“Cosby” Drops Out of Top 10

NBC finished first in the weekly ratings for the 51st consecutive week, the A.C. Nielsen Co. reported Tuesday, but without the usual strong showing by “The Cosby Show.” Delayed in much of the country by President Bush’s news conference last Thursday, “The Cosby Show” finished out of the Top 10 for the first time since December, 1987, when Christmas Eve fell on Thursday. Ratings for the nightly network newscasts, meanwhile, were up a combined 14% over the preceding week, perhaps reflecting the public’s interest in the turmoil in China. The full list of prime-time ratings is on Page 7.

* Fox Broadcasting’s crime-busting series was the second-most-watched program in its time period Sunday, losing to CBS’ “Murder, She Wrote” but outdrawing the offerings on NBC and ABC.

TV RATINGS

Show Points Share 1.”Roseanne” 19.2 32 ABC 2.”Cheers” 16.8 29 NBC 3.”A Place to Call Home” 16.5 28 CBS 4.”Empty Nest” 16.4 32 NBC 5.”Golden Girls” 16.2 33 NBC *”America’s Most Wanted” 8.9 18 Fox