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'Older' Folks Lead Charge to Top TV Ratings
Salt Lake Tribune - October 18, 1999
BY ED BARK, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
There's something about Amy Gray. Lynn Holt, too.
They're respectively the emotionally bruised but resilient heroines of two new hit dramas -- CBS' "Judging Amy" and "Family Law."
Neither is particularly esteemed by TV critics, although "Amy" has received generally decent reviews. But both apparently embody what many viewers seem to be in the market for --
straight-ahead, character-driven dramas populated by grown-ups who actually act like facsimiles of same. In a season rife with youth-driven and/or "edgy" series, it's the relative old
folks leading the charge to the top of the Nielsen ratings.
Some are still demographically challenged, lagging in the horse race to attract advertiser-craved younger viewers. But among Americans at large, "Amy," "Family Law" and a
quintet of other new adult dramas clearly are the season's pace cars.
Amy stars "NYPD Blue" alumnus Amy Brenneman and gray mare Tyne Daly as a recently divorced rookie judge and her judgmental mother. Easily fall's biggest surprise, it's increased its
audience every week and quickly become Tuesday's highest-rated series. ABC's new "Once and Again," pivoting on a romance between two 40-year-old single parents, also is doing well in a
Tuesday slot opposite "Amy." Although trailing by increasing margins in the overall ratings, it's still drawing more 18- to 49-year-olds than "Amy." So both networks are happy.
"Family Law," another top-20 show, stars Kathleen Quinlan, 44, and 60-year-old Dixie Carter as newly teamed law partners. Quinlan's character, Lynn Holt, is regrouping after being sacked
and betrayed by her attorney husband. Airing at 9 p.m. Mondays, "Family Law" is faring far better than the male-dominated "Brooklyn South" and "L.A. Doctors," which
CBS unsuccessfully tried the previous two falls. At this time last season, "Doctors" was drawing an average of 11.6 million viewers. "Family Law" is being watched by 15.3
million viewers.
NBC also is hitting the mark with three newcomers well-populated by characters old enough to remember turntables and Beta tapes. "The West Wing," depicting a fictional presidential
administration, is No. 15 for the season. No. 18 "Third Watch," a police-paramedics-firefighters drama, is doing unexpectedly strong business opposite CBS' still-formidable "Touched
by an Angel."
The new season also has been a bellwether so far for several returning dramas with stars old enough to have teen-age children. NBC's amazingly durable "Law & Order," beginning its
10th season, is drawing 3 million more viewers than it did at this time last season. ABC's "The Practice" and CBS' "JAG" and "Nash Bridges" also are doing better
business. And last season's out-of-nowhere hit, NBC's "Providence," is still easily winning its 8 p.m. Friday time period.
Suddenly struggling to attract viewers -- and it's about time -- are NBC's "Dateline" and ABC's "20/20." Tuesday's "Dateline," airing opposite "Judging Amy"
and "Once and Again," is down 4.7 million viewers from last season. Friday's "20/20" is 1.6 million viewers in arrears.
The season is still young, of course, even if it's already taking on a decidedly older complexion. Several coming-of-age shows could still make their bones. But if you're looking for the latest
first lady of prime time, you won't find her in skitzy, ditzy Ally McBeal or teen drama queen Felicity Porter.
For now at least, it's her honor Amy Gray. All rise now.
Copyright © 1999 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved.
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