Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • A38

News Football, 'Housewives' sweep ratings WNEP boss finds replacing Kim Supon is no easy task By David Bander Associated Press NEW YORK A prime NFL duel helped NBC, a supermarket shootout led ABC's "Desperate Housewives" to the top, "Lost" lost and Fox's soap "The O.C." seems just plain shot. Meanwhile, methodical CBS rode the overall strength of its prime-time schedule to victory last week during the first week of television's November ratings "sweeps," according to Nielsen Media Research. The quarterly sweeps ratings are used to determine advertising rates. The hard-fought Sunday night football matchup between rival powerhouses Indianapolis and New England brought nearly 22 million people to NBC. That was well above Sunday-night football's season average of 15.5 million going into last week, Nielsen said.

The game, with the help of a little strategic trickery enabled NBC to win last week among viewers aged 18-to-49, the advertiser-friendly demographic its executives most care about. It's the first time this season that any network has beaten ABC in this demo, Nielsen said. NBC front-loaded the first 35 minutes of its football pre-game show with locally originated ads, meaning that time generally the least-watched of the football night was not counted in the national ratings. That little sleight of hand gave NBC a higher rating for football than it would have otherwise, key in an 18-to-49-year-old competition where it beat ABC by 90,000 viewers. The football didn't hurt "Desperate Housewives," also on Sunday night.

With 22.6 million viewers, it was the most popular program of the week, featuring a hostage-taking mystery that clearly fueled interest. Fox's season premiere of "The O.C," the once-popular prime- time drama, was seen by an alarmingly low 3.4 million people, ranking No. 98 on Nielsen's list last week. It's hurt by being in a brutal Thursday time slot, but those numbers indicate its fans have clearly moved on. While CBS has seen erosion in some of its most popular shows "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" had less than 21 million for a first-run episode last week the network has a far deeper schedule of moderately successful shows that makes it tough to beat.

In an upset that's been brewing for awhile, "Criminal Minds" brought in more viewers last week than ABC's "Lost." Evening-news ratings were up across-the-board the week before the midterm election, with ABC getting the biggest boost. NBC's "Nightly News" finished first, averaging 9.3 million viewers (6.4, 12). ABC's "World News" had 9 million viewers (6.2, 12) and the "CBS Evening News" had 7.7 million (5.5, 10). indoor expo in Northeastern Pennsylvania." More than 100 national and local exhibitors will showcase their products and services. Exhibitors include the game and fish commissions, National Wild Turkey Federation and sporting goods stores and companies involved in hunting and fishing products as well as truck and car dealerships showcasing their recreational vehicle, bikes and boats.

The area's largest indoor archery tournament will also be held. The Skeeter Interactive Fishing Trailer will let kids show off their fishing skills. Kids can also shake it up in Shookies Bounce House (but remember to leave your shows at the door). Shookies also has its Power Jump station and Rock Wall stations ready for fun. The Two by Two Zoo is a unique family run zoo where you can visit with kangaroos, lemurs and alligators.

Exhibitors include the game and fish commissions, National Wild Turkey Federation and sporting goods stores and companies involved in hunting and fishing products as well as truck and car dealerships showcasing their recreational vehicle, bikes and boats. "The Great Outdoors" airs Sundays at 10:30 p.m. and is hosted by Bob Ide. Off to Harrisburg: Frank Andrews Shimkus was successful in his bid for a House of Representatives seat in the 113th Legislative District on Tuesday The former WYOU anchor was off the air during his campign for the seat which was held for 13 terms by Gaynor Caw-ley Shimkus garnered 70 percent of the votes against his opponent, Scranton businessman Matthew Burke. Shimkus, 54, said he picked a great year to run on a Democratic powerhouse ticket.

Schedule change: WNEP's is now airing at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays. "Your Health Today" airs at 7. Geri Anne Kaikowski writes about television for The Citizens' Voice. Her column appears Thursdays.

She can be reached at gkaikowskicitizensvoice. Anchors away: WNEP is still interviewing candidates for the morning co-anchor position which will become vacant Nov. 17 when Kim Supon leaves WNEP after 13 years to become a full-time mother. Tom Williams will anchor solo during the interim. WNEP news director Dennis Fisher said he plans on using existing staff members to fill in from time to time whenever Williams is off.

During the summer when Supon Kaikovuski Tube Talk was still on maternity leave and Williams was on vacation, Julie Sidoni substituted during the morning show. "I don't know how much longer it will take to find the right person," said Fisher. "I hope to have made a decision in a few weeks, but I can't guarantee it." 'Tee' time on the dance floor? It's not just the fancy footwork on stage or the hot romances between two pairs of dancing teams behind-the-scenes that is getting attention on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." It's the casual tees from designer Susan Fixel the star dancers are rehearsing in. Both Mario Lopez and Vivica A. Fox love to dazzle in designer tees from Twelve Symbols for men and Bejew-eled for women.

The tee shirts cost between $90 and $160 and are available online. The finale of "Dancing with the Stars" airs next week. Country star Sara Evans, who dropped out of the show during a nasty divorce scandal, is expected to return as are all the contestants and their professional dancing partners. Go to the expo: Fox 56 is bringing back its "Great Outdoors Expo" next year. It will be held Jan.

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