New Shows 'Knight,' "Gary' Struggle For Footing

NBC's Knight RiderSome networks might put a big asterisk next to the third day of the new season--all thanks to a 15 minute-President Bush address on the financial markets bailout.

But others will take victories where they can get it. Nielsen Media Research shows that CBS took the first Wednesday of the season with strong numbers for its premiere of "Criminal Minds"--at a 4.4 rating/11 share among 18-49 viewers, the best-rated show of the night. CBS followed that up with a 4.3/11 for "CSI:NY."

CBS did not have much luck earlier in the evening with the premiere of "The New Adventures of Old Christine"--which limped in with a 2.1/6 at 8 p.m., well behind leader ABC's time-period leader "Dancing with the Stars," which took in a 3.6/10.

New shows had it rough in the midst of all this: NBC's "Knight Rider" premiere only took in a 2.4/7--about half the numbers of its mini-series run last winter. CBS' "Gary Unmarried" at 8:30 p.m. earned a bit lower number, although somewhat better than "Christine"--with a 2.3/6. As a comparison, both CBS comedies were 20% below that of the seemingly controversial "Kid Nation" of a year ago.

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ABC was in second place on the night with a 2.9/8. The "Stars" result show was followed by a two-hour "David Blaine: Dive of Death" special, which mustered a 2.8/7 at 9 p.m. and a 2.5/7 at 10 p.m. Its big Wednesday series "Pushing Daisies" and "Private Practice" get going next week.

NBC was third at 2.5/7. Its better-performing show of late--"America's Got Talent"--was affected by the presidential address and could only get a 2.7/7, coming in at third place.

Fox was fourth at a 2.3/6 with only its "Bones" performing well at a 3.1/9, coming in second to "Stars" at 8 p.m.

CW and Univision both earned a 1.6/4. CW did better with younger 18-34 viewers, earning a 2.0/6 for the night and tying Fox for third. "America's Next Top Model" was the network's best, with a 2.4/8 among 18-34 viewers. After that, a repeat of "90210" took a 1.2/3. Univision's best came from "Fuego en la Sangre" at 9 p.m. with a 1.8/5.

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