By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox rode "American Idol" to another weekly win in viewership and the adults 18-49 demographic and was aided by big numbers for the premiere of "The Moment of Truth."

Fox won four primetime nights: Tuesday and Wednesday with "Idol," Thursday with its game shows and Saturday with "Cops" and "America's Most Wanted." NBC won Monday thanks to "American Gladiators" and "Deal or No Deal," while ABC took Sunday with a strong "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." Nielsen Media Research released the data Tuesday.

NBC, which came in a distant second in the 18-49 demo, got the week started with "Gladiators" (10 million, 4.2/10) and "Deal" (14.2 million, 4.4/10). ABC's "Dance War" (9.8 million, 2.6/6) continued to trend downward, and NBC's "Medium" (10 million, 3.3/8) beat a repeat "CSI: Miami" (10.5 million, 3.1/8) and an original "October Road" (4.9 million, 1.9/5). Fox built on its lead-in at 9 p.m. with "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (8.7 million, 3.6/8), though it came in behind "Deal" and a repeat of CBS' "Two and a Half Men" (11.6 million, 4.0/9).

Tuesday went overwhelmingly to Fox with an hourlong "Idol" (29.3 million, 11.8/29) and a repeat "House" (13.9 million, 5.0/12), both of which crushed the competition. Only NBC's "The Biggest Loser" (9 million, 3.7/9) could mount any kind of a challenge. It was much the same Wednesday, when "Truth" (23 million, 10.2/24) shined in its debut at 9 p.m. after "Idol" (27.1 million, 10.9/28) won at 8 p.m.

Thursday went to Fox as "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (10.5 million, 3.2/9) won at 8 p.m.; its "Don't Forget the Lyrics" (10.3 million, 3.3/9) at 9 p.m. came close but couldn't beat NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" (8.7 million, 3.7/9) in 18-49. Winning in viewership was a repeat "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (13.3 million, 3.3/8).

Friday's highlight was NBC's new "1 vs. 100" (8.8 million, 2.3/7) and Fox's repeat "House" (7.7 million, 2.3/7), which were able to win in the demo as CBS' schedule was in repeats except for the hourlong special "Garth Brooks: Live in L.A." (8.2 million, 2.1/6). Saturday went to Fox with its crime lineup.

ABC came roaring back among viewers 18-49 on Sunday thanks to the two-hour "Extreme Makeover" (13.5 million, 5.1/12). CBS won in viewers with the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" movie "The Russell Girl" (12.7 million, 2.2/6).

Univision had a strong week in the 18-34 demographic. It was in third place in the demo for the week and was ahead of the Big Four in 18-34 each night of the week. Univision's week was capped by the premiere of "Al Diablo con los Guapos," which averaged 2.8 million viewers in 18-49 to become the highest-rated premiere for an 8 p.m. telenovela in Univision history.

In primetime for the week, Fox (11.7 million, 4.5/12) won in all measures over CBS (9.3 million, 2.3/6), NBC (8.1 million, 2.6/7), ABC (6.8 million, 2.3/6) and the CW (2.1 million, 0.7/2).

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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