2, 3.4 million. (5:30 p.m. Tuesday).

14. Spongebob (Nick), 2.2, 3.1 million. (9:30 a.m. Saturday).

15. Trading Spaces (TLC), 2.2, 3.2 million. (9 p.m. Saturday).