NBC PRIMETIME RESULTS FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 31-NOV. 6

BURBANK, Calif. -- November 8, 2005 -- NBC averaged a 3.2 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49 and 9.5 million viewers for the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

Primetime averages for the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6 in adults 18-49 were CBS (4.1/11), ABC (3.9/10), NBC (3.2/9), Fox (3.2/8), WB (1.4/4) and UPN (1.3/3). In overall total viewers the weekly averages were CBS (13.4 million), ABC (10.6 million), NBC (9.5 million), Fox (7.2 million), WB (3.3 million) and UPN (3.2 million).

NBC highlights for the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6:

* On Tuesday, "My Name is Earl" won its highly competitive time period in adults 18-49, topping Fox's "House," "CBS' "Amazing Race" and ABC's "Commander-in-Chief." "Earl" is the current season's #1 comedy, #1 Tuesday series and #1 new series in 18-49.

* Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" was the #1 show of the night (and the #9-ranked program of the week) in adults 18-49; "The Biggest Loser" scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in its hour since last January; and "The Office" exhibited the best retention of its "Earl" lead-in while competing with an original episode of "House."

* On Sunday, the live debate episode of "The West Wing" polled that series' highest 18-49 rating and largest total viewer tally of the current season. .

* Also on Sunday, a two-hour "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating and highest overall viewership in the time period since March. Overall, this was NBC's highest-rated Sunday night in 18-49 rating since March and the network's highest Sunday total viewership since January.

* On Wednesday, "E-Ring" hit a new series high in total viewers.

* On Thursday, "The Apprentice" hit a new season high in total viewers and matched its season high in adults 18-49. "Joey" also set a season high in total viewers and matched a season high in 18-49 for its 8-8:30 p.m. time period.

* On Friday, "Dateline NBC" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating of the season in its 8 p.m. time period.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 6:

On Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "The Biggest Loser" (3.7/10 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period since Jan. 11 (the night of "The Biggest Loser" finale). This was also a season high for "Biggest Loser" in the 8-9 p.m. hour in total viewers. "Loser" won the hour in adults 18-34 and among women 18-34 and women 18-49.

On Tuesday, at 9 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (5.5/13 in 18-49, 12.2 million viewers overall) won its highly competitive time period in adults 18-49, topping Fox's "House" (4.9/12 in that half-hour), CBS' "Amazing Race" (4.1/10 in that half-hour) and ABC's "Commander-in-Chief" (3.7/9 in that half-hour). "Earl" is the current season's #1 comedy, #1 Tuesday series and #1 new series in adults 18-49. At 9:30 p.m. ET, "The Office (3.9/9 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) retained 71 percent of the "Earl" lead-in, its second-best retention so far this season and best retention so far in competition with an original episode of "House."

Also on Tuesday, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (5.7/15 in 18-49, 15.2 million viewers overall) was the top-rated program of the night in adults 18-49 and was the #9-ranked program of the week in adults 18-49 (out of a total 120 network programs). "SVU" dominated its 10-11 p.m. ET hour with its second-highest rating of the season, winning the hour in 18-49 by a 68 percent margin (5.7 vs. 3.4 for ABC's second-place "Boston Legal"). "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults 18-34.

On Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. ET, "E-Ring" (2.5/7 in 18-49, 9.8 million viewers overall) hit a new series high in total viewers. At 9 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" (2.8/7 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall) delivered its second-highest 18-49 rating to-date. At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 12.6 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 46 percent in 18-49.

On Thursday, Nov. 3, at 9 p.m. ET, "The Apprentice" (5.0/12 in 18-49, 11.0 million viewers overall) matched its highest 18-49 rating of the current season and set a new season high in total viewers. "Apprentice" ranked #2 for the time period in 18-49 and total viewers, outperforming the hour's third-place program by a 67 percent margin in 18-49.

Also on Thursday, at 8 p.m. ET, "Joey" (3.0/8 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in 18-49 in its competitive time period, beating Fox's "The O.C." (2.9/8 for that half-hour), ABC's movie "Pirates of the Caribbean" (2.4/6 for that half-hour), WB's "Smallville" (2.3/6 for that half-hour) and UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris (1.9/5). "Joey" established a new season high in total viewers for the 8-8:30 p.m. time period and matched its season high in 18-49 for that half-hour. At 8:30 p.m. ET, "Will & Grace" (3.3/8 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) was also #2 in 18-49, topping "The O.C." (3.0/8 for the half-hour), "Pirates" (2.7/7 in that half-hour), "Smallville" (2.5/6 in that half-hour) and UPN's "Love, Inc." (1.2/3).

That same night at 10 p.m. ET, "ER" (6.2/16 in 18-49, 14.3 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 24 percent in 18-49 to cut CBS' lead in the time period down to 3 percent, despite a 98 percent advantage heading into the hour (9.9 for CBS vs. 5.0 for NBC from 9-10 p.m.). "ER" ranked #8 out 120 network programs in adults 18-49 this week.

On Friday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.3/8 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period this season, ranking #2 in the demographic. From 9-10 p.m. ET, "Three Wishes" (2.3/7 in 18-49, 8.1 million viewers overall) was #2 in adults 18-49 (tied) and ranked #1 among women 18-49 and women 25-54.

Sunday, Nov. 6 was NBC's highest-rated Sunday night in adults 18-49 since March 13. At 8 p.m. ET, the live debate episode of "The West Wing" (2.7/6 in 18-49, 9.6 million viewers overall) delivered that series highest 18-49 rating and largest total viewership so far this season. It was NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the slot since May 8 and largest total viewership since March 6.

Also on Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, a two-hour "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.1/9 in 18-49, 14.3 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating and largest total viewership in the time period since March 13. "Criminal Intent" built steadily throughout the two-hour telecast, increasing by 42 percent in 18-49 rating from its first half-hour to its fourth (to a 4.7 from a 3.3) and by 3.3 million total viewers from its first to its final half-hour, when the drama was watched by 15.5 million total viewers.

This was NBC's largest total viewership on a Sunday night since Jan. 16.