Daily News from New York, New York • 700

Millionaire' puts ABC in the ratings money again, By RICHARD HUFF Thanks to some big Nielsen returns from "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and "The Practice," ABC last week cruised to its eighth consecutive total viewers crown. However, the network was not able to unseat NBC among the advertiser-desired audience of lS-to-49-year-oId viewers. The death of Lucy Knight (Kellie nr.) on NBC's medical drama "ER" sent that show's ratings skyward, with a season-high 39.34.000 viewers tuning in to see her exit and put the show on top of the charts. It was the second straight week that "ER" has been on top following several weeks of losing to "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." continues to generate heady audience levels, with three episodes of the Regis Philbin-hosted program finishing Nos. 2, 3 and 4 overall.

Last Sunday's episode generated the best viewers for the series in the weekend slot so far. with 30,485,000 people tuning in. The big Sunday Figures for "Millionaire" helped pump up the audience for With 22 weeks in the 36-week-long season accounted for, ABC is still ahead in the seasonal race, averaging 13,950,000 viewers. NBC is averaging 12,930,000 viewers. CBS is averaging 12,870,000 viewers.

Fox is averaging 9,330,000 viewers. UPN is averaging 3,950,000 viewers. And the WB is averaging 3,860,000 viewers. Meanwhile, in the evening-news race, ABC's "World News Tonight With Peter Jennings" won a closely fought contest. "World News" averaged 11,105,000 viewers for the week to 1 1 ,053,000 viewers for NBC's "Nightly News With Tom Brokaw." Both shows averaged the same household ratings and both drew 16 of the viewing audience available at the time.

CBS' "Evening News With Dan-Rather" averaged 9,133,000 viewers. "The Practice," which was watched by 2 1 ,28 1 ,000 viewers to finish No. 7 overall. In the past month, "The Practice" has turned in some of its highest Nielsen numbers ever. Elsewhere on the "Millionaire" front.

Fox much maligned and now controversial "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" averaged 16,0180,000 viewers to finish No. 19. The ratings were so good Fox intended to rerun the show Tuesday, but then questions about the background of the groom. Rick Rockwell, prompted the network to scrap the repeat. For the week, ABC averaged 15,000,000 viewers.

NBC averaged 14,050,000 viewers. CBS averaged 12,660,000 viewers; Fox averaged 11.2 10.000, UPN 4,180,000 and the WB 3,790,000. NIELSEN In the rankings below, for the week of Feb. 14-20, the program is followed by its network and then the number of viewers it attracted, in millions. Repeated rankings indicate a tie.

Nino Cerutti Ruffini Alfani (asper Jones N.Y. Ralph Lauren Brooks Brothers Nautica Ungaro l3 NAME BRAND SUITS 1. ER (NBC) 39.38 50. 2. MILLIONAIRE SUN.) (ABC) 30.49 51.

3. MILLIONAIRE (TUE.) (ABC) 28.66 52. 4. MILLIONAIRE (THU.) (ABC) 28.20 53. 5.

FRIENDS (NBC) 25.89 54. 6 FRASIER (NBC) 21.70 55. 7 THE PRACTICE (ABC) 21.68 56. 8. FRASIER (9.30) (NBC) 19.35 57.

9. LAW ORDER (FR1.) (NBC) 18.92 58. 10. TOUCHED, ANGEL (CBS) 18.16 59. 1 1 LAW AND ORDER (NBC) 1 7.92 59.

1 2. EVERYBODY RAY (CBS) 1 7.74 61. 13. 60 MINUTES (CBS) 17.25 62. 14 LAW ORDERSVU (NBC) 17.13 63.

15. PROVIDENCE (NBC) 16.63 64. 16. IAG (CBS) 16.59 65. 17.

X-FILES (FOX) 16.56 66. 18. THE SIMPSONS (FOX) 16.39 67. 19 MULTI-MILLONAIRE (FOX) 16.02 68. 20.

MALCOLM MIDDLE (FOX) 15.90 69. 2 1 JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE (ABC) 15.73 70. 22. WALKER (CBS) 15.47 71. 23.

BECKER (CBS) 15.31 72. 24. DHARMA GREG (ABC) 15.28 73. 25. JUDGING AMY (CBS) 15.23 74.

26. SALLY HEMMINGS 2 (CBS) 14.93 75. 27. NYPD BLUE (ABC) 14.35 76. 28.

TWENTY ONE (NBC) 14.27 77. 29. ALLY McBEAL (FOX) 13 98 78. 30 DIAGNOSIS MURDER (CBS) 13.64 79. 31.

KING OF QUEENS (CBS) 13.60 80. 32. WTlST WING (NBC) 13.48 81 33 60 MINUTES II (CBS) 13.28 82. NASH BRIDGES (CBS) 10.88 WHOSE LINE (8:30) (ABC) 10.87 2020 (WED.) (ABC) 10.72 DATELINE (TUE.) (NBC) 10.58 TWO GUYSGIRL (ABC) 10.56 20,20 (FRI.) (ABC) 10.39 NORM (ABC) 10.27 KING OF THE HILL (FOX) 10.24 ONCE AND AGAIN (ABC) 10.06 GREED (FOX) 9.85 PRETENDER (NBC) 9.85 "70s SHOW (8:30) (FOX) 9.67 COPS 4 (FOX) 9.61 CITY OF ANGELS (CBS) 9.55 COPS 2 (FOX) 9.51 TWENTY ONE (MON.) (NBC) 9.38 THAT "70s SHOW (FOX) 9.30 COPS 3 (FOX) 9.28 WHOSE LINE? (ABC) 9.27 NOW AND AGAIN (CBS) 9.09 DATELINE (SUN.) (NBC) 9.05 INDEPENDENCE DAY (FOX) 8.99 COPS (FOX) 8.65 DATELINE (MON.) (NBC) 8.61 WINNING LINES (CBS) 8.44 WINNING LINES (8:30) (CBS) 8.43 CHICAGO HOPE (CBS) 8.41 48 HOURS (CBS) 8.27 BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 (FOX) 8.22 JUST SHOOT ME (NBC) 8.19 WWF SMACKDOWN! (UPN) 7.93 WILD POLICE VIDS (FOX) 7.81 PROFILER (NBC) 7.49 EARLY EDITION (CBS) 7.45 THE OTHERS (NBC) 7.15 svts .1 OTIES FREE SHIRTS DESIGNER ITALIAN STYLES NAME BRAND SUITS SUITSSUITS SIZES 36-60 34. MOVIE: LIAR.

LIAR (ABC) 13.25 83. 35 DREW CAREY (ABC) 13.01 84. 36. THIRD WATCH (NBC) 12.86 85. 37.

MOVIE; LIAR LIAR (ABC) 12.82 86. 38. FLOWTRS. ALGERNON (CBS) 12.44 87. 39.

WILL GRACE (NBC) 1 1 .96 88. 40. LADIES MAN (CBS) 11.94 89. 41. SPIN CITY (ABC) 1 1.80 90.

SIZES 36-60 3 FOR FUTURAMA (FOX) 7.07 7th HEAVEN (WB) 6.95 LAKERS-76ERS (NBC) 6.74 VOYAGER (UPN) 5.32 CHARMED (WB) 4.97 BUFFY, THE SLAYER (WB) 4.85 SIZES 36-62 3 FOR $198 3 FOR $8)8 42. DREW (TUES.) (ABC) 11. 79 91 ANGEL (WB) 4.66 THE PARKERS (UPN) 431 MOESHA (UPN) 4.06 $138 3 Shirts 3 Ties FREE DAWSON'S CREEK (WB) 4.00 43. LITTLE RICHARD (NBC) 1 1.61 92. 44.

WILL GRACE (9:30) (NBC) 1 1.53 93. 45. 20 20-DOWNTOWN (ABC) 1 1.49 94. 4S. MARITAL LAW (CBS) 1 1.38 95.

47. PHENOMENON (ABC) 11-32 96. 48. 48 HOURS (MON.) (CBS) 1 1.30 97. 49.

JONBENET RAMSEY (FOX) 1 1.18 98. 7 DAYS (UPN) 3.73 3 Shirts 3 Ties FREE MALCOLM EDDIE (UPN) 3.71 GROWN UPS (UPN) 3.70 1000's Of 2 FOR ROSWELL (WB) 3.66 JEST. Suits To in nn ARRIVED Choose From Sizes 36 to 62 2 sMns 2 nes free 5 Ui tuxedos 1000'S OF WOOL SPORT JACKETS DESIGNER OVER COATS Don't let yesterday's credit problems keep you from driving a new or used car TODAY! We deliver any make or We make it simple. Your Job Is Your Credit. CREDIT NOW xrrpfe ALL appticatiMS for aatnaothe nrtfit-widi NO cafcarrKiaeat, NO iornrautina Mber Am fnnl tf mcmt.

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