Dinotopia Comes To ABC

ABC is counting on dinosaurs to squash the competition this week when they roll out their 3-part mini-series "Dinotopia." Based on the popular books by James Gurney, the story takes place in a world where humans and dinosaurs exist side by side. Produced by veteran TV-movie producer Robert Halmi in conjunction with Hallmark Entertainment, the six-hour spectacle is rumored to cost upwards of $80 million.

Mired in third place in the ratings, and struggling to keep ahead of the fourth place FOX network, ABC desperately needs "Dinotopia" to score huge numbers ratings wise. The program airs on consecutive nights beginning on Sunday, May 12 as part of a special presentation of "The Wonderful World of Disney." For more information on this production go to http://www.visitdinotopia.com.

NBC scores with nostalgia: With the May ratings race in full gear, NBC is comfortably ahead in the ratings thanks to their regular hit series and some nostalgia, including member of the "Hill Street Blues" cast appearing on "Third Watch." Here are the top ten rated programs from broadcast television for the week ending May 5 as determined by Nielsen Media Research.

1. CSI, CBS, 26.2 million viewers 2. ER, NBC, 25.8 million viewers 3. Friends, NBC, 24 million viewers 4. NBC's 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 20.5 million viewers 5. Friends (8:30 p.m.), NBC, 20.1 million viewers 6. Survivor: Marquesas, CBS, 19.6 million viewers 7. Law and Order, NBC, 19.3 million viewers 8. Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS, 17.5 million viewers 9. The West Wing, NBC, 17.4 million viewers 10. Third Watch, NBC, 17.2 million viewers

Though cable television is credited with pulling many viewers away from the broadcast networks, their top-rated programs still don't compare in terms of the number of viewers. Here are the top ten rated cable programs for the week ending May 5, again as determined by Nielsen Media Research.

1. The Osbornes, MTV, 4.04 million viewers 2. WWF Raw Zone, TNN, 3.91 million viewers 3. WWF Raw, TNN, 3.57 million viewers 4. Real World XI, MTV, 3.43 million 5. Winston Cup Race: Pontiac Excitement 400, FX (Sat), 3.17 million viewers 6. Winston Cup Race: Pontiac Excitement 400, FX (Sun), 3.12 million viewers 7. Blues Clues, Nickelodeon (Mon, 7:30), 3.04 million viewers 8. The Trophy Wife's Secret, Lifetime, 2.86 million viewers 9. Blues Clues, Nickelodeon, (Mon, 8:00), 2.77 million viewers 10. SpongeBob Square Pants, Nickelodeon, 2.74 million viewers

Final thoughts: Do you have a television related website that you'd like me to review? Do you have a television trivia question that you'd like me to answer? If so, drop me a line at F_Colin_Kingston@suite101.Com and I'll do my best to accommodate you.

Until next week, happy viewing!

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