8pm
What if "Friends" ended and nobody cared? NBC must have been pissing itself with that prospect last fall when the series failed to catch fire. But fear not, Mother Zucker, in the last few weeks "Friends" has reasserted itself with one season high topping another. So far it ranks 3rd on the season in viewers and adults. Part of the problem it has last fall was the strength of "Survivor," which ranks second on the season and fourth in adults. See networks? Two top three shows airing against each other: there is an audience out there. They just took it from all the other shows. "Threat Matrix" (92, 111) and "Tru Calling" (110, 108) cancelled each other out, the UPN's "Smackdown" (102, 102) continues to erode, and the WB's combo of "Steve Harvey" (123, 127) and "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment" (126, 126) were totally out of the game.

9pm
The 9pm hour was much less of a sharing effort than the 8pm hour. "CSI" (1, 1) blew away the competition, NBC's "Will & Grace" (12, 5) and for the most part, "Scrubs," (18, 6), which is having a hard problem finding an audience. Strong in the hour for ABC was "Extreme Makeover" (75, 69), which is showing great gains over last season. Fox didn't air anything in particular in the hour, while the WB got lost with "What I Like About You" (131, 133), while "Run Of The House" (136, 136- dead last) is MIA. But the biggest loser in the hour? NBC's much maligned "Coupling," which flamed out in 27th, lasting only a handfull of episodes.

10pm
Has "Without A Trace" beaten "ER" yet? No, but there were some close weeks. "ER"s (4, 2) dominance is fading fast, while "WAT" (7, 18) is having a banner year. As for ABC? What, you're not watching "PrimeTime" (70, 57)?

The Second Half:
 

Thursday	8:00	8:30	9:00	9:30	10:00
	Survivor All Stars		CSI		Without A Trace
	Friends	Will & Grace	The Apprentice		ER
	Threat Matrix		Extreme Makeover		PrimeTime Thursday
	Tru Calling		Obnoxious Fiance (R) / Wondefalls (March)
	Steve Harvey's Big Time	All About The Andersons	The Jamie Kennedy Experiment	Run Of The House
	WWE Smackdown!

8pm:
Nothing is really changing in the hour versus the fall, but the big battle will be between the last few episodes of "Friends" and "Survivor All Stars." "Friends" will take the slot when in originals, "Survivor" when "Friends" repeats. But then again, it has been demonstrated that these show have vastly different viewership, so, potentially, neither will suffer. As for the rest, the race for third is between ABC, the UPN and Fox, while the WB will linger on.

9pm:
The big change at 9pm? The dismantling of the Thursday comedy block on NBC. "The Apprentice" has done very well in the slot, and should continue to do so. But can it beat "CSI" ? In adults, maybe, but in viewers, no. But as demonstrated a few weeks ago, both can survive nicely. One Thursday, they combined for 49mil viewers and a 20 rating in adults. Considering that's what the six networks combine for on the average week, that's excellent. Third will go to ABC, with the UPN and Fox fighting for fourth. And, alas, there is the WB.
10pm:
Will "Trace" beat "ER" ? With an improved lead-in in "The Apprentice," "ER" should only strengthen as the spring rolls on. But next season, watch out.
 

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